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Guiseley Methodist Church

Ministers:

Rev Roger Smith: Tel 01943 874735

Deacon Jenny Parnell: Tel 0113 250 9805

Newsletter

December 2019

&

January 2020

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MINISTER’S LETTER

Dear friends

I suspect most families have their own peculiar Christmas traditions. In our house before going to bed on Christmas Eve, we all gather round the TV and watch the animation of Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas. My daughter Isobel, who works in advertising, alerted me to this year’s Christmas ad by waxed jacket manufacturer Barbour which celebrates their 125th anniversary with a remake of this Christmas classic. But you can be sure we’ll be sticking to the traditional version with Mel Smith narrating “another bloomin’ Christmas”.

The things families do change over the years as circumstances vary and it’s the same in church. At Guiseley we’ve always had a Christmas Eve communion service at 11.30 pm, but numbers have dwindled and this year we’re doing something different. We’ll still have our lively, all-age come-as-a-Christmas-story-character nativity service at 4.30 pm. Then, at 11.30 pm, we’re warmly invited to join with St. Oswald’s for Midnight Communion in their beautiful church where the mystery of the incarnation has been celebrated for many centuries.

But there is an alternative, something different. At Bramhope Methodist Church, I’ll be celebrating Christmas Eve Communion at 9.30pm. The change of time is partly for practical reasons – you can be home by about 10.30 pm (to watch a Father Christmas video or whatever else you do in your household!) However, there’s a deeper significance to what we’ll be doing. At 10 pm, as we share the bread and wine of Holy Communion at Bramhope, it will be the start of Christmas Day in Bethlehem where it all began.

Across the world, Manger Square in Bethlehem has always been centre stage at the start of Christmas each year. It’s a troubled place. The lives of Palestinian Christians are constrained by the state of Israel, on the one hand, and as a tiny minority amongst the predominantly Muslim Palestinian community on the other.

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It’s good to support Palestinian Christians, for example by buying olive wood craft they’ve produced. It will also be good to share the start of Christmas with them. We’ll pray for peace in Bethlehem and throughout the world.

Whatever the pattern of your Christmas, I hope you experience peace, love and joy.

Roger

At Christmas by Jean Kenward

Always

in the dark centre

of this season

the birth occurs

noiseless and marvellous

the seers

move on their journeys

there are gestures

of wonder, and at midnight

a resting star.

Always

it is amazing

that the mountains

do not relinquish

their momentary grandeur,

bend to the stable,

let the ermine tremble

there

where the oxen

and angels are.

Contributed by Chris Gilmour

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Sunday Worship

December 2019

Morning 10.30 am Evening 6 pm 1st 9 am Rev Roger Smith, Holy

Communion

Rev Roger Smith, Toy Service & Parade

8th Rev Cayte Norman, Holy Communion

Circuit Service at Pool Methodist Church

15th Rev Roger Smith, Nativity service

22nd Mrs Lindsey Hurst Deacon Jenny Parnell, Café style worship

29th Mrs Margaret Cook

January 2020

Morning 10.30 am Evening 6 pm 5th Mr Michael Noble

12th Mr David Tate Circuit Service at Burley in

Wharfedale Methodist Church

19th Rev Roger Smith, Holy Communion

26th Mr Michael Faulkner United service at Guiseley, led by Mrs Joan Bosomworth

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December Sun 1st 2.30 pm Primrose Court Service led by Tuesday

Prayer Group Tues 3 rd 2.15 pm Tuesday Fellowship – speaker Mrs

Gwen Harrison Wed 4 th 7.00 pm Advent course “Promises, Promises”

led by Deacon Jenny (see also later) Tues 10 th 7.30 pm Community Christmas Concert (see

advert later) Wed 11 th 7.00 pm Advent course “Promises, Promises”

led by Deacon Jenny Fri 13 th 7.30 pm Group 13 “Fun and Games” Tues 17 th 2.15 pm Tuesday Fellowship – Christmas

Service Wed 18 th 7.00 pm Advent course “Promises, Promises”

led by Deacon Jenny

Don’t forget the regular events:

Mondays 9.30 – 11 am Knit and Natter in the Fellowship room

Tuesdays 9.30 am during term time. Prayers led by different members each week followed by a cuppa and chat in the Fellowship room

Thursdays 10 – 11.30 am Coffee Stop in the Main Hall

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January

Sun 5 th 2.30 pm Primrose Court service led by Group 13

“Epiphany” Tues 14 th 2.15 pm Tuesday Fellowship – speaker Rev

Roger Smith 7.30 pm Group 13 – speakers Pat & Graham

Latty “Our Mayoral year” Wed 15 th 6.45 pm Finance Committee Tues 28 th 2.15 pm Tuesday Fellowship – speakers Alan

and Andrea Elsegood Wed 29 th 7.30 pm Special Church Council

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Advent Courses You are welcome to join our Advent course this year, which is entitled Promises, Promises, by Nick Fawcett. Led by Deacon Jenny, the course will begin on Wednesday 4th December at 2pm at Yeadon Methodist Church, and again at 7pm at Guiseley Methodist Church, then each Wednesday until 18th December.

As an alternative to the Promises, Promises course, there is also a course run by the two churches in Bramhope. One poem (from Janet Morley’s book “Haphazard by Starlight”) will be explored each week for an hour including Advent worship, Each session will run on Thursday afternoon at 2pm at The Loft (coffee bar at the Fox & Hounds), and repeated the same evening at one of the churches at 7pm. Thursday 28th November 2pm at the Loft, 7pm at St Giles with a poem chosen by Rev Tom Lusty Thursday 5th December 2pm at the Loft, 7pm at Bramhope Methodist with a poem chosen by Rev Roger Smith Thursday 12th December 2pm at the Loft, 7pm at St Giles with a poem chosen by Helen Reid Thursday 19th December 2pm at the Loft, 7pm at Bramhope Methodist with a poem chosen by Steve Weatherley Janet Morley’s book is widely available, but you do not need a copy to share in these meetings.

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CHRISTMAS SERVICES

Sunday 1st December 10.30 am Toy Service. Please bring toys, games and books (nearly new) to donate to families who would not otherwise receive a gift at Christmas. Sunday 15th December 10.30 am Nativity service Sunday 22nd December 6.00 pm Carol service Tuesday 24th December – Christmas Eve – 4.30 pm Come dressed as your favourite character from the Nativity Story Christmas Eve – 9.30 pm at Bramhope Methodist Church. Rev Roger Smith leads a Holy Communion service on Bethlehem time. Christmas Eve – 11.30 pm at St Oswald’s Parish Church, Guiseley – Holy Communion service led by Rev David Pickett Wednesday 25th December – Christmas Day – 10.30 am. Rev Roger Smith leads family worship – children are requested to bring a “quiet” toy.

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Song for a Winter Birth by Vernon Scannell

Under the watchful lights

A child was born

From a mortal house of flesh

Painfully torn.

And we, who later assembled

To praise or peer,

Saw merely an infant boy

Soft sleeping there;

Till he awoke and stretched

Small arms wide

And, for food or comfort,

Quavering cried.

A cry and attitude

Rehearsing, in small,

The deathless death still haunting

The Place of the Skull.

Outside, in the festive air,

We lit cigars;

The night was nailed to the sky

With hard bright stars.

Contributed by Chris Gilmour

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Christmas jokes How did Mary and Joseph know Jesus' weight when he was born?

They had a weigh in a manger Why is it getting harder to buy Advent calendars?

Their days are numbered What do you call a bunch of chess players bragging about their games in a hotel lobby?

Chess nuts boasting in an open foyer What does Santa do when his elves misbehave?

He gives them the sack What do you get if you eat Christmas decorations?

Tinsilitis Which famous playwright was terrified of Christmas?

Noël Coward What carol is heard in the desert?

O camel ye faithful How many letters are in the Christmas alphabet?

Only 25, there’s no L

Contributed by Elizabeth

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AVSED FUNDRAISING

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

The return of the H.U.M. Gospel Choir for a Christmas Concert at St Oswald’s Church on Friday 6th December.

Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30 pm start. Suggested donation £5.

Roger Halliwell

Warm Clothing Day 18th January 2020 10.00 am – 12.00 noon

We will once again be collecting unwanted winter clothing and footwear for the homeless charities in Leeds. Please come along if you have anything to donate, and join us for a coffee as well!

Anne North

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CYCLIST’S LITANY On a recent visit to Cambridge, we attended the service at the University Church, Great St Mary’s, where we heard the following “Cyclist’s Litany”. We found this to be very humorous so I asked permission to share it with my own congregation in Guiseley to which the Revd Devin McLachlan, Associate Vicar, happily agreed.

As usual, the congregational responses are in bold.

God the Father; God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, Holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, Have mercy upon us. From punctures and puddles, and pedestrians on phones, Good Lord, deliver us. From dropped chains, worn brakes and rusted locks, Good Lord, deliver us. From sloth and fatigue and the cold winter rains, Good Lord, deliver us. From careless drivers, badly parked lorries, and motorcycles in the cycle lane, Good Lord, deliver us. From bike thieves, potholes, and swans, Good Lord, deliver us. We repent of our own carelessness; of times when we have endangered others and ourselves through negligence, aggression or haste. Have mercy upon us. We repent of our wrath, of angry words and gestures, and pray that we might treat others on the road as we would have them treat us. Have mercy upon us.

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We repent of our impatience with all those who must travel slowly because of youth, age, or infirmity. Have mercy upon us. We repent of our negligence, for not caring for our chains and brakes, for not using lights in the dark and rain, for ignoring traffic lights. Have mercy upon us. Govern and direct all rulers, Councils and officers, that legislation, planning and enforcement might ensure the good safety of all who use the road. Hear us, good Lord. Grant us such public will that more people might be able to choose cycling, walking and public transportation over driving. Hear us, good Lord. Grant us wisdom that we might be good stewards of your creation, choosing not to drive when we can ride. Hear us, good Lord.

For the thrill of an open road and a windless day and for the mercy of cycle repair shops, We give you thanks, O God. For safe, wide, well-made bike lanes and for children learning to ride, and for all who discover the joy of cycling, We give you thanks, O God. Remember those who have been injured or killed on the road, those who’s health or ability prevents them from riding and those who must drive or walk this day. Give us your grace, O God, and keep our bodies, our souls and our cycles in good repair, this day and always, Amen

Carol Davis

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OPEN THE BOOK news

On Wednesday 25th September 5 members of the “Open the Book Team” visited Otley Parish Church to celebrate 20 years of “Open the Book”. We were treated to an audience with Bob Hartman, Storyteller and Author of the bestselling Lion Storyteller Bible.

We had heard of Bob’s wonderful storytelling talent and were not disappointed. His demonstration of how to make Bible stories fun for all children was second to none and audience participation was very much encouraged. I felt he was truly inspiring and he definitely gave the “Team” numerous ideas for the future.

Carol Davis

The Open the Book team were very pleased to welcome teachers and pupils of Year 4 and 5 at Guiseley Primary School, together with their supporters, to hold their Harvest Service at our church on 24th October. The children took turns in classes to present an aspect of Harvest, suitably dressed for the occasion as Farmers, Medieval workers, Aeroplane Pilots, Ship’s captains and many others, with props including an inflatable Banana (promoting Fairtrade!). A retiring collection for “All We Can” raised £160. The Open the Book Team go into Guiseley Primary School every fortnight to bring Bible stories to the children in an assembly. This year, concentrating on the Old Testament, we started in September with stories about Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark, and The Tower of Babel. The children join loudly with the “Open the Book” song (demonstrations available from any of the team), and we are grateful for the opportunity to spread the word of God to these young people. If anyone would like to join the team, please speak to Alan Sheath. You will need a DBS check. We are delighted that children from year 2 will be coming to our church again to learn “What’s the Story” of Christmas on Wednesday 4th December.

Julie H, Alan P, Alan S, Elizabeth, Nancy, Carol

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Thanks to Ian Williams for this cartoon ……

HOWEVER…

A Notice on a church door spotted by Caroline Chartres, wife of the former Bishop of London, says: “It is possible that on entering this church you will hear the call of God”, she tells the Church Times. “It is, however, unlikely that he will contact you by telephone. Please turn off your mobile.”

Contributed by Janet Hudson

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Bank Holiday Refreshments 2020

Norwood Chapel & Retreat Centre is available for Churches in the Circuit to use on the various Bank Holidays to provide refreshments throughout the day for passing visitors and members of the circuit who usually make an effort to visit the Chapel for these occasions. Churches can raise substantial funds doing this for either their own church or for a charity that the church supports. In the past in excess of £500 after costs has been raised by various churches by providing this facility throughout the day. Easter Monday has already been allocated for 2020 but the following Bank Holiday dates are still available for churches to book. Friday 8 May – VE Day anniversary (This could be a themed event with Union Jack bunting etc.) Monday 25 May – Spring Bank Holiday Monday 31 August – Late Summer Bank Holiday To book one of the above dates and/or for further information concerning hire costs and the organisation of the event please contact Sue our Booking Secretary on 07946423309. With our press connections, we are more than happy to assist you with publicity to promote the event for your Church.

John Burland On behalf of the Norwood Management Team

Date for your Diaries The 2020 WORLD DAY of PRAYER will take place at Yeadon Methodist Church on Friday 6th March at 2.00 pm. The service has been written by the Christian Ladies of Zimbabwe and has the title “Rise! Take up your mat and walk”. We do hope you will join in this act of fellowship. Transport can be arranged.

Pamela Smith

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The NEXT NEWSLETTER

is for February & March

2020. Please let us have

your material by no later

than 12th January via the

box in the vestry or 19th January by email to:

gmcmonthlynewsletter@hotmail.co.uk

Circuit & Church Noticeboard

‘Viewpoint’ will be our new monthly E-noticeboard for the Circuit. It will detail

upcoming events within your church and will be emailed out to the circuit so

that everyone gets a view of what is happening.

If you have any special services / events / social happenings etc. due to take

place in January or February please give details by email, or call me on 07885

585946. Contributions should be sent to Mike Fawcett

(admin@wandamethodists.org.uk) by the end of the first week of every month,

for issue the following week.

Many thanks

Mike Fawcett

Circuit Administrator

The Circuit website address is www.wandamethodists.org.uk