This weekend, churches across Rochdale are hosting a variety of services, concerts, and community gatherings. Here is a roundup of what's happening.
St Mary's, Balderstone
St Mary's welcomes everyone to their Trinity Sunday service tomorrow at 10:30am. A guest preacher will explore 2 Corinthians 13:11-14. Children's groups for ages 4 to 11 are available, and refreshments follow the service. The Sunday evening prayer meeting is cancelled this week but returns next week. The SMUrFs (St Mary's Under Fives) group resumes on Tuesday, June 2, from 1:30pm to 3pm, with games, toys, snacks, and stories. Cost is £1 for one adult and one child, plus 30p per additional child. Midweek small groups start Wednesday, June 3, with a daytime group at 10am in the church lounge and an evening group at 7:30pm on Zoom, studying the book of Samuel. Advance notice: a quiz night with meal on June 20 at 7pm, raising funds for Springhill Hospice. For more info, visit www.stmarysbalderstone.org.uk, email stmarysbalderstone@gmail.com, or see their Facebook page.
St Luke's Church, Deeplish
St Luke's holds a Holy Communion service on Sunday, May 31 at 10am, officiated by Revd Natty Gray, with tea and coffee after. Wednesday, June 3, features a Bible Study at 10am (open to all) followed by a Holy Communion service at 11am. All are welcome.
St Chad's and St Mary in the Baum
Today, Saturday, May 30, at St Chad's at noon, Midday Music presents a Celebrity Concert with international pianist Liana Storey, featuring works by Bach, Shostakovich, Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Debussy, and Gershwin. Admission £6 includes light refreshments from 11:30am; concert ends around 12:50pm. Tomorrow, Trinity Sunday, a joint Benefice Eucharist with hymns is at St Mary in the Baum at 10am, led by Rev Duke O'Baka-Torto. Each Monday at St Mary's, the Red Cross offers help for refugees from 10am to 2pm. Next Wednesday, June 3, the Toad Lane Lunchtime Concert at St Mary's features Richard Haslam on classical guitar from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, admission £6. St Chad's (Grade 2* listed) opens for visitors Wednesdays and Thursdays from June 3, 2pm-4pm, throughout summer. Gardening takes place Wednesdays 1pm-3pm, and church cleaning Thursdays 10:30am-noon; volunteers welcome. Next weekend, June 6-7, St Chad's participates in the Boadfield Park Slopes Medieval Fayre, open Saturday 10am-4pm and Sunday 1pm-4pm, with archery, re-enactments, medieval music, and demonstrations of cookery, embroidery, combat, and more. Food and drinks available at the Town Hall. Next Sunday, June 7, services: 9:15am Eucharist at St Mary's and 11:15am Choral Eucharist at St Chad's, both led by Rev Pamela Parr. For Asian Christian Fellowship details, call 07983 388169. On Saturday, June 13, a Come & Sing European Choral Classics Day at St Chad's, led by Gary Hulme from 10am to 3pm (short concert at 3pm). Participants £12, concert free. St Chad's and St Mary's warmly welcome all, with children's activities and refreshments.
Holy Trinity Benefice of Littleborough
Last Sunday celebrated Pentecost; this Sunday is a Benefice service for Trinity Sunday at Holy Trinity, led by Rev Maureen Thorpe, with refreshments after. Tuesday Bible study and prayer at 7:30pm continues studying the Holy Spirit. The Holy Trinity Youth Theatre Workshop has disbanded due to high licensing costs; unsold costumes are available for purchase, with interest from Germany, Italy, Norway, and America. Contact Holy Trinity Littleborough to view costumes. On Friday, June 12 at 7:30pm, a Spring Concert by Rochdale Light Orchestra conducted by Graham Marshall, tickets £8 on the night or from church members.
St Andrew's, Dearnley
Last Sunday's readings were Acts 2:1-21, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13, and John 20:19-23 or John 7:37-39. Next Sunday's readings: Isaiah 40:12-17, 27-end; 2 Corinthians 13:11-end; Matthew 28:16-end. Services this week: Wednesday 9:30am morning prayer, Thursday 10:30am midweek Eucharist, and Sunday 10:30am service followed by brunch. The prayer group with Mike and Mag restarts soon. Summer fair on June 27; please donate raffle prizes. New members wanted for the 50 club; contact Janice. Poppies are being made for a November display; patterns in church, and red wool donations welcome. This month's charity is Christian Aid. Next Mothers' Union meeting on June 1 at 2pm, with Jan Hicks on communication in WWII. All welcome. This week's verse: 1 Corinthians 16:14, 'Let all that you do be done in love.'
