Sandal Parish Magazine

Oct 2006

 

 

Starts October 11th, 7.30pm, the Barnabas Rooms,

 

Top: Performance of ‘Dignity’ at the Greenbelt arts festival in Cheltenham last August.  

Middle: Rupert making friends during Soul Portobello.

Bottom:  The Sunday service during Soul Portobello.

I don’t think we’re very good at asking.   Perhaps, we have an inbuilt cultural reticence about asking, and prefer to grin and bear it or muddle through as best we can.   Or maybe it’s the memory of Oliver Twist asking for more that comes to mind.   But God is not an officious Beadle and Jesus had no qualms about asking His Father in heaven for everything He needed, for all the power He displayed in healing people, and for the wisdom He needed to teach about God’s Kingdom.

Jesus also recommended that we should ask with a persevering insistence:

We need to build up our confidence in asking for practical help from our brothers and sisters in Christ, and asking God for things that concern us for ourselves as well as for others.   Asking is not a sign of weakness but a sign of confidence.   And the knowledge that God hears us and wants the best for us is very reassuring.  

So have courage and ask God for little things as well as big things, and see how much peace God gives us when we share our deepest needs with Him.  As Paul writes:

Rupert

We are blessed to have gifted and dedicated staff who make big sacrifices to serve God.  They support the vital ministry of volunteers, and make sure the crucial work is not neglected, such as worship, children and youth work, administration and pastoral care.  We value immensely the sacrificial contribution of our volunteers in so many areas of church life, and I’m sure they value the work of our paid staff who support them.

We are privileged to participate in His mission, to share His passion and to show His compassion.  Out of grateful hearts we are called to give to the work of Jesus Christ in this parish and beyond.   Wouldn’t it be wonderful to hear more often this positive statement:

“Isn’t it great! The church is always asking for money to engage in the life-giving mission and ministry of Jesus Christ.”

Yours in His ministry and life-changing mission,

Rupert

The new worship pattern at St. Helen’s seems to be going well, judging by the feedback we have so far received.   At the moment the 9.15am is averaging 50 worshippers, the 10.45am, 80 + 30 children, and the Choral Evensong 40.  So we have good healthy congregations with great potential for growth.  Let’s build on this good start, by continuing to invite people back to church and by coming to church ourselves on a more regular basis.  I want to take this opportunity to thank the many people and different teams who plan, create and contribute to such a variety of beautiful and meaningful services in both churches.   Our aim is to do our utmost to enable people who come to worship,     to meet with God,
to experience the love, joy and peace of Jesus,
to go away having been refreshed by the Holy Spirit, and encouraged to face our daily lives with purpose and hope.

Worship is central to our Mission that with Jesus Christ:

the lost are found
the found grow and
the lonely are enfolded

So let’s see our worship as an opportunity for people to be enfolded in love, as well as for us to be uplifted and encouraged in our faith.

I think the fellowship between and after services is encouraging and I hope that we can also develop further our Second Sunday Soup.

Yours in His love and hospitality,

Rupert

Fifty seven years ago in November of 1949, Mrs. G. Davies of Halifax, who until recently had been the Diocesan Secretary of the Young Members, came and introduced the idea of forming a Junior branch of Mothers’ Union and Wives.   The Mothers’ Union members were so much older than themselves, and a newly formed group of younger people would have many common interests.   Mrs. Clift the Enrolling Member of Sandal Mothers’ Union came to the meeting and gave her blessing and best wishes for this newly formed group ‘Sandal Young Members’.  Glancing through the minute book which started in 1949, and carried on through to July 1970, gives a wonderful insight into topics of the day.   For example:  January 1950 meeting led by a Mrs. Coldwell of 1 Sandal Avenue on the subject of Children’s Prayers.   May 1951 - factors which break up family life - a discussion chaired by Mrs. Austin.   April 1954 - Mr. Lloyd Davies gave a talk entitled ‘The Coronation’.   He had been to London as a representative of the Wakefield Diocese.   May 1955 - Dr. Pickup gave a talk on Children’s Ailments and Diseases.   The minutes record that this meeting was very well attended.

Cookery demonstrations and regular Christmas parties featured throughout each and every year as did Lent Services.

By now the group was called ‘Young Wives’.   At the A.G.M. in September 1961 the Vicar’s wife, Mrs. Anne Strapps, was appointed as leader as it was termed in those days, and she stayed as leader until her husband’s retirement in 1994.  It was during Mrs. Strapps’ leadership that we changed the title of Young Wives to what we are known as today ‘St. Helen’s Women’s Fellowship.’  In the early days of Mrs. Strapps’ leadership, speakers were drawn from all parts of England, and it became the custom for the guest speaker to stay over for B & B at the Vicarage.  One name that stands out is Evelyn Holme the Agony Aunt for Women’s Own magazine.  She gave advice on moral issues of the time.  

For the last ten years the Women’s Fellowship has been excellently run by Judith Parkin, and a team of helpers.   As well as their interesting meetings, they also have well organised fundraising events such as the recent coffee morning which raised £600 for Wakefield Hospice.

From that first meeting in 1949, one thing that stands out above all, is that the meetings have always been well attended and dealt with interesting and stimulating matters, as well as events which foster friendship and fellowship between members.  From these friendships members received support and encouragement and reinforce belonging to the family of Christ.   Amen.

 

Once again it’s "box-emptying" time. It doesn’t matter whether there are just a few coins in the bottom of the box or if it’s about to burst: I’d like to empty them all as soon as possible. If those of you with Children's Society boxes could let me have them, or leave them in the Parish Office, I would be most grateful. If the box is so heavy(!) that you would prefer it to be collected, please phone me (257726). I would like to complete the collection by the end of October.  Once emptied, I'll leave the boxes in Church for you to collect.

Andy Mason, our first Careforce Worker, was ordained Deacon in Salisbury Cathedral on 30th September.   St. Helen’s and St. Paul’s were represented by John and Pat Manners and Charlie and Louise Wale.  Andy has a lively, contagious faith and we wish him every blessing as Curate in Bemerton parish just outside Salisbury.  For those of you who love poetry, this was where George Herbert was parish priest for many years.

Do hold Andy in your prayers, and do pray also for two other church members in training.  Wendy Dalrymple begins the second and last year at Mirfield College, before being ordained next June and serving as Curate in Mirfield Parish Church.  Julie Hay is also beginning her last year of training before being licensed as a Reader to serve with us in this parish.

Do also pray that God will raise up more people who are called to serve in Christian leadership, whether lay or ordained.

Rupert

Members of the Women’s Fellowship held a coffee morning on Saturday 30th September at the Castle Inn, Sandal.   This was a huge success and raised the wonderful amount of £598.80 in aid of Wakefield Hospice.   Sincere thanks go to the manager and staff of the Castle Inn, members who organised the event and everyone who so generously supported it.

The next monthly meeting is on Monday 9th October at 7.30pm. in St. Helen’s church, when Alun Pugh will present ‘A Journey on the Leeds/Liverpool Canal.’

This is an excellent programme arranged by the Diocese.   All the details are in the brochure (copies on the table in the church), are are well worth spending a moment to look through.

The Parish Office will close early at 11.30am between the 10th - 12th of October and will be closed half-term week, 23rd - 26th of October.

Following an enjoyable Alpha Supper, we begin our Alpha course with  on Wednesday 11th October, 7.30pm. in the Barnabas Rooms.

So do invite people you know who are searching for meaning in their lives or who have questions about the Christian faith.

If you are new to the church, then the Alpha course is a brilliant introduction which enables you to get to know people.

If you wish to be confirmed, whatever your age from 13 to 90, then do come along as Alpha is also our Confirmation Preparation Course.

The dates of the course are as follows:

All sessions will take place in the Barnabas Rooms, Walton and will last from 7.30-9.30pm.  Whether you are involved or not, do please be praying for everyone on the course and for the leadership team, Rupert and Sally, Nigel & Sue Holleran, Richard & Janet Baxendale, Darren Sheavills, Liz Rowe and Emmanuel Were.

P.S.  There is still a place vacant for our Diocesan Visit in February, which is two and a half weeks and includes a Safari plus link visits to Bunda and Musoma.   The cost is approximately £1800.

If by chance you are passing the Barnabas Rooms in Walton between 2pm and 3pm on Tuesday afternoon, and you hear the sounds of music drifting out of the building, you need to know that there is a group of enthusiastic ladies endeavouring to regain their sylph-like figures of yesteryear.  Each Tuesday afternoon Judith Parkin runs her exercise class and also has an evening class on Wednesday at St. John’s Church of England School, Belgravia Road, Wakefield at 7pm.  Classes consist of rhythmical continuous movements set to music and are available to all ages and ability - even to those who have never exercised before.  Also included are exercises designed to stretch and strengthen muscles and joints, improve breathing and improve posture, increase joint mobility to ensure all round good health and well being.

Any further information please contact Judith on 01924 256045.

This event will be held in the Crofton Community Centre and will be led by The Rev. Eric Delve who is Vicar of the parish church of St. Luke’s in Maidstone with a congregation of about 600.   He is a passionate speaker with a heart to see men come alive in their faith.   He speaks regularly at Spring Harvest.   This will be his third such conference here in West Yorkshire in the past four years and the feedback from previous meetings has been excellent.   For more information please ‘phone 01924 203906.   Please let me know if you would like to attend.

Rupert

Quiet Day

Quiet Garden Day

Walk thru the Old Testament

Saturday 21 October 2006, 10.00 - 4.00pm at St Michael's, East Ardsley. Booking essential.

Living in Christ: rooted and related

Starting on Tuesday 31 October 6.00 - 9.30pm at the Community of the Resurrection. Five themed meetings with the brothers of the community deepening our confidence in living as Christian communities.

Godly Play Training and Accreditation

Tuesday 7 November - Thursday 9 November 2006. National trainers Peter Privett and Rebecca Nye are coming to Kinsley to lead a three day non-residential training course. Train to become an accredited Godly Play teacher. Early booking strongly advised.

Prepare the Way! - Diocesan Worship Celebration

Friday 1 December, 7.30pm at Wakefield Cathedral. Preacher: Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Reading.  The worship band is being provided by musicians from St.Helen’s.

In a moment of weakness (some might say madness!) in February, Margaret and I signed up to Christian Aid’s ‘In the Footsteps of Moses’ trek, a 45 mile trek through the Sinai desert. I realised that I had to do some serious work to get fit and lose a lot of weight! At present, I (John) walk over 6 miles most days and we walk that plus some when we go out together.  We had a great week in St David’s, Pembrokeshire, a couple of weeks ago when we walked 60 miles of the Coast Path. We will have walked 45 miles many times by the start of our trip on 4th November 2006!

As you know, Christian Aid is an agency of the churches in the UK and Ireland.  It works wherever the need is greatest and irrespective of religion. Christian Aid believes in strengthening people to find their own solutions to the problems they face.

Thank you so much for your support.

John & Margaret Walker

It’s a hard act to follow Bob and Jess’s superb landscape paintings which have graced our walls for several months, but I’ve taken the risk of putting together a selection of photographs taken over the last few years in France, Italy and Yorkshire.

The emphasis is on depicting normal scenes in an unusual light.   So often we taken for granted the familiar world we live in and don’t realise just how strange and beautiful it is.

I hope that these photographs will open our eyes to the extraordinary beauty of the ordinary world we live in, when it is transformed by light.

Rupert

Please note that the photographs are for sale either framed or unframed.

On Sunday 29th October at 4pm, we will be holding our Autumn Memorial Service at St. Helen’s Church.   This is a service where anyone who has recently lost a loved one is invited to light a candle in their memory which is then placed on the altar.

The service is one of thanksgiving and many find it to be a comforting way in which to let go and hand over their loved one to our heavenly Father.

Those people whose loves ones’ funeral has taken place recently at St. Helen’s will be contacted by a member of our Bereavement Visiting Team to see if they would like to take part in this special service.

You will also be very welcome to take part in the service if you have someone whose funeral was conducted elsewhere.   Please contact the church office and a candle will be prepared for them.

Members of the team are always available to talk to anyone about their bereavement, either over the ‘phone or by visiting.   Please contact the church office on 01924 259966 if we can be of help.

 

 

Oct. 8	9.15am	Holy Communion	St. Helen’s
	10.45am	Morning Praise	St. Helen’s
	11.00am	Morning Praise	St. Paul’s
	12noon	2nd Sunday Soup Fairtrade Stall	St. Helen’s
	12noon	2nd Sunday Soup	St. Helen’s
	7pm	11+ Youth Group	St. Helen’s
9	9.00am	Staff Meeting & Prayers	St. Paul’s
	7.30pm	Women's Fellowship - Talk:  Journey on the Leeds/Liverpool Canal	St. Helen’s
	7.30pm	Walton MU - Quiet Evening	St. Paul’s
10	9.30am	Toddle-In (toddler group)	St. Helen’s
	3.45pm	Children’s Church	St. Paul’s
11	11.30am	Holy Communion	St. Helen’s
	7.00pm	Bellringing Practice	St. Helen’s
	7.30pm	Alpha Course	St. Paul’s
12	9.15am	Boogie-woogie (toddler group)	St. Paul’s
14	10.00am	Walton MU Coffee Morning	St. Paul’s
15	9.15am	Holy Communion (BCP)	St. Helen’s
	10.45am	Morning Praise	St. Helen’s
	11.00am	Holy Communion	St. Paul’s
16	9.00am	Staff Meeting & Prayers	St. Paul’s
	2.30pm	Mother’s Union	St. Helen’s
17	9.30am	Toddle-In (toddler group)	St. Helen’s
	3.45pm	Children’s Church	St. Paul’s
18	11.30am	Holy Communion	St. Helen’s
	7.00pm	Bellringing Practice	St. Helen’s
	7.30pm	Alpha Course	St. Paul’s
19	9.15am	Boogie-woogie (toddler group)	St. Paul’s
20		School Half Term Starts
22	9.15am	Morning Prayer	St. Helen’s
	10.45am	Informal Communion	St. Helen’s
	11.00am	Morning Praise	St. Paul’s
	7pm	11+ Youth Group	St. Helen’s
24	9.30am	Toddle-In (toddler group)	St. Helen’s
25	11.30am	Holy Communion	St. Helen’s
	7.00pm	Bellringing Practice	St. Helen’s
26	7.30pm	Gospel & World Music practice for Sunday Service with Ali Bullivent, all welcome.	St. Helen’s
28	3.00pm	Gospel & World Music with Ali	St. Helen’s
29	9.15am	Holy Communion (BCP)	St. Helen’s
	10.45am	Morning Praise	St. Helen’s
	11.00am	Morning Praise	St. Paul’s
	4.00pm	Memorial Service	St. Helen’s
30		Grapevine Editoral Deadline
	9am	Staff Meeting & Prayers	St. Paul’s
31	9.30am	Toddle-In (toddler group)	St. Helen’s
	3.45pm	Children’s Church