Parish Life. The magazine for the churches of All Saints Elton and St James Woolfold

Transcription

1 Parish Life The magazine for the churches of All Saints Elton and St James Woolfold Christmas 2017

2 2 Simon s Christmas Message LOOKING AHEAD TO A NEW YEAR What kind of people do we want to be next year? What should we take with us from this one? It sounds like a reflection for New Year s Day, but I think it s more appropriate for December and for Advent. The Church Year ends on the Feast of Christ the King in November, and the New Year begins with Advent a time of penitence and reflection, and an opportunity to think about our priorities, our regrets and our hopes for the year to come. This is a healthy thing for us to do as individuals, in our own lives and especially in our own walk with Jesus. How is our faith? How close do we feel to God? Is there anything missing or anything we would like to change? Advent is a good time to ask these questions, and there are many books or other resources that can help us please ask if you would like some ideas, and I will make some available in church over the season. It s also a healthy thing to reflect on our priorities, regrets and hopes as churches and as a parish at the end of one year and the start of the next. We are older, of course, and we have lost dear friends from our fellowship at both All Saints and St James, and in other areas of many of our lives too. It is right and appropriate to make time to remember them in Advent and there will be an opportunity to do this in church during the season to come, which I will explain nearer the time. For our priorities and hopes as a parish, in this last year we have been considering, discussing and reflecting on a Mission Action Plan and as the New Year begins, I can now share the plan the PCC has approved, based on your ideas, suggestions, comments and opinions, looking at the areas where we believe we can get on and do things. Our priorities Our priorities are Improving Communication, Building Stronger Community and Engaging Our Community with Worship. They are aimed at helping us to share the good news of Jesus with those around us in the hope of growing our churches and bringing in new people which is what the word Mission means, and what Jesus commissioned his followers to do at the end of Matthew s Gospel.

3 3 But they are also about developing and growing our faith and fellowship among the congregation in our churches. The two things go together. What that means is that we re not getting rid of the old things or just chasing after new things and new people for the sake of it. We want to offer pastoral support, ministry, care and encouragement to all of our current church members alongside the kind of challenge that every disciple of Christ needs to help us grow and develop in our walk of faith. So how will this work? These priorities look two ways out to the wider community we want to reach, and inwards to our congregation. Improving Communication Being people who listen Improving Communication means making sure we listen to each other, and no one s voice is lost. It s about two-way listening with church members and groups, with the groups who use our buildings, and with the wider community around us. It will mean exploring new technology Wi-Fi in the buildings, using social media and possibly a new website. But it will also mean continuing to emphasise face-to-face conversations, and time and space for people to talk and spend time together. It is about both/and not either/or. It is about us striving to be people who listen. Building Stronger Community Being people who reach out Building Stronger Community is about our relationships with each other, with the groups who use our buildings, with local schools and businesses and organisations, and all the people around us. We are already part of our community, but we live in a society where many people don t make connections or build relationships with those around them. They don t see the point. The CofE model of the parish is all about local community for everyone, whether they have a faith or not, and whether they are Christian or not. So part of our Christian mission is to build stronger community with everyone not simply to try and make them come to church, but because living in strong communities where everyone is welcome is a fundamental Christian way to live. The alternative is to hide ourselves away from the rest of the world, like the Amish. And if we do that, we will never grow or reach out to others. This will include things we do already, like Fun Days and community activities, and also new activities, like some kind of regular café in St Francis. Building Stronger Community is about us striving to be people who reach out. Engaging Our Community with Worship Being people who celebrate & remember with everyone Engaging Our Community with Worship is about doing what we do best as the church. Over the course of the Christian year what we do in our churches is celebrate and remember. We celebrate feasts, remember the dead, remember those less fortunate than we are, and celebrate the special transitions of life getting married, having a baby, leaving school. Engaging Our Community with Worship means building on our schools work, it means continuing to develop our Messy Church and our Café Service, and it means finding ways to bring the wider community in to celebrate our area,

4 and going out into the community to celebrate and remember where people are So, for example, what if we asked Woodbank Cricket Club about doing a Remembrance Service there next year? Churches are places where people can celebrate and remember, but they don t have to be the only places where these things happen. Engaging Our Community with Worship is not about buildings, it s about people and at heart it s about us striving to be people who celebrate and remember with everyone. 4 Three taglines = three aims Our three MAP priorities give us three taglines statements about the kind of people we want to be, and that we want others to see us as. These aren t things I have dreamt up or that the PCC has concocted they come from your opinions, your views, your comments shared over this last year. And they give us something to aim for in many of the things we are already doing in the parish, and in all the new things we will also try to do. Here in our churches, we want to be people who listen, people who reach out, and people who celebrate and remember with everyone. I think those are wonderful, encouraging Christian hopes and priorities for a new Church Year, and I can t wait to see how they will help us to follow Jesus faithfully in the next twelve months. Every blessing Simon

5 5 CHRISTMAS Countdown some key dates for your diaries so you don t miss out Xmas Coffee Morning Saturday 2 nd December St James (stalls, tombola, stocking fillers and a chance to get together). Christmas Stall- Sunday 3 December after the 9.30 service at All Saints. Stocking fillers, gifts etc. All proceeds to church funds. Seasonal donations gratefully received. Schools year 6 Service-Monday 4 December at 2pm-All Saints-Volunteers welcome! Christmas Evening Saturday 9 th December at All Saints. (Informal evening s entertainment volunteers welcome!) Christmas Carol Service Sunday 17 th December at All Saints (traditional service, not café-style but please invite visitors) Advent 4 Communion Sunday 24 th at 8.15 and 9.30 not St James Xmas Eve Carols Sunday 24 th at 3.30pm - St James Xmas Eve Christingle Sunday 24 th at 5pm - All Saints Midnight Communion Sunday 24 th at All Saints Christmas Day Communion Monday 25 th at 10am - All Saints Every blessing Simon Sunday 3rd December when we will be getting Messy again Sticking, Sparkling, Building, Singing, Sheep Shearing? And of course holding our Pre-Christmas Party at the end!

6 6 Sunday 3rd December when we will be getting Messy again Sticking, Sparkling, Building, Singing, Sheep Shearing? And of course holding our Pre-Christmas Party at the end! Is there anyone you could invite to join us! Everyone one is welcome to come along and join us in the fun on the first Sunday of each month from 10am 11.30am (flexible time as we understand the needs of families) at St. Francis House, Hebburn Drive, BL8 1EB. Want to know more contact: Deirdre

7 7 The Upper Room in St Francis House on Tuesday Mornings. How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given Silent night, holy night..all is calm all is bright..sleep in heavenly peace Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing Let all mortal flesh keep silence These are all lines from some of our favourite advent and Christmas carols. As well as the joyfully noisy bells ringing out, the long lusty Gloria in excelsis from Ding Dong Merrily on High, O come let us adore him from O Come all ye Faithful we do love those quiet moments too, when we sense the hush of being alongside a new-born baby. We need those quiet moments too in the busy run up to Christmas and so often we don t make time for them and miss out on the calmness they bring. That s why the Tuesday Morning in the Upper Room make the meeting before Christmas a little more special. We still have the usual few words, a little music and a quiet time (on seasonal theme obviously) and then afterwards we go downstairs to have (a more noisy!) bring and share lunch. It might be an opportunity to come along and join us for this slightly different session even if it is something you haven t considered before. We had a very convivial time last year and am sure it will be so again. So all would be very welcome. We will start at a later time than usual otherwise it will make lunch too early. Do come and join us on Tuesday 12th December at 11.30am Future dates 26 th December no meeting January 9th 11.30am 23rd am Christmas Prayers Christmas is such a busy time of year with so much to do. Please use this page to capture your thoughts, reflections and prayers as we come to the end of 2017.

8 8 Church Group Activities Afternoon Tea Please join us between 2 and 4 pm at St James on the first Thursday of each month for a time of fellowship and delicious cakes! Arts and Crafts The Arts and Crafts Group meet on Thursdays 2 4pm in St Francis House. There are various activities from painting, colouring books, knitting, embroidery, glass engraving and more. If you are interested please come along and join us. Bible Study The Bible Study Group meets on the first Tuesday of the month. You are warmly invited to join us at 7.30 p.m. on at St Francis House (Middle Room). Choir The church choir meets on the first and third Thursday evenings in All Saints at 7.30 pm. If you enjoy singing plese come along, we are always looking for new members! Knit and Natter "Knit and Natter" meets in St. James's Parish Centre on Wednesdays between 2 and 4 p.m. and all are welcome. Mother s Union Members of the Mother s Union continue to share meetings with friends from St Stephen s, when they meet on the first Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm at St Stephen s. Parish Prayers Our Prayer group meets at 7.30pm in All Saints Church, Brandlesholme on the third Monday of each month throughout the year. The meeting lasts between 45 and 60 minutes

9 9 Best foot forward!-monday walking group news Our last walk of the year took place on Monday 6th November when we tried a new type of walk. We are trying to be inclusive and offer options within our walks, so there was a choice of how far we walk. We went from Church along the valley and across to Summerseat, where our first stop would have been for those who wanted a shorter walk. However, everyone continued and we went over the top of Summerseat to Ramsbottom via Nuttall Park. In total it was a 4 mile linear walk, with walkers taking the bus back to Brandlesholme. On Monday 4th December we have our annual Christmas meal at Owens in Ramsbottom - please be there for 7.15, and don't forget to bring your wrapped, secret Santa gift to the value of one whole pound!! St. Francis Ladies Club On Monday 13th November there was a joint church meeting with a presentation from the charity Crisis, which is one of the parish supported charities. The evening was a huge success with a large cheque being presented to them at the end of the evening. Many thanks to John Fox who organised the event. On Monday 11th December we will have our Christmas evening in church, starting at 7pm. Don't forget your secret Santa exchange presents! The AGM will be on Monday 8th January again starting at 7pm with a Hotpot supper.

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11 11 Our Christmas Poem Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore Clement Clarke Moore wrote this poem in 1822 for his own children. It is also referenced with the title, "A Visit from St. Nicholas". The poem is the origin for many of the modern notions of Santa Claus, his plump and cheerful white-bearded look, the names of his reindeer, and even the tradition that he brings toys to children. 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The children were nestled all snug in their beds; While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap, When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, Gave a lustre of midday to objects below, When what to my wondering eyes did appear, But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer, With a little old driver so lively and quick, I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: "Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, Donder and Blixen! To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!" As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

12 12 When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; So up to the housetop the coursers they flew With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too-- And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. His eyes--how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow; The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a little round belly That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; A wink of his eye and a twist of his head Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

13 13 Christmas Dinner Around The world When it comes to Christmas dinner in Britain, there s not much variation. Turkey with all the trimmings, followed by a mountain of Christmas pudding that sits in your stomach like a suet cannonball, is as traditional as the Queen s Speech and a family row. Around the world, however, people tuck into all sorts of weird and wonderful festive fare. In much of Europe, the main meal is held on December 24, and there s not a speck of turkey to be seen. In Poland, people tuck into an enormous banquet called Wigilia, or the Star Supper, featuring dishes such as borscht and dumplings. In Italy, most families avoid meat on Christmas Eve in favour of The Feast of the Seven Fishes, where delicacies such as fried eel are the star of the show (pasta and meat dishes such as il cotechino, a sausage made from pig s intestines, are served the next day). In Germany, where roast goose and red cabbage are the kings of the Christmas table, legend has it that those who do not dine well on Christmas Eve will be haunted by demons so there s no excuse not to squeeze in that extra slice of stollen.

14 Some of the most eyebrow-raising Christmas food comes from Iceland, where it s not unusual to be served puffin or roasted reindeer something that must lead to rather difficult conversations with children about Rudolph. Still, it sounds better than the menu on December 23: as the last day of Christmas fasting, meat is traditionally outlawed, and boiled potatoes and fermented skate are served instead. So pungent is the fish that many people choose to eat out in a restaurant, rather than risk making their home smell. Slovakia also has some unusual festive favourites, such as kapustnica, a thick sauerkraut soup, and fried carp. So central to Christmas, in fact, is the carp in eastern Europe that many families buy a live one and keep it in the bath until it s time to cook it something which makes finding a decent turkey suddenly seem a lot less stressful. Much more appetising is the tradition in France s Provence region, where 13 desserts are created in honour of Christ and the 12 apostles, and left out for three days for people to nibble on (though would they last that long in British houses?). Over in the East, festive traditions get even stranger. Christmas is not a national holiday in Japan, where less than one per cent of the population is Christian, but there is one Yuletide ritual they love: KFC. A clever marketing campaign by the fastfood chain in the Seventies convinced the Japanese that Christmas and the Colonel were inextricable (the slogan was Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!, or Kentucky for Christmas! ) and people queue around the block to get their hands on a festive bucket in December. In Egypt, Christians like to gorge on Christmas Eve, often late after mass. Because Egypt still observes the Coptic Calendar, however, this doesn t take place until January 6. Many cook a special meal known as fata, a kind of lamb stew with rice, bread and garlic, to get them in the holiday mood. Despite the baking heat, the Australians love a traditional British Christmas. But a picnic or barbecue is just as common and, yes they do often throw a shrimp or two on the barbie. Pavlova, for some reason, is a popular dessert, though Christmas pudding is also traditional. Back in the days of the gold rush, a lucky gold nugget was often hidden inside the pudding instead of a coin. In the Americas, Christmas can be a spicy business. On Christmas Eve, Mexicans tuck into traditional stews and fish dishes, with spicy tamales (corn dough pastries) and sweet fritters called buñuelos. The Peruvians have a taste for turkey, and as much hot chocolate as they can handle: many organisations hold gatherings in the 14

15 15 festive season called chocolatadas, where impoverished locals are treated to the drink, along with sweets and toys. In America, it s roast all the way though, due to the fact that Thanksgiving is so close to Christmas, our turkey-stuffed cousins across the pond tend to opt for another meat. A typical American dessert like pumpkin or apple pie is more likely than Christmas pud or mince pies, and controversially, crackers are not a feature. That s right no terrible jokes, and no silly hats that slip over your eyes just as you try to take a bite of turkey. They re definitely missing out. It s a Cracker!

16 16 Whats on in St Francis House MONDAY 10:30am 11:30am Zumba Gold Room 1 Contact: Tracey Howard 6pm 8pm Weightwatchers - Room 1 St. Francis House Contact: Josephine 7:30pm 8:30pm Relax Kids Adult Classes Room 2 St. Francis details below TUESDAY 4pm 5pm Relax Kids primary age children Classes St. Francis House Room 2 Contact Aislinn - term-time only 4:30pm - 8:30pm Active Dance run 2 classes for children and teenagers in All Saints Church: Term-time only. WEDNESDAY 9:30am - 11:30am First Steps a group for toddlers and parent / carers, meet in St. Francis House Room 1 Contact: Helen. Term-time only 7pm- 8:30pm Harmony Belles Room 4 St. Francis House Contact: Heather 7:30pm - 8:15pm Zumba All Saints Church Contact: Julie 7:00 7:30pm Local Councillor s Surgery bi-monthly meeting followed by 7:30pm 9.00pm Brandlesholme Residents Association bi-monthly meeting next meetings will be held on Wednesday 25 th Jan 17 & 15 th March 17. THURSDAY 10.00am 11:30am Your Yoga - Room 1 St. Francis House Contact: Sharon 2pm 4pm Arts and Craft Group St. Francis House Room 1 FRIDAY 10:00am 10:30am and 11: am Rhythm Time Multi-Sensory Classes preschool, toddlers, babies. Contact: Heidi Seddon. Term-time 7:15pm 9.30pm Ramsbottom Choral Society, All Saints Church, Contact Barry SATURDAY 11am 1pm Bloco Ashe, Community Samba Group Room 1 St. Francis House All ages welcome Contact Deborah

17 17 Let s have some Christmas Gingerbread Men! Ingredients 75g dark muscovado sugar 85g golden syrup 100g butter 350g plain flour, plus extra for dusting

18 18 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 1 tbsp. ground ginger 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 egg, beaten To decorate Readymade writing icing Chocolate buttons or small sweets (optional) Method Melt the sugar, golden syrup and butter in a saucepan, then bubble for 1-2 mins. Leave to cool for about 10 mins. Tip the flour, bicarbonate of soda and spices into a large bowl. Add the warm syrup mixture and the egg, stir everything together, then gently knead in the bowl until smooth and streak-free. The dough will firm up once cooled. Wrap in cling film and chill for at least 30 mins. Remove the dough from the fridge, leave at room temperature until softened. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and line two baking trays with baking parchment. Roll out the dough to the thickness of a 1 coin, then cut out gingerbread people with a cutter. Re-roll the excess dough and keep cutting until it s all used up. Lift the biscuits onto the trays and bake for mins, swapping the trays over halfway through cooking. Leave to cool on the trays for 5 mins, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Use the icing to decorate the biscuits as you wish, and stick on sweets for buttons. Leave to dry for 1-2 hrs. Will keep for up to three days in an airtight container

19 19 Back by popular demand and a great Christmas gift! Mid-week Lunch on the East Lancs Railway for Wednesday 25th April 2018 starting at 1pm.Meet at The Railway at 12-30pm. The Meal is Braised Beef Daube & Mushrooms, Baby Roast Potatoes and Vegetables with Porter Ale Sauce, followed by Treacle Sponge with Homemade Custard. Tea and Coffee and After Dinner Mints to finish. The Cost is per person. Please contact John Ellins with Bookings which should include any Dietary Requirements. Soup and Sandwich Lunch - a new venture Join us for a soup and sandwich lunch on the 3rd Wednesday of each month starting on 17th January. Food will be served between 12 noon and 2pm at Brandlesholme Methodist Church on Boulden Drive (off Holme Avenue). Come along for a bite to eat and a natter - all ages will be made most welcome

20 20 Where to find us The postal address for All Saints is: All Saints, St Francis House, Hebburn Drive, Bury, BL8 1ED All Saints Church and St Francis House are signposted from Brandlesholme Road, follow Throstle Grove and access is via Hebburn Drive. The postal address for St James is: St James, Walshaw Road, Bury BL8 1PY St James Church and Centre are situated on Walshaw Road.