The Annual Reports and Accounts 2011 can now be downloaded here.
Welcome to the St Mark's Blog
Wednesday 28 March 2012
Thursday 22 March 2012
On Your Marks Holiday Club
“On Your Marks” is a 4-day holiday club, for 5 to 11s, especially suitable for children who are not yet part of a church community. It has a 'Global Games' sports theme and is based on significant events from the life of Jesus found in Mark's Gospel.
‘On Your Mark’s - will be held at St Mark’s Church in the Church/Hall from 2nd -5th April 2012, from 10am -12noon each day, and will be open to -5 to 11 year olds (Primary school age).
Friday 5th April 2012 – 10.30am ‘Good Friday’ - All Age Celebration Service at St Mark’s followed by Hot Cross Buns and other refreshments – It will be great to see all the Children and their Families at the service.
Download the booking from here.
Monday 12 March 2012
Confirmation Service March 2012
What an amazing confirmation service!
10 young people confirmed, an inspiring sermon from Bishop Peter and great worship!
Wednesday 7 March 2012
Sermons from Sunday 26th February and 4th March 2012
The sermons from Sunday 26th February and 4th March 2012 are now available for download here
Scan the code to listen on your mobile.
Morning 26th February
Called to a life in the Spirit
John 3:1-15
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Evening 26th February
Submit as the Lord submitted
1 Peter 2: 13-25
Evening 4th March
Worthy in God's sight
1 Peter 3:1-7
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Scan the code to listen on your mobile.
Monday 5 March 2012
Hennie's monthly blog for March 2012
Dear All,
Monday 5th March as I write, and it is pretty cold. Just got back from a funeral where everyone commented on how cold my hands were after shaking them - poor things! Where is Chanty? Probably comfortably snuggled up somewhere in the Vicarage, but not in study at present, which means definately somewhere she shouldn't be.......!
Cold though it is there are certainly signs of spring. This time last year I had just had my last service in my old parish, and was waiting for Pickfords Removals to transport me to Chester during the coming week. I can remember thinking what a good time it was to be on the move - spring being a season of new birth as the bulbs begin to push through the hard winter earth, and the blossom begins to appear bringing colour, life, and a sense of expectancy as we say goodbye to winter and look forward to spring and summer. This short month has gone quickly and of course we have also entered the season of Lent, which means springtime. As the buds open on the trees, and the nights lengthen, it is a spiritual season which calls for a greater openness to the word of God, and a conversion in every area of our lives.
Henri Nouwen, RC priest and theologian, once described Lent as, 'the season during which winter and spring struggle with each other for dominance'. We see this in creation as one day is warm and spring like, and the next cold and wintry; but spiritually also it is a time when the darkness and light within each of us can become locked in conflict. The temptations that Jesus was confronted with in the wilderness, confront us also in different ways, and often the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak, especially if we are striving to walk with Jesus in this time of Lent.
Our sermon series both in the morning and in the evening continue to challenge us, as we become more aware of the cost of discipleship, and the struggle it is, as followers of Christ, to live in this world, but not of it. I want to give thanks to God for the wonderful evening of celebration we had recently when we witnessed 6 young people get baptised, publicly confirming their faith, and where I encouraged them not to be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified, at home, at school, with friends, at college and uni. This Sunday at the 9.15 service, and at the Lighthouse, we looked at Jesus predicting his death for the first time (Mark 8: 31-9:1), and where he tells the crowds and the disciples, 'if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me..................... and if anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels'. I suggested at the 9.15 service that a good question to ask ourselves this Lent, is, 'am I ashamed of Jesus and His Words in this adulterous and sinful generation?' If we are not, then how are we sharing the love of Jesus, and proclaiming His Word? In other words, how are we denying ourselves, taking up our Cross and following Jesus all the way to Calvary? And if we are ashamed of Jesus and His Word, then let us this Lent take the opportunity to allow Him into our lives afresh, praying that we might have in mind the things of God, rather than of this world.
Another 'word' for us this Lent has been to listen to God. Samuel said, 'speak, for your servant is listening'. We started our Lent Prayer course last week looking at contemplative prayer - a time to listen to God through His Word, the Holy scriptures. It was another evening of great encouragement and blessing, and I pray that God will continue to speak to us, as we make ourselves available 'to listen to Him' through this course on prayer, but also in our own personal times with God throughout this season of Lent.
I praise God as we see signs of new growth at St. Mark's as new people join the family of God. Let us also continue to pray for growth both spiritually and numerically, and also to see new birth, as people turn from their old ways of living in this world, and decide to follow Christ, and turning towards the Cross. Yes, the cross is costly, but when we do deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Jesus, he offers us new life in all its fullness. A life where we are assurred of God's forgiveness, unconditional love, outpouring of his Spiritual gifts, and abundant grace - living in a season of new birth and new beginnings. Surely that is not something to be ashamed of? So this Lent as we fight the darkness and the light we remember that Jesus was tempted just as we are, but without sin. He is there for us, and with us, in the wilderness, on the mountain tops, and in the mundane of life - let us not keep him to ourselves, but knowing God's love go out share His love with others.
God bless you this Lent,
Hennie
Monday 5th March as I write, and it is pretty cold. Just got back from a funeral where everyone commented on how cold my hands were after shaking them - poor things! Where is Chanty? Probably comfortably snuggled up somewhere in the Vicarage, but not in study at present, which means definately somewhere she shouldn't be.......!
Cold though it is there are certainly signs of spring. This time last year I had just had my last service in my old parish, and was waiting for Pickfords Removals to transport me to Chester during the coming week. I can remember thinking what a good time it was to be on the move - spring being a season of new birth as the bulbs begin to push through the hard winter earth, and the blossom begins to appear bringing colour, life, and a sense of expectancy as we say goodbye to winter and look forward to spring and summer. This short month has gone quickly and of course we have also entered the season of Lent, which means springtime. As the buds open on the trees, and the nights lengthen, it is a spiritual season which calls for a greater openness to the word of God, and a conversion in every area of our lives.
Henri Nouwen, RC priest and theologian, once described Lent as, 'the season during which winter and spring struggle with each other for dominance'. We see this in creation as one day is warm and spring like, and the next cold and wintry; but spiritually also it is a time when the darkness and light within each of us can become locked in conflict. The temptations that Jesus was confronted with in the wilderness, confront us also in different ways, and often the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak, especially if we are striving to walk with Jesus in this time of Lent.
Our sermon series both in the morning and in the evening continue to challenge us, as we become more aware of the cost of discipleship, and the struggle it is, as followers of Christ, to live in this world, but not of it. I want to give thanks to God for the wonderful evening of celebration we had recently when we witnessed 6 young people get baptised, publicly confirming their faith, and where I encouraged them not to be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified, at home, at school, with friends, at college and uni. This Sunday at the 9.15 service, and at the Lighthouse, we looked at Jesus predicting his death for the first time (Mark 8: 31-9:1), and where he tells the crowds and the disciples, 'if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me..................... and if anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels'. I suggested at the 9.15 service that a good question to ask ourselves this Lent, is, 'am I ashamed of Jesus and His Words in this adulterous and sinful generation?' If we are not, then how are we sharing the love of Jesus, and proclaiming His Word? In other words, how are we denying ourselves, taking up our Cross and following Jesus all the way to Calvary? And if we are ashamed of Jesus and His Word, then let us this Lent take the opportunity to allow Him into our lives afresh, praying that we might have in mind the things of God, rather than of this world.
Another 'word' for us this Lent has been to listen to God. Samuel said, 'speak, for your servant is listening'. We started our Lent Prayer course last week looking at contemplative prayer - a time to listen to God through His Word, the Holy scriptures. It was another evening of great encouragement and blessing, and I pray that God will continue to speak to us, as we make ourselves available 'to listen to Him' through this course on prayer, but also in our own personal times with God throughout this season of Lent.
I praise God as we see signs of new growth at St. Mark's as new people join the family of God. Let us also continue to pray for growth both spiritually and numerically, and also to see new birth, as people turn from their old ways of living in this world, and decide to follow Christ, and turning towards the Cross. Yes, the cross is costly, but when we do deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Jesus, he offers us new life in all its fullness. A life where we are assurred of God's forgiveness, unconditional love, outpouring of his Spiritual gifts, and abundant grace - living in a season of new birth and new beginnings. Surely that is not something to be ashamed of? So this Lent as we fight the darkness and the light we remember that Jesus was tempted just as we are, but without sin. He is there for us, and with us, in the wilderness, on the mountain tops, and in the mundane of life - let us not keep him to ourselves, but knowing God's love go out share His love with others.
God bless you this Lent,
Hennie
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