Salendine Nook Baptist Church Nook News · Salendine Nook Baptist Church - Nook News Page 4 This Christmas, why don’t you give a little thought to your own traditions, listen to

Salendine Nook BaptistChurch

Nook News

Christmas 2019

Page 1 Salendine Nook Baptist Church - Nook News

Sunday Services Morning Service - 10:30am

Christmas Events - 2019You will be most welcome to join us at any of our events.

Saturday 14th December - 10am - 1pm - Christmas Coffee Morning with Tower Brass

Saturday 14th December - 7:30pm - Concert with Huddersfield Wind Band

Sunday - 15th December - 10:30am - Advent Service

Monday - 16th December - 7pm - Carol Singing in Salendine Nook Shopping Centre

Sunday - 22nd December - 10:30 - Family Advent Service

Sunday - 22nd December - 3pm - Christingle Carol Service

Tuesday - 24th December - 7pm - Christmas Eve Carol Service

Wednesday - Chrismas Day - 10:30am - Christmas Morning Service

Sunday 29th December -10:30am - Service

Salendine Nook Baptist Church - Nook News Page 2

A Thought From Your PastorDear Friends

As I write in this special Christmas Magazine for you, I am thinking of Christmas and the variety of choices that I have to make. One of those choices is what Carols I and we will sing over this Christmas period. There are so many to choose from that it would be great to be able to sing them all; but in reality that would be impossible. I wonder what your favourite carol is; maybe it’s a well known one such as ‘Joy to the World’ or maybe a little bit less well known, like ‘The Calypso Carol.’ So much choice, and yet they all seem to want to convey the same message and truth; that Jesus came into this world and lived among us.

I’m looking forward to this Christmas as it means that I am able to celebrate the birth of Jesus once again – how about you? I’m also looking forward to this being our first Christmas together, with me as your new Pastor at Salendine Nook.

The central figure of every Nativity scene is the baby Jesus; God incarnate within our world.

For, at the heart of every celebration at Christmas time is the amazing fact that Jesus was born for me and for you. That God ‘so loved the world that He gave His only Son . . .’ (John 3 v. 16a).

John in his Gospel in John 1 v. 1 – 18, expresses in such a way the ‘incarnation’ of Jesus that fullness of God’s love for us should never be lost. The love - gift of Christ is given freely, not with a cost to it, except your heart. I think there is something wonderful and amazing about Jesus being born in our hearts.

There is something special and unique about having Jesus as our Saviour. We may not have riches on earth, but in Jesus, we have the riches of the Kingdom of heaven before us. So let me challenge us this Christmas ~ Will you choose the annual celebration of Christmas that comes but once a year OR will you choose Jesus, who will be with you forever.

Your friend and Pastor - Ian


A THOUGHT FOR CHRISTMASBy

OLGA LOVELL

What image comes to mind when you hear the words ‘Traditions’. For some of you it will be full of stiff, stuffy, old-fashioned or out of date pictures. However, others may find traditions comforting and spirit lifting. One thing is for sure though, they don’t just happen overnight.

For something to become a tradition, it is repeated over and over again, over a long period of time. Even if we do find the word ‘tradition’ limiting, it is part of all of our lives.

Let me share with you one of our traditions that happens in the ‘Lovell’ household.

Many years ago we bought a book to read to our 2 boys at the time. The book was called ‘The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey’ by Susan Wojciechowski. The book tells the tale of Jonathan, viewed by the people who live in his village, as a grumpy old man and the widow McDowell. She and her son have moved to the village, and have lost something very precious in the move. They call on Jonathan and ask him to use his skills in order to make a replacement of the item they had lost. It is a tale of gentle persistence, love and healing.

The book has exquisite illustrations that enhance the text and really captured our children’s attention.

Usually, on Christmas Eve, or one night in Christmas week, we would curl up on the sofa with a special hot chocolate and share this delightful book together. As the other 3 boys came along, they also joined us on the sofa. As time has gone by, the boys themselves have become the orators of the book, as they have read this wonderful story to the rest of us in the room.

Like many traditions, we never set out to make one, but it naturally developed. It is something we now look forward to every Christmas. It brings comfort, warmth and even just the mention of the book brings smiles to our faces.


This Christmas, why don’t you give a little thought to your own traditions, listen to how your mind and body responds to them and connect with those around you. The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey has helped many to understand the teachings of Jesus.

C HRISTMAS carols, or festive songs, might be based on fancy, forgotten traditions, or faith. Good King Wenceslas stands out from the others in that it is actually about a real human being. He was a duke rather than a

king, but the song got the other detail right: he really was good!

As a Christian in a pagan family he tried to live the faith in the most practical ways. He regularly fed the hungry, and the notion of him taking firewood to the poor in the depths of winter fits right in with what is known about him.

Unfortunately, the world he lived in was not as kind as his heart was. He was killed in a power struggle before he had time to grow old, but the ordinary people remembered him with love - even to the extent of singing about him.

In the song, a page-boy follows in his footsteps, and is warmed by them. But Wenceslas would never have thought of himself as the example to be followed. He was following a higher example, and learning as he did so.

If we would be a force for good in this world, we might be inspired by the deeds of others, but when we look for an example, we might as well choose the best. Walk in the footsteps of the One whose footsteps Good King Wenceslas followed.

The page-boy felt warmed in the snow by following his Duke. What wonders might we experience, walking behind the King of Peace and Love?


Why do we put up Christmas trees? Where do they come from and what, if anything, do they mean?

Well the usual answer to the first question is:“It was Prince Albert. He introduced them”.

Whilst that may be true up to a point it is clear that Albert did not originate the concept. Where did he get the idea from?

Albert came, as is well known, from Germany.

He was not the first person from that part of the world to join the British Royal Family.

It may well have been Queen Charlotte, consort of George Ill who first set up a Christmas Tree in the Royal Household.

Albert, however, assisted by a cover story in the Illustrated London News in 1848, should rightly have most of the credit for popularising Christmas trees more widely in this country.

The German origins of Christmas tree in its current form certainly date back to the sixteenth century when Christians are reported to have brought decorated trees into their houses at Christmas time.

Some people believe that the origins are even earlier.

It is said that pagans in Northern Europe and Scandinavia used to regard the Oak tree as sacred.

Early Christian missionaries, including, St Boniface (who was born in Wessex) are said to have used the triangular outline of fir trees to illustrate the doctrine of the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Sometimes the tree was decorated with apples, to represent the forbidden fruit and these developed over time into the round baubles that we see today.

There is also a story that Martin Luther, the founder of Protestantism, first decorated his family’s tree with candles after seeing trees outside against a starlight sky.

However they came into being Christmas trees are now firmly established in our lives.


They appear in private homes, places of work, in public places and in places of worship.

There is nothing to say that they must be real or live or even green, it is the shape that matters not what they are made of.

Some are decorated sparsely and some lavishly.

Some are tiny and stand in the middle of a dinner table. Some are enormous and dominate public squares.

Whether there is an Angel on the top or a star largely depends on family tradition.

CHRISTMASTIME

What does Christmas mean to us,Does it mean a lot of fuss?

Gifts to buy and cards to write,A Christmas tree with candles bright,A turkey plump, mince pies to bake;With outward signs we all partake.We rush around, no time to pray,“ Oh, that can wait another day.”But stop awhile, just think it out

What Christmas Day is all about,The day a tiny child was born,In stable bare, and so forlorn,

The King of Kings who reigns aboveCane down to bless us with his love.


Open ChurchThe second Saturday in the month is the coffee morning - 10am to 12 noon when the Church will be open for anyone to look round, have quiet

time, or to pray.

Nook SnippetsPlease support

the Monthly Coffee Mornings on the Second Saturday of every month,

from 10am to 12noon.

The Church has wi-fi installed. This is

password protected.

The login code is snbch-1743.

For those who have looked at the Church website in the past, we have recently been able to add a new version of the site specifically designed for mobile devices, with the same information

available, but viewable on mobile phone screens. The web-address is the same - www.snbch.org.uk

Salendine Nook Baptist Church

If you have any suggestions on items for services, hymns, or notice a issue with the fabric of the Church, etc. etc., please put it

in the Suggestion box in the Church entrance area.

Coffee Morning Everyone Welcome


Peace, perfect peace

Have you ever felt at peace, real peace and total happiness?Then give thanks to the Lord for you are truly blessed.

Have you ever sung a hymn, and felt it was written just for you?Then say thanks and Hallelujah, God is speaking to you too.

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the nightThought of something bad that has given you a fright?

Then realised there really is, no need for any fearBecause the Lord is with you, and holds you very dear.Have you ever felt so lucky, ‘this really can’t be true,’As Jesus makes so many things happen just for you?

Then God is walking with you and you are greatly blessedAnd now maybe it’s your time to witness amongst the rest.There’s many people out there, that don’t know Jesus yet

Just think how happy God will be, if one more we can get.


Margaret Newman wishes all her friends at Nook a Happy Christmas and a peaceful and

healthy New Year

Christmas Greetings to All the Fellowship

Wishing You Joy and Peace this Christmas and Every

Blessing in the Coming Year

Colin

Christmas


Betty wishes all friends

a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New

Year

Greetings

A Happy

Christmas and a Peaceful New

Year to Everyone in Church.

Margaret and Alexander

Wishing You Joy and Peace

this Christmas and Every Blessing in the Coming Year

From Ethel Millman

Best Wishes at this Christmas Time.

To All my friends at Nook.

Happy Christmas and a Great New Year

From Steve

Wishing Everyone a Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year.

Love from Molly


Commonwealth War Graves

Did you realise that we have 8 Commonwealth War Graves in our Churchyard - there are more whose lives are commemorated on grave stones, but only eight people are buried here.

Cynthia Daniel has done a lot of work looking at the eight, plus the others.

I borrowed her work, and felt that we should be honouring there sacrifice.

At the Scout meeting on the Friday before the remembrance day 2019, the Scouts split into four groups and looked at the information about the eight. Each group then told the rest of the troop about the two they had selected.

The discussions with the Scouts brought out the following facts:-• that there were six from the First World War, and three from the Second

World War.• one was under 18 years when he died, and most were in their 20’s.• that one was a Spitfire Pilot.• that one had received the Distinguished Flying Cross.• that we should remember those who had died during the wars.• that Frank Lockwood would have been flying a bi-plane.

When we had done this we went into the graveyard and placed a cross on each of the graves. We also put one by the plaque on the organ in the Church for the organist who was killed.

Hopefully this is something that we will do each year.

The eight lads whose graves are in our Churchyard are:-• Private Edgar Cliffe - Army Service Corps, who died on 24th January 1916,

aged 24 years.• Gunner Charles E Crowther, Royal Garrison Artillery, who died on 12th

August 1918, aged 32 years.• Private Thomas Field, Durham Light Infantry, who died on 6th February

1920, aged 42 years.• Pilot Officer Geoffrey N Gaunt, 609 Sqdn, Royal Air Force (Auxillary Air

Force), who died on 15th September 1940, aged 24 years.• Second Lieutenant Frank Lockwood, Royal Flying Corps, who died on 4th

November 1917, aged 18 years.• Bombadier Harold Oates, Royal Field Artillery, who died on 20th July 1917,


aged 23 years.• Flight Lieutenant John E Sanderson D.F.C., Royal Air Force Volunteer

Reserve, who died on 24th March 1944, aged 23.• Leading Seaman Frank Wood, Royal Navy, who died on 10th July 1945,

aged 32 years.and• Private Arthur Wilkinson, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment),

who is commenorated at Tyne Cot Memorial near Passendale, West Flanders, Belgium, who died on 11th April 1918, aged 25 year - Arthur was the Church Organist - with a commenorative plaque on the organ.

BUT, the story doesn’t stop there!

On Thursday, 14th November, I received a phone call from a lady, Val Birrell, in Dorset.

She said that she was the last remaining relative of a Spitfire pilot who was buried in the Churchyard.

I said “ Who - Geoffrey Gaunt?”

She said “ How do you know him?”

I explained what the Scouts had done the Friday before - she was so impressed that we were remembering those men that had lost their lives in the two conflicts. She told me that she had a picture frame as a memorial to Geoffrey that the family had put together many years ago.

I sent Val a copy of the work that Cynthia had done, along with photographs of his grave. She sent me a copy of the families momorial.

She also sent the following email:-Hi John,I cannot begin to thank you enough for sending me all the wonderful information about Geoff —my father — Rex Masons very close cousin. I have grown up seeing this photo of him and the crew all my life and I remember so many happy stories my father told me about him. David Crook has written some books on ‘his men’ so I must get one. I was just so interested in all the information you so kindly gave me. I have to admit I had many tears reading it all but I do thank you so very much for giving up all your time to this. My father was the elder brother of James and Colin was the middle one. My


father was in the Duke of Wellington Regiment and Colin was in the Navy — sunk at least twice and in the same ship as Peter Scott. I do wonder where the lovely medals are? I’d love to have seen them. If there is any thing I can help you with — please let me know. We have just put a War Grave in our church yard here in Dorset. Do give my best Wishes to your scouts— they are very special boys and I am thrilled to hear that they were interested in Geoffrey Gaunt.With so many thanks again.With best Wishes, - Val (Mason) Birrell.

Some of you may recognise the name ‘James Mason’ noted above. The family home was Croft House, Marsh.

In the book by David Crook DFC, he quotes “They last saw Geoff following Michael into the attack, after that he was never seen alive again. He had either been hit by the rear-gunners in the bombers (Michael came under very heavy fire from them) or, nore probably, in his intense desire to destroy a bomber, he stayed too long firing at them and was destroyed by the Me.100’s from behind.”

I’m sure that if anyone has anymore information that Val would be most grateful to receive it.

As part of the interest in the Commonwealtn Graves, I have been in contact with the Commonwealth War Graves Comission about getting a plaque to recognise the Churchyard, and possibly an information board about the “Eight” who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Lest We ForgetThey shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn;At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,

We will remember them.


HOLLYThose of us who live in Western Europe associate holly with Christmas decorations. The dark green, shiny leaves and lipstick-red berries start beckoning my attention from October or November onwards. Then it is a race to see which gets there first – the birds or my eager hands. I usually forget to wear gloves, and the barbed leaves prickle and hurt, however gingerly they are carried. But the swathes and garlands for the home adequately compensate for the wounds inflicted!

Many of us tend to be prickly too. All too often we hurt one another. Misunderstandings and thoughtlessness can really get under our skins, not to mention the barbed remarks from our unruly tongues. I could often bite mine off – wishing things unsaid!

Christmas is a good time to remember God’s message of peace and goodwill to all humankind. With his help our lives can bear the fruit of love, patience and self - control, as berries on the holly bough.

‘We love because he first loved us.

(1 John Chapter 4 v 19)

Extract from a book called ‘Flowers with Love’ written by Barbara Parkin (copyright 1986 Barbara Parkin)


A recent letter from the Welcome Centre

Dear Friends

Thank you for your donations to the Welcome Centre

2019 has already been incredibly busy for our foodbank. Demand is incrasing and your donation is more valuable than ever. Between January and June 2019.

• we have given out 4586 food parcels

• we have given out 1735 toiletry packs

With more clients using our food bank, we are running out of stocks quicker than ever. We have no stocks of many items, so your donations will make such a difference. Some of the items we always run out pof are below, or visit our website for the most up to date information www.thewelcomecentre.org

• Tins of vegetables• Packets/Tins of sauces

• Meat Pastes• Meat free meals

• Tins of fruit• Cup a soups

• Toilet rolls and toiletries

Thanks again for your support

Emma and The Welcome Centre team


Across

1 ‘The blind receive sight, the — walk’ (Luke 7:22) (4)

3 Got (Philippians 3:12) (8)

8 Leave out (Jeremiah 26:2) (4)

9 Castigated for using dishonest scales (Hosea 12:7) (8)

11 Weighty (1 John 5:3) (10)

14 ‘Now the serpent was more — than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made’ (Genesis 3:1) (6)

15 ‘Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot — God’ (Romans 8:8) (6)

17 Because Israel lacked one of these, tools had to be sharpened by the Philistines (1 Samuel 13:19) (10)

20 In his vision of the two eagles and the vine, this is how Ezekiel described the latter (Ezekiel 17:8) (8)

21 Rite (anag.) (4)

22 Nine gigs (anag.) (8)

23 ‘The eye cannot say to the — , “I don’t need you”’ (1 Corinthians 12:21) (4)

Down

1 ‘Flee for your lives! Don’t — — , and don’t stop anywhere in the plain!’ (Genesis 19:17) (4,4)

2 Principal thoroughfare (Numbers 20:19) (4,4)

4 ‘The tax collector... beat his — and said, “God have mercy on me, a sinner”’ (Luke 18:13) (6)

5 ‘The zeal of the Lord Almighty will — this’ (2 Kings 19:31) (10)

6 ‘The day of the Lord is — for all nations’ (Obadiah 15) (4)

7 Specified day (Acts 21:26) (4)

10 Deadly epidemic (Deuteronomy 32:24) (10)

12 Roman Catholic church which has special ceremonial rights (8)

13 Tied up (2 Kings 7:10) (8)

16 In his speech to the Sanhedrin, Stephen described Moses as ‘powerful in speech and — ’ (Acts 7:22) (6)

18 ‘Although he did not remove the high places, — heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life’ (1 Kings 15:14) (4)

19 Tribe (Deuteronomy 29:18) (4)



Useful ContactsChurch Groups - [email protected]

[email protected]

Church Treasurer - [email protected]

Church Social Events - [email protected]

Historical Records - [email protected]

Scout Group - [email protected]

Guides Group - [email protected]

Art Club - Sandra Knight

Happy Adventures Preschool - www.happypreschool.co.uk

Nook NewsIf you have any item for the next edition of Nook News, please hand it to John Yorke, or leave it in his mail slot in the Church

Office.

ACROSS: 1, Lame. 3, Obtained. 8, Omit. 9, Merchant. 11, Burdensome. 14, Crafty. 15, Please. 17, Blacksmith20, Splendid. 21, Tier. 22, Singeing. 23, Hand.

DOWN: 1, Look back. 2, Main road. 4, Breast. 5, Accomplish. 6, Near. 7, Date. 10, Pestilence. 12, Basilica13, Tethered. 16, Action. 18, Asa’s. 19, Clan.

Who’s Who in the ChurchMinister Rev Ian Lovell Church Office

[email protected]

Secretary Mr Steven Daniel [email protected]

Treasurer Mrs Joyce Moorhouse

[email protected]

Caretaker Mrs Louise Armitage

Deacons Linda Aspinall, John Daniel, Steven Daniel, Peter Fairbank,Karen Kent,

Pamela Hebblethwaite, Joyce Moorhouse,John Swift, Susan Thornton

Visit our website at www.snbch.org.uk

Visit our Facebook Page www.facebook.com/

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Salendine Nook Baptist Church Nook News · Salendine Nook Baptist Church - Nook News Page 4 This Christmas, why don’t you give a little thought to your own traditions, listen to