News
-
We had a most enjoyable evening back in the Mews this year. The room was decorated with lanterns and Hydrangeas, the food was second to none with a delicious main course of hotpot and savoury dumplings followed by scrumptious meringues with compote or apple pie and cream or ice cream. Martine and Renata took charge of the kitchen, learning how to use all the appliances they then prepared and served the food through the hatch, which is a real asset.
The guests arrived, many in costume and they looked splendid, the quiz and entertainment was fun and we learnt a few things along the way. Andrew Millinchip joined us for a short while in order to accompany the vicar with his excerpts from the musical Oliver. The other items in the programme were very enjoyable and thought provoking.
As usual the raffle went on too long and the noise in the Mews rose while the last drops of wine were drained from the glass and the thankyous were announced and there were lots of compliments for the Social and Fundraising team for which we are very grateful. After clearing the debris of the evening, everyone went home tired but happy with an evening spent in good fellowship. We raised £490. 60 for our funds so a big thank you to everyone. -
Tuesday 15th August 2017 saw some thirty people attended a summer lunch at the newly refurbished Mews.
A very calm atmosphere prevailed, provided by resplendent decoration and rustic woodwork.
The room was enhanced by colourful tableware, flowers and the sunshine! Excellent food provided by Chris and Linda, ably aided by Alan, was enjoyed by all. Many thanks to them, from everyone.Linda & Chris would like to add their thanks to everyone who came and supported the lunch, together we raised £176.64 for church funds.
-
The guest speaker at this year’s Hub-in-the-Pub was Mark Mitchell, of Mitchell Motor Group at Cheshire Oaks. Mark described his business career, his Christian calling and the links between them. His first entrepreneurial activity was selling a litter of hamsters for 10p each, moving on to selling repossessed motorbikes from his student digs in Leeds and, just a few years after graduating, opening his own petrol station. He now has a large car dealership with franchises for Lexus, Mazda and Skoda.
Mark’s Christian life also began to crystallise early, at a youth camp when aged 11. His faith has guided his business life since then, and he places great emphasis on supporting the family life of his staff. His website famously shows ‘at home with the family’ as the Sunday opening hours for the business. As he commented, ‘being a Christian in this business means you can make a mark.’ With his encouragement, many of his staff support World Vision, to sponsor children’s health and education in the developing world, and the company sponsors a number of staff each year to travel to Africa to see the work done at first hand.
Mark has numerous other interests and is Deputy Lieutenant of Cheshire and in 2019 will be High Sheriff of Cheshire. He supports Street Pastors of Chester, an organisation which provides practical support (friendship, conversation and bottles of water and flip-flops) in the early hours of the morning to people coming out of clubs and bars, perhaps a little the worse for wear. The audience at the Hub took a collection of £435 for this charity.
We would like to thank Mark for spending the evening with us, and also David Hughes and the Plough for providing a venue and sandwiches for the event. -
The 9.30am mid-week communion has now moved from Tuesdays to Wednesdays.
It will still follow the pattern of St Mary’s 1st, 3rd and 5th Wednesdays in the month, and St Peter’s 2nd and 4th.
The Vicar hopes that this will dovetail nicely with the weekly Crafty Coffee meetings, and the monthly Men’s Breakfast.
Give it a try if you’ve never been. It is an oasis of God’s peace and strength in the middle of our busy lives.
-
Faculty Consultation PeriodPublished: Friday 13 January 2017 10:53 AM
Author: Linda Dutton pcc@stmaryswhitegate.orgThe PCC have applied to the Diocese for a Faculty to remove two short pews from the nave of the church, the ‘wardens’ pew from the west end and the two book rests/kneelers from the east end of the nave in front of the pulpit and lectern.
The PCC decided to apply for these changes to enable better access and seating for visitors in wheelchairs and for those with pushchairs.
The Diocese have agreed to our proposals in principal and we are now to enter a 28 day period of consultation from 15th January.
The documents along with the plans are displayed on the board at the back of church and in the porch. Please look at the plans and if you have any further questions please do speak to either of the wardens or the Vicar.
-
Our Men’s Breakfast at the Red Lion, Little Budworth has been running for just over two years now and has proved to be very popular. Our thanks to all who have attended and particularly to the Red Lion for looking after us so well. Mainly to help me continue with my work at the Hospice on Tuesdays from January 2017, the Mid Week Communion has been moved to Wednesday. As you know it alternates between St Mary’s and St Peter’s with it being at St Mary’s on the Third Wednesday in the month. We have therefore decided to try moving our Breakfast to the Second Wednesday to allow either Chris and I to attend prior to the Communion. We will, of course, be pleased to welcome any of our Breakfast men to join us for Communion too. If this presents problems for anyone please speak to Alan, Chris or myself. This means the February Breakfast will be on Wednesday 8th.
