Jan 2007

 

The Parish of Sandal Magna
St. Helen’s, Sandal  •  St. Paul’s, Walton

 

 

 

 

Christingle at St. Helen’s.

 

‘Toddle-In’

 

Sandal Endowed School Christmas workshops

 

David Littlewood flying the flag.

 

Let me encourage you as well as reading the book and worshipping regularly, to join a group that will meet weekly to discuss the themes of the book.   If you sign up to participate and you don’t belong to an existing group, we will allocate you to a new group meeting on a day and at a time that suits you.  

Our aim is to create several new groups involve as many people as possible.

In addition, when you sign up, you are welcome to purchase some supplementary books which are recommended reading.

Our Lent Course is a vital part of our growth as disciples and fulfills the 2nd part of our Mission Statement that “the found grow”.

Please do take the opportunity of the Sundays in January to sign up for the course, so that we can order the books in plenty of time.

And please do be praying for a really great Lent Course together.

At the beginning of this new year, I want to write about church membership.   What does it mean to belong to a church.

In Romans, Paul works this idea out more fully. He talks of membership as being part of Christ, and exercising different gifts.

So membership involves belonging to Christ, and exercising gifts in the church, which is the body of Christ, for the benefit of others.

This is very different from the secular notion of membership which often involves simply paying a subscription and making use of the club’s facilities.

Of course it’s good to belong to societies, and friends and gyms and sports clubs with all the recreation and fun that is involved.   And the church should encourage that sense of belonging and social fellowship.

But there is a whole other dimension which involves belonging to Christ, first and foremost.

Jesus’ followers were given several names:  disciples, servants, friends.

They were also called followers of the Way, until in Antioch, they were given the name Christians, those who belong to Christ.

Nowhere is the phrase church member used.   The danger of seeing ourselves as simply church members is that we develop a club mentality, where we give to the church in return for certain services.

Whereas our calling to be disciples of Jesus Christ involves a far more challenging lifestyle of commitment to Christ, and the body of Christ as one of many gifted members or limbs, each playing a vital part, contributing to the health of the body and enabling the body to carry out the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ.

We have a very simple and focussed mission summed up in these twelve words;  that with Jesus the lost are found, the found grow and the lonely are enfolded.”

In the year ahead, there will be many opportunities to engage in his mission, to develop our friendship with Jesus and to exercise gifts in various ministries.

            

It only seems like yesterday that I was sitting down to write a goodbye message for Grapevine with the thought of two years of theological training ahead of me and yet here we are with only 6 months to go and the prospect of moving house again looming large on the horizon.  The time has flown by with an intense programme of study, prayer (and occasionally family life!) keeping me busy.  I feel like I have learnt a lot and yet as with most learning the more I gain the less I feel I know!  I am currently working on an essay looking at the use of gendered God-language - what are the theological implications for referring to God as 'she' (answers on a postcard much appreciated!)  My dissertation that I need to research and write before I finish will be looking at liturgical inculturation in a postmodern context which is really just an excuse to go and look at lots of alternative worship events!  But of course all the study is part of the journey towards ordination.  Sometimes it's easy to lose sight of what God calls us to as the journey can seem long and arduous and yet every so often we remember what we are here for.  I am excited and a bit scared about approaching the next stage of my call.  I was asked to preach recently at my attachment parish and having not done so for nearly 18 months I was very nervous.  I almost thought I had forgotten how to do it but thankfully after much sweat and prayer and a last minute inspirational visual aid from Del, I got there in the end! 

The good news is my curacy has been agreed.  I am to serve my title in the parish of Mirfield, Easthorpe and Upper Hopton which means we will be moving a whole mile away from where we are living now!  Alongside the Vicar, the Revd Canon Peter Craig-Wild I will be joining a team which includes two assistant priests, the Revd Helen Butler and the Revd Ann Pollard who I know I will learn a lot from.  Of course my big dilemma now is working out what I should wear once I am ordained and perhaps an even bigger quandary, what colour should my hair be for the big day?!

The family continues to get bigger and noisier.  Starting from the bottom up . . . Benjamin will be 3 in March and is fast finding his voice in the family, a noisy and cheeky one at that.  He has started going to a playschool where he enjoys painting and running round in an excited fashion and has learned the word 'bugger'.  Joshua who has just turned 6 has started swimming lessons with an enthusiasm for jumping in face first and has told me to write that he knows lots and lots of stuff!  Ailsa is going on 15 and is fairly communicative for a teenager.  She has 'emo' hair, listens to obscure bands on her iPod and contacts the world via MSN.  (If the last sentence needs translating ask a nearby teenager.)  Del (not allowed to mention his age but he celebrated a significant birthday recently!) left the police last January and now works for the Home Office directly. He seemed to spend most of the year on motorcycle jaunts avoiding all things Mirfield, these included Land's End to John O'Groats in a day for charity and a mammoth trip around Portugal, Spain and France for no particular reason at all. He is not looking forward to packing up and moving again, but continues to support me wonderfully in my calling.

We wish you all a happy New Year,

    from the Dalrymples.

In December we moved our Barclays Subscription account to NatWest.  Most people will not notice any change but we have had some reports of standing orders not going out.  Please do check your bank statements this month to make sure we are receiving your gift and you are paying the right amount.  If your standing order has been cancelled you can instruct your bank to pay your regular gift with the following details..

Thank you for supporting God’s work in the parish through your generosity in service, worship, prayer and giving.

The office will be open 9.00am - 11.30am on the 23rd - 25th January.  Back to normal opening times the following week, Tuesday to Thursday,  9.00am - 1pm.

Since 1954, the last Sunday in January has been set aside to spread the message that leprosy still exists. Despite an effective cure and international efforts to eliminate leprosy by 2005, the number of new cases being diagnosed remains stable in most countries. In India leprosy still disables 100 times more people each year than polio.

The prophet Isaiah spoke of the worship that God requires from his people. God wants us to uphold justice and set people free from oppression. One of the worst disabilities associated with leprosy, and the main cause of its spread, is poverty. It is the end result of social injustice. Kerala in India is a well-educated state with 96% literacy. Poverty has almost been eliminated there - so has leprosy.

The Leprosy Mission continues to follow the example of Jesus by identifying with the poor, the outcasts and people with leprosy.

On January 28th 2007 please add your voice to thousands of others in praying for the work of the Leprosy Mission and people around the world who have been burdened with a diagnosis of leprosy.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2007

Sing and sign (for 7-18 months) shows you how to  help your baby communicate BEFORE speech.   Ir’s easy!   Learn the fun way with traditional and original songs, nursery rhymes, puppets, props and instruments.   For details of classes in Castleford, Pontefract and Wakefield contact:  Ruth Knowles on  01977 516405.  

 

Jan 14	9.15am	Holy Communion	St. Helen’s
	10.45am	Morning Praise	St. Helen’s
	11am	Morning Praise	St. Paul’s
	12.00pm	2nd Sunday Soup	St. Helen’s
	6.00pm	Evening Prayer	St. Paul’s
	7pm	Youth Church	St. Helen’s
15	2.30pm	Mothers Union (Sandal)	St. Helen’s
16	9.30am	Toddle-In (toddler group)	St. Helen’s
17	11.30am	Holy Communion	St. Helen’s
	7pm	Bellringing Practice	St. Helen’s
	7.30pm	Alpha Course	St. Paul’s
18	9.15am	Boogie-woogie (toddler group)	St. Paul’s
21	9.15am	Holy Communion	St. Helen’s
	10.45am	Morning Praise	St. Helen’s
	11am	Holy Communion	St. Paul’s
22	2-5pm	Staff Prayers & Strategy Meeting	St. Paul’s
23	9.30am	Toddle-In (toddler group)	St. Paul’s
24	11.30am	Holy Communion	St. Helen’s
	7pm	Bellringing Practice	St. Helen’s
25	9.15am	Boogie-woogie (toddler group)	St. Paul’s
	12 noon	Ecumenical Prayer & Lunch	St Helen’s
28	9.15am	Morning Prayer	St. Helen’s
	10.45am	Family Communion	St. Helen’s
	11am	Morning Praise	St. Paul’s
	7pm	Youth Church	St. Helen’s
29	3-5pm	The Spring Volunteers Tea	The Spring
30	9.30am	Toddle-In (toddler group)	St. Paul’s
	7pm	Bellringing Practice	St. Helen’s
31	11.30am	Holy Communion	St. Helen’s
	7pm	Bellringing Practice	St. Helen’s
Feb 1	9.15am	Boogie-woogie (toddler group)	St. Paul’s
4	9.15am	Holy Communion	St. Helen’s
	10.45am	Family Praise	St. Helen’s
	11am	Morning Praise	St. Paul’s
	6.00pm	Choral Evensong	St. Helen’s

 

Room Hire	Bookings for The Barnabas Rooms at St. Paul’s, The Balk, Walton,WF2 6JU, or The Emmaus Rooms at St. Helen’s, Sandal, WF2 6EJ. Contact the Parish Office on 01924 259966.
Bellringing	Practice night Wednesdays at 7.30pm at the Parish Church. Contact John Cutt on 01924 255918.
Boogie-Woogie Toddler Group	Thursdays - 9.15am. at St. Paul’s. Contact Mavis Rowley for details.
Choir	Practice night Friday evening, 7.30pm, before the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month at St. Helen’s.
House Groups	If anyone would like to join a House Group please contact Rupert and he will put you in touch with an appropriate group Tel. 01924 255441.
Mothers’ Union Sandal	Jan 15th, 2.30pm - John Laws Nature Film. Feb 19th A.G.M and Quiz.
Open Doors	Tuesdays 9am. At Walton Methodist Church, Shay Lane, Walton. Come and join us for coffee and chat.
Tehilla (Childrens Choir)	Meet between 5-6pm, every Thursday the week before the Family Service at St. Helen’s Church.
Toddle In Toddler Group †	Tuesdays - 9.30am at St. Helen’s Church, Sandal.  Contact Denise Chivers on 01924 781196
Parish Office	St. Helen’s Church, Barnsley Road. Open Tuesday - Thursday 9am - 1pm. Tel. 01924 259966 Email: Office@sandalmagna.fsnet.co.uk. Web: www.sandalmagna.com Contact Bob Bailey or Carol Fairclough.
The Spring - Oasis Café & Discoveries Shop	Open from Tuesday - Saturday inclusive 10am. until 2pm. 299 Barnsley Road. Tel. 01924 242593.
Women’s Fellowship	Contact Judith Parkin on 01924 256045 for more details. 12th February 7.30pm Julian Gill’s expedition to Everest
SHYP (St. Helen’s Youth Project)	Youth & Children’s Co-ordinator. Sally Martin 242593.
Urgent Office Business on Sundays	Contact the Churchwardens: Derek Coombes - 259979.  Richard Hay - 865559.  Sue Parkin - 257158
Vicar	Revd. Rupert Martin. Tel. 01924 255441.

† Term time only. Grapevine is published from the Parish Office for the Parish of Sandal Magna, Wakefield. Please send editorial items to; Bob Bailey or Carol Fairclough at the Parish Office. The next deadline for editorial is the the 29th January 2007.

Prayer Times ~ All Welcome

Monday at The Spring                           10.45am.
Tuesday-Saturday at The Spring                9.45am.-10.00am.
Wednesdays at St. Paul’s, Walton                9.00am.
Thursday at the Rainbow Café, Portobello            8.30am.

Irene Reeve, Mary Glover, Malcolm Morrell,  Anthony Reap, Derek Parker,  Gemma Haller,  Kerry Smith,  Peter Butterfield,  Margaret Hurley,  Adele Owen, Betty Richmond,  Brenda Hanby,  Lucy Burrows, Harold Heaton, Jim Hickman, Sue Common (friend of a parishioner), Robert Hunt (Son of Phyllis Hunt) Gordon Parsons and Leila Gill.

We would appreciate it if you could let us know if anyone needs our prayers, so they can be put in our Focus for Prayer. Pray also for all those who have recently lost loved ones especially the family and friends of Mabel Cutt (Mother of John Cutt), Kathleen Neall, David Anthony John Wainwright.