Castleford Team Parish

Parish Magazine - November 2014

50p

The churches of: All Saints, Church Street, Castleford, All Saints, Lumley Street, Hightown; St Michael & All Angels, St Michaels Close, Smawthorne and St Paul the Apostle, Pontefract Road, Glasshoughton.

CLERGY Rector:

Fr. Michael Wood, 01977 518127 The Rectory, 15 Barnes Road, Castleford WF10 5AA team.rector@castlefordteamparish.org.uk

Team Vicar:

Fr. Mark Watkins, 01977 511659 The Vicarage, St Michaels Close, Castleford WF10 4EY team.vicar@castlefordteamparish.org.uk

Asst. Curate:

Fr. Kevin Greaves, 01977 512404 The Vicarage, Churchfield Lane, Glasshoughton WF10 4BP curate@castlefordteamparish.org.uk

Polish Priest:

Fr. Gregory Ruszczynski, 07842 883648

Lay Pastoral Minister:

Mrs Lynda Maw 01977 518078

Parish Office: (Enquiries for Baptisms)

Saturdays at 10.00-10.30am at All Saint’s Church, Castleford.

Editor, Magazine & Pew Sheets (including Diary Dates):

Andrew Goyns, 01924 898593

magazine@castlefordteamparish.org.uk

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(continued on page 4)

THE RECTOR’S LETTER

Dear Friends,

I am nothing if not predictable. Every year I mention that November is often referred to as “the month of the holy souls.” This year we will have begun our commemoration slightly early because our annual memorial service is at the end of October not in November, but that doesn’t matter, it actually gives us a little longer to reflect.

It is right to remember, it is part of our human make-up that we re-member and it is something which we do often instinctively at any time and in many different places but it is especially good to remem-ber at more formal times and more formal occasions as well. It is even more appropriate to remember this year as we commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War.

Remembering takes us through the whole sphere of emotions and at times that can even include anger and hatred as well as joy and happi-ness. As we bring all who have died before God we also bring togeth-er our feelings and present them at the same time saying “We are as you made us, together help us to make something even better” In doing that the month of the holy souls becomes, not a time of sad-ness but instead becomes a time of great hope.

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(continued from page 3)

When I was a young choir boy one of my favourite anthems we sang at this time of year was “The Souls of the Righteous,” it is based on words from the Book of Wisdom:

“The souls of the righteous are in the hands of God and there shall no torment touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die and their departure is taken for misery but they are in peace. For though they punished in the sight of men yet is their hope full of immortality; for God has proved them and found them worthy of himself….. they shall have dominion over the people and their Lord shall reign for ever.”

May we ever continue to remember.

With my love and prayers.

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A new feature courtesy of Parish Pump Youth Ministry expert Martin Saun-ders write passionately about the need for churches to re-embrace work with young people.

YOUTH WORK FROM SCRATCH

Youth ministry is in crisis. Fewer churches are working with teenag-ers than at any time in the last 30 years, and the numbers of young people in the churches that do has fallen dramatically. Funding for projects and posts has been trimmed or cut altogether; a result of the financial challenges facing the church and society at large. Where youth workers are employed, more and more are being asked to mix specialisms and take responsibility for children’s ministry also.

Youth ministry is also getting harder. Where in previous generations there was a generous ambivalence toward the church from most non-Christian families, now the rise of aggressive secularism has changed the dynamic. When we meet a young person at 11, they may now define themselves as ‘atheist’, often spurred on by their parents. Even where that’s not an issue, the increasingly consumeristic, sexualised, individualised culture means that for a teenager, Christianity does not seem to offer a compelling worldview.

The trouble is that youth ministry has always been the canary in the mine. If our work with young people is in crisis now, then in just a few years, our whole church will be in crisis. Less young people now inevitably means fewer adults later. The pool of resource from which we draw our future leaders, missionaries, musicians, and of course, funders, is drying up before our eyes. We simply cannot afford to ignore the fact.

(continued on page 9)

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There are, thankfully, signs of hope. Around the UK, individual examples of excellence are flourishing, pointing the way to what could be. Innovative organisations such as Youth for Christ and Youthscape are investing in resourcing the church on the ground with new strategies that work. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby is just one of the national leaders who has recognised the problem, and is committing resource to tackling it.

Inevitably though, the battle for church youth work will be won or lost at a local level. The challenge is to normal people, in churches large and small: will you give your time and your energy to support young people in a life of faith? For the crisis to be averted, the 50% of churches who currently do no work with teenagers must now enter that arena. For the sake of young people, and the future health of the church, we simply cannot neglect youth ministry any longer.

(continued from page 8)

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CROSSWORD Across 1 and 20 Down ‘Lord of all — , Lord of all — , whose trust, ever child-like, no cares could destroy’ (11,3) 9 Moses’ question to a fighting Hebrew labour-er: ‘Why are you — your fellow Hebrew?’ (Exodus 2:13) (7) 10 Acclaimed cellist who contracted multiple sclerosis at the height of her fame, Jacqueline — (2,3) 11 ‘At even — the sun was set, the sick, O Lord, around thee lay’ (3) 13 A descendant of Gad (Numbers 26:16) (4) 16 ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but — for the gift my Father promised’ (Acts 1:4) (4) 17 Clambers (Jeremiah 48:44) (6) 18 Peter’s response to questioning by the Sanhedrin: ‘We must — God rather than men!’ (Acts 5:29) (4) 20 Christian paraplegic author, artist and campaigner, — Eareckson Tada (4) 21 Bird partial to the nests of other birds (6) 22 ‘Such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat — — ’ (Matthew 13:2) (2,2) 23 Infectious tropical disease (4) 25 Tree (3) 28 ‘No fear of me should — you, nor should my hand be heavy upon you’ (Job 33:7) (5) 29 For example, to Titus, Timothy or Philemon (7) 30 Week beginning with Pentecost Sunday, according to the Church’s calendar (11) Down 2 ‘O Jerusalem… how — I have longed to gather your children together’ (Matthew 23:37) (5) 3 Way out (4) 4 Exhort (Romans 12:1) (4) 5 Done (anag.) (4) 6 Highest of the four voice-parts in a choir (7) 7 Concerning the study of God (11) 8 Uniquely, it has Abbey, Cathedral and Chapel (11) 12 Admonish (Matthew 16:22) (6) 14 Frozen (3) 15 Established form of religious ceremony (6) 19 Inscription often found on gravestones (7) 20 See 1 Across 24 Behaved (Joshua 7:1) (5) 25 Time (anag.) (4) 26 Lists choice of meals (4) 27 ‘For the wages of sin is death, but the — of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Romans 6:23) (4)

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PUZZLES WORDSEARCH

November is a wis ul month, nged with sadness and good‐byes. The last of the leaves are falling, as the trees go to sleep for winter. It is a month of remembrance and poppies and le ng go. It is a month of bonfires for the 'Guy', and Thanksgiving for Americans. It is a month of remembering Saints and looking forward to triumph ‐ the church year ends with the joyful Sunday of Christ the King. Ad‐vent begins....looking forward to a Baby.

Poppies, Remembrance, Courage, Bravery, Flanders, Dead, Guns, War, Peace, Afghanistan, Iraq, Thanksgiving, Turkey, All, Saints, Ad‐vent, Leaves, Sadness, Angel, Mary, Elizabeth, Bonfire, Gunpowder, Guy

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The Rev Dr Gary Bowness continues his tongue-in-cheek letters from ‘Uncle Eustace’…

ON WHY THE C OF E SHOULD NEVER COMBINE PARISHES

The Rectory

St. James the Least

My dear Nephew Darren

I suppose it had to come, but combining parishes is now firmly on the agenda for our villages. I had always wondered what the first Earl of Stowe was trying to prove, building a church here in 1347 to accommodate 800 people when the total population has never exceeded 250. In the short term – which in this village is measured in centuries - it seems to have been to house the tombs of his 13 successors. I now realise it was to make uniting with adjoining parishes in the twenty-first century more difficult. Clearly the first Earl had formidable foresight. None of our neighbouring churches seem too keen to share their reserves to help maintain our cathedral-sized building.

The threat of the closure of St. Herve the Bard has, inevitably, caused outrage – not so much from its regular congregation of three, but from all those in the village who would never think of attending. People do so like to have a church not to go to.

St. Bregowine, built by a wealthy parishioner in the 19th century because she did not like the high church practices of the parish church of St. Iwig, is refusing to re-unite, even though the two churches stand only 100 yards apart, in a village with a diameter of 300 yards. If only they could get over the trauma of seeing the incumbent putting water

(continued on page 15)

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(Continued from page 14)

in the wine on Easter Day in 1894. Although it must be conceded that the Bregowinians were equally affronted that when the daughter church opened in 1895, they found that the Iwigers had provided no brass troughs at the end of the pews for umbrellas. That they have subsequently refused to install them has only compounded the offence.

Meanwhile St. Plegmund is in discussions with the Church of South India as a way of avoiding uniting with anyone. Should it happen, I will be interested to see what travelling expenses the new incumbent claims. It will be difficult to tell when the present incumbent resigns, as he has not been seen at a clerical meeting for the last 30 years. Some of my colleagues suspect he is mythical, that a bloodless coup took place in the 1980s and that the church is now entirely run by the Mother’s Union.

The church of St. Maximus of Constantinople in our nearest town has rather grandly offered to take all of our churches under its wing, but as a parishioner has pointed out: how could we possibly consider joining with a parish that fought on the other side at the Battle of Bosworth.

In the meantime, we will serenely carry on, as we seem to have done for the past six centuries; parish mergers and reductions in numbers of clergy seem to be of less interest than debating the suggestion that we change the brand of coffee served after Services.

Your loving uncle,

Eustace

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DEMENTIA TRAINING DAY

Saturday 8th November 2014

Hightown Hall

The day will be led by Dr Ken Adams

of the charity “Livability”

Programme

10.00am Coffee/Tea

10.30am How Dementia can affect you and your family “Being Dementia Aware”.

12.00noon LUNCH (which is provided)

1.00pm Being Dementia Aware and Friendly Church

3.00pm Close

We expect the day to have concluded by 3pm. Please can you spare some time to be with us for this very important piece of work. We also ask you to invite your family and friends who might benefit from this time together.

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DEMENTIA AND PRAYER Prayer, like music, can often reach the deepest part of a person’s soul. It is no different for someone with dementia. Long after many abilities have slipped away, music and prayer can sometimes remain. Both are learned early in life and have so many repetitions in the years that follow, so that a person even in the later stages of dementia can spontaneously participate. It is often seen by the clergy when they take communion in our local homes that people who have very little memory remaining can still join in when we say the Lord’s Prayer Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will -- all that I have and call my own. You have given it all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace. That is enough for me. -- Ignatius of Loyola

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DIARY DATES FOR NOVEMBER

Saturday 1st - 9.30am Castleford, Mass of All Saints

10am-Noon Coffee Morning at Hightown to support the work of the British Legion in this Centenary Year of the outbreak of World War One.

Sunday 2nd - Morning services as usual.

4.30pm HIGHTOWN 150th CELEBRATION. Sung Mass Celebrant Bishop Tony followed by an Anniversary Cake reception.

Wednesday 5th - 5.30pm at St Michaels Bonfire Night Pie & Pea Supper with Quiz

Saturday 8th - 10.00am for 10.30am at Hightown Hall Dementia Awareness Training Day (see page 16)

Sunday 9th - REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

Morning services as usual.

Act of Remembrance at the Cenotaph 11am followed by Civic Service in Castleford Parish Church.

Monday 10th - Rosary Prayer Group The Rosary Prayer Group will meet in the Lady Chapel at St Pauls at 7pm

Saturday 15th - St Michael’s Christmas Fayre 2pm

Saturday 22nd - Hightown Christmas Fayre 2pm

Saturday 29th - St Paul’s Christmas Fayre 2pm

Sunday 30th - ADVENT SUNDAY

Parish Mass at Hightown 10am

6.30pm Advent Carols at Hightown followed by sherry & shortbread.

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READINGS FOR NOVEMBER

2nd November - ALL SAINTS DAY (transferred) The Fourth Sunday before Advent (W)

Revelation: 7: 9-17 Psalm : 34: 1-10 1 John: 3: 1-3 Matthew: 5: 1-12;

9th November - The Third Sunday before Advent (G)

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY Wisdom: 6: 12-16 Psalm: 70: 1 Thessalonians: 4: 13-18 Matthew: 25: 1-13;

16th November - The Second Sunday before Advent (G) Zephaniah: 1: 7, 12-18 Psalm: 90: 1-12 1 Thessalonians: 5: 1-11 Matthew: 25: 14-30;

23rd November - CHRIST THE KING The Sunday next before Advent (W) Ezekiel: 34: 11-16, 20-24; Psalm: 100: Ephesians: 1: 15-23; Matthew: 25: 31-46;

30th November - The First |Sunday of Advent (P) Isaiah: 64: 1-9; Psalm: 60: 1-7, 16-18 1 Corinthians: 1: 3-9; Mark: 13: 24-37.

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(continued on page 21)

HYMN: The story behind …

ABIDE WITH ME

One of the most famous hymns in the world came out of Brixham, near Torbay, Devon, in 1847. In those days it was a poor, obscure fishing village, and the vicar was the Rev Henry Francis Lyte. It was a discouraging place to be a pastor, but Henry felt that God wanted him there, and so he stayed, though it was lonely work, and he suffered constant ill health. By the time he was 54, Henry had contracted tuberculosis and asthma, and he and his family knew he was dying. It would have been so easy for him to look back on his life and feel a complete failure. What had he ever much accomplished? And yet – and yet – Henry knew that in life it is not worldly success that matters, but how much we respond to Jesus Christ, and how much we follow him.

In September of 1847 Henry was preparing to travel to the south of France, as was the custom for people with tuberculosis at that time. One day before he left, he read the story in the gospel of Luke about the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They were met by Jesus on the day of his resurrection, and they invited him to stay with them because it was getting late. “Abide with us”, they said “for it is towards evening.”

“Abide with us - for it is toward evening.” These words struck a chord with Henry, who knew that it was getting ‘towards evening’ in his life. So he sat down and wrote this hymn as a prayer to God – (the following are just some of the verses)

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(Continued from page 20)

Abide with me Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide! When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me. I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless; Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness. Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Shortly after Henry wrote that hymn, he preached his last sermon. He was so ill he practically crawled into the pulpit to do so. A few weeks later, in Nice, France, he died, and so of course he never knew that his hymn would go on to become world famous, and that nearly 100 years later it would be the last hymn played by the brave musicians on board the Titanic the night it went down.

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(continued on page 23)

SO WHY ARE THERE STILL NO WOMEN BISHOPS IN THE CofE?

It’s a reasonable question. After all, the General Synod passed all the necessary legislation for women bishops in the Church of England on 14 July. Unfortunately, some might say, there’s a lot more to be done before the first woman can be ordained/consecrated bishop.

Part of the compact that goes with being the established church in England is that Parliament gets a say in every piece of new legislation the General Synod puts forward. It’s complicated but it generally works.

The Legislative Committee of the Synod sends a report explaining the new legislation to the Ecclesiastical Committee of Parliament. If that committee finds the legislation ‘expedient’, it then goes to both Houses of Parliament. The House of Lords and House of Commons can’t change the legislation: they can only vote on it. If both Houses pass the legislation, it then goes to Her Majesty The Queen for Royal Assent before it becomes law.

Then there has to be a vacancy for a woman to fill. Unlike deacons and priests, who are ordained while in training and then apply for posts, bishops are only consecrated once they are appointed. The new legislation makes it legal to appoint a woman as a bishop. It doesn’t require it. England was the last of the UK’s Anglican churches to approve women bishops. Only the Church of Ireland, so far, has appointed one.

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(Continued from page 22)

Appointing a bishop takes time in itself. A role and person specification has to be drawn up and the vacancy advertised and meetings arranged so that views and suggestions can be considered. A long list of suitable clergy is considered and reduced to a short list by the CNC (Crown Nominations Commission) for a diocesan bishop or an advisory group for a suffragan/assistant bishop. And these groups have to be elected or appointed first.

Those on the short list are interviewed and, through prayer and voting, a preferred candidate chosen. For a diocesan bishop, they must be supported by at least two-thirds of the Commission.

And the process continues. If the chosen candidate accepts, there are DBS and medical checks to complete before the name is passed to The Queen via the Prime Minister. Once The Queen has approved the nomination, a date is agreed with Downing St to announce the name. Only on that date does the name become public.

So, while the newspapers and bookies make up lists of who might become the first woman bishop in England, the one remaining question is will she be appointed as a suffragan/assistant bishop or be given a whole diocese to care for? The CNC has five diocesan bishops to consider between now and next summer – St Edmundsbury & Ipswich, Southwell & Nottingham, Gloucester, Oxford and Newcastle. Time will tell.

(These processes in detail can be read at https://www.churchofengland.org/clergy-office-holders/asa/senappt.aspx

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ALL SAINTS’ DAY

THE FEAST DAY OF ALL THE REDEEMED

All Saints, or All Hallows, is the feast of all the redeemed, known and unknown, who are now in heaven. When the English Reformation took place, the number of saints in the calendar was drastically reduced, with the result that All Saints’ Day stood out with a prominence that it had never had before.

This feast day first began in the East, perhaps as early as the 5th century, as commemorating ‘the martyrs of the whole world’. A Northern English 9th century calendar named All Hallows as a principal feast, and such it has remained. Down the centuries devotional writers have seen in it the fulfilment of Pentecost and indeed of Christ’s redemptive sacrifice and resurrection.

The saints do not belong to any religious tradition, and their lives and witness to Christ can be appreciated by all Christians. Richard Baxter, writing in the 17th century, wrote the following:

He wants not friends that hath thy love, And made converse and walk with thee, And with thy saints here and above, With whom for ever I must be...

As for my friends, they are not lost; The several vessels of thy fleet, Though parted now, by tempests tost, Shall safely in thy haven meet....

The heavenly hosts, world without end, Shall be my company above; And thou, my best and surest Friend, Who shall divide me from thy love?*

1,255 ancient English churches were dedicated to All Saints - a number only surpassed by those dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

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(continued on page 27)

FEATURE - Notes & Pictures provided by David Field:

THE POCKET BOOK OF FRED PINCHER 1917-1918

Extracts from a pocket book kept by David Field’s maternal Grandfather Fred Pincher. PART EIGHT

Thursday 7th February. Our last day in Ypers tomorrow morning we leave for Reninghelst, after that we are bound for St Quentin district as far as we know. We have been here at Ypres for just four weeks and on the whole have had a pretty decent time with a few narrow squeaks. I have been within about two kilometers of the trenches and what was once Zonnebeke Village but now is a heap of ruins. It is amazing to see the signposts that have been put up at the different corners such as Hell Fire Corner, Idiot Corner and Devil’s Crossing names given by the Tommies that have stuck.

Friday 8th February. We arrive at Reninghelst a busy little place. I attended the pictures in the evening.

Saturday 9th February. We are on fatigues work, six of us went to Blendecques to load an engine for the Cinema, from there we went to St Omer and take train back to Poperinge. From there we have to walk to our new billets at Cauthone Chateau near Proven. We are to stay here for a few days, a lovely place, it is the residence of a Count. The Chateau stands in its own grounds with a lovely lake and surrounded by trees, it is most pleasing to the eye.

PARISH WEBSITE

www.castlefordteamparish.org.uk

For those who use a computer, are you aware that the parish has a website? You can now view the weekly Pew Sheets online and the Diary Dates and Calendar are up to date.

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Sunday 17th February and Monday 18th February. We left Proven on the Sunday arriving at Villers Bretoneau the following day after a train journey of fifteen hours and a walk of seven miles. We passed through Albert on our journey, where young Fred is buried (Fred’s younger step brother) the town is nothing but a mass of ruins.

Spending a nice time at Villers Bretoneau, given the job of Orderley at the ADMS about two hours work each morning with the remain-der of the day to myself either for reading or writing or going for a ramble around the countryside.

Friday 1st March. We left for Hancourt a march of about a thirty miles which took us three days, the first night we rested at Harbon-niers at an old farm. The second night we rested at Villers Carbon-nel at the RFC camp called Miserie Camp, here we attend a concert with expences paid by the Captain.

(continued from page 26)

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PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

CROSSWORD WORDSEARCH

SUDOKU SOLUTIONS

EASY INTERMEDIATE

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HIGH DAYS AND HOLY DAYS IN NOVEMBER

2 ALL SAINTS DAY (transferred)

3 All Souls Day (transferred)

Richard Hooker, Priest, Anglican Apologist,Teacher,1600

6 Leonard, Hermit, 6th century;

William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury, Teacher, 1944

7 Willibrand of York, Bishop, Apostle of Frisia, 739

8 The Saints and Martyrs of England

10 Leo the Great, Bishop of Rome, Teacher, 461

11 Martin, Bishop of Tours, c.397

13 Charles Simeon, Priest, Evangelical Divine, 1836

14 Samuel Seabury, first Anglican Bishop in North America. 1796

17 Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln, 1200

18 Elizabeth of Hungary, Princess of Thuringia, Philanthropist, 1231

19 Hilda, Abbess of Whitby, 680

20 Edmund, King of East Anglia, Martyr, 870

22 Cecilia, Martyr at Rome. C.230

23 CHRIST THE KING

25 Catherine of Alexandria, Martyr, 4th century;

Isaac Watts, Hymn Writer, 1748

29 Day of Intercession and Thanksgiving for the Missionary Work of the Church

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CHURCHWARDENS

David Field, Castleford: 01977 707120

Mavis Whitehead, St Paul’s 01977 550529

Pauline Morris, St Michaels 01977 668790

Ian Fletcher, Hightown 01977 550139

DEPUTY CHURCHWARDENS

Hilary Wilkes, Castleford: 01977 733554

Colin Maw, St Paul’s:

01977 518078

Emma J Lisle, St Michael’s

Vacant, Hightown

Our Churches in Castleford Team Parish

All Saints, Church Street, Castleford

All Saints, Lumley Street, Castleford (Hightown)

St Michael & All Angels, St Michaels Close, Castleford

St Paul the Apostle, Pontefract Road,

Glasshoughton

PARISH OFFICERS PCC Secretary: Mrs Mavis Whitehead 01977 550529 PCC Treasurer: Mr Andrew Goyns 01924 898593

Stewardship & Gift Aid Secretary:

Mr Arnold Randall 01977 278611

Family & Children’s Worker

Mrs Karen Richardson 01977 552524

SERVICES All Saints’ Castleford

SUNDAY

Mass (Said) 8.00am

Sung Mass (except last in month) 9.30am

Tuesday

Mass (Said) 7.00pm

Saturday

Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary 9.30am

All Saints’ Hightown SUNDAY (except last in month)

Sung Mass 10.45am

Wednesday

Mass (Said) 7.00pm

Saint Michael and All Angels SUNDAY (except last in month)

Sung Mass 10.45am

Thursday

Mass (Said) 10.00am

Saint Paul’s, Glasshoughton SUNDAY (except last in month)

Sung Mass 9.30am

Wednesday

Mass (Said) 10.00am

LAST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH:

Combined Parish Mass at 10.00am - ( see diary section for venue )

FOR MAJOR SAINTS’ DAYS IN ALL CHURCHES