Some of our  young people are once again taking part in the Christian Aid sponsored swim at Crewe Baths on Saturday 10th March at 6pm.  As usual we will have one sponsor form at Church if you wish to sponsor them.  Last year the event raised a staggering £2,000 towards clean water projects through Christian Aid.  Please see Sarah Turnbull for further details or to sponsor them.

Over the past 18 months the PCC has assessed, and revised, our Outward Giving as a church. This equates to 10% of our voluntary giving and in 2011 this equated to over £7000. Below is a list of those we support - if you require any further details please let know. It is encouraging to receive the “Thank You” letters from the various places we have sent the money to. One in particular, a local charity, said that, ”in this area we are the exception and not the rule”. This is very encouraging, and along with the other letters, we can see God’s work being done globally, nationally and locally in ways that we could never do as a church. Please be encouraged by this!! 

As a church we are facing tough financial times, for about the tenth year on the run we are budgeting for a deficit, this year of £7000, in our payments over receipts, in three years (or less if something major breaks) we won’t have the reserves to dip into. But you know God blesses a faithful church, and being faithful in giving, personally and as church, ensures that the work that these charities do can continue into the future. Please check that you are giving in a Tax Efficient way through Gift Aid as this makes a tremendous difference to our finances, perhaps moving from plate to envelope or giving through a standing order. And, if possible, please remember this church in your Will, many Christians overlook this way of giving. If you require further information on any of this please see me. Charities that have benefited from your giving in 2011:

• Church Missionary Society / SAMS 
• Crosslinks 
• Tear Fund 
• USPG 
• The Bible Society The Children’s Society 
• The Church Army 
• Church Pastoral Aid Society 
• Clergy Welfare inc. Cof E Pensions Board, St Luke’s Hospital for the clergy and Chester Clergy Family Trust 
• Crewe Christian Concern 
• The YMCA 
• Crewe Christians Against Poverty
  

Mike Turnbull (Chair of the PCC)

A member of our church family, Sheena Sambrook has been proclaimed ‘Wistonian of the Year’! by Wistaston Community Council.  Well done Sheena!

There is a new Coffee/Tea Rota at St Mary’s if you could put your name where you are able to help out after the 10.40am service, this is much appreciated.

At the PCC meeting on the 18th July the Diocesan Surveyor, Pete Gowrley, explained to us that the diocese are looking into selling part of the Rectory Garden (the land and the Rectory are owned by the diocese and not the Parish) for development by a house builder to help realise much needed funds for the diocese.  Currently, the diocese can only afford to do essential or emergency work on clergy houses and money raised from the sale would go towards refurbishing (or rebuilding) the current Rectory to bring it in line with national Church of England standards.  Any surplus will go into the Pastoral Fund which helps finance improvements to other clergy housing in the diocese.
 

The confirmation service took place at St Mary's on 26th June led by The Right Reverend Robert Atwell, Bishop of Stockport.  Those confirmed were Nessa Bellingham, Bethany Carter, Michael Davey, David Gallagher, Olwen Shone, Rebekah Turnbull and Daisy Wybrow. For more pictures click here.

Picture gallery