THURSTONLAND PARISH NEWS Jan - Feb 2021 Because of the birth of Christ, we are not left to face our fears alone. God pledges and acts to be with us and among us. And that makes all the difference in the world. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby 25.12.20 David Lister NIGEL GOODY MASTER CRAFTSMAN BESPOKE DRY STONE WALLER PICTURE For all your dry stone FRAMING walling requirements Prints, Posters, Paintings and Illustrations Free estimates on all work which includes insurance. PHOTOGRAPHIC Tel: 01484 663812 RESTORATION Mobile: 07803 010458 From colour or monochrome Professional Member of the National Dry Stone Walling Association 01484 663993 Registered D.S.W.A Examiner SR3. 2 Let the Christmas Gospel [John 1.14, 16-18] lead us into the New Year? Read And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known. Look God’s glory is seen in a beautiful sunset or landscape. God’s glory is known in the transcendence of worship or the stillness of prayer. God’s glory is revealed quietly and wonderfully in the birth of Jesus and the life of Jesus. God’s glory seen, fully, in a human being. Reflect with Chine McDonald the Head of Community Fundraising and Public Engagement for Christian Aid and author. Everything changed the day my son was born. He burst into the world on a Sunday morning and my husband and I held him in our arms and felt this immense and overwhelming sense of love. Our lives would never be the same again. The weary world Christ entered into at Christmas on that Holy Night – a world that had been “in sin and error pining” – had been waiting for him, just as we had been waiting for our son. Christ’s birth changed everything. His presence brought hope and light where there had been despair. This is the wonder of the incarnation: God becomes human. God bursts into our darkness, with a light dazzling in its hopefulness. Whatever we might be facing this year and in the coming months, what a comfort it is to know that God himself walks with us. This is the beauty of the incarnation. How might you bring a glimpse of glory to another person today? What might you give, or say, or do, that offers beauty or wonder, goodness or grace? Pray God of glory, thank you that you walk with us. Fill us with your grace today, that others may see, reflected in us, your glory, as we see you in them. Amen. 3 Family activity What brings joy today? Make a list, what do you enjoy doing together that makes you happy? Remembering all those journeying to find out about faith Some of the people who visited Jesus followed a star to find their way. Many folks in Thurstonland decorated their homes with a large star or Angel for the Christmas Window Appeal. Thank you to Angela who helped organise the event and congratulations to Pablo and Fabien Selka, Hettie Langrick and Guy Bailey who followed the trail and won a box of celebrations having collected the letters which revealed the answer to the quiz: ANGEL GABRIEL Who needs comfort today? Can you think of someone in our village who needs help or support, perhaps they live alone, or are recently bereaved or have not been able to go to work during the Covid pandemic, or they may have been ill! Remember that kindness costs us nothing and our time is the greatest gift we can give to anyone. People struggling with illness of whatever kind Hospitals don’t close over Christmas. They carry on caring for people who are ill. Send a card to your local hospi- tal to thank the staff who were working over the holiday. 4 THURSTONLAND CRICKET CLUB This time of year would usually see references to the AGM, details about a Christmas Draw and looking forward to the Ladies Dinner and the start of indoor net practices in January. For obvious reasons things are on hold at the moment although balance sheet details and my secretary’s annual report were circulated to committee members in late November. The Huddersfield Cricket League is hoping that a more normal season is possible by the time April comes around and plans have been made ac- cordingly but, of course, everything depends on getting the coronavirus situation under some sort of sustained control. The club was pleased to receive a copy of the earliest known photograph of a Thurstonland CC team dating from 1895 when it won a trophy com- peted for by teams in and around the Holmfirth area. It was forwarded by the Village Association and can be seen on their website and on the club’s. It is good to be aware of heritage and the debt owed to so many who played for and looked after the administration and general upkeep of the club in days gone by and so enabling us to be part of the village and the wider community to this day must not be forgotten. The years seem to pass more quickly as the years advance and one has to be aware of wishing life away but 2024 will see the 150th anniversary of the founding of the club and no doubt nearer the time, not all that far in the future, plans will be made to celebrate in suitable fashion. Andrew Pearson There are two new ways to stay in touch with what is happening at your local church and in the parish. One is to join St Thomas’ Parish Church Thurstonland Facebook group and follow the church The second is to add St Thomas Parish Church Thurston- land on the Church of England national hub to you useful website tags. https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/18076/ Either way you can click on the webpage for up to date information. 5 Jenni Wohlman writes: I cannot write this page without reference to Audrey Taylor, a loyal and valued member of our Branch for a great many years, who passed away in November. With the restrictions imposed on us by the pandemic, it was obvious that all the members who wished to show their respects could not be accommodated inside the church so we arranged to stand opposite the gate, holding up our Mothers’ Union banner. Blessedly, the morning of that day was relatively mild. I was absolutely delighted at how many of you joined me, along with a number of other villagers, and I know it meant a great deal to the family to see such clear evidence of the affection in which Audrey was held by her beloved village of Thurstonland. Our erst- while Branch Leader, Barbara Neale, travelled down from her new home to be one of our party and was welcomed warmly. November also featured Mothers’ Union’s 16 Days of Activism to raise awareness of gender-based violence in all its forms. This is such a worthwhile cause that I hope in 2021, when life should be returning to a more normal pattern of regular meetings and opportunities to plan events and fundraising, we might make a point of partici- pating more significantly in the campaign as a Branch. Regarding 2020 and Covid-19, as the MU website reported, ‘All around the world proud Mother’s Union members, took action. This action helped prevent the trans- mission of the virus. It allowed hope and ushered in much needed confidence. From Papua New Guinea to Canada, from Argentina to Ireland, Mothers’ Union has been leading communities and uplifting people the world over … In a world blighted by loss of all kinds, the good work of the Lord will be vital. There have been bereave- ments. There has been the loss of livelihoods. There have been far reaching break- downs in relationships. There have been areas around the globe where progress has stagnated or gone backwards … In 2021 we will rebuild, and we will grow, and we will thrive.’ The gowns in the picture were made in response to an appeal put out by a Maidstone group that was sewing for NHS and keyworkers. An MU branch in Coxheath respond- ed. Altogether, 23,000 items were made by the entire group which has now been nominated for a National Diver- sity Award celebrating Unity in Society. Coxheath MU Branch was pleased to make its contribution and new friendships have been formed. 2020 certainly challenged all of us but, when we look back, we shall no doubt see the many blessings that befell us as well. Have a Peaceful Christmas and a Safe and Healthy New Year. 6 Thurstonland Community Choir News The choir was all ready in October to start rehearsing with a nearly full set of singers when we were all out into lockdown again. As we still had hopes of singing together for Christmas, if only via a recording, we went back to full Zoom based rehearsals to learn some new carols. Singing together over Zoom has to have everyone muted because of the different time delays on broadband connections, so while we went through the choir notes in detail, it was impossible to know what was actually being sung! Given that, the choir cheerfully came along each week and we had some chat to cheer us all up.