Parish Magazine Worsbrough St. Mary’s,
Elsecar Holy Trinity
November 2015 40p
2
Who’s Who at Worsbrough? Vicar:- Revd Alison Earl The Vicarage, Wath Road, Elsecar, S74 8HJ Tel: (01226) 351806 Churchwardens:- Mr Tom Isherwood, 21 Stone Leigh, Tankersley,
Tel: 740775 Mr Martin Pearson, 238 Sheffield Road, Birdwell
Tel : 350330 Secretary:- Miss Margaret Fellows. Tel 299577 Deanery Synod:- Mr Martin Pearson, Mrs A Balme
Organist & Choirmaster:- Mr Andrew Noble, Dip.R.C.M (Teach) A.R.C.M (PG) L.T.C.L Mother’s Union:- Mrs A. Balme (Branch Leader) Tel 281185 Meetings held every fourth Wednesday at 7pm Wives Group:- Miss Pam Kellett (Secretary) Tel: 744612
Meetings held alternate Mondays at 7.30pm V.I.P Club Mrs Diane Lawrance tel: 07773905575
Email – dianelawrance@btinternet,com Meetings held at 10.45am second Sunday of the Month
Magazine Secretary:- Mrs A. Jacques tel 290067 Magazine Editor:- Mr A Gittner [email protected] 28, Lynham Avenue, Birdwell. Tel 361475 Old School room Miss Margaret Fellows. Bookings Tel 299577 Messy Club Jillian Aranyi. Tel 294625 Check out our Church on the web. www.heritageinspired.org.uk www.achurchnearyou.com/Worsbrough-st-Mary/ http://worsbrough.wix.com/st-marys-choir Parochial Church Council: - Mrs B Gittner, Mr J Driver, Mrs J Cameron, Miss M Fellows, Mrs Y Lunn, Miss I Thompson, Mrs A Balme, Miss M Oglanby, Mrs M Shepard. Mrs S. Hallam, Mr R. Thompson.
Arrangements for baptisms, weddings and the publication of banns can be made by contacting the Churchwardens in the Old School any Thursday evenings from 7pm to 7.30pm or failing this by telephone. If you would like to visit the church and have a look round it will be open each week from 1.30am until 1.30pm every Thursday. Thank you to the St Edmunds Arms, Worsbrough, for our cover photograph. It shows a 1969 Ford Capri and a 1983 Ford Escort. .
3
August diary
Sun 1st Nov Wed 12
th Nov
Thu 13th
Nov
11.00am 12.15am 4.00pm 6.30pm 10.00am 9.30-11.30am 7.30pm
Sung Eucharist Junior Choristers Memorial Service Elsecar Worsbrough Memorial Service Holy Communion/Fellowship Drop in Choir rehearsal
Sun 8th Nov Mon 9
th Nov
Tue 10th
Nov Wed 11
th Nov
Thu 12th
Nov
10.45am 11.00am 12.15am 6.30pm 7.30pm 1.30pm – 3.00pm 7.30pm 10.00am 9.30-11.30am 7.30pm
VIP Club Sung Eucharist Junior Choristers Remembrance Service Wives Group Open Meeting Messy Club Joint PCC Elsecar Holy Communion/Fellowship Drop in Choir rehearsal
Sun 15th
Nov Wed 18
th Nov
Thu 19
th Nov
11.00am 12.15am 6.30pm 10.00am 9.30-11.30am 7.30pm
Sung Eucharist (bring your shoe boxes) Junior Choristers Evensong Last day for articles for the Magazine Holy Communion/Fellowship Drop in Choir rehearsal
Sun 22nd
Nov Mon 23
rd Nov
Wed 25th
Nov Thu 20
th Nov
Sat 28th
Nov
11.00am 12.15am 6.30pm 7.30pm 10.00am 7.00pm 9.30-11.30am
Family Worship Junior Choristers Evensong Wives Group: wrapping parcels Holy Communion/Fellowship Mother’s Union Drop in Choir rehearsal Elsecar Christmas Fair
Sun 29th
Nov Tue 1
st Dec
Wed 2nd
Dec Thu 3
rd Dec
Fri 4
th Dec
Sat 5th
Dec
11.00am 12.15am 6.30pm 10.00am 9.30-11.30am 7.30pm 2.00pm -4.00pm
Sung Eucharist Junior Choristers Advent Carol Service Wives Group Trip to Chester Holy Communion/Fellowship Drop in Choir rehearsal Preparations for Christmas Fair Worsbrough Christmas Fair
4
Rotas for November 2015
Sidespersons
Sunday 1st November
11.00am Mrs K. Goldsby-West & Miss M. Fellows
Sunday 8th November
11.00am Mrs A. Balme & Mrs Y. Lunn
Sunday 15th November
11.00am Mrs A. Sellars & Mrs M. Shepard
Sunday 22nd November
11.00am Mrs A. Jacques & & Mrs M. Moore
Sunday 29th November
11.00am Mrs B. Gittner & Mrs V. Taylor
Sanctuary Guild
Mrs S. Reynolds and Mrs J. Thompson
Church Cleaners
8th November Mesd. Sellars, Lunn, & Saynor
22nd November Mr & Mrs Burkinshaw & Mrs J. Cameron
If anyone would like to help to keep our church clean for worship, weddings and baptisms could they please make themselves known.
5
Be Still...
Dear Friends,
On hunting for a birthday card for my daughter at the weekend I was
horrified- yes horrified to see that Paper Chase and other card outlets,
supermarkets and yes even M&S had already got their Christmas cards or
Christmas decorations on display. The children have only just gone back to
school and these last few weeks we have just celebrated a wonderful Harvest
here at St Mary’s and at Holy Trinity raising £500 for ASSIST Sheffield and £500
+ for Project Paddington respectively – THANKYOU!! -and yet the retailers are
already chasing the end of another year that has already gone far too fast.
It’s almost as though we are not allowed to take a breath from one
season/celebration to the next and as we charge along at break neck speed
there is no wonder that many find it harder and harder to cope with the
demands and stresses of a life in the fast lane that just seems to be getting
faster and faster.
I’m afraid, according to my husband, I am the official Mrs Grumpy and refuse
point blank now to shop anywhere where there’s Christmas stuff on sale in
September.
I love this time of year- the ever changing colour of the leaves, the brightness
of berries, the misty mornings, the diamante sparkling of dewy cobwebs and
the smell of logs burning hanging in the air. To me it reminds me very much on
how the seasons herald a new era or stage in the years cycle. And by just the
feel of the wind on your cheek, the chill in the early morning, the smell in the
air and the leaves turning slowly we are brought gently and slowly to autumn
allowing ourselves to breathe and acclimatise to what is to come.
As the nights draw in and we huddle in front of our fires we move within the
church’s year to remember those who have died and are no longer with us
and once again at both St Mary’s and Holy Trinity there will be Memorial
Services on the 1St November– see the diary page of the magazine for date
and times.
6
It was this time of year, when I was seven years of age, that my cousin died
and I always remember my angry racing out of the house crashing through the
leaves when I was told the news. On reflection if that hadn’t have happened I
wouldn’t be here as your priest now- for in order for my Aunt to make some
sense out of her loss she took me to church for the first time and a seed was
sown and the rest is history...
In a world that constantly rushes and changes we don’t give ourselves time to
think or even contemplate how these life changing experiences affect our
psyche, our well-being . We crash and burn too easily now and to what end.
As human beings we have to be gentle with ourselves and allow ourselves
time to move from one season of our lives to another. Time to take stock and
then gently ease our way into the next stage.
I take comfort from these words from a hymn I find myself quietly singing to
myself quite often at this time:
Be still, my soul: the Lord is at your side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief and pain;
Leave to your God to order and provide;
In ev’ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: your best, your heav’nly friend,
Through thorny ways, leads to a joyful end.
Be still, and pay attention to your inner self, know that you are loved by God
and let him heal your soul.
Every Blessing, Alison
7
Dates for your November 2015 Diary Sunday 1 United at Hoyland 10.30 am led by Rev Eileen Sanderson Tuesday 3 Ladies’ Group – Bonfire Bash Wednesday 4 2 to 4 pm Coffee Afternoon 7.00 pm Steering Group (committee meeting) Thursday 5 10.00 am Watercolour Painting Sunday 8 Remembrance Sunday 10.45 am Mrs Ellie Peet Monday 9 Shoebox sorting starts at Hoyland Wednesday 11 2 to 4 pm Coffee Afternoon Thursday 12 10.00 am Watercolour Painting Sunday 15 United at Birdwell 10.45 am Mrs Helen Bishop Wednesday 18 2 to 4 pm Coffee Afternoon Sunday 22 10.45 am Rev Mick Neal; Lord’s Supper Wednesday 25 2 to 4 pm Coffee Afternoon Saturday 28 2pm - 4pm Christmas Fayre Sunday 29 10.45 am Advent Carols 6.00 pm Circuit Service at Pilley
See the top box for details of regular weekly events, such as Little Fishes, Kids’ Clubs, etc., which aren’t included in the ‘dates for your diary’. .
Advent approaches As we begin to look forward to Advent and Christmas, the Christmas Fayre at Birdwell is arranged for Saturday 28th November from 2 pm to 4 pm. Then the end of November brings us to Advent, so please join in our Advent Carols at Birdwell on Sunday 29th November, and/or the Barnsley Circuit Service, to be held at Pilley Methodist Church at 6pm.
Minister: Rev Mick Neal, 12 Orchard Croft, Dodworth, Barnsley S75 3QY Tel: 01226 770422
SUNDAY SERVICE 10.45am ……..…(Monthly United Service at Hoyland, 10.30 am, see below) WEEKDAYS:
Monday (term-time) ………………….….Healthy Bones – 10.00am…. Kids’ Club (5-7s) - 4.30pm
Tuesday (term-time) …………..……….‘Little Fishes’ (pre-school) group… 9.00am – 11.15am
Thursday (term-time)..…….…Exodus Kidz Klub (8-11s) 5.30pm … Rock Solid (11+) 7.30pm Friday (term-time)….…….Brownies 5.30pm Please ring 290568 for details of other events/times
Visit our website at www.birdwellmethodists.org.uk for more information
8
Concert by the
Jubilee Singers.
Saturday December 12th At 7.00pm.
Birdwell Methodist Church
Services at
Holy Trinity Church Elsecar Every Sunday
9.30 Communion ,
1st, 3rd 5th, Sunday 4.00pm
evening prayer
Church open every Monday
10.30-2.30pm
for tea and coffee, research
records and space to pray.
9
Around the Parish from the Registers Baptisms Louie Paul David Furness And Sonny James Thomas We welcome into the church family Marriages We would like to wish Robert Rowland and Louise Manyou
All the very best as they begin their married life together
In memoriam
I have been contacted by Barbara Slater who would like to inform family and friends of the recent passing of her brother-in-law John Wilfred Leighton who died recently at the age of 91. Barbara would like to thank Alison for the time she spent with her in church praying and lighting candles on the day of his funeral as Barbara was unable to travel to the service. John was married to Barbara’s sister Marjorie (nee Hepplestone.) We pass on our sincere condolences at this sad time to Barbara and all her family and friends who knew John.
10
11
At our last meeting we looked at things that are really important to us, things like our passports so that we can go on holidays, money that we can spend on nice things, our smartphones and tablets, the internet which allows us to connect to games, videos and music. We all have things that are really important to us. A bit like the rich young man in the gospel reading who also had lots of important possessions. We asked ourselves if we thought we could give up everything to follow Jesus?
The rich young man would not give up everything; he loved his possessions more than he loved Jesus. We are asked to put Jesus first in our hearts above everything else.
This is not easy! In fact, it might feel impossible. This is what Jesus told His disciples, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God. We have to turn to God and ask Him to give us hearts that love Him more than anything, hearts that would give up everything to follow Him!
We each made two heart collages. The first one we have filled with pictures of all our really important things. The second one has a picture of Jesus on it. We then stuck the second one on top of the first one. This showed that whilst we can still love other things, Jesus should always be on top, he should always be first in our hearts.
Our next meeting is on 8th November – all children aged 4 or over are welcome to come and join in the fun.
12
WIVES GROUP On 12th October Radio Sheffield’s Gerry Kersey told us stories of the celebrities he has encountered through his work in radio – from Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins and Ken Dodd to Andrew Lloyd Webber and Leslie Caron. Our meeting on 26th October was too late for inclusion in this issue but it was with Roger Walton talking about TV’s Dad’s Army cast – the Magnificent Seven. There is to be an OPEN MEETING on 9th NOVEMBER when Raymond Walker of the Tasker Trust will show us slides of historical photographs of BARNSLEY STREETS. We will be able to see how Barnsley has changed over the years. Our meeting on 23rd November is the traditional wrapping of gifts for our tombola stall at the Christmas Fayre. Again we are including gifts for children which we will wrap in children’s wrapping paper. Please bring your gifts with you on the night. Thank you. TRIP TO CHESTER CHRISTMAS MARKET This is on TUESDAY, 1st DECEMBER and is open to anyone who would care to join us. Please tell your friends as the cost of the trip will be determined by the number of people going.
Pam
Mothers Union News The Annual Meeting in September was well attended and it was good to start the meeting with a Communion Service led by Rev. Earl. The November meeting will be at 7pm on Wednesday 25th and members will enjoy some Christmas Goodies by Margaret Shepard. Please could members bring items in festive red or gold for the Mothers Union tombola stall, ready for the Christmas Fair on Saturday 5th December. This is advance notice that there will be a Deanery Advent Service on Wednesday 9th December at 2.30pm at St. Peters Church Tankersley.
13
Puns for Educated Minds 1. The fattest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference.
He acquired his size from too much pi.
2. She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.
3. A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class, because it
was a weapon of math disruption.
4. No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.
5. A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.
6. Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.
7. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
8. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to
the other: 'You stay here; I'll go on a head.'
9. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.
10. A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab centre said: 'Keep off the Grass.'
11. The soldier who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a
seasoned veteran.
12. A backward poet writes inverse.
13. In a democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count
that votes.
14. If you jumped off the bridge in Paris , you'd be in Seine .
15. A vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead raccoons. The
stewardess looks at him and says, 'I'm sorry, sir, only one carrion
allowed per passenger.'
16. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. One turns to the other and says
'Dam!'
17. Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root
canal? His goal: transcend dental mediction
18. A person sent 10 puns to friends hoping that at least one of the puns
would make them laugh. No pun in ten did.
Those of you who know John Driver won’t be surprised to know that he was the originator of these. Thank you John,
14
Wives Group Centenary
The Wives group celebrated its 50th anniversary in October. Why do we have a Wives group when we already have a Mothers' Union?
It all started when the 'Bird' estate was built.I came back to Birdwell to live and for me it was coming home. I knew people, the shops and I had people I could visit, but it was not like that for some newcomers. They were living in an area they did not know and knowing no one, so John Copeland our vicar and I got our heads together to see how we could help and came up with a Young Wives group. It was not for church members only but for anyone who wanted to join us.
There were nine or ten young women at our first meeting but membership soon grew. I had the meetings at our house and somehow we packed everyone in, even borrowing chairs from a neighbour. We had coffees,a chat and a speaker.
After seven years I retired as leader but Wives carried on with meetings in the Old School. The group is still flourishing but is now the Wives group because no one wanted to leave when they reached the dreaded age of forty. Some of our members graduated to the Mothers Union but still stayed loyal to the Wives. At our 50th celebrations one member told everyone that she had received a very warm welcome when she moved into the village and joined the group. So our original aim is still working, offering fellowship and friendship to all who join us.
V. J. H.
I wish to thank all who rang with messages of support and for the lovely cards I received while I was in hospital. I am getting better now day by day. Thank you for all your prayers. Shirley Jones
15
REBECCA GUEST ROBINSON
The Trustees of Rebecca Guest Robinson invite any
deserving person, being a bona fide resident of Birdwell or
Worsbrough Village, to make application to the Trustees for a
modest grant which could help alleviate acute personal hardship or
distress which cannot be relieved from public funds.
Application forms are available from the Trustees or by applying in
writing to
Mr J. Armitage, Chairman of the Trustees
10 St. Mary’s Gardens, Worsbrough Village, Barnsley, S70 5LU
Registered Charity No: 247266
16
We're doomed if we just 'try harder' An article that I came across from the “Fresh Expressions” web site. This joint Church of England Methodist organisation looks at ways that churches can adapt to a fast changing world through looking at how they worship and minister to people not normally reached by traditional churches.
Graham Horsley a missioner with Fresh Expressions claims that if we just do the same thing over and over again, we're doomed. Einstein may not have defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results but, whoever first said it, it's a great quote. If that's insanity, most of my ministry has been insane! For 35 years, I've enthusiastically followed the latest ideas for ministry, evangelism and church growth. However, none of them have gone deep enough to examine, much less challenge, deep-rooted ideas about what church is - and how it relates to the world at large. Hope has been stirred, and guilt deepened, by those extraordinary individuals who make a 'success' of working in the more traditional ways of doing church. For Methodists, September is the time of year when new ministers (and chairs of District) arrive; often to highly unrealistic expectations. Cue the comment, 'Of course our new minister can singlehandedly reverse 150 years of decline in the Methodist Church - no pressure!' Underlining those idealistic expectations is an often implicit - and not thought through - belief that Church, as we have always known it, is basically sound and that all we need to do is try harder. Unfortunately, the world around us has changed so radically that if we rely on the 'try harder' approach, we're doomed. Many of my generation were challenged as young adults by American writer and futurist Alvin Toffler. His book, Future Shock - published in 1970 - painted a picture of a world where the rate of change was continually accelerating. I suspect that even Toffler himself might be surprised by the accuracy of those predictions.
17
The Church has not coped well with these massive changes happening around us. Too much of our restructuring hasn't challenged our basic assumptions about church, ministry and mission. Changing policies doesn't change our culture - and that's what we need. Much of today's Church in England meets the spiritual needs of a small and shrinking group. Our challenge is to re-invent the structures of circuit and church and re-imagine the relationship between ordained and lay leadership. At our Methodist District level, we need to think not only about buildings but also how:
we engage in mission we do evangelism beyond those buildings in order to further
the work of God. Why? Because the majority of the population will never come to us, however welcoming and 'good' are our churches.
We then must go to where the people are; understand their spiritual longings and accompany them on their spiritual journeys rather than invite them to join ours. If we do this, we may re-imagine church and re-engage with a culture that's lost its moral compass. Also, if we embark on this risky and faith-filled approach to mission, we should not be surprised that some of the values and principles from the very beginnings of the Methodist movement will help us. How do we leave the safety of our buildings and culture and hold fast to these abiding values and principles? Let me briefly outline four aspects of this which seem to be of pressing importance for us today: Prevenient grace Prevenient grace (or preceding grace): the idea that God's divine grace exists before and without reference to anything humans may have done. God is already at work in an unchurched culture in ways that will continually surprise us. The hippy Christians in the Californian Jesus Movement had a saying, 'If Jesus seems far away - who moved?' Their assumption was that we had moved from Jesus by our sinful actions. However, the Jesus of the gospels spent most of his time outside the religious institutions, sharing life with ordinary, vulnerable,
18
marginalised, desperate, broken people. Perhaps today, it's Jesus who has moved away from us to encounter a needy world and is longing for us to go with him. Holiness How do we preach holiness to a world that's largely abandoned the notion of sin? Most of the traditional evangelistic approaches of the Church begin by reminding people that they are sinners and offering them Jesus' help in breaking free from sinfulness to new life. Unfortunately if we start there, most people don't ever hear the second part of the argument. They've already become angry and rejected the notion that they are sinners. Holiness is a vital and powerful part of our Methodist tradition. How can we communicate this effectively in the 21st Century? Can we start with unmet aspirations, a sense of loss or lack, a feeling of brokenness and vulnerability? Transformation Taking inspiration from Romans 12.2, we should not conform to the expectations of a District policy group or Church Council but instead be transformed by the renewing of our minds. How can we approach every business agenda with the expectation that we are transforming church culture rather than maintaining it? How can we think strategically and plan wisely and still remain open to the Holy Spirit breathing new life, direction and vision into our corporate lives? Jeremiah 29 This has been a text which has recurred over and over again in the last five years. Verse 13, in particular, stands out for me: You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. John Wesley's 'warmed heart' was an experience that came out of a desperate longing for a deeper experience of God. At the beginning of a new period of ministry, it is easy to become too busy to seek God with all our hearts but it's vital - both individually and corporately - that we take time to do that. Over the years I have found that I can only do this when I'm part of a small group which holds me accountable for my spiritual wellbeing. How do you do it? How will you do it?
19
KATHRYN
DENTON M.C.S.P..S.R.P
CHARTERED PHYSIOTHERAPIST
PHYSIOTHERAPY / ACUPUNCTYRE
High Hoyland Physiotherapy
5 Church Lane, High Hoyland s75 4BJ
Tel 01226 390032 & 07774 906835
20
21
Reminders Christmas Shoe Boxes Please bring your filled shoe boxes to Church on November 15th when they wil be collected for distribution. Details about what to include in the boxes can be found in the leaflets at the back of church. The Big Tidy The PCC and Church wardens are still hoping to have a “Big Tidy up” of the school room and out buildings. If you have anything stored in the schoolroom could you please look through it and remove anything that you no longer require. Once you have checked your area could you please indicate with a sticker that you wish to keep the contents Many thanks
22
St Mary’s Church, Worsbrough
December 5th 2015
2.00-4.00pm
Birdwell, Community Centre,.
Come for an afternoon of festive hospitality.
Try our excellent refreshments
Get some early Christmas Presents.
A wide range of stalls will be there;-
Gifts, cards, preserves, books, bric-a-brac, Prize Hamper
draw.
cakes and crafts
Plus Entertainment from St. Mary’s Church Choir
.
23
THE PHOENIX SINGERS Mixed Voice Choir -
Kexborough Welcomes new
members Ring Celia on : 0114 2463246
SALON 36
Ladies Hair Stylist 36 Sheffield Road
Birdwell, Barnsley
Tel: 01226 206620
24
25
Jen’s
Formerly of Wentworth Street,
Has moved back to:
to
Telephone: (01226) 203890
22 Coronation Crescent,
Birdwell, Barnsley S70 5RN
Hairdressing
26
TONY PEEL DECORATORS
Interior and Exterior
High Class work to
CHURCHESHOMESSHOPSOFFICES
AND SMALL INDUSTRIAL
Free Estimates
Established Over 35 years
Ward Green Barnsley
Tel 206698 or 204682
27
DAVE’S GARAGE DOORS
SALES*REPAIRS*FITTING
High security doors, existing and new doors
remote controlled.
Insurance work undertaken. No call out charge.
Don’t pay big company overheads – go for a
family run firm for a friendly service with no
contractors.
BARNSLEY 341747 – MOBILE 07961 320102
For all Electrical Work including security & fire alarms, ovens, showers and all wiring work. No matter how small the job, please contact Roger for a free estimate and advice.
Roger Clarke. Tel: 01226 742348 or mobile 07747 698188
Email: [email protected] www.soundelectricals.co.uk Competent Person Scheme member of NAPIT (National Association for Professional Inspectors and Testers).
28
29
30
FREEFOAM APPROVED
INSTALLER
PAUL LEA-KIME 3 GREENSPRING AVE, BIRDWELL. ------------------------------------------- ESTABLISHED 26 YEARS ------------------------------------------- UPVC WINDOWS AND DOORS. WINDOW REPAIRS ------------------------------------------ UPVC FASCIA BOARDS AND GUTTERING ------------------------------------------ FLAT ROOF’S IN FIRESTONE RUBBERCOVER ------------------------------------------ MOST TYPES OF ROOF REPAIRS ----------------------------------------- FOR FREE ADVICE TEL PAUL ON 01226 281438
31
32