Parish Magazine April 2014 50p

Castleford Team Parish

Editor, Magazine & Pew Sheets (including Diary Dates): Andrew Goyns, 01924 898593

magazine@castlefordteamparish.org.uk

Parish Office: (Enquiries for Baptisms) Saturdays at 10.00-10.30am at All Saint’s Church, Castleford.

CLERGY Rector:

Fr. Michael Wood, 01977 518127 The Rectory, 15 Barnes Road, Castleford WF10 5AA frmw@hotmail.co.uk

Team Vicar:

Fr. Mark Watkins, 01977 511659 The Vicarage, St Michaels Close, Castleford WF10 4EY wattycm@me.com

Asst. Curate:

Fr. Kevin Greaves, 01977 512404 The Vicarage, Churchfield Lane, Glasshoughton WF10 4BP fr.kevin@minister.com

Polish Priest: Fr. Gregory Ruszczynski, 07842 883648

Lay Pastoral Minister: Mrs Lynda Maw 01977 518078

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THE RECTOR’S LETTER Dear Friends,

Writing this in the middle of Lent may be a bit premature but the Lent course this year has been particularly good and it is always en-couraging to see how many people are willing to give up their time to join in. It has been a particularly useful time to me as I have been reminded about what an important contribution C.S. Lewis made to my understanding of the Christian faith and to fish out some books which I has almost forgotten that I possessed.

Some of you will know that just before Lent, I set myself a challenge; it was to read all seven of the Narnia Stories before the Lent Couse began. All seven; that amounted to seven hundred and sixty seven pages worth of reading. I got cross with myself because I failed in my challenge, it took me a week longer than I thought it would. The odd service here and there, meetings and other things got in the way. It wasn’t worth getting irritated about but I did, though only with my-self.

When I was a curate I remember my boss saying to me, “There are some things which matter and there are some things which don’t” Curates rarely take on board the wisdom of their incumbent, but of course he was so right. A task like that didn’t matter. It is a very wise person indeed who knows the difference between those which mat-ter and those which don’t.

Lent matters, not because it is a time when we should be setting ourselves unachievable targets but because it should be a time of strengthening our spirit. Holy Week matters because that is when we are following Jesus in hearts and minds towards the cross. Easter matters because it is the time when we live out the promise that there is a new life in which we all can share. (continued on page 4)

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(continued from page 3)

Do please try to support the Holy Week services. More and more churches now just do not keep the traditional pattern of services go-ing. It is one of our strengths that we are able to do this but we can only do it with your support. I really hope we never become one of those parishes where the service pattern slips by default simply be-cause people can’t be bothered or that it’s alright for them that like that sort of thing.

My love and prayers for a thoughtful Holy Week and Joyful Easter-tide.

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HOLY WEEK & EASTER SERVICES April 13th PALM SUNDAY - HOLY WEEK begins Services as usual at all team churches. Thanksgiving Service for Wakefield Diocese Wakefield Cathedral 3.30pm (ticket only) April 14th Monday in Holy Week Mass with Stations of the Cross at St Paul the Apostle, Glasshoughton. 7:00pm April 15th Tuesday in Holy Week Mass with Stations of the Cross at All Saints Castleford. 7:00pm Fr Michael will be available after this service to hear confessions. April 16th Wednesday in Holy Week Mass with Stations of the Cross at All Saints Hightown. 7:00pm N.B. There will be no Wednesday morning Mass this week. April 17th HOLY THURSDAY (Maundy Thursday) Mass of the Lord’s Supper, washing of feet, stripping of the altars & watch at the Altar of repose until 10.00pm St Paul the Apostle, Glasshoughton. 7:30pm N.B. There will be no morning Mass today April 18th GOOD FRIDAY Children's Activities with Stations of the Cross, St Paul the Apostle, Glasshoughton. 9:30am Churches Together in Castleford Ecumenical Service, Salvation Army, Castleford. 11am The Good Friday Liturgy including Mass of the presanctified, St Michael & All Angels, Smawthorne. 2pm Dramatic Music & Sensory version of The Stations of the Cross, All Saints Church, Hightown. 7:30pm April 19th HOLY SATURDAY - EASTER VIGIL MASS including Easter ceremonies and lighting of the Paschal Candle. All Saints Church, Castleford. 8:00pm April 20th EASTER DAY Services at usual times in all team churches

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COULD THIS BE THE ‘WRITING ON THE WALL’

FOR CLASSIC BIBLE STORIES? While many parents still think it is important for children to engage with the Bible, what actually happens these days is quite different. A recent nationwide study by YouGov has found that a staggering 29% of children could not identify even The Nativity story with the Bible. The YouGov research was released in a recent report by Bible Socie-ty to launch ‘Pass It On’, a campaign calling on parents to pass Bible stories to their children. Here are just some of the findings, for chil-dren aged 8 to 15 and for parents with children aged 3 to 16: Parents believe Bible stories are important; and children want to hear more · 43% of parents think Bible stories provide values for a good life, and 40% think they are important to our history and culture. Just 12% say it was not important for children to know Bible stories. More than a quarter of all children (28%) also say that they would like to know more Bible stories (peaking around the ages of 8 and 9 where it rises to 40% and 41% respectively). Around half of children never read or are read Bible stories, in contrast to their parents · Over half of children polled (54%) never or less than once a year read Bible stories at school or home. By contrast, around 9 in 10 parents (86%) had learned Bible stories as children.

(continued on page 11)

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(Continued from page 10)

· 45% of parents never read Bible stories to their child. Even al-most a third (30%) of Christian parents say they never read Bible sto-ries to their young children. Many children have not read or heard classic Bible stories · A quarter of children (23%) do not know Noah’s Ark or The Nativity (25%), rising to 38% for Adam & Eve and 43% for The Cruci-fixion. More than half have never heard of Joseph and his coat of many colours (54%), and David & Goliath (57%) or even the Creation story (63%). Sir Andrew Motion, Poet Laureate (1999-2009) says that these statis-tics are becoming a disturbing reality. He adds that many of Britain’s brightest students no longer know the story of Adam and Eve - mak-ing it difficult for academics to teach crucial literary and historical texts. “It's essential for us to keep these stories alive, regardless of our religious beliefs (or lack of them); they are indispensable to our understanding of the past, and to the enrichment of our present.”

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A Reflection

At the end of each of the sessions in the Lent Course there is time for reflection. This is one of those reflective moments. Please take time and ponder…

Lord, we would rather have a world without suffering than a world with compassion. We would rather you set limits to evil, than allow us full responsibility. We would rather you “let us get away with it” than challenge us to be better. We prefer comfort to goodness and tolerance to love. We want life in its fullness but don’t always consider the cost to others.

Lord, we don’t understand why you made the world the way you did, but if pain is part of the package, then strengthen us to accept it. If suffering seems incomprehensible then help us to trust where we do not understand. If your will is not always easy to us then help us to say “Thy will be done”

(From Not a Tame Lion by Hilary Brand)

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CROSSWORD Across 1 Relating to the whole universe (6) 4 The disciple who made the remark in 8 Across (John 20:24) (6) 8 ‘Unless I see the nail marks — — hands, I will not believe it’ (John 20:25) (2,3) 9 He urged King Jehoiakim not to burn the scroll containing Jeremiah’s message (Jeremiah 36:25) (7) 10 Baptist minister and controversial founder of America’s Moral Majority, Jerry — (7) 11 ‘Look, here is — . Why shouldn’t I be baptized?’ (Acts 8:36) (5) 12 Repossessed (Genesis 14:16) (9) 17 Port from which Paul sailed on his last journey to Rome (Acts 27:3–4) (5) 19 ‘Moses was not aware that his face was — because he had spoken with the Lord’ (Exodus 34:29) (7) 21 Roonwit, C.S. Lewis’s half-man, half-horse (7) 22 Grill (Luke 24:42) (5) 23 ‘The lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the — apostles’ (Acts 1:26) (6) 24 ‘I was sick and you looked after me, I was in — and you came to visit me’ (Matthew 25:36) (6) Down 1 Coastal rockfaces (Psalm 141:6) (6) 2 Academic (1 Corinthians 1:20) (7) 3 Publish (Daniel 6:26) (5) 5 For example, the Crusades (4,3) 6 11 Across is certainly this (5) 7 He reps (anag.) (6) 9 Liberator (Psalm 18:2) (9) 13 Man who asked the question in 11 Across was in charge of all her treasury (Acts 8:27) (7) 14 They must be ‘worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine’ (1 Timothy 3:8) (7) 15 The human mind or soul (6) 16 ‘O Lord, while precious children starve, the tools of war increase; their bread is — ’ (Graham Kendrick) (6) 18 ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not — ’ (Matthew 11:17) (5) 20 Bared (anag.) (5)

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PUZZLES WORDSEARCH Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah! April brings us to Easter – the cru-cifixion, death and resurrec-tion of Jesus Christ - the tri-umphant highlight of the Christian year. As St Paul pointed out, unless Jesus re-ally did rise again, our faith is useless, and we may as well forget any hope of heaven or eternal life. Passover, Bread, Wine, Body, Blood, Betrayal, Jerusalem, Pilate, Judas, Gethsemane, Trial, Crucifixion, Soldiers, Cross, Nails, Vinegar, Tem-ple, Curtain, Tomb, Angel, Stone, Risen, Gardener, Mary

SUDOKU EASY INTERMEDIATE

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APRIL CALENDAR

For HOLY WEEK and EASTER Services see page 8

Tuesday 8th PCC Meeting 7pm for 7.30pm at Castleford (not on Monday 7th as previously announced)

Monday 28th Annual General Parochial Meeting 7pm for 7.45pm at St Paul’s

ADVANCE DATE FOR MAY

Thursday 1st 7.00pm at Hightown Hall “Prince Caspian” part of the Narnia films.

THE ANNUAL GENERAL PAROCHIAL MEETING

Our AGM this year is on Monday 28th April at S Pauls, with Mass at 7pm and the meeting at 7.45pm

AGM’s are always regarded at tedious and something to be avoided but they are essential. It is the time when we receive the reports for the past year but also it is the time when we elect our Wardens and Council members for the next year and this year we also elect our Deanery Synod members for the next three tears as well. The AGM is also the time when we say thank you to those who have willingly given of their time and talents to serve us and the churches which make up our Team Parish.

There are usually spaces on our Church Council, will you consider offering yourself?

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READINGS FOR APRIL

6th April - The Fifth Sunday of Lent (P) Passiontide begins Ezekiel: 37: 1-14 Psalm : 130: Romans: 8: 6-11 John: 11: 1-45;

13th April - PALM SUNDAY (R) Isaiah : 50: 4-9a Psalm: 118: 1-2, 19-24 Philippians: 2: 5-11 Matthew: 21: 1-11

17th April - MAUNDY THURSDAY (W) Exodus: 12: 1-4, 11-14; Psalm: 116: 1, 10-end; 1 Corinthians: 11: 23-26; John: 13: 1-17, 31b-35;

18th April - GOOD FRIDAY (R) Isaiah: 52: 13-53.end; Psalm: 22: Hebrews: 10: 16-25; John: 18: 1-19.end;

19th APRIL - HOLY SATURDAY Genesis: 22: 1-18 Psalm: 16: Romans: 6: 3-11; Matthew: 28: 1-10.

(continued on page 19)

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(continued on page 21)

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READINGS FOR APRIL (continued)

20th April - EASTER DAY (W)

Acts: 10: 34-43

Psalm: 118: 1-2, 14-24

Colossians: 3: 1-4

John: 20: 1-18

27th March - The Second Sunday of Easter (W)

Acts: 2: 14a, 22-32

Psalm: 16:

1 Peter: 1: 3-9

John: 20: 19-end

(continued from page 17)

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

ON WHY A CHURCH SHOULD ALWAYS RESIST CHANGE The Rectory St. James the Least My dear Nephew Darren

I am not the least surprised you have got yourself into trouble; innovation is never to be encouraged. New ideas tend to cause revolutions. The move from incandescent light-bulbs to energy saving ones may ultimately change the Church of England.

Change is something everyone claims to be in favour of – provided it has no measurable effect on their own lives. I remember as a young curate once suggesting that at the Harvest Supper, tables might be enlarged so that eight people could sit together rather than the tradi-tional six, thus helping more people get to know one another. The response would have been similar if I had suggested we travel to London to murder the Prime Minister. I was firmly told that tables for six had been perfectly adequate for parishioners in Queen Victoria’s day. For the rest of my curacy, I was regarded as a revolutionary, to be watched carefully.

So at your last visit to our Church, to suggest that our 11am Mattins may be moved to 10.30am, in order to encourage those who wanted have more of the day free to themselves, certainly lobbed a hand grenade among the post-Service coffee cups. The only person who was mildly in favour was Colonel Wainwright, who quickly realised that it would give him an extra half-hour at the gin and tonics before lunch. (continued on page 21)

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Should you ever feel that people lack imagination, you should watch them in action when they find reasons for resisting an unwelcome suggestion. One said that the time couldn’t be moved, since it would then be too early for the local bus – omitting to mention that none of our congregation travel to church by bus and that the service doesn’t run on Sundays anyway. Another pointed out that it would confuse those who didn’t attend church – not explaining why if they never attended, it mattered what time the Service was. A third, rather touchingly mentioned that it wouldn’t give the rector time to enjoy his breakfast after the rigours of the 8am Service. Your suggestion did, however, serve one useful purpose; it brought our congregation together in united opposition. They may not necessarily always know what they are for, but they certainly know what they are against. For that, I thank you.

Your loving uncle,

Eustace

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.

(continued from page 20)

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(continued on page 23)

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 TWO

Monday 22nd October. We had a fine warm day. In the afternoon we marched up to St. Martin’s Camp, I should say a distance of about four miles, to collect our gas helmets. We arrived back at 6.00pm and did not get tea until 7.30pm so did not get out of the camp that evening.

Tuesday 23rd October. I had a medical examination, I told them that I had left my teeth in England at the Army Dentist. I was then transferred into another company amongst strangers.

All of my old mates were squandered into different units and sent up the line. After tea I had a walk into the town, it reminds me very much of Whitby in Yorkshire being built on a hills each side of the harbour and the docks. It must be a splendid place during peacetime.

There are some fine buildings and monuments, one in particular that I noticed was a life size statue of Christ on the Cross, I am told that there are many amount of these, the people being mostly Catholics.

Wednesday 24th October. Nothing in particular to write down. I am picked out for fire picket duty commencing duty at 6.00pm. I went to bed at about 9.00pm, had not been there long when down blows the tent on top of us all. We had a very heavy storm, I gathered my things together and had my first night out in the open in my life.

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Thursday 25th October. Almost starved to death we were busy all the morning pitching the tent. In the evening had a walk down to the Princess Beatrice Hut a very nice place and also cheap but only having one and a half? In my pocket I did a right about turn. I have since learned that this is called Henryville Camp it is a very large one, about six hundred German prisoners, we also have Chinese and Egyptian labourers, it is quite a mix up. The camp is on the hilltop on the left hand side of the town looking towards Blighty, our eyes often wander homewards.

Friday 26th October. A very wet morning. Until dinner time I was assisting at the fumigators, every soldier is supposed to have his blanket and kit fumigated once every week, he also has a vapour and shower bath.

(continued from page 22)

Church Hall in 1930’s. David Field’s maternal grandfather is on back row far right

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PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

CROSSWORD WORDSEARCH

SUDOKU SOLUTIONS

EASY INTERMEDIATE

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GOODBYE WAKEFIELD, HELLO LEEDS

On Easter Day the Diocese of Wakefield ceases to be and we become part of the new Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales, or the Diocese of Leeds, with Bishop Nick Baines as our new Diocesan Bishop. Although so much will be changing in many ways nothing will change. Our life will go on in the first instance in exactly the same way. Although Bishop Stephen will no longer be with us, Bishop Tony, who will become the Bishop of Wakefield will continue to be our local bishop.

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HIGH DAYS AND HOLY DAYS FOR APRIL

1 Frederick Denison Maurice, Priest, Teacher, 1872

9 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Lutheran Pastor, Martyr, 1945

10 William Law, Priest, Spiritual Writer, 1761

11 George Augustus Selwyn, first Bishop of New Zealand, 1878

13 PALM SUNDAY

14 MONDAY OF HOLY WEEK

15 TUESDAY OF HOLY WEEK

16 WEDNESDAY OF HOLY WEEK

17 HOLY THURSDAY (MAUNDY THURSDAY)

18 GOOD FRIDAY

19 HOLY SATURDAY (EASTER EVE)

20 EASTER DAY

21 MONDAY OF EASTER WEEK

22 TUESDAY OF EASTER WEEK

23 WEDNESDAY OF EASTER WEEK

24 THURSDAY OF EASTER WEEK

25 FRIDAY OF EASTER WEEK

26 SATURDAY OF EASTER WEEK

27 THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

28 George Martyr, Patron of England, c.304

29 Mark the Evangelist

30 Pandita Mary Ramabai, Translator of the Scriptures, 1922

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WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE COMMUNION AT HOME?

IF YOU ARE HOUSEBOUND OR UNABLE TO COME TO CHURCH, PLEASE CONTACT ONE OF THE CLERGY AND THEY WILL MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR YOU TO TAKE COMMUNION AT HOME. OUR MINISTRY TEAM RECOGNISES THAT THIS IS AN

Please remember that boxes are due to be emptied in April.

Please bring your box into Church as soon as possible. Thank You.

Jean Randall

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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

See diary section and weekly pew sheets For all the latest News & Information from around the Parish go to:

www.castlefordteamparish.org.uk