Author: stmarys

Our Amazing Adventure

As we are all still digesting, reflecting and trying to come to terms with the effects this Pilgrimage has had on us, we feel, at this stage, we can only provide an overview of our wonderful trip. Maybe, in next month’s magazine (or over the next twelve months?), we will be in a position to share with you our own personal story of our time in the Holy Land.

Alastair, Becky, Margaret and Val left Burley early on Sunday 27th March with PCR certificates and PPF3 masks in our hand luggage. We did not know what our forthcoming Pilgrimage would offer us.

We were excited, not having travelled abroad for such a long time.
Apprehensive, because we were unsure if we were all going to continue to be Covid safe for the duration of our tour. Two of our party couldn’t join us at the last minute because their PCR tests were positive. Was Israel and Palestine a safe place to be visiting at this time? We had to put our trust in God. How would we gel as a group? Little did we know at the beginning of our tour, of the positive impact our travelling companions would have on us and maybe, hopefully, of our impact on them.

There were 12of us (dare we make a comparison?), four Cof E from Burley in Wharfedale, Clayton Bradford(3 CofE), Wakefield (1 CofE a musician, singer and our unofficial photographer), Chesterfield(a Methodist minister and her husband) and Lincoln(1 Baptist) and our intrepid Group Leader, Gordon Dey (Low Moor Bradford). Gordon has led many of these pilgrimages in the past and his knowledge of the HolyLand, his confidence, his faith, stamina, fitness and sense of humour, impressed, sustained and exhausted us in equal measure. Gordon, who is 76, was aided and abetted by Suzi our Australian, Jewish Tour Guide, who at 70 had exactly the same attributes as Gordon! She had us laughing at her jokes and her stories as we travelled between locations. We four can be confident in letting you all
know that, on behalf of the 12 of us, we have a genuine love for Gordon, Suzi and our Muslim driver, Jalil. They contributed so much to our happy memories and experiences throughout our 11 days. We only mention the different faiths here because we can all live and experience love and togetherness regardless of our culture and beliefs.

Gordon introduced us to two communities where Palestinian Christians are working with young people from all faiths to instil an understanding of love and peace for one another.

Every morning as we set off in the mini bus at 8.30am, Gordon or Alastair would lead us in a prayer. Then Gordon would start us off singing. He had provided us with little songs books before we left Bradford. Gordon was very impressed with the harmonies that were produced by some very talented singers. Consequently, we have some beautiful recordings from locations where the acoustics were just perfect. Spine tingling moments and memories were made and songs sung that will never to be forgotten.

Everywhere we went, Gordon and Alastair had a bible reading and a prayer that enhanced our experience of that particular location. How this will impact on our Bible reading in future. Then we would all sing. We visited places that took us through locations mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments, archaeological sites, dates, dates and more dates in history and the effects of the various rulers from Rome, the Byzantine Empire, Muslim, the Crusaders etc. up to the current situation in Israel. Some of our enduring memories include; visiting Bethlehem and singing in the Church of the Nativity, boarding a fishing boat and sailing out into the middle of a very calm Sea of Galilee, being baptised in the River Jordan, floating in, or on, the Dead Sea, the Dead Sea Scrolls. We were transported in a cable car to the top of Mount Hermon, where two of our congregation (naming no-one!) started a snowball fight, joined by quite a few of our group including Jalil, our driver. Some of the scenery was spectacular. We walked in the desert and looked over to where Jesus would have stayed for forty days and forty nights, another ‘wow’ moment.

Our last four days were in Jerusalem where we experienced sitting in the very peaceful Garden at Gethsemane, walked the Ten Stations of the Cross, visited the Garden Tomb where Tracey, the Methodist Minister led us in prayer and Communion. This time in Jerusalem has had a huge impact on us all as we returned to celebrate Holy Week then Easter.

Gordon and Suzi commented on more than oneoccasion what a ‘special group’ we were. We all feel the same and we cannot explain this feeling! We all related to one another so well, showed compassion, love and genuine care for one another and we laughed so much. Apparently, the tourist locations were very quiet. Where there are usually queues that can take up to two hours to get into places, they were non existent. Churches that are usually packed, were quiet. The weather was perfect. How lucky were we! But, the biggest thing is, there is something else happening to each of us and as yet, we can’t explain what that is. Hence, why there is more to come.

Our last day leading up to getting to the airport included yet more sites and it was Alastair’s birthday.We were left at Tel Aviv airport at 5.00pm (3.00pm BMT) on Thursday 7th April where we said our ‘goodbyes’ to Suzi. We returned to Burley at 5.00am on Friday 8th April, tired, exhilarated, a brain full of so much information and memories but I’m sure we all fell into bed anyway!

We never did need to show our Covid certificates to anyone and we still have quite a few unused PPF3 masks!


There are yet more places we’d like to share with you and stories to tell. I hope that we have whetted your appetite for the next instalment?

Dear Lord, thank you for guiding us and giving us this opportunity to join this Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Thank you for giving us the resources that have enabled us to make this journey and to make new friends. While we pray, give thanks and reflect into everything that we have heard and seen and for everything that we experienced on our journey and are still experiencing, we wait for your guidance. You know how You want to use us. We are all so excited. In Jesus name. Amen.

Alastair, Margaret, Becky and Val

Notes from the APCM held on Sunday 24th April 2022

Val James finished as churchwarden after 6 years of service. One nomination was received to elect Val McKenzie to be our next warden. John has also been nominated for his final 6th year in office. Val McKenzie and John were duly elected and Val James was thanked for her many years of conscientious service.
In terms of Elections to the PCC, Susan Collins, Becky Berry and Elaine Marsden were happy to stand again. As there was a space from last year, Paul Rimmington had been nominated and elected.

Janet asked why our mission giving had not happened in 2021 and John Spencer assured her that it had been noted and that it would be discussed and acted on at our next PCCmeeting.

Alastair thanked Martin for his service as treasurer at the Parish Centre and noted grateful thanks for all who have written legacies into their wills. The majority of the redecoration work in Church, almost £150,000, has been gifted to us through the legacy of Ann and Ted Clough.

Alastair thanked Sally, John, Duncan and Pam for their work on producing the annual reports. He also thanked Sara and Nerys for their work as children and families workers during 2021. Also to Judith Hird for her work coordinating the donations to the Children’s Society and for doing the PAYE for the last 10 years.

Alastair shared how difficult 2021 had been and that we were in a time of regrouping and returning to our core values as part of the people of God in Burley. He noted that our work as a community is to draw people to Jesus. This is especially the case, although not exclusively, for young people and children.

Concerns were raised about the piano, the garden, the drop in attendance, the decline in volunteering, especially among the young. Dot asked for help with Safeguarding and Catriona volunteered. Margaret suggested that we needed to revitalise our parish carelists – different people having pastoral care for a street or area in the village.

On the question of the renovations of the Open Door room in the Parish Centre, Alastair said that he had hoped to have a consultation process before Easter, but for a number of reasons they had run out of time. He assured the congregation that some exciting plans were being drawn up and they would be able to be seen very shortly. Time was of the essence as we have a significant grant which is time-limited.

Charles read from Ephesians and encouraged us to sing “Jesus Christ is risen today.”

We were all encouraged to show more gratitude and encouragement to all those who work hard to keep the Church active in our community.

We finished with a small bring and share lunch.

Alastair

Letter from Barry – May 2022

Room with a View. Not.

Now here’s an absurd story that I recently came across.

Two men were long-term patients in the same hospital ward. The ward had only one window. One of the men was fit enough to prop himself up, so the nurses gave him the bed next to the window. The other man was mostly flat on his back all day. He therefore had to ask his neighbour what could be seen out of the window. The propped up patient described a park with a lake on which were ducks and a couple of swans. One day he described children playing football and on another the Spring flowers beginning to show through the borders of the lawns.

At first the bed-ridden patient was grateful for his friend’s vivid description of life outside the window. But as the weeks went by his gratitude gave place to jealousy. Why couldn’t the nurses swap the beds round once in a while to give him the chance to see the park, the birds, the kiddies and the flowers? After all, with help, he was capable of sitting up for a few minutes most days.

One night there was a kerfuffle on the ward. Doctors and nurses were scurrying to and fro. The curtains around the bed by the window were being opened and closed at regular intervals. By morning the bed was empty. The body removed. With almost indecent haste the other man asked if now he could be switched to the bed by the window. Somewhat reluctantly the nurses agreed to move him. The minute they left the ward the man painfully pushed himself up on one elbow and looked out of the window on to a blank wall.

On one level the story is, as I suggested at the outset, absurd. Taken literally it presents us with one rational and resentful man, and another man delightfully deluded. But that’s to miss the point. The story, of course, is really a parable about contrasting attitudes to life. Optimistic or pessimistic.
Half full or half empty. Sunny or sullen. There are those who look on the bright side and those whoseemostly doom and gloom.

They say life is what you make it. I don’t altogether go along with that. It seems to me that some people don’t get much of a chance to make much of life. Even so, there’s enough truth in the saying for us to know what it means. So may be that ‘absurd’ story is not so silly after all.

Barry Overend

PCC Meeting Notes – 11th January 2022

Vicar’s Report

Fabulous things happening through December such as the term of work with our young people – Becky and Sam Lewis have been at the vicar’s house on a Sunday evening. They receive around 10-15 young people most weeks and, in some cases, up to 20 people.

The new speakers in the spire are a great improvement.

Christmas worship evening with the gospel choir and the Carol Service were well attended.

Despite the increasing anxiety about Omicron, St Mary’s went ahead with the Christingles which were well attended and much appreciated by all. Thanks to all those who helped support those services and made them really special.

Sadly we have lost a number of the congregation lately. Irene Fowler has appreciated the support from St. Mary’s and asked Alastair to take part in the funeral of Paul Fowler in Nailsea. Jacquie Briggs died suddenly after being at a home for a few weeks before Christmas and Margaret Allsop was also remembered.

There are a number of vacant positions. Judith Hird – payroll position and children’s society. Elaine Marsden – safeguarding officer; Martin Russell – treasurer for the Parish Centre. There is a vacancy for an organist and a new warden from April as Val will be stepping down. We are also looking for an Environment Officer to help John.

PCC Secretary Sally Weatherall is getting married on the 23rd April – congratulations

Lis – Vision & Strategy

Consulted with PCC imagination groups to collect ideas to develop a strategy for 2022 which she hoped could be finalized agreed at the next PCC.

Children and Family Work

Alastair said that we must try and get more considered plan around children and family’s work after the resignation of Sara and Nerys. Historically great interaction with young people which need to be sustained. Job description, hours and salary as well as general support was raised. Connect a good example.
We are grateful to Sara and Nerys for modelling what the job looks like. We are looking for someone committed to growing faith in families and are good at encouraging volunteers. The significant giving has been given from outside the church. St Mary’s members contributed less than a quarter of the money for the post.

It was agreed that Connect cannot stop. We need to work out our needs and the relationship between paid employees and volunteers.

Financial Statement.

1.0 New Fibre Connection for the Church is now up and running.
2.0 The new speakers in the towers have now been installed and working successfully.
3.0 Reordering: A Contract has now been agreed between Woolers Construction Limited and the Architect at £ 127,442.00
£165k has been given in legacies and £125k in gifts. Card payments £600 so far.
£400,000 in reserves – a third is gone so far on phase one of the reordering project.

Fabric Redecorating Glass Door

Due to Wedding commitments and Christmas and Easter the works will take place as follows:
· External works will be started in the next week. Replastering between mid-February and Palm Sunday.
· Decoration after Easter cannot start before 25/04/2022. The date will be dependent on the drying time for the plaster.

The Church will need to be closed when the repairs and plastering takes place during the working week with the church not useable for worship on Sundays from 14th February – 8th April. Waiting for the URC to confirm whether we can worship in their building. Queens Hall will be saved for a couple of dates. Decorating will take place after John and Sally have got married, possibly from the 9th May whilst the building is drying out. The path work is starting on Monday.

Worship Evening/ Organists / Music etc.

A gentleman in Ilkley called Nigel offered to be an organist as an interim and Alastair is meeting him on Thursday. Edward may continue until we vacate the building.

Alastair encouraged all to come along to a worship evening. The next is this Thursday. It will then move over to the Methodist Church with the works making it a more of an ecumenical event.

Churches together will separate the difference between Burley together and Menston together. PCC in agreement with this change.

Parish Centre

Zoe has had a good first couple of months. Had a promising team meeting before Christmas. Going to be working on refurbishing open door. They need help with some of the building maintenance side of things.

Correspondence
There was no correspondence.

AOB
Depending on the outcome of Omicron, Alastair will be going to co-lead a pilgrimage on 27th March with Rev Gordon Dey. He will be away until 7th April (including 2 Sundays) along with Mary and Becky. The PCC agreed unanimously to dispensation for Becky to take the time off.

There was a suggestion of reinstating pastoral lists to keep an eye on vulnerable people. Becky and Mary have started compiling a list

Concern was raised about the amount of information available about
reordering. Alastair to include more about the redecoration and the church closure in next weekly email.

It was decided to move the next meeting to the 1st March

The meeting closed with a grace at 9.50pm.