Parish Magazine February 2014 50p

Castleford Team Parish

Editor, Magazine & Pew Sheets (including Diary Dates): Andrew Goyns, 01924 898593

magazine@castlefordteamparish.org.uk

Parish Office: (Enquiries for Baptisms) Saturdays at 10.00-10.30am at All Saint’s Church, Castleford.

CLERGY Rector:

Fr. Michael Wood, 01977 518127 The Rectory, 15 Barnes Road, Castleford WF10 5AA frmw@hotmail.co.uk

Team Vicar:

Fr. Mark Watkins, 01977 511659 The Vicarage, St Michaels Close, Castleford WF10 4EY wattycm@me.com

Asst. Curate:

Fr. Kevin Greaves, 01977 512404 The Vicarage, Churchfield Lane, Glasshoughton WF10 4BP fr.kevin@minister.com

Polish Priest: Fr. Gregory Ruszczynski, 07842 883648

Lay Pastoral Minister: Mrs Lynda Maw 01977 518078

THE RECTOR’S LETTER Dear Friends,

It is two months since the last magazine was published and in the Christmas issue you were all wished a very happy Christmas. That copy of the magazine seems a long time ago and yet it has just flown by. No doubt you are still finding bits of glitter or tree needles, the odd card which has slipped behind something or even the odd deco-ration which to has been hiding, waiting until you begin to think that you have got Christmas finally put away and then out it jumps.

Christmas might seem a long time ago but its influence and effect must never be far away from us. There is the song from the 90’s sung by Joan Osborne:

“What if God was one of us, just a slob like one of us, just a stranger on a bus trying to make his way home”

The message of Christmas is that God did became one of us and his life was spent not just making his way home but also taking us home as well.

We were very well blessed this last Christmas with the numbers of people who came to our services and the atmosphere at all of them was really good, we must pray that the blessing we received then will remain with us as we journey through this year. You all know the Dogs’ Trust slogan “A dog is for life, not just for Christmas” how eas-ily that can be transformed into “The church is for life, not just for Christmas” may that become our hope as we journey home.

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(continued from page 3)

This year February does not have any significant Christian events in it but right at the beginning of March we are straight into Lent. There are details in this edition of the magazine of the Lent course we will be using this year and the preparations for it, do please try to join in, it should be really very good. It may seem strange but you taking part in our Lenten course will help to strengthen and sustain the blessings we received at Christmas.

With my love and prayers

 

W A L S I N G H A M 2014

Our Yearly visit to Walsingham will be from Tuesday 27th until Friday 30th May.

We leave Castleford after Mass at 10 and get home around 5 on the Friday.

Walsingham is a beautiful village in Norfolk, where it is believed Our Lady appeared in a vision and requested that a house be built to resemble the Holy House of Nazareth. There is time to worship in our own group and with others who are visiting, the accommodation and food is excellent, delightful grounds, a very good pub and there is always time for a visit to the coast or to one of the many attractions in the area. It is a wonderfully relaxing and spiritually invigorating

occasion.

Since I first visited the shrine in 1968 I have been back many, many times, The place has been transformed in so many ways but it is a place I never tire of visiting and no matter how often I have been there is always something new to see or something which makes a penny to drop in a way it hasn’t before.

The cost for full board is £167 (plus a little extra for travelling expenses) for children above 5 years old it is £100 and children under 5 are free.

If you have never been before, do consider coming with us.

A deposit of £20 is required, please.

See Father Michael with your deposits.

 

  

The Rev Dr Gary Bowness continues his tongue-in-cheek letters from ‘Uncle Eustace’…

ON HOW TO RUN YOUR DIARY FOR 2014 The Rectory St. James the Least

My dear Nephew Darren

So, you have just attended a course on ‘Diary Management’, to get you prepared for another year. If you had visited me, I could have told you all you need to know in half the time. Allow me to provide you with useful information which was probably not provided in your conference hand-outs.

First: buy the smallest diary you can find: large blank pages only en-courage you to fill them with too many appointments; the smaller the page, the easier it can be made to appear that your days are fully booked.

Second: make sure that it is of a size that will conveniently fit into any pocket. When dates are being arranged for subsequent meetings, you can theatrically start going through jacket, trouser and overcoat pockets. By the time you discover it was in your briefcase all along, all the dates will have been fixed and no one will notice you never got any of them.

Third: adopt your own private code for bookings. This means that any parishioner looking over your shoulder and seeing “1.30pm PLS” or “7.30pm WTD” will assume you are attending important church meetings. The fact that they mean “Post Lunch Sleep” and “Walk The Dog” will be known to you alone – although do have alternative possibilities for your acronyms should you ever be challenged. My congregation know I am assiduous in attending the “Pauline Letters Seminars” and my membership of the “World Theology Directorate” is of many years standing. (continued on page 11)

(Continued from page 10)

Fourth: Record everything in pencil so that once you return home, you can rub most of it out and can then deny you knew anything about those meetings you were supposed to attend – and to prove it, you can show the blank page in your diary.

Fifth: Put someone else’s address inside your diary. Should you ever have to resort to the ultimate act and need to lose it, you do not want some Good Samaritan returning it to you from the churchyard compost heap.

So you see, your day of flip charts and group discussions were quite wasted – and I would gladly have presented my course for half their price.

Your loving uncle, Eustace 

PANCAKE 

PARTY 

HIGHTOWN 

CHURCH  

HALL  

Shrove Tuesday   March 4th   5 –6.30pm Cost £2‐50 per fam‐ily 

Pancakes, drinks, games, play space, children's raffle, grown‐

CHILDREN AND FAMILY WORK

The main focus since the last magazine went to press has been the preparation and performance of the Nativity Scene on Monday 23rd December 2013. This was followed by a party both a St Pauls.

For those who missed it this was a marvellous morning with over 100 people in church. Children of varying ages performing in the Nativity scene. Some more enthusiastic than others. Singing a number of carols it was clear that we have some very good voices in the parish.

Back to earth, so to speak, the normal weekly sessions have started again with some good attendances being noted. There will be some activity in the Half Term week so please watch you pew sheets and the parish website at www.castlefordteamparish.org.uk for full details. Hand-outs should also be available in all churches.

SLOW DOWN – IT IS FEBRUARY!

How are your energy levels? February is famous for being the time of year when people most want to hibernate – to sleep, to be left alone, and to do as little as possible. So instead of fighting the winter blues this year, why not go with the natural rhythms of nature? Set aside as much time as you can – to do nothing but rest. It is no coincidence that February is when retreat bookings soar: people want to escape the crowds and renew themselves.

“I think the human spirit is like a daffodil bulb, preparing for the Spring by refreshing its roots, so it can bloom again when the times comes.” So says Stafford Whiteaker, former monk, ex-hermit and editor of The Good Retreat Guide. The Bible makes clear that God blesses our times of rest: ‘In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.’ (Ps 4:8)

CROSSWORD Across 8 Interrogated (Acts 12:19) (5-8) 9 ‘Burn it in a wood fire on the — heap’ (Leviticus 4:12) (3) 10 Tobit, Judith, Baruch and the books of Esdras and the Maccabees are part of it (9) 11 Science fiction (abbrev.) (3-2) 13 Clay pit (anag.) (7) 16 Went to (John 4:46) (7) 19 ‘Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to — your bodies as living sacrifices’ (Romans 12:1) (5) 22 David’s plea to God concerning those referred to in 14 Down: ‘On — — let them escape’ (Psalm 56:7) (2,7) 24 Royal Automobile Club (1,1,1) 25 How the book of Ezekiel refers to God more than 200 times (Ezekiel 2:4) (9,4) Down 1 Seas (Proverbs 8:24) (6) 2 One of the sons of Eli the priest, killed in battle by the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:11) (6) 3 Specialist in the study of the Muslim religion (8) 4 ‘Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but — him as if he were your father’ (1 Timothy 5:1) (6) 5 One of Esau’s grandsons (Genesis 36:11) (4) 6 Taking a chance (colloq.) (2,4) 7 God’s instructions to the Israelites concerning grain offerings: ‘ — salt to — your offerings’ (Leviticus 2:13) (3,3) 12 Confederation of British Industry (1,1,1) 14 ‘All day long they twist my words; they are always — to harm me’ (Psalm 56:5) (8) 15 The crowd’s reaction to Jesus bringing back to life a widow’s son in Nain (Luke 7:16) (3) 16 Disappear (Psalm 104:35) (6) 17 How Jeremiah was likely to die if he wasn’t rescued from the cistern where he was imprisoned (Jeremiah 38:9) (6) 18 What the prophets do to a wall, with whitewash (Ezekiel 13:10, RSV) (4,2) 20 Made by a plough (Job 39:10) (6) 21 Noah was relieved when the flood waters continued to — (Genesis 8:5) (6) 23 Jesus gave the Twelve the power and authority to do this to diseases (Luke 9:1) (4)

PUZZLES WORDSEARCH February opens with Candlemas – the naming of Jesus in the temple. Simeon and Anna praised God to see the promised Messiah, sent by a lov-ing God to save his people. Febru-ary also celebrates the love between men and women: Valentine cards and wedding fayres abound. ‘Love’ as in social compassion is also re-membered: Fair Trade fortnight, Holocaust Memorial Day, World Leprosy Day, Education Sunday and National Nest Box Week.... Love is truly needed by everyone!

Naming, Christ, Candlemas, Simeon, Anna, temple, love, Valentine, romance, Matthias, Fairtrade, Fortnight, coffee, bananas, chocolate, justice, poverty, nest box, marriage, wedding, Holocaust , leprosy, education, Sunday,

SUDOKU EASY INTERMEDIATE

FEBRUARY CALENDAR

Sunday 2nd CANDLEMAS - Usual Sunday Services

Wednesday 12th Sheilah Fawcett, the regional co-ordinator of Christian Aid is coming to meet the clergy of the parish.

Tuesday 18th 7.00 for 7.30pm PCC Meeting at Castleford

Thursday 20th 7.00pm at Hightown a showing of “The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe”

Thursday 27th 7.00pm at Hightown a showing of “Shadowlands”

ADVANCE DATES FOR MARCH

Tuesday 4th 5.00-6.30 Pancake Party in Hightown Hall

Wednesday 5th ASH WEDNESDAY

10.00am Mass with Ashing at St Paul’s 12.00noon Mass with Ashing at St Michael’s 7.30pm Sung Mass with Ashing at Hightown

WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE COMMUNION AT HOME?

IF YOU ARE HOUSEBOUND OR UNABLE TO COME TO CHURCH, PLEASE CONTACT ONE OF THE CLERGY AND THEY WILL MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR YOU TO TAKE COMMUNION AT HOME. OUR MINISTRY TEAM RECOGNISES THAT THIS IS

AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF MINISTRY AND IS KEEN TO HELP.

READINGS FOR FEBRUARY 2nd February - The Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas) (W) Malachi: 3: 1-5; Psalm : 24: Hebrews: 2: 14-end Luke: 2: 22-40; 9th February - The Fourth Sunday before Lent (G) Isaiah: 58: 1-12; Psalm: 112: 1-10; 1 Corinthians: 2; 1-16; Matthew: 5: 13-20;

16th February - The Third Sunday before Lent (G) Ecclesiasticus: 15: 15-20; Psalm: 119: 1-8; 1 Corinthians: 3: 1-9; Matthew: 5: 21-37;

23rd February - The Second Sunday before Lent (G) Genesis: 1: 1-2.3; Psalm: 136: 1-9, 23-26

Romans: 8: 18-25; Matthew: 6: 25-34.  

PARISH WEBSITE

www.castlefordteamparish.org.uk

For those who use a computer, are you aware that the parish has a website? You can now view the weekly Pew Sheets online and the Diary Dates and Calendar are up to date. You should notice a few other changes over the next few months as pages are updated.

WHAT YOU HAVE IN COMMON WITH A WOODCARVING

Woodcarving isn’t as straightforward as it seems. You draw a plan of what you want to carve, and only when you’ve got that right do you start to start to shape your piece of wood.

The carver works his block with his plan alongside it. He cuts those bits of wood away that he doesn’t want, and shapes what’s left until it ever more closely resembles that original plan. Only when the design on the wood and the paper plan are identical has the carver finished his job. He’s then made exactly what he’d hoped for, while working all along from that original plan.

It’s the same for our lives. God is the master carpenter. As we go through life, God shapes us, cutting away those bits of us that he doesn’t want and which would spoil what he wants us to look like: Jesus.

But there’s one big difference between a human being and a block of wood. A block of wood has to sit impassively on the carver’s bench while he works at it. The wood cannot help the process along and has no idea what’s happening to it.

God very much hopes that we’ll help him in the process of being shaped into his pattern. That’s why we read the Bible and worship and pray: only when we have some idea of what he wants us to be can we cooperate in the process. However often we get it wrong and fail, there’s one promise we have. God will never give up on us, until he’s shaped us into exactly what he’s planned for us to be all along.

Courtesy of Parish Pump

The Rev Dr Gary Bowness continues his tongue-in-cheek letters from ‘Uncle Eustace’…

ON WHEN THE VICAR LANDS IN HOSPITAL The Rectory St. James the Least

My dear Nephew Darren

Thank you for visiting me in hospital – although next time, should you once again kindly bring me a bottle of orange juice, would you please empty it at home and re-fill it with gin and tonic. While I know you had dashed from taking a primary school assembly, that still did not excuse you beginning your bedside prayer by telling me to sit up straight, close my eyes and put my hands together.

To fall on ice and break a leg was careless; to do so on the afternoon before a difficult church council meeting has been judged deliberate. After falling in the road and being unable to get up, it was remarkable how many parishioners formed a circle to watch; the magazine editor even had the cheek to take photos for the cover of next month’s magazine, although I did draw the line when she suggested I was dragged across the pavement to where the light was better.

As I lay there, immobile, discussion started about who should chair that evening’s meeting, whose responsibility it would be to arrange cover for that Sunday’s Services – someone even had the gall to wonder if I should be asked to pay for their help, since I was the one who chose to fall over.

I felt obliged to suggest it may be helpful if someone called an ambulance, which someone reluctantly did, while others sympathetically asked me if I never got mobile again, which nursing

(continued on page 21)

home I would like to be placed in. I was tempted to suggest whether they should hold a collection to pay for having me put down. Miss X regarded it as her Christian duty to force a cup of sweet tea on me; I am sure her solution to news of an imminent nuclear strike, meteorite collision, or the arrival of bubonic plague, would be to put the kettle on.

As it happened, one of the ambulance men lives in the village and saw it as the perfect opportunity, while they were placing me on a stretcher, to ask how he went about booking a baptism and seemed mildly disappointed that I didn’t happen to have my diary to hand.

Now I have nowhere to hide for the next few weeks, people have realised they know where I am and that I can’t get away from them. There have therefore been endless visits and after a brief question about how I am, by which time it is obvious they have no interest in my answer, they launch into questions about the flower rota, who chooses the hymns in my absence and where to get Communion wine.

Should you visit again, would you please bring information about hospitals in another county – possibly even on another continent.

Your loving uncle,

Eustace

(continued from page 20)

A SAINT FOR FEBRUARY

The Martyrs of Japan - courage in persecution

Persecution of Christians in various countries is making the headlines these days. Believers facing such opposition might well find inspiration from the courage of the Japanese Christians of the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

The Jesuit Francis Xavier had first brought Christianity to Japan in 1549, when he persuaded Shimazu Takahisa, the daimyo of Satsuma, to give him permission to build the first Catholic mission in Japan. All went well at first, and the Japanese responded to the message of Jesus Christ more warmly than anyone could have foretold. By the end of the century, it has been estimated that there were nearly 300,000 baptised converts to Christianity in Japan.

But soon the very success of the Japanese Church led it into trouble: its vibrant growth as an indigenous community believing a faith brought in from the West meant trouble. It was caught up in a maelstrom of tensions between the shogunate, imperial government, Buddhist monks, Shintoists, and colonial ambitions of Spain and Portugal. Gradually, the Japanese rulers came to see Christians as a threat. So Christianity was banned, and those Japanese who refused to abandon their faith were to be killed.

Trouble flared at Nagasaki on 6 February 1597, when six European Franciscan missionaries, three Japanese Jesuits and 17 Japanese laity, three of whom were young boys, were executed in a form of crucifixion by being elevated on crosses and then pierced with spears. Within a year, more than 130 churches had been burned. The persecution subsided, then flared up in 1613. Japanese Christians were beheaded, burned alive or imprisoned. They responded with courage and a willingness to sing praises and preach the gospel even as they were led to their deaths. (continued on page 23)

Such was the brutality of the persecution that by 1630 the Japanese Church had been driven underground, and was thought to be lost. So when missionaries arrived in the 19th century, they were aston-ished to find a community of Japanese Christians. It had survived for 250 years without clergy, churches, the Bible and only a sketchy idea of the Christian faith beyond one main thing: that Jesus Christ was Lord.

(continued from page 22)

Some modern insights on a age-old Psalm

WHAT THE 23RD PSALM IS REALLY ALL ABOUT

The Lord is my Shepherd - that's relationship. I shall not want - that's supply. He makes me lie down in green pastures - that's rest. He leads me beside the still waters - that's refreshment. He restores my soul - that's healing. He leads me in the paths of righteousness - that's guidance. For his name’s sake - that's purpose. Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - that's testing. I will fear no evil - that's protection. For You are with me - that's faithfulness. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me - that's discipline. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies - that's hope. You anoint my head with oil - that's consecration. My cup runs over - that's abundance. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life - that's blessing. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever - that's security!

Courtesy of Parish Pump

THE CHRISTINGLE SERVICE Our Christingle Service was a huge success. Every seat in Saint Paul’s Church was taken and I believe it was standing room only.

This year we had our usual nativity tableau which always attracts parents and grandparents alike, but another added bonus were the children from Glasshoughton First School who performed a number of carols for us.

Father Michael led the worship and kept them all in order with his wonderfully strong voice and entertaining story. The excitement was electric when the oranges were given out after the collection.

I just want toi say “Thank You” to Lynda and her team of helpers who prepared the Christingle oranges and dressed the children for the tableau.

The collection raised £275.72 which was excellent and exceeded all previous years. Another service at St Michael’s Church walso raised £69.20 for the Children’s Society, a good result

During 2013 Team Parish Box holders raised £802.60, a fantastic result, considering how food and energy bill keep rising.

So well done everyone

Jean Randall (Hon. Secretary)

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

CROSSWORD WORDSEARCH

SUDOKU SOLUTIONS

EASY INTERMEDIATE

HIGH DAYS AND HOLY DAYS FOR FEBRUARY

1 Brigid of Ireland - Abbess of Kildare, c 525

2 THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE (CANDLEMAS)

3 Anskar, Archbishop of Hamburg, Missionary in Denmark and Sweden 865

4 Gilbert of Sempringham, Founder of the Gilbertine Order 1189

6 The Martyrs of Japan 1597

10 Scholastica, sister of Benedict, Abbess of Plombariola c543

14 Cyril & Methodius, Missionaries to the Slavs, 869 and 885

Valentine, Martyr at Rome, c 269

15 Sigfrid, Bishop, Apostle of Sweden, 1045

Thomas Bray, Priest, Founder of the SPCK & SPG, 1730

17 Janani Luwum, Archbishop of Uganda, Martyr, 1977

27 George Herbert, Priest, Poet, 1633

 

PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN The UK Churches Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS) has produced a booklet ‘Safeguarding in a Digital World’ which contains over 100 links to various websites and other documents. CCPAS works closely with a number of other Child Protection Organisations both in the United Kingdom and more widely.

SAFER INTERNET DAY Safer Internet Day will be celebrated in over 100 countries on 11th February. It will run under the slogan "Let's create a better Internet together" and will aim to promote the positive power of the internet to allow people to create, share and connect. There are now 31 European Safer Internet Centres, coordinated by Insafe, which also runs the SID website www.saferinternetday.org which lists resources and details about events happening in each country.

CHURCHWARDENS

David Field, Castleford: 01977 707120

Mavis Whitehead, St Paul’s 01977 550529

Pauline Morris, St Michaels 01977 668790

Ian Fletcher, Hightown 01977 550139

DEPUTY CHURCHWARDENS

Hilary Wilkes, Castleford: 01977 733554

Colin Maw, St Paul’s:

01977 518078

Emma J Lisle, St Michael’s

Vacant, Hightown

Our Churches in Castleford Team Parish

All Saints, Church Street, Castleford

All Saints, Lumley Street, Castleford (Hightown)

St Michael & All Angels, St Michaels Close, Castleford

St Paul the Apostle, Pontefract Road,

Glasshoughton

PARISH OFFICERS PCC Secretary: Mrs Mavis Whitehead 01977 550529 PCC Treasurer: Mr Andrew Goyns 01924 898593

Stewardship & Gift Aid Secretary:

Mr Arnold Randall 01977 278611

Family & Children’s Worker

Mrs Karen Richardson 01977 552524

SERVICES All Saints’ Castleford

SUNDAY Mass (Said) 8.00am Sung Mass (except last in month) 9.30am Tuesday Mass (Said) 7.00pm Saturday Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary 9.30am

All Saints’ Hightown SUNDAY (except last in month) Sung Mass 10.45am Wednesday Mass (Said) 7.00pm

Saint Michael and All Angels SUNDAY (except last in month) Sung Mass 10.45am Thursday Mass (Said) 10.00am

Saint Paul’s, Glasshoughton SUNDAY (except last in month) Sung Mass 9.30am Wednesday Mass (Said) 10.00am

LAST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH:

Combined Parish Mass at 10.00am - ( see diary section for venue )

FOR MAJOR SAINTS’ DAYS IN ALL CHURCHES

See diary section and weekly pew sheets For all the latest News & Information from around the Parish go to:

www.castlefordteamparish.org.uk