Ascension Day takes place on the 29th May this year. And for the last few years between Ascension Day and Pentecost we’ve been trying to mark this time by joining in with the Church of England’s Thy Kingdom Come initiative which tries to make the 10 days between these two important Christian festivals a time set aside for prayer.One of the focuses of Thy Kingdom come isn’t just to pray generally about things (though that’s a good thing to do!), but to focus our prayers on those who do not yet have a living faith in Jesus.This year, across Betley and Madeley churches we are running a “5 for 5” scheme. The idea is very simple. Choose five people you want to pray for and commit to praying for them for five minutes each day with a simple focus:“pray for 5 people for 5 minutes each day, that they may encounter Jesus in their lives and come to a living faith in Him”. You’ll be able to collect a little pocket-sized reminder card from St. Margaret’s and All Saints’. The card easily fits in a wallet or purse and will hopefully act as a reminder to pray for the five people you have chosen.Let’s commit this special season to God in prayer as we journey on with God as God’s resurrection people.Rev Tim.
DIOCESE OF LICHFIELDNEWCASTLE DEANERYPARISH OF ALL SAINTS’ MADELEYNOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING & VESTRY MEETINGWILL TAKE PLACE IN CHURCH AT 7.30 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY THE TWENTY FIRST (21st) OF MAY, 2025.NOMINATIONS ARE INVITED FOR: · TWO POSTS OF CHURCHWARDEN TO SERVE FOR THE YEAR 2025/26. · UP TO THREE PLACES ON THE P.C.C. FOR 2025/28 – NO CURRENT MEMBERS, WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE, CAN SEEK RE-ELECTION THIS YEAR.NOMINATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM OFFICERS OF THE PCC OR IN THE PORCH. CANDIDATES MUST BE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH ELECTORAL ROLL – ENROLMENT FOR THE NEW ROLL HAS NOW ENDED BUT YOU CAN APPROACH TREVOR DOWNS FOR A FORM TO JOIN FOR THE COMING YEAR. MEMBERS OF THE PCC ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE OR OBTAIN AN UP TO DATE D.B.S. CERTIFICATE TO HOLD THE OFFICE.SIGNED:TIM WATSON, VICAR
This month we celebrate Easter. Easter is perhaps the most important festival of the church year. Don’t get me wrong, Christmas and the celebration of the incarnation is important. And Pentecost, the birthday of the global church is important too, but Easter, is absolutely central to the church because without Easter there would be no need for the church.Through the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ all things are made new, liberation is proclaimed and brokenness is forgiven.As a global Church we are left to reflect on the “Good News”, the “gospel” of Jesus Christ. And this Good News is proclaimed widely.When we proclaim this Good News we can speak of heaven, of eternal life, words of eternal hope. And as a vicar it is a privilege to be able to speak about these things at the funerals of those who have died. To speak hope to those who mourn. And I believe these things with all my heart.Yet when I think of the fullness of this Good News that is birthed at Easter, it’s not just the heaven-stuff that I want to speak about. In fact, outside of the very precious funeral ministry of the church, I don’t really think about heaven much, I’m not motivated to live out my faith because of it.Rather, for me, at the heart of the Good News of Easter is Jesus’ words articulated in John 10:10“I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness.” John 10:10 (GNT)What excites me about my faith, and the Good News of Easter, is the desire to live life in such a way as to seek to live with an awareness of God and in fellowship with Jesus and the hope of bringing the richness of that idea into every experience. That through trying to follow the way of Jesus, I might live my life in step with the Spirit. For me, that’s a key part of the Good News of Easter.One well-worn and widely attributed anecdote that sums this up might be said to be, “it’s not about pie in the sky when you die, but cake on your plate while you wait”.Rev Tim
