Newsletter for March 2010

From our Superintendent Minister, Rev. Stephen Barnett

Dear Friends,

I thought I would share with you the story of Kate. Kate worshipped weekly. She was in a study group, attended Lenten courses and gave generously. But Kate was putting on a front for she was ill at ease with herself and deeply sad. She felt that things she did were a waste of time and that if she were to disappear no one would notice. The more she felt this, the more she did to blot out the feeling with activity. Her church organised a quiet weekend. She didn't go. Worship was different for, with fewer people, the minister led a silent service, in solidarity with the spirit of the weekend. Kate felt tricked - in a place she had not chosen to be.

For the first time she did not try to be cheerful before God. She prayed, 'I know I have so much to be grateful for - I've no right to be miserable. But I am. I am.' Gradually over weeks, Kate's honest prayer was met. She began to see that she had never rested in God's presence, always pre-empting God's response to her prayers. Now when she was alone and sad, God became her companion. And sadness itself was no longer a lonely feeling. God did not 'push out' Kate's sadness and fill her up with joy but worked through her sadness to transform her life. She gave up a lot of the church action and became a volunteer with The Samaritans. One day her minister said to her, 'I used to think you were so fixated on 'doing 'and that you didn't know how to 'be'. 'It was God's gentle spirit that changed me', she said, 'we met on the quiet weekend', which puzzled the minister, because Kate had not been there.

By the time you read this letter we will be well into the season of Lent. This is a season when we can be open to the transforming love of God just like Kate. Whether it is a study group with other Christians, Lenten breakfasts or acts of worship, each of these opportunities to take something on discovering what it can mean to be a disciple of our Lord Jesus. Maybe this season of Lent can be a time when we can discover the power of the Cross of Jesus in a new and wonderful way. Maybe in the process a chance to move from just 'doing' and discover what it means 'to be'.

In the words of the Methodist Worship Book, 'In the name of Christ, therefore, I invite you to observe this holy season of Lent, by prayer, self denial and charitable giving; by self examination and repentance; and reading and meditating on God's word.' May God richly bless you during this season of Lent.

Yours sincerely

Stephen

 

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CHURCH DIARY



Friday 5th March
1.00pm:  Bible Study - "Jesus, the Way".

Sunday 7th March
Family/Parade Service led by Rev Stephen Barnett.

Tuesday 9th March
2.00pm:  The Fellowship - Speaker: S. Nuttall
7.30pm:  Local Preachers' Meeting

Friday 12th March
1.00pm:  Bible Study - "Jesus, the Vine".

Saturday 13th March
10am - 12 noon:  Overgate Hospice Spring Fair.

Sunday 14th March
10.30am:  Welcome Service/Mothering Sunday Service, led by Rev. John Saville.
(Traidcraft Stall after the service.)

Friday 19th March
1.00pm:  Bible Study - "Jesus the Son"

Sunday 21st March
10.30am:  Morning Worship led by James Greig

Thursday25th March
12 noon:  Mustard Seed Lunch

Friday 26th March
1.00pm:  Bible Study - "Jesus the Priest"

Sunday 28th March
Healing & Wholeness Service with Communion.  Led by Rev. Paul Clapham.



All the above events are at St. Paul's except where stated differently.

 

 

Advance Notices

Friday 2nd April
12 noon:  Good Friday "Walk of Witness" through Sowerby Bridge.  This starts from St. Pauls and ends at St. Patricks.  There are stops for short acts of witness along the route - "The Stages of the Cross".

Sunday 4th April
10.30am:  Easter Sunday Service with Communion. led by Rev. David Kennard.

Sunday 11th April
12 noon: Annual General Church Meeting.  (Please send reports to Angela Lane ASAP)



Aquabox

Our Scout Troop is supporting this national charity, which is being promoted locally by the Sowerby Bridge Rotary Club.  The goal is to provide, in the wake of both man made and natural disasters, a rapid response of safe drinking water and other welfare items.
Large water storage boxes are provided, which when sent, are filled with items such as water purifying equipment, clothing, kitchen utensils, toys, plastic cups and plates, candles, small hand tools and othergeneral hardware.
When emptied at a destination, each Aquabox, with integral filter, can be used to purify up to 1100 litres of polluted water, making it safe and pleasant to drink.
As a church we can support this venture by donating items such as those mentioned, or donating money.  There is a leaflet on the church notice board giving more details of this most worthwhile project.


Welcome Sunday / Mothering Sunday

Sunday March 14th, Mothering Sunday, is to be a "Welcome Sunday" as well.  This means that we are making a special effort to welcome folk back into church, who perhaps have not attended for some time.  Please pass the word aroiund and invite friends and family as appropriate.  See the special page of the web site for further details. 

Calderdale Circuit

I thought I would share with you part of the contents of the Brighouse Circuit Newsletter prepared by their Superintendent Rev Ian Coverdale.

‘We congratulate Steph Jenner (a minister in the Brighouse Circuit) on being appointed to the second District Mission Enabler post. This will enable the gifts that Steph has developed and demonstrated in this circuit to be shared with others in the West Yorkshire District.

Fortunately for us, this is a part-time appointment so even though some of her energy will be being offered elsewhere we will not be losing Steph from Brighouse. We will gain from the experiences she brings to us from across the District.

I personally hope that having one of the two District Mission Enablers within the new Calderdale circuit will help give the new circuit an outward looking mission focus from day one. We spend too much time looking inward and not enough energy on the communities in which we are placed but often from which we are disengaged.

A Challenge for you

We will have a competition (sadly with no vast cash prizes!) to design a logo for the new Calderdale circuit. To give you a clue what the judges will be looking for we want something that:

Will work in either colour or black and white
Can be enlarged or function as part of a letterhead
Graphically represents the area of Calderdale
Speaks of our faith as Christians and Methodists

Entries should be submitted to - Rev Steph Jenner,1 Robin Hood Way, Clifton, Brighouse HD6 4LA by Easter.

Stephen