June 2012 - The Diocese of Manchester

zyx-CRUX.JUN.12 16/5/12 8:20 pm Page 22 June 2012BISHOP NIGEL’STHOUGHT FORTHE MONTHRun withthe CrossALL baptisedChristians bear thecross of Jesus. Itis the invisiblebadge of our faith.Wearing, in addition, a visiblecross can be an aid not only to personaldevotion to Jesus but also asign for others of the importance tous of our faith.This summer, across the country,Christians are being encouraged tomake a particular point of wearing avisible cross during the OlympicGames.A natural way of doing that in theManchester Diocese is for the “Runthe Race” badge, given out on myParish Pilgrimage visits, to be madeavailable again.It is a professionally (but freely)designed badge on which athletic andChristian themes combine - with arace track transformed into a cross.Several thousand of these are nownewly available. Many were distributedat the Archdeacons’ Visitations,and further orders from clergy andchurchwardens have been receivedat Bishopscourt. The final order tothe makers will soon have to go in.So let Bishopscourt know NOWif you want more (so long as theywill actually be used) - either individuallyor for parishes. Please helpto distribute these crosses across thediocese - and ENCOURAGETHEM TO BE WORN.Exploring the riches ofSpiritual CompanionshipA 12-week Spiritual Companionship Course is plannedfor September seeking to:☛ introduce and grow the practice of SpiritualCompanionship through prayer, listening andreflection☛ explore and practise a range of approaches toprayer☛ deepen the ability to listen to others☛ help participants to be with God with other people.The course is open to lay and ordained, and peopleof all denominations or none.Sessions on Thursdays from 10am to 4pm at StAndrew’s, Hillock, Whitefield, start on September 13,and about once a fortnight until the end of March. Thecourse includes a four-day retreat. Cost: £300.Please contact Canon Alan Butler, St Mary’sVicarage, Shaw; alanbutler@ntlworld.comMeet, eat and singTHIS is an opportunity for all involved in churchmusic to enjoy a sociable summer evening, meet thenew Royal School of Church Music (RSCM)Manchester Area committee, and sing through somenew RSCM publications, appropriate for small choirsand singing groups in unison and harmony.It will be held at Christ Church, Didsbury M202ZD on Wednesday June 27 (7.30-9.30pm). GordonAppleton leads the singing, accompanied by JeffreyMakinson, sub-organist of Manchester Cathedral. Tobook call 0161 283 2015.Messy popularityREGIONAL Messy Church trainer JaneLeadbetter gave an inspiring presentation at StMartin’s, Norris Bank in April. The session wasbooked out and lots of people went away determinedto explore the possibility of introducingMessy Church in their own parish.To find out what all the fuss is about, have alook at the Messy Church website www.messychurch.org.ukand look out for details of the repeatdiocesan training session on December 1 inChadderton.