Rector Writes – September 2018
September. For me, as for many, it will always be the month when everything starts again. Perhaps, it’s because I’m someone who (as an honorary Fellow at a local university) still has a foot in academia; perhaps, it’s because I’ve never quite grown up; perhaps, it’s because all of us find that our school experiences stay with us for the rest of our lives and September is ‘back to school’ month.
Whatever the reason, September is the month when it can feel like the world comes alive again. Kids go back to school, parents and teachers go back to work, and in Church our eyes turn towards Harvest, Remembrance and, well, dare I mention it, Advent and Christmas.
This autumn we approach a special time in the life of St Nick’s. Unbelievably, it is ninety years since the foundation of the parish. This is surely something worth celebrating. On December 9th (almost ninety years to the day since St Nick’s foundation), the current Bishop of Middleton, Mark Davies, will join us for a celebratory morning service, and lunch. I hope you will put the date in your diary.
We shall begin with our Christingle at 10.30am, led by Mark, and our Rainbow unit, followed by a lunch with sandwiches and cake and wine. Friends from past and present shall be invited, including one or two of the ‘great and the good’. The most important thing, though, is to have you there. If you think of someone we should invite to this celebration, please let me or the Church Wardens know. It’s going to be a great day.
In addition, now we’ve completed our boiler project, it’s time to think about how we can address some other aspects of our missional work. This is going to involve a new phase of work on the building as we look to repair some parts of it, as well as make it ever more flexible for the demands of the church and wider community. Clearly, there are some pressing matters, not least some urgent repairs to some of the church’s high-level windows and bringing our front porch back to life, but the PCC and I are keen to see how we make these works add to our ministry rather than damage it. We look forward to sharing some ideas with you very soon.
One area that the Mission Action Planning Group, a sub-group of the PCC, has begun to explore is ‘dementia-friendly church’. Dementia is something that affects the whole community and it is surely only right that churches work to become places where those with dementia, their families and friends, are especially welcome. This autumn we expect to move this work forward as we plan not only a special service, but look towards developing some dementia-friendly events. It will be an important part of our mission of service and an expression of our commitment to Inclusive Church.
All in all, then, there will be much going on, in addition to the usual round of Church activities and plans. I hope that the mission work of St Nick’s is something we can all feel part of and have a stake in. After all, we are called to grow into the likeness of Jesus Christ. This includes not only being faithful to our call to holy living, but showing willingness to be representatives of the Good News. As things get going again this autumn, I really hope you will be inspired to not only get involved, but dare to dream of new ideas and share your hopes with me, the Curate, the Wardens and the wider leadership team. Exciting times lie ahead.
Rachel xx
Nestled in the heart of the communities of East Didsbury and Burnage, St Nicholas Church stands as a beacon of faith, hope, and love. Under the devoted leadership of our Lead Minister, Revd Dr Augustine Tanner-Ihm, OMS, we are a vibrant, inclusive, and intergenerational Christian community committed to living out the bold faith of Jesus Christ.
