Download the .pdf file for the Sunday rotas and readings, a weekly 'What's on?' and a focus for prayer from Revd. Steph and Bev
Why not start your celebrations this year with the true meaning of Christmas? Join us for Astbury’s Live Nativity, a much-loved community event, looked forward to each year as the highlight of the season. Our journey begins at the farm where we are greeted by the Centurion who orders us to go to Bethlehem. We follow the star through the village in the footsteps of Mary, Joseph and their faithful donkey so that we too become part of the story of the first Christmas. We are guided on the way by some smelly shepherds and angels encourage us to keep going. A grumpy inn-keeper tells us there is no room at the inn. Don’t let him put you off … Bethlehem is in sight! We sing carols to keep our spirits up and anticipate with excitement who we shall find at the end of our journey. The stable scene in church awaits us and we watch the arrival of the three Kings as they bring their gifts. Once again, the age-old story is complete and we raise our voices together to welcome the Christ-child. As we refresh ourselves with hot chocolate or mulled wine and a mince pie, we can rest assured that we have remembered and celebrated the real reason for the season. We meet at Glebe Farm at 6pm, ready to move off at 6.30. Pre-booking is essential for this event. Tickets are available online using the QR codes or by clicking the links below to the online booking page.For 16th DecemberFor 17th DecemberBooking opens 1st November 2024 Adult tickets are £6 each, under16’s tickets are £3 each A Family ticket for two adults and two children is £15 Small booking fees apply Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable If you are unable to book online, tickets may be ordered at church after any 11am Sunday service.
FAMILY STORY TELLINGNovember is a time for remembering. All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day, and Remembrance Day give us the opportunity to remember and retell the stories of those who have come before us and made their mark on the world through their love for others. I was struck, sitting in the school hall by the children learning songs for our school Remembrance Service. There was such beauty in this room full of young people remembering their family and community members who travelled far from home and gave themselves to the pursuit of peace. Children are fascinated by the past and they grasp from a young age how it has impacted them. The stories of the soldiers live on in the hearts of the young. Over the past six months, my daughter has become engrossed with our family tree. This is in part due to the fact she has an obsessive mother who spends hours trying to solve it. She is also blessed with the presence of great-grandmother who shares photos and stories of her ancestors with her. It is deep-rooted (pardon the pun!) in our family tree to pass on small traditions and knowledge of where we have come from and who belongs to us in history. My daughter has become so passionate, she has found lost, forgotten ancestors and has remembered them to us. She was thrilled to find that her 5x great-grandparents resided in Astbury and are buried in the Church yard. Now she knows them, she doesn’t want to lose who they are. They are part of us. As we look backwards, we remember all those who have formed us and have shaped the world we live in. This gives us an opportunity to think forwards. We are the storytellers of the past and we are the authors of the stories of the future. What we do now is the first draft of the next family history. What stories will our children and grandchildren be sharing about us or excited to find out about us? What will their memories say about us? As we work to keep those who came before us alive in our hearts, we need to be present in each moment. We need speak and show acts of love, kindness and compassion so, in the future, our young ones will tell stories showing God was here. I will finish with the words of the song the children were singing in the school hall (I am sure you will have heard it before): Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me; let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.With God our creator, family all are we. Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony. (Jill Jackson and Sy Miller)Sophie Molyneux, Trainee Pastoral Worker
Did you know that one of the churchwardens was fined 28/- for refusing to subscribe to the ‘re-pewing and beautifying’ of the church in 1636? ...that there were 122 children in the Sunday school in 1833? ...that the spire was ‘much injured’ when struck by lightning in 1838? ...that there was no electricity till 1939? ...that we've just found a Marian mark, which was supposed to keep the church safe from evil, … and that our green man has cat ears? St Mary’s History Group is being revived, so please do join us. We aim to collect information about the history of our amazing church and to then find ways of sharing it with visitors. We also want to take photos of all parts of the church, and to do some work on the archives. Contact Sally Drage for more information: 07977 903561, music@astburychurch.org.uk, or talk to her after a service.
