Follow Jesus TOGETHER around the parish this Winter………
Due to the high energy prices and in order to reduce heating costs, services will only be held in two churches each Sunday instead of all four during January, February and March 2023:
The services held during January have been wonderful – everyone joining together to worship and keep warm. If you’ve not yet been able to join a service during January, you’re encouraged to join together at one of the other churches if there is not a service at the one you would usually attend. Let’s stick together (and worship together) during these difficult times.
Welcome to the February edition, I couldn’t resist putting the photo that Grace Dronsfield took on our front cover, it gives hope that Spring is in the air and on its way!
There are lovely reflections from the popular, Churches Together Covenant Service (pg’s 13 & 19). Also Nigel gives his thoughts on hospitality (pg 15). Finally I have to mention, you may like it or you may not but Denis A has been busy this month trying to put a smile on your face and he has a whole page to himself! (pg 20). – Don’t expect it every month Denis!
Thank you so much to those who have contributed this month. It is great to see and read so many thoughts and reflections from different people. As Lent is on the horizon this month there is space to add yours too.
The next deadline of the magazine will be: Monday 20th February 2023. Please send them via: melthamparishmagazine@gmail.com or via the vicarage letterbox. (150 Huddersfield Rd, HD9 4AL)
Come along to the joint Covenant Service, an annual Methodist tradition which has become a favourite with all the Meltham Churches worshipping together. This is a service at which we can celebrate together all that God has done for us and affirm that we give our lives and choices to God. There will be no other services in the Parish – this will be the place to be as we worship together and keep warm together.
Sunday 15th January – 10:30am – Meltham Methodist Church – ALL WELCOME – Do join us!
A covenant with God
I am no longer my own but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you, exalted for you, or brought low for you; let me be full, let me be empty, let me have all things, let me have nothing: I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal. And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours. So be it. And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.’
The Methodist Covenant Prayer
Methodists hold an annual Covenant Service, at which we celebrate all that God has done for us, and affirm that we give our lives and choices to God.
Most churches hold the service in the New Year, but some hold them in September, at the beginning of the Methodist year.
The traditional Covenant prayer (shown above) makes it very clear that this affirmation is a serious one that embraces the whole of our life, in all its parts. Most people find it quite tough to say, and really mean it. But the prayer is so central to the Christian life that other Churches have also adopted it.
In our culture we tend to prize our ability to make decisions and choose our own path in life. It can feel very hard to give that up. But this prayer is like a love poem. It is about surrendering to God in love and joy.
Wow! What a great edition to kick start the new year. Hear about all the wonderful events that took place across our parish in the run up to Christmas; especially the trip Judith took with the Meltham Shoe boxes and also the ever popular Carols in the Park and Pub.
This month’s edition is running a little late. I’m sure as a valued reader you will forgive me and understand the time that this magazine needs as well as the pressures of being a mother and the vicar’s wife too! As a result February’s edition will be coming very soon.
Therefore please can you send in your contributions to me as soon as possible so I can include them. The next deadline of the magazine will be Friday 20th January 2023. Please send them via: melthamparishmagazine@gmail.com or via the vicarage letterbox (150 Huddersfield Rd, HD9 4AL).
Due to the high energy prices and in order to reduce heating costs, services will only be held in two churches each Sunday instead of all four during January, February and March 2023:
Everyone is encouraged to join together at one of the other churches if there is not a service at the one you would usually attend. Let’s stick together (and worship together) during these difficult times.
Holy Communion services are marked †
Sunday 8th January 9.30am at St James’ Church, Meltham Mills 11.15am at St Mary’s Church, Wilshaw †
Wednesday 11th January 10.30am at St Bartholomew’s Church BCP †
Sunday 15th January 10.30am Covenant Service † at Meltham Methodist Church, Mill Moor Road
Wednesday 18th January 10.30am at St Bartholomew’s Church BCP †
Sunday 22nd January 9.30am at St Bartholomew’s Church 11.15am at St Mary’s Church, Wilshaw †
Wednesday 25th January 10.30am at St Bartholomew’s Church BCP †
Sunday 29th January 9.30am at St James’ Church, Meltham Mills † 11.15am at Christ Church, Helme
Please find below, information regarding the background and reasons for these changes as outlined by Rev John in his monthly letter:
Very few will have failed to notice the increase in the cost of living we have experienced in recent months and the most startling increases for most of us are represented by our gas and electricity bills. Whilst the government is apparently spending many billions of pounds to soften the effects of increased energy costs November has seen a doubling of household prices. This is on top of what were already significant price increases over the previous year, and it seems there are more increases on the way.
The government is also providing some assistance to businesses and charities (which includes Churches) though this help is significantly less generous. This presents quite a challenge to our four parish Churches. If we continue as normal and use the same amount of energy as we did last year our collective annual bill is likely to be increased by tens of thousands of pounds per year for at least the next couple of years.
So, what should we do? We could seek to increase our income to cover the additional costs but, while this will need to be a part of the answer, simply asking people for more and more money especially when the cost of living is increasing so quickly can’t be right. We need to try and reduce our spending particularly on energy and the only way to do this in the short term is to reduce the amount of energy that we use.
There have been various suggestions as to how we might achieve this including the distribution of hot water bottles and blankets. However, the most realistic suggestion seems to be that, for the coldest months being January, February, and March, we do not open all four Churches every Sunday morning. Options as to how and if we should do this will be considered by our Parochial Church Council. I am very aware that this is not a first-choice option for many and wish to be clear that all four Churches will be open as usual from Easter Day (9th April).
I recently received an email that said: “This is our saying of the day after someone asked what I thought about the church closing for 3 months” “we are not closing churches we are doing this to keep our churches open.”
I can’t begin to express how much I agree with and support this response. The closing of any Church causes me real personal sadness, and this would of course be all the greater if the Church in question were one of ours. Last year, the congregation at Christ Church, Helme chose not to meet for a while because they were waiting for their heating system to be repaired. A number of people, including brides who had weddings booked contacted me destressed because they had heard a rumour that the Church had closed.
Please let’s all listen carefully to what is being said, observe the punctuation, and recognise the spirit with which it is said. Rumours can be damaging and cause genuine hurt and distress, so let me repeat:
“We are not closing churches – we are doing this to keep our churches open.”
Join us to at this special late night service of Holy Communion on Christmas eve as we celebrate the birth and welcome Jesus! There will be carols, prayers and Holy Communion. ALL WELCOME.
The service starts at 11:30pm – we aim for the service to last no more than 1 hour so everyone can get home in reasonable time (including the Vicar).
Toilets are available for those who might need one 🙂
