Vicar’s Letter July 2019

Sometimes people ask me: What’s a parish church?

The answer is: One that serves ALL its residents regardless of background, creed or colour.

All Saints’ remit is to be available as a place of worship and a community of believers and inquirers that is open to EVERYONE.  A parish church doesn’t just serve one group of people but is there for everyone who lives in the parish (and beyond) regardless of whether we believe in God or not or indeed, if we’re not sure!

Of course All Saints’ focus is on welcoming anyone to Sunday worship where we gather to Praise God but we are also open many times during week for all kinds of reasons: to support young families through their first years; to offer practical help to those going through a crisis via the Food Bank; to give people opportunity for private prayer and last but not least,as place for fun and friendship in music making and small group fellowships.

Celebrations and tough times happen in all families and as a parish church we offer support to anyone who wants to get married, to baptise children or to give thanks for the life of a special family member.  You don’t have to be a regular church goer to have a wedding, a baptism or a funeral at All Saints’– please simply ask and we will do our best to help.

The church is the one organisation that exists for the benefit of its non-members!  Jesus demonstrated his inclusive love in so many ways.  No one was or is unimportant to Him.  And we, as a parish church aspire to be the same – to welcome each and everyone who comes through the door on a Sunday or any other day of the week: You are always VERY welcome.

God ISN’T just for religious people – He is for us all – because, as the Bible tells us, He knows us AND … He loves us whoever we are and whatever we have done or not done.  We hope that will be your experience when you step across the threshold.

Peter Chantry

About Stephen

Lay Chair of All Saints' Church Council and Treasurer. Retired Head of University Secretariat at Keele, Secretary of North Staffs Classical Association, Secretary of North Shropshire CLP, former Woore Parish Councillor & Vice-Chairman of Woore Neighbourhood Plan Team, now complete. Chairman of Sir John Offley's Almshouse Trust, Madeley.
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