THE LINK Keeping you in touch with Outwood, Stanley, Wrenthorpe and Alverthorpe Churches Welcome Prayer for the Day Lord of all life and power, Dear all, who through the mighty resurrection of your Son overcame the old order of sin and death Happy Easter! It will almost certainly not feel like to make all things new in him: Easter wherever you are: most of us are in grant that we, being dead to sin lockdown still, with the prospect of that lasting and alive to you in Jesus Christ, for a least another few weeks, while others of us may reign with him in glory; may be involved in key work. One or two of us to whom with you and the Holy Spirit may already be personally affected by the crisis. be praise and honour, glory and might, now and in all eternity. But Easter has come nonetheless, and with it the promise of ‘Life, and life to the full’ which Jesus Praying together came to bring. It is perhaps helpful to remember that the first Easter included no great signs of Please use these readings and prayers together Jesus’ triumph: the women who went to the with your own devotional books. If you would like empty tomb had come to embalm a dead body, a copy of our booklet ‘Prayers Resources for Mary Magdalene mistook the risen Jesus for the When You Can’t get to Church’, call 01924 gardener, and the disciples were meeting in fear. 373758, and we’ll post or email one to you. But the risen Jesus changed all of that: the Worshipping Together disciples went from hiding in an upper room to proclaiming the good news of the resurrection. There will be another nation-wide Church of And in the same way, this situation will come to England service on BBC Radio Leeds and all other an end, and we will be able to celebrate Easter – local BBC stations at 8am this Sunday. a little late, to be sure – with one another! You can also join in with church services online! Alleluia, Christ is risen! We’re showing them live on St Anne’s Wrenthorpe and Outwood Parish Church’s Every blessing, Facebook pages. If you don’t have Facebook, you Fr Jonathan Bish can still watch the services from St Anne’s and St Parish Priest, St Mary Magdalene, Outwood Mary Magdalene’s: type ‘Outwood Parish Church facebook’ into Google, and click on the first link. If Sunday Worship you’re looking for St Peter’s Stanley, google ‘St Easter Sunday Peter’s Stanley facebook.’ The videos should be available to view once the service has concluded Sunday’s Readings Acts 10.34-43 Psalm 118.1-2, 14-24 Colossians 3.1-4 John 20.1-18 This week’s online services from St Anne’s and St Mary Magdalene’s are: Sunday 12 April: 10am Sunday Mass, 4pm Evening Prayer and Benediction Tuesday 14 April: 12pm Midday Prayer Wednesday 15 April: 9pm Sung Compline Thursday 16 April: 12 Midday Prayer Sunday 19 April: 10am Sunday Mass The service schedule from Outwood and Wrenthorpe is slightly shorter this week, in order for Fr Jonathan and Mthr Jo to have a few days off after Holy Week. However, if you are in need, please still ring us! In Jalandhar in Punjab, in northern India, pollution levels have dropped so much during the lockdown From St Peter’s and St Paul’s that the Himalayan peaks have been seen for the Sunday 12 April: 10am Easter Sunday Holy first time in decades. Communion Monday13 April: 7:30pm House Group via Zoom - see the WEBsite on how to access Tuesday 14 April: 9:00pm – Compline Wednesday 15 April: 9:00am – Morning Prayer, 9:00pm – Compline Thursday 15 April: 9:00pm – Compline Sunday 19 April: 10am Sunday Holy Communion You can also go to the North Wakefield Benefice page for more resources: https://northwakefield.benefice.uk/ Before Holy Week began, Pope Francis blessed the Good News from Around the World! world from an empty St Peter’s Square in the rain. The Pope encouraged people in their isolation and uncertainty, saying, “Because this is God’s strength: turning to the good everything that happens to us, even the bad things. He brings serenity into our storms, because with God life never dies.” Coping with being isolated The ventilators on the BBC medical drama ‘Holby City’ actually work – did you know that? And the BBC have donated them to NHS Nightingale, the new COVID-19 hospital in London! Image: Kieron McCarron/The BBC Godelinde Gertrude Perk is a postdoctoral researcher in medieval literature at Oxford University. She recently wrote a piece for ‘The Conversation’ about what hermits and anchorites of the Middle Ages could tell us about self- mosquito nets which are always needed in isolation. Among her many suggestions were: African countries to prevent malaria. So we hope to have made 4 mother’s days! 1) Remembering that you are isolated for the benefit of others: according to the 13th century medieval English guide for anchorites, Ancrene Wisse, isolation is there in order to “gather into your heart all those who are ill or wretched” and “feel compassion.” 2) guard your five senses from leading you into temptation – Perk suggests in the modern world, we should avoid fake news, gossip or the negative aspects of social media. 3) stay busy. Aelred of Rievaulx, a British We had planned to go to one of our members’ Cistercian monk, wrote in ‘A Rule of Life for a homes for the next meeting as she can no longer Recluse,’ “Idleness… breeds distate for quiet and get to church to be with us.. we were hoping to disgust for the cell.” Instead we should follow take the meeting to her, but of course that will routines through the day, as anchorites followed not now happen. I have not been able to visit our set prayers through the day newest member Pat Manners either but have sent her a newsy letter and our best wishes for Easter. 4) Remember your own vulnerability, and that we Families Worldwide is our Prayer Diary and a will get through this – and that Christ overcomes new one is arriving later this month. I am told all difficulties. As Mother Julian of Norwich that Mary Sumner House will be posting them wrote: “Christ did not say, ‘You shall not be direct to members who have given them their perturbed, you shall not be troubled, you shall address but not everyone has so I will in due not be distressed,’ but he said, ‘You shall not be course receive enough to hand out or post to overcome.’” you as and when…?? The current one doesn’t run out until the end of June so plenty of time… You can read the full article here: who knows… we might.. I did say might!.. be https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-advice- meeting again..? from-the-middle-ages-for-how-to-cope-with-self- isolation-134585 We did receive a message from our Worldwide President Mrs Sheran Harper – ‘It will take faith Mothers’ Union News and determination to collectively ensure our work increases its focus on stable livelihoods, Like everyone else we have had to curtail our gender justice, peace, safety and helping people to events. The Diocesan Lady Day service, help themselves. Even if only the life of one which was to take place at Bradford Cathedral person is changed through our efforts, we will last month (28th March) was cancelled. And we have done our part’ cannot now do midday prayers in Wakefield Cathedral until further notice. I have, though, Sheran’s prayer for our year “Building Hope and written the prayers and sent a copy to all our Confidence” members and the branch leaders in our area so Father, help us to walk in hope and confidence, that they can join us in spirit if not in person. trusting each other, loving each other – Prayers will go on… that is one thing we CAN and together we will build the hope and do wherever we are. confidence of families and communities everywhere – always reaching forward as your Our ‘Make a Mother’s Day’ appeal raised £54, hands and feet and reflecting a life which we sent to Mary Sumner House our filled with purpose and meaning, grace and love, headquarters in London to pay for 2 women to peace and joy. Amen be able to have a loan to start a business and secure a future for their families and to pay for 2 Volunteering Opportunity Heat the oven to 200c/fan 180c/gas 6. Butter a baking dish. Cut your potatoes into thick matchsticks/ slightly thinner than French fries. Thinly slice the onion and gently fry it. Break up the anchovies with a fork. Layer the whole lot into the baking dish. Salt to taste, but remember anchovies are quite a salty fish. Pour over the cream and dot with butter, or the reserved oil from the anchovies (NOT BOTH). Sprinkle on 4 tbsp fresh breadcrumbs and black pepper. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then remove the cover. If it looks as if it’s going dry, add a little milk. Bake for a further 25-35 minutes The Northwest Wakefield Covid-19 Assist Hub or until the top has turned golden brown. has grown out of the Wrenthorpe & Kirkhamgate Assist group, and is now covering the same area Note: Swedes and people who know Sweden will as our churches. If you would like to volunteer to point out that the original dish requires pickled help those stuck at home with: sprats, not anchovies.