In typical Alpha tradition, each meeting begins with a warm and friendly meal, where everyone can relax and share events in their lives over the past week. After the meal, while enjoying coffee, a video is watched, after which there is opportunity to discuss the issues raised. The videos cover a series of topics week by week, starting from "Who is Jesus?" right through to "How do I make the most of my life?".

Part way through the course there is a Saturday Away-Day for each group, usually held at one of the Circuit Chapels, and the course finally ends with a Celebration Evening. Experience of past courses shows that they are consistently enjoyed and valued by all involved, and frequently lead to a continuation of the meetings through the formation of Home Groups. Many new and close friendships become forged as individuals explore the meaning and relevance of the Christian faith to their lives, and grow together in their understanding and commitment.

Pastoral care is provided on a geographical basis. There are 8 groups split into 8 areas around Knutsford and the outlying villages. Each group has a leader and each leader has several visitors who are assigned a member/family to visit.

Because those members who are involved in Church Groups meet regularly, they were already receiving pastoral care by the members of those groups. We asked the leaders of House Groups, etc. if they would be willing to take on formally what they did naturally, and, having received positive responses, it was decided that those in House Groups, the Tuesday Afternoon Fellowship, the Men's Breakfast, etc. would be adequately covered for pastoral care by their groups.

Those members not involved in any other Church Groups will be cared for in the way described above. They have an assigned Pastoral Visitor who should try to visit them at least twice a year, and keep in general contact between-times.

Each Group Leader has pastoral responsibility for the visitors in their group and, even if they belong to another group, should still contact or visit them.

Should a member have some kind of crisis, and the visitor or group with pastoral responsibility feels further care is needed, then the process is to inform either the Group Leader, Paul or me, as deemed appropriate.

This is your Church Library calling. I have book-shelves in the entrance vestibule to the Community Rooms and in my own room at the back of the large hall. How many of you have borrowed books and videos from my shelves? There is a wide selection of books for adults from well known celebrities, well known authors (and not-so-well known), from the serious to the humorous-- e.g.

AITKEN, Jonathan - John Newton From Disgrace to Amazing Grace,

Brother ANDREW & JANSSEN Al - Secret Believers,

BARCLAY, W. - Testament of Faith,

FOLLEY, M. - A time to leap (About Jonathan Edwards),

HIRD, Thora - Not in the diary,

WATTS, M - Rolling in the Aisles,

WILLIAMS, Rowan - Resurrection,

Funny sides of Life, In the garden, plus many more.

I also have on my shelves a collection of lovely children's books, which have been donated by the estate of the children's author, Eileen Colwell. There are books for the very small, picture-books for those who like being read to, and storybooks for those who like to read to themselves, e.g.

BOND, M - A Bear like Paddington,

LEWIS, C.S - The Lion, The witch and The Wardrobe,

BRIGGS, R - The Snowman,

BOX, Sue - The First Rainbow,

BUTTERWORTH, Nick and Inkpen,

MICK -The Little Gate,

GOUGE, E - I Saw Three Ships, plus many more.

Then there is a collection of videos - both for adults and for children.
For the children: Veggie Tales, Little Dogs on the Prairie.
For the adults: Alpha Course and Rigoletto, plus more, etc.

Lastly, the church has invested in a number of Teaching Tapes, on the topics of worship, children's ministry and leadership - with speakers including Philip Yancey, Matt Redman and Eric Delve. These are really excellent tapes - give them a try.

Please visit me and look at my shelves, remembering, if you borrow a book or tape to write your name on the correct sheet in the file provided. Thank you.

If you have any ideas of books and videos you would like to see in the Church Library, please contact Ann M via the Church Office, Tel 01565 652251. Also, if you would like to see our compilation of book-reviews, please click HERE.

One of the defining moments of middle age is when you find yourself wondering whether to colour your hair. (Gentlemen excepted I presume these days!)

Another is when you can look back over your life and identify steps along your own faith journey when God has significantly intervened and revealed Himself and/or His purposes to you.

At the age of 14, a friend invited me to a confirmation class which was just starting at the local Anglican church. Following that course introduced me to the real Jesus of the Bible, and it awakened my curiosity in Him. I realised I desired to know more. Fellowship at my school's Christian Union and my youth group, and through regular worship, teaching and prayer at church and then at University helped me begin to understand Christ's claims and challenged me to respond in obedience. Indeed for a time I did.

However, we can treat sin too lightly and God's grace too cheaply, and in early adult life I found that my love for God and my willingness to obediently follow Him began to fail. Such times of failure and sin can overwhelm us. Recognition of sin and confession of it was painful but it was a process I had to go through before I could receive the joy of total, deep forgiveness and a restored relationship with God.

Thereafter the "life story" has continued with the regular ups and downs we all experience (although those who live with Bearded Collies experience rather more of the latter!).

Children, their well-being and their status in the eyes of God, have featured predominantly since I've had my own family. Bringing Oliver and Jemima up to know God and to follow in His ways has not always been easy. I thank God for my husband, Mike, who often is the one who seeks peace in exasperating moments! However, Christian parenting has been, and continues to be, very rewarding.

In various settings I believe God has called me to speak of His mighty acts and power and to commend them to the next generation…

Now, serving God in the context of the Knutsford Methodist Church family, I look forward to new opportunities to bring children and their families to faith. Yet also to disciple them so that they increasingly understand the character of God, and that over the years they will find Him utterly dependable, trustworthy and worthy of praise.

On a Thursday night, usually from 8.00pm to 9.30pm at Knutsford Methodist Church, the youth play games, listen to student testimonies, hear the word of God, and spend time discussing and praying in small groups. Often the drama team, which itself meets on Wednesdays (again at the church, from 5.00pm to 5.45pm), will perform a skit. They are an extremely talented bunch and always get a laugh out of the group.

On Sunday nights we have a variety of activities from Circuit Youth Services, followed by TNT extra (which is all fun and games), to a social at laser quest, to a movie-night, to a trip to Planet Life, to Go Karting, etc.

Holy Space, which happens once a month, is a unique experience of worship where the youth explore prayer and scripture in a pilgrimage-style, proceeding through various stations.

If you're still curious, come and help out with the youth and see what it's all about. We'd love to have you at any of our events. If you come to church, pick up a youth calendar from the notice board. And now, for the answer to the question which everybody asks, as to what TNT stands for - wait for it - Thursday Night Truth.
The mystery has been solved ...

Did you know that around 100 folk or more from Knutsford Methodist Church meet regularly in Home Groups to study the Bible, have fellowship and pray together? There also seems to be a lot of laughs and eating involved as well! Typically these groups number up to 10 to 15 members, are led by the members themselves, and are based on informal discussion around a Bible passage. Many groups use selected Bible-study books or the notes of the current Sermons - which gives a chance to explore and discuss further what we have heard.

If you would like to join a small Home Group, now is your chance. It doesn't matter whether you are a mature theologian or a scared beginner, whether you are used to being in a group or not, whether you are old, young, shy, extrovert:- there will be a place to suit you at a time of your choice. Enjoy some good company, some food-for-thought perhaps and, no doubt, a few laughs too. To find out more about the individual groups, please click HERE - also, you could give Martin or Liz H a call via the Church Office (01565 652251).

I originate from Bishopbriggs near Glasgow where most of my family still live. Prior to 'moving south' I worked for the local Health Service, BT and General Accident with roles varying from administration to finance and insurance. In 1993 I eventually answered God's call on my life and went to Cliff College for 1 year - and ended up staying 2!!!!! Feel free to ask questions!

I have spent 5 years in the Stockport Circuit as the lay worker for young people, which has seen me involved with the youth in our Circuit Churches and also the local secondary schools. I have worked ecumenically as well and with organisations like Christians in Schools. It has been very challenging at times and also very rewarding. I have witnessed some fantastic changes in these young people as I have watched them grow in faith and maturity.

I am really enjoying the challenges that life and work at Knutsford Methodist Church is bringing. As part of my role is pastoral care, I love to meet people where they are at, and to get to know them. I am eager to develop the skills of listening, caring, nurturing and supporting people along their journey. I also have a real heart for young people and love to enable them to find their gifts and to use them within the life of the Church.
God Bless You All,
Alison xx"

Rehearsals are open to anyone who enjoys singing or playing worship-songs, whether preferring to remain in the congregation on Sundays or to sit with the group as it leads worship for the 10:30am Services.

The format of the evening is generally as follows:-

7:45pm - Musicians set up instruments

8:00pm - All gather to discuss news, and to pray

8:20pm - Rehearsal of songs for Sunday, and new songs

9:00pm - Finish

Thank you for appointing me as Chair elect for MET. In January 07 I took time to prayerfully consider this appointment. During a time of prayer I felt the anointing of the Holy Spirit and, through William and Karen Porter, felt commissioned by God to be one who seeks to fashion the church into the image of Jesus. I shared this vision with Knutsford Methodist Church, and over succeeding months saw people coming to and growing in their faith. It is one thing to be asked by people like Paul Smith to consider becoming Chair of MET. It is quite another to feel called by God to take this appointment.

MET is a movement of prayer, word and spirit called by God to be at the heart of the Methodist Church fashioning the church into the image of Jesus.

• It is a movement of prayer, praying for revival, carrying the baton of Prayer without Ceasing and encouraging people to pray in their local churches and through prayer conferences.
• It is a movement of the Word, recognising the authority of the scriptures as we seek to spread scriptural holiness. We seek to support people in their local churches through providing bible studies and other materials through Headline and other publications. We seek to engage with the issues facing Methodism through conference, connexional and local committees. We seek to encourage people in their devotional life as well as in their academic study.
• It is a movement of the Spirit, seeking God's anointing as we move forward in new and exciting ways in response to God's direction. This may be through large gatherings such as ECG and various conferences but God is also at work through congregations spread throughout Methodism and the emerging Fresh Expressions of Church.
• Within this movement we recognise that we have a pastoral and prophetic ministry. Pastorally we provide care for student and probationer presbyters and deacons. However, I am aware of those who have been helped, both lay and ministers, through particular situations. MET is for you. Prophetically we engage with organisation of the church, and seek to ensure the evangelical perspective is heard as together we seek to fulfil Our Calling. Inevitably, individuals have different gifts and emphases. Our new name recognises this. As Methodist Evangelicals Together we will serve God at the heart of Methodism.

For anyone wishing to visit the MET website, please go to http://www.met-uk.org/met/index.php

As there were no churches in the area at the time (1800), Hugh Bourne started prayer-meetings at a local farmhouse. The meetings became very popular and soon the farmhouse was too small. So, following in Wesley's' tradition, and having promised a full day of prayer on Mow Cop, open-air camp meetings began, and thus Primitive Methodism was born on the 31st May 1807. This first meeting lasted 14 hours and ended at 8:00pm! - with a second meeting, 3 months later on Saturday 22nd August 1807, being a day and night affair, starting at 4 o'clock in the afternoon and continuing throughout the night.

Englesea Brook Chapel, near Crewe, has a schoolroom built as a memorial to Hugh Bourne and has now become a museum of Primitive Methodism. They have study-days, group visits, a library and other resources for study and research.

Opening Times
April - November: every Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Bank Holiday Monday, 10.30am-5.15pm; every Sunday, 1.30pm-5.15pm.
August: Tuesdays-Sundays and Bank Holiday Monday, 10.30am - 5.15pm.

For more information, telephone Englesea Brook Chapel & Museum: 01270 820836, or visit the website www.engleseabrook-museum.org.uk, or simply pop down to Englesea Brook for a visit.

We have regular contributors, with specialism and/or expertise in certain areas, who write articles for the website on a variety of themes from various Christian perspectives. Recent articles include

"Oh Brother" - on the Big Brother racism debate,

"Holocaust Memorial Day" - on the Church's role in the Holocaust,

"Lost in Translation" - on various and interesting Bible translations,

and many more!

The site is a great resource for anyone putting together a sermon; not only for collecting ideas, but also to gain an awareness of the questions which people (of all ages, denominations and backgrounds) are asking about that subject.

2. A Word in Time
This is a new online Bible Study for daily life. As daily life gets more and more hectic, many find it difficult to make time for the spiritual side of life. Now they can simply log on to www.methodist.org.uk/bible from wherever they happen to be, and access A Word in Time, the Methodist Church's new online daily Bible study.

Launched in September 2007, as part of the new-look Methodist website, 'A Word in Time' will feature a daily Bible-reading, background on the text, reflections and questions to ponder from that week's contributor. It follows the readings in the Methodist Prayer Handbook, 'All things in Christ', bringing the 40,000 readers of the handbook together with online disciples in their search for daily spirituality. Sundays will be extra special, with a blog attached to the commentary, enabling users to post their own comments and thoughts on the featured passage.

Alison Pollard, Web-writer, says; "the Bible is a central part of our faith, but with our hectic 21st century lifestyles, it's often easy to neglect this essential part of our Christianity. With this exciting new online feature, we are trying to encourage the reader to apply the Bible to their own life and the social and political context in which they live".

Each week, a different writer will offer thoughts and reflections on a different passage of the Bible, with fifty-two contributors in total, from a wide range of social and academic backgrounds.

About The Methodist Church
The Methodist Church is one of the largest Christian Churches serving Great Britain, with nearly 300,000 members and regular contact with over 800,000 people. It has about 5,800 Churches in Great Britain, and also maintains links with other Methodist Churches totalling a worldwide membership of 70 million. Its activities, both alone and with ecumenical and secular partners, are based on four aims, known as Our Calling:

• To increase awareness of God's presence and to celebrate God's love.
• To help people to grow and learn as Christians through mutual support and care.
• To be a good neighbour to people in need and to challenge injustice.
• To make more followers of Jesus Christ.