FOCUS
For Otley Methodist Church
December 2006 and January 2007
A PASTORAL LETTER FROM THE DISTRICT CHAIR
Dear Friends,
I recently heard about a local authority in a religiously diverse area, which in
2005 decided that it would be a good thing to set aside a large sum of money
annually to promote the public celebration of a major festival of one of
city’s great religions. It was hoped that this would increase understanding
between the faiths. To ensure that the celebration was authentic officers of the
religion concerned were consulted and involved. It was, apparently, a great
success.
When the council officers asked the councillors which faith, and which festival,
should be celebrated in 2006, a Christian councillor suggested ‘Christianity,
and Christmas’ and, to his surprise, it was agreed. Local clergy
therefore found themselves with the unexpected task of ensuring that a public
celebration of Christmas, outside the church buildings, was a true religious
festival. Just imagine helping people in Britain today to celebrate Christmas
with (presumably) no holly, robins, Santa Claus, reindeers, mince pies and all
the rest of the trappings! It will doubtless come as a real surprise to
many of our fellow citizens to learn that what Christians celebrate at Christmas
is not a pretty story about a baby in a manger, but God taking human flesh and
living amongst us.
Since so many of our friends, neighbours and colleagues will imagine they know
what Christmas is all about, whereas in reality they probably don’t, does this
give us a clue to what we might say and do in the weeks leading up to the
festival? How would it be if each of us made the effort to explain to just
one other person what Christmas is really all about? It seems a bit silly to
wait for the local council to do it for us!
When it comes, have a Happy Christmas.
Michael
Santa
fills your stocking….JESUS supplies all your needs
Santa lives at the North Pole….JESUS is everywhere
Santa may make you chuckle but…JESUS gives you joy that
is your strength
Can we really believe that the shepherds saw angels that night?
Luke 2
highlights the shining glory of God, not detailed description of supernatural
beings. Yet thousands of people down the centuries have claimed to see angels.
And at this supreme moment in history, when God became Man, why shouldn’t a
glimpse of heavenly glory shine down on earth?
What
was the star that the three kings saw?
The Bible nowhere says
there were three kings. ‘Magi’ is all we get, and we know they studied the
stars. Serious astronomers have calculated that the ‘star of Bethlehem’
could well have been a comet, or a planetary conjunction, or a temporary
exploding ‘nova’, or..? The magi saw the star ‘at its rising’, and
whatever that means exactly, it all happened well after Christmas.
What
use to a baby are gold, frankincense and myrrh?
The presents are symbols
of what Jesus was here to do. Gold? Clearly for a king. Frankincense? This was
used in sacrifice, and Jesus on the Cross would offer himself as the supreme
sacrifice. As for Myrrh, this was used in death, but was also a lover’s gift,
a present of joy. Could it possibly hint at both?
Where
was Christ before He was conceived?
Before our conception, we
were nowhere. But not so with Jesus. John puts it strikingly: “In the
beginning was the Word…the Word was with God and the Word was God”- leading
to the punch-line “The Word became flesh, and lived for a while among us. We
have seen his glory”. Jesus’ own words often reflect this dimension: He
comes from the Father and is going to the Father; the Bible never gets
sentimental over the baby. It requires us to honour God’s eternal Son.
Why
can’t Christmas merge with other faiths for one great festival?
This hardly shows much respect for Christianity, never mind other religions. It’s not much of a favour to our Muslim or Hindu friends to insist that they merge with us because we really believe the same. That might not go down too well in the local synagogue either! By mixing up the religious brew, we are not being honest with any of the religions. Jesus arrived in this world making devastating claims – whether you believe them or not, they stand on their own, and do not mix with any other faith.
THE
FOCUS TEAM wish to thank those who have kindly donated £27 to help with our
production costs. We are very grateful for their kindness. All items for the
February 07 edition should be handed in to Mrs Joan Monte please by Sunday 14th
January 07. Please share your Focus around your friends and neighbours – use
it to invite them to our Christmas services. Church Diaries for 2007 are now
available in the Foyer & Reception Area. Donation of £1 would be
appreciated.
Will you please kindly note that the church telephone has been disconnected and replaced by a Church Mobile-07748914060.
Cynthia
wishes to thank all who have purchased Christmas cards from her in aid of our
Church funds. She will still be making Greeting cards in the New Year but please
remember to speak to her if you would like a special card making for someone.
Thank
you to everyone who has helped in anyway to either decorate our church this
Christmas time, planned, organised or played for the services. A special thank
you to all who will have preached and supported our Christmas services.
Please
note that our Nativity display this year has had an addition – that is to say
we have a shepherd boy among the nativity characters, complete with his little
lamb – his gift to the Lord Jesus.
As
in previous years our Nativity display will be floodlit during the evenings when
it looks quite spectacular looking in from outside, so please encourage anyone
to come along and look through our windows.
We are grateful to Birchfield Farm Shop at Pool for their kind loan of the calf again for our display. We can recommend their produce at any time during the year or for Christmas poultry etc.
THANK
YOU TO DAVID CARR
We
would like to say a big thank you to Mr David Carr who for many years has
devotedly planned and organised our Taizé services. The services have been
appreciated by many people who have valued the calmness and peaceful nature of
the Taize service.
THANK
YOU TO YVONNE WARBURTON
Yvonne
Warburton wishes to say Thank You for all the cards, flowers and good wishes she
has received during the last 6 months, especially for her ‘big’ birthday.
She is grateful to those who have been patient because she cannot keep up with
her responsibilities as usual.
June
Barcliff has kindly offered to take over the distribution of the Magnet
magazine. Please give her you support.
Does anyone
feel called to be the Pastoral Secretary?
We offer to Yvonne our love and many congratulations
on her recent birthday. We all miss her being in church and around due to her
illness. We hope and pray matters will improve for her in this area.
Amongst the many jobs Yvonne has diligently done within our fellowship she has
been a wonderful and conscientious Pastoral Secretary. Please pray that someone
may come forward to take on this valuable role within our church family.
Otley Choral Society Christmas Concert
Otley Choral Society will be holding a Christmas Concert at the Bridge Church at 7.30pm on Tuesday 19th December. Carols & choruses from the Messiah will be sung. Coffee & Mince Pies - Adults £5 – children free.
Web Site: Otley
Choral Society
A week before Christmas,
parking spaces were hard to find –stores were crowded, people were rude and
prices inflated. At the checkout a man was heard to say, “They should kill the
guy who started off Christmas. A lady replied, “They did-they hung Him on a
Cross”
Therein lies the REAL Christmas story.
OPERATION
CHRISTMAS CHILD. A big thank you to all who prepared shoeboxes. On Monday
morning I took over 50 boxes to the collection point at St Andrew’s Centre in
Yeadon. It was a hive of industry. There were hundreds of boxes – I stayed for
the morning to help check boxes which are then sealed and packed into large
cartons ready to be loaded onto lorries to take the love of Jesus across the
world.
The boxes this year are going to Swaziland and Belarus.
J.Walls.
Christmas
is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, and the genial
flame of charity in the heart.
Washington Irving.
Thank
you to all who have organized the cooking for the Soup & Sweet Lunches and
to all who have supported this effort. Please note there will be 3 more lunches
in the New Year on Thursday 18th & 25th January and 1st
February 07 at 12noon. Please sign up as before if you wish to attend a lunch.
Anyone most welcome to share in this fellowship.
We offer our
sincere condolences to Renee & Bill Matthews on their recent family
bereavement.
Also to Guy
Ritson and family on the loss of Carole.
The
1812 Group report that they had a most enjoyable evening in November with their
‘Safari Supper’. Nineteen members participated and moved around different
houses during the evening for starters and main courses, finishing with everyone
congregating at Martin & Elizabeth Campey’s house for different sweet
courses and coffee. Many thanks to Elizabeth for her organisation of this event.
In
December the group is visiting West Yorkshire Playhouse for their production of
‘The Wizard of Oz’ and then in January there will be the usual planning
meeting at the manse to look at our forthcoming programme for 2007. Could as
many members as possible please try and get to this and bring along your ideas
for events for next year. Carol will be in touch regarding people providing
refreshments for the event in due course.
Please
note there will be a Circuit Service of Celtic Worship for Advent at Burley
Church on Sunday 10th December at 6pm. All welcome.
What does it mean to be a Christian disciple in today’s world and how can the church help us to live out our discipleship? Come to an exploration with The President of the Methodist Conference the Rev’d Graham R Carter at Lower Wortley Methodist Church on Saturday 9th December from 2pm until 4pm. All are welcome.
KAAZ-Kids at Ashfield Activity Zone is the new name (at least temporarily) for the monthly follow up from French Connection for Primary school children at Ashfield school. The second fun day was held on 11th November again with games, crafts and a God slot. There were 40 children, and several parents stayed for a coffee and chat in the common room. Initially 3 Fun Days were planned the third being on 9th December, with a review to follow. Indications are that it will continue in the New Year. Help is always welcome even if it is only as a one off. You might have a particular craft or interest you could share or just help out in a general capacity.
Personal giving like it says is personal; it’s also very sensitive but I would
like to make a plea for Methodist Missions. Many people do support our
mission’s fundraisers and for that support we are very grateful, and many also
support other external charities, it’s difficult not to with all the heart
rendering pleas that drop through our letterbox.
Methodist Missions may not be presented as appealingly as some others, but the Fund for World Mission included grants for many projects in community assistance on health, crops, water, electricity generation, it also supports Mission Partners serving throughout the world, and education. The Fund for Home Mission includes Mission alongside the Poor, Cliff College, various chaplaincies, and Urban and Rural Mission.
Methodist Missions is an extension of our own church, organised on our behalf nationally as it would not be practical for individual churches. Methodist Church house has a target figure for World Mission funds for each church, based on membership numbers, last year we achieved 87%. We are to have our envelope collections early in the New Year, World Mission envelopes will be in the pews at our Covenant Service on 7th January and Home Mission for our Mission in Britain Service on 18th February. I would ask you to consider these favourably, especially as Church Council voted for a reduction in its donations to both World and Home Missions on what it has donated on 5 previous years.
As mentioned our Mission in Britain Service is on 18th February when our service will be led by Revd. Steve Wild, Director of Evangelism at Cliff College. We are fortunate to have Steve and he has offered to run a Missions Workshop for the Circuit in the afternoon. More details further on after Dates for Your Diaries page.
THE ONE FOR ALL Christmas card display is again in the church foyer for those who would like to display their greetings, donations to Gill Chaplin. There will be a Coffee Morning for Methodist Mission on 9th December and on 26th January for HCJB World Radio.
Thanks to all who donated clothes to send to Mugu, which we are taking with us on our visit to stay with Paul & Sarah. In Roba village Mugu, heavy rain caused a land-slide impacting on 43 households. The families were forced to take shelter in a local school. Paul was able to help the Nepal Red Cross access funds from the Methodist Relief and Development Fund.
CHRISTMAS IN NEPAL
Hi I’m Jack and I’m
six years old. I live with my Mum and Dad and my three year old little sister,
Asha in Kathmandu, Nepal. Nepal is about 6000 miles away from England.
I wonder what you are looking forward to about Christmas this year. Here in
Kathmandu hardly anyone celebrates Christmas. In fact it isn’t even a holiday
here. Christians are only 0.05% of the population and most of the other people
are Hindus. Hindus believe there are lots and lots of different gods, thousands
and thousands of them. They have lots of special festival days too but Christmas
isn’t one of them. Just like churches in England, there will be special church
services on Christmas Day. Those Christians who can persuade their bosses to
give them the day off will be able to go. They will sing Christmas songs and as
a special treat they will have an extra long sermon, even as long as two hours.
After the sermon everyone will stay behind after church to have Christmas dinner
together. What’s your favourite part? The turkey and vegetables or the
Christmas pudding? We won’t have either of those. Christmas dinner will be
rice, lentils, curried vegetables and goat meat. It’s a special time for
everyone and its fun to all sit on the floor and eat together. In Nepal when we
eat this special lentil and rice meal we don’t use a knife and fork, we just
use our fingers. It might seem a bit strange to you that we’ll be eating rice
and lentils for Christmas dinner along with our Nepali Christian friends but the
most exciting thing is this; On December 25th Nepali Christians will
be celebrating Christmas and so will you. All over the world God’s people are
celebrating Christmas in the way they enjoy and singing their praises to God.
Enjoy your turkey!
Jack Wright.
We wish the Wright family Happy Christmas & a good New Year.
I would like to
thank everyone who provided knitted garments and cot quilts for the children’s
homes. When Rev Harry & Lin Graham returned home after their weekend in
Otley, their car was packed full and they were delighted. They will make a big
difference to the children who don’t often get anything new. I know some
people are still knitting and as this is ongoing I am pleased to receive any
garments any time.
The money raised from the Strawberry Tea and the last Coffee Morning is going to
help refurnish a very antiquated dentist surgery in one of the homes in Moldova
that I visited. The Coffee Morning held on 17th November raised £145.
Thank You. Pauline Dobson.
THE WORTHY WHITWORTH WALKERS as mentioned in the October edition of Mission Without Borders Newsletter……Recently Janet Whitworth with her husband Roger raised over £600 for Mission Without Borders by walking the Great Glen Way. This is a 73 mile route running from Fort William on the shore of Loch Linnhe north-eastwards, following the Great Glen, to Inverness. The route which takes you through Gairlochy and Fort Augustus, takes you through some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. They came home after a week of walking, “refreshed in body, mind and spirit” Janet said, encouraged by the beauty of God’s creation. Thanks to the generosity of the church family at Otley Methodist and other friends they will now bring refreshment to the body, mind and spirit of so many in Eastern Europe.
CLIMATE CHANGE & GLOBAL ECONOMY
A
day conference at the West Yorkshire School of Christian Studies
On Saturday 2nd December at Outwood House, Outwood Lane, Horsforth
To book email admin@wysocs.org.uk
or ring 0113 258 9300
Cost including lunch & refreshments £20 (concessions £12 Students £7)
Speakers Sir John Houghton CBE, FRS & Prof. Bob Goudzwaard
Lectures on Global Warming & ideologies obstructing global economic change
‘OLDIES’ NOW OUTNUMBER CHILDREN
This is the end of an era: from
next year pensioners will outnumber children under the age of 16, according to
Age Concern.
By 2031, those above the age for state pension will exceed children by almost
four million. The change has resulted from two trends: a fall in the birth
rate, and an increase in longevity, both of which means that the population as a
whole is ageing. At present there are about 12 million people over 60 in
the UK. This is about one in five of the population. But by 2030 this could rise
to 19 million, or about a third of the population.
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ADVENT! Dark mornings, dark evenings, but the darkness is
about to be vanquished by the light of Christmas. And beyond Christmas, the
glorious light of Easter, there is the ultimate light of Christ’s promised
return one day.
Enjoy the Advent readings: “The
people who walked in darkness have seen a great light”, “Arise, shine, for
your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” Advent
reminds us that our God brings light into the darkness.
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T’IS
THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE
The
puppies are squeaking an old rubber mouse,
The wreath which had been low on the door,
Is scattered in pieces all over the floor.
The stockings that hung in a neat little rows
Now boast a hole in each of the toes.
The tree was subjected to bright-eyed whims
And now, although splendid, is missing some limbs.
I catch them and hold them, “BE GOOD”, I insist
They lick me, then run off to see what they’ve missed.
And now as I watch them the thought comes to me
That theirs is the ‘spirit that Christmas should be’.
Should children and puppies yet show us the way
And teach us the joy that should come with this day.
Could they bring the message that’s written above,
And tell us that most of all ‘CHRISTMAS IS LOVE’.
GIFTS YOU CAN GIVE ALL YEAR LONG – NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS!
The gift of praise: Give people
appropriate mention, even in front of others, of their qualities or jobs or
deeds well done. Praise God for who He is and all He gives you.
The gift of consideration: Care for people’s feelings. This means seeing the
other’s viewpoint, having the humility to say, ‘You’re right and I’m
wrong’. Ask God for wisdom to see things from his standpoint.
The gift of gratitude: Never forget to say ‘thank you’ and never fail to
mean it. Count your blessings from God.
The gift of attention: When the other person speaks, listen attentively. Seek to
know God’s will and listen for his messages.
The gift of inspiration: Plant seeds of courage and action in the heart of
another. Help other people to reach a little higher. Ask God for a vision that
will inspire and motivate your life.
The gift of presence: Be there for people in good times and bad, just as the
Lord is for you.
YOU CAN BE THE BEST GIFT OF ALL TO SOMEONE!
JESUS IS THE BEST GIFT GOD COULD HAVE GIVEN US.
WHAT’S NEW FOR CHRISTMAS? Eric Green asks…
“What would you like for
Christmas?” That age-old question will be asked for evermore. The
new-toys-and-gadgets industry is well aware of this annual phenomenon and is
well equipped to keep up with it. Remember the Rubik cube? Or the hula hoop? Or
those bouncy rubber balls with a pair of ears on?
The baby Jesus Christ received gold, frankincense and myrrh. Nobody seems to
know what he ever did with them. What we do know is the result of those human
gifts to Our Lord.
The three gifts that the Wise Men brought to him would eventually perish, but
the life of Jesus will never perish. Everything he ever did has become eternal.
Every age of mankind hears the same stories of his three years of ministry.
Not only are the stories eternal but the gifts he offers to us are also eternal.
Wisdom is a gift of God. We haven’t got it. We ask him, and he gives it to us,
a little at a time as we need it. Faith comes next in the list from Corinthians
12. Even when we ‘loose faith’ God has plenty more of it to hand out to us.
Healing is next. Just look at the advance in treatment for every ailment under
the sun. Diseases which meant certain death in the 1930s are now curable by
taking a few tablets. Another gift freely given out by Jesus. His ‘patients’
only had to ask. There are many more. All last forever. You won’t need to
leave mince pies or wine. Simply hang up your stocking of trust; Jesus will fill
it with your needs.
TOP
Christmas
can be a stressful time. So remember……..
If you
lend someone £20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.
The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in
your pocket. A closed mouth gathers no foot.
There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.
Experience is something you don’t get until just after you need it.
You feel stuck with your debt if you can’t budge it.
Every calendar’s days are numbered.
Once you’ve seen one shopping centre, you’ve seen a mall.
An old gentleman was asked what he
would like for Christmas. ‘Nothing’ he said, ‘but go and do good to
someone then come back and tell me what it was’
TOP
This Advent and Christmas we have two main events coming up at Pool. On Sunday 3rd December at 6pm we have our annual village service for the work of the Salvation Army in Bramley Leeds. This will be led by Rev Alistair Newton with some youngsters from Pool School Choir taking part. We are asked this year if gifts could include toiletries for the mothers of the families staying at the centre and small new toys or gift vouchers for the children, or of course, gifts of money would also be appreciated.
On Saturday 9th December we are again holding our Annual Advent Activity morning for the 6-12year old children from the village. Again this is a joint venture with the Anglican Church, and which will take place in our premises from 10am to 12noon and will finish with a short Advent Service in the Chapel at 11.45am.
Our own Carol Service will be at 10.30am on Christmas Eve, conducted again by Rev Alistair Newton.
We wish everyone in the village,
especially those groups who use our premises, a peaceful and a joyful Christmas,
and look forward to the New Year with hope, peace and love.
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POOL METHODIST CHURCH NETWORK
– 50th ANNIVERSARY
On Sunday 22nd October
we had a special service to celebrate our 50th Anniversary; Rev Fiona
Spandler was our preacher and took as her theme “Hands” which was a very
helpful and also a very fitting message.
We continued our celebrations on Wednesday 25th October with our Open
Day.
Rev A Newton welcomed our opener, Mrs Betty Bradley, who was a former
Vice-President. She gave us a wonderful message and cut our celebration cake.
There was a wide variety of crafts made by members & displayed in the
Chapel.
Afternoon tea was served in the Fellowship room.
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October and November have been a
quiet time for NCH news. The NCH
Young Achievers Awards were held in Leeds on 9th November, and
received quite a bit of coverage on Television and in the Yorkshire Evening
Post. The youngster of the year was AIMEE LOWE of Horsforth, aged 9, who suffers
from cerebral palsy and lives a full and active life at Ireland Wood Primary
School which she attends.
It is good to hear of such courage in one so young. Certainly the event brought
good coverage for NCH in the region.
This Christmas time please remember the work of NCH in your prayers and keep
those used computer cartridges and old phones and coins rolling in.
Thank You and God Bless, Roger Bareham.
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To see the story of the first
Christmas through the eyes of little children makes it fresh and new. I like the
story of the little boy who so wanted to be Joseph but was picked as the inn
keeper instead. All went well until the nativity play started and Mary and
Joseph arrived at the inn. The boy playing the innkeeper greeted them with
‘Come in Mary love, there’s plenty of room for you, but Joseph can get
lost!’
Mary may insist that her teddy is the Baby Jesus; the angels may trip over their
robes made from sheets; but every nativity play shows the wonder of the story of
the first Christmas when the son of God was born a baby, like us, Tea towels
used as shepherd’s head dresses and angel’s haloes made from wire coat
hangers only serve to underline the humanity of it all. A baby born in a stable
– a simple story that changes the world.
Don’t miss the Pre-School Nativity Service on Friday morning 15th
December at 10am in the Church. PS. Bring a tissue, its sure to bring a tear to
your eyes, but lovely to see the infant children performing their Nativity.
Anyone welcome.
A little girl visiting Santa in a store, climbed on his knee. Santa asked the
usual question “And what would you like me to bring you for Christmas?”
The little girl stared at him open-mouthed and horrified for a minute, then
gasped: “Didn’t you get my E-mail then?”
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AN
INVITATION FROM BIRCHFIELD
FARM SHOP
On the Harrogate Road, Pool (next
to the Hunters Inn)
Martin and Lorraine
Invite you
To a Tasting Day
On the 9th and 10th of December
From 10am until 6pm
Come
along and have a coffee
Or a glass of mulled wine
And taste some of their
Delicious produce
There will be Home Made Mince Pies
Served with lashings of their
Birchfield Bandy Butter
You can also try their
Home Baking; Cheeses; Sausages;
Cooked Ham; Farmhouse Butter;
Pies, and much, much more
There will be FREE ICE CREAM for the children
A wide range of Christmas Trees & Holly Wreaths,
Luxury Hampers – making a perfect gift!
Orders are now being taken for
Free Range Turkeys, Geese, Ducks, Hams
And Large Pies
Martin & Lorraine wish everyone a Happy Christmas
And they look forward to seeing you
Loving Father, help me to live one day at a time,
Not to be thinking of what might have been,
Not to be worrying about what may be.
Help me to accept the fact
That I cannot undo the past
And I cannot foresee the future.
Help me to remember
That I will never be tried
Beyond what I can bear;
That a Father’s hand will
Never cause his child a needless tear;
That I can never drift
Beyond your love and care
William Barclay.
WE
WISH ALL OUR READERS A VERY HAPPY AND PEACEFUL NEW YEAR
DO
ALL THE GOOD YOU CAN
BY ALL THE MEANS YOU CAN
IN ALL THE WAYS YOU CAN
IN ALL THE PLACES YOU CAN
TO ALL THE PEOPLE YOU CAN
AS LONG AS EVERY YOU CAN.
The
New Year may bring changes for many of us in many different ways. Ask God to
help you in the changing scenes of life in 2007.
Please
remember in your prayers our Minister, Alistair as this New Year will see him
moving on to another church and ministry. Remember Carol, Sarah and Tim also
please.
TOP
It is Matthew & Luke
who tell the story of how the angel instructed that Mary’s baby was to be
named Jesus – a common name meaning ‘saviour’. The Church recalls the
naming of Jesus on 1 January – 8 days after 25 December (by Jewish way of
reckoning days). For in Jewish tradition, the male babies were circumcised and
named on their eighth day of life.
For early Christians, the name of Jesus held a special significance. In Jewish
tradition, names expressed aspects of personality. Jesus’ name permeated his
ministry, and it does so today: we are baptised in the name of Jesus (Acts
2:38), we are justified through the name of Jesus (1 Cor 6:11); and God the
Father has given Jesus a name above all others (Phil 1 2:9). All Christian
prayer is through ‘Jesus Christ our Lord’ and it is ‘at the name of
Jesus’ that one day every knee shall bow.
6th
January – Epiphany
On January 6th we celebrate Epiphany – the visit of the wise men to
the baby Jesus. But who were these wise men? No one knows for sure. Matthew
calls them ‘Magi’, and that was the name of an ancient caste of priestly
kings from Persia. It wasn’t until the third century that they were called
kings – by a church father, Tertullian. Another church father, Origin, assumed
there were three – to correspond with the gifts given. Later Christian
interpretation came to understand gold as a symbol of wisdom and wealth, incense
as a symbol of worship and sacrifice, and myrrh as a symbol of healing – and
even embalming. Certainly Jesus challenged and set aright the way in which the
world handled all three of these things. Since the eighth century, the magi have
had the names Balthasar, Caspar and Melchior.
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An online survey
conducted by MethodistChildren has found that children prefer to participate in
the fun, fellowship and community offered by churches during the week and in
summer holidays, rather than on Sundays.
Steve Pearce, Children’s Secretary, says; “Midweek groups are almost 100%
bigger than Sunday groups. Many churches are doing great work on Sundays, but
it’s clear from our results that children want church to be more than just
that – they want to go to activities during the week. Which is great, because
43% of the churches that work with
children already provide mid-week activites, with an average of 38 children
attending each group”.
“Sundays are special but we’re called to be Christians every day of the week
and this survey shows that children and young people have a 24/7 spirituality
that needs to be fed all the time. We are already going this in a variety of
ways through services such as the MethodistChildren website and free weekly
texting service. We are also involved in various online church projects for
those of all ages, but there’s always more room for growth”.
Doug Swanney, Children’s Work development Officer, added; “The most
significant finding of the survey is that when churches do something new, it
usually works. Churches need to be ready to take the risk of trying new things
– they might just surprise themselves with how successful they are”.
The results of the survey are available online at http://www.methodistchildren.org.uk/adults/audit.htm
TOP
FIRST
IMPRESSIONS COUNT
Does Our Church Attract or Scare?
Making people welcome at worship is
everyone’s responsibility: members, door stewards, church stewards and
preachers. Whatever your role in our church, come along and find out how to make
the most of those first impressions so that people will want to come again.
There is a further opportunity to attend this important workshop on………
Saturday
20th January 2007 – 9.30 for 9.45am-12.30pm at
Summerbridge Methodist Church Led by Revd Bev Hollings & Revd David Ely
To book, contact Catherine Stead on 01423 715846
Or email catherinestead13@aol.com
SAFE & SOUND
Leaders
Sue Booth – Mick Maskell – Viv Morrissey
On Saturday 20th January 2007 @ St Mark’s Church, Leeds Road,
Harrogate 10-12.30pm
Also on Wednesday 21st March @ Tingley Methodist Church, Westerton
Road, Tingley WF3 1BD
Booking is essential contact 0113 268 7267 or email vivmorrissey@btconnect.com
LEADING SMALL GROUPS
Saturdays
3rd Feb & 24th Feb 10-4pm
At Otley Methodist Church Cost
£15 for the whole course
Please book by 22nd Jan -
Drinks provided, bring own lunch or use
local facilities, several cafes and food outlets nearby
Booking details as above
SET ALL FREE
Act
to end Slavery on Saturday 3rd Feb 10.30-3.30pm
At The Mirfield Centre, College of the Resurrection, Stocksbank Road, Mirfield,
WF14 0BW
Contact 01924 481920 or email centre@mirfield.org.uk
UNDERSTANDING DEMENTIA
10th
Feb 10-4pm at Haxby
& Wigginton Methodist Church, The Village, Haxby, York Y032 2JJ
Tickets
£10 (Soup & roll provided, bring own packed lunch) contact Viv Morrissey,
as above.
A mom was concerned about her kindergarten son
walking to school. He didn’t want his mother to walk with him. She wanted to
give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was
safe. So she had an idea of how to handle it. She asked a neighbour, Mrs
Goodnest, if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a
distance, so he probably wouldn’t notice her.
Mrs Goodnest agreed as she was usually up with her
toddler anyway and it was a good way for them to get some exercise as well. The
next day, they set out, following Timmy as he walked to school with another
neighbouring boy he knew. She did this for a whole week. As the boys walked and
chatted, kicking stones and twigs, they eventually noticed they were being
followed. “Do you know her?” Timmy nonchalantly replied, “Yeah, I know who
she is” “Well who is she?” “That’s Shirley Goodnest and
her daughter Marcy” “Every night my Mom makes me say the 23rd
Psalm, it says, ‘Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my
life’, so I guess I’ll just have to get used to it.
May Shirley Goodnest and Marcy be with you today,
and always.
(Thanks to Mary Ellis for this item)
TOP
DECEMBER
DATES FOR
YOUR DIARIES
Fri 1 World Aids Day
10-10.30am Friday Morning
Worship
10-noon Coffee Morning for Otley Fitness Group
Christmas Window Decorations to be in place please
Sat
2
8am Prayer Breakfast
10-noon Church Coffee Morning
Last chance to purchase Christmas Cards from Cynthia
Advent Weekend @ Guiseley Methodist Church
Sun
3
1st Advent 10.30am Worship & Communion-Rev L Holmes
10.30-4pm United Washburn Valley Quiet Day @ Norwood
Foyer Post Box available for friends who are able to come to church
and 'One for All Board' – donations for Missions to Gill Chaplin
No Evening Service
Mon
4
2.30pm Afternoon Fellowship Mrs P Wright of Yeadon
Tue
5
2pm Mothers Union Advent Service @ Parish Church
Thu
7
12noon Soup & Sweet Lunches—1.30-2.45pm Toddlers Club
Fri
8
10-10.30am Shoppers Service all welcome
10-noon Coffee Morning for Missions
Sat
9
10-noon Church Coffee Morning Please support
Sun10
10.30am Scouts leading Family Parade Service with Alistair
6pm Circuit Service Celtic Worship for Advent @ Burley MC.
Mon
11
2.30pm Afternoon Fellowship Mrs A Parker of Leeds
Thu
14
1.30-2.45pm Toddlers Club
Fri
15
10.00am Pre-School Nativity Anyone most welcome
10-noon Coffee Morning for Townswomen’s Guild
Sat
16
10-noon Church Coffee Morning Please support
Otley Brass Band & Carols at Parish Church
TOP
Sun
17
9.30am Communion-Rev A Newton
10.30am Worship Alistair
6pm Lessons & Carols @ Parish Church
Mon
18
2.30pm Afternoon Fellowship Carol Service @ Teal Beck
1812 Group visit to Wizard of Oz
Tue
19
7.30pm Otley Choral Society Carols @ U.R.C
Wed
20
7pm Church Prayers anyone welcome
Fri
22
10-10.30am Shoppers Christmas Service anyone welcome
10-noon Coffee Morning Vacant
Sat
23
10-noon Church Coffee Morning - Pop in after shopping
Sun
24 Christmas Eve
10.30am Family Carol Service led by Mr Phil Maude of Horsforth
4pm Family Christingle & Communion Service, anyone most welcome
11.30pm Joint Midnight Christmas Communion Service with our friends from the
Bridge Church.
Happy
Christmas Everyone
Mon
25 Christmas Day
10am Christmas Service @ Bridge Church
Fri
29
10-noon Coffee Morning Vacant
Sat
30
10-noon Church Coffee Morning Please support
Sun
31
10.30am Worship led by Rev T Jeffries
New
Year’s Eve --- No Evening Service
HAPPY
& HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE
TOP
Mon
1 New Year’s Day
Wed
3
7.30pm Circuit Preachers Meeting @ Rawdon
Thu
4
1.30-2.45pm Toddlers Club
Fri
5 & throughout January 10-10.30am Shoppers Service
5 10-noon Coffee Morning – Vacant
Sat
6
8am Prayer Breakfast Hosted by Society of Friends @ OMC
10-noon Church Coffee Morning Please support
Sun
7
10.30am Covenant & Communion Service-Rev A Newton
No Evening Service
Mon
8
2.30pm Afternoon Fellowship Christmas Memories-Members
7.30pm Publicity Meeting
Thu
11
1.30-2.45pm Toddlers Club
Fri
12
10-noon Coffee Morning Vacant
Sat
13
10-noon Church Coffee Morning Please support
Sun
14
10.30am Family Parade Service led by Mrs J Walls
6pm Circuit Service @ Guiseley
FOCUS ITEMS for February issue to Mrs Joan Monte please
Mon 15
2.30pm
Afternoon Fellowship Moldovan Tour-Mrs P Dobson
7.30pm Churches Together Meeting
Tue
16
1.30pm FOCUS TEAM MEETING
TOP
Wed
17
7pm Church Prayers anyone welcome
Thu
18
12noon Soup & Sweet Lunches – 1.30pm Toddlers Club
7.30pm Missions Meeting – 1812 Group @ the Manse
Fri
19
10-noon Coffee Morning Vacant
Sat
20
9.30am First Impression Count @ Summerbridge M.Church
10-noon Church Coffee Morning Please support
Sun
21
9.30am Communion with Rev A Newton
11am Week of Prayer for Christian Unity United Service @ OMC
Mon
22
2.30pm Afternoon Fellowship Mr Richard Marsh, Chevin Forest
Park Ranger
7.30pm Church Life Meeting
Thu
25
12noon Soup & Sweet Lunches
1.30pm Toddlers Club
Fri
26
10-noon Coffee Morning for HGJB
Sat
27
10-noon Church Coffee Morning Please support
Sun
28
10.30am Worship Rev K Reed
Mon
29
2.30pm Afternoon Fellowship with Rev A Newton
Wed
31
2pm Pastoral Visitors Meeting
February
Thu
1st
12noon Soup & Sweet Lunch
1.30pm Toddlers Club
Fri
2
10-noon Coffee Morning for Women’s Day of Prayer
Sat
3
8am Prayer Breakfast @ OMC
10-noon Church Coffee Morning
10-4pm Leading Small Groups
Sun
4
10.30am Worship & Communion – Rev A Newton
TOP
Evangelism
for the
Faint hearted
Lead By
REVD. STEVE WILD
Director of
Evangelism -
Cliff College
SUNDAY 18th
February at 1.30pm
At our Church
2 x 1 hour sessions concluding at 3.45pm
followed by Worship & Communion
Soup & Sweet Lunch available at 12.30pm
Church
Contact -Fred King on 01943 464151
Circuit
Contact -Irene Greenwood on 01943 463862
It is hoped as many as possible will be able to attend