CROSSGATES METHODIST CHURCH NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2014 Minister : Reverend Susan Greenhart Dear Friends, First of all Lee and I thank you for the warm welcome we received on our arrival at Cross Gates, for the many good wishes, flowers and especially prayers. Your continued prayers would be most appreciated as I get to know you all, and find my feet here. What I ve learnt already is that there are so many people with wonderful gifts which they are using to great effect within the life of the church and in the wider community. And that is a great blessing. Right now, a month in, I m trying to do a lot of listening, looking and praying. Here are some of the things I ve been asking people as I seek to understand what God wants of me in this time and place: What are the things you love about being part of Cross Gates MC? What does being a Christian mean to you? How do you worship God between Sundays? Where/how do you find it easiest to be in God s presence? What are you struggling with currently? Are you able to share those struggles with others? Are you fed by your experience of worship at church? How are you involved in the ministry of the church? Where do you see God s presence at work around Cross Gates Do you feel that the church has a mission to the people of Cross Gates and the wider community? Is that mission being fulfilled? How is God calling you into deeper connection with him? Are you considering membership? Thinking of Our Calling as Methodists, how committed are you to worship; learning and caring; service; and evangelism? No, this isn t the Spanish Inquisition! But sometimes it is helpful to do a spiritual inventory. We see how far we ve come; we see whether we re still growing. And that s important. Recently the General Secretary of the Methodist Church reported that the membership of the Methodist Church has fallen by one third over the last ten years. And we are called this year to focus on evangelism - for some the most challenging aspect of our calling. The point of focussing on evangelism is not to keep a church going that has already done its best work. It is to recognise that our role as Christians is to do what Jesus called us to do to share the love of God that has blessed our own lives. And we have to do it in a way that is relevant to people who have never experienced what it means to know Jesus and to be part of a Christian fellowship.
Recently at Representative Synod we heard from a Pioneer Minister working in the centre of Leeds. His remit was to spend time on the streets of Leeds asking people questions over a cup of coffee, in order to build a new church in whatever form that might take. In order to do that, he had to get to know my Galilee. Some years ago, Methodist Minister, Barbara Glasson did a similar thing when she created the Bread Church in Liverpool. She recognised how many people were wandering the streets out of work and needing a warm place to be. She hired a room and made bread together, and as they worked and ate together, they talked about the struggles in their lives and found Jesus in their midst (Matt25: 35). Jesus ministered both to his disciples and to the people around Galilee. And we are called to do the same. God will use each one of us at whatever age and stage we are in our lives. We only have to be willing to listen and to answer when God calls. We have to know our Galilee so we can see where God wants us to join in the work he is already doing. Pray. God will answer. Not always immediately; not always the answer we re hoping for; often stirring us up, and changing things more than we re comfortable with, but he will answer! Blessings. Susan Communion Services in October Tuesday 7th Tranquility Court MHA Scheme All welcome Sunday 12th 10.30am Friday 24th Prayer Chapel Cross Gates Methodist Church Services at Cross Gates in October at 10.30am (There are no evening services this month at Cross Gates} 5 th Rev Peter Whitaker 12 th Rev Susan Greenhart 4pm United Service at Christ Church, Halton 19 th Dr Stanley Pearson 26 th Mrs Caroline Hudson After Sunday morning service you are warmly invited to coffee/tea or juice served in the Wesley Room, except for Parade/Family Service when it is served in the Church Hall Coffee Mornings in October 10.00 11.30-am Friday 2nd Tranquility Court (MHA Complex behind church) Friday 10th Refreshments but no items for sale Every Monday Church Coffee Morning Every Saturday Church Coffee Morning Table Top Sales Saturdays 4th October & 1 st & 22nd November- 9.30am to 12 noon These will take place in the Church Hall and if you would like to book a table at a cost of 5 please telephone Lynda on 07799094472 or you can see her in the Wesley Room on a Sunday morning. We are very grateful to everyone who donates items to sell. The amount we make each month has been creeping up and the August sale raised 141.16 for Church Funds. Christmas Fayre and Toy Sale - 6th December - 9.30am to 1.30pm We would be very grateful for donations of tombola items and toys, toiletries, unwanted gifts etc. for the Christmas Fayre. There will be a collection box for these items in the Galilee during November. If you are able to help for an hour or two on the day please will you give your name to Elizabeth Hartley, Linda Booth, Lynda Robinson or a Steward.
John Smeaton Academy Volunteer Readers More help desperately needed for John Smeaton Academy Volunteer Readers. Can you spare an hour and a half a week on Tuesdaysbetween 8.45-10.15 or 10-11.15? Our 15 volunteers read for 10 minutes each with nearly 100 children, but many more need this support. Please contact Karen Gray 07985 035125/ Connectingcrossgates@gmail.com Concord Leeds Interfaith Fellowship Concord exists to foster friendship, trust, tolerance, understanding and cooperation among members of the 9 faith communities in Leeds.Our next and most important meeting is the ANNUAL PEACE SERVICE on Wednesday October 22 nd at 7.30pm in the Banqueting Room at Leeds Civic Hall. For further information and details of the varied and interesting programme of meetings go to www.concord-leeds.org.uk or speak to Kath Harwood (2603614) East Leeds History & Archaeology Society Monday 27th October 8.00 pm Methodist Church Hall Austhorpe Road An Illustrated talk by John Brooke "A Tidal Wave of Disease " The 1832 Leeds Cholera Epidemic. Admission 2.00 including refreshments. All Welcome Generate Youth Assembly 14-16 November, 2014 For all Methodist youth aged 8-23. Save the date. More details on www.methodist.org.uk Circuit financial support is available. The best mathematical equation I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails= 4 given. Methodist Women in Britain (formerly NETWORK) Meetings to be held at Oxford Place Thursday 15 th October 11am Dedication & Communion Service 1pm Business Meeting Wednesday 29 th October 12 for 12.30pm Lunch at Rodley Speaker: Rev Nick Baker Airport Chaplain There s a Spirit in the Air Beetle Drive The Tranquility Court Support Group invite you to join them for a Beetle Drive on Saturday 4th October at 2pm in the Church Hall. Tickets are available from members of the Support Group - Adults 2 Children 1 which includes tea and biscuits. There will also be a raffle. All proceeds towards the Amenity Fund for Tranquility Court which enables the Support Group to purchase extra items for the residents.
Sabeel UK Sabeel is an ecumenical grassroots liberation theology movement among Palestinian Christians. Inspired by the life and teaching of Jesus Christ, liberation theology seeks to deepen the faith of Palestinian Christians, provide unity among them and lead them to act for justice and peace, non-violence liberation and reconciliation, in love. Sabeel UK works to support Sabeel in Palestine by raising awareness of the huge problems that Palestinians face every day, since the NAKBA (disaster) 66 years ago (May 1948), with prayer, (the weekly Wave of Prayer can be found at www.sabeel.org) with donations and with personal visits Sabeel organises regular Witness visits in Spring and Autumn and inspiring International Conferences, every 3 years. In Leeds we have two meetings planned:- 1) Wednesday October 29 th at Holy Trinity Church, Boar Lane at 6pm (refreshments) for 6.30pm. The meetings end at 8pm. SUBJECT Bound, blindfolded and convicted. Children held in military detention, including the short film Alone. 2) Wednesday December 10 th at Holy Trunity Church, Boar Lane at 6pm for 6.30pm. SUBJECT How far is it to Bethlehem? Further information from Kath Harwood (2603614) EATING IN THE FIFTIES Pasta was not eaten in the United Kingdom Curry was a surname. A takeaway was a mathematical problem. A pizza was something to do with a leaning tower. All potato chips were plain; the only choice we had was whether to put the salt on or not. Rice was only eaten as a milk pudding. A Big Mac was what we wore when it was raining. Brown bread was something only poor people ate. Oil was for lubricating, fat was for cooking. Tea was made in a teapot using tea leaves and never green. Sugar enjoyed a good press in those days and was regarded as being white gold. Cubed sugar was regarded as posh. Fish didn't have fingers in those days. Eating raw fish was called poverty, not sushi. None of us had ever heard of yogurt. Healthy food consisted of anything edible. People who didn't peel potatoes were regarded as lazy. Cooking outside was called camping. Seaweed was not a recognised food. "Kebab" was not even a word, never mind a food. Prunes were medicinal. Surprisingly, muesli was readily available, it was called cattle feed. Water came out of the tap. If someone had suggested bottling it and charging more than petrol for it they would have become a laughing stock!! *The one thing that we never ever had on our table in the fifties... Elbows!*
OUT OF PUFF I don t know where the time goes. There simply isn t enough I thought I d take life easy, Instead I m out of puff. I m running around in circles. So many things to do If YOU want relaxation Then retirement s not for you! (Phyllis Ellison) Please Note the revised Dates for those who attend the meetings. Church Council Tuesday 7 th October Safeguarding Committee Wednesday 8 th October You can t change the past, but you ll ruin the present by worrying about the future Proud to be Yorkshire Social Evening 10th October The Church family are invited to join in an evening of fun, games, quizzes and dancing with the theme - Proud to be Yorkshire, on Friday 10 th October, starting at 7:00 pm with a meal. If you wish, come dressed for the occasion - perhaps in your Yorkshire team shirt or maybe wear a white rose. Come along and join in the fun, meet old friends and make new ones. It is all free, but generous donations to church funds will be very welcome
LEEDS ORGANISTS ASSOCIATION (Affiliated to the Incorporated Association of Organists) web site : www.iao.org.uk/leeds President: Professor Philip Meaden B.Mus, M.Mus, FRCO, FTCL Secretary: David Wilks, 6,Whinmoor Crescent, Leeds LS14 1AG Tel. 0113 2932960 e-mail david.wilks57@ntlworld.com Seacroft Organ come and have a go! Saturday October 11 th at 3.30pm a special free outreach event to encourage those who can play the piano and keyboards, both young and old and of all standards, to come and have a go at playing a pipe organ. This will take place at Chapel FM, the former Seacroft Methodist Church building, now a new Community Arts Venue, on York Road, just a few yards south of Seacroft Green and the Parish Church. The 2 manual (keyboards) and pedal organ in the building has been renovated after many years of disuse. The building itself has beenrecently transformed into a most pleasant and engaging complex with radio broadcasting and studio facilities, a performance area with seating and a meeting area Please pass this on to anyone who could be interested in attending. I should stress that help and assistance will be available, should you require it, to find your way around the organ including what stops to use etc. On street parking is available nearby and around Seacroft Green. Thank you David Wilks (Secretary) Sunday Morning Coffee There is a new rota on the notice board outside the vestry for people to make and serve coffee after the Sunday morning service. Please will groups add their names and also anyone else, maybe two or three friends together. Many thanks in advance. SHIN A body part for finding furniture in the dark Circuit News ------ Items from the Circuit newsletter 25 th Anniversary Celebrations at Christ Church Halton With Harvest Festival and Flower Festival Saturday 4 th October 10am 5pm Sunday 5 th October from 12 noon followed by Songs of Praise at 4pm Refreshments served each day
Plant Sale at Christ Church, Halton Friday 10 th October from 9am to 5pm and Saturday 11 th October from 9am 1pm also books, stationery, refreshments etc. All welcome. Autumn Fayre at Oakwood Church Saturday 11 th October 2 4pm Fun for children (games, crafts, face & nail painting etc) shopping (retro, books, fair-trade, cards, toiletries, cakes, bric-a-brac etc) Admission adults 1 Children 30p Sing Freedom - 4pm A challenging and inspiring Circuit Service at Christ Church Halton. Frances Bernstein tells a deeply personal story about the liberation struggle in South Africa, vividly recalled in songs of the apartheid era. Something Special at Garforth an Open Day Saturday 4 th October 4 6pm Displays, dramas, presentations and more, demonstrating what children, young people and adults all enjoy about being part of the activities of the Church. A free buffet tea will be available. Please come and join us. You will be made very welcome IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED? It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. Anita, age 9 The Hub Monday 6 th October 11am 1pm I am setting up a monthly Cancer support drop-in which will hopefully enable cancer patients in the surrounding area to have somewhere to meet and gain peer support and find a friendly listening ear. The sessions are due to start on Monday 6 October in the Wesley Room and will then run on the first Monday of every month. The sessions will run from 11a.m to 1pm and we hope to serve tea, coffee, biscuits etc and sandwiches/soup for those who call in around lunch time. I am gathering a group of people together to serve refreshments, listen to those who attend etc Whilst it is not specifically a faith run group and will be there for people of all faith and none, I felt it important that the meetings be held on church premises and hope it will be in some way a form of outreach to those in need of support. I would be grateful for your prayer support for this new venture and for you to spread the word to anyone you know who might benefit from attending this group. Hazel Featherstone