Dear Brothers and Sisters

When I was a wee boy in Scotland it was traditional to wish a Guid New Year to everyone on first meeting them after Hogmanay. This was fine with those that one met regularly. A New Year’s greeting in the first few days of January was fine. But we were supposed to give the greeting to all so as the days and weeks and sometimes months went by it became increasingly ridiculous. My personal record for being wished a Happy New Year by a friend was just before Easter one year.

That said it is a good New Year full of the hope and promise that the new Vaccines are bringing to the people of the world. But meanwhile there are a few other bits and pieces to attend to. As a friend of mine on Social Media said this week 2021 seems to be trying to give 2020 a run for its money. Lockdown 3, awful weather and now even more turmoil in the United States. Well at least the pandemic was knocked off the top spot in the news for a day or so.

With this new lockdown we are able to hold physical worship. This is a difficult decision to make. We are all safer at home but so many of us in the Benefice struggle with online services that we have decided to continue with our regular services Sunday by Sunday. Our congregations are small, and our Churchwardens have worked hard to make each of our buildings as safe as they can be. However, please don’t feel that you have to come to church if you are at all worried about the Virus and please don’t come if you are feeling unwell.

As always there are lots of options to worship remotely. The National Church of England Service continues to be online and other services can be accessed via radio and TV. Locally both Otley and Ilkley parish churches have services available on YouTube. The Daily Hope phone line can be accessed on 08008048044. For those with smart phones the Church of England Time to Pray app is still free to download and use.

Many of you found the Church of England’s ‘Prayers for use during the coronavirus outbreak’ booklet very useful during the first lockdown. I have obtained some more so please let me know if you would like some for your families and I will get them to you.

Even though we are used to inclement weather it can still catch us unawares or cause unexpected problems. Several of us did rather good impressions of Torvill and Dean last Sunday at Weston. If the weather is bad, please check with your churchwarden to make sure the service is going ahead. Please don’t risk coming out if you are at all unsure.

As always if you would like to chat over the phone or know someone who might please give me a call. And please make sure that we look out for all our friends and neighbours.

The Vaccination Centre for the Harrogate Area is the Yorkshire Showground. More Stewards are required to help marshal those coming to be vaccinated. If you can help please apply using this link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/5RLW9BM

or you can phone Nidderdale Plus on 01423 714953.

Sunday’s Readings

A Reading from the book of Genesis

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.                                          (1:1-5)

The Gospel according to Mark

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.’ In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’                           (1:4-11)

Services for next Sunday 17th January         

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

Services for Sunday 23rd January                

  • Fewston                           9.30am.
  • Denton                             11am.
  • Farnley                            2.30pm.

Please remember in your prayers: The people of the USA praying that the turmoil of the past few days and weeks will change to a settled future. For all working in healthcare; those vaccinating us, those caring for the sick and the dying. For all who are weary and are struggling to see the light ahead. For our teachers and their pupils, for parents struggling with the demands of home schooling and work. For our Farmers and all who work to provide us with food. For all struggling with the weather. Those who have nowhere to sleep tonight. Those who are hungry, sick or dying. All those who mourn.

God bless you all.                       

Stephen