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March 2014 Bamford Chapel Magazine
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Bamford
Chapel
2014
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BAMFORD CHAPEL MISSION/VISION STATEMENT
“Loving God, Serving others,
Building Community”
Worship
In our devotion we will come together to express our joy, love and thanks through worship.
We shall share our praise and dedicate it to God.
Ministry
Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit we will show compassion and love by understanding, supporting and meeting the spiritual, the physical and the emotional needs of others.
Evangelism
We are called as Christians to share the good news; living as examples of Christ in our everyday lives we can spread the word and love of Jesus.
Discipleship
We as a church have a responsibility as Christians to encourage people to know God and to enable them to develop their relationship with Him through prayer, discussion, study and learning.
Fellowship
We welcome to our church family those who want to belong. We show our love for others by sharing acts of fellowship in God’s name.
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LENT
Lent, before Easter, is like Advent before Christmas, a time of preparation. Lent is when we remember that Jesus prepared himself for starting his ministry by going away by himself for 40 days of fasting and
prayer. You can read about it in your Bible: Matthew, chapter 4, verses 1-11; Mark, chapter 1, verses 12-13 and Luke, chapter 4, verses 1-13.
Jesus went into the wilderness – a quiet lonely place away from people – where he could think things out. He knew that his
work would be hard, that many people would not listen to him, or if they listened,
they would not believe him. During these 40 days Jesus made his choice: to work in God’s way however hard that might be.
This year Lent starts on 5th March and
goes through half of April - have you t h o u g h t about how YOU are going to prepare yourself to follow Jesus this Lent?
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Sunday
2nd March
10.30 am Family Worship with Holy Communion
Led by Revd Richard Bradley
6.00 pm Evening Worship
Led by Revd Richard Bradley
Monday
3rd March
8.00 pm Focus on Prayer Group
(Crèche Room)
Thursday
6th March
12.30 pm
1.00 pm
*Soup & a roll lunch (at Bamford Chapel)
Lent Course 1 led by Revd Richard Bradley
7.30 pm Elders Meeting
Saturday
8th March
10.30 am -
4.00 pm
North Western Synod
10.30 am Family Worship
Led by Andy Platt
Sunday
9th March 6.00 pm Evening Worship
Led by Laura Davies
Monday
10th March
8.00 pm Focus on Prayer Group
(Crèche Room)
Tuesday
11th March
12 noon for 12.45 pm
Light Lunches served from 12 noon
Concert - Jonathan Ellis (Piano)
Thursday
13th March
12.30 pm
1.00 pm
*Soup & a roll lunch (at Bamford Chapel)
Lent Course 2 led by Revd David Woodall
Sunday
16th March
10.30 am Family Worship led by Pastor Brian Drury,
former Pastor of Cutgate Baptist Church
6.00 pm Evening Worship with Holy Communion
Led by Walter Brisk
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Monday
17th March
8.00 pm Focus on Prayer Group
(Crèche Room)
Wednesday
19th
March**
1.15 pm Midweek Communion Service Led by Revd
Richard Bradley in Church Lounge **(Please
note 1 week earlier just for this month)
Thursday
20th March
12.30 pm
1.00 pm
*Soup & a roll lunch (at Bamford Chapel)
Lent Course 3 led by Revd Karen Smeeton
8.00 pm Worship Leaders’ Training Session, Music in
Worship, Led by Margaret Ogden
Sunday
23rd March
10.30 am Family Worship
Led by our Minister Revd Richard Bradley
12 noon
Approx.
CHURCH MEETING with Presentation of
2013 Accounts (please do your best to attend)
6.00 pm Evening Worship
Led by David Watson
Monday
24th March
8.00 pm Focus on Prayer Group
(Crèche Room)
Thursday
27th March
12.30 pm
1.00 pm
*Soup and a roll lunch
AT NORDEN METHODIST CHURCH
Lent Course 4 led by Revd Diane Hicks
Sunday
30th March
10.30.am All Age Mothering Sunday Parade Service led
by Walter Brisk
6.00 pm Evening Worship
Led by Joan Warner
Further details may be found at www.bamfordchapel.co.uk
*See Poster in Magazine & on Church Notice Board for further details of
the Lent Lunches & Course*
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Message from the Manse
In the month of March we will enter Lent, that special time of preparation for Easter. An opportunity both personally (in our daily quiet times) and also collectively (in our weekly worship and the Churches Together in North West Rochdale Lent Course) to focus our attention on Jesus Christ and the journey he took to the cross. One of the challenges to preachers is to bring afresh the truths of the seasons of the Christian calendar. We may say that because of familiarity we can easily not fully grasp the enormity of Lent. I hope that in our busy lives we will take the time to reflect, pray and listen to the voice of God speaking to us; that we will take the time to read our Bibles and to allow God the space to speak to us.
I hope that our acts of worship (morning, evening and midweek communion) and the Lent Course that is on offer will help us to listen to God and to share our faith with brothers and sisters in Christ from other local churches (please see the poster on the notice board in church or the details in this magazine for more information about the Lent Course).
I would also like to ask for your prayers for the appointment of a new church secretary. As the church meeting has been made aware Ian Sturrock will stand down as Church Secretary at the end of the year. Appropriate thanks will be expressed to Ian later in the year. However this is a vital role within the church and we need to pray that God will show us who is to be Ian’s successor.
As we think about people stepping down I want to publicly thank Louise Aspinall for her years of service to the Church Magazine. Louise has done an amazing job with the magazine and even though we have publicly thanked Louise in a service
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a few weeks ago it is only right to say thanks again.
We also welcome Linda Peacock on board as the new magazine editor. We must not forget the amount of work that is done by many to make this monthly magazine possible. Not only Linda but also Martyn James (who in part proof reads the magazine); John Lapworth for printing the magazine and Joan Ashton and her helpers who fold and staple the magazines. I was pleasantly surprised just how many of our magazines get posted out to friends who live some distance away. It is a great opportunity to let people know what is happening at Bamford Chapel. As well as being a resource for those who live in our community.
In the last three paragraphs if there is one word that runs through each of them it is “change” – the Church Secretary will change. The magazine editor has changed. Change can sometimes bring with it great fear – but with change should also come great opportunity! Opportunity for new ideas, new initiatives perhaps new ways of doing things. As we look forward to the future I hope we will see change happen, for no growth can occur without change. Or put another way when we grow we change. I look at my children and see change in them as they get older. So it is with the church – as we grow spiritually and numerically we, too, will change. What is important is that we change in accordance with God’s will and God’s direction. What better time to think of change than in Lent? As we are reminded of familiar Bible passages in this season of Lent may we engage and learn from them and in that process be changed evermore in to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Your Servant in Christ, Richard.
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A note from your new Editor
First of all thank you to Louise for her excellent job over the years and to Martyn for his kind words of welcome in the February magazine. Also a big thank you to Louise for her continuing support to me as I get to grips with Publisher (a computer programme new to me).
As Martyn said, the editor’s role is to bring the magazine articles together, but it is your magazine and is only as good as the material provided. It may be that you have seen good articles in other magazines, or you have ideas yourself to add to the content. Maybe there are things you are not happy with or you think could be done differently. Please let me have any comments or suggestions so that we can continue to provide an interesting and meaningful means of communication for Bamford Chapel.
As a starter I would like to include a section for your Favourite Quotations. This could be a Bible passage or any other suitable verse. A comment about why you have chosen it would be useful too.
I look forward to my new challenge as joint editor and trust I can live up to Louise’s high standards.
Linda Peacock
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News of the family
Concerns are expressed for Marjorie
and Ken Farrington, Don and Win Schofield, Joan, Sylvia and
Ian, Ian and Ann Newman, Lisa Linden, Joyce and Derek
Yates, Joyce Cooper, Cameron Baines, Eric Lumb, Diane
Healey, John Hall and Peter Sutton.
Please pray for all these people along with any others who
you may know about or who I have omitted to mention.
LENT LUNCHES
As Lent approaches please look out for details of the weekly
Lent lunches and groups which this year will meet on
Thursday lunchtimes, starting on 6th March. They are a
wonderful opportunity to enjoy fellowship with Christians
from other churches within our area.
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You are invited to the
Churches Together Lent Course 2014
Centred on Christ
This year we plan to do it as we did last year. The
course will be run at lunch times
from 12.30pm—2pm
Soup and a roll lunch at 12.30pm
Course starts at 1pm
Revd Karen Smeeton will be running an evening
course during Lent. (see separate poster)
We hope you will be able to come!
Further details, if needed, from Revd Richard
Bradley 01706 369622 or
Date Host Church Leader
6th March Bamford Chapel Revd Richard Bradley
13th March Bamford Chapel Revd David Woodall
20th March Bamford Chapel Revd Karen Smeeton
27th March Norden Methodist Revd Diane Hicks
3rd April Bamford Chapel Mrs Joanna Watson
10th April Bamford Chapel Mr Mike Davis
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Contact the elderly
This plea for new users of the Contact the elderly charity has been
received.
If you feel this is for you or if you know anyone who would benefit
from this initiative please take a look at the website at:
www.contact-the-elderly.org.uk
or telephone Lynn and Susan Whitehead on 01706 822 249
Contact the Elderly is a national organisation that is concerned
with loneliness and isolation of older people. The charity
operates locally in most towns throughout the country - in the
north west there are around 25 groups - there are three very
successful groups at the moment in Bury - but as yet there isn't a
group in the Rochdale area.
The groups work by organising tea parties for small groups of
older people - the criteria for the older guests is that they must
be over 75, live alone, have no immediate relatives in the area
and have some difficulty in getting out and about. We recruit
and Police Check volunteer drivers who pick up the older guests
from their homes and take them to a volunteer host for
afternoon tea, chat and usually lots of laughter. The groups meet
once a month, always on a Sunday as that day has proved to be
the loneliest time for older people, from 3pm
until 5pm.
We would want older guests from as close to
Bircle church as is possible.
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Worship Leaders’ Training
We are holding a series of meetings on leading worship which are detailed below. The sessions are intended to inform, educate and entertain! Although aimed at our preaching team, all are welcome to attend; even if you are not interested in becoming a worship leader you may be curious about how it all works. Each session begins at 8pm and lasts no more than one hour; venue varies so if you would like to attend please contact either myself on 07702883067 or the session leader.
Joanne Ackroyd
Worship Leaders Training Sessions
Date Leader Topic
18 February Joanne Ackroyd Sermon Construction
20 March Margaret Ogden Music in Worship
29 April Joan Warner Prayer
18 June Andy Platt All Age Worship
3 September Joanne Ackroyd Bible
14 October Revd Richard Bradley Technology
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St David’s Day – time for daffodils
1 March is St David’s Day, and it’s time for the
Welsh to wear daffodils or leeks. Shakespeare called
this custom ‘an honourable tradition begun upon an
honourable request’ - but nobody knows the reason.
Why should anyone have ever ‘requested’ that the
Welsh wear leeks or daffodils to honour their patron
saint? It’s a mystery!
We do know that David - or Dafydd - of
Pembrokeshire was a monk and bishop of the 6th
century. In the 12th century he was made patron
of Wales, and he has the honour of being the only
Welsh saint to be canonised in the Western Church.
Tradition has it that he was austere with himself,
and generous with others - living on water and
vegetables (leeks, perhaps?!) and devoting himself
to works of mercy. He was much loved.
In art, St David is usually depicted in Episcopal
vestments, standing on a mound with a dove at his
shoulder, in memory of his share at an important
Synod for the Welsh Church, the Synod of Brevi.
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Favourite Quotations
Romans 8: verses 38 & 39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons, neither the present,
nor the future, nor any powers, neither height,
nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be
able to separate us from the love of God that is in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
This text was given to me by Howard Sharp over 20 years ago (before I faced surgery). It always comes to mind at difficult times in my life.
Linda Peacock
Retirement of Revd Howard Sharp
(Mersey Synod Moderator)
A Service of Celebration & Farewell
Saturday 21st June 2014 at 2.30 pm
at Liverpool Hope University in the Chapel.
Followed by light refreshments
There will be those of the congregation who
remember Howard & Pam with affection. If you
would like to attend the service please speak to
Ian Sturrock as soon as possible (in order to assist
with seating and catering arrangements)
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Bible Lands Sponsorship
As you know, we have been sponsoring children in
Lebanon for many years now, through the Bible Lands
Society. You may also know that the Bible Lands
Society has recently changed its name to "Embrace the
Middle East".
The money we raise now goes to a
variety of causes in the Middle East
and we no longer have nominated
children on whom we can focus.
Consequently, John Lapworth and I
have asked permission from the Elders
to discontinue the sponsorship and to put the money
we make from the sale of books,
collection of pennies etc towards the
Third World Project each year.
We do hope you will be happy with
this new arrangement and that you
will continue to support us by buying
books and collecting pennies. Thanks
to everyone who has supported our
sponsored children over the years.
Angela Smith
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BAMFORD CHAPEL
Midday Concert
12.45 p.m. – 1.45 p.m.
Lunch served from 12 noon
Admission to the concerts: £3
Lunch items individually priced
Tuesday 11th March
Jonathan Ellis (Piano)
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Prayer looking forward
Dear Heavenly Father, As we move
forward from winter towards the promise
of Spring, we thank you for your
unfailing love for us, season after
season, year after year.
Help us to remember that you, who have
walked with us through dark nights and
difficult days, perfectly understand all
that we have to go through. Thank you
for sending Jesus to die and rise again,
so that we need never walk life’s journey
alone.
Lead us on Lord, and as we put our trust
in Jesus, may we face each new day with
courage, secure in your love and in the
assurance that to you we are so precious.
We are your children, lovingly made in
your image. May we reflect your likeness
more truly, as we grow in
our faith day by day.
In Jesus name, Amen.
By Daphne Kitching
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So what’s this ‘Prayer Zone’ all about??
You may have noticed a new little display area at the back of the church underneath the ‘activities tapestry’. We hope it will become a place where people can sit after worship simply to be still & reflect (you can even come back with your coffee!) There are little books of quotations to read & little verse / prayer cards that you can take away if one speaks especially to you. Geoff often plays the organ for some time after the service is over, and this helps reflection. It is also where you can wait if you would like members of the prayer ministry team to sit with you awhile, to listen and pray as you wish. We are thankful to God that Bamford Chapel is a welcoming, caring church and many supportive, loving conversations take place after service. The Prayer Zone is just a visible focus of how important we feel it is to offer a ‘sanctuary within the ‘sanctuary’. The display will change every couple of months and we pray that God will bless this little corner and regular members & occasional visitors will appreciate the opportunity to ‘be still and know that I am God’. If you have any suggestions as to how it might be improved or anything you have to lend for display that has helped you, we would be most grateful. Please just have a word with anyone wearing the prayer badge on a Sunday morning.
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Ladies’ Fellowship February Meeting 2014
Addie & Barbara Redmond: African Adventure July-August 2014 Our home grown intrepid duo delighted us with an excellent presentation of yet another 2-month visit to Africa & a Fundraising attempt to climb Kilimanjaro. We were given a pictorial insight into the planning & preparation including choice of route (the long one of course – Lemosho) and the training (Cotswold Way -107 miles in 7 days). We were shown ‘the plan’ which included visits to friends and previous projects in Namibia, Zambia and Tanzania throughout July. The hope was to meet up with Bury Church students including our own Alison Greaves, Alice Morris and James Crompton and their own organiser son, Ben. And thankfully, there was a map of Africa with their adventure area clearly marked (Geography is not my strong point!) Not all went to plan! They were first held up in Dar es Salaam by the visit of Barack Obama – how discourteous of him! They did meet up with the Bury Church contingent but they did not manage to drive through Tanzania visiting friends and the Eden Project because the car they had borrowed became very poorly. Good local friends fixed up public transport in order to meet the deadline for the Kilimanjaro climb. Novel, hairy & exciting would describe these experiences!!
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Day 1 of the climb involved appointing local men as porters in addition to the guides from the city. For the 4 in their group (Addie, Barbara & friends Tessa & Arthur) there was 21 staff! Each porter was only allowed to carry 15kg and there were backpacks, tents, cooking equipment, portable toilet, hence 21 staff. The climb involved rainforests, rock formations, lava towers, mountain peaks appearing above clouds and the first sighting of Kili (that’s what everyone calls it!) shrouded in cloud. In the camps at night the food was excellent and there was hot water & of course the en-suite provision of the toilet tent. Sadly on day 3 of the 7-day climb, Barbara was taken ill and could not continue. The frustration still showed clearly as she described her disappointment. She is determined to go back & conquer!!! The final climb from Barafu Camp at 4600m took place during the night with 7 layers of clothing and a head torch. They started at 11.30pm and made it to the first peak Stella Point (5739m) at 6.30am and caught the sunrise! Friend Arthur was unable to make it to the next point (the dreaded altitude sickness) Uhuru Point (5894m) but his achievement still counts as climbing Kili. So – adventure over – money raised £1700 for VSO and £400 for Street Pastors. An amazing presentation and achievement! We, the audience (including two welcome gentlemen) were totally exhausted just watching and hearing about it!! WELL DONE & THANK YOU BOTH!! Joan Warner NEXT MEETING:- March 13th ; Elizabeth Greer presents hints & demonstration on flower arranging. All ladies welcome – 7.45 in the primary room
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FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT
Monday 24th February to Sunday 9th March
We are now in Fairtrade Fortnight. Knitting patterns available for tea cosy and coaster supporting Traidcraft’s theme of “The Big Brew.” A special treat for anyone knitting. The Fairtrade Foundation are highlighting the plight of banana growers especially in Colombia. The campaign aims to transform the banana industry. We want to make bananas fair. This means that every banana farmer and worker earns enough to have a decent standard of living, works in conditions that are safe and has rights and benefits. It also means bananas are
Sunday 2nd March Morning worship will include the film “Stick with Foncho” who is a banana farmer in Colombia. Junior Church may get involved with craft connected with bananas. Traidcraft stall will be displaying crafts for sale. Look for new items of assorted toffees, calypso fruits, liquorice whirls. New cards for all occasions. For the first time a new range of cleaning products is now available.
Sunday 9th March Following morning worship there will be a Traidcraft coffee morning. Ground Fairtrade coffee will be available and home made scones made with Fairtrade produce will be served. Paper puzzles and quizzes in coffee area. Look out for Traidcraft Big Brew game with a prize for the winner.
In 2008 one of the co-founders of The Meaningful Chocolate Company came up with the idea of The Real Easter Egg. The Real Easter Egg is the UK's first and only Fairtrade charity egg to mention Jesus and the events of the Christian period of Holy Week on the box. In 2011, ten weeks after launch, the egg became the UK's top selling mail order egg and was stocked across the UK by leading retailers. The 125g high quality Fairtrade milk chocolate egg costs £3.99 each.
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PLACE YOUR ORDER WITH BARBARA REDMOND or a volunteer on the Traidcraft Stall.
It's hard to believe that, out of the whopping 80 million chocolate Easter Eggs sold each year, not one of them mentions Jesus on the box. Until now that is. The Real Easter Egg is the first and only Fairtrade chocolate Easter Egg to explain the Christian understanding of Easter on the box. Real Easter Egg - Special Edition - £9.99
Inside the special edition Real Easter Egg is a high quality milk chocolate egg, an olive wood holding cross from the Holy Land, a specially designed Easter message booklet and an exclusive Meaningful Chocolate bar made from milk chocolate with a hint of natural orange. Limited edition 280g.
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Men United V Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer UK claims that the disease kills a man in the UK every hour but can be treatable if caught early.
My Dad died of Prostate Cancer. He never spoke about his signs and symptoms; it’s a fact that men don’t talk about ‘things like that.’ When diagnosed it was too late for my dad to respond to the treatment of the time but now there is a campaign to encourage men to talk to each other and to seek early and regular health advice.
Have you responded to the Men United Campaign?
Men United are calling for men to join together in a movement against the common enemy of prostate cancer. They want to get the message out about one of the UK’s biggest man killers, support men affected by it, and intensify the search for more reliable tests and treatments for the future.
On the Men United web page you can read all about prostate cancer and prostate problems. Take a little test to see how much knowledge you have regarding the condition. The ad for the campaign shows comedian Bill Bailey calling on men to sign up to the Men United campaign and beat the "dad’s disease". It also encourages men and women to go online and sign up for the Men United team, and to join celebrities by wearing the "Man of Men" badge.
The article on the web states ‘The Men United campaign replaces an awareness month. We don’t just want to catch people’s eyes, we want lasting relationships. Prostate Cancer UK is all about engagement, generating conversation, activity, and action around the key issues in men’s health. "Being ‘aware’ for one month and dormant for eleven isn’t what we’re about. Prostate Cancer UK is there for men 24/7, funding research, offering support and leading change all year.”
I pray all who read this article will go on menunited.prostatecanceruk.org and respond accordingly
Blessings and love Gillian Galloway
PS My Dad too suffered from Prostate Cancer, but fortunately he was diagnosed early and continued treatment until he eventually died with Prostate Cancer and not from it. Linda Peacock
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17th March — St Patrick’s Day Beloved Apostle to Ireland
St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. If you’ve ever been in New York on St Patrick’s Day, you’d think he was the patron saint of New York as well... the flamboyant parade is full of American/Irish razzmatazz. It’s all a far cry from the hard life of this 5th century humble Christian who became in time both bishop and apostle of Ireland. Patrick was born the son of a town councillor in the west of England, between the Severn and the Clyde. But as a young man he was captured by Irish pirates, kidnapped to Ireland, and reduced to slavery. He was made to tend his master’s herds. Desolate and despairing, Patrick turned to prayer. He found God was there for him, even in such desperate circumstances. He spent much time in prayer, and his faith grew and deepened, in contrast to his earlier years, when he “knew not the true God”. Then, after six gruelling, lonely years he was told in a dream he would soon go to his own country. He either escaped or was freed, made his way to a port 200 miles away and eventually persuaded some sailors to take him with them away from Ireland. After various adventures in other lands, including near-starvation, Patrick landed on English soil at last, and returned to his family. But he was much changed. He had enjoyed his life of plenty before; now he wanted to devote the rest of his life to Christ. Patrick received some form of training for the priesthood, but not the higher education he really wanted. But by 435, well educated or not, Patrick was badly needed. Palladius’ mission to the Irish had failed, and so the Pope sent Patrick back to the land of his slavery. He set up his see at Armagh, and worked principally in the north. He urged the Irish to greater spirituality, set up a school, and made several missionary journeys. Patrick’s writings are the first literature certainly identified from the British Church. They reveal sincere simplicity and a deep pastoral
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care. He wanted to abolish paganism, idolatry, and was ready for imprisonment or death in the following of Christ. Patrick remains the most popular of the Irish saints. The principal cathedral of New York is dedicated to him, as, of course, is the Anglican cathedral of Dublin.
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BAMFORD CHAPEL MAGAZINE
EDITORS:
Linda Peacock 01706 522593
Martyn James 01706 868885
SECRETARY:
Joan Ashton 01706 360395
DATES FOR THE NEXT MAGAZINE
Articles to be handed in by: Sunday 16th March
Magazine to be completed by: Thursday 27th March
Magazine distributed: Sunday 30th March
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BAMFORD CHAPEL United Reformed Church
Charity - Reg’d No 1128387
(FAIRTRADE CHURCH) Norden Road, ROCHDALE, Lancs. OL11 5PQ
The Manse, Norden Road, ROCHDALE,
Lancs OL11 5PQ
Telephone: 01706 369622 www.bamfordchapel.co.uk
Minister : Rev Richard Bradley Email: [email protected]
Church Secretary: Ian Sturrock Telephone: 01706 653109 Email: [email protected]
Wedding Secretary: John Lapworth Telephone: 01706 632460 Email: [email protected]
Lettings Manager: Linda Kerford Telephone: 01706 624256 Email: [email protected]
Times of Services: Family Worship : 10.30 am : Holy Communion 1st Sunday in month Evening Worship : 6.00 pm : Holy Communion 3rd Sunday in month
