Ministry Team for

St Mary the Virgin, Riddlesden and

St Luke’s, Morton

Rev Mike Cansdale (01535 603419)

Rev Tony Cullingworth (01535 601187)

Rev Jenny Ramsden (Curate)

Mrs Ruth Copping (Reader)

Mrs Elspeth Cansdale (Reader)

Churchwardens

Margaret Ellison (01535 602030)

Margaret Smith (01535 602990)

Sunday Services 8.00 am 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays of the month

and

9.30 am every Sunday

Family Service 9.30 am on the 1st Sunday of the month

Evening Service 6.30 pm 1st Sunday of the month

riddlesden.wordpress.com

PARISH NEWS

St Mary the Virgin, Riddlesden

FEBRUARY 2015

40P

A B LEACH

Wrought Ironwork

-o0o-

Handrails - Ballustrading

Gates - Fire Escapes

Security Grilles etc

-o0o-

Free estimates

Telephone: 07796 485369

(mobile)

01535 603559 (evenings)

2 15

DEAN HANSON

JOINER / PLUMBER

KITCHENS / BATHROOMS FITTED

AND PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

Keighley 01274 833688

Mobile 07941 825 484

RIDDLESDEN

WAR MEMORIAL

INSTITUTE

Scott Lane

REGULAR BOOKINGS

WELCOME

Meetings - Children’s Parties

Enquiries: Roy Towler

01535 667490 or

07918654311

COMPUTER PROBLEMS ?

Running Slow ?

Annoying pop-ups ?

Ring Stuart on 01535 600325

(Riddlesden based)

Computer Repairs

iPad & Tablet support

Wireless problems resolved

Windows XP systems replaced

Riddlesden and District

Handyman Services

Tel: 01535 669177

Mobile: 07855 054939

ALL work undertaken

Gardening—DIY Projects—

Painting & Decorating—

Hanging Baskets a Speciality

N J HOLMES

High Class Fruit & Vegetables

3 Hospital Road

Tel: 01535 691019

Opening Times:

Tues - 9.00 am - 5.30 pm

Wed - 9.00 am - 5.30 pm

Thur - 9.00 am - 5.30 pm

Fri - 9.00 am - 5.30 pm

Sat - 8.30 am - 2.00 pm

Orders Delivered

Raymond C Simpson & Son Ltd Est 1933

DECORATORS & PAINTING

CONTRACTORS 1 Grange Road, Riddlesden,

Keighley, West Yorkshire

BD20 5AB

Tel: 01535 602779

Mob: 07767 796822

TRANSPORT

If anyone has difficulty

getting to church,

please contact David Briggs

(01535 604957 ) who will endeavour

to arrange transport for you.

ROOFING SPECIALISTS

W. HANSON

ALL TYPES OF BUILDING WORK

PLASTERING / POINTING

RENDERING

Keighley 01535 665036

Mobile 07944 362 273

Please email anything for the weekly notice

sheet to

jen_read30@yahoo.

co.uk

by Wednesday morning, or drop

things to the Vicarage.

Items for the front cover always needed !

TO ADVERTISE on these pages, please

contact

Pat Fenton

01535 604373

LENT

Lent is the Christian season that takes us from the end of winter

through to Easter and is linked to the time when Jesus went for 40 days without food in the desert. It is a reminder that Jesus went

through suffering to make him stronger and more trusting in his Father God.

For us too it is a time to draw closer to God and is about allowing God to clean us up and make us more like Jesus. Forty days

can feel a really long time but as we remember what it cost Jesus to

bring us forgiveness we ask God to help us change. Some people

will choose to give something up and others will decide to do good

things during Lent to make a difference to others. As Christians we are encouraged to live in a different way – to turn away from our

natural selfishness and instead live generously, in a way that blesses other people.

Our celebration of Easter reminds us of the extravagant love of

God for the world and invites us to experience the joy of new life

with Jesus. From this experience of God’s love and grace springs a desire to give ourselves to serve him. God has chosen to work

through us, his people. We are to be his hands and feet on earth

and we have the Holy Spirit in us to give us the power to do this. God can use the small things we do to make a much larger impact.

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu writes, "It's all too

easy to feel we are powerless to make a difference, but the truth is,

with God's help we can change the world a little bit each day." If we pray and ask God to lead us then God can do amazing things

through us.

May Jesus touch our hearts and change our outlook so that we

live this way all of the time, looking for opportunities to be generous, to bless those around us and to share with them the love

of God.

Rev Mike

3 14

Mobile: 075 47 780227

Landline: (01535) 213156

JUST ASK - PROPERTY MAINTENANCE -

NO JOB TOO SMALL

INSIDE OR OUT

and

To book the Meeting Room

for private or group use, please contact

the bookings secretary

Mrs Fay Briggs

Plumbing - Heating - Gas Services

Boilers & Gas Appliances Installed, Serviced & Repaired

Gas Safety Checks - Central Heating

Mobile : 07989 977964

206137 Find me on

Email: stbrady77@yahoo.co.uk

6 High Banks Close, Riddlesden BD20 5PZ

All general plumbing work - OAP Discount

13 4

XMAS P.S.

Recently travelling from York to Pocklington the bus stopped en route and on climbed a little boy with his father. Had he been on a bus

before? I don't know but he gazed around with great interest before sitting down. Fares paid, the father then indicated they were to go

upstairs. The little boy cried "No daddy, no, I like it here - I like it. No - o - o !"

However, no argument. The father propelled him up the steps with

the little chap protesting all the way. "No daddy, no, I don't want to go to bed - I'm not tired - I'm not - I'm not tir …" his voice trailing off as

they reached the top deck.

One little boy no doubt relieved there were no beds up there and he was not

expected to climb into his pyjamas.

Quite a few chuckles from downstairs passengers and for myself a lovely

"smiley" start to Christmas.

Jean Metcalfe

CALLING ALL WRITERS ...

This year I would like to make a DVD of Bible stories for children. Unless you are particularly fond of ancient Sumerian or Graeco-Roman

literature (as I'm sure many of us are!), the Bible is probably the oldest text you are likely to have read. The stories may be very familiar to

us, but to children coming to them for the first time, they can be

difficult to understand.

There are many versions of Bible stories specifically for children, but

I thought it would be nice if we made it more personal and closer to

home, with familiar scenes, faces, accents and voices. (The call for actors and readers will come later ! )

Do you think you could write your favourite Bible

story (or stories!) as if you were telling it to a small child? We have all done it at some time or other

anyway as parents / grandparents / teachers / babysitters etc., or had them read or told to us, so it

should be a familiar thing to do.

It doesn't matter how long or short the stories are. It doesn't matter how old you are (work from all ages would be lovely!) or

whether you write alone or with a group of friends. And it doesn't matter whether the stories come from the New or Old Testaments as

long as they are right for children (eg. probably best to avoid the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse!).

I have already started work on the Nativity Story with the script

Mike used at the Crib Service, so reach for your quill, Bic or Parker and start scribbling!

I would be so pleased to receive your writings!

Pat Fenton 01535 604373

patl,fenton@gmail.com

Please send or hand me your stories by

Easter, or have a word with me if you

want to find out more.

MAGAZINE

I am pleased to say that the magazine will remain the same price, 40p per copy, for another year. If you have your magazine delivered, please

pay the person who delivers it £4.00 for the full year. Cheques can be made payable to Riddlesden PCC Magazine Account.

Thank you in advance to all the deliverers who regularly do such a good job (especially Gladys and Doris who "sweep up" every month so

the magazines are all out on time).

Particular thanks this year to Clare Robinson who has been helping out with the production of the magazine. If you would like to put

anything in the magazine yourself, please hand it to either Clare or

myself, or leave it in the folder on the noticeboard at the back of church.

Pat Fenton

5 12

HEALING PRAYER

A Prayer for the New Year

Dear Lord, Help me to live this day Quietly, easily; To lean upon your strength Truthfully, restfully; To wait for the unfolding of your will Patiently, serenely; To meet others Peacefully, joyously; To face tomorrow Confidently, courageously; These things I ask through Jesus' name. Amen

With love from the Healing Prayer Group.

If you would like to join our small group on the third Tuesday of

each month at 7.00pm at Betty's, 7 Applegarth Gardens, we should be very happy to see you.

Or phone if we can help by prayer: Betty - 01535 213161

Next meeting: Tuesday 17th February

If you need support in your prayers for

yourself or someone

you know, we will pray for you every day.

LENT

As part of our

activities session at Messy Church this

month, the children will be making

cubes.

On each face of the

cube will be something positive

for them to try to

do each day throughout Lent.

Why not make one for yourself?

LOVE LIFE LIVE LENT

Messy Church

continues each

month with a small

but dedicated band of volunteers.

catering for 40 - 70

children and adults.

Please see Mike or Elspeth if you would

like to join them.

This is a smaller,

simplified version of the template.

Paste it onto card, cut it out or copy

it. Use the ideas shown here or add

your own.

Turn the face each day and try to

carry out that day's "task". Or just pick

something to do

each day from The Cross.

12th February

Joyce, Elizabeth and Sarah thank most sincerely the church fellowship at St Mary’s and the many individuals who sent messages of sympathy following the sudden death of John.

They have been of great comfort to them in their sadness at losing a treasured and devoted husband, father and grandfather.

Thank you. Joyce Wood

Share a

smile today

Think of 3

good things

and say Thank

You to God

Pray for

someone

who is unwell

or in need

Give

someone a

hug

Spend 5

minutes

quietly by

yourself

Offer to

help

someone

with a job

6 11

SHROVE TUESDAY

Shrove Tuesday is traditionally the last day of feasting, using the last

of any rich foods in the house, before the fasting of Lent begins. Below are some of the ways in which Shrove Tuesday is celebrated around the

world.

In Britain it has long been tradition to eat pancakes, made with flour

eggs and milk, on this day, a custom going back to pagan times when

during the changing of the seasons from winter to spring pancakes were

made and eaten to represent the sun. Pancake races are held across the country including the Parliamentary Pancake Race, a race between the

Upper and Lower parliamentary houses and members of

the press in aid of Rehab, a charity helping disabled people in the U.K. Last year’s title was retained by the

House of Commons. Mob football games, a practise dating back to the 12th Century, are still popular in

places such as Northumberland and Cornwall, while in Scarborough, the foreshore is closed and people are

invited to skip, in the past using rope from the nearby harbour.

In Spanish and Latin speaking countries it is usual for a carnival to

take place. The word carnival comes from carne levare, meaning to take away meat, and usually includes street processions and fancy dress.

Iceland celebrates Spengidagur (bursting day) by eating salted meat

and peas. While in Finland and Estonia it is the custom to eat pea soup,

and whipped cream and jam filled buns on Vastlapaev. Children traditionally also go sledging.

In Portugal malasadas are made using up the lard and sugar in the

house. This practise was also taken to Hawaii by the workers in the

sugar plantations there, and in Hawaii, Shrove Tuesday has become known as Malasadas Day.

FATHER BROWN Perhaps, like me, you welcomed the return of the Father Brown

mysteries to afternoon TV in January. G.K. Chesterton’s self-

effacing, innocuous-looking priest with the brilliant mind is, along with Sherlock Holmes, a truly great character in crime fiction.

But did you know that Father Brown has his earliest roots in Keighley? Chesterton came to our town late in 1903 to give a public

lecture. He lodged at the house of a “leading citizen” who had

assembled a party of guests to mark the occasion. Among them was Father John O’Connor, the parish priest of St. Cuthbert’s, Bradford.

The following day they walked together to Keighley Gate, then across the moor to Ilkley - the first of many such walks and the start

of a life-long friendship.

Chesterton found the Irishman to be engaging, amusing and quick-witted. But if he was a Roman Catholic priest he was certainly

no “holy innocent”. Chesterton was amazed to discover that O’Conner knew more about the dark side of human nature and the

workings of the criminal mind than most men. And thus was sown

the seeds of the first Father Brown story a few years later. “I permitted myself the grave liberty of taking my friend and knocking

him about; beating his hat and umbrella shapeless, untidying his clothes, punching his intelligent countenance into a condition of

pudding-faced fatuity, and generally disguising Father O’Connor as

Father Brown,” Chesterton wrote in his autobiography.

Why am I such a big fan of Father Brown? Well, the short

mysteries are brilliantly conceived and entertainingly written, of course. But, more importantly, I admire our hero’s God-given

essential goodness. It allows him to see into the hearts of men, and

where there is wrong-doing there is equally the possibility of redemption. Where Sherlock Holmes pursues justice, Father Brown

pursues souls. Long may he continue.

Allan Robinson

7 10

FROM THE WEBSITE

There is a large gravestone in the churchyard commemorating eight members of the Haw family. Part of the inscription reads:

...Also of Thomas, their son who died onboard the GREAT

BRITAIN during her passage from Melbourne to Liverpool Sep 14th 1874 in the 39th year of his age.

After finding this inscription on our website, Pauline Haw has sent

this message:

"At last I have discovered the origin of my great uncle and my dad's

name. Both of them were called Melbourne. My great grandfather

James was the younger brother of Thomas who died on board ship on its journey from Melbourne to Liverpool in 1874. James named his

first son Thomas but he died, so the next son was named

Melbourne. James must have really loved and admired his

"big brother"!

A lightbulb moment I think!"

Pauline Haw.

NEWS FROM THE TODDLER GROUP

The toddler group continues to meet on Thursday mornings during term time and last term we were pleased to welcome several new

people to the group, giving us a number of busy and lively sessions.

Although we are currently without a singer, we continue to have a variety of toys, and we recently purchased a new kitchen which is

much enjoyed by all the children. We also continue to organize a weekly craft activity including rockets, paper plate faces, and leaf

printing, and in December the children created a three kings collage

which you may have seen on the notice board. Each child also made a decoration to put on the church Christmas tree and the opportunity

to do so was provided during our annual visit to church as part of our Christmas celebrations. After our church visit we then headed back

to the meeting room for party food, games and a much anticipated visit from Santa.

We continue to meet during the cold weather, and after the half

term break we will be looking ahead to Easter with activities such as

making Easter cards and chocolate crispies. We are a friendly group

and would love to welcome anyone new interested in joining us.

Anne and Clare

TODDLERS P.S.

Due to increasing numbers

and extra wear and tear, the

toddler group is looking for a new piece of carpet in good

condition, roughly 6ft x 8ft.

Unfortunately we are unable to collect so it would need to be delivered to the meeting

room at your convenience. If you think you can help please speak to Clare Robinson or pop into toddlers on Thursday mornings.

PILLAR BOX APPEAL

Thanks to everyone who contributed so generously to the

Pillar Box Appeal for Embrace the Middle East.

The amount raised was £154.10 plus a further £17 from

Gift Aid in respect of those who signed the envelope.

David Briggs

Treasurer

Brunel's S.S. Great Britain was originally a luxury liner taking up to 700

passengers to and from Australia, then a cargo boat, a quarantine ship, and finally she ended up in the Falkland Islands where she was left to

deteriorate until a billionaire bought it and took it back to Bristol. She has now been fully restored and is a popular tourist attraction.

8 9

Date Services Readings Readers Intercessions Sidesmen Welcomers Coffee Cleaners

Feb 1st Presentation of Christ in the temple

8.00 BCP 1 Cor 9: 24 - end Matt 20: 1—16

B Harrington

9.30 Family Service Mark 1: 21 - 28 Brownies M Cansdale A Eccles A Drake

S Robinson C Robinson

Uniformed Groups

M Bailey S Elms

6.30 Lord’s Supper 1 Sam 1:19b-end Heb 4: 11 - end

C Robinson M Cansdale

R Copping I Copping

Feb 8th

8.00 BCP at St Luke’s

2nd before Lent

9.30 Holy Comm Col 1: 15 - 20 John 1: 1 - 14

P Fenton P Holland

B Greenwood S Holmes D Dewhurst

P Fenton K Sutcliffe

A Eccles A Sweeting

D Chambers

Feb 15th Sunday before Lent

8.00 BCP 1 Cor: 13 Luke 18: 31 - 43

D Briggs

9.30 Morning Worship 2 Cor 4: 3 - 6 Mark 9: 2 - 9

A Robinson S Fenton

V Wilson B Greenwood P Holland

C Rattenbury V Wilson

C Booth E Leach

A Eccles C Booth

Feb 18th

Ash Wednesday

10.00 Holy Comm 2 Cor 5:20b-6:10 Matt 6: 1-6,16-21

Feb 22nd 8.00 BCP at St Luke’s

Lent 1 9.30 Holy Comm 1 Peter 3: 18- end Mark 1: 9 - 15

V Wilson G Ellison

P Holland J Metcalfe P Fenton

M Ellison G Ellison

S Robinson C Robinson

C Rattenbury P Fenton

Rotas for February

EVENING PRAYER Tuesdays 7.00pm

February 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th.

MESSY CHURCH Thursday 12th February 3.15—5.00pm in St Mary’s

School Hall, Grange Road.

MID-WEEK COMMUNION Wednesdays 10.00am

February 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th.