BRIDGE September 2020 Newsletter of the parish of Middleham with Coverdale, East Witton & Thornton Steward With thanks to Jessica Hamilton for this beautiful photo of Hullo Bridge We are continuing to deliver Bridge to you by email, and reviewing how we proceed in the light of Covid 19. Please cascade ‘Bridge’ to others. Please email [email protected] if you would like to be added to the mailing list. Letter from the Rectory Liz and I watched a film recently called Roman J. Israel. The title was the name of a black civil rights lawyer in America. Roman was a brilliant lawyer with an encyclopaedic legal brain. Yet he was rather socially awkward and couldn’t do the courtroom side of things. This is where his partner came in. He was the quick-witted courtroom gladiator. Roman provided the ammunition, his partner used it. Being an advocate for the marginalised was Roman’s motivation and he was paid in a week what industry colleagues were paid in an hour. Things go drastically wrong for Roman when his business partner is suddenly taken ill and dies. It turns out that the firm is insolvent and faces closure. He tries to save it by attempting the courtroom role himself but this does more harm than good and him being charged with contempt of court. Things also go wrong outside the business as he is mugged and, on another occasion when he seeks to help a victim of violence, he is penalised for trying to help. Roman ends up thinking is his virtuous life worth it when all around him the less virtuous prosper? This question chimes with people of faith. I’m sure we’ve all had times on the faith journey where we have wondered whether the cost of living by faith is worth it. If we abandon our faith we can sin with a clear conscience! We’re not the only ones to have considered this. The writer of Psalm 44 gives examples of how they have lived by faith, credited God with victory in battles but feel like God has abandoned them. What do we do? In the film Roman sells out. He uses privileged information to claim a reward. He uses the money to move to a new apartment and update his image. But it backfires. The criminal who is imprisoned as a result of Roman’s action knows that he is the only one who could have known the information so Roman is living in fear. People continue to look up to him and admire him but he knows he has become a fraud. His conscience eats away at him. The grass might look greener on the other side but the unseen cost of abandoning our faith is greater. The sin that we might indulge in would stop being pleasurable. Materialism is like drinking salty water to quench our thirst. Not to mention our conscience. Psalm 44 doesn’t reach an answer to the question about abandoning our faith but concludes with a prayer of faith. ‘Rise up, come to our help. Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love.’ This reminds me of Peter’s response to Jesus when people are turning away from Jesus and he asks his disciples if they too would like to leave. Peter responds that there is nowhere else to go. When we’re tempted to give up on our faith let us remember that the alternative is worse, as Roman J Israel found, and to trust in God’s unfailing love. Verse of the month If your circumstances have changed and you currently need help with groceries…. There are ‘Open Pantry’ supplies available (all quarantined). Text/ phone confidentially 07796 988302 When your circumstances change, you can make a contribution yourself NEW HELPLINE: Citizens Advice Money and Benefits Advice Service, North Yorkshire If you need support with: • benefit entitlement, claims and appeals • accessing other income such as charitable and statutory grants • managing your money and making it go further • help with debts • finding out what other support services are available Call 0300 3031 598 Monday to Friday 9.00 to 4.00 Please tell us if you need us to call you back (if you have low credit). (Or you can leave a voicemail outside these times). Email advice can be requested via the contact form on our website cany.org.uk Leyburn community library is now offering a “Select and Collect” service of books for adults and children. Volunteers will be in Leyburn Library to take details of your selection on the telephone – ring 01609 535971 On Tuesdays 10-12, Tuesdays 2-4, Fridays 10-12 and Saturdays 10-12 Books can also be returned to the library at these times. Collection of your selected books will be arranged with you for an allocated time slot within these hours. BRIDGE GAMING COMMUNITY by John Maiden Tellytubbies meets Takeshi's Castle meets Total Wipeout Lockdown has hit us all and given us all plenty of excuses to dust off the controller and start gaming! The big hit so far has been Fall Guys which has sold 10m copies in its first two weeks. 60 players are pitted against each other and are knocked out until we have the last man standing. Once you have been knocked out you can watch your friends continue the struggle or just drop out and start again. Players’ names are not yet allowed as the developers are trying to make sure nobody comes in with an unacceptable name. You're given a number and you have to press Q or E to find your friend's number once you are out if you want to watch them. Battle the slime, roundabouts, disappearing floors, whirlygigs - you name it, this game has probably got it. Warning, you may get extremely frustrated with this game but it is fun for all the family. Currently available on Steam for £15.99. Will not play cross platform but is available for Xbox, PlayStation and PC Coverdale Bookclub Our next meeting is on Tuesday September 8th when we will be discussing Jack Maggs by Peter Carey. On Tuesday October 13th we will be discussing The Offing by Benjamin Myers. All meetings are currently being held on Zoom for a lively discussion of the book. If you’d like to join us please email [email protected]. Bible Book Club – by Zoom. Email Liz for the link [email protected] if you could like to join in. Saturday 19th September at 11.30am – 12.15pm. We’ll be looking at the book of 1 Samuel – a rip-roaring read of war, betrayal, disappointment and overcoming the odds. Featuring the memorable characters of King David (and Goliath), Saul, a flawed king, Eli a flawed prophet – murder, jealousy, rivalry and family feuds are all in there. And ultimately God’s grace. Middleham news The Key Centre office is open from 9.30am – 2.00pm Monday to Thursday 01969 624002 [email protected] Anyone entering the Centre must use the Hand Sanitiser provided on entering & leaving the building – and, at all times you should observe the Government guidance regarding maintaining a distance of 1 to 2 metres away from other people. The services we can currently offer are photocopying, internet access, information and collecting recycling boxes and bags if necessary. ‘T’ in the Afternoon is now being held on Wednesdays at 2.00pm – 3.30pm in the Richard III hall. Coffee Morning is back on Saturday mornings at 10.30am – 12noon also in the Richard III hall. Both events are set up with tables and chairs one metre apart. Take a seat on arrival and refreshments will be served at your table. Please remain at your table until you leave. Please use the hand sanitiser when entering and exiting the building. Book Swap is also back, following the same system as being used by bookshops whereby newly donated, returned or rejected books are quarantined. The boxes are clearly labelled. The Hair Shoppe: at Middleham Key Centre is now open. Telephone Claire on 01969 624401 for an appointment. Andersons Takeaway, Middleham Good quality home cooked meals delivered to your home. Tel 01969 629290 or visit https://www.andersonstakeaway.co.uk Middleham Town Council: If you wish to contact the council telephone 07531 580499 Email: [email protected] Website: www.middlehamtowncouncil.co.uk Community Police: Messages can be passed on to our local PCSO by Pam in the office, or telephone: 101 Middleham Key Centre office space: An amount of office/small business space will be available for rent shortly. Telephone 01969 624002 during office hours or email [email protected] for further details. Other services at The Key Centre will re-open in line with the guidance as it is released by the government. Leyburn Arts & Community Centre Richmond Road, LEYBURN, DL8 5DL (Charity No: 1122092) Full details & tickets from leyburnartscentre.com or 01969 624510 CINEMA Tickets £6 / £5 for U14 or 60+ (unless shown below) Sept 1 Tue 7pm (Live Cinema) Jonas Kaufmann - My Vienna (U) 98m £12 Sept 4 Fri 6pm Knives Out (12A) 131m Sept 11 Fri 6pm The Good Liar (15) 109m Sept 18 Fri 6pm 1917 (12) 119m Sept 25 Fri 6pm Emma (U) 125m Following Government guidance we have made the following changes: · All tickets will need to be booked and paid for in advance of the screening by calling us. · There is a one way system and social distancing rules. Numbers will be limited. · Customers who are not exempt from wearing a face covering will need to do so when entering the building and throughout the film screening, except when eating or drinking.