St John the Baptist. In the Wilderness. Cragg Vale. Benefice of Erringden. Newsletter

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1 St John the Baptist In the Wilderness Cragg Vale Benefice of Erringden Newsletter December 2013/January 2014

2 CHURCH SERVICES in December 2013/January 2014 CW1 = Yellow book CW2 = Green book 1 Dec Advent Sunday CW1 Holy Communion 6 Dec Friday Christingle 8 Dec Advent CW1 Holy Communion 15 Dec Advent CW2 Holy Communion 22 Dec Advent Carol Service 24 Dec Christmas Eve Crib Service 24 Dec Christmas Eve Midnight Service 25 Dec Christmas Day Christmas Day Service 29 Dec Christmas Matins 5 Jan Christmas CW1 Holy Communion 12 Jan Epiphany The Baptism of Christ CW1 Holy Communion 19 Jan Epiphany CW2 Holy Communion 26 Jan Epiphany CW1 Holy Communion For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6 2

3 The Vicar s Mini Christmas Food Quiz 1. What sort of pie filling is this17th C recipe for? Take "a leg of mutton", and cutting "the best of the flesh from the bone", before adding mutton suet, pepper, salt, cloves, mace, currants, raisins, prunes, dates and orange peel. 2. What food was banned during the English Civil War, along with the censure of other Catholic customs, 3. What was considered unfit to occupy a clergyman s plate by the Puritans? If your answer to any of these questions was mince pies then well done. Mince pies have their origins in the 13 th C, they were originally a mixture of meat and fruit. The recipe above also recommended that beef or veal might be used in place of mutton. In the north of England, goose was used in the pie's filling, but more generally neat's (Old English for any cattle) tongue was also used. The Puritans were opposed to what was then called Christmas pie, on account of its connection with Catholicism. In his History of the Rebellion, Marchamont Needham wrote: "All Plums the Prophets Sons defy, And Spice-broths are too hot; Treason's in a December-Pye, And Death within the Pot." Who would have thought that there was so much controversy in the humble mince pie? I wonder if you make your own or buy them? I have to confess I buy mine; I have never mastered the right amount of filling to go in them. I either put in too much and it all boils over and burns or too little and there is a cavern of emptiness under the lid. My mum is a great mince pie maker and when I was a little girl, I used to call them treasure chests because if you carefully lifted the lid the filling looked like gold and jewels glistening. I was an odd child! Though perhaps I was onto something because they were said to represent either the gifts that the Wise Men brought or Jesus lying in the manger. I like this idea, food which reminds us why we are celebrating in the first place. The Reason for the Season as is sometimes said. 3

4 It reminds us to look for the hidden treasure in amongst the tinsel of our Christmas preparations. Of course you can buy mince pies all year round now but maybe that s not as bad as it might seem. After all Jesus is for all year round as well, not just Christmas. Christmas Eve will mark five months since I was licensed as Vicar of the Erringden Benefice and Alan and I would like to take the opportunity to thank you all for you welcome and support since our arrival. We are really looking forward to 2014 and all that God has in store for us all. May God s blessing be on you and your families this Christmas and may you have a peaceful and joyful New Year. A Christmas Prayer The day of joy returns, Father in Heaven, And crowns another year with peace and good will. Help us rightly to remember the birth of Jesus, That we may share in the song of the angels, The gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men. Close the doors of hate and open the doors of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil, by the blessing that Christ brings, And teach us to be merry with clean hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, And the Christmas evening bring us to our bed With grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen (Henry Van Dyke ) 4

5 PCC Minutes What your PCC discussed in October The removal of the organ seems to be in hand but as always with anything needing permission from Authorities we keep our finger crossed, or being a Church should I say, say our prayers! We had a meeting with David Baker, our organist, to get his views on what sort of an instrument we should purchase to replace it. After discussing his views at the PCC and adding ours we have given David the go-ahead to look for a small pipe organ to replace it. We had a letter from Calderdale Council which advised us that Church Services will be difficult when the Tour de France passes through Cragg Vale next year. Nearer the time any alternative arrangements will be made. As is the usual way of the world, the Insurance premium to cover the Church has gone up, but your PCC decided that we had no alternative but to accept it. This is now 2150 per annum - quite a sum to raise on top of all our other expenses. The Churches together will hold their Epiphany Service in January 2014 at St Michael s. We agreed Church Services and events up to Christmas but these will be shown elsewhere in the magazine. Amanda Farthing agreed to become our second Churchwarden but to appoint her we had to hold a Parish Meeting. This was held on Sunday 10 November after Morning Service. There were 30 Parishioners present. Mr Geraint Harris proposed and Mrs Sylvia Maudsley seconded the proposal that Amanda Farthing should be appointed as Churchwarden. All those present and entitled to vote were in favour. Welcome Amanda and thank you for volunteering. Beryl Horsfall, Secretary to the PCC 5

6 Especially for children, butall are welcome!"#$%&'!()*!+,-,./,#!&)!(0123.!!! 45.,!&6%!75$6!89!&)!58#! 4*#$9)$6:;,!9,#<$-,!! $6!&$%!5=!)*,!4*$;%#,6>9!?5-$,)'!!!""#$%&'(#)%""')*'+#,-""#.%#*%#*/'#0/-"+1'&23#4%)-'*(#,/%#,-""# 53'#-*#*%#/'"6#)/-"+1'&#-&#*/'#78#,/%#91'#-&#&''+:#'36')-9""(# 9*#0/1-3*$93#*-$';# # </'#3'1=-)'#,-""#>'#?%""%,'+#>(#*/'#%??-)-9"# 3,-*)/-&.#%&#%?#*/'#0%$$5&-*(#0/1-3*$93# "-./*3#9&+#1'?1'3/$'&*3#61%=-+'+#>(#*/'# 0%$$5&-*(#!33%)-9*-%&;# # # * * * * * All are welcome at our Crib service at 4pm on Christmas Eve. It s a service geared to children and tells the Christmas story in a fun way, the story is interspersed with popular Carols. It s a great chance to get excited children out of the house for an hour and is a great reminder of what Christmas is really all about! 6

Carol Singing Around the Village Meet at 5.30 pm on Sunday 22 nd December, outside the Robin Hood Inn. Warm clothing strongly recommended. All welcome, song sheets will be provided.

7 Carol Singing Around the Village Meet at 5.30 pm on Sunday 22 nd December, outside the Robin Hood Inn. Warm clothing strongly recommended. All welcome, song sheets will be provided. Ring Jackie Scarf Tel: You ve Got To Laugh A man has been accused of shoplifting a kitchen utensil from Tesco. When questioned he said it was a whisk he was prepared to take. An AA man was found sobbing in his van. He was having a breakdown! I went to the funeral of a tennis player. He was hit on the head with a tennis ball. It was very sad but a wonderful service! A policeman overtook a woman who was knitting whilst driving down the motorway. 'Pullover' he shouted. ''Actually it's a pair of socks' she exclaimed! 7

Yorkshire Countrywomen s Association Cragg Vale Branch The November meeting was the AGM with 12 members present.

It was an enjoyable year and we look forward to next year s speakers. Chairman Muriel Morgan thanked all members of the committee for their help over the year and the effort they put into their tasks.

The committee, with Muriel Morgan as Chairman, were all re-elected unanimously. Jean Smith offered to join in an emergency. This was agreed. Members were asked to find new members to join us.

8 Yorkshire Countrywomen s Association Cragg Vale Branch The November meeting was the AGM with 12 members present. Secretary Beryl Horsfall gave her report and a resume of last year s speakers and the topics they were presenting which were varied and interesting. It was an enjoyable year and we look forward to next year s speakers. Chairman Muriel Morgan thanked all members of the committee for their help over the year and the effort they put into their tasks. Arrangements were made to visit Saddleworth YCA at the end of the month, and final arrangements for the Christmas meal agreed. The committee, with Muriel Morgan as Chairman, were all re-elected unanimously. Jean Smith offered to join in an emergency. This was agreed. Members were asked to find new members to join us. We are a small happy group and would like more people to join us. Muriel Morgan thanked everyone for attending the meeting. Carol Wolstenholme won the raffle and supper was a Jacob s Join. The speaker for the January meeting will be Jill Robinson and her subject is Life's Rich Tapestry. Muriel Morgan Book Club <><><><> The next meeting of the Book Club will be at St. Michaels at 7pm on Tuesday, 3rd December to discuss 'The Colour Purple' by Alice Walker. Anne Beard 8

9 CAROL TRIVIA One of the traditions most synonymous with Christmas is carol singing. But what are the origins and history of some of our favourite songs? Away in a Manger This very popular carol was originally published in 1885 in a Lutheran Sunday school book and this created the misconception that the lyrics of Away in a Manger were actually written by Martin Luther himself. The author is unknown but the music was composed by William J Kirkpatrick in Hark the Herald Angels Sing This carol was written by Charles Wesley, brother of John Wesley founder of the Methodist church in A sombre man, he requested slow and solemn music for his lyrics and thus Hark the Herald Angels Sing was sung to a different tune initially. Over a hundred years later Felix Mendelssohn ( ) composed a cantata in 1840 to commemorate Johann Gutenberg s invention of the printing press. English musician William H Cummings adapted Mendelssohn s music to fit the lyrics of Hark the Herald Angels Sing already written by Wesley. O Come all ye Faithful The text of this carol was originally written in Latin (Adeste Fideles) and was intended to be a hymn. It is attributed to Englishman John Wade with the music composed by John Reading in the early 1700s. The tune was first published in a collection known as Cantus Diversi in In 1841 the Rev. Frederick Oakley is reputed to have worked on the familiar translation of O Come all ye Faithful, which replaced the older Latin lyrics Adeste Fideles. Silent Night The origin of the carol was a poem that was written in 1816 by an Austrian priest called Joseph Mohr. On Christmas Eve in 1818 in the small alpine village called Oberndorf it is reputed that the organ at St Nicholas Church had broken. Joseph Mohr gave the poem Silent Night (Stille Nacht) to his friend Franz Xavier Gruber and the melody for Silent Night was composed with this in mind. The music to Silent Night was therefore intended for a guitar and the simple score was finished in time for Midnight Mass. Thank you Betty for supplying this article. 9

10 St John s, Cragg Vale CHRISTMAS FLOWERS and CAROL CONCERT Friday 20 th December 7 for 7.30pm 5.00 per head Includes buffet supper 10

11 Food Bank Collection As we approach this festive season, spend time with loved ones, and probably eat more than we really need to, please let us all remember those who are not so fortunate. There are people who are really struggling to make ends meet. Our harvest gifts were warmly welcomed at the Food Bank in Todmorden. At St John s we have decided that we will continue to collect for this cause. From now on there will be a collection point at the back of church for any nonperishable food items you are able to donate tins, dried goods etc. I am sure things like toiletries, warm gloves and scarves would also be appreciated. Quick Guide to Forthcoming Events 6 Dec 6.30pm, Christingle Service followed by the switch on of lights 10 Dec YCA Christmas Meal 16 Dec St John s PCC, 6.30 pm at the back of church. 18 Dec Carol Singing at the Hinchliffe Arms, 8pm 20 Dec Christmas Flowers & Concert, 6.30pm 22 Dec Carol Singing round the Village, meet 5.30 at the Robin Hood 22 Dec Candlelit Carol Service at St Michael s For more information about what s going on in our Benefice Log on to 11

12 Rotas for December 2013/January 2014 Date Sidesmen Readers Servers Coffee 1 Dec 8 Dec 15 Dec 22 Dec 24 Dec Dorothy & Barry Shepherd Margaret & Pam Talbot Sylvia Maudsley & Doris Wheelwright Amanda Farthing & Ed Talbot Carol Wolstenholme & Hugh Morgan AnnKilbey & Ed Talbot Beryl Horsfall& John Dixon 9 Lessons &Carols Sylvia Maudsley & Geraint Harris Terry Mary Margaret Terry Doris Wheelwright Carol & Patrick Taylor Anne Beard & Beryl Horsfall Dot & Barry Shepherd 25 Dec Doris Hirst Gordon 29 Dec 5 Jan 12 Jan 19 Jan 26 Jan Betty Disley & Beryl Horsfall Dorothy & Barry Shepherd Margaret & Pam Talbot Amanda Farthing & Ed Talbot Sylvia Maudsley & Doris Wheelwright Sylvia Maudsley Margaret Jean Smith Ann Kilbey Ed Talbot Carol Wolstenholme Geraint Harris Parish Contacts Mary Gordon Terry Margaret Doris Wheelwright Carol & Patrick Taylor Anne Beard & Beryl Horsfall Dot & Barry Shepherd Vicar Rev Cathy Reardon Assistant Minister Rev Martin Macdonald Churchwarden Geraint Harris Editor Ann Kilbey ann.kilbey@btinternet.com Deadline for contributions for the February/March magazine is 19 th January please. Published by St John the Baptist in the Wilderness, Cragg Vale, in the Benefice of Erringden.

St John the Baptist In the Wilderness Cragg Vale

St John the Baptist In the Wilderness Cragg Vale Benefice of Erringden Newsletter APRIL 2012 CHURCH SERVICES in April 2012 CW1 = Yellow book CW2 = Green book 1 April Palm Sunday 09.30 Family Communion