Castleford Team Parish Parish Magazine - November 2015 The churches of: All Saints, Church Street, Castleford, All Saints, Lumley Street, Hightown; St Michael & All Angels, St Michaels Close, Smawthorne and St Paul the Apostle, Pontefract Road, Glasshoughton.
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CLERGY Rector: Fr. Michael Wood, 01977 518127 The Rectory, 15 Barnes Road, Castleford WF10 5AA rector@castlefordteamparish.org.uk Team Vicar: Fr. Mark Watkins, vicar@castlefordteamparish.org.uk
01977 511659
Asst. Curate: Fr. Kevin Greaves, 01977 512404 The Vicarage, Churchfield Lane, Glasshoughton WF10 4BP curate@castlefordteamparish.org.uk Polish Priest: Fr. Gregory Ruszczynski,
07842 883648
Lay Pastoral Minister: Mrs Lynda Maw
01977 518078
Parish Office: (Enquiries for Baptisms) Saturdays at 10.00-10.30am at All Saint’s Church, Castleford. Editor, Magazine & Pew Sheets (including Diary Dates): Andrew Goyns,
01924 898593 magazine@castlefordteamparish.org.uk
November 2015
THE RECTOR’S LETTER Dear Friends, The future only makes sense in the light of the past. If that statement is true and I strongly suspect that it is, then we can only make a better future by remembering the past and November is the month when we do just that. The month begins with All Saints Day and All Souls Day, both of which are important but in very different ways. In a way it could be that one is almost theoretical and one very practical. The saints have set us an example through their lives and their teaching. All Souls Day is personal because we remember those whose lives have directly affected ours. With both the saints and the souls their pasts shape our futures. It is right and good that we take time to celebrate All Saints Day and then too commemorate the Holy Souls. A week later we have Remembrance Day. We are called upon specifically to look back and remember all those whose lives have been given and taken in times of war. We remember any we might have known but also the millions who are totally unknown and yet whose lives have helped to secure our safety. Remembrance is personal but it is also communal so in November we come together as individuals, as the Church and as the town to remember and to say thank you. We have spoken much in the last year about our work to become dementia friendly. When memory goes there is a feeling of being unsure about where we belong. Memory of individuals and communities work in exactly the same way and so in the month of November it is our charge to ensure that the memory does not fade. (continued on page 4)
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November 2015 (continued from page 3) T.S. Eliot’s poem East Coker begins with the words “In my beginning is my end” and ends with the words “In my end is my beginning” November brings us to the end of our year in church and that leads us into December when we begin our journey of remembrance and celebration all over again waiting once more for the coming of Advent and Christmas. With my love and prayers.
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ARCHBISHOPS ENCOURAGE THE CHURCH TO WELCOME THOSE SEEKING SANCTUARY The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have spoken out on the refugee crisis affecting tens of thousands of people. Archbishop Justin urged a compassionate response and called for joint action across Europe to help those in need. “This is a hugely complex and wicked crisis that underlines our human frailty and the fragility of our political systems. My heart is broken by the images and stories of men, women and children who have risked their lives to escape conflict, violence and persecution. “There are no easy answers and my prayers are with those who find themselves fleeing persecution, as well as those who are struggling under immense pressure to develop an effective and equitable response. Now, perhaps more than ever in post-war Europe, we need to commit to joint action across Europe, acknowledging our common responsibility and our common humanity. “As Christians we believe we are called to break down barriers, to welcome the stranger and love them as ourselves (Leviticus 19:34), and to seek the peace and justice of our God, in our world, today.” In response to the Prime Minister’s statement on Syrian refugees in the House of Lords, Archbishop Justin highlighted work done through the overseas aid budget and the work of the Royal Navy. But he said that the Government’s commitment to receive 20,000 refugees over the next five years was “still a very slim response in comparison to the figures given by the UNHCR and the European Commission, and to the other needs we see.”
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November 2015 He also encouraged the Government to consider the implications of not dealing with the conditions in the camps. The Archbishop of York also wrote personally reflecting on his circumstances of seeking sanctuary within the United Kingdom. “Having spent 41 years of my life in this country - more than in the country of my birth, I have become more than what I once was – a sanctuary seeker from a country torn apart by a brutal dictator… The current situation has rightly been described as a refugee crisis. But it is also a time of opportunity for us as a country and for our wider continent. The opportunity before us is to rise above narrow self-interest, however defined, and to embrace the highest parts of our humanity… “As individuals, as a nation and as a continent we have an opportunity to do great things in response to this crisis. Now is the time. Let our leaders show they have heard us. May they respond with a compassionate heart and a cool head. May they not only pull people out of the water and save them from drowning but also go to the source and stop those who are pushing them in. Those countries people are fleeing from and the people smugglers and human traffickers must be held to account. The International community must be engaged!” Read more by following the links below: Archbishop of Canterbury - bit.ly/ CanterburyRefugee Archbishop of York - bit.ly/YorkRefugee
PARISH CHRISTMAS CARDS Don’t forget to get your parish Christmas cards which are now on sale in our churches.
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WHAT THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY THINKS OF THE MIGRANT CRISIS In a statement on the ongoing migrant crisis facing Europe and the Middle East, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Justin Welby, said recently: “This is a hugely complex and wicked crisis that underlines our human frailty and the fragility of our political systems. My heart is broken by the images and stories of men, women and children who have risked their lives to escape conflict, violence and persecution. “There are no easy answers and my prayers are with those who find themselves fleeing persecution, as well as those who are struggling under immense pressure to develop an effective and equitable response. Now, perhaps more than ever in post-war Europe, we need to commit to joint action across Europe, acknowledging our common responsibility and our common humanity. “As Christians we believe we are called to break down barriers, to welcome the stranger and love them as ourselves (Leviticus 19:34), and to seek the peace and justice of our God, in our world, today. “With winter fast approaching and with the tragic civil war in Syria spiraling further out of control, we must all be aware that the situation could yet worsen significantly. I am encouraged by the positive role that churches, charities and international agencies are already playing, across Europe and in Syria and the surrounding areas, to meet basic humanitarian needs. He went on: “We need a holistic response to this crisis that meets immediate humanitarian need while tackling its underlying drivers. I commend the UK Government for its strong commitment to the world’s poorest people through the delivery of the aid budget. It has shown global leadership by providing £900 million since 2012 to the crisis in Syria. It has also shown moral leadership in using Royal Navy ships to save the lives of hundreds who have tried to make the dangerous crossing across the Mediterranean. 12
November 2015 “The Church has always been a place of sanctuary for those in need, and Churches in the UK and across Europe have been meeting the need they are presented with. I reaffirm our commitment to the principle of sanctuary for those who require our help and love. The people of these islands have a long and wonderful history of offering shelter and refuge, going back centuries – whether it be Huguenot Christians, Jewish refugees, Ugandan Asians, Vietnamese boat people or many, many more. “It has always been controversial at the time it happened, always been seen as too difficult. Yet each time we have risen to the challenge and our country has been blessed by the result. “We cannot turn our backs on this crisis. We must respond with compassion. But we must also not be naïve in claiming to have the answers to end it. It requires a pan-European response – which means a commitment to serious-minded diplomatic and political debate, but not at the expense of practical action that meets the immediate needs of those most in need of our help.”
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November 2015 CROSSWORD Across 1 ‘The Lord Jesus... took bread, and when he had given — , he broke it’ (1 Corinthians 11:24) (6) 4 ‘He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his — over me is love’ (Song of Songs 2:4) (6) 8 Surrey town that hosts the National Christian Resources Exhibition (5) 9 Also known as Abednego (Daniel 1:7) (7) 10 Liken (Isaiah 40:18) (7) 11 A son of Etam, descendant of Judah (1 Chronicles 4:3) (5) 12 A part of the temple where the blood of a young bull was to be smeared (Ezekiel 45:19) (9) 17 ‘They make many promises, take false — and make agreements’ (Hosea 10:4) (5) 19 Roman province to which Paul returned after evangelizing it on his first missionary journey (Acts 16:6) (7) 21 Material used to make baby Moses’ basket (Exodus 2:3) (7) 22 ‘And feeble as — , in thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail’ (5) 23 ‘The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep — to his voice’ (John10:3) (6) 24 Stalk carrying the sponge of wine vinegar given to Christ on the cross (John 19:29) (6)
Down 1 Elijah dug one round the altar he built on Mount Carmel and filled it with water (1 Kings 18:32) (6) 2 ‘I am not — of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes’ (Romans 1:16) (7) 3 Buddhist term relating to belief in reincarnation (5) 5 Damascus disciple who, at God’s command, restored the sight of the blinded Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:12) (7) 6 and 16 Horses: their sound (Jeremiah 50:11) (5) and their gait (Joel 2:4) (6) 7 A three (anag.) (6) 9 Athenian council addressed memorably by Paul (Acts 17:22) (9) 13 Abide by (Galatians 3:5) (7) 14 Persian princes (Daniel 3:2) (7) 15 Force (Galatians 6:12) (6) 16 See 6 Down (6) 18 Paste (anag.) (5) 20 How the cedars of Lebanon are described (Isaiah 2:13) (5)
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Clues for November This month Scotland remembers one of the very first disciples of Jesus. St Andrew is honoured not for any mighty deeds of his own, but for his love of introducing people to Jesus. He went straight off and introduced his brother Peter to the Saviour, and followed that up by bringing Nathanael/Bartholomew to Jesus. ‘Better Together’ seems to have been his slogan, too! ‘We have found the Messiah!’, he told them, unable to keep the good news to himself. Andrew’s connection with Scotland dates back to the claimed translation of his remains from Patras in Achaia to Scotland in the eighth century. The church in Fife where these remains were buried became a place of pilgrimage during the tenth century. All of this may be no more than pious legend, but that St Andrew was highly regarded in Scotland and became its patron saint is beyond doubt.
Scotland, disciples, Jesus, Andrew, honoured, Peter, Nathanael, Bartholomew, Messiah, Saviour, Patras, Archaia, eighth, remains, translation, Fife, pilgrimage, tenth, pious, patron, saint, love, introducing, place.
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READINGS FOR NOVEMBER 1st November
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ALL SAINTS DAY (W) Wisdom: 3: 1-9 Psalm : 24: 1-6 Revelation: 21: 1-6a John: 11: 32-44;
8th November -
The Third Sunday before Advent REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY (G or R) Jonah: 3: 1-5, 10 Psalm: 62: 5-end Hebrews: 9: 24-end Mark: 1: 14-20;
15th November -
The Second Sunday before Advent (G) Daniel: 12: 1-3 Psalm: 16: Hebrews 10: 11-25 Mark 13: 1-8;
22nd November -
CHRIST THE KING (W) The Sunday next before Advent Daniel: 7: 9-10, 13-14 Psalm: 93: Revelation: 1: 4b-8 John: 18: 33-37;
29th November -
The First Sunday of Advent (P) Jeremiah: 33: 14-16 Psalm: 25: 1-9 1 Thessalonians: 3: 9-end Luke: 21: 25-36;
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DIARY DATES FOR NOVEMBER Sunday 1st
ALL SAINTS DAY Morning services as usual 6.30pm Team Memorial Service at Castleford where we remember those whose funeral has taken place in the last year.
Monday 2nd
ALL SOULS DAY 10.00am Mass at St Michael’s 12noon Mass at St Paul’s followed by soup lunch 7.30pm Sung Requiem at Hightown
Friday 6th
5.30-7pmBonfire Night Party & Supper at St Michael’s (Booking sheet in churches)
Saturday 7th
Castleford Branch of The Royal British Legion, Poppy Day Appeal Coffee Morning 10am-12noon.
Sunday 8th
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY 11am at the War Memorial pm Powell Street, Act of Remembrance followed by Civic Service in Castleford Parish Church
Tuesday 10th
Coffee Morning (see advert on Page 4)
Thursday 12th
7pm—Film Night at Hightown “Saving Mr Banks” the story of the creation of Mary Poppins
Saturday 14th
2-4pm St Paul’s Autumn Fayre
Saturday 21st
2-4pm St Michael’s Christmas Fayre
Saturday 28th
10.30-12.30 Castleford Church Open Morning and Winter Fayre 2-4pm Hightown Christmas Fayre
Sunday 29th
ADVENT SUNDAY 10am Parish Mass at Hightown 6.30pm Advent Carol Service at Hightown followed by Sherry and Shortbread. 17
November 2015 The Rev Dr Gary Bowness continues his tongue-in-cheek letters from ‘Uncle Eustace’…
ON WHAT THOSE ADVERTS FROM PARISHES WANTING CLERGY REALLY MEAN… The Rectory St. James the Least My dear Nephew Darren I was intrigued that you have been nurturing someone called Dave who is considering ordina on. Since Dave had never travelled outside the city, your decision to send him to me was understandable. Sadly, I don’t think he is cut out for the ministry. We did our best. In a fit of hospitality the Colonel invited this Dave to stay at the Lodge, and to join his Saturday pheasant shoot as a beater. But Dave said firmly that he was against bea ng any kind of bird, and abhors all kinds of murder. It seems young Dave is a vegetarian! You might have warned us. The Colonel is now concerned that Dave is connected in some way with the Green Party. You cannot be too careful these days. Then Miss Saxby and Miss Tarby stepped in. They enjoy mushrooming, and kindly took young Dave off to the woods. It is not their fault that they are a bit deaf, and did not hear his cries of distress when he lost them among all the trees. They just assumed he had gone back to the Colonel’s, and so of course they did not organize a search party un l much later. Fortunately, the church warden’s spaniel has a keen nose and found Dave before midnight. During all that me, Dave seemed to have had nothing be er to do than slide about on fallen leaves and trip over hidden logs in the dark. He was 18
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November 2015 (Continued from page 18) even babbling about having heard a crying ghost. We feared he might be delirious, but then realized he meant the local owl. He also seemed surprised by the darkness, and asked how we manage without any streetlights at all in the parish. We explained the obvious – we simply follow the example of the well‐refreshed when leaving the pub ‐ and feel our way along the walls. On Sunday morning Dave rushed into the church to warn me that there were several loose sheep in the churchyard. I decided then that he should return to the safety of the city. There was no point in le ng him near most of our church ladies, who would have savaged him on sight. The visit only proves the obvious: poten al ordinands should be carnivorous, cricke ng fly‐fishers, most at home in well‐worn tweeds and preferably accompanied by a muddy dog. How else will they get along with normal folk? Your loving uncle, Eustace
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HIGH DAYS & HOLY DAYS IN NOVEMBER 2
Commemoration of the Faithfull Departed (All Souls Day)
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Richard Hooker, Priest, Anglican Apologist, Teacher, 1600.
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Leonard, Hermit, 6th century; William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury, Teacher, 1944
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Willibrand of York, Bishop, Apostle of Frisia, 739
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Margery Kemple, Mystic, c1440
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Leo the Great, Bishop of Rome, Teacher, 461
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Martin, Bishop of Tours, c.397
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Charles Simeon, Priest, Evangelical Divine, 1836
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Samuel Seabury, first Anglican Bishop in North America, 1796
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Margaret, Queen of Scotland, Philanthropist, Reformer of the Church, 1093
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Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln, 1200
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Elizabeth of Hungary, Princess of Thuringia, Philanthropist, 1231
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Hilda, Abbess of Whitby, 680
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Edmund, King of the East Angles, Martyr, 870
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Clement, Bishop of Rome, Martyr, c.100
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Catherine of Alexandria, Martyr, 4th century Isaac Watts, Hymn Writer, 1748
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ANDREW THE APOSTLE
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A SAINT FOR NOVEMBER—JUSTUS Does this sound familiar? An Archbishop of Canterbury tries to bring unity and calm to a Church split down the middle over seemingly irreconcilable differences, and all the while to promote the Gospel to the wider non-Christian society, in the face of widespread ignorance and even hostility towards Christianity. This isn’t Justin Welby, though. It was Justus, a 7th century archbishop of Canterbury. Like Justin Welby, he had a passion for mission – he began as one of the Roman missionaries sent in 601 by Pope Gregory the Great – to reinforce Augustine. Once in England, he was quickly put to work – becoming the first ever Bishop of Rochester, in 604. It was then that he joined with other church leaders to urge the Irish and British (Celtic) Christians to repair the great church divide of the time – to conform their customs to those of Rome. (They were largely ignored.) In 616 things got worse. There was a pagan reaction in Kent and Essex, and without any support from the pagan King Edbald, Justus and Mellitus knew it was time to get out – quick. They escaped to France, and the whole English mission seemed in peril. Then – an unexpected breakthrough occurred – the king was converted. So back came Justus, to become Archbishop of Canterbury in 624. Pope Boniface V had faith in his ability and courage – he bestowed on him both the pallium and the power to consecrate bishops in England. When Justus died in 627, he was buried at St Augustine’s monastery. Then, in the 11th century, Justus was moved to a site in Canterbury Cathedral, behind the high altar.
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THE WAY I SEE IT - THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER Until fairly recent years 5th November in England was well known for foggy evenings as bonfires were lit all over the country. On many of them a ‘guy’ would be burnt – usually a couple of old pillows and some cast-off clothes in the rough shape of a man. The ‘guy’ was, historically speaking, Guy Fawkes, one of the chief conspirators in a plot by Roman Catholic zealots to blow up the Palace of Westminster at the State Opening of Parliament on 5th November 1606, thus removing James I from the throne. Fawkes was arrested as he stood guard over a massive collection of gunpowder in an undercroft beneath the House of Lords. Under torture he revealed the names of the other conspirators, and they were hanged, drawn and quartered on 31st January 1607, though Fawkes jumped from the scaffold and broke his neck, thus avoiding the actual execution. The previous sixty years had seen unprecedented religious strife in England, following the breakaway of the Church of England from Rome under Henry VIII. Hundreds of priests loyal to Rome were hunted down and many put to death, often under the accusation of ‘treason’. During the brief reign of a Catholic monarch, Mary, there were many Protestants who were similarly executed. Years of strife, often over verbal definitions, were testimony to the bitterness of feelings which religious conviction can inspire. There is still plenty of religious strife in the world, as we all know, though little now between different groups of Christians. 5th November might be a good day on which to pray to the one and only God that the world might see an end to the blasphemy of any killing in His Name.
FAITH BEFORE THE FIRING SQUAD This year is the centenary of Edith Cavell’s death. Many remember her patriotism. But for Edith, patriotism was not enough. Many saw her as a hero and a martyr; some even think she was a spy. But Edith asked to
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November 2015 (continued from page 22) be remembered ‘… only as a nurse who tried to do her duty’. Dozens of books have been written about Edith Cavell, but none answered the question: ‘How could she be so calm and confident before the firing squad?’ My new book, Edith Cavell - Faith before the firing squad (Monarch, £8.99) tells Edith’s story. It traces the roots of her calm confidence, her love for others expressed in practical, selfless service to friend and foe alike, as well as her courage helping fugitives from war find freedom. Self-sacrifice was the hallmark of Nurse Edith Cavell’s life. She was executed on 12th October 1915 for enabling at least 200 Allied soldiers to escape occupied Belgium into neutral territory, but her care had extended to German and Allied soldiers. On the night before her execution she told the chaplain who came to give her Holy Communion that she was grateful for the weeks of quiet she had spent in solitary confinement after such a busy life. She said, ‘I have seen death so often that it is not strange or fearful to me … This I would say, standing as I do in view of God and eternity, I realize that patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone.’ She knew that the patriotism her fellow prisoners had used in their defence was not enough to enable her to stand in God’s presence. Throughout her life she had used the Book of Common Prayer, repeating the Lord’s Prayer morning and evening, ‘forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us’. She knew that she couldn’t hold on to hatred or bitterness. She needed to forgive others, just as she had been forgiven. After they had shared communion, they said together the words of the hymn ‘Abide With Me’, and they talked about heaven. As he left her cell, she took the chaplain’s hand and said with confidence in her eternal future, ‘We shall meet again.’ She was executed by firing squad at dawn the next morning.
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NEW EXHIBITION LOOKS AT 1200 YEARS OF CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM AND JUDAISM – AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM The British Library is to lend one of its greatest treasures, the world’s oldest bible, to the British Museum for an exhibition exploring 1,200 years of Christian, Islamic and Jewish faith in Egypt after the pharaohs. The Codex Sinaiticus is considered to be one of the most important books in the world. It dates back to the 4th century AD. Handwritten in Greek, not long after the reign of the Emperor Constantine the Great, it contains the earliest complete manuscript of the New Testament. The codex was bought in 1933 by Britain from the Soviet government of Joseph Stalin, desperate to raise cash for the second five-year plan. Remarkably, more than half the £100,000 cost was raised by public subscription. Experts now believe the codex was the work of four scribes, known as A, B1, B2 and D (the existence of a C has now been disproved by modern scholars). The codex was the prototype for every subsequent Christian Bible. In the British Museum exhibition, the codex will be displayed alongside two other founding texts of the Hebrew and Muslim faiths: the First Gaster Bible, also being loaned by the British Library, and a copy of the Qur’an from the Bodleian Library in Oxford. They will be part of what is the first major exhibition to explore, in its 1,200-year entirety, the transition of Egypt from a pharaohworshipping society to a majority Christian and then majority Muslim society, with Jewish communities periodically thriving throughout. The exhibition will argue that the transitions, from a society worshipping many gods to a society devoted to one God, shaped the modern world we know today. (continued on page 25) 24
November 2015 (continued from page 24) • Egypt After The Pharaohs is at the British Museum 29 October-7 February, supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation.
MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB Mary had a little Lamb, its fleece was white as snow, and everywhere that Mary went the Lamb was sure to go. it followed her to school one day, t ’wasn’t even in the rule. it made the children laugh and play to see a lamb at school. and then the rules all changed one day. illegal it became to bring the Lamb of God to school or even speak his name! every day got worse and worse and days turned into years. instead of hearing children laugh we heard gun shots and tears. what must we do to stop the crime that’s in our schools today? Let the Lamb come back to school and teach our children how to pray. (Thanks to Jane Harvey for this)
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PRISONS WEEK – TIME TO REMEMBER THE PEOPLE IN OUR 150+ PRISONS Because of increasing concern 40 years ago for the welfare of prisoners in England and Wales, chaplains and other Christians started Prisoners’ Week, to encourage prayer throughout the Christian community for people in prison. This year Prisons Week – as it has become – is being held from 15 to 21 November and is attracting wide support across denominations. The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Williams, is strongly behind it, observing that “one of the most serious aspects of being in prison can be the sense of isolation and even abandonment; and one of the most effective witnesses that can be given to prisoners is the assurance that they are not forgotten”. About 85,000 people are in 150 or so prisons in the UK and Northern Ireland. The vast majority of them (over 80,000) are men. A surprising number of innocent children are affected: in 2009, for instance, some 200,000 children in England and Wales had a parent in prison. There is one Anglican chaplain in each prison in England and Wales, plus about 100 others from different denominations. Perhaps surprisingly, there are many Muslim chaplains, with figures ranging from 80 full-time equivalent (official 2013 figure) up to 400-450 full and part time now (publicspirit.org.uk). The prison population is 12% Muslim. Christians wanting to get involved in Prisons Week through letter-writing would do best to consult Prison Fellowship, which has 130 local prayer groups and 1500 volunteers. They are easily tracked down on the internet. You can keep abreast of events in Prisons Week itself on Twitter by following @PrisonsWeek. 26
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SUNDAY SHOPPING George Osborne indicated in his budget that “Sunday trading laws will be relaxed”. One of the main arguments of the Keep Sunday Special campaign in the 1990s was that Sunday shopping would lead to the “erosion of family life.” But, wrote Richard Godwin in the London Evening Standard, “what has happened since is more subtle. Throughout the 1990s shopping simply became central to family life. In the 2000s, we more or less accepted it as our religion and profession too.” (Source: Article in The Tablet, 18th July 2015, Page 13.)
WILL YOU BE DRIVING TO CHURCH? Public transport is used more by those in their 70s than it is by those in their 60s or those in their 80s. Nearly four-fifths, 78%, of men 70 and over have a full car driving licence, as do two-fifths, 41% of women, but, while able to drive, are more likely to use public transport as well than those who are older. It would seem likely, therefore, that as churchgoers get older there will be an increasing tendency to drive to church (as public transport is often far less frequent on a Sunday). That suggests that churches will need larger car parks. Or perhaps churches need to encourage people to use mobility scooters instead! Source: The Future of Transport in an Ageing Society, G Holley-Moore and H Creighton, ILC-UK and Age UK, June 2015.
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ON A LIGHTER NOTE THE NEW MINISTER The new minister was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door. Finally he took out a card, wrote ‘Revelation 3:20’ on the back and stuck it in the door. When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message, ‘Genesis 3:10’. Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter. Revelation 3:20 begins "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." Genesis 3:10 reads, "I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I was naked." NOTICE IN A FARMER'S FIELD: The farmer allows walkers to cross this field for free, but the bull charges. MESSAGE ON A LEAFLET: If you cannot read, this leaflet will tell you how to get lessons. ON A REPAIR SHOP DOOR: We can repair anything. (Please knock hard for entry – bell broken) QUIET A Sunday school teacher asked her children: “And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?” One little girl replied helpfully: “Because people are sleeping.” SICK A vicar explained: “I resigned because of illness and fatigue. The congregation were sick and tired of me.” 33
November 2015 PARISH OFFICERS PCC Secretary: Mrs Mavis Whitehead PCC Treasurer: Mr Andrew Goyns Stewardship & Gift Aid Secretary: Mr Arnold Randall Gift Day Secretary: Mrs Dawn Heyworth Family & Children’s Worker Mrs Karen Richardson CHURCHWARDENS David Field, Castleford: 01977 707120 Mavis Whitehead, St Paul’s 01977 550529 Pauline Morris, St Michaels 01977 668790 Ian Fletcher, Hightown 01977 550139
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01977 550529 01924 898593 01977 278611 01977 514515 01977 552524
DEPUTY CHURCHWARDENS
Hilary Wilkes, Castleford: Karen Ferrier, St Paul’s: Emma J Lisle, St Michael’s Susan Fletcher, Hightown
SERVICES All Saints’ Castleford SUNDAY Mass (Said)
8.00am
Sung Mass (except last in month)
9.30am
Tuesday Mass (Said)
7.00pm
Saturday Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary
9.30am
All Saints’ Hightown SUNDAY (except last in month) Sung Mass
10.45am
Wednesday Mass (Said)
7.00pm
Saint Michael and All Angels SUNDAY (except last in month) Sung Mass
10.45am
Thursday Mass (Said)
10.00am
Saint Paul’s, Glasshoughton SUNDAY (except last in month) Sung Mass
9.30am
Wednesday Mass (Said)
10.00am
LAST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH: Combined Parish Mass at 10.00am - ( see diary section for venue ) FOR MAJOR SAINTS’ DAYS IN ALL CHURCHES