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Articles by Alison Whiteley

Reminder

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World Day of Prayer

Meltham Churches Together

‘I know the plans I have for you’

Friday 4th March 2.00pm

At St. Bartholomew’s church

All welcome

Refreshments in aid of Kirkwood hospice following the service

National Prayer Vigil – Tues 1st March 6pm @ St Bartholomew’s – Meltham

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In line with the request from the Archbishops to hold a national prayer vigil, St. Bartholomew’s in Meltham will be open at 6pm on Tuesday 1st March. 

It follows a call from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to set aside this Sunday as a day of prayer. 

The Church of England has made prayer resources available online. 

On Thursday, both Archbishops issued a pastoral letter to the clergy and people of the Church of England, calling on them to pray for peace in Ukraine.  

They wrote: “This attack is an act of evil, imperilling as it does the relative peace and security that Europe has enjoyed for so long.

“The attack by one nation on a free, democratic country has rightly provoked outrage, sanctions, and condemnation.  

“We lament with the people of Ukraine, and we pray for the innocent, the frightened and those who have lost loved ones, homes, and family.  

“We continue to call for a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian forces as well as wide-ranging efforts to ensure peace, stability and security.” 

The Church of England’s Bishop in Europe, Robert Innes, has also recorded a message urging people to pray.

In a video he recorded in Brussels, Bishop Robert spoke of the Church of England congregation of Christ Church, Kyiv, Ukraine.  

“Our little church in Kyiv are right at the centre of this crisis,” he explained. 

“Some of them have fled the city by car, others are still there. 

“These are our people, our brothers and sisters, and of course we are very concerned for their wellbeing and safety. 

“In the face of military action and aggression, we feel powerless. What can we do? One thing that we can all do is pray.”

Sunday 16th January

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10.30am

We are sharing in the Meltham Methodist Covenant Service.  This is a service at which we can celebrate all that God has done for us and affirm that we give our lives and choices to God.  

There are no other services in the Parish. 

Jigsaw Christmas

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Dear friends
‘Happy Christmas’ from all in Jigsaw.
We thank you so much for all your support through love, prayer, gifts and school sponsorship throughout 2021. You have empowered Jigsaw to Share God’s love in so many ways with so many in need and hardship, thank you so much.

Jigsaw Christmas Appeal 2021
 
Christmas is a wonderful time to share the love, joy, peace, and provision of the good News of the birth of Jesus with those in most need and we invite you and your churches to join us in the ministry of Jigsaw through this appeal. This Christmas appeal is focussing on raising money for two important Jigsaw needs.
1. Jigsaw Christmas Parties:
At Christmas each year we share the Good News of the birth of Jesus, ‘God with us’ with over 2000 children, young people and families living on the streets and in slum and squatter areas in Metro Manila through Jigsaw Christmas Parties.The total we need for this year’s Christmas parties (£2.50 per child) is a total of £5000. Your gifts will go towards providing a wonderful party for over 2000 of the neediest children and young people. Each party will have games, songs, dancing, drama, a hot Christmas meal, the telling of the Christmas story and a Christmas gift for each child.
Please join us in bringing Christmas this year to each of these children and families by giving as you can to this appeal for Christmas parties, thank you so much.
2. A New Van for Jigsaw
In 2004 churches and supporters in the UK raised the funds for Jigsaw to buy a new van for their ministry. Little did we know that that van would be serving Jigsaw each and every day for the next 17 years. The van has never stopped moving carrying staff, toys, food and resources to slum and street ministries each day, taking children and families to schools, clinics and hospitals, distributing emergency relief and much, much more. However, after all these years the life of the Jigsaw van has come to an end, and it is time to pray and appeal for a new van for Jigsaw’s ministry.

A new L300 Mitsubishi van costs £14,000 pounds which seems an impossible amount to even say, let alone think about but we trust in our mighty God for all we need. Please join us in prayer and gifts for the funds Jigsaw needs to buy a new van to continue its ministry for the next 17 years. We remember the loaves and the fishers and God’s miracles with the small that we can give, together with God miracles can be done. Amen.

Giving to the Jigsaw Christmas appeal 2021:Gifts can be deposited to our bank account or transferred online to:
       Jigsaw Kids Ministries
        Lloyds Bank
        Account number: 03952804
        Sort Code: 30-94-43
Cheques can be sent to Jigsaw UK office: 1st Floor Chapel House, Chapel Lane, St Ives, Cambridgeshire, PE27 5DX

Gift references: Please use the following references for your gifts: Gifts for the Christmas parties please use the ref: JigCpartiesGifts for the New Jigsaw van please use the reference JigVanGift Aid:
 
If you haven’t signed a gift aid form for Jigsaw and you would like to please use the following link and fill in an online gift aid form. Thank you.
 
https://www.jigsawkidsministriesuk.com/gift-aid-formThank you everyone, Happy Christmas: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah 9 vs 6-7.
 

Jigsaw Ministries

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Jigsaw special prayer request:
Dear friends,
I am writing with a special prayer request for one of Jigsaw’s young people. Her name is Jilsy, she’s 25 years old. She was one of the first students to graduate from our University Scholarship program and is also the sister of Jenalyn, our program manager.
 
Around 8 weeks ago Jilsy started to become ill, but then two weeks ago as things became worse, she was taken to the hospital by Jenalyn. She was found to have Lupus and that one of her kidneys had stopped functioning, she was told she needed a kidney transplant and was admitted to the hospital. At a cost of over 1.6 million pesos for the operation (15,000 pounds) this was out of the question and Jilsy started to have blood transfusion and dialysis every few days. Today Jenalyn our program manager who has been at the hospital for more than 10 days now (as she is not able to leave and go back due to covid) messaged me to say Jilsy over the weekend has had 2 seizures and the doctors have put her in an induced coma, so now Jenalyn is waiting and praying for her sister.


The doctors have said there are four possible causes for the seizure; lupus, hypertension, infection, or her dialysis. Jilsy is in a critical condition and Jenalyn and her family are so worried and scared, and Jenalyn has emailed me for prayer for Jilsy.
 
Please join us in prayer for Jilsy, for healing in the current situation that she may be able to regain consciousness and begin to breathe normally. For her general condition to improve and for the long term for some miracle solution for the need of a kidney. Please join us in prayer too for Jenalyn and her family for strength and comfort at these very difficult times.
Thank you.



Tim,
Jigsaw
 


Crisis coffee morning

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Saturday 27th November

10am to 12 noon

St. James’ Church

Silent auction

Locally made crafts

Bargain gift baskets

AH Creations

Win a bottle

Tombola

Coffee and cakes!

Please come and buy for your friends or yourself and raise funds for a charity which supports the homeless throughout the year.

Harvest Sunday

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October 3rd

On Sunday October 3rd Sarah Yanez who works with her husband Felipe in Malaga for the Church Mission Society is coming to Meltham. Sarah and Felipe have been heavily involved with Foodbanks in Malaga.

We are having a Parish Lunch at 12.30 with Sarah at the Church Hall next Sunday. All are welcome. We obviously need an idea of numbers cos Rev John is buying in Meat and Potato Pie!

Could you WhatsApp Nigel direct on 07885430085 or email on nigel.priestley@ridleyandhall.co.uk. It will be good to meet together!

Alpha Courses – Starting October in Meltham (in person or online via Zoom)

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Wondering what Jesus really came for and never known who to ask?

We would love to chat with you about the big questions in life! You can do this with a cuppa at the Crossroads Centre in Meltham and a chat in a small group (or simply come along or join online to listen) .

Alpha is an 8 week course, for everyone wanting to explore life and faith a bit more. 20 million people have done this course. It’s probably the least cheesy, most enjoyable way of thinking about the things that really matter in life.

Our next Alpha courses start in October 2021. Don’t worry if you have to miss a date or two. We’d love you to come to as many as you can anyway.

You can choose between an In-person course or an Online course.

Sign up for our Online course which starts on the 4th October 2021, every MONDAY for 8 weeks+, 8pm-9.30pm via Zoom.

Sign up for our Face to Face course in Crossroads Centre which starts on the 7th October 2021, every THURSDAY for 8 weeks, 7.30pm-9.00pm

Please either text Nigel on 07885430085 or email him on nigel.priestley@ridleyandhall.co.uk if you are interested in joining or finding out more.

You can also find out more and sign-up on the Alpha website:
https://alpha.org/