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St James's Magazine July 2008
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The Vicars Letter June 2008
“On whom are you depending ……?” Isaiah 36:5
This is an important question. Listen to the Christian’s answer, and see if it is yours. ‘On whom are you depending (or trusting)’. ‘I trust’ says the Christian, ‘in a triune God. I trust the Father, believing that He has chosen me from before the foundations of the world; I trust Him to provide for me in providence, to teach me, to guide me, to correct me if need be, and to bring me home to His own house where the many mansions are. I trust the Son. Very God of very God is He – the man Christ Jesus. I trust Him to be my Intercessor, to present my prayers and desires before His Father’s throne, and I trust Him to be my Advocate at the last great day, to plead my cause, and to justify me. I trust him for what He is, for what He has done and for what He has promised yet to do. I trust the Holy Spirit. He has begun to save me from my inbred sins; I trust Him to drive them all out; I trust Him to curb my temper, to subdue my will, to enlighten my understanding, to check my passions, to comfort my despondency, to help my weakness, to illuminate my darkness. I trust Him to dwell in me as my life, to reign in me as my King, to sanctify me wholly, spirit, soul and body, and then to take me up to dwell with the saints in light forever.’
Oh, blessed trust! To trust Him whose power will never be exhausted, whose love will never wane, whose kindness will never change, whose faithfulness will never fail, whose wisdom will never be nonplussed, and whose perfect goodness can never decrease! Happy are you, if this trust is yours! So trusting, you will enjoy sweet peace now, and glory hereafter, and the foundation of your trust will never be removed.
C.H. Spurgeon 1834 – 1892
The above is intended as a spiritual check-up.
Rob
A Milestone In Our Vision Journey
Readers will be aware that a vision for the future of St James’s Church was launched at a November Church Service and has been developed in articles by Fiona Aagaard and Guy Wilson in the last five Parish Magazines.
As the vision has been shared it has been demonstrated that the journey to a ‘bigger, better and brighter’ future is already underway.
In November it was envisaged that future growth areas would include:
involvement of lay people in pastoral ministry;
more varied and inspiring church services;
worship services and joint projects with our benefice partners, other local rural parishes, partner parishes in urban areas and churches of other denominations;
the worshiping community
involvement with the young and the old and those new to the village as well as those who have lived here for a long time;
provision of a youth activity programme.
These aims were endorsed at a recent meeting between PCC members and church activity leads and representatives when we were reminded of progress and our past and current successes.
Additional areas for attention identified included:
Improving communications;
Strengthening school/church links;
Raising the profile of charitable giving.
The PCC will be considering all of the issues above and where appropriate putting in place action plans to address them.
Everyone will have their own personal views about the vision and the way forward. It is time to make these known so that we can all work together to maintain momentum and build our future. Collar a PCC member, a warden or just create a noise.
John Hindle
BIRSTWITH W.I.
At our June meeting, Janine Jennings had us all spellbound as she demonstrated the art of flower arranging, under the heading 'Summer delight - Barbecue'. The beautiful arrangements were raffled and six lucky members won the displays.
Members who joined the Group Walk, followed by supper, at Warsill had a very enjoyable evening.
Our Summer Dinner will be held at the Grantley Arms on 14th August. We have an invitation to join Hampsthwaite W.I. on a day trip to Barnsley Market. Interest was shown in the Federation-organised walk from Grassington to Hebden on 18th August, and a workshop at Alma House on 30th August on Painting Effect on Terracotta Pots. It was agreed to go out for Christmas dinner on our December meeting date.
We have booked a stall at Birstwith Show, 26th July, and would be pleased to received contributions of cakes and produce for our chosen charity. We will, of course, also have the Baby Show.
Our next meeting will be on Thursday 10th July, when Julie Davies will speak on Reflexology.
Iris Petch
CONFIRMATION 2008
Confirmation is the way the Church ‘confirms’ believers in the faith, it allows individuals to publicly within an act of worship recommit themselves to their Baptismal vows – we in this Benefice hold a Confirmation every 18 months or so.
This year, Bishop James is coming to take our service of Confirmation on Sunday 30th November at 10am. The venue for the service will be St. James's Birstwith.
Rob and I are planning to begin Confirmation classes towards the end of September – there will be four sessions, then a break for 2 weeks, then a further four sessions (venue to be confirmed). Wednesday night seems possible although I am willing to change it if it doesn’t suit people. There will be a Junior group – Year 7 and above from 7.30-8.25pm and then a Senior group from 8.35-9.45pm.
More details to follow… but please if you are interested have a word with me or Rob and we’ll get it all organised.
Garry
"Pleased to Meet You"!
Twelve months ago I was doing some research for an article that I was writing for my Family History Society journal "Claro Ancestors". The article was centred on Birstwith village life during the 1861 and 1881 censuses. It was during this research that I discovered St James's and the story of the Greenwood family. It was, and still is, a wonderful story and my wife Christine and I decided there and then that we should attend the forthcoming service for the church's 150th Anniversary.
From thereon I don't think we have missed many Sundays at the church. In the May Parish Magazine, Garry, in his Vicar's address, mentions some of the outstanding events of the past twelve months but we also remember Guy's open air service, and the Harvest Festival with all those wonderful scenes and arrangements depicting Birstwith's village life. We will remember the services at Christmas and Easter, the Family Services with the band and the children and the recent Saturday morning brunch and all those beautiful flower arrangements for those special occasions. But we shall remember especially the friends we have made - Jan and Norman, Brenda and Fiona, Ruth and Geoffrey, Gill, Rosemary and Ian and many more who made us so welcome in their church, including, of course, Rob and Janice who have recently experienced the same mixed feelings that Christine and I will experience when we move to Kent at the end of May. Two small granddaughters are desperate for their only Grandma to live a bit closer!
The title for this article stems from a silly gaff I made when I joined in the first peace offering at St James's. Instead of saying "Peace Be With You" I inadvertently said "Pleased to Meet You" but looking back it doesn't seem so silly or out of place. I really meant what I said and Christine and I will be sorry to say "goodbye" to St James's and all our lovely friends. We were really pleased to meet you - Peace be with you all.
David and Christine Strover
LUNCHEON CLUB
Please note that we have had to change the date of the next two lunches due to staff commitments. The only possible date in July is 22nd and in September we will be meeting a week earlier than normal, the 9th. We do not meet in August.
This will be the end of our 17th year as a lunch club and, unbelievably, the 7th of our 'temporary' arrangement when we returned to the Church Hall. So, a good opportunity to thank all those who help in all ways from setting up tables, serving food and drinks, keeping the accounts to washing up.
As we now have 43 people on our books as regular attendees, it is even more important that people inform me, Brenda (770409) or Thelma (770891) if they are unable to attend so that guests can come along.
Best wishes for a swift recovery to the ladies who were not well enough to join us in June and hope to see you in July.
Elaine Burge (770274)
EMBROIDERERS' GUILD
Details of the next three months' meetings of the Nidderdale Branch:
19th July Annual Competitions – 10.00 am until 4.00 pm All visitors welcome.
2nd August ANNUAL EXHIBITION at the Memorial Hall in Pateley Bridge. 10.00 am until 4.00 pm
Refreshments available.
15th September AGM held in the Church Hall 2.00pm – 4.00pm
As before, all meetings will be held in Birstwith Church Hall and visitors and new members will be most welcome. For further information contact Mrs Pauline Reeve on 0113 2893248.
July
Tue 1st Birstwith School Production "Ocean Commotion" in School Hall 2.00 pm
Wed 2nd " " " " " " " 6.30 pm
Fri 4th Birstwith School Sports Day on School Field 1.30 pm
Sun 6th 7th Sunday after Trinity SUNG EUCHARIST (CW) with Baptism 10.00 am EVENSONG 6.30 pm
Thur 10th Pilgrims Together - Healing Service at Killinghall Church (see page 12) 7.30 pm W.I. meet in the Church Hall 7.30 pm
Sat 12th Strawberry Fayre at Marion Stockdale's (see page 4) 2.00 - 4.00 pm
Sun 13th 8th Sunday after Trinity HOLY COMMUNION (BCP) 8.00 am SUNG EUCHARIST (CW) 10.00 am EVENSONG 6.30 pm
Thur 17th P.C.C. meet in Church Hall 7.30 pm
Sat 19th Embroiderers' Guild meet in the Church Hall 10.00 am Marriage Blessing of Kenvor Cothey & Georgina Behrens 3.30 pm
Sun 20th 9th Sunday after Trinity SUNG EUCHARIST (CW) 10.00 am EVENSONG 6.30 pm
Tue 22nd Luncheon Club meet in the Church Hall 12.00 for 12.30 pm
Fri 25th Patronal Feast of St. James the Apostle – Eucharist 7.30 pm
Sun 27th 10th Sunday after Trinity HOLY COMMUNION (BCP) 8.00 am SHOWFIELD SERVICE 11.00 am NO EVENSONG
Tue 29th 100 Club Draw at the Old Station Inn 8.30 pm
AUGUST 2008
Sat 2nd Embroiderers' Guild Annual Exhibition at the Memorial Hall, Pateley Bridge 10.00 am - 4.00 pm
Sun 3rd 11th Sunday after Trinity SUNG EUCHARIST (CW) 10.00 am EVENSONG 6.30 pm
Sun 10th 12th Sunday after Trinity HOLY COMMUNION (BCP) 8.00 am SUNG EUCHARIST (CW) 10.00 am EVENSONG 6.30 pm
Thur 14th W.I. Summer Dinner at the Grantley Arms
Sun 17th 13th Sunday after Trinity SUNG EUCHARIST (CW) 10.00 am EVENSONG 6.30 pm
Sun 24th 14th Sunday after Trinity HOLY COMMUNION (BCP) 8.00 am FAMILY SERVICE 10.00 am EVENSONG 6.30 pm
Tue 26th 100 Club Draw at the Old Station Inn 8.30 pm
Sun 31st 15th Sunday after Trinity UNITED BENEFICE SERVICE at The Chapel of Ease, Felliscliffe 10.00 am HEALING EUCHARIST 6.30 pm