Dear Friends,
We have celebrated the birth of Jesus and now as we move through the Season of EPIPHANY we gradually discover God at work in and through this tiny, helpless, vulnerable baby. A baby who grew to be a man whose living and loving, welcome and acceptance, questions and challenges led him to death on a Roman cross. But we know this wasn’t / this isn’t the end of the story . . . as we look forward to EASTER with its message of new life and resurrection hope leading to the enabling Spirit welcomed at PENTECOST. In a nutshell isn’t this the GOSPEL GOOD NEWS? Isn’t this the HOPE at the heart of our life and faith?
How much we need it!
In a deeply conflicted world, it is easy to be burdened with many things. And in spite of our relative comfort it is easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless. And yet, we know that in many ways we are so very fortunate, and we do indeed count our blessings.
I think it was Alex Walker who reminded us when leading a service, not to dwell on the past nor fret about the future but to remember that it is TODAY that matters. How we live and what we do – TODAY – now.
During the pandemic and its aftermath, we discovered / rediscovered how much we need one another. As churches we need our buildings as places of hospitality and welcome and love but we know that in the end it is US – YOU and ME – WHO ARE THE CHURCH – God’s people – walking the way of Jesus – God with us.
This year as we move towards LENT 2025, as we see the first shoots of green push up through the dark soil, signs of hope and new life, let us continue to support one another in church, in partnership, in community.
And above all let us recognise the activity of God in our midst, let us name and rejoice in it.
In love and peace,
Angela
(Leeds URC Partnership Ministry Team)
CALENDAR | |||
FEBRUARY | |||
2nd | SUNDAY | 9.30am | Morning Worship at Headingley Methodist Church |
9th | SUNDAY | 10.45am | Morning Worship led by Rev Tim Lowe, St Andrew’s Roundhay Leeds URC Partnership Ministry Team |
11th | Tuesday | 12.30pm | Guild Lunch |
12th | Wednesday | 9.30am | Elders’ Meeting |
16th | SUNDAY | 10.45am | Morning Worship led by Rev Phil Chilvers |
23rd | SUNDAY | 10.45am | Morning Worship, including the Sacrament of Holy Communion, led by our Minister, Rev Dr Nicola Robinson, and Rev Joshua Peckett, St Michael’s Headingley |
MARCH | |||
2nd | SUNDAY | 10.45am | Morning Worship led by Rev Phil Chilvers We shall be joined by our friends from Headingley Methodist Church |
GUILD LUNCH
Another warm welcome for those able to join us for our lunch on Tuesday, 11th February. Sadly two of our friends who joined us regularly are now finding the building too difficult to negotiate and will no longer be with each month and we shall miss their company, so if you have thought about it and have a free Tuesday, why not join us? February is usually the month of our Pancake Lunch, but Easter is so late this year that Shrove Tuesday falls on the first Tuesday March; we’ll keep them warm!
LENT
As Lent commences early in March, just a reminder to there will be a Partnership Lent Course and ‘Churches Together’ Lent Lunches.
The Partnership course will be held in person in South Leeds and Roundhay during the day and by Zoom in the evening. The book chosen for discussion is ‘God on Mute’ by Pete Greig.
The Lunches will be held on Fridays at the different participating churches and each church will provide a speaker and lunch will be on a Bring & Share basis.
Full details next month.
CANDLEMAS
Christmas seems to come very early here; all the decorations have been up for months, celebrations happen in the ‘lead-up’ to the big day and by Boxing Day it is all sales and next year’s holiday.
In the church, Advent is a time of thoughtful preparation with the celebrations starting on Christmas Day and, for many churches, extending to Candlemas on 6th February when the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem is remembered.
Mary and Joseph do as the Law bids, bringing their first-born son to be dedicated to God. Simeon and Anna feel compelled to be there to witness the dedication of this baby, just 40 days old, and both proclaim him as a Saviour – a Messiah. As Simeon holds the baby in his arms, he speaks the words of what we now call the ‘Nunc dimittis’ where he proclaims that Jesus is to be a light for the whole world. A wonderful image of an old man, feeling his life complete, as he acknowledges the new life to come.
Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people;
A light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.
I cannot hear these wonderful, consoling words without hearing the music composed by Geoffrey Burgon to accompany them for the 1970’s serialisation of John le Carre’s spy novel Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy’ in my head. It had a haunting quality and did not seem a profane use of biblical words for the story of this quiet man methodically trying to unravel a web of treachery. His version is still used by church choirs; it is unlikely that Burgon expected this outcome as he composed the theme music for a television serial.
In his ‘Sonnet for Candlemas’, Malcolm Guite paints a vivid picture of life in the Temple on that day.
They came, as called, according to the Law.
Though they were poor and had to keep things simple,
They moved in grace, in quietness, in awe,
For God was coming with them to His temple.
Amidst the outer court’s commercial bustle
They’d waited hours, enduring shouts and shoves,
Buyers and sellers, sensing one more hustle,
Had made a killing on the two young doves.
They come at last with us to Candlemas
And keep the day the prophecies came true
We glimpse with them, amidst our busyness,
The peace that Simeon and Anna knew.
For Candlemas still keeps His kindled light,
Against the dark our Saviour’s face is bright.
Permission granted by Malcolm Guite to reproduce his poetry.