Imagination

Children have wonderful imaginations with my grandson Archie being no exception to this. After playing in the sand with his various diggers and tractors we went for a walk through the gardens. Spring flowers were pushing their way up through the ground. Several trees had been cut back and there were old bits of tree trunks and branches, lying around which had started to decay. These decaying bits of wood, fired up Archie's imagination (pardon the pun) I wonder if you can guess what they became 

 

This was a baby dinosaur. I am sure you can see his teeth and his tail curling around towards you.

A crocodile, lurking in the background.

This may be that hardest of all, remember you have to think like a child

An exploding Volcano.

Playing with Archie with his imaginary creatures reminded me of the song by John Lennon " Imagine" Did you know the song was inspired by a Christian prayer book that was given to John Lennon and Yoko Ono 

Imagination is a great gift from God. 

Thank you, God, for this wonderful gift.

Sunday Worship

 The service can be found here

Intercessions for 28th February

 The prayers can be found here

Crocuses

 If you were missing the church crocuses, here they are

Pictures by Edna

Rev'd Christine

 Rev's Christine's introduction of herself from last March in case you missed it, is here

Sunday Worship

 The service can be found here

Spring Cleaning.

I was on holiday last week. Before the pandemic, I would have spent time with or gone to visit relatives and friends in various parts of the country. As the holiday approached, I wondered how I was going to fill my time. I needn’t have worried or wondered as the week flew by rather too quickly. So what did I get up to?

Amongst other things, I began to tidy some cupboards. I suppose you could say that I started my spring cleaning a little early. My husband was very good at chucking things out and lived by the old adage; if in doubt chuck it out. With his words ringing in my ears, I began sorting and chucking out. The floor was covered in papers, books, information leaflets, files, along with quite a few items that I had forgotten I had. I quickly filled the paper recycling bin but at the end of it, all the cupboards are looking extremely tidy. I now have much more space to start hoarding again!! Not a very exciting start to my holiday but very necessary

More exciting was the walk I had with my family last Sunday. It was worth braving the bitterly cold weather to admire the beautiful unspoilt countryside in the depths of winter. Icicles hung from the waterfall at Cheesden Lumb, sheep grazed beside the path we walked along and ducks stood around on frozen water presumably waiting for the ice to melt.

Walking was a little treacherous in parts as you can see from the picture below but somehow we all managed to stay upright.  

This lockdown does strange things to you either that or it is a sign of getting older but I am taking more of an interest in the garden. So, my week off also involved planting some miniature daffodils with my grandson Archie and then doing what Archie loves best, watering them.

So what does spring cleaning, walking in the cold depths of winter and planting daffodils

have to do with the season of Lent? The word lent is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word Lencten which means spring and also relates to the lengthening of daylight hours. After the cold depths of winter, we are brought into the new life of spring when nature is awoken. Also, spring is traditionally the time to do some spring cleaning not only of our homes but also of our spiritual life.

This week let us take time to consider what we might need to do to spring clean our spiritual lives in preparation for Easter and the glorious resurrection of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. 

First Sunday of Lent Sermon

Lenten Study Group

Lent is almost upon us. Instead of giving something up for Lent why not do something extra and join Revd Christine’s Lenten study group. Together we will explore some of the prayers of Jesus and different ways of praying.

Sessions will be held on the following Wednesday’s starting at 7pm

24^th February

3^rd March

10^th March

17^th March

24^th March

The sessions will be via zoom unless lockdown restrictions have eased.

Please let me know if you are going to join me and let me know your email address so that I can send you an invite.  

csteel58@hotmail.com

079662576457

01706 558744

 

 

Intercessions for 21st February

 The Intercessions can be found here

Polices

Two important policy documents were updated at the virtual APCM in October, you can find them on the church website here

Sermon for Sunday 14th February, The Transfiguration

 In case you missed Rev'd Lyn's sermon from Sunday here it is again

Sunday Eucharist

 The service can be found here

The Sermon

Tea Pod

Recently I have read much about a tea pod that has popped at the top of Birtle, "Valley View Tea Pod"  The pod is not far from where I live and today I made my first visit there. 

The tea pod is situated in a field at the top of a steep hill. The above sign was erected to encourage all would-be customers to keep going

It is well worth keeping going because as the name implies there are magnificent views of the surrounding countryside including Ashworth Valley. The snowy backdrop of the surrounding hills with panoramic views of Manchester and West Yorkshire looked very picturesque.

 

The tea pod is a real gem of a place with an amazing selection of homemade cakes on offer along with various pies. Although I was tempted to sample one of the delicious homemade cakes I did manage to resist. Probably just as well as my grandson Archie told his friend at nursery that he had a "big nana". Definitely, time to lose some of those lockdown pounds! However, I did succumb to having a Greenhalgh's hot pie, which was delicious but won't have done much for those extra pounds I would like to get rid of.  

There was such a feel-good quality surrounding the tea pod, with an air of peace and tranquillity. 

I am very fortunate and privileged to have such beautiful countryside virtually on my doorstep which I can enjoy whenever I like. Subsequently, my mind has turned to those who are not as fortunate as myself, those who for whatever reason can't get out and enjoy what the countryside has to offer. 

Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.

(Deuteronomy 28:3)

Sunday Eucharist

 The service can be found here

Sermon for Sunday 7th February 2021

 

Reredos

To accompany the Guide to the stained glass windows a new guide to the Reredos is available on the church web site you can view it here

If you or someone you know would like a paper copy please let Rev'd Lyn know and a copy will be posted for you.

We are thinking of doing a zoom Morning Prayer service on Wednesdays, with Chris, Amy Elizabeth or myself leading but sharing our screen so that the words for the responses are seen by everyone.  The best way to do this is for one person or family each week to be heard doing the responses while everyone else joins in but on mute.  Before and after the need to screen share, we can all have a chat and catch up with each other's news.  Please let me know if you wish to join in and I will send you an invitation.

We are not doing this until Wednesday 10th so until then, I have produced a video with a story and some things for us to think about.

 

This story could also be about the prodigal son with Mrs Lenton's sweets representing the Father's feast, but there is no evidence here of a grumpy older brother.