Dear Brothers and Sisters

I’m a little bit ‘achy’ just now. Nothing to worry about but I’ve spent my ‘break’ digging, cutting, chopping. Gardening over this past week with it’s very changeable weather hasn’t been very pleasant but I have filled a large number of rubble bags with garden waste. Now for the skip! I would love to say that I am feeling satisfied with my progress but all I can see is a muddy mess which will, one day in the far distant future, be a nice mixed border.

We all want everything to be back to normal. And some things seem like they are, but we have a way to go. I can’t be the only one who obsessively checks that I have a face mask before going to the shops. The ignominy of the accusing stares if I forget, or worse still, the wasted journey if I am denied entry. Little details become very important and it is so tiring. But we will get there in the end. It will all just take time. So, be gentle with yourself, and with others. We are all doing the best we can.

Just now life can look like my ‘border in preparation’ or ‘muddy mess’ but the flowers will come. We are in God’s hands and that is a pretty good place to be.

Sudan Appeal

This is the last weekend for the Sudan appeal run by the Diocese. If you can help, please do. Please help if you can. To give, you can find information at:

https://www.leeds.anglican.org/finance/donations or you can simply make a cheque payable to ‘Leeds DBF’, posting it to Leeds DBF, 17-19 York Place, Leeds LS1 2EX with a note saying it is ‘for Sudan emergency’. Thank you.

Farming Community Network Sponsorship Money

I will be sending off the final amount to the FCN next week. If you still have sponsorship money to give me could I have it this weekend. If you can’t then don’t worry. These are exceptional times and there will always be another appeal. Thanks once again to you all.

Sunday’s Readings

A Reading from the Letter to the Romans

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.      (12:9-21)

The Gospel according to Matthew

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’ Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? ‘For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.’                                                                                               (16:21-28)

Services next Sunday (6th September)         

  • Blubberhouses              9.30am
  • Farnley                            11am
  • Denton                             2.30pm

Services for Sunday 13th  September           

  • Fewston                           9.30am
  • Weston                            11am
  • Leathley                           2.30pm.

Annual Parochial Church Meetings which were postponed in the Spring will be taking place in September and October. Dates are: 20 September Farnley, 27 September Fewston, 18th October Weston and Denton, 25th October Leathley. Electoral Roll lists will be revised prior to these meetings. Please make sure you are on the appropriate roll.

Please remember in your prayers: Those caught up in the wildfires devastating California and Northern Australia. For the people of Beirut and of the Sudan. For those on holiday and those who will have to be in quarantine on their return from abroad. For the sick and ill and all who care for them. For the dying and the dead and for their families and all who mourn them.

God bless you all.                                 

Stephen