Nov. 2007

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

 

 

 

 

Quiz winners!  St. Paul’s celebration weekend,
150 years of Anglican Worship in the village of Walton.

 

Rupert and Mavis cut the cake.

Paul Dodd helps serve food.

 

Spring Celebration balloons in church.

 

The Boogie-woogie choir

 

I always remember reading a book by Ronald Dunn called: “Don’t just stand there, pray something.”  It was such an influential book that I devised a 15 part house group course based on its themes.  One sentence in particular I remember to this day:

    “Never undertake anything that cannot be underpinned by
    believing prayer.”

Most of the things we have undertaken are covered by prayer.   The Spring is a good example where meaningful prayer takes place every day it is open.

But I do worry that we are doing a lot as a church, but praying too little.   Certainly there are many wonderful people praying, and I often turn to them on important occasions like the launch of Alpha.   But are we praying much as a church for the work of the church?

I would love this month to be a month of prayer.   We’ve had a month of Celebration and a month of Thanksgiving, and December will be full of Christmas events.   But this pre-advent season is a good time to recommit ourselves to praying more conscientiously and systematically.

How can we do this?  We can take more time out in our groups to pray.   We can pray on all occasions in the spirit;  we can pray together with our spouse or friend.   And we can pray on our own.

And what are we to pray about?   Let me suggest some topics and events that matter:

These are just some of the key areas in the life of the church that need to be saturated in prayer.

As Paul wrote to the Philippians:

“Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and  requests.  With this in mind be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

On a wider front we are called this month to pray for the persecuted church.    We are also called to pray for national and international issues, so why not take a newspaper and pray through it.

Let’s take time out on a regular basis to pray for God’s work through His church and in His world.

                    

You gave of your goods by making delicious desserts and puddings, cakes large and small, and tasty scones.

You gave of yourselves by coming and bringing friends and neighbours and spending time in fellowship together.

Last but by no means least you prayed for all the preparations and for the day;  God honoured those prayers.   Thank you for your loving generosity.

The Coffee Morning which was held in the Castle Inn on Saturday 13 October was a huge success and raised £497.46 for Wakefield Riding for the Disabled.   This was a wonderful result and sincere thanks go to the Manager and Staff of the Castle Inn for their hospitality and help;  also to all members who organised the event and to everyone who so generously supported it.

The Christmas catalogue for Wakefield Hospice will be on the Welcome Desk in church and illustrates the various cards, gifts and merchandise they have available for the coming festive season.   The brochure has an easy to follow step by step guide on how to choose and order your items.   If you need further information please contact Wakefield Hospice on 01924 213900.

Here is a taster of some of the exciting events and services in December.  The dates are provisional, and will be confirmed in the December ‘Grapevine’.

 

Saturday 10th November 2007, 7.30pm.  Wakefield Festival Chorus presents ‘A Concert of Remembrance’, programme including Mozart’s Requiem Mass in D and Haydn’s Little Organ Mass.  The Musical Director is Paul Feehan with Accompanist Richard Quarmby.  Tickets are £6 on the door (16 and under free).  Tickets can be obtained by calling 0113 2049633 or 01924476721

As the Carol Services are held on 16th December this year there will be no Choral Evensong on the first Sunday in December (2nd).

The next Choral Evensong will be on the first Sunday on February 3rd 2008.

A Beetle Drive will be held on Friday 16 November from 7.30pm-10.30pm in the Barnabas Rooms.   All proceeds to go to Leukaemia Research.   For more details contact Barbara Coxon on 01924 258349.

Wakefield Hospice invites you to participate in their annual Light Up A Life Appeal.   You can nominate this gift of a light in memory of a loved one who is no longer with you or as a gift for someone special.

The Light Up A Life Book of Blessings will record the names of your loved ones and a light will shine on the Christmas Tree in Wakefield Cathedral until twelfth night.   They will also send you a card, confirming that a light is shining for your loved one.

If you would like to support Wakefield Hospice in this way, then please complete the form (in the Parish Office) indicating which, if any, of the two services you would like to attend.   The services are to take place on Sunday 9 December 2pm and 5pm in Wakefield Cathedral.

Nov  4	9.15am	Holy Communion	St. Helen’s
	10.45am	Family Praise
	11am	Holy Communion	St. Paul’s
	6pm	Choral Evensong	St. Helen’s
5	6pm	Beaver Group	St. Paul’s
6	9.30am	Toddle-In (toddler group)	St. Helen’s
	3.45pm	Children’s Church	St. Paul’s
7	11.30am	Holy Communion	St. Helen’s
	7pm	Bellringing Practice	St. Helen’s
8	9.15am	Boogie Woogie Tots	St. Paul’s
10	7.30pm	Wakefield Festival Chorus Concert	St. Helen’s
11	9.15am	Holy Communion	St. Helen’s
Remembrance	10.45am	Morning Praise	St. Helen’s
Sunday	11am	Morning Praise	St. Paul’s
	6pm	Slow Space (meditative prayer)	St. Helen’s
	6pm	Evening Prayer	St. Paul’s
12	9am	Staff Prayers	St. Paul’s
	6pm	Beaver Group	St. Paul’s
	7.30pm	Women’s Fellowship	St. Helen’s
	7.30pm	Walton MU	St. Paul’s
13	9.30am	Toddle-In - (toddler group)	St. Helen’s
	3.45pm	Children’s Church	St. Paul’s
14	11.30pm	Holy Communion	St. Helen’s
	7pm	Bellringing Practice	St. Helen’s
15	9.15am	Boogie Woogie Tots	St. Paul’s
18	9.15am	Holy Communion	St. Helen’s
	10.45am	Morning Praise	St. Helen’s
	11am	Holy Communion	St. Paul’s
	6pm	Slow Space (meditative prayer)	St. Helen’s
19	2.30pm	Sandal MU	St. Helen’s
	6pm	Beaver Group	St. Paul’s
20	9.30am	Toddle-In (toddler group)	St. Helen’s
	3.45pm	Children’s Church	St. Paul’s
21	11.30am	Holy Communion	St. Helen’s
	7pm	Bellringing Practice	St. Helen’s
22	9.15am	Boogie Woogie Tots	St. Paul’s
25	9.15am	Morning Prayer	St. Helen’s
	10.45am	Holy Communion with laying on of hands	St. Helen’s
	11am	Morning Praise	St. Paul’s
	6pm	Slow Space (meditative prayer)	St. Helen’s
26	9am	Staff Prayers	St. Paul’s
	6pm	Beaver Group	St. Paul’s
27	9.30am	Toddle-In (toddler group)	St. Helen’s
	3.45pm	Children’s Church	St. Paul’s
28	11.30am	Holy Communion	St. Helen’s
	7pm	Bellringing Practice	St. Helen’s
29	9.15am	Boogie Woogie Tots	St. Paul’s
Dec 2	9.15am	Holy Communion	St. Helen’s
	10.45am	Family Praise	St. Helen’s
	11am	Holy Communion	St. Paul’s
	6pm	Slow Space (meditative prayer)	St. Helen’s
		No Choral Evensong