St James Life Autumn 2021 - The St James Woodside Church Magazine
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St James Life
The St James Woodside Church Magazine
Autumn 2021
Contents Welcome to St. James’ Life from Jonathan, the Vicar 4-7 Gathering the Worshipping Community 7 Simply Silence Course 8-9 Distance Learning Courses; Links to our Church 9 Safe House Mara Update 10-12 Stewardship Campaign 13 PCC Report 14 Prayer Diary 15, 18 Church Calendar 16-17 Horsforth Shed Update 19 Autumn Wordsearch 20 Poetry Corner 21-22 Climate Crisis—an Update from Tearfund 23-25 Lent Courses Reports 25-26 Recipe Corner 27 Online 28-29 Flowers and Registers 30 Contact Details 31 2
Regular Events [non-church affiliated in grey]
Sunday
Monday Number Train [term time] 10:00, 11:30
Annette Peterson - 07852 989523 11:00, 12:30
Dancing Dolphins (term time) 16:00
Becky Lodge: dancingdolphins16@gmail - 07876 673363 18:00
WI (3rd Monday of month) 19:00
Pat Spencer - 0113 2587062 21:00
Tuesday Baby Massage 10:00
Rebecca Martin - 07875 517627 11:00
Number Train [term time] 13:30
Annette Peterson - 07852 989523 14:30
Roxy Stage School (term time) 17:00
Roxanna Gallagher 07845 531177 18:00
Yoga 18:30
India Silvani-Jones 07984 663136 19:30
PCC [bi-monthly ] 19:30
21:30
19:30
Preaching Group [monthly]
21:00
Wednesday Mums Quality Time (MQT) Fitness (term time) 09:30
Clare Mallinson (07739307206 10:30
Brownies (term time) 18:30
Anne Culverwell 0113 2300513 19:45
Thursday Pop Goes the Story 10:00
Rachel Shipman 07762 518906 11:00
Baby Massage 11:45
Rebecca Martin - 07875 517627 12:45
Number Train [term time] 13:30
Annette Peterson - 07852 989523 13:30 13:30 14:30
Yoga Class 18:00
Lucinda Stephens 07759306489 19:00
Pilates 19:30
Catherine Hewitt 07530 058377 20:30
Friday Pilates Class 13:30
Jane Suggitt 07795 034115 14:30
Coffee and Natter Café (fourth Friday of month) 10:00
Church Office: 258 46558 11:30
Saturday Dance Class 10.00
Lynne Malone - 07722 672679 12.00
If you are interested in any of the activities, please contact the leader directly.
3
Welcome to St James Life from Jonathan, the Vicar
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and
self-control. There is no law against such things.”
GALATIANS 5:22-23
Friends
Hello and welcome to the autumn 2021 edition of
St James’ Life. I do hope you are keeping safe and
well and that the articles in the magazine are an encouragement as we continue to live
together through strange and difficult times.
I am not generally a fan of reality TV shows, but Rebecca and I have a tenuous family
connection to one of the contestants on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing on the BBC,
and so we’ve made a commitment to tune in (for at least as long as he is in the show).
The celebrity that we have this very tenuous connection with is John Whaite, who you
may know was a former winner of another BBC reality TV show, The Great British Bake
Off in 2012 (we watched him on that show too). And those of you who have tuned in
on Saturday nights will know that John is making Strictly history as the first man to be
partnered with another man, professional dancer Johannes Radebe. These two have
emerged as one of the early contenders for the Strictly 2021 title, but it would be fair
to say that not all in the British Public are supportive. Among the publishable
comments that I have seen on social media I found this, “the show is pure filth; bring
back Mary Whitehouse”.
It would also be fair to say that those in the Church have a variety of reactions to two
men being partnered (in life perhaps, rather than on the dance floor). In previous
editions of this magazine, we have advised that the Church of England is in the midst of
a consultation about identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage called ‘Living in Love
and Faith’. Here is a paragraph from the introduction to the 5-week course that forms a
key part of that consultation:
“All around us we see changing understandings of human identity, changing patterns in
relationships and families, changing sexual attitudes and activity. What does it mean
for followers of Jesus to walk in love, faith and holiness today?”
I am encouraged that a group of 18 of us, mainly from St James’ have engaged with the
‘Living in Love and Faith’ material and have recently completed the course together.
The material presented aimed to help us think more deeply about what it means to be
human and about what it means to live in love and faith. A set of story films, which
share some lived experience of people trying to follow Jesus and live in love and faith,
form a central part of the course. The story films include people who are married,
single, widowed, divorced, heterosexual, homosexual and transgender, and they are a
powerful and humbling witness to the breadth of human experience.
4
The authors of the Living in Love and Faith Course appreciate the divergent and
sincerely held views, in the Church, as in wider society about issues of identity,
sexuality, relationships and marriage, and developed a set of six Pastoral Principles to
guide course participants in their conversations. The Pastoral Principles, which were
developed out of the painful experience of previously divisive issues like divorce and
remarriage and the ordination of women, are included here:
5
In the spirit of these principles, I want to share something of my own personal
conviction and journey, with no agenda, other than that I pray it is helpful.
Being gay or transgender at my school in the 1980s would not have been OK. As a
white heterosexual male, I was fortunate perhaps not to have to think too much about
issues of identity and sexuality in my formative years, but I do vividly remember a rock
concert that I went along to at university in around 1988. At that concert, the Tom
Robinson Band introduced me to the anthem, Sing if you’re Glad to be Gay. It was a
minor awakening. When I heard Robinson’s testimony, and the lyrics of this song, I
was confronted with the fact that some people lived life in the shadows, afraid to
show, and in many cases even acknowledge, the truth of who they are. For that
moment I was outraged at the hypocrisy; I joined in singing the chorus with gusto, and
then I went back to my studies. But I was changed.
Fast-forward 20+ years and, like many, I was slightly wrong-footed by the introduction
of Equal Marriage to the public conversation by the conservative government of David
Cameron. I had been supportive of the idea of Civil Partnership, but equal marriage? I
was certainly not supportive of this idea initially and, in the intervening ten or so years,
I have changed my mind.
I have been blessed by a loving, faithful and fruitful marriage. My relationship with
Rebecca has been the defining relationship of my life and has shown me more about
what it is to love and be loved than any other; it has revealed so much to me about
myself and about God. I know that some people feel called to and flourish in a life of
singleness, but many of us thrive in a loving, stable, and intimate relationship. And for
some people, this will be a relationship with someone of the same sex.
I am fully aware that the position I have reached runs counter to at least 1500 years of
Church teaching. I am also aware that the Church has, by listening to the Holy Spirit
through the experience of people, changed its teaching on issues throughout history*.
Like me, some of my Christian sisters and brothers have reached the position where
they now advocate for equal marriage. This can be a very difficult subject to talk about
and, for people who are lesbian, gay or transgender, the silence can be deafening. This
is a modest attempt to break that silence.
On issues of identity, sexuality, relationships
and marriage the Church finds itself out of Lord Jesus,
step with secular society. On its own this is write the story of your grace and
not reason enough for the Church to change truth
its teaching, but the pain experienced by
into the lives of your people that,
many Christians in the gay and transgender
community makes this an important issue to believing in you,
surface and talk about. I am really the world may have life in your
encouraged that folks at St James’ have name. Amen.
joined the conversation that the Church of
6
England has invited us to participate in through Living in Love and Faith and I look
forward to that conversation continuing.
May mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance,
Jonathan
*Earlier this year, the author Francis Spufford wrote an article outlining why he now
supports equal marriage. In the article he sets out his reasoning, which includes a
narrative about how the Church has listened to the Holy Spirit from the time of the first
Apostolic Council in the first century (Acts 15). You can find the article here: https://
cofe-equal-marriage.org.uk/author/francis-spufford/
Gathering the worshipping community at St James’
It has been wonderful to see people re-gather for worship at St James’ during Septem-
ber and October, after the major disruption of the coronavirus pandemic. I am aware
that some people remain anxious about the risks of contracting the Covid-19 virus,
which is understandable given the persistently high infection rates in our region. I pray
that the time will come soon when we all feel confident to gather together.
During September and October, we have experimented with a revised time for the sec-
ond morning service and placed coffee time between the two services. Following feed-
back, the wardens and I have decided to revert to the pre-pandemic arrangements, i.e.
services at 09.00 and 10.30 with refreshments available after each service. The revised
arrangements will start on 07 November.
We also plan to re-start ‘Parish Breakfast’ in 2022.
Thank you for your patience, understanding, prayers and support.
Jonathan
7
Simply Silence How would you like more of the following in your life? LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL Yep – Us too – Here is an invitation to do just that! “The important aim in Christian meditation is to al- low God’s mysterious presence within us to be- come more and more not only a reality but the re- ality which gives meaning, shape and purpose to everything we do, everything we are.” John Main If you have ever considered trying a form of meditation – here is an opportunity to attend a short course run over a period of 6 weeks starting in November 2021 on Sun- day evenings. Christian Meditation is an ancient practice – which has in the last 30 years re-emerged– as different people look for authentic ways to connect to God and their lives. Silence is a powerful way to achieve this for some people, and meditating in a group, is a way of getting support to develop your meditation practice. The sessions will be organised by Rebecca Cain and Christine Barraclough and will take place in St. James’ Church Woodside, Horsforth. Each session will last an hour which will include an introductory talk at the start of each session, with some practical guide- lines for meditating as well as some sharing of Christian meditation wisdom, and obvi- ously some meditation. The Christian meditation wisdom is from the WCCM – the World Centre for Christian Meditation – a global movement led by Father Laurence Freeman – a student of Benedictine monk John Main – who is seen as one of the ‘re- claimers’ of this ancient Christian tradition. For more information check out their web- site: www.wccm.org The Details Where: St. James Parish Church, Woodside, Horsforth, When: Sunday evenings 7pm – 8pm Dates: 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th November 2021 and 5th and 12th December 2021 Contribution: We will ask for a contribution of £1 a week to cover basic costs such as heating and printing Don’t worry if you can’t make a week, or two, it will still be worth you attending. We will also share with you how to keep the practice going at home between sessions. Exchange: The programme is being offered at no charge, however we would ask for a donation to be made to one of the charities our church supports – a Safe House in Tan- zania – an institution run by the Anglican Church in Tanzania to support girls and wom- en avoiding FGM or Female Genital mutilation in their home communities. Rebecca is 8
the Link officer for the Safe House for the Leeds Diocese. For more information see the
Leeds Diocesan website. www.leeds.anglican.org
Here’s how you can donate: BACS payment to Leeds DBF, reference - Safe House. Sort
code 09-02-22 Acct No. 10466302.
Send cheques to Leeds DBF, 17/19 York Place, Leeds LS1 2EX payable to ‘Leeds Dioce-
san Board of finance’; write ‘Safe House’ on the back.
Rebecca
Distance Learning Courses
“We Find Any Learner” offers free distance learning courses. The 30 different Level
2 Courses can be studied on-line and in your own time. These courses take around 30
hours or around 6 weeks in total to complete and include nutrition and health, mental
health first aid, digital skills, safeguarding etc.
On completion learners are awarded a nationally recognised certificate. You will also
have online or over the phone tutor support throughout your learning journey.
For a full list of courses please follow this link
https://www.wefindanylearner.com/course-list/.
To be eligible, you simply need to be over the age of 19 as of the 31st of August 2021
and not currently studying for an apprenticeship.
If you would like further information, then please call a member of the team on 01226
958 888 or click on the links to register your interest.
Links to Our Church
I feel so blessed that those with the technical ‘know how’ have been able to transport
us into a service without having to worry about catching Covid by being in church. The
chances are low because all the recommended distancing and mask wearing regula-
tions are in place at St James.
On a Sunday morning I have been able to set up my laptop for 9am and lo and behold I
can transport Jonathan (or Brian, Cal or Pete) into my living room and participate in the
service with zero risk of catching this awful infection.
Although hidden away on Low Lane our church is able to reach out to us wherever we
live.
Thank you all who have been involved in implementing the communication links.
I am looking forward to the time when we all feel safe and can worship together inside
St James Church, Woodside.
Fiona Hockin
9
Save a Girl, Save her Family—The Safe House, Mara Female Genital Mutilation (Cutting) in Tanzania is still common in different societies es- pecially Kurya and Ngoreme tribe. In spite of the government’s and organisation’s efforts to fight FGM, some societies in different regions in Tanzania, for example in Ma- ra region Kurya, Tatoga, Ngoreme are still blinded with this negative cultural custom. The Anglican Safe House since its establishment in 2015, has devoted her effort to save girls from FGM by providing safe accommodation to the girls who flee the act, provid- ing access to education and creating awareness for the victims to know their rights and assisting victims with legal aid when needed. By doing so, from 2018 up to now, 16 girls have completed secondary level of education; we were able to take them back to their family and 14 girls also completed their standard seven level of education, 10 were taken back and the remaining were raised by the Safe House up to when we were able to reconcile and reunite them with their parents/family members. In 2020 five girls completed secondary level of Education, four of them passed their Na- tional Examination and were able to join high school and technical colleges. Among them we had one girl who faced some challenges with her family members, we reunit- ed her with her family but later she was supposed to get married to a man who was chosen by her family but she decided to run away again to the Safe House because she said she want to fulfill her dreams. Meet Prisca Chacha, a girl who ran away from home to avoid FGM. Prisca ran away from home in 2018, at the age of 15. She has completed her secondary education and has been selected to join Morogoro College to take Geomatics. Prisca has proved tears of her leaving home does come from her heart and not from her brain. Although Prisca is passing through a lot, her brain is still focusing on her future, she is eager to cut the circle of negative believes in her family and for her to fulfill her dreams. For now she is staying at the Safe House waiting to go to college, she is excited and happy. She is learning computer programs at the safe house, she also take time to teach and play with nursery kids, and we can see her smile on her face every time. We call for your help friends, a donation from you will help Prisca achieve a better education. The Angli- can Church Mara will help with the tuition fee Tshs 1,000,000, hostel 120,000 and other 10
direct costs Tshs 115,000, but she need meal allowance (Tshs 5000/day x 245 days) =
Tshs 1,225,000/= per year of study, she also need field attachment fee Tshs 245,000
and money for other needs like buying scientific calculator, scale ruler, bed sheets,
blankets and other needs a girl might need.
Be blessed!!
FAMILY RECONCILIATION
Safe House is proud of its activities despite the challenges we are facing, we provide
temporary accommodation to girls who flee FGM and access to education. We took
girls to school and provide them with school needs until they finish the level of educa-
tion they took. With help from Leeds Diocese supervised and managed by Oriel Kelly,
Rebecca Cain and Jonathan who have devoted their time, prayers and support to girls
who stays at the Anglican Safe House, through their support we are able to buy books,
pencils, pen, shoes, school bag, bed sheet, clothes, school uniforms and food. But also
they support us with money to buy car fuel for village activities.
You cannot expect victory and plan for defeat. Safe house organization, took in Maria
Nyamhanga, who ran away from home as the act of avoiding FGM in 2016. Safe house
raised Maria and provided her with her basic needs. And now she has completed her
primary level education, and has requested to go back home. Maria's family was so ex-
cited to see her back, and have regretted much on what they tried to do without know-
ing the side effects. Maria's grand parents have promised to fulfill Maria's dreams by
supporting her.
The pictures show how
Maria (in grey colored
blouse) engaged in
learning how to make
batik
Maria Nyamhanga has lived a happy life and she was eager to learn different things to
broaden her knowledge, her enthusiasm have made her to be very courageous and be
ready to stand on her feet to fight for her rights. Thus we were very sure that she is
safe far from the Safe House eyes, and the only thing we do now is to wish her all the
best and prosperity in her life.
We are so proud of the life Maria has shared with us in all the time she stayed at the
Safe House. Now she is back to her family.
11Maria Nyamhanga
making a door rug
Maria Nyamhanga
devoted her time to
God, at the picture
it is Safe choir per-
forming in a Church
service.
Maria in her room
CHANGING LOCAL BELIEFS TO GOD'S BELIEFS.
Not only saving girls' dignity and giving access to education, the girls are willingly in-
volve themselves with church activities and get time to experience the love of God be-
cause they didn’t get time to do that at home. They only believed on the ancestors
who are known to be the source of FGM belief. They involve in Sunday school and have
studied various religious teachings to the point of suc-
cess and be Confirmed. On the 19th of September, Mge-
si Mwita(form three), Lucia Kibuni ( form four) and Rhobi
Zakayo ( form two) who are being raised by the Safe
House have been Confirmed by the Rt. Rev. Dr. George
Okoth in St Joseph Mugumu Parish. We are so happy to
witness their success in different aspects of life, spiritu-
ally, economically and socially. Below are the pictures of
the girls who have been Confirmed.
Conclusion:
To achieve this development of our center is God alone,
it is not easy to take care of these girls and serve them in
everything, we invite our brothers and sisters in Christ to
remember us in prayer and supplication, to fulfill the goal of saving the oppressed and
girl. May God bless you with His Abundance.
Prepared by Melina Galibona, COORDINATOR ACT MARA SAFE HOUSE.
12Stewardship
Parish Centre – what shall we do with the surplus?
As you know, we rent out our Parish Centre to local
groups who offer a wide variety of children’s and adult
activities there. Thanks to Alison Pickford’s hard work
and helpfulness, people like using it and it’s become
busy again. And as Treasurer, I’m pleased to report
that it’s made a profit after costs in all recent years ex-
cept 2020 when it was largely shut due to the pan-
demic.
That’s quite an achievement, because we have also
been re-investing to maintain standards – in 2020 by
redecorating, and in 2021 by improving the cooker
which now has safer induction hobs.
As Phil Toepritz has reminded me, the Parish Centre was never intended to make profit
– it was built to provide a service to the church and community. Following a recent PCC
decision, we have decided to return the profit to the community by way of a Mission
Fund.
The PCC has no pre-determined plan for this Fund, and will be considering ideas as to
how we invest it in the next 3 months – so let’s get our thinking caps on and come up
with some good ideas!
This plan has also generated the goal of our next Stewardship Campaign, which occurs
in Lent 2022. Our aim is to avoid reliance on the surplus from the Parish Centre to fund
the day-to-day needs of the church – which was also not its intended purpose – but to
raise our giving to ensure we can cover our needs from member’s gifts.
I’m aware this is a challenge for us. But it is surely the right challenge – for shouldn’t
we be aiming both to meet our day-to-day needs as a church out of day-to-day giving,
as well as improving the ways we share with our community the good news that God
has given us everything we need to live well?
Cal Bailey - Treasurer
13PCC Report
PCC has met twice in the last 3 months, covering a range of issues. One of these is the
desire to appoint 2 representatives for St James:
Parish Environmental Officer: this person would lead St James’s environmental
programme and bring relevant concerns to the PCC on a regular basis. He/she would:
• work with the Churchwardens and Treasurer to calculate the church carbon foot-
print annually (this work has already been set in motion by David Hill). They would
work with the PCC to develop a carbon reduction plan in line with the C of E net
zero by 2030 ambition, and ensure the implementation of this action plan;
• work with the PCC to participate in the Eco Church programme;
• ensure creation care ministry and mission activities and successes are communi-
cated to the congregation, local community and the diocese;
• be the main point of contact for the diocese on environmental issues, keeping
abreast of training opportunities and relevant resources that the PCC or congrega-
tion could utilise.
Parish Disability Officer: this person would champion the needs of people with disabili-
ties within the church, nurture the church for the benefit of those with disabilities and
encourage all within the congregation at St James to use their gifts. They would repre-
sent the church at Deanery or Diocesan level and report annually to the PCC.
It would be great to see volunteers come forward for these important roles within St
James and the wide community, so if you have a passion for one of these areas,
please speak to Jonathan or one of the wardens as soon as possible.
Exciting Developments
PCC was pleased to note that Horsforth Town Council has agreed to provide a defibrilla-
tor for the use of local residents and users of the Parish Centre and the Horsforth Shed.
They hope to site this on the exterior of the Parish Centre and are currently taking this
work forward.
The FUNdraising Committee has already organised a Pie and Peas Evening, which was
enjoyed by all and raised nearly £190 for church funds. They are now turning their
attention to a Christmas Crafts Evening on 10th December, so watch this space for
more details. There has also some discussion regarding a celebration for St James’
forthcoming 175th Anniversary.
The Parish Centre now has a new cooker with a safer induction hob, for use by church
groups and Parish Centre users. The newly established Coffee and Natter Café on occa-
sional Friday mornings is beginning to reap rewards, with both church folk and local
residents appreciating the company (and home made cakes!)
Alison P
14Prayer Diary
Pull out and keep handy
Please pray for:
the various events in the calendar;
for our members and contacts named in the
church directory;
for the prayer items in the notice sheet.
Also for:
Sunday
Sunday Services
Children’s Activities
Jonathan Cain, our Vicar; wife Rebecca;
children Nic, Arthur, Charlie and Bill
PAFRAS and the Manuel Bravo project
A Rocha and the environment
Monday
Our Church Wardens – Ruth and Glenda
St George’s Crypt
The Bible Society and Wycliffe Bible Translators - the Fresards
The Church of England
Horsforth Churches Together and Duncan Stow
Tuesday
Music at St James
Uniformed Organisations
PCC (2rd Tuesday every other month)
The Children’s Society
Horsforth Children’s Centre
If you would like the church as a whole to pray for you, please email Alison at the church
office and the request will be forwarded on as soon as possible. For confidential prayer
matters please continue to contact John Pickford to be put on the Prayer Chain.
If you, a friend or relative wish to be included in next issue’s prayer diary please email
office@stjameswoodside.org
15Church Calendar
BCP = Book of Common Prayer
BCP Holy Communion
Sunday 09.00
(FB Live)
07.11.21
Collect: 10.30 Family Worship
3rd Sunday before
Advent 19.00 Simply Silence
Sunday Morning Prayer
09.00
14.11.21 (FB Live)
Collect:
3rd Sunday before 10.30 Remembrance Sunday Service (Holy Communion)
Advent
(Remembrance Sun- 19.00 Simply Silence
BCP Holy Communion
Sunday 09.00
(FB Live)
21.11.21
Collect: 10.30 Family Worship
Christ the King
19.00 Simply Silence
Morning Prayer
09.00
(FB Live)
Sunday
28.11.21 10.30 Family Communion
Collect:
1st Sunday of Advent 16.00 Possible Advent Carol Service (keep an eye on the Notices)
19.00 Simply Silence
BCP Holy Communion
Sunday 09.00
(FB Live)
05.12.21
Collect: 10.30 Family worship
2nd Sunday of
Advent 19.00 Simply Silence
16Morning Prayer
09.00
Sunday (FB Live)
12.12.21
Collect: 10.30 Family communion
3rd Sunday of Advent
19.00 Simply Silence
BCP Holy Communion
09.00
(FB Live)
Sunday
19.12.21 10.30 Family Worship
Collect:
4th Sunday of Advent Carol Service (details to be confirmed—keep an eye on
tbc
the Notices)
Tuesday
19.30 The Longest Night
21.12.21
Friday
24.12.21
Collect: Cribtingle (details to be confirmed—keep an eye on the
tbc
Christmas Eve Notices)
Saturday BCP Holy Communion
25.12.21 09.00
(FB Live)
Collect:
Christmas Day
10.30 Family Worship
Sunday
09.00 Morning Prayer
26.12.21
Collect:
Stephen, deacon, first 10.30 Holy Communion
martyr
17Prayer Diary cont. Wednesday Our Readers – Cal and Pete Headingley Deanery and the Diocese The Parish Centre, its many users Our St James Administrator, Alison Horsforth Foodbank Christians Against Poverty Thursday Please pray for those who are housebound, and those mentioned on the weekly notice sheet. Horsforth Live at Home Scheme Caring for Life Joanna project The persecuted Church Pete Gillions and the Horsforth Shed project Friday Children at St James Our new Natter Cafes and the people we meet there All governments at national and local level TEAR Fund, Christian Aid and Water Aid Jonathan Swales and the Lighthouse Project Saturday Preachers and service leaders and others involved in the services tomorrow. Brian Lipscombe, our retired clergy Jo Glenwright, at St Edmund’s Roundhay CPAS and Arrow 18
Horsforth Shed Update
Thank you for your support in the past which enabled us to complete the renovation of the
former scout building both externally and internally. As the before and after pictures show,
the building is now re-roofed, has new cladding (which is fully insulated) and new doors.
Internally we have a fully equipped the workshop and also built a social area with a kitchen
where people can relax and chat together over a cup of tea. We also have provided level
access at the rear of the building and an accessible toilet.
Now we are in the process of completing the necessary safeguarding process needed to
enable us to work with children and vulnerable adults and will begin operating in early
November. We are employing a part time Project Leader in November who will be supported
by qualified volunteers. We are conscious that we need to learn to walk before we can run.
So we are deliberately having a ‘soft start’ by engaging initially with small numbers of people
to establish safe working practises and to help develop strong supportive relationships within
the groups. We have established contacts with three different groups that we will initially
prioritise:
• Young people of secondary school age
• People supported by the Lighthouse (West Yorkshire) in Leeds, a charity that supports
those ‘battered and bruised by the storms of life’
• Older people
Without the generous support of individuals, local companies and grants we could not possi-
bly have reached this point.
So many thanks to all concerned. Peter Gillions
19A Wordsearch for Harvest
P T I U R F H Y M N S C R
A I H A R V E S T H A R S
W H E A T G C S A R Y O E
S R A I N I I R T E W P A
T S I D E K I D G I E S R
S N A N R N S N N E V M U
I E C I G U I G K A E A O
M E A G N P S K I L L C L
S E L B A T E G E V A H O
C G O E N M U T U A I I C
E G R O W T H G I V I N G
N S T A O P R O D U C E G
T F O O D Y E L R A B S D
Harvest Festival Colour Scent Dig
Fruit Vegetables Hymns Autumn Cart
Sharing Giving Ale Machines Mead
Produce Sowing Wheat Oats
Mists Barley Rye Reaping
Crops Growth Rain Science
Thanksgiving Skill Sea land
Food Air Keep Sun
There are 11 spare letters. Read in order, they tell us what it would be good for us to
be doing at harvest time.
Contributed by Daisy Barnes
20Poetry Corner
Even though some nights seem anything but Holy,
even though Christmas isn’t always Merry and can leave us feeling lonely,
even though we sometimes fail no matter how hard we try,
even though we seem stuck on the ground when we’re desperate to fly,
even though our faded dreams shake our belief,
even though life can feel agonisingly brief,
even though we lose the people that we love
and we question whether there’s even a heaven above,
even though we take the risk and give ourselves away
but then our hearts break and our hearts break and our hearts break
and we cry out God how long will it take before this dark night will end?
Before the sun rises and the world begins to mend?
Even though from here to redemption couldn’t seem more far
still I’ve heard rumours of a strange star,
shining with an unfamiliar light,
burning with the hope that maybe these wrongs will be put right.
What do you see when you look into your sky?
Darkness? Confusion? Storm clouds thundering the question
Why? Why me? Why now? Why does it have to be this hard?
Why him? Why her? Do I always have to end up scarred?
Look closer.
Even though it may seem faint,
still you will see a star, beckoning you to follow,
promising that though it hurts tonight
something new will be born tomorrow.
Something new will be born,
something new will be born,
everything that’s been broken, shattered and torn will be healed,
hearts will be mended and love’s true face will be revealed.
So even though you’ve fallen, know that you will be restored,
for there is a star in your sky,
pointing towards a saviour, guiding you to the Lord. Gideon Heugh
21Poetry Corner (continued)
The cage of time
Life’s one dimensional journey set as form in space,
infinite existence a blink the human race,
No backwards, future movement, or even to the side,
infinitely improbable, what purpose to the ride?
A cage we’re all confined in, divide that has no door;
of rules that are immutable, set by our jailers' law,
And when to die we are set free, our shackles opened wide,
to see our actions clearly, convicted from inside.
And freedom to be given, of time to live outside,
validating Jesus, before our lives had died.
Set by a word this construct, reality to form,
to die before a life is maybe simply to be born.
Age then death a mortal fear that tortures one and all,
Written on an apple by humanities sad fall,
But maybe if embraced is the way to the key.
To unlock natures prison, set creation free.
So, rage whist you are living, give it all you’ve got,
And add to the cauldron of life's anguished plot.
Cos to end at the beginning is a fascinating line,
If life is given purpose, not constricted here by time.
Chris Davis
Hope
You don't need to create then listen,
your own hope – listen as it says
the sky is full of it. quietly, but undoubtedly,
'We begin again.'
Wake up early one day
(I dare you)
Gideon Heugh
and watch the sun rise,
watch how it encourages the Earth
to become itself, only more so,
watch how it allows all things
(even the sad beings)
to be colourful, and beautiful,
22Climate Crisis—an Article from Tearfund
[Next week] leaders from around the globe will gather in Glasgow for a meeting that
will shape our future.
The decisions made by world leaders at the UN climate talks (COP26) in November will
affect us all – especially people living in poverty, who are most vulnerable to the
effects of the climate crisis. Millions are already suffering due to more frequent and ex-
treme weather events which are devastating their communities.
Wouldn’t it be amazing to see Christians and churches leading the way in caring for
creation and for our global neighbours? At Tearfund, we know from experience that
when we raise our voices together, decision-makers take action and situations can
change.
In this month’s newsletter, we share resources and events to help you and your church
get involved with raising awareness and taking action to tackle the climate crisis during
this crucial time.
With every blessing
Agnes McGrane
Email Editor, Tearfund
Climate emergency?
The world is reeling from months of extreme weather events. Wildfires of an unprece-
dented scale have swept across Greece, Turkey and California. China has experienced
its worst flooding in over a thousand years. Europe has also seen devastating floods,
and North America has been scorched by a record-breaking heatwave.
In the midst of these events, a landmark United Nations report in August gave its stark-
est warning yet that we’re facing a climate emergency. We’re on course for cata-
strophic global temperature rises that will put our whole world at risk – and the im-
pacts are accelerating.
Against this backdrop the UK will host the United Nations’ annual climate summit –
known as COP26 – in Glasgow in November. This event, delayed for a year due to
Covid, has long been regarded as of crucial importance, as it’s the first time countries
will have to set out concrete plans for reaching the emission-reduction targets they set
five years ago at the Paris conference. COP26 is a make-or-break moment for our
world.
World leaders must seize the opportunity and act with urgency. Most importantly, they
must put the world on course to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Every fraction of a de-
gree matters. And as hosts, the UK has a unique opportunity to push for an ambi-
tious outcome.
23But what’s this got to do with Tearfund, or the church? A beautiful yet broken world First, the Bible tells us that creation was made through Jesus and for Jesus (Colossians 1:16). That’s a stunning declaration of our planet’s worth. The Son of God loves this beautiful world that exists in him, and we are called to care for it. But the climate crisis is wreaking havoc, intensifying threats such as extreme weather events, sea-level rise, melting glaciers and biodiversity loss. Scientists are clear that this is a human-made problem, driven by the burning of fossil fuels. As God’s image-bearers, we can’t stand by while our common home is being destroyed. An issue of justice Second, in my work with Tearfund I see all too clearly the devastating impact of climate breakdown on people in poverty. As global temperatures rise, rains are becoming less reliable and droughts, floods and storms are becoming more frequent and extreme. Across much of sub-Saharan Africa, for example, the weather is swinging between ex- treme floods and extreme droughts. That affects food production and is putting millions at risk of hunger. For those who are already vulnerable, this is a life-threatening emergency that is push- ing them further into poverty. Without radical action, climate change will push 132 mil- lion more people into poverty this decade. It’s those least responsible for the climate crisis who are the most affected. This is a colossal injustice. The church cannot ignore this crisis which is causing so much suffering to people living in poverty. God calls us to meet their needs – in so doing to help build his kingdom on earth. The church’s call Oscar Danladi from the Jos Green Centre in Nigeria shared with us how climate change is affecting his city in Plateau state, and how he thinks the church should respond: ‘Jos used to be known as the “garden city” because of its weather and green spaces. Over the years things have changed. Many trees have been cut down and water sources run dry. The weather has changed – it used to be cool and temperate, now it is harsh. My father’s a farmer. His crop yields aren’t as good as he used to get, and it’s im- pacted his income. ‘As Christians we need to understand that creation care is a gospel issue, and an issue of justice. The church needs to know that we are all neighbours, that what we do im- pacts each other. Churches across the world have the potential to hold those in power to account and demand change.’ 24
What can we do?
If we want to see an end to extreme poverty, we have to tackle the climate crisis. As fol-
lowers of Jesus, it’s part of how we must work out our faith today. But what can we do?
First, it’s right and appropriate to lament the destruction and injustice of the climate
crisis, to recognise where we, as individuals, nations, businesses and the church, have
fallen short and to repent of our part in it.
Importantly, we can pray – for those already impacted by the crisis and for world lead-
ers to recognise the need to take immediate action. Prayer is crucial if we’re to see a
breakthrough in this crisis, and God is powerful beyond anything we can imagine. Find
resources here to help you pray.
We can speak up – and call on UK leaders to act urgently to get us on track to limiting
warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This is the agreed global target and, ac-
cording to the August IPCC report, still possible if widespread cuts in greenhouse gas
emissions are made in the next few years. With COP26 taking place on Scottish soil,
Christians in the UK have a unique opportunity to call on world leaders to play their
part. There’s a petition you can sign here.
We can also make changes in our own lives, such as reducing our energy consumption
and our waste, and thinking more carefully about what we buy. When we show by our
actions that we want to live in a fairer, more sustainable world, we are caring for our
global neighbours and valuing what God has given us.
Ruth Valerio, Tearfund
Lent Course Reports
Somehow, unfortunately, I managed to miss these reports which should have been in
the Summer edition of the Magazine. Apologies to Christines L and B for this omission!
Alison
‘Living His Story’- Revealing the extraordinary love of God in ordinary ways.
Author: Hannah Steele.
In the leading up to Easter this year, a group of us led by Cal, Jo and Chris Davis enjoyed
reading the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent book ‘Living His Story’ written by Hannah
Steele.
The author writes in a lively, easy to read style and provides many practical encourage-
ments for sharing our faith in a relevant way today.
25Each week we prepared for our online meeting by reading a chapter and then re- flecting on the discussion questions provided at the end of each chapter. One of the main things I appreciated about joining this book group was the opportuni- ty to go into even smaller groups and share our experiences of success or failure at be- ing a witness to others in real life situations. We are all to be witnesses in the place where we are, so I would recommend everyone to read this book at any time of the year. One tip which I found useful was to jot down notes and keep a little reflective journal that I keep reviewing in order to act on the things I learnt. Chris Barraclough The Poet’s Gospel When I signed up for the Lent Course which was going to be studying the ‘Poet’s Gos- pel’ it was with some trepidation as I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Having used the material however, the two words that I would use to describe it would be ‘refreshing’ and ‘coherent’. The fact that it was available as an audio file to accom- pany the text was lovely – in that way it was very relaxing, but nonetheless thought provoking. The Poet’s Gospel brings together the material from all four Gospels in a logical way. The author has been careful to set each part of the Gospel in context and mention the places where events occurred and their relationship to other places in the text. The Parables contained within the text are in rhyme, to distinguish them from the rest of the narrative, which is in ‘blank verse’. It is divided into over 20 parts and we didn’t use all of them during the Lent course, but were able to download the ‘missing’ parts to listen to if we wanted. As part of the Lent course, we also used the questions posed to accompany the text that we had listened to. The completion of the ‘Poet’s Gospel’ was obviously a labour of love for the author, John Alan Davis; he not only wrote the text but narrated it too. He wrote ‘The Poet’s Gospel’ over four years following the death of his wife from dementia and has made it freely available to anyone who wishes to use it, with an invitation to donate to the Alz- heimer’s Society if you wish. Definitely worth a look at and / or listen to! Just search on-line for ‘The Poet’s Gospel’. It is also available to buy as a printed book or an e-book. Christine Lazenby 26
Recipe Corner
Date Shortbread Bars
I made these for the recent Coffee and Natter Café. They were very popular. They are
from a book called Exceptional Cakes, by Dan Lepard and Richard Whittington.
Shortbread
150g unsalted butter 125g caster sugar
225g plain flour 1/4tsp salt
4 tbsp cornflour 1tsp vanilla essence (optional)
1/2tsp baking powder
Date mixture
250g dates 1tsp ground cinnamon
Grated zest of 1 orange 200ml water
25g unsalted butter
Lightly butter a 24x20cm Swiss roll tin.
Pre-heat the oven to 180C, GM4.
Dice the chilled butter and put in a mixing bowl to soften for about 30 mins. Sift the
flour, cornflour and baking powder on top, then add the sugar, salt and vanilla essence,
if using. Rub together with your fingertips until it looks like breadcrumbs. Alternatively
you can use a heavy-duty mixer or a food processor to do this.
Put the date mixture ingredients in a pan and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat
and leave to cool before putting the mixture in a food processor. The mixture will thick-
en up as it cools. Pulse-chop to a coarse paste and use at once.
Press two-thirds of the shortbread dough into the tin. Spread the date topping over
the surface. Sprinkle the remaining dough over the top like a crumble. Bake for 25 –30
mins. Leave to cool in the tin.
Cut into squares/rectangles. Makes 18.
Alison
27ONLINE...
NETWORK LEEDS
Network Leeds is an online network
seeking to make connections across
the Christian Community within
Leeds. We do this by advertising
events, job vacancies we also
publicise articles and stories on our
website. Most of what we do, we
don't charge for. We then share all
this info across the city on a fortnightly basis to over 1100 members via our e-bulletin
www.networkleeds.com
PAFRAS:
PAFRAS continues to welcome our contribution of food and toiletries. Please put your
contributions in the box at the back of church. www.pafras.org.uk
ST GEORGE’S CRYPT
St George’s Crypt is in the frontline of support for homeless, disadvantaged and
vulnerable people in Leeds and its surrounding areas. www.stgeorgescrypt.org.uk
PREMIER CHRISTIAN MEDIA
Premier is a Christian radio station and community, based in London.
Premier Christian Radio broadcasts on MW 1305, 1332, 1413 in London; and nationally
on DAB, Freeview Channel 725 and Sky Digital 0123. www.premier.org.uk
THINKING FAITH NETWORK:
Formerly called WYSOCS (West Yorkshire School of Christian Studies) and based in
Outwood Lane, holds various lectures and events. http://thinkfaith.net
BIBLE GATEWAY
Bible Gateway is focused on making Scripture freely available on the Web in multiple
languages and translations.
As well as many different, searchable translations, there are commentaries, a daily
email devotional and a daily audio Bible reading plan. www.biblegateway.com
SCRIPTURE UNION WORD LIVE
WordLive is a total Bible reading environment brought to you by Scripture Union. Each
day a new Bible passage is provided for you to read, respond to and record your
thoughts – either in your own private journal or with others on the site. Along the way
there are prompts to help and guide you: meditations, movies, poems, images. You can
keep your favourite bits in the bookmark section to return to time and again. You can
receive and access WordLive in a variety of ways: by email, RSS or through your mobile
phone. www.wordlive.org
28CHRISTIANITY
Christianity.org.uk is the website of the Christian Enquiry Agency Ltd. This is an agency
of Churches Together in England. The purpose is to inform people about Jesus Christ
and Christianity. www.christianity.org.uk
DIOCESE OF LEEDS
Created in Easter 2014, it’s the newest of the 42 dioceses that make up the Church of
England and St James is part of it. In the Diocese we’ll be shaping the life and work of
the Church of England in this part of Yorkshire so that we can serve the people in our
parishes in the best way possible. www.leeds.anglican.org
THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND
A Christian presence in every community. www.churchofengland.org
ST JAMES WEBSITE
www.stjameswoodside.org
ST JAMES FACEBOOK PAGE
www.facebook.com/#!/groups/stjameswoodside/?fref=ts
Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labour in vain.
Unless the Lord guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives sleep to his beloved.
Psalm 127:1-2
29Flowers
The flower team has reduced in number and I would like to thank Fiona Hockin, Joan
Skelhorne and Fiona Wright who have retired from the team. This of course means we
would heartily welcome any new folk. You do not have to be experienced; willingness is
all that's required! Please see me if you might be interested in joining us.
If you would like to sponsor flowers for any of the vacant dates, please speak to Lynne.
If you are a taxpayer, we can reclaim tax on your donation through Gift Aid.
Lynne Gillions
Nov 7 Derek Plummer in loving memory of Dorothy and Len
Plummer
Nov 14 Remembrance Day
Tom and Ciss Jackson from Bev and family
Nov 21 In loving memory of Pamela Ramsden and Annie
Gough
Nov 28 In loving memory of Marion Langton
Dec 5 Mary Stead
Dec 12 Beryl Egan in loving memory of Alf
Dec 19 John and Karen Evans in loving memory of ‘Big John’
Dec 26
Registers
Funerals: Marriages:
29th June Audrey Clarke 14th Aug Nicola Fairweather & Stephen Comerford
6th July Gerald Smith 25th Sept David Batra & Wendy Quinn
22nd July David Hughes
9th August Joan O'Malley-Gaunt
30th Sept Mary Skilleter
Confirmation:
26th Sept John Farley, Ryan Smith-Farthing & Aidan Walker
Memorial Service:
2nd Oct David Eaves
30Contact Details
Church Office:
Alison Pickford (Administrator)
This is this first point of contact for Parish Centre bookings.
Opening Hours:
Monday - Thursday mornings
Tel: 0113 2584558
Email: office@stjameswoodside.org
Vicar: Revd. Jonathan Cain
Tel: 07375 557804
Email: Jonathan.Cain@leeds.anglican.org
Churchwarden: Ruth Dent:
Tel: 07986 352613
Email: ruthddent@gmail.com
Churchwarden: Glenda Ingham:
Tel: 0113 2817677
Email: mikeglendaingham@hotmail.com
Church web site:
www.stjameswoodside.org
Find us on Facebook: St James, Woodside
Once a Year
Here is an appeal to all you lovely people of St. James.
If everyone contributed only one item for the magazine each year (of course you can
contribute lots more), we would have a magazine brimming with interesting,
challenging and newsworthy features.
Please send your items to Alison Pickford at office@stjameswoodside.org
St James Life:
Alison is now collating articles for the Magazine so please let
her have any articles for the Winter Edition by 30.11.21
[email preferred office@stjameswoodside.org ].
The Winter edition will be going out
in January 2022
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