December/January 2018 Bramhope Methodist Church, Eastgate, Leeds LS16 9AA www.bramhopemethodist.org.uk Minister: Rev Roger Smith Deacon Jenny Parnell email: [email protected] Telephone: 01943 874 735 email: [email protected] Telephone: 0113 250 9805 Dear Friends Before moving here in the summer I lived in Cleckheaton where, for just over a year, Jo Cox was my MP and I feel privileged to have met her. She was full of energy and enthusiasm; she combined a love of the area where she had grown up with a passionate concern for those in need around the world; she inspired children and young people; she reached out across political divides. And, of course, as we all know, her life was brutally cut short on the streets of Birstall. Jo Cox connected with people of faith. She didn’t hold religious beliefs herself but understood the significant part faith plays in people’s lives. This made her a very effective MP in a multi-faith constituency. I heard her speak at the Friends Meeting House about her work in Israel/Palestine with Oxfam. She told us about going into Gaza and meeting people longing for a better future. As an MP she was a strong voice for the suffering people of Syria. She was also passionate about the needs of her constituency. It was one of the most poignant moments in all my time as a minister to open up Birstall Methodist Church on the day Jo Cox died so the police could use it 24/7 for rest breaks and planning their huge operation. What connects all this with Christmas? Many of us will be looking forward to enjoying good things at Christmas, not just presents, of course, but time with family and friends, enjoying good things to eat and drink, hearing the Christmas story, singing carols, having some time to relax. Christmas can also be a stressful time, for some people it is a lonely time but I hope that, whatever your plans, some really good things come your way. At the heart of the Christmas story is a vulnerable baby born in very difficult circumstances. That baby received some lavish gifts, was protected by love but faced real dangers. The Christmas story is not a cosy one but it does offer real hope for a troubled world. 1 Friends and family of Jo Cox have continued her work to combat loneliness with the Great Get-Together last summer and they’ve issued a challenge to make new connections with people this Christmas in #mincepiemoments. You don’t have to eat lots of mince pies (or indeed any) but all of us can look for opportunities to connect with people we might otherwise pass by. This campaign doesn’t have a religious motivation but it sounds like the real spirit of Christmas to me. I look forward to sharing my first Christmas in Bramhope with you. I’m sure there’ll be many ‘mince pie moments’ along the way when we realise afresh what Christmas is all about. Wishing you joy and peace this Christmas, Roger ·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸..><((((º>¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·.¸..><((((º>·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·..¸..><((((º>¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·.¸ Our Church Mission Statement: “Together as a Church family we are aspiring to love God, the Community and each other through worship, prayer, learning, service and outreach.” Church Weekly Notices – Please send items for the Sunday church notices by email to [email protected] or telephone 01943 467517 by Tuesday lunchtime. Copy Deadline for the February/March Messenger is 16th January 2018 by email to [email protected] or Tel 01943 467 517 Door Stewards/Readers/Coffee Team – Spare duty Rotas are always available in the church vestibule and the vestry, or from one of the Stewards – Sue, Norman, Ben or Joan. With grateful thanks to all who serve the church by carrying out these duties. 2 Church Flower Rota December 3rd J Calvert 10th Michael Beard 17th Christmas 24th Christmas 31st Christmas January 7th Marjorie Russell 14th Sheila Neville 21st Lynne Pearson 28th Marion Crossley PLEASE arrange flowers in the Low Room where the vases are kept and NOT in the kitchen. Access to the church is available between 9.00 and 12.00 on Saturday BUT NOT TO THE HALL, STAGE AND KITCHEN WHERE THE DANCING GROUP meets. Grateful thanks are extended to all who donate flowers. These are distributed weekly to our Church Members and Friends. The Wharfedale and Aireborough Circuit Evening Services – are at 6.00pm Sunday 10th December at Bramhope Sunday 14th January at Ben Rhydding Please speak to one of the Stewards if you require transport. We wish all our readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Peaceful New Year 3 Church Diary Dates December Advent 3rd 8.30am Prayer Breakfast Sunday 10.00am Morning Service with Holy Communion led by Rev Keith Reed Tuesday 5th 7.00pm Film Club: “A United Kingdom” Wednesday 6th 10.00am Ewart’s House Group 7.30pm Bible Study at Otley 2nd Sunday 10th 10.00am Morning Service with Toy Collection for the in Advent Salvation Army led by Neil Moffoot 6.00pm Circuit Evening Service at Bramhope 7.30pm Christmas Choral Recital by Ensemble Pro Victoria Tuesday 12th 10.00am Holy Communion in the Low Room Thursday 14th 7.30pm Thursday Group meeting 3rd Sunday 17th 10.00am Prayers led by Joan Bosomworth in Advent 4.00pm Traditional Carol Service led by Rev Roger Smith Wednesday 20th 10.00am Ewart’s House Group 7.30pm Bible Study at Otley Thursday 21st 6.30pm Carol Singing at the Fox & Hounds PH 4th Sunday 24th 10.00am Morning Service led by Rev Roger Smith in Advent 11.30pm Midnight Communion led by Rev Roger Smith Christmas 25th 10.00am Christmas Day Family Worship led by Morning Deacon Jenny Parnell Sunday 31st 10.00am Café Worship in the Hall led by Mrs Pauline Tate 4 January Tuesday 2nd 7.00p Film Club: “Allied” Wednesday 3rd 10.00am Ewart’s House Group 7.30pm Bible Study at Otley Friday 5th 10.00am Candlelighters Coffee Morning at Church Sunday 7th 8.30am Prayer Breakfast 10.00am Morning Service with Holy Communion led by Rev Roger Smith Tuesday 9th 10.00am Holy Communion in the Low Room Thursday 11th 6.30pm Thursday Group Meal at The Wharfedale Sunday 14th 10.00am Morning Service led by Deacon Jenny 6.00pm Circuit Service at Ben Rhydding Monday 15th 7.30pm Pastoral Visitors’ meeting – Low Room Wednesday 17th 10.00am Ewart’s House Group 7.30pm Bible Study at Otley Sunday 21st 10.00am Morning Service led by Rev Lesley Taylor 6.30pm United Evening Service with St Giles at the Methodist Church to celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Sunday 28th 10.00am Morning Service led by Viv Pitts Wednesday 31st 7.30pm Bible Study at Otley Fridays 10.00-10.30am Otley Church – Shoppers’ Service followed by coffee in the hall – ALL WELCOME 5 Weekly Activities at our Church Monday 9.00-10.00 PILATES – contact Angela 07745 801438 2.00-4.00pm SEQUENCE Tea Dancing - contact Marjorie 2679802 Tuesday 10.00-12.00 COFFEE SHOP in the Hall Wednesday 10.15-11.15 TAI CHI – organised by OPAL – 0113 261 9103 6.30-7.30pm PILATES – contact Angela 07745 801438 8.00-9.15pm YOGA – contact Polly 07850 471568 Thursday 10.30-11.30 Lower Impact ZUMBA – contact Carol 0750 3165127 2.00-4.00pm MEETING POINT – in conjunction with OPAL – conversation, refreshments and activities Saturday 9.00-12noon DANCE Inc – dance classes for all ages and abilities – contact Emma 0770 7055491 Operation Christmas Child Thank you to everyone who recently filled a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child. 49 Shoeboxes were donated and taken to the collection point. Special thanks to Margaret Fielding who organised this appeal. Thank you to everyone who supported our first Café Church on Sunday 29th October and thank you to those who completed a Feedback Form. The feedback was so positive and encouraging that we plan to hold our next Café Church on the fifth Sunday in December, the 31st and this will be led by Pauline Tate from Yeadon. Food will be available from 9.45am. It will be fun and interactive as well as thought provoking. Please do come and join us – ALL WELCOME 6 TREASURER’S INTERIM REPORT Accounts 2017 The collections for the year to August 2017 are detailed below. 2016-17 2015-16 Envelopes, Cash and Standing Orders £26,253.06 £28,647.02 Although down by 8.3%, last year’s collections were particularly high. Compared to 2014-2015 collections were up 2.5%. The yearend accounts show a surplus of £176.36 after major repair costs of £7,429.14, £1,000 of which was utilised from the Maintenance Reserve. Repairs included replacing the kitchen boiler, work on Church heating including replacing the water tank and work on the spire. Again we must thank those who are so generous in their giving. As well as monetary but also with their time in providing activities which are appreciated in the village as well as providing income to our Church to assist in paying for our running costs. This year’s Autumn Plant sales income was £2,226 resulting in a creditable surplus of £775. The last Dinner Club was held recently on the subject of teeth, it was well attended and something to get our incisors into. Redevelopment The Fund stands at £10,435.86 with a further £10,000 receivable from District. Spend during the year included general decorations and architect fees for looking at improving the entrance.