Castleford Team Parish Parish Magazine December 2015 & January 2016 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
December 2015 & January 2016
THE RECTOR’S LETTER Dear Friends, I have just experienced eternity; no I haven’t listened to some of my old sermons far more eternal than that. I have just experienced eternity by being placed on hold by an automated switchboard. It is bad enough going through the option selection process because there never seems to be one that fits what I need and when you finally think you have got there you hear the words “All our operatives are busy, please hold, your call is important to us” and you wait and you wait. When at last a real voice comes on you are so surprised that you can’t talk, you have forgotten why you were ringing in the first place or you have suddenly lost the paper with your unique customer reference number on it. The previous day to that event Fr Mark, Fr Kevin and I were on a Diocesan training day about Taking Funerals Seriously. At one stage we had to split into small groups just for a minute or two and the people I was with were talking about using the funeral services they conduct as a way of giving a glimpse of eternity. My reflection was simply that twenty five minutes or however long a funeral service lasts is not very long to give anyone a glimpse of eternity. Although in my people’s minds it is almost Christmas, in church terms we are in the season of Advent. It is during Advent when we ponder eternity and because our understanding doesn’t get us very far God gives us a living visual aid to help us. The living, breathing visual aid we are given to help us understand eternity is of course Jesus as the baby in the manger at Christmas. From something so immeasurably vast to something so tiny God holds everything in the palm of his hand as an expression of his love for all that he created. (continued on page 4)
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December 2015 & January 2016 (continued from page 3) In recent years our Christmas services have been very well attended. In this magazine there is a list of the Christmas services, do please try to make every effort to come to as many services as possible but also please try to invite as many people as possible to come along especially to the Christingle service and the Carol Service. It is always really good to see people in church we haven’t seen for some time and welcoming those we might not have seen before. May they, through us see something of eternity. May we be blessed as we celebrate eternity coming to Castleford this Christmas time. With love and prayers
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December 2015 & January 2016
DEMENTIA UPDATE Dear Friends, When it comes to that time for an update for the magazine, I initially think to myself what can I write, what have we done. Then I begin to write and I am amazed on how much we have done. So please read on, and before I forget THANK YOU for all your continued support, because none of this would have been possible without you. We held another Dementia Awareness Session on the 20th October. The session was again in two parts, starting with Anita Ruckledge the Lead Dementia Nurse from the Mid Yorks NHS Trust. Followed by Adrian Barnes-White from the Alzheimer’s Society. Eight people attended the session and it was interesting to hear their own personal stories in respect to how they care for someone who has dementia. One of the attendees to the session had even come from York to learn more about the disease. On Thursday 29th October we held our second Dementia Friendly Service at Parish Church. Though fifteen people did come to the service it was slightly disappointing that none of the invited residential and care homes came. Albeit when I visited the homes for Holy Communion weeks later, they did apologise and say that the weather had stopped their residents from wanting to come. Again slightly disappointing is that weeks later I received a phone call from a carer saying that they would have come with their relative but didn’t know anything about it until it was too late. I’m currently wracking my brains on how we can publicise future services to people who would be interested. Currently we advertise all dementia services and awareness sessions, through Facebook, through various community forums and websites, The Parish website, The Alzheimer’s website and flyers taken out by you into the town. If any of you can think of any other way that we can advertise what we are doing, (continued on page 9) 8
December 2015 & January 2016 (continued from page 8) please let me know. As I am sure there are still people we need to reach. Maybe the best way is by word of mouth, so please tell everyone you know about what we doing and ask them tell their friends and then visit the Parish website for future events. The charity Livability also contacted me in October asking if we as a Parish would agree for ourselves to featured in their publication ‘Stories From Our Community’. I’m pleased to say that we appear on page 12 of the publication. This is great recognition for the Parish as this publication is sent out nationally to all groups and organisations who have had contact with Livability. I am currently waiting on additional copies, so that all our churches will have a copy for you to look at. Please don’t let the picture of me put you off reading the article, I did try to smile, honest! Also in November I was contacted by a parish in Leeds who are wanting to know how they can become a Dementia Friendly Church. A member of their P.C.C. has been tasked with driving this forward. I am pleased to say that I have a meeting with them in the next couple of weeks to help the parish develop a plan to support people living with the disease in their community. On Tuesday 15th December at 2.00pm Parish Church will be having a Dementia Friendly Carol Service. Posters will be appearing in church and there will also be copies available for you to take these into the town. Can I ask that you do all that you can to promote this service. Advent and Christmas as we know is a magical time for families, this would be a great opportunity to recall memories of Christmas past for those living with dementia. Well I think that is enough for now my friends. I’m now going to have a pre-Christmas mince pie. Till next time, Merry Christmas and All the Best for the New Year! God Bless, Fr. Kevin 9
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December 2015 & January 2016
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December 2015 & January 2016 CROSSWORD Across 1 Rely (Psalm 62:7) (6) 4 ‘He stretches out the heavens like a — , and spreads them out like a tent to live in’ (Isaiah 40:22) (6) 7 What the dove carried the olive leaf in, when it returned to Noah’s ark (Genesis 8:11) (4) 8 Annoy (1 Samuel 1:6) (8) 9 Judah’s last king, who ended his days as a blind prisoner in Babylon (Jeremiah 52:11) (8) 13 ‘They all — and were satisfied’ (Luke 9:17) (3) 16 Eliphaz the Temanite was one; so was Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite (Job 2:11; 16:2) (4,9) 17 National Association of Evangelicals (of the USA) (1,1,1) 19 Popular song for New Year’s Eve, Auld — — (4,4) 24 Able dock (anag.) (8) 25 The number of stones David chose for his confrontation with Goliath (1 Samuel 17:40) (4) 26 Elgar’s best-known ‘Variations’ (6) 27 Soak (Isaiah 16:9) (6)
Down 1 Money owing (Deuteronomy 15:3) (4) 2 Conciliatory (Titus 3:2) (9) 3 ‘Do this, whenever you — it, in remembrance of me’ (1 Corinthians 11:25) (5) 4 A group assisting in the governance of the Roman Catholic Church (5) 5 One of the gifts Joseph’s brothers took with them on their second journey to Egypt (Genesis 43:11) (4) 6 ‘Reach out your hand and — — into my side. Stop doubting and believe’ (John 20:27) (3,2) 10 Be outstandingly good (2 Corinthians 8:7) (5) 11 ‘What — — that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?’ (Psalm 8:4) (2,3) 12 Horse’s feet (Judges 5:22) (5) 13 Notice (Deuteronomy 17:4) (9) 14 Comes between 2 Chronicles and Nehemiah (4) 15 One of Israel’s northern towns conquered by Ben-Hadad (1 Kings 15:20) (4) 18 Narnia’s Lion (5) 20 One of the two rivers in which Naaman would have preferred to wash (2 Kings 5:12) (5) 21 Avarice—one of the evils that come from inside people (Mark 7:22) (5) 22 Knight Grand Cross of St Michael and St George (1,1,1,1) 23 Jacob’s first wife (Genesis 29:23) (4)
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December 2015 & January 2016 PUZZLES WORDSEARCH
Silent Night This much-loved carol comes from Austria, where it was first sung as Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht on Christmas Eve, 1818. It was written by Father Joseph Mohr, a young priest at St Nicholas parish church, in the village of Oberndorf bei Salzburg. As Christmas 1818 approached, he asked the local schoolmaster, Franz Xaver Gruber, to compose a melody for his carol. Gruber was organist in the nearby village of Arnsdorf, and so was happy to oblige. On Christmas Eve they presented the carol to the church during the midnight mass. The carol went on to become loved world-wide; and the version sung by Bing Crosby is the third best-selling single of all time. Silent, Night, Loved, Carol, Austria, First, Sung, Stille, Nacht, Heilige, Christmas, Eve, Father, Joseph, Mohr, Young, Priest, Organist, Midnight, Mass, Melody, Single, Bing, Version, Third.
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December 2015 & January 2016 All in the month of DECEMBER It was:500 years ago:- on 24th Dec 1515, that Thomas Wolsey was appointed Lord Chancellor of England. 150 years ago:- on 4th Dec 1865, that Edith Cavell was born. This British nurse and WW1 heroine saved the lives of injured soldiers regardless of which side they were on, and was eventually shot by the Germans. Also 150 years ago:- on 30th Dec 1865, that Rudyard Kipling was born. This short story writer, novelist, poet and children’s author was best known for The Jungle Book, Just So Stories, and Kim. 100 years ago:- on 8th Dec 1915, that the war poem In Flanders Fields, by Canadian physician Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, was first published in Punch magazine in the UK. 75 years ago:- on 12th Dec 1940, that the Sheffield Blitz began. The city was devastated by German bombs. More than 660 people were killed, 1,500 injured and 40,000 made homeless. Also 75 years ago:- on 29th Dec 1940, that Germany dropped thousands of incendiary bombs and high explosives on the City of London, causing the worst fire damage since the Great Fire of 1666. 65 years ago:- on 14th Dec 1950, that The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (or UN Refugee Agency) was established. 50 years ago:- on 8th Dec 1965, that The Race Relations Act (1965) went into effect in the UK. It banned racial discrimination in public places. 25 years ago:- on 1st Dec 1990, that construction workers on the Channel Tunnel broke through the last wall of rock separating the two halves, and Britain and France were linked for the first time in tens of thousands of years.
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READINGS FOR DECEMBER 6th December -
The Second Sunday of Advent (P) Baruch: 5: Canticle: Benedictus Philippians: 1: 3-11 Luke: 3: 1-6;
13th December -
The Third Sunday of Advent GAUDETE SUNDAY (P or Rose) Zephaniah: 3: 14-20 Canticle: Isaiah 12: 2-6 Philippians: 4: 4-7 Luke: 3: 7-18;
20th December -
The Fourth Sunday of Advent (P) Micah: 5: 2-5a Psalm: 80: 1-8 Hebrews 10: 5-10 Luke 1: 39-55;
CHRISTMAS
Set 1 (W) Isaiah: Psalm: Titus: Luke:
9: 2-7 96: 2: 11-14 2: 1-20;
Set II (W) Isaiah: Psalm: Titus: Luke
62: 6-12 97: 3: 4-7 2: 1-20;
Set III (W) Isaiah: Psalm: Hebrews: John:
52: 7-10 98: 1: 1-12 1: 1-14;
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December 2015 & January 2016
READINGS FOR DECEMBER (CONTINUED) 27th December -
JOHN, APOSTLE & EVANGELIST (W) Exodus: 33: 7-11a Psalm : 117: 1 John: 1: John: 1: 32-44;
READINGS FOR JANUARY 3rd January
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The Second Sunday of Christmas (W) Ecclesiasticus: 24: 1-12 Canticle: Wisdom 10: 15-21 Ephesians: 1: 3-14 John: 1: 1-18;
6th January
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THE EPIPHANY (W) Isaiah: 60: 1-6 Psalm: 72: Ephesians: 3: 1-12 Matthew: 2: 1-12;
10th January
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THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST (W) The First Sunday of Epiphany Isaiah: 43: 1-7 Psalm: 29: Acts: 8: 14-17 Luke: 3: 15-17, 21-22;
17th January
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The Second Sunday of Epiphany (W) Isaiah: 62: 1-5 Psalm: 36: 5-10 1 Corinthians: 12: 1-11 John: 2: 1-11;
24th January
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The Third Sunday of Epiphany (W) Nehemiah: 8: 1-3,5-6,8-10 Psalm: 19: 1 Corinthians: 12: 12-31a Luke: 4: 14-21;
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December 2015 & January 2016
READINGS FOR JANUARY (CONTINUED) 31st January
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The Fourth Sunday of Epiphany (W) Ezekiel: 43: 27-44.4 Psalm: 48: 1 Corinthians: 13: 1-13 Luke: 21: 25-36;
DIARY DATES FOR DECEMBER Thursday 3rd
7.00pm Stewardship Steering Group meets at The Rectory
Wednesday 9th 7.00pm PCC Meeting at Hightown Thursday 17th
9.30 & 11.00am Park Junior Services at St Paul’s 2pm Three Lane Ends School Service at Castleford
(see page 18 for Christmas Services ) Saturday 26th
St Stephen’s Day 10.00am Mass at Castleford
Sunday 27th
John, Apostle & Evangelist 8.00am Mass at Castleford 10.00am Parish Mass at St Paul’s
Tuesday 29th
7.00pm Mass at Castleford
Wednesday 30th 10.00am Mass at St Paul’s There will be no 7.00pm Mass on this day
DIARY DATES FOR JANUARY Friday 1st
The Naming of Jesus 10am Mass at Castleford
Wednesday 6th The Feast of the Epiphany 10.00am Said Mass at St Paul’s 7.30pm Sung Mass at Hightown (For other events in January see weekly Pew Sheet and website) 17
December 2015 & January 2016
CHRISTMAS SERVICES 2015 Sunday 13th
6.30pm Christingle Service at St Paul’s
Tuesday 15th
2.00pm Dementia Friendly Carol Service at Castleford
Sunday 20th
6.30pm Carol Service at Castleford followed by mulled wine and mince pies
Monday 21st
10.00 Toddler Nativity and party at St Paul’s
Thursday 24th - CHRISTMAS EVE 3.00pm
Torchlight Nativity and First Mass of Christmas at Hightown
8.00pm
First Mass of Christmas at Castleford
11.30pm
Midnight Mass at St Paul’s
Friday 25th - CHRISTMAS DAY 8.00am
Mass of the Dawn at Castleford
10.00am
Parish Mass with Carols at St Michael’s
10.00am
Mass for the Polish Community at Castleford
There will be no Morning or Evening Prayer between Christmas Eve and New Year. Services as normal from Saturday 2nd January 2016.
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December 2015 & January 2016
GO BACK A Christmas poem sourced by Pat Sutton:
Oh let’s go back to Christmas To when Jesus Christ was born Oh let’s go back to Christmas To that stable all forlorn.
Yes let’s go back to Christmas And remember why he came If we go back to Christmas We will bow our head in shame.
We’ve made it so commercial Just a time for food and drink Oh let’s go back to Christmas Just let us stop and think.
Yes let’s go back to Christmas Then we’ll celebrate his birth Yes let’s go back to Christmas We’ll bring joy and peace to Earth.
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December 2015 & January 2016 The Rev Dr Gary Bowness continues his tongue-in-cheek letters from ‘Uncle Eustace’…
FAREWELL FROM UNCLE EUSTACE The Rectory St. James the Least My dear Nephew Darren And so, at the beginning of the New Year, you finally go to your own first parish and I, after 50 years of ordained ministry, am to move to a home for retired clergy. Let me give you some final words of advice. Curates, you will have noticed, are forgiven everything. I hope you have appreciated this period of grace, because come 1st January, all that will change. You will then become responsible for everything that goes wrong in your church. You must be able to mend leaking taps, arrange flowers, mow the churchyard and run jumble sales. You will be expected to know the moment someone falls ill – preferably the day before. In addition, they will expect you to preach profound sermons in six minutes that will stir their souls but not upset them, and to lead a life of prayerful solitude while being the life and soul of the parish. From the day your predecessor left, he will have turned into a saint. You will be their new disappointment. Be assured that whatever you do, you will always disappoint someone. Sometimes you will manage to upset everyone. Be prepared for phone calls at 3am telling you that someone has left a light on in church, and shouldn’t you go turn it off. You will be asked about car parking arrangements for the October Harvest Service by mid-January, while hymns for the 9 Lessons and Carols will be ordination, I can hardly wait.
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(continued on page 21)
December 2015 & January 2016 (Continued from page 20) required by early summer. I suggest you buy in extra pullovers, overcoats and scarves for life in your vicarage. A good number of mousetraps may well come in useful too. Welcome to your new life of an incumbent. I, on the other hand, greatly relish the thought of no longer having to care about any parishioners. Instead, I shall become one myself – and am already planning my revenge. In fact, this afternoon, inspired by a large glass of sherry, I have begun a list of things I can complain about. The church is too cold, I don’t know any of the hymns, the vicar can’t preach, he never visits, and things are generally not as good as they used to be. True, I haven’t actually chosen my new church yet, but no matter, I will voice all these complaints when I get there. Of course, I will not be in church on Sunday mornings if it is raining, or on Sunday evenings if something good is on the television. Most of all, I look forward to sitting as far back in church as is possible, and starting a campaign to stop ‘passing the peace’. My new life as a parishioner will be richly rewarding. 50 years after Your loving uncle, Eustace
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December 2015 & January 2016
HIGH DAYS & HOLY DAYS IN DECEMBER 1
Charles de Foucauld, Hermit in the Sahara, 1916
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Francis Xavier, Missionary, Apostle for the Indies, 1552
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John of Damascus, Monk, Teacher, c.749 Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon, Founder of the Little Gidding Community, 1637
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Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, Teacher, 397
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The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
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John of the Cross, Poet, Teacher, 1591
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O Sapientia (O Wisdom) Eglantyne Jebb, Social Reformer, Founder of Save the Children, 1928
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O Adonai (O Lord)
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O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
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O Clavis David (O Key of David)
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O Oriens (O Dayspring)
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O Rex Gentium (O King of the nations)
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O Emmanuel (O With Us is God)
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CHRISTMAS DAY (THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD)
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Stephen, Deacon, First Martyr
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John, Apostle and Evangelist
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THE HOLY INNOCENTS
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Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr, 1170
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John Wyclif, Reformer, 1384
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HIGH DAYS & HOLY DAYS IN JANUARY 1
THE NAMING & CIRCUMCISION OF JESUS
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Basil the Great & Gregory of Nazianzus, Bishops, Teachers, 379 & 389
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THE EPIPHANY
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THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST
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Mary Slessor, Missionary in West Africa, 1915
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Aelred of Hexham, Abbot of Rievaulx, 1167 Benedict, Bishop, Abbot of Wearmouth, Scholar, 689
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Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers, Teacher, 367 Kentigern (Mungo), Missionary Bishop in Strathclyde and Cumbria, 603 George Fox, Founder of the Society of Friends (the Quakers), 1691 Amy Carmichael, Founder of the Dohnavur Fellowship, Spiritual Writer, 1951
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Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester, 1093
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Richard Rolle of Hampole, Spiritual Writer, 1349
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Agnes, Child Martyr at Rome, 304
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Vincent of Saragossa, Deacon, first Martyr of Spain, 304
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THE CONVERSION OF PAUL
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Timothy & Titus, Companions of Paul
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Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Philosopher, Teacher, 1274
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Charles, King & Martyr, 1649 23
December 2015 & January 2016
BISHOPS CALL ON PRIME MINISTER FOR BIGGER RESPONSE TO REFUGEE CRISIS The Church of England has recently published a letter sent to the Prime Minister in early September and signed by 84 of its bishops. It calls for the Government to increase the number of Syrian refugees being resettled to this country “to a minimum of 50,000” over the next five years. Referring to the situation in Syria as “one of the largest refugee crises ever recorded” the Bishops write that “a moral crisis of this magnitude calls each and all of us to play our parts.” Calling directly on the Prime Minister to increase his current offer to accept 20,000 refugees over the next five years to 50,000, the Bishops write: “We believe such is this country’s great tradition of sanctuary and generosity of spirit that we could feasibly resettle at least 10,000 people a year for the next two years, rising to a minimum of 50,000 in total over the five year period you foresaw in your announcement. Such a number would bring us into line with comparable commitments made by other countries. It would be a meaningful and substantial response to the scale of human suffering we see daily.” The Bishops offer help from the Church of England in encouraging their churches to provide welcome, housing and foster care to refugees as well as to support the Government in its ongoing efforts. In their letter the Bishops also called for the creation of a National Welcome and Resettlement Board, mirroring the successful work of such boards created by Government in response to past refugee crises in the 1950s and 1970s. Since the writing of the letter the board has been created with the Bishop of Durham serving as co-chair of the board.
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THE POPE AND THE BIBLE Pope Francis has described his love for his Bible “If you could see my Bible, you would not be particularly impressed,” he says. But “it has been with me in my times of joy and times of tears. It is my most precious treasure. I live out of it, and I wouldn't give anything in the world for it.” He was writing in the recent prologue of the German edition of the Youcat Bible.
POST THOSE CARDS ON TIME! FINAL POSTING DATES ARE AS FOLLOWS: - 7th Dec: Far East and Eastern Europe. - 8th Dec: The Caribbean. - 10th Dec: Australia and New Zealand. - 14th Dec: Germany, Italy and Poland. - 15th Dec: Canada, Sweden and USA. - 16th Dec: Austria, Ireland and Spain.
- 17th Dec: France. - 18th Dec: Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, & Switzerland. - 19th Dec – last date for 2nd class UK post
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December 2015 & January 2016
ARCHBISHOP COMMISSIONS CHURCH CREDIT CHAMPIONS The first phase of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s project to help local churches engage with issues of credit and debt is on course to secure benefits worth over £2million for local communities. It is estimated that this activity will generate a social return of around £7.50 for every £1 invested in the programme, largely through reduced interest payments as people use low-cost credit unions rather than payday and other high-interest companies. The Network is in the process of training 300 ‘champions’ who are volunteers from local churches. They help people in their churches to think about and take action to tackle issues to do with credit, debt and money in their local area. Churches have carried out mass sign-ups to credit unions, set up branches in church buildings, volunteered as board members, and encouraged local employers to set up payroll saving for their staff. The programme is on target to bring in 3,000 new credit union members from the pilot phase. More information at: www.toyourcredit.org.uk
CHILDREN’S BOOKS POPULAR THIS CHRISTMAS Children’s books seem set to rival adult fiction under the Christmas tree this winter. According to the list recently released by the book trade, this year’s 500 potential best-sellers include 115 children’s books. That is double the number from last year, when it was only 50. Children’s fiction certainly seems to be bucking the digital revolution. Look out for: An Eagle in the Snow (Michael Morpurgo) , Aliens Love Dinopants (Claire Freedman) Tom Gates9 (Liz Pichon) and Little Stars (Jacqueline Wilson.) 26
December 2015 & January 2016
‘O HAPPY BAND OF PILGRIMS’: THE PILGRIMAGE OF YOUR LIFE In this occasional series we have been looking at Christian pilgrimages – why we go on pilgrimage, how we travel, and who we go with. This month we ponder what we can learn from such journeys, and how they show us that all life is a pilgrimage, whether geographical or spiritual. When we journey to holy places, we always find a welcome and a warmth of hospitality. Sadly, in our world today, millions travel as refugees and asylum seekers in hope of a better world, but often never finding that warmth and welcome. The journeys we make should open our hands and hearts to all who have to journey in life. And more than that: the pilgrimage we make here on earth is a model of our journey to heaven. Jane Livesey in ‘Prayer for the Day’ quoted a favourite saying, ‘With patience, perseverance and a bottle of sweet oil, the snail at length reaches Jerusalem.’ In other words, the journey takes time and may mean struggle, but there is also the soothing oil – a gesture or an act that brings comfort and joy on the way or at our destination. The same qualities of patience and joy are needed as we set our eyes on the heavenly Jerusalem. Peter Abelard wrote a hymn in the 12th century about that journey to heaven which has the verse: Now in the meanwhile, with hearts raised on high, We for that country must yearn and must sigh, Seeking Jerusalem, dear native land, Through our long exile on Babylon’s strand. That hope and prayer can inspire each of us in this 21st century as we journey ‘to know God, to love Him and serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him for ever in the next.’ 27
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December 2015 & January 2016
PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD
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December 2015 & January 2016
ON A LIGHTER NOTE KEEP IT A SURPRISE Three-year-old Lily was helping her mother wrap a present for her father. While wrapping, her mother told Lily about keeping the present a secret so it would be a surprise. After the present was wrapped, Lily proudly put it under the tree. When her father asked her if he could shake it and guess what's inside, she said, very seriously, "No, T-shirts don't rattle." SANTA’S SLEIGH I remember when Father Christmas nervously went for his sleighdriving test. He came rushing back in a thunder of reindeer, and pulled up in front of the toy factory. 'Have you passed?' I asked. Father Christmas pointed to the front of the sleigh. 'See for yourself!' he called proudly. 'No-el plates!' FOOTBALLER’S CAROL A football supporter's favourite Christmas song? 'Yule never walk alone'. HOW TO GET MORE PRESENTS…. Joe: Did you get many Christmas presents? Jack: I sure did. A lot more than my four brothers. Joe: Why was that? Jack: On Christmas morning I got up two hours before them. CAROLS MISHEARD BY CHILDREN: Deck the Halls with Buddy Holly We three kings of porridge and tar On the first day of Christmas my tulip gave to me DON’T EAT What do you get if you eat Christmas decorations? Tinselitus. 33
December 2015 & January 2016 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