DECEMBER 2008 (part1)

Honley with Brockholes Parish Magazine

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Dear Friends,

I was listening to a radio programme the other day and

one of the subjects being dealt with was “How to survive

Christmas in today’s financial climate”. It gave a great many

tips on how to reign back on spending, both on presents and

food. All the advice given made some sort of practical sense.

At the end of the programme various listeners phoned in with

their comments and observations. One indignant person rang in

with the point that the most crucial fact of Christmas was

being overlooked,

“Christmas is all about Families”

I hate to sound like a kill joy and I know that Christmas is a

time when families get together and that can be a great thing,

however the reality is,

Christmas is all about Jesus.

Christmas marks that momentous time in history when the

heavenly, spiritual realm met face to face with the earthly

material world. Christmas is a celebration of the fact that God

the supreme creator of the universe left his heavenly home and

came down to earth as a man. He came not as a prince born in a

palace but as a baby born of lowly origins in a stable.

An anonymous poem puts the whole of the Christmas

nativity into perspective.

Blessed art thou O Christmas Christ

That thy cradle was so low, that shepherds

Poorest and simplest of earthly folk

Could yet kneel beside it and look

Level eyed into the face of God.

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The poem is simple and yet the image it creates is

amazing, being able to look level eyed into the face of God. The

nativity story tells about a down to earth event in more ways

than one. It tells of God being found in human form, being able

to touch and feel, to see and hear and to live and to die among

those he had created.

The coming of Jesus into the world broke down all

barriers that separate us from God, They were not broken

through slow erosion, like waves on a rock, but with a quick star

streaming, blazing burst of love which brought God to man.

As the shepherds in the nativity story were able to kneel

and look level eyed into the face of God so can we, not through

any doing of our own, but because of what God has done for us

in a dark stable in Bethlehem.

As we prepare to celebrate the forthcoming festivities let

us remember that Jesus should be at the heart of our

celebrations. It was in him that the fullness of God was pleased

to dwell and it is through him that we are able to look level eyed

into the face of God.

Wishing you all a happy and holy Christmas.

With love in Christ’s service

David

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PARISH NEWS

Baptisms St Mary’s October 19 Nell Hirst St Mary’s October 19 Grace Frances Briony Greaves St Mary’s October 19 Daniel Thomas Muckle St Mary’s October 26 Harry Oscar Weller

Funerals St Mary’s November 10 Annie Kay St George’s November 12 Hubert Coldwell

In December we remember in our Year’s Mind

From the Parish Registers

Arthur Nickerson d. 7th December 1957

Peter Gregory d. 13th December 1990

Joseph Turner d. 18th December 1941

James Oldroyd d. 23rd December 2004

Jim Drake d. 23rd December 2004

Hollis Pearl Dillon d. 24th December 1985

Betty Marsh d. 24th December 2005

Emily Turner d. 25th December 1978

Agnes Swallow d. 26th December 1996

Amy Schofield d. 27th December 1983

The Bells I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play, And wild and sweet the words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Longfellow

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ST. MARY'S CALENDAR

NOVEMBER Sunday 30 Advent Sunday 8.00 am Holy Communion 9.30 am Parish Eucharist 6.30 pm Evening Prayer DECEMBER Monday 1 6.30 pm Slimming World Wednesday 3 9.30 am Holy Communion followed by Pastoral Care Prayer Group 7.30 pm Mothers’ Union Christmas Party Thursday 4 10.00 am - 12 noon Coffee in Parish Room 1.15 pm Baby and Toddler Group Saturday 6 10.00 am - 4.00 pm Christmas Street Market Sunday 7 2nd Sunday of Advent No 8.00 am service 9.30 am Family Eucharist: Celebrant Dean Henry 6.30 pm Evening Prayer Monday 8 6.30 pm Slimming World Wednesday 10 9.30 am Holy Communion Thursday 11 10.00 am - 12 noon Coffee in Parish Room 1.15 pm Baby and Toddler Group Friday 12 2.00 pm Infants’ School Nativity in Church 7.30 pm Hand Chimes Rehearsal Sunday 14 3rd Sunday of Advent 8.00 am Holy Communion 9.30 am Family Service 6.30 pm Confirmation Service Monday 15 6.30 pm Slimming World Tuesday 16 7.30 pm St Mary’s D C C Meeting Wednesday 17 9.30 am Holy Communion followed by Mothers’ Union Prayer Group Thursday 18 10.00 am - 12 noon Coffee in Parish Room 1.15 pm Baby and Toddler Group Friday 19 10.30 am Junior School Nativity 7.30 pm Carol Service Sunday 21 4th Sunday of Advent 8.00 am Holy Communion 9.30 am Family Communion 6.30 pm Evening Prayer

Helpers’ Rota

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Type of Service

Sidesmen * Reader

Intercessors

Serving Coffee

Dec 7

Family Eucharist

Sandra and John Dean

Family Service

Pauline Ellis Bob Etherington

Sarah and Wayne North

Dec 14

Family Service

Pauline and John Adams

Peter Wildman

Pat and Cliff Green

Maureen Doran Denise Jackson

Dec 21

Family Communion

Diana Griffiths Peter Wildman

Pat Dransfield

Jane and Graham Wardman

Jane and Graham Wardman

Dec 24

Midnight Eucharist

Anne and Godfrey Blount

TBA Jean and Leslie Chadwick

Jane and Graham Wardman

Dec 28

Parish Eucharist

Mary Briggs Jean Cheeseman

Huw Griffiths

Anne and Godfrey Blount

Lee Hewitt Margaret Jenkinson

Jan 4

Family Christingle

Elaine Shaw Margaret Allison

TBA Clive Waind

Alison and Simon Dean

* * *

Dec 19 at 7.30 pm Carol Service: Mary Stapleton & Janet Sykes Dec 24 at 4.00 pm Crib Service: Margaret & Richard Hay Dec 25 at 11.00 am Family Communion: Bill Kemp & David Wainwright (Intercessors: Diana & Huw Griffiths )

Monday 22 6.30 pm Slimming World Wednesday 24 Christmas Eve 8.00 am Holy Communion 4.00 pm Crib Service 11.30 pm Midnight Eucharist for Christmas Thursday 25 Christmas Day 11.00 am Family Communion for Christmas Sunday 28 Sunday after Christmas No 8.00 am Service 9.30 am Parish Eucharist 6.30 pm Evening Prayer Monday 29 6.30 pm Slimming World Wednesday 31 9.30 am Holy Communion JANUARY Thursday 1 No Coffee Sunday 4 Christingle 8.00 am Holy Communion 9.30 am Family Service - Christingle 6.30 pm Parish Eucharist

A reminder that Brass Cleaning is due - many thanks.

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HONLEY NEWS

Men’s Society The September meeting was addressed by the secretary who spoke about his early life and the influences which helped to shape his personality and views. Reference was made to family networks and to interests and education, also the early part of his career in teaching. However, as with all talks, there was so much more to say, so about an hour speaking passed quickly. I am sure all speakers find this so. In October, we had our Men’s Society Dinner at the Traveller’s Rest, Brockholes. We had an enjoyable time and thank the staff at the Traveller’s for a very good meal. I believe from the comments made to me that it was enjoyed by all.

John Ambler

Honley Churches Together Many thanks to all who supported the Harvest Lunch - we were able to send £140 to the Christian Blind Mission Harvest Appeal. We are organising Carol Singing on Monday, 22nd December at 7.00 pm outside Burhouse Court, behind the Co-op. We do hope that many will be able to attend - everyone is welcome.

Pauline Ellis

Christmas Cards From 1st December there will be a dedicated noticeboard available at the back of church (near the table used for coffee) to display your Christmas cards to your friends at St Mary’s. Instead of spending money on lots of cards for everyone, we hope you may feel you could send a greeting to everyone on just one card to put on display and donate the money you would have spent to Church Funds. Envelopes are available near the display for you to gift aid this donation. Thank you.

Pauline Adams

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Report on the PCC Meeting 21st October 2008

With 15 members present the meeting opened with the “Transforming Lives” Prayer before the minutes of the previous meeting, which had been circulated, were unanimously accepted as a correct record. The main business of the meeting consisted of a report from the recent meeting of the Deanery Synod at which the “Transforming Lives – Investing in Faith” initiatives had been discussed. It is projected that by 2013 the Diocese will reduce its paid clergy from 168 to 133 and Almondbury Deanery will reduce from 8 paid clergy to 6. A sub-committee of 6 clergy and 6 lay people (one of each from the parishes or team parishes in the Deanery) will meet to make recommendations to Wakefield as to how the changes can be most effectively implemented. It was agreed that Dr Graham Wardman be invited to be our Lay representative. This item created considerable discussion during which there was a general feeling that the Diocese probably had already come to its own conclusions and the consultation process would be a waste of time! In his Report the Vicar explained that each parish in the Diocese was being asked to produce its own ‘Transformation Plan’ by November 2009. The process will begin with a 2009 Lenten course considering Worship, Pastoral Care, Prayer and Spirituality and Outreach. It was suggested that the Action Plan already in operation at St Mary’s already covered much that was required. Minutes of the DCC meetings held at St Mary’s and St George’s since the last PCC meeting in June had been circulated and were tabled. A final farewell and thanks to Elizabeth Cummings were expressed by the Vicar since this was her last meeting before leaving for China.

Cliff Green, PCC Secretary

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I hope I gave just a flavour of ‘Family Life in Singapore’ at our November meeting. Among the many things I missed out was the place where you put your feet in a tankful of little fish and they nibble away at the dry skin and you come out all gorgeous! Thank you to those who give members lifts to meetings. We would not have such good attendances without your help.

News from Council Subscriptions for 2009 will be £13. Please give to Jean Swann as soon as possible when they are due on 1st January so she can send to the Deanery Secretary in plenty of time for her deadline. Thank you. Special thanks were given to our clever knitters who have made garments for hospital neo-natal units. Everything goes in with a prayer and these tiny, beautiful gifts are deeply appreciated by parents. Friday Treacy Hall coffee mornings are now to be discontinued as other arrangements are being made at the Cathedral. Thanks were given to those who have helped over the last thirty years. Also, the accommodation at Mary Sumner house is no longer available due to new fire regulations. The training of people in Marriage Preparation is going ahead and it is hoped that this will prove a useful resource to our clergy in the future and assist couples to understand the depth of commitment needed as they take this great step in life. It isn't all about the white frock and where to have the reception, after all. Presentations were made to Audrey Dalton (retiring Treasurer) and we welcomed Alexandra Roberts as she takes on this position. I hope you like the new free magazine, Families Worldwide. Please keep it by you as the Prayer Diary starts in January and we can pray for our Overseas Links and Members all over the world as they pray for us!

See you at the Christmas Party on December 3rd. A Blessed Christmas to all friends at St Mary's and St George's.

Brenda Wildman