Branching Out - Magazine
Letter From The Manse
At the time of writing, we are at that time of year again when we start preparing for Lent. By the time you read this we should be a good portion through Lent with the events of Holy Week approaching and the anticipation of the celebration of the resurrection growing closer.
My hope is that by now you may have caught onto the theme we are exploring during Lent through our Lenten Liturgy, through Lent on the Door; all of which we are posting on our Facebook page! And if you haven’t seen any of these I’ll give you the answer… it’s generosity!
One of the themes for mission the Methodist Church has been exploring nationally and locally is how we engage and respond to our generous God. It is a call for us to be generous by giving more of our time and being generous in our giving of money, so that we can change the world one person at a time with our hearts and minds. All of this comes from that well known phrase from the founder of Methodism, John Wesley, who told people to: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”
That sentence has a lot of ‘can’ in it!! But it reminds us that being a follower of Jesus invites us to respond to our God by being generous. It calls us to give all we can, every part and being of our lives. Being generous is not easy; at times it might even be the most difficult thing to do. Because being generous calls us to give of ourselves without thinking of the cost, to go and give above and beyond to help someone else, to not seek glory from giving or even giving without the need of being thanked. But also being generous calls us to reflect on how our actions, words and our thoughts affect other people.
Our readings through our Lent Liturgy draw on examples from the Bible of people being generous. Generous to others through care to a stranger, the giving of money or throwing an unexpected party. But also we think about how people were generous in response to Jesus, by anointing him, welcoming him and trusting in him. Most of all, we have the best example of generosity as we travel through that last week of Jesus’ life. So as we make the journey to the cross and then onto the joy and celebration of an empty tomb, when we meet our Saviour alive and risen from the dead, I challenge you to think about how you can be more generous this Lent and Easter season. And if you are wondering how can I be generous? Just think… what would Jesus do? And is that all I can do at this time?
God Bless.
Katie
Compass Course
You may have seen advertised the Compass course we are running during Lent. This course is designed to explore what we think about God, the difference Jesus makes and what ‘being a Methodist’ means. These sessions are designed to bring people into Membership with the Methodist Church. But they are also a good opportunity for everyone to have a chance to discuss and engage in exploring aspects of theology, studying stories from the Bible and learning more about our Methodist history, tradition and theology.
All are welcome to the sessions which are being run on a Monday during February and March at 2:00pm and 7:00pm at Wisewood Church (you would only need to attend one session, as both sessions cover the same material). If you would like more information on the Compass Course please get in contact with Katie on 0114 2294707 or katie.leonowicz@methodist.org.uk.
Musical Notes!
I am a failed filer! That is, I put off filing letters, bills, information sheets etc... on the basis that tomorrow will be a better day to do it. Piles are easier than files! So it was with great reluctance that I decided to file away the Christmas music that I had recently been using so that finding it next year (or is that- this year, now) will be simpler. Trouble is, it caused me to have a slight case of nostalgia, for whilst sorting the music out, I kept coming across other music I hadn’t seen for a while which seemed to need my attention. The job became a slow wallow – but quite enjoyable. Memories were stirred and unfortunately, once that happens it’s difficult to apply the brakes.
For many years a great deal of my time was taken up in thinking about and selecting suitable music for the choir to use at the different seasons of the Church’s calendar, anthems for morning and evening worship on most Sundays of the year. Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Ascension and Pentecost were relatively straight forward and then came ‘Ordinary Time’ – several months of nothing special with no obvious ‘pegs’ on which to hang things. Nevertheless, we did have a pretty wide repertoire of 50 or 60 items to choose from so repetition wasn’t a problem. Selecting and rehearsing week by week was a great privilege and we looked on our work as a weekly offering in worship just as much as the hymns, readings, prayers and even the sermon - or so we believed.
But all this seems a long time ago and I hope those few of us who are left, scattered around the congregation, can reflect with joy on the offerings that we made. In 1983 we got a new hymn book ‘Hymns and Psalms’ to stimulate our worship and, contrary to some people’s belief, there were and still are, many gems to be found therein. Now of course, we have ‘Singing the Faith’ with lots of new hymns, new styles, new tunes to explore. Already we are finding plenty of stimulating ideas and thoughts to engage our minds and enlarge our understanding of our faith.
As always with new things, favourites are emerging as we go along. Cream will always rise to the top! So as Joseph Hart (1712-1768) says in his hymn: ‘This, this is the God we adore – we’ll praise Him for all that is past and trust Him for all that’s to come’. On a personal note, whilst reading the minutes of the Sunday School Teachers’ Meeting of Wadsley Wesleyan Chapel dated 20th November 1916, my father’s name appeared among those present. So, as a family, we rejoice to celebrate at least 100 years of connection with Methodism on this site.
John Garrett
Wadsley Church
Had you lived in Wadsley at the end of the eighteenth century and wished to go to church you would have found it difficult. As Wadsley Methodist church had yet to be built you would have had to take a long walk or horse ride to Ecclesfield, your parish church. If you were in with the right people you might be able to attend the small chapel attached to Wadsley Hall on Far Lane but this was demolished in 1813. It had only been used as a stable for the previous few years.
Apparently, whilst doing the conversion, the workmen found a font and a stone cross within the building. Or you may have attended a house group in the village, where Methodists met regularly.
However in 1834, May 31st due to the persistent work of two sisters, Ann and Elizabeth Harrison, an Anglican church, now known as Wadsley Church, was opened on the former meadow of Fleester Field, on Worrall Road.
The foundation stone had been laid two years earlier. Architecturally the style was known as “Lancet Arched Gothic,” a fairly simple design. The 95 feet high tower was, as usual, built on the western side of the church. Up to six hundred worshippers could be accommodated in the church. Wadsley parish church was originally known as the “Parish of Three Bridges,” Wadsley Bridge, Malin Bridge and Oughtibridge which were until then, within the new Wadsley parish. All three “Bridges” are now parishes in their own right. The first Wadsley vicar was the Rev. Francis Owen but after two years he left to become a missionary to South African Zulus, the first person ever to do so.
Approximately fifty years after the opening ceremony, on Easter Day, 13th April 1884, the church caught fire and, despite valiant efforts by the villagers and the Sheffield Fire Brigade, attempts to curtail it failed, the roof fell in and the organ and pews were destroyed. The following day, more than 3,000 visitors came from Sheffield to see the disaster site.
Various local people gave funds to restore the church, including the Fowler family who inhabited Wadsley Hall (see the Wisewood magazine of Summer 2015 if you want to find out more about the famous Fowler family). The cost of the restoration was £1,700 and a stone tablet commemorated the restoration and this was placed over the door in the porch. Services were held in the church from Christmas Day 1884 but it was not until February 1885 that the church was officially re-opened.
Ray Battye
Gift Day - Sunday 13th March 2016
Please mark the date 13th March 2016 in your diaries. This is our next Gift Day and as we will soon, sadly, be saying “Good-bye” to our layworker, Becca, the Church Council has had to decide the best use of our gifts. £1000 of the total will go into the Benevolence Fund. This fund has become very depleted over the last 3 years and without further cash injection, we could no longer support the worthwhile causes to which we are committed. The remaining monies will go towards a refurbishment of our projection system. At the moment this has several problems, not least of which are safety issues which need to be addressed.
So, I ask you all to consider your giving very prayerfully to help continue the mission of our church.
Thank you and God Bless.
Di Bowns
Why We Do Cafe Church
Since doing Cafe Church in January, I have been reflecting on why we do cafe church.
In an earlier magazine article, Katie reflected upon a report from the Methodist Church that stated that the churches that were growing were ones that were willing to experiment with new ways of presenting the gospel. At Wisewood there has been innovation and openness to new ideas, such as Variety Church, All-Age Worship, Chippy Church and Cafe Church.
So why cafe church? To begin with, we have to realize that the way people learn today is very different from the didactic methods of chalk and talk and sitting in silence and listening. In schools today pupils take ownership of their learning by being taught in a way that is interactive and involves them in making discoveries. They are encouraged to think for themselves within the context of a well structured programme. This is the method we are using at Cafe church. We are taking this approach as a means of creating a relaxed informal atmosphere where people can share their thoughts and their faith. We are trying to find ways of reaching the missing generations for whom church can be an alien and off putting experience.
Cafe Church means that everybody can be actively involved in thinking about the gospel message and not just listening to someone else’s interpretation. What it allows you to do is to make the link for yourself with the Bible and your own experience. This has two advantages, one is that it is easier to understand and the other is that what you have thought for yourself will remain with you. We all know that we can drift off when someone is speaking to us.
Cafe church also challenges our perception of what worship is. Worship is not something that we do for an hour every Sunday but worship is what we do with our whole lives. When we leave church we do not stop worshipping but we take out into the world the experiences and truths we believe in. We can relax and talk together and build each other up as we realize that we have an active faith that informs our daily lives. It should give us courage and confidence in what we believe in.
Another important aspect of Cafe Church is that everybody can be involved. It requires much more effort to do and everyone can help with setting up, tidying up, serving, preparing food and the content of the activities and ideas. It is a wonderful opportunity for team work and for everyone to feel they can contribute to worship.
Read the passage from 1 Corinthians 12. This reminds us that we all have an active part to play in the body of Christ. This involves shopping, serving drinks, setting up tables as well as having ideas and helping with activities.
“There are different kinds of gifts but the same spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men” verses 4-7. I hope that next time we have cafe church, which will be led by Nick Waterfield, that you may understand the thinking and reasons that lie behind the presentation.
Joan Bugg (with additions from Katie and Becca)
Readings In The New Testament
We carry on reading Matthew, Chapter 21, verses 18 to 22. On the face of it, the story of the fig tree seems both petty and vindictive. Jesus seems to be using his powers to satisfy some personal, peevish annoyance. Indeed, when we learn about the characteristics of fig trees, things seem even worse.
Apparently, fig trees fruit twice a year and the time of year when Jesus went to Jerusalem was not one of these times. Therefore, the tree was unable to bear fruit when Jesus was passing. Obviously there is another aspect to what Jesus was saying, here is another parable. In Palestine the fig tree had a special place in people’s lives. Almost every house had a courtyard and in that courtyard was planted a fig tree to give shade and to provide a cool spot for sitting out. The fig tree was very much the nearest to a ‘national tree’ in the community.
In other words, the fig tree represents the Jewish nation. This people whose history stretched back many hundreds of years were to receive treatment symbolised by that which happened to the fig tree. After all, from the earliest historical records in the Old Testament, the Israelites, later called the Jews, had been shown the nature, power and concern of God. They had also repeatedly been found to be lacking in following God’s ways. The history in the Old Testament is of a constant roller-coaster of progress, particularly from the Exodus from Egypt onwards.
Indeed, of the twelve tribes which sprang from Jacob, only two now remained and they were in a sorry state with the country under Roman occupation. The Jews were no longer masters in their own country and only continued their religious practices with the agreement of their conquerors. Even this was to be terminated within just a few years after the death and resurrection of Jesus.
If we read the story as a parable using the fig tree to represent the Jewish nation it immediately becomes relevant and does not show Jesus as peevish and petty. Jesus laments many times over the failure of the Jews to fully understand what God wants from them and most especially with their failure to progress in understanding and to turn to a realisation of the love of God and not to feel that obeying the multiplicity of rules and regulations which they had developed was following God.
By this time, the expansion of the Laws in the first five books of The Bible had grown to several massive volumes and a whole industry of lawyers had become established whose role in life was to develop these laws. It is these lawyers who keep questioning Christ in the Gospels, trying to get answers to the many legal questions which were troubling them. Who is my neighbour? Should we pay taxes to the Romans?
Jesus time and time again tries to show them that God’s will for the people was not the obeying of a long list of petty laws, but was to be a loving response to God’s love for them and to be shown by a loving relationship with God’s creation. So we have parables such as The Good Samaritan, The Prodigal Son, and many others. We have the compassionate healing of both minds and bodies by Christ. We have Christ crossing forbidden boundaries to make loving connections with gentiles. Now let us return to the fig tree.
It represents the Jewish nation. The nation has had many warnings, it has had messages from the Old Testament prophets and more recently from John the Baptist and now from Jesus himself. There have been plenty of opportunities for change, to love all other people to change and begin to develop a world as God would like it.
Their many failings condemned them to a fruitless future. Indeed, within forty years of the story being told, Jerusalem would be destroyed, the temple razed to the ground (the ‘Wailing Wall’ is the only remaining part of the temple foundations) and the end of Palestine, as a semi-independent part of the Roman Empire.
Jesus sees all this as the future for the nation and this is what he is describing in the parable of the fig tree.
David Battye
Shoeboxes
Our annual Shoebox service was held on 29th November and was led by our own minister Katie. She told us a story (with illustrations) about a mouse called Small who lived underground but one day he came up to the surface and saw a special star. This he discovered was the star which signified the birth of Jesus. He then wanted to learn more about this special star and the person whose birth it signified.
It was good to see the Brownies, Guides and Rainbows and their leaders at the service. They had prepared a considerable number of shoeboxes and at this service, Will, one or their leaders and Shona, a junior leader, were baptised.
Back to the shoeboxes. I know that you all like to know exactly what is on those two trollies and what other contributions have been made. The certificate on the Mission noticeboard acknowledges the receipt of 98 shoeboxes. In addition we had previously taken 80 sets of hats, scarves and mittens to the depot.
The fillers on the trolley were as follows: 32 sets of hats, scarves and mittens, 18 hats, 12 scarves, 80 toiletry items, 290 stationery items, 40 toys, 7 packets of sweets and 12 packets (each containing 12 coloured pencils).
Many of the stationery items were donated by our church stationery supplier, Universal Office Products (run by Steve Manley).
A number of people who felt they could not fill a Shoebox gave me donations, which, along with the proceeds from the sale of hats, scarves and gloves, amounted to £165 which will be used to help cover the cost of transport. Our shoeboxes will be going to Romania. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all who contributed to this tremendous result.
Enid M Bishop
Good News! Good News!
I just could not wait to get back to prayer group after the Christmas break to give thanks for the good news of the celebration of the coming of Jesus.
I received a lovely and unusual Christmas card from Tearfund. In it were nine letters from nine different areas expressing thanksgiving for what had been achieved. From Sierra Leone, Nepal, Kathmandu, Afghanistan, the Middle East, Zimbabwe and Syria. You can read them for yourselves on the prayer board in the vestry passage.
From time to time the advocacy team send out postcards and suggestions for letters to MP’s regarding ethical and environmental matters and poverty. It is always good to receive a letter back from the Houses of Parliament and to know that politicians have noted the material sent to them.
I have had to write this article twice because a naughty person passed on a virus which destroyed all files in our computer. Because of this I have forgotten what drove me to write about matters in the Methodist Prayer Handbook, but I have displayed the map which is now on the prayer board. This shows all the places in the world where the Methodist Church is active, better still, order one from Katie or from me for yourself.
In the preface to the prayer book it says that John Wesley said that God raised up Methodists to be messengers, to challenge the church and to spread Christian Holiness throughout the land. The early Methodists were known for their enthusiasm and prayer and their commitment to studying the scriptures.
Prayer is our essential sustenance for the journey through life. I would like to invite all who wish, to just pop in on any Saturday or Sunday morning to the prayer group to taste and see and experience the power of prayer.
Dorothy Battye
Potting Shed
Spring (or the vernal equinox) does not begin until around the 21st March and there is a risk of frost up until the end of May. Prepare the greenhouse if you have one by washing down and cleaning all pots and tools to help prevent the spread of disease. Ventilate your glasshouse or conservatory on mild days to help prevent fungal problems.
February: This is your last chance to plant bare-rooted raspberries. Prune the canes of summer-fruiting types to 10in after planting, and autumn-fruiting varieties down to ground level. Put up bird nesting boxes in February - it’s the last chance before tits start looking for a suitable residence.
In March buy onion sets, preparing beforehand by digging over the plot lightly, then rake level and give it a fertiliser feed which needs raking into the top layer of soil. Protect from birds, which think the onion tops are worms! Sow seeds of summer flowering annuals indoors. Plant primroses and pansies for instant colour.
In April set peas and beetroot seeds. Lettuce seeds want sowing a few every fortnight to ensure cropping over a period of time. Moss will start growing on lawns before the grass, so now is the time to start killing it with ferrous sulphate. Apply feed and weed just before rain is forecast so it is watered in and doesn’t burn the lawn.
Look at your garden as you walk around it and from the windows in your house and decide if anything needs changing. Consider moving or replacing damaged, overgrown or badly placed shrubs. Choose plants that have year round interest and which will not grow too big for the space you have. If you have room for trees, look for ones with eye-catching bark, such as birches and maples, which are beautiful all year.
Don’t forget to check outdoor containers are regularly watered, particularly those sheltered by house porches or eaves.
Happy Spring gardening!
Helen Ollerenshaw
The City of Sheffield Teachers’ Choir
We are: a group of amateur singers who enjoy singing together. We welcome new members in all voice parts, but at the moment, especially men. We come from all walks of life; we are not all teachers or even in education. Everyone is welcome!
We rehearse: Thursday, 7:00-9:00pm, from September to mid July, at St. Mary’s Church centre, Bramall Lane, S2 4QZ.
We sing: a wide range of music including sacred pieces, opera choruses, Christmas carols and songs, spirituals, traditional and folk songs, concert versions of Gilbert and Sullivan and songs from the shows.
We perform: three concerts a year at Easter, summer and Christmas and we also sing carols at outdoor events such as The Winter Garden, Chatsworth and Howarth or wherever we are invited and for other events during the year.
If you are someone who would like to sing and you have the commitment expected to belong to any successful organisation, please speak to any choir member you may already know or contact our conductor Ralph Green on 0113 2565320 or visit our website www.cityofsheffieldteacherschoir.org.uk. Why not come along? Give it a try! You will be very welcome. You don’t need to have a great musical knowledge or do an audition.
Forthcoming events:
Friday 11th March at 7:30pm “Olivet to Calvary” and other Easter anthems, at Dore and Totley United Reformed Church, S17 3QS
Saturday 19th March at 7:30pm “Olivet to Calvary” and other anthems, at St. Peter’s Church, Hope, Derbyshire, S33 6ZG
Thursday 21st April 7:00-9:00pm Open Rehearsal (taster evening to come and listen, join in, try us out) at St. Mary’s Church Community centre, Bramall Lane, S2 4QZ.
For tickets for all concerts ring: 0114 2863251.
Joan Warby