Today’s Readings

Philippians Ch. 1 v. 21- end

Ma9hew Ch. 20 v. 1-16

Salterhebble, Skircoat Green & CopleySunday 20th September 2020

Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity

The church is now open, on a limited, booked basis, following government and diocesan guidelines.

Please refer to later pages for up-to-date informaFon about this. The online service will be conFnuing for the foreseeable future...please join in our worship

by clicking on the link.

We know there is nothing better than worshipping together but hopefully this will help us stay connected until we can all come

together once again.

Prayer for Today

Lord God, defend your Church from all false teaching and give to your people knowledge of your truth, that we may enjoy eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today’s Message from John

I’d like it known through this word that we have a caring God who seeks to regroup his people and for them to have life in its fullness. I’d like us to know fully that as God does live, and he is our God, he seeks us out for us, as we are his own.

This is blessed assurance, this is holy knowing, it’s God being. It’s natural, and it’s the essence of Joy.

John 10.10 reads, I have come that they may have life and have it in full.

The Ma9hew passage speaks to us about workers in a vineyard. NoFce how parables are very physically bound with a real life that the hearers would be familiar with. This Parable, probably about a grumbling in the village, is about a landowner who had paid even those who worked for him for just a short Fme the same as the rest.

Everyday is a Worship day!

http://www.allsaintshalifax.org.uk/online-worship

Jesus always picks up on the ground level feelings. He teaches through the familiar and present situaFons around.

Let’s reword the parable slightly to meet us today. The talk on the streets then was to do with the vineyard owner, right now is about the virus. This pandemic is serious, for the ill, those struggling with work issues, loosing jobs, with difficult living condiFons, those who are finding it very stressful. Anxiety and worry abound in normal Fmes, so how much more now?

Philippians v28 says not to be frightened by the opposiFon.

John 10.10 tells us that Jesus came that we could have life, and that in full.

We have a God who has effecFvely spent eternity working to make things good for mankind - for us. To fully live is to have ChrisFan-focussed, fruiVul lives. To die is to be fully with him, no more worry or pain, no more longing for the be9er.

So for the ChrisFan the opposiFon, the virus is not to crush us. For ours is Christ. In life or death, it is in Christ.

This brings me back to the parable of the vineyard. The basic essence from the vineyard cha9er, is about jusFce. The reply to the complaint is really, that the owner isn’t being unjust to some, he’s paying them as arranged, but he’s being generous to others. People noFce what’s going on with others around them, that’s why Jesus uses the stories from life to base his teaching on. On the streets out there, people will see us. Our lifestyles and our hope will shine through. Our Christ-like lives, (as Philippians v27), will speak on the streets. And people will noFce. They might not declare, but they will ponder later. About our joyful hope of be9er Fmes, post pandemic.

Now that’s where God is right now.That’s where people need him. Somehow, it’s ours to call the worriers and anxious, the strugglers and those who feel they’ve already lost. It’s ours to call them to Christ. In our devoFonal Fmes, our personal prayer lives, to pray earnestly for them.

Closing Prayer

Keep, O Lord, your Church, with your perpetual mercy; and, because without you our human frailty cannot but fall, keep us ever by your help from all things hurVul, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvaFon; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

And on the streets to speak kindly, love meaningfully and to care, that somehow they might feel Christ in this mess. They might realise there is more than this.....and they’ll seek Him.

And this is very true....Christ offers the same to the latecomers as he does to the early risers. That we who are already with him, are no holier than they will become in him. That in him we can be all equal in our joy, a joy that is also for them in equal measure. God’s only preference, the only bias, is to the poor and the oppressed, and many are being made poor and being oppressed . For God does reach out to the poor and struggling, and at this Fme, many are just that.

So where have we been? I’ve discussed that as ChrisFans we are not crushed by this virus, ours is a hope beyond its worst affects. I’ve considered that God is about giving us a life in all fullness, in him, and I’ve considered that people are worrying and from their situaFon will noFce our hope, our joy. We’ve thought about God being for all people, not just some and that he is overtly just, even biasing to the poor and oppressed. So showing how he reaches out . Know that during this bewildering Fme, God is reaching out right now for those who don't know him, and it has to be told, that God receives all who come to him.

We cannot afford the lie to perpetuate that God is about those considered holy people, but God is about all, maybe even more so those who are far away. Ours is to pray and love to bring about God being sought to make lives be9er on the streets, where he lives. That our neighbours can benefit from him. Amen.

• Easing of Jean Brook's rheumatoid arthriFs in her hands and for an increase in mobility

• Christopher Henderson • Judy Foster who is awaiFng a

shoulder operaFon and Terry Holden who is waiFng for a knee operaFon

• For our children and young people, and their parents, as they return to school.

• ChrisFne and Charles Henderson, Cath Murgatroyd and family and Michael Carroll and family as they come to terms with the loss of loved ones.

• Monika working on the frontline as an anaestheFst and her family and friends

• For Diana Freeborn as she deals with the aeermath of a lorry crashing into her garden.

• For Calderdale, and the other areas under Fghtened restricFons due to Covid19 spread

• Mark and Alethea Earnshaw • Brian Roberts as he prepares for his

operaFon

Family Prayers

If you have a prayer request, you can contact: Doreen Whitaker on 01422 367047 for the telephone prayer chain or at www.allsaintshalifax.org.uk. and click the “Prayer Requests” tab. Your requests are looked at by our dedicated prayer team only - people within our church family who are commi9ed to prayer. Your request will be treated with complete confidenFality.

Contac9ng the Church Office Due to the Coronavirus the Church's Office isn’t currently open but if you require some assistance please contact Diane Williams- Tel: 01422 353103 or email: admin@allsaintshalifax.org.uk. Our website is: www.allsaintshalifax.org.uk.

Alongside the prayers for our church family members we also need to conFnually ask for God’s guidance and blessing on our church as we go forward into a Fme without a vicar (interregnum) and make decisions about the future of All Saints’ Church, Halifax

We know that many of you will already being doing this within your prayer life, but we would like to ask as many people as possible to set aside a special prayer 9me when we all pray at the same 9me:

Thursday evenings around 8pm.

Ideas for prayer this week: • For the wardens and PCC as they make daily decisions about the church • To thank God for our children and young people and pray for HIs guidance about

provision for them • Thank God for our house groups and pray that they can adapt and flourish despite

change • For the services to be held in the church and the opening up of this to more people,

safely

If you would like to receive this newsletter each week and other occasional communications (e.g. event reminders, prayer requests, special services etc) by email or mobile messaging please contact the office on Tel – 01422 353103 or email: admin@allsaintshalifax.org.uk

All Saints’ Face Book Keep in Touch If anyone would like to join All Saints’ Facebook Keep in touch page please let Anita know and she’ll send you a link. (You will need to be a member of facebook)

Opening Church for Public Worship Update

The Church is now open for Public Worship in a limited way. We are offering one hybrid service at 10.30am consisFng of some ‘live’ readings, prayers and talks but with hymns and liturgy on screen.

It is currently only possible in our building to have socially distanced seaFng for 30 people.

The online services and extended newsle9er will conFnue for the foreseeable future while

we slowly increase our use of the Church building in accordance with government and diocesan advice.

New government and diocesan guidelines now mean that masks are required to be worn in the church building when we are mee9ng.

All Saints’ Ladies WhatsApp Support group

Fancy a chat, need to chat to other women, or ask for prayer? if you would like to be added to this group email: admin@allsaintshalifax.org.uk.

Keeping in Touch

Dear All Saints’ Thank you so much for your incredibly generous leaving present given during last Sunday’s service. Thank you also to all those who organised such a lovely surprise. I am grateful to have worked with such a wonderful group of people during my Fme as Administrator at All Saints’. Much love and blessings. Anita

Thank you for all the help and prayers we have received following Maureen’s passing. We have sent £250 in donaFons the Alzheimers Society in her memory. Catherine Murgatroyd

MAG TEAM

Hello all members of the MAG team I am very conscious that we have diminished in numbers and have not met in quite a while. Would it be possible to arrange a virtual/face to face meeFng at home and at church to run concurrently at the beginning of October? I suggest Wednesday 7th October 3pm. Please let me know your thoughts. Margaret G.

Vicarage Garden If there is anyone who would be willing to help maintain the vicarage garden please could you let the wardens know via the church office: admin@allsaintshalifax.org.uk The main job at present is to mow the lawn. If anyone has a recommendaFon for a gardener/tree company that cuts large hedges, we would also like details. Thank you.

Keeping in Touch

Blog from The Bouckleys

This year for us set out as a year of huge change, before we ever heard of covid!

In December, Chantelle became engaged to Wesley, and in January we were blessed with the arrival of our first grandchild Caleb, to David and Helena. They were able to visit us for a weekend just ahead of lockdown, and we had to learn how meet up on line, with family quizzes and dinners via Zoom or FaceFme.

John remained acFve in supporFng online church services, and my life at work became absorbed with supporFng our NHS colleagues through the toughest and most challenging of Fmes. For several months Fme blurred into a rouFne of work, absorbing evenings and weekends too... and whilst becoming a li9le more steady, the challenges conFnue as we head towards the winter months, and flu season alongside the anFcipaFon of a further surge of covid cases.

We've managed a week in France in June, just ahead of the quaranFne rules being applied, but have reverted to our past love of the outdoors and had a lovely..if rather damp camping trip to Snowdonia a couple of weeks ago.

Chantelle's wedding plans for October are somewhat risky. They have taken the decision this week to postpone their celebraFons Fll November 2021, but remain hopeful for a small ceremony in October this year... we watch the news with bated breath.

Whilst living, as everyone else is, with grand scale disrupFon to life, and facing uncertainty for the future, we hold on daily to the promise God has over us giving us a hope and a future, and we remain secure in His love for us.

And of course...hoping for a few more granny cuddles before too long

Harvest Family Service: 4th October 2020We will be holding a Family Service on the first Sunday of every month. To save having everyone book for this service, it will be assumed that those who came last Fme, would like to come again. However, if you prefer not to a9end the family service, but be on the rota for another week, please let Diane Williams know. Conversely, if you would love to come to the family service, but missed it last month, then please ask to be added to that rota. (Due to the majority of seaFng being grouped for this service, we can accommodate a few more people than usual).

The service in October will be our Harvest service, and there will be a presentaFon form CART. We encourage you to bring your usual Harvest offerings, either monetary, or items menFoned in the advert below. We will have a separate, clearly labelled, box at the back, on the way out (next to the Envelope offering box) for these donaFons. DonaFons need to be brought to church on the 4th and 11th October to be included in the shipment...or arrangements made with the church office to drop-off between these dates.

DonaFons can also be made directly via the CART website. To Make An On-line donaFon: Please click here (or on the give.net bu9on on the right of this page) and you will be taken to our giving page run by Stewardship.

Dear Colleagues

Following successful online delivery last term, and as we are currently sFll unable to meet face to face, the lay training team are offering some further training opportuniFes using our online classroom [similar to Zoom] for this coming term.

The World of Jesus – a six week online course led by Canon Gordon Dey, starFng Saturday Sept 26th 10am – 12pm h9ps://learning.leeds.anglican.org/course/the-world-of-jesus/‘The World of Jesus’ will explore from scripture, other contemporary wriFngs, and extensive archaeological evidence, the social, poliFcal and geographical context of Jesus’ ministry.　

Pastoral Conversa9ons – Wednesday October 7th 2-4pm or Monday November 9th 7-9pm h9ps://learning.leeds.anglican.org/course/online-pastoral-conversaFons-course/An introducFon to pastoral care and effecFve listening designed to nurture skill and confidence in those involved in caring for others.

Discovery Course – a five week course starFng October 7th 2-4pm h9ps://learning.leeds.anglican.org/course/online-discovery-course/Are you wondering about your unique contribuFon as a ChrisFan? Where would you be best placed to serve others? This course gently helps us discover our spiritual gies, passions and personality in order to discern our best fit in serving God and others.

Please register for the courses through the link on the web page. Details on how to access the online provision will be sent to parFcipants once they have registered for the course.We very much hope you will encourage people to take advantage of these opportuniFes to conFnue to learn and grow together at this Fme.

Every blessing,

Lay Training Team Church House 17-19 York Place, Leeds, LS1 2EX 0113 2000 540 www.leeds.anglican.org

Hello Ladies, I hope you are sFll keeping well, I am missing you all but it is good to see some of you at Church.

At this Fme of year we are usually thinking of having the Mothers' Union Christmas cards on show at our meeFngs and in Church and many of you generously buy several packs. This year, of course, things are so different, but some of you will have seen the new MU catalogue with this year's Christmas cards. If you would like to order some Christmas cards I am happy to send in just one order at the beginning of October. Please get in touch if you would like to place an order, or see the catalogue and I can get it to you. This offer is for all Church members, of course, not just MU members. I will send in the order on Monday 5th October.

Also on 5th October, Mid Day Prayers will be hosted, via Zoom, by All Saints' MU. If you are able to access this please support us, the appropriate link will be sent out later. Love to you all, Margaret C. tel. 01422 358067