Dear Brothers and Sisters

It is fortunate that I don’t belong to a Union. For the past few weeks, I have been working in cramped, uncomfortable conditions. And I have been loving it. My study has been full to bursting with food parcels donated by people all over the Benefice. All I have is a little walkway from the door to my desk. Even my prayer area has been taken over with boxes. Thank you so very, very much to all of you who have donated food or cash, and to all of you who donate throughout the year. Thanks to you, local families will have a better Christmas than they would otherwise have had. Being a blessing to our neighbours is at the heart of what it is to follow Jesus.

Advent is a wonderful time for taking stock of our relationship with Jesus as we prepare to celebrate his birth. At our Annual Parochial Church Meetings a few months ago, I talked about a new initiative by the Diocese designed to help each of us with this. It is called Rhythm of Life and it is basically a tool that we can use to review how we are living our lives. If you think you might find this helpful, I have attached a Quick Start Guide to the process to this mailing. Most of the material is online but if you would like anything printed for you do please let me know. This is a great opportunity to reflect, take stock and look to the future. 

Whatever the headlines say, we still can’t sing together in church. But Carols and Advent and Christmas just go together, don’t they? To help us all the Church of England has produced a booklet called “Comfort and Joy.” It is based round a service of Lessons and Carols and covers the time between Christmas and Epiphany.  There will be copies for you to take home from all of our services over the next few weeks. My resident young person has told me what an attractive, useful book it is.

But we all like singing. Becky tells me that I was singing Carols for most of yesterday in my study. Her home office is above mine and the soundproofing is poor. We can’t sing together physically but we can in Spirit. Could I suggest that each day from 17th December (O Sapientia) we all sing a Carol together at 7pm. in our homes. Let me know what you would like to sing (first come, first served) and I’ll put together a Carol sheet for us to use.

All of our Churches are in Tier 2 but many of us live in Tier 3 locations. Whatever Tier we are in we can attend Church for worship but we should not mingle with those outside of our own bubble or support network. It is hard isn’t it?

Sunday’s Readings

A Reading from the book of prophet Isaiah

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’  A voice says, ‘Cry out!’ And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’ All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. 
The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand for ever. Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’ See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.                                                           (40:1-11)

The Gospel according to Mark

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight”’, John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’                                   (1:1-8)

Services next Sunday 13th December           

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

Services for Sunday 20th December            

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

Please remember in your prayers: All those preparing to be vaccinated over the coming weeks and the healthcare staff who will be vaccinating them. All who face losing their livelihoods over the coming weeks and months.  All who have to depend on Foodbanks to feed their families. All who work for the good of others in their local communities.  The PCC of Weston and Denton meeting on Sunday. The sick and for their families; Jane and John Charman, Sue Kidd. For all those who mourn.

God bless you all.                                 

Stephen