Please join us tonight for the start of Lent at St Bartholomew’s, #Meltham for a special Ash Wednesday Communion service with Ashing.

Service starts at 7pm – ALL WELCOME!

PLEASE PRAY for all those who think that they are not good enough – who compare themselves to others and are worried about who they are and what they have. Help them to know that they are loved unconditionally as they are and that God has a plan for everyone. Help those who despair to find you Lord, so you can bring them hope and light.

READ THE GOOD NEWS – Matthew 17: 1-9 – Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around. How awesome is the sight.

PRAYER AND WORSHIP IN THE COMING WEEK
Monday 24th February
09.30am Morning Prayer, Christ Church

Tuesday 25th February – Shrove Tuesday
09.30am Morning Prayer, St Mary’s
1.30pm Holy Communion, Greenacres
3.00pm Pancake Party, Meltham Church Hall

Wednesday 27th February – Ash Wednesday
9.00am Holy Communion BCP, St Bart’s
10.00am Meltham Churches Together Prayers for the Community, St Bart’s

Thursday 28th February
2.00pm Holy Communion, Helme Hall

NEXT SUNDAY 1st March – 1st Sunday of Lent
09.30am St Bart’s, Holy Communion
09.30am St James’ ONE FOR ALL Service of the Word
11.15am St Mary’s, Service of the Word
11.15am Christ Church, Holy Communion

OTHER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Friday 28th Feburary
10.00am-12noon St James’ Community Card Group.
10.30am-12 noon St Bart’s, Coffee and Chat.

Friday 6th March
2.30pm World Day of Prayer service at St Bart’s.
(note change of time from magazine)

Wednesday 19th February – 7.30pm at St Bartholomew’s Church

Extraordinary Parochial Church Meeting:

EVERYONE from across the Parish is invited to come and discuss the new constitution for our Parish and if you’re on the Church electoral roll, you can vote on it.

This is where you can find out the facts about how we move forward together to do God’s work in Meltham, Meltham Mills, Wilshaw and Helme.

Here’s some background information from Rev’d John:

So, what’s so important? There have been certain “irregularities” identified within the governance of the parish. It is important that I explain that these issues are largely procedural, and that they stem from the difficulties caused by The Church of England’s system being designed for a Parish with one Parish Church rather than the four we have in our Parish. Therefore, we are asking our diocese to authorise a few adaptations to the rules to allow appropriate representation of each Parish Church within the established Church of England governance system.
I recognise that this may all seem a bit dull to some and perhaps a bit unspiritual. I must admit that it is not where I would wish the focus of my own ministry to be, and that I will be happy to see it all completed so that we can all focus on the things that consider to be the true calling of the Church. That said, it is clear from biblical passages like Acts 15 (the council of Jerusalem) that even the earliest expressions of Church needed to establish some form of governance to enable the leadership of their ministry and to settle or avoid disputes.
If all of this seems a little confusing, then please come along to the upcoming meetings where I hope I will be able to offer a straightforward explanation.

God Bless
Rev’d John

PLEASE PRAY for our world that we will do what we can do to stop the spread of disease and to safeguard the natural world. Help us to appreciate what we have, including those opportunities to grow closer to God in the face of adversity. We pray for patience for those who are waiting and comfort for those dealing with loss.

READ THE GOOD NEWS – Matthew 6: 25-34 – Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all we need is given. Alleluia.

EXTRAORDINARY PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING
Wednesday 19th February – 7.30pm at St Bartholomew’s Church.
EVERYONE in the Parish is invited to come and discuss the new constitution for our Parish and if you’re on the Church electoral roll, you can vote on it. This is where you can find out the facts about how we move forward together to do God’s work in Meltham, Meltham Mills, Wilshaw and Helme.

PRAYER AND WORSHIP IN THE COMING WEEK

Monday 17th February
09.30am Morning Prayer, Christ Church

Tuesday 18th February
09.30am Morning Prayer, St Mary’s

Wednesday 19th February
9.00am Holy Communion BCP, St Bart’s
10.00am Meltham Churches Together Prayers for the Community, St Bart’s

NEXT SUNDAY 23rd February
09.30am St Bart’s, Holy Communion
09.30am St James’ Holy Communion
11.15am St Mary’s, Holy Communion
11.15am Christ Church, Service of the Word

OTHER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Wednesday 19th February 7.30pm
MELTHAM MUSTARD SEED AGM at the Methodist Church. All welcome.

Friday 21st Feburary
10.00am-12noon St James’ Community Card Group.
10.30am-12 noon St Bart’s, Coffee and Chat.
7.00pm-8.30pm St Mary’s, HD9 Youth Club

PLEASE PRAY for positive outlooks in the face of change and for unity as we move forward into unknown situations. You made us and our world to be constantly evolving and growing – help us to have a mindset to find the positives in all change. 

READ THE GOOD NEWS – Matthew 5: 13-20 – Help us Lord to be salt in our World and to keep our saltiness. We have a responsibility to transform the environment in which we find ourselves, just as salt transforms food. We may be few in number, but just as a few grains of salt can make a big difference in food, so also a few faithful Christians can make a big difference in the world. 

PRAYER AND WORSHIP IN THE COMING WEEK

Monday 10th February
09.30am Morning Prayer, Christ Church

Tuesday 11th February
09.30am Morning Prayer, St Mary’s
1.30pm Songs of Praise, Greenacres

Wednesday 12th February
9.00am Holy Communion BCP, St Bart’s
10.00am Meltham Churches Together Prayers for the Community, St Bart’s

NEXT SUNDAY 16th February
09.30am St Bart’s, Holy Communion
09.30am St James’ Service of the Word
11.15am St Mary’s, Service of the Word
11.15am Christ Church, Holy Communion

OTHER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Friday 14th Feburary
10.00am-12noon St James’ Community Card Group. New members very welcome. For information contact Christine Rolls on 01484 340342

10.30am-12 noon St Bart’s, Coffee and Chat.

ADVANCE WARNING
Wednesday 19th February
7.30pm at St Bart’s. Extraordinary Parochial Church Meeting

EVERYONE is invited to come and discuss the new constitution for our Parish and if you’re on the electoral roll, you can vote on it. This is where you can find out the facts about how we move forward together to do God’s work in Meltham, Meltham Mills, Wilshaw and Helme.

PLEASE PRAY for unity. In the Christian church around the world, across our Churches in Meltham, in our own Parish: that our similarities shine through and our differences pale into insignificance as we live out our faith and hope in the Lord.

READ THE GOOD NEWS – Matthew 4, 12-23 – The first followers of Jesus gave up steady jobs and family life to follow him. Help us to put God first, to ask for His guidance in our lives and for strength to answer his call – whatever that may be.

PRAYER AND WORSHIP IN THE COMING WEEK

Monday 27th January
09.30am Morning Prayer, Christ Church

Tuesday 28th January
09.30am Morning Prayer, St Mary’s
1.30pm Holy Communion, Greenacres.

Wednesday 29th January
9.00am Holy Communion BCP, St Bart’s
10.00am Meltham Churches Together Prayers for the Community, St Bart’s

NEXT SUNDAY 2nd February
09.30am St Bart’s, Holy Communion
09.30am St James’ ONE FOR ALL Service of the Word
11.15am St Mary’s, Service of the Word
11.15am Christ Church, Holy Communion

OTHER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Tuesday 28th January
2.00pm St Bart’s Women’s Fellowship annual meeting. New members very welcome, come and see.

Friday 31st January
10.00am-12 noon St James’ Community Card Group. New members very welcome. For information contact Christine Rolls on 01484 340342
10.30am-12 noon St Bart’s, Coffee and Chat.

Please remember our Food Bank. People are in genuine need. You can call the dedicated number 07564 764137 to find out what items are needed and then donate at Morrisons, the Co-op, or direct to the Crossroads Centre between 10 and midday, Monday to Friday.