The United Reformed Church - North Western Synod
Church details: Wythenshawe, St. Mark's URC
Wythenshawe, St. Mark's URC
Oatlands Road,
Woodhouse Park,
Wythenshawe,
MANCHESTER,
M22 1AH
Church contact: Revd Kate Gray
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Visit the church's website
St. Mark's: mission through creative partnership
The congregation on Sunday mornings is usually between 35-40 people aged 5 to 90s! It is an informal, friendly and open Christian community whose love is shown throughout the week in many practical ways in Woodhouse Park.
The church has adopted equal opportunities and fair trade policies as well as part of trying to develop worship which is flexible and relevant to today's changing world. As part of the church's mission and service in Wythenshawe St. Mark's is in 3 ongoing partnerships with other organisations, working together for positive change, transformation, regeneration and hope in the area:
Woodhouse Park Family Centre
The Manse Residential Home for Older People
The Tree of Life - centre for health and well-being
Alongside these groups St. Mark's has built relationships with 'partner churches' in East Manchester, Penrhys and Wilmslow. There are more links developing with the Presbyterian Church of Taiwan and communities in Fiji and Samoa in the South Pacific too!
During the week the church building is open every day except Saturdays when the Tree of Life and the church community work alongside each other and in partnership. The Tree of Life at St. Mark's United Reformed Church is a centre for Health and Well-being in Woodhouse Park. It includes a Community Shop (open Mon:10-12 noon & Wed: 10-12 noon & 1-3pm) each week selling low cost, recycled furniture, clothes, books, bedding, toys, electrical goods and bric-a-brac.
The Tree of Life in partnership with others also offers short courses and weekly groups such as Food for Fitness, Smoking Cessation, Pathways Project for community arts, Mature Movers, Tai Chi, Wythenshawe Carers, confidential counselling, massage and reflexology!
With a team of over 30 volunteers the building is sometimes a bustling place but mid-week prayers (Wed 9.45-10am) and regular devotion and bible study groups mean that mission, worship, evangelism and service are known and made known together not separated off from each other as part of our understanding of God in the world.
Sunday worship plan for 2004:
The church building is open from 10.30am. The service is: 11-12 noon with drinks and biscuits after each service. Worship on Sundays usually involves some singing and music, discussion, prayer, creative activity and bible reading. For 2004 we are trying a pattern of worship covering some traditional and some experimental services together.
1st Sunday in month:
All Age Worship
2nd Sunday in month:
Communion Celebration
3rd Sunday in month:
Bible Study Service
4th Sunday in month:
Service of the Word
5th Sunday in month:
Led by Worship Team
The following are services to be planned & led by our worship team:
29th February
30th May
29th August
31st October
To donate furniture for Tree of Life from the South Manchester area please contact the Community Shop at the Tree of Life: 0161 437 0835
For all other church enquiries please contact the church office: 0161 437 4392
For 2005:
Remember us in prayer as we go forward in partnership at St. Mark's
Please come along and visit what goes on here
Join us in exploring new creative mission partnerships across Manchester