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This is Noah receiving his Copper Music Medal for Guitar from his teacher Ryan. Noah has been attending free weekly lessons at Positive Steps funded by Our Manchester. If you are interested in learning guitar (Ryan is a brilliant teacher), get in touch with Mo at Brunswick Church.  A lovely sunny morning for our annual Easter Sunday Celebration service at Brunswick – the big finale to our Easter events where we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus and the four most important words you are ever likely to hear or read: "He is not here" (implications, if true, = life-changing). We began outside in the community garden where the story of Jesus' empty tomb was read and we had our Easter Shout – accompanied by a rocket... if you were wondering about the whoosh and loud bang you heard at about 11am. Then we went into the church to sing, praise and celebrate the Risen Jesus and gift of a new start of everyone. The service also included the baptisms of Kaitlyn and Caleb and the cutting off of a tie... (ask Simon to explain!) Photos below, which also include a few from our Passover Meal on Thursday. Our Caribbean evening was a great success, with amazing food, great music - some of it from a scratch live band - and a chance to meet and listen to our special guest Robert Dixon, Principal of Operation Restoration Christian School in Trenchtown, Kingston, Jamaica. ORCS is one of our mission partners and it was good hear the latest news from the school direct from Robert. Our church AGM (Annual General Meeting) will be on Sunday 30th March as part of the morning service. At Brunswick we don't do boring if we can possibly help it, so our AGM is a time of looking back with celebration and thanks and looking forward to what's next. Business is kept to a minimum and all the reports are available to read in this booklet, which gives an insight into all that God has done in and through us in the previous year – the year of our fab 50th birthday celebration!
 On Saturday April 5 we are hosting our latest community event, this time with a Caribbean theme, and featuring one of our Mission Partners, Operation Restoration Christian School, based in Kingston, Jamaica. The school Principal Robert Dixon will be our special guest.
Our Pancake Party on Shrove Tuesday was amazing! Almost 90 adults and children came to join the fun, doing activities, enjoying the conversation, and of course eat pancakes with all sorts of delicious toppings. Big thanks to our hard-working team who set up, cooked, served and cleaned up afterwards. Why Shrove Tuesday? Why pancakes? It's all about beginning to get ready for Easter. Watch this short video to find out more.  The countdown to Easter, the biggest Christian festival of the year, is about to begin. Easter Sunday will be on April 20, so Lent, the 40 day preparation time for the celebration of Easter, will begin on Wednesday March 5 with our Ash Wednesday Service at 9am. This will be an informal communion service, open to all, with an opportunity to receive ashes (optional). Find out more about Ash Wednesday here.  Shrove Tuesday is the day before the start of Lent and we will be having a Pancake Party, on March 4th, from 3:30-6pm. Let us know in advance if you have a favourite topping. Our Lent Group starts on Sunday, 9th March at 7pm and will run for 6 weeks, each session lasting an hour. Please join us at the Church Lounge as we discuss the book Wild Bright Hope. All welcome, even if you can’t attend every week.  Easter Week services will be on Good Friday, April 18, 10:45am, and Easter Sunday April 20 all together celebration, 10:45am. We will also have a special Passover Meal to recall and remember Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples from 6pm on Maundy Thursday, April 17. All welcome at all of these events as we remember and celebrate Jesus' final days, crucifixion and coming back to life.
As part of our 50th year celebrations we have invited previous curates to come back to Brunswick as our guest speakers. Last Sunday it was Richard Young's turn. Richard and Sheenagh were part of the Brunswick family 1993-2018 and still have close links and friendships as they are still in Manchester where Richard is vicar of Holy Innocents. He shared some memories and experience of Brunswick and what he has taken from his time here into his present ministry, and spoke on the Wedding at Cana in his own inimitable style, encouraging comments and discussion. A first for Brunswick (we think) at our Sunday morning service as we gave God thanks for the safe arrival of twins Peter and Semira, born in December to proud parents Kabah and Alex. Brunswick’s Community Carol Service this year was a fun- and worship-filled celebration of the birth of Jesus. Sketches by junior and senior Sunday schools, readings by community leaders, carols and songs. It featured as special guests Rockwell Woodwind Ensemble playing medleys of Christmas Carols and festive songs. We also had an appearance by The Flash! As you do. Festive finger food afterwards as always. Thank you everyone. Photos below. |
