All welcome to join the Parish Prayer meeting on Sunday 28th March (tonight) at 6pm. You can join via this Zoom link:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/96659764518?pwd=RjNlUWZLYXRPNUFEZFprTXJkWTVuQT09
Meeting ID: 966 5976 4518 Passcode: 735405
Palm Sunday Services – Sun 28th March 2021
Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest! It’s Palm Sunday!
Join us in church or online as we celebrate Jesus arriving in Jerusalem on a donkey before turning our attentions to the journey through Holy Week leading up to Good Friday.
9:30am – Morning Prayer from St Bartholomew’s – Meltham (via YouTube) – Unfortunately, due to technical issues, this service is not available online.
https://youtu.be/V6nhOtMCeeA
11:15am – Palm Sunday from St Mary’s – Wilshaw (via Zoom)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88016058854?pwd=L0c3WkQzeEJ3ZjBwamtGcmxqdkh0QT09
Parish Magazine – April 2021
Happy Easter! Welcome to the April edition of the #Meltham Parish magazine. This month it is full of the joys of Easter! Read about the Real Love project and the giving away of hearts and finding pebbles throughout this edition. Also find out more about the new additions to the Crossroads team or how Jill has been keeping busy during lockdown.
You can read all about it here…………………..
Hard copies of the magazine should be available for collection / deliver from Wednesday 31st March.
Easter Hearts – a real love story
Christians in #Meltham have been busy making hearts – 1000 of them!
The task brought out hidden talents and developed a real sense of joy and fellowship. Church members have delivered the first batch of Easter Hearts to the three schools in Meltham with this message:
Covid-19 has touched communities all over the world. There has been heart-breaking loss of life and disruption to every sphere of life. We have also experienced the very best: the courage and sacrifice of NHS and social care workers, the emergency services, and key workers; the hard work of teachers preparing lessons online and teaching children who have had to come into school; the pressure on parents to home school and find ways to care for their children, the friendships children have had to put on hold as they have been unable to leave their homes.
These Hearts are firstly a gift from Christians in Meltham to say thanks to the Teachers for battling with remote learning, teaching in bubbles caring for children of key workers and many more unsung tasks. To parents, carers, and children who have done their best in such a challenging situation. They recognise the love of all involved. We want you to know that you are valued and appreciated.
Secondly the Hearts are a reminder that at this time, we remember the Easter story – that God’s love is so amazing. He came to earth in Jesus, loved and lived among us. He understands what life is like. On Good Friday, Jesus died for our sins. Past mistakes, decisions and failures can be put right.
There’s hope! The message of Easter is that death is not the end. There are new beginnings. In these challenging times, we are not alone. We love because Jesus first loved us.
The Hearts remind us of real love. What are you to do with the Hearts?
The Hearts in the cellophane bags are for the children to take home to give to their parents or Carers simply to say “Thank You! for caring – you are special ”
The Hearts in the organza bags are to staff recognising all that has been done to say “Thank You! for caring – you are special”
Holy Week 2021
Lent Reflections – Week 5 (Transcript)
Please find the transcript on GROWTH for the Lent Reflections – Week 5 video which has now been made available.
You can also view the video here if you’ve not done so already: https://youtu.be/A3zhMw9o7Wo
MCT Prayers w/b 22nd March
Hello everyone
Please join in the attached prayer throughout this week and on the day for the:-
National Day of Reflection on 23rd March
God of love,
as we think about all that has changed this year,
Help us to trust that you are always with us.
As we remember those who have died,
Help us to trust they are at peace with you.
As we reach out to others with kindness and care,
May hope shine out in every heart and home.
Amen
This week we are coming to the end of the weeks of Lent. Each of those weeks we have focused our attention on one of the lesser reported characters who followed Jesus during His ministry. Rosemary Powers chose thirteen Figures leaving us with six stories untold as we journeyed through Lent. Rosemary’s style of writing has brought life to those she chose to pick out for attention.
I found it difficult to know who to choose for our Reflection. All the stories carry their own weight in the bigger picture of the Passion of our Lord. It feels incomplete leaving these stories untold.
I made my choice after reading through all the reflections trying to balance the stories, we have used so far.
This Week we hear from the sixth Character Mary of Bethany. The following Monday is the start of Holy Week when we hear from Mary of Magdala. Both Marys remained at the cross to the bitter end.
LENTEN REFLECTIONS —WEEK 6
Mary of Bethany
Mary of Bethany
I am Mary from Bethany, disciple of Jesus, widow, sister of Martha. He came to our home, where I learnt, and he loved us as his sisters, and Lazarus as a brother. Lazarus, our protector in the world of the village and beyond, got ill. He died. Our grief was deep. Our livelihood, the home of hospitality that my sister Martha had made a place of warmth and greeting, was at risk. She, whose heart was big, big enough even to accept in Jesus his wish that I should be taught with the men, she was in danger of being homeless, of having nowhere to exercise her gift, her insight into the needs of all. We might end with nothing but the widow’s mite, at the mercy of distant relatives with their own burdens.
It was a big funeral, close to the centre of power. Jesus’ fate was sealed when love triumphed. He’d come late. I was angry with him. Martha went to meet him. He spoke with her, then asked for me, his disciple who had sat at his feet and listened but had not yet understood. I was full of grief, bewilderment, but I went to him as ever, to sit at his feet, still his disciple in my pain. This time there were witnesses, not only his friends, but others, fellow-mourners, who followed me when I went, to support me at the tomb. And stayed when they found Jesus before us. Jesus who wept with us. He came to the tomb with us. Then he prayed. Martha was practical as ever, but we waited. And wondered. And heard the stirrings of hope and unbound the impossible joy.
I’d heard of what happened in the house of the Pharisee, and when our own Simon gave a party, I copied the woman there, and made it my own. As he took it like a tune and made it his own in turn. I touched the beloved, anointed him, as the week before we had readied our brother for the tomb. No touch was unclean to him. The scent filled the air. My tears were for him, for the thunder was in the air.
We found that time, that opposition was there, even among his friends at the party. ‘Let her alone,’ he said. I, the younger sister, was honoured there, prophet and priest of the Christ who knew no boundaries among those called into being out of love.
We were all in danger, so close to the places of power. The one he called back from the grave we hid away so he would not be killed. They got Jesus though. A few days later he honoured the woman without name. He washed his own followers’ feet. There was no role he would not take. Later that night, he was turned in.
We give thanks …
For those whose mourning has turned into joy, for the return of the lost, for love recognised.
For the joy of company among outcast, traveller, resident and wanderer, and for the gift of hospitality at the heart of our faith.
For the gift of wonder, of companionship with the God who has given us everything, who came into the world and allowed the people he created to show him the next step.
We pray …
For those who grieve, and especially when death strikes before its time. For those who see the pain of others and cannot help, that they may have the grace of being present, and setting their needs and fears aside.
For those who risk loss in the face of hostility. For those whose homes, livelihoods and safety is at stake.
For the courage to be disciples, learning and listening from Jesus and acting prophetically, in the right time and place; to be courageous in Christ when we meet opposition.
We pray for the gift to draw back from using power against those who are vulnerable in our world.
Our own prayers …….. Lord’s Prayer ……
KEEP SAFE ….KEEP PRAYING……
Peter
Lent Reflections – Part 5
During the period of Lent, Rev’d John is encouraging us to think about fellowship. This week we will be thinking about GROWTH.
You can watch the fifth of these reflections by Rev John using this YouTube link:
https://youtu.be/A3zhMw9o7Wo
Although we can’t all physically meet together currently, you’re welcome to join us on Sunday Evening at 6pm to virtually meet together on Zoom to reflect, pray, share thoughts, and ask questions. You can join via the link below:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82309250065?pwd=NFhudm0xUU1KSW8rNm9UL05wTjZidz09
Meeting ID: 823 0925 0065
Passcode: 250994
Parish Communion for Passion Sunday – 9:30am
Join us in church or online via YouTube for our Parish Communion Service for Passion Sunday. We hope to livestream the service from 9:30am via this link:
https://youtu.be/6PXbp9ojmes
The technical issues from last week are hopefully now resolved following some troubleshooting. However, there are many variables which can influence the success of such things! If we experience issues, then the service may need to be published via a different link. Any link updates will appear on the Parish YouTube channel which can be found via this link:
Think Yellow
Think Yellow!
On Tuesday 23rd March it’s the National Day of Reflection. One year since the first lockdown began.
We are putting yellow streamers at St James’ and at 8.00pm come and see St Bartholomew’s turn yellow. It’s the moment of evening reflection.
At 12.00 noon Rev John will be marking a minute’s silence outside the door of St Bartholomew’s.
