News - Timperley Methodist Church

The waffler asks why... Why do we need a Timperley Methodist Newsletter?
If you stick with these monthly updates (and I continue to be blessed with the role of editor) you’ll find that I struggle with getting to the point of things. With this brief little platform I have been given, I’m going to start with an apology in advance for this and hope that - if I’m not informative - at least I might be a little entertaining. With me being an editor, you might find it strange that I begin my first ever piece on the church with the subject of going off on a tangent - however I do believe it’s important. Have you ever found that, when someone is talking, the tangent seems to be more interesting than the original subject? It might be that it’s more relevant for you, or just something that you click with more.

With this in mind, this is why the newsletter is here. It’s designed to give you all the information that might be relevant to YOU. The voices, the events, the worship that matters to you can be found in these monthly updates. We’re tailoring the information that matters to you so, in turn, you’ll become more engaged with us as a community. But why is this important? When I was younger (and not wanting to get up on a Sunday) I questioned why we need to go to a church to connect with God. He’s everywhere isn’t he? Why do we need to go to a church which required a) getting dressed and b) talking to people on a Sunday morning when I could offer up a quick little prayer in my dressing gown and slippers while eating my breakfast in front of the TV and have to do neither of those things. The point, I’d realise in later life was the sense of community. It’s a support network of others who believe the same stuff that you do and are there to help you through whatever life throws at you. It’s through this realisation that I realised what church was about, it’s also through this that I realise why this newsletter is important. It’s there to engage you, to inform you, and to invite you into this loving community that we have in Timperley Methodist (and the Altrincham Circuit and beyond!). So why do we need a Timperley Methodist Church Newsletter? Because, in the words of Jack Johnson - We’re Better Together.

Well, how are your preparations going? I have to admit mine are way behind, things are so busy at this time. Obviously within the church this is the most wonderful time of the year.  We celebrate the birth of Jesus.  The Son of God comes to us as a baby.  Humble beginnings for what turns out to be an amazing and wonderful life of teaching, but more importantly, that he came to be our saviour.
	Over this period we have a number of services to celebrate and we would love you to come and join us, to celebrate the gift of Jesus.  We’ve already had: Carols in The Moss Trooper, and Cork’s Out (thanks to their management for allowing us to sing) Our annual Toy Service, where gifts for the Key103 Cash for Kids Appeal were brought A special Christmas Veggie Tales Carols with a U3G Ukulele Band A special Big Bash Service Live Lounge.  But we’ve more to come ...
This week sees our Nativity Service at 10:30 on Sunday 16th December 2018.  Come dressed as a Christmas story character and take part! Thursday 20th at 7:30pm sees us have a quieter Taizé style service We have our traditional Carol Service on Sunday 23rd at 10:30am.  Then we have the fantastic family Christingle Service on Christmas Eve at 4:00pm Finally come along at 10:30am on Christmas morning to say Happy Birthday in a short celebration, and bring an unopened present along with you, we would love to see you. This truly is the most wonderful time of the year, and all of us at Timperley Methodist Church wish you a Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year. Malc Aspey

After weeks of rehearsals and lots of hard work from many people, the 'Aladdin' shows at the end of November/beginning of December were performed by talented youngsters to 'full houses'.

We are proud of them all, as they learned lines and put their dramatic and musical skills into practice! It was good to welcome new actors and see 'older' actors develop even more.

All the support we received from parents, allowing their children to come to rehearsals and no doubt drive them mad at home practicing songs and lines, all paid off! They were truly amazing.

I don’t think anyone who saw the performance will forget the Genie!!

TMC has a history of putting on pantomimes and it’s clear that Jean Barton's legacy lives on!

It was a lot of work, but well worth it. Thanks to everyone who helped in any way...music, sound, lighting, set design, scenery painting, ticket sales, makeup, hair, costumes...the list goes on…a true TEAM effort!!

Tricia Tait

Do you have Christmas traditions?

Things your family does every year without which it wouldn’t feel like Christmas?

Maybe you open one present on Christmas Eve or eat an entire selection box for breakfast on Christmas morning. Perhaps you always have to have a game of charades or a bracing walk on Boxing Day.

For me, I know that Christmas has started once I’ve been to the Christingle service - that’s the moment that I stop worrying about whether I’ve got all the right presents and how we’re all going to cope sleeping in one room at my parents and let the awe and wonder of the Christmas story fill my heart.

If you’ve never been to a Christingle service - here’s a little snapshot of how it looks. If the Christingle is part of your family’s tradition already, you’ll recognise the familiar rhythm and ritual that make this service so special.

The Church is softly lit with candles and twinkling lights. The seats are packed with children and their extended families and friends. There’s a quiet buzz of excitement rippling round as they are welcomed and the first notes of a familiar carol begin. People who might not have sung like this all year enjoy raising the roof in the chorus. Between the carols the children are invited to the front. They sit, crossed legged listening to the storyteller read the story of the First Christmas. Sometimes the story is funny, sometimes it’s magical, but it’s always beautiful to see the sparkle in their eyes as they listen.

Next we learn about the Christingle itself. A tradition from the Moravian church, we use an orange, a candle and some sweets to symbolise Jesus, the light of the world coming to live amongst us. The candles are (carefully) lit and each child stands transfixed as Away in a Manger is sung. At the end of the service people spill out of church into the cold night air, taking the Light of the World with them into Christmas.

Everyone is welcome to our Christingle services 4pm, Christmas Eve at Timperley Methodist and at Altrincham Methodist too.

Jackie Davies, Children’s Worker

Happy New Year everyone and welcome to the first Timperley Methodist Church Newsletter of 2019. Christmas was the usual busy time for us all no doubt. The church had the usual array of services at this special time of celebration and we hope you enjoyed seeing the lights and crib scene that we had at the front of church over the period. Thank you if you attended one of our services and to all who helped make this time so special and thank you to all who contributed and helped with the lights.

Now we are in the New Year we have much to look forward to as well. Over the next few months we will feature some of the different styles of worship and activities that the church has happening on its premises. This hopefully will include articles from church groups and groups that use our rooms. This month we feature articles about the Girls Brigade and the Dementia Group Meeting. I hope you enjoy reading about them.

In September, Rev Janet Aspey became the minister responsible for Timperley Methodist Church taking over from Rev Ros Watson who will be moving on to Poynton in February. We wish Ros well in her new role. We hope to have an introduction from Janet in a newsletter soon. For my part (Malcolm Aspey - yes you guessed it - husband), I will be taking more of a role within the church. This is yet to be fully defined, but one role for sure is to be a pastoral contact for all groups and people using our premises, and continuing the development of our growing links within Timperley. Exciting times indeed.

For now though, I hope to be at the Church on most Wednesday mornings from the beginning of February. I will be at our regular Coffee Corner coffee shop, so if you need to speak to someone at the church, or just fancy a coffee and chat, please pop in. Our friendly, fairtrade coffee shop is open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning from 10 till 12 with fresh coffee, tea, toasted teacakes and more. We'd love to see you.

Please don't forget our Foodbank, who at this time need plenty of donations. Collection trolley in the front porch.

Malc

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