You can download the February 2020 parish magazine in PDF format using the link below.
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Parish Magazine for February 2020
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Letter for February 2020
For me one of the most moving feasts in the Church’s calendar is Candlemas on the 2nd February every year. It arrives forty days after the birth of Jesus but is not as well known as Christmas and Easter. Candlemas tells the story of Jesus being presented in the Temple by Mary and Joseph to God the Father and shown to his people. The Law stated that every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord. In the Temple at the time were two people, Simeon and Anna, who were elderly and were waiting to see Jesus the new born child. God had revealed to Simeon that he would not die before he saw baby Jesus and when he saw Jesus he swept him up in his arms and praised God saying this words….
Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace
your word has been fulfilled
My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people
A light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of you people Israel. Luke 2:29-32
Not only did Simeon recognize Jesus as the light of the world but also spoke of the life of Jesus to come of how he was to face not only glory but also pain. Later on in the passage, Anna—who was a widow and had never left the Temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying—also thanked God for Jesus and spoke about his life to come.
There is so much in the meeting of Jesus and Simeon and Anna that speaks to us today. They are both known as the ‘quiet in the land’ – going about their daily lives in prayer and quiet watchfulness for God at work in the world. They watched patiently in humble faithful expectation for Jesus and although they had both known sorrow they had not grown bitter and never gave up hope. It also was a meeting of both young and old and the part they played in God’s plans. The witness and life of Simeon and Anna show to us there’s no retirement in God’s eyes!
The feast of Candlemas is very much a turning point in the Church year as we take one last look back at the birth of Jesus and now turn to face Lent and the events of Holy Week. and Easter. It is very much a bitter sweet turning point as we will soon begin our journey into forty days of Lent and spend time reflecting on our own lives. Join us at St Peter’s on Ash Wednesday, 26th February, at 7:30pm when we gather to start our Lenten observance and in the meantime let’s pray that we too may recognize Jesus, the light of the world in our lives and the life of the world.
Rev Glenn Coggins,
Vicar of the United Benefice of Stanley, Outwood and Wrenthorpe and Alverthorpe.
Film Club – February 2020 – “Young Victoria”
Friday evening, 14th February 7:30pm
‘Young Victoria’ (2009)
Emily Blunt takes the title role in Jean-Marc Vallee’s dramatisation of the early years of Queen Victoria’s rule, which began when she was just 18 years old, and her enduring romance and marriage to Prince Albert (Rupert Friend). Jim Broadbent and Miranda Richardson co-star as King William (Victoria’s uncle) and the Duchess of Kent respectively. The story depicts the suffocating lifestyle that a young Victoria was subjected to, as well as the intricacies of court politics and meddling from many sources, including Victoria’s own mother; Lord Melbourne the Prime Minister; and even foreign royalty. With beautiful locations and costumes and superb performances by the whole cast, we see how an 18 year old queen overcame a risky start to set up a hugely successful reign.
Doors open 7pm, film start 7.30pm
Free admission, tea & coffee; bring your own popcorn!
Men’s Group (MAPP’s) – Wednesday 12th February
MAPP’s organises social events every month for men from each of the four hurches in the united benefice, St Mary’s (M), St Anne’s (A), St Peter’s (P) and St Paul’s (P).
This month’s MAPP’s Men’s Group meeting we have a guest speaker – Richard Sellens, who only recently retired as a pathologist and whose talk we’ve labelled “Blood and Guts!”
Richard will have much to say about his “line of work” and will tell us, for example, what happens to the samples we give to our doctor and who does what between our leaving the surgery and returning for the results! It’s all a matter of detective work!
We shall meet at 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday 12th in the Kirkland Hotel in Outwood. (If at the last minute we are prevented from doing so we shall simply go across the road and into the Church vestry.)
This is not just for men in our churches, it’s an evening open to men in our wider community who would like to join us for the evening. Please do join us, you will be most welcome.
Coffee Morning – Sat 8th Feb 2020
The next coffee morning will be on Saturday 8th February at St Peter’s church from 10.30am – 12.30pm with lots of great stalls: cakes, raffle, jigsaws, tombola and refreshments including delicious bacon butties.
The coffee mornings dates for the rest of the year are shown below: they will take place on the 2nd Saturday of each month at St Peter’s church, and will continue to take place from 10.30am – 12.30pm.
Please join us!
| | 11 April | 11 July | 10 October |
| 8 February | 9 May | 8 August | 14 November |
| 11 March | 13 June | 12 September | 12 December |
Coffee Morning – Saturday January 11th
Saturday 11th January 10.30am-12.30pm
Coffee morning with all the usual great stalls including cakes, tombola, raffle, jigsaws and refreshments.
At St Peter’s Church
Men’s Group (MAPP’s) – Wednesday 15th January
MAPP’s organises social events every month for men from each of the four hurches in the united benefice, St Mary’s (M), St Anne’s (A), St Peter’s (P) and St Paul’s (P).
The next meeting will be on: Wednesday 15th January at 7.15pm at Wrenthorpe village hall for indoor bowling.
In addition to bowling we can also try our hand at curling. If you haven’t played this before it’s great fun. (Curling is normally played on ice, of course, but not in this case. It’s on the hall floor and the “stones” are on small casters!) No previous experience is needed either for bowling or curling, just the intention to have a go.
Film Club – January 2020 – “Just Go With It”
Friday 10th January 7.30pm
Free Film club showing the romantic comedy ‘Just go with it’.
Doors open 7pm, film starts 7.30pm. Free tea and coffee.
Just Go with It is a 2011 American romantic comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan, starring Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman, Nick Swardson and Brooklyn Decker.
It is based on the 1969 film Cactus Flower, which is itself an adaptation of the Broadway stage play written by Abe Burrows, which in turn was based upon the French play Fleur de cactus!
Christmas 2019
Reminder of our Christmas services over the next few days:
Sunday 22nd December
10am St Peter’s Sunday Service
4pm Carol Service – a service by candlelight at St Peter’s Church featuring traditional Bible readings and carols.
Christmas Eve (Tues 24th)
2pm Christmas Eve Crib service – a very popular service for all ages at St Peter’s Church, with carols, dressing up, crafts and refreshments.
11pm Christmas Eve Communion Service – at St Peter’s Church for traditional communion services to welcome Christmas Day.
Christmas Day (Wed 25th)
10am Christmas Day Family Service – celebrate the birth of Jesus.
This weekend – 23/24 November
| On Saturday 23rd November is our Christmas Fair at St Peter’s church with lots of stalls and refreshments. Full details can be found here. |
| On Sunday 24th November is our Jesus is King! United Benefice service at St Anne’s, Wrenthorpe. A service of joyful songs and readings, starts at 6:30pm. |