Churches Together in Lees and District Joint Service for Pentecost

Welcome to our joint service for Pentecost. It is presented by clergy from various churches in the area, and put together by Natalie and Jez. Musicians and singers from our local churches (and a few friends) perform the hymns.

Sunday 31st May 2020

Pentecost

You can find all of our latest information, Edith's reflection for this Sunday, our Thursday "Worship for all Generations" and much more by clicking on the following link to our facebook page - Leesfield Parish

There will also be a link here to the online Churches Together in Lees and District joint service for Pentecost on Sunday so please do join us!

Today we celebrate Pentecost, and we will really miss our usual traditions on this day - no bands today, no walking, no gathering in St Thomas’ church for our worship with our fellow Christians in this area – coordinated by the Churches Together group. Perhaps we only really appreciate things when they aren’t there any more? No doubt next year all will return to normal, and the day can be celebrated as it should be. Many people have been accessing our emails and Facebook communications. People are grateful, but most say they miss being able to get together in our churches. I hope once things do return normal, attendance will increase as people realise church can’t be taken for granted. One real positive of the recent difficulties has been the determination, imagination and ingenuity shown by so many in keeping our community going, by keeping in touch, caring for each other and helping out wherever possible. Thank you to those who have been helping to support church financially in these challenging times. It may be some time before we are able to have collections and fundraise so any help you can give is much appreciated.

Edith 

Our first hymn for today is "Come Holy Ghost our Souls Inspire" - the lyrics aren't displayed for this, but it's so beautiful and so right for Pentecost that it had to be included.

Our Bible Reading for today - 

Language is such an important thing… that seems such an obvious thing to say! Most of us have watched as young children acquire the skill of communicating – it starts very early on, long before the child can actually speak. But once real spoken words are used the range of people who can be communicated with widens well beyond immediate family members. 

Most of us will, at times, have known the frustration of not being able to understand what another person is saying, or of not being able to make ourselves understood. Most obviously when we travel to other countries. The Acts story of the day of Pentecost is a richly satisfying reversal of Babel. Remember the story of the Tower of Babel? – briefly, the people became very arrogant and thought they were equal to God. God’s response was to scatter them and give them many different languages so they couldn’t communicate with each other. 

At Pentecost, the scattered people of God come together, and, well, we are familiar with the reading from Acts, the story of the coming of the Spirit. Familiarity does lessen the impact of the tale, but it must have been very dramatic. The apostles are gathered together. The place is large and public – we know because they were joined by hundreds of others. They are probably in one of the temple courtyards. When suddenly they hear a powerful gale, like the mighty desert wind. The wind is a symbol of the great gale of God’s spirit pouring out upon them. They are swept by fire from heaven. The disciples are inspired and purified by the Holy Spirit of God. From this day forward they will be burning people- alight with the love of Christ and on fire with his love for the world. Amazing things happened then, and amazing things continue to happen with the power of the Spirit. 

St Paul, in his writing to the Galatians, listed the fruits of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Our world could certainly do with more of each of those! So let us celebrate the Spirit’s presence with each one of us. Let us share what the Spirit brings to each of us so that the whole community may grow in the knowledge and love of God. And let us live as those who belong to a new and different kind of world in which the markers of status and privilege mean nothing among us, because God has poured out the Holy Spirit on all flesh, and all have been blessed with the gift of the spirit. When the Holy Spirit comes it cannot be contained, and if we pray for it we may be surprised where it comes! 

And it isn’t only the individual Christian, but the whole community, that needs the Spirit’s help in our weakness. Today is regarded as the birthday of the church, so let’s celebrate! 

Our second hymn for today is the classic Pentecost hymn - "Breathe on me Breath of God"

 Today's Prayers - 

And our final hymn is "This is the Day"

Mid-week Joy 27th May 2020

Mid-week Joy

Welcome again to our mid-week celebration of all the great things happening in Leesfield Parish and beyond.

Our Sunday service details will be here at the weekend, but there's so much more we would love to share with you in the meantime. 

This Sunday we celebrate Pentecost, and of course we will all miss our traditional Whit Sunday Walks and the joint service in St Thomas' Church. 

We can't do the walks this year, but some of our very talented friends from Churches Together in Lees and District are putting together an online service which we can all join in with, and share with the whole community.

The service will be shared here and on our Facebook pages on Sunday, and we invite everyone to join us.

This week's musical item comes from the Stay at Home Choir with the King's Singers. An uplifting rendition of Billy Joel's "And So It Goes", which is beautifully signed to make it accessible to all. 

The Sunday School children have been really busy colouring in stained glass windows of the Ascension and doing a really hard Wordsearch. Annie's even drawn her own picture of the Ascension of Jesus!

Our Scout Group had a very adventurous couple of weeks with the Group rallying together to help us climb Mount Everest, OK not THE Mount Everest but a virtual one. 3870 staircases have been climbed in a two week period, with everyone in the Group from the youngest Beaver Scouts up to ancient leaders with creaky knees involved, and on Thursday 7th May around 7pm we reached the summit & thankfully because staircases are two way we had already done the descent. The expedition was a great success - everyone pulled together for the final push, there were no cases of frost bite, and no-one was eaten by yetis. 

The 15th – 17th May should have been our Oldham Borough District Beaver Scout Sleepover, and then lockdown arrived so we had a sleepover but in our own homes.

The My Outdoor Challenge Award was re-written to become the My Indoor Challenge Award, retaining as much of the ideas, training, skills and fun as we could, but adapting it to be home friendly and opened up to all the Groups in Greater Manchester North scouting. 

The Beaver Scouts were so engaging, imaginative & innovative that it was an absolute pleasure to have been involved with - families were putting up family sized tents in their gardens for them all to camp out, bedsheet forts were being built & one young Beaver Scout in Bolton even slept in what looked like their new shed!. We built junk model computer systems, tied ourselves in knots, learnt how to keep safe in the current situation, cooked, washed up, made origami copies of our uniforms, undertook a purple items scavenger hunt (lots of Cadburys wrappers & one Beaver Scout managed to include his mum’s bra!!). We had a campfire, hot chocolate & bedtime stories before lights out and then on Sunday morning we started again - Garden minibeast safaris, a short family hike, rock painting, twig people, birdfeeder construction & a short session on getting help in an emergency. 

Just because it's funny - here's an old Samsung washing machine commercial for you!

And finally - this week's Nature spot features a mother heron feeding her rather strange looking chicks - please click on the following link to view - Heron's nest from RSPB on Twitter 

Sunday 24th May 2020

The Sunday after Ascension Day

You can find all of our latest information, Edith's reflection for this Sunday, our Thursday "Worship for all Generations" and much more by clicking on the following link to our facebook page - Leesfield Parish

This is bank holiday weekend, and it should be the beginning of the half term holiday for schools. Many of you probably had holidays booked, other trips planned or were looking forward to particular events. So there is a good deal of disappointment around. The past few weeks have been tough for many, and the idea of a holiday is very attractive. In this strange time some people have found themselves much less busy than usual (with possibly concern over financial future) while others have been more busy –coping with tasks made more complex by the restrictions. Schools have been open to a small group of children for particular reasons, and staff have worked through what should have been the Easter break and will be working through this week too. Today I want to encourage everyone to find some time just for themselves, time to spend relaxing or doing something that genuinely brings you joy. The word holiday comes from holy day. To care for ourselves is holy – it is recognising that, as I spoke about a few weeks ago, Jesus came so we can have life in abundance. Or as another writer put it “self-care is never selfish, it is stewardship of the only gift we have”   We can’t have a holiday, but we can have a holy day!
Edith 

Our first hymn - Morning has Broken - 

Today's Bible Reading -

Today is the Sunday after Ascension Day and we are in the waiting time between the Ascension and Pentecost. In today’s gospel passage (taken from just before the crucifixion) we hear Jesus praying for His disciples, asking God to give eternal life not just to Jesus but also to his people. Today we celebrate Jesus’ rising to the Father, and await the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and consider what all that means for us, here, today. We are approaching the end of the Easter season. If you take the time to read the accounts of Jesus’ death, Resurrection and Ascension in all four of the gospels and in the book of Acts, you will find many differences in the accounts. However all the New Testament  writers was believed that soon after the crucifixion, Jesus had appeared repeatedly, unpredictably, and mysteriously to many people. And those to whom He appeared became overwhelmingly convinced that God had raised Him to a new life, a life quite different from the old, yet one in which his essential self, his "Jesus-ness" was intact. But then the resurrection appearances ceased, and those gospels that give us an Ascension story suggest why. For the most striking thing about all those stories is how very final they all are. The narrative in Acts is typical - short, unembroidered, even stark - but it clearly makes the point that Jesus’s time on earth in a visible body was over. No-one reading it would ever expect to see Jesus again in this world. Despite that, the writers of the NT, mostly writing long after the crucifixion, having never seen Jesus either in the flesh or in his resurrection body, nevertheless found they experienced Him as a vivid living presence. Jesus, they were convinced, was somehow still alive, and was with them. And two thousand years later, that is still the experience of many ordinary Christians of today.  So clearly, though the ascension may have marked the end of Jesus’s appearances, it did not mark the end of Jesus. His life was changed but not taken away. He was "alive for ever". On Easter Day, God poured new life into Jesus, a life quite different from his old one, a life like God‘s, overflowing with love and strength and glory, a life that would last as long as God himself. And filled with the glory of this new life, Jesus showed himself to His disciples until they were convinced that God had indeed raised Him. Finally, when they were convinced at last, God could move on. Perhaps at Jesus’s last appearance, His disciples had a vision of him taken up into the glory of God. Whatever actually happened, though they saw Him no more, they continued to be aware of Him as a living presence alongside them. And Christians since then have also known His presence with them, loving and guiding them, and strengthening them for the work of spreading God‘s kingdom. Today, then, we hold on to Jesus’ prayer for His people, for us, and pledge ourselves anew to making His living presence known to those around us. 

Our second hymn - How Great Thou Art -

And our final hymn for today - Jubilate -

Mid-week Joy 20th May 2020

Mid-week Joy

Welcome again to our mid-week celebration of all the great things happening in Leesfield Parish.

Our Sunday service details will be here at the weekend, but there's so much more we would love to share with you in the meantime.

This week's musical item comes from the Isolation Orchestra, featuring our friend Ellie Knott. It's a really familiar tune - but can you remember which TV programme it's from?

Even though our schools are closed to most pupils, the staff are still working really hard preparing on-line learning for the children who are at home. They are really missing the children, and the staff at St Hugh's School made this lovely picture for them.

Elsewhere in the parish, lots of people joined in the fundraising for Christian Aid by sharing e-envelopes and having little brekkies - here are Amy's pancakes. There's no way of knowing how much we raised in total, but it's great that so many took part. 

The 150th Anniversary of St Agnes' Sunday School was celebrated at last week's Worship for all Generations, and by both Sunday Schools on their facebook pages. Annie made a lovely anniversary card and Nichola's family added a card to their lockdown tree. 

This Thursday is Ascension Day, and will be celebrated in our "Worship for all Generations" Service at 6.30 pm on the parish facebook page. You are most welcome to join in by clicking on the following link - Leesfield Parish 

Leesfield Parish Photo Quiz May 2020

What is it?, and where in our parish is it? (be careful – our parish may be bigger than you think!)

Phone as many of your friends as you like, there are no prizes, just for fun. Answers will be here in 2 weeks.

Finally - our weekly nature spot! Whilst our church buildings are closed we haven’t been able to do much gardening, and parts of St Thomas’ Churchyard are starting to look rather overgrown. We’ve started cutting the grass again, and doing a bit of weeding, but on the plus side – some of the areas which we usually keep tidy are actually looking quite splendid. Letting nature take its course can have some spectacular results – as this photo shows.

And for the very keen nature lovers, this Bank Holiday Weekend RSPB Love Nature are hosting their usual Big Wild Sleepout, and normally they would invite you along to take part on one of their reserves. But this year, they're encouraging everyone to enjoy the event at home, both indoors and outdoors. Whether you pitch a tent in your garden, build a den inside, or sit by a window to see and hear the nature around you. There will be lots of activities and sessions through the afternoon and evening to keep you entertained through the Bank Holiday.

To find out more please click on the following link - Big Wild Sleepout on facebook 

Sunday 17th May 2020

The Sixth Sunday of Easter

You can find all of our latest information, Edith's reflection for this Sunday, our Thursday "Worship for all Generations" and much more by clicking on the following link to our facebook page - Leesfield Parish

Today is the sixth Sunday of Easter, Thursday will be Ascension Day. Our isolation from church made me think of a story. A young man went to consult a wise monk. The young man had a busy work and social life, and was finding it difficult to find time to attend church. “You don’t need to go to church to be a Christian, do you?” he said. The wise man said nothing for a while, and they both stared into the fire in the grate. Then he leant forward, picked up the tongs, and lifted a burning coal out of the fire and placed it on the hearth. For a while it glowed, but slowly the light dimmed and the piece of coal cooled. Nothing needed to be said – the question had been answered. He reached forward and replaced the coal in the fire where it glowed again. We are physically separated from our fellow Christians right now, and it is important we keep in touch in whatever ways we can. So please do use whatever is available to you, whether that is the material we are circulating via post, email and facebook, or on TV and radio, or anything else. Do let me know if there is anything else you need. Above all let’s continue to remember each other and our parish in our prayers. 

Edith

Our first hymn today -

Today's Bible Reading -

That word commandment is rather a strong word, and seems rather old fashioned too. It takes us back to the 10 commandments I guess. Those rules given to Moses by God, rules to regulate the conduct of what may have been a rather unruly bunch! Rules which make life easy I guess – no need for agonising over the right way, no taking circumstances into account, no deliberation needed. Instead, a clear thou shalt (or thou shalt not). I have been thinking a lot about rules recently- not surprising as, over the last 2 months or so we have had to come to terms with some rather difficult changes to our way of life because of rules brought in to try and reduce the spread of the virus. I think some of the difficulty has come about because although the rules have seemed fairly clear they have been interpreted in different ways, and I certainly have personal experience of people in authority choosing which of the rules they will obey. The commandment that Jesus reiterates over and over again in this section of John’s Gospel is the commandment to love one another. This is not a simple commandment, it isn’t black and white, it requires real thought and understanding. It really isn’t always easy to know which course of action really demonstrates love. We are required to use our knowledge, experience and understanding to determine how we should act, not just follow blindly some simple rules. We are required to enter more fully into the matter, and to take responsibility too for our actions. This feels much more grown up! 

 The linking of love with commandment makes it clear that this love is not some sentimental feeling (which we cannot make happen) but an act of will, a determination to love others. That is a demand made of all who would call themselves followers of Christ – and not one that is always easy to fulfil– but one we are to do our best with. Today’s gospel passage records events at the Last Supper – which seems a little odd today, the sixth Sunday after Easter. But here, in today’s Gospel reading, is what I believe to be the essence of the Easter message. At this point in the great fifty days we can look back at the events of Holy Week and Easter, the death and the resurrection of Jesus. We look this week towards the Ascension, and some days later, to Pentecost and the coming of the Spirit. In a normal year we get caught up in the ceremonies and the commemoration of these great events. I’m a great believer in the ceremonies, I think the drama as we act out some of the elements of our faith – such as the waving of palms on Palm Sunday, the Maundy Thursday commemoration of the Last Supper, the elements of the Paschal Vigil and so on – help reinforce or make clear what it is all about. It’s been different this year, perhaps in these different times, with less ‘clutter’ around it is easier to hold on to the underlying truths. All this is about love. In love, Jesus laid down His life for us, in love he made provision for those disciples then and for us now, and our response must be love. We must love God and we must love our fellow human beings. Working out how we show that love may not be easy, perhaps especially with current restrictions, but the closer we can come to Jesus the clearer our path will be.

Edith

And a final hymn - 

mid-week joy 13th May 2020

Mid-week Joy

Welcome again to our mid-week celebration of all the great things happening in Leesfield Parish.

Our Sunday service details will be here at the weekend, but there's so much more we would love to share with you in the meantime.

This week's musical item is a song of hope by the virtual choir of The Blue Coat School, Birmingham.

This week is Christian Aid Week, and by now we would usually have delivered all our collection envelopes around the village and be planning our Big Brekkie in St Thomas' Community Room. Christian Aid Week is not cancelled, in fact, now more than ever our gifts, prayers and action are desperately needed. 

The world’s poorest countries have the weakest health systems, and many of the most vulnerable people will be exposed to this deadly virus. They will struggle to cope with any costs of healthcare, and the costs of being unable to earn a living while ill or quarantined. In addition, millions of people face the ongoing struggle with drought and crop failure. To add to this misery many countries across Africa are facing the devastation caused by the worst plagues of locusts for over 70 years.  

There are many ways to support the work of Christian Aid - by donating if you are able to, by joining in action for climate change,or simply by praying with us.

To find out more about Christian Aid please visit their website - Christian Aid , and to see more about what we're doing locally have a look at our facebook page Leesfield Parish 

If you would like to donate to Christian Aid by telephone rather than on line the number is 020 7523 2492.

News from our Scout Groups

Our scout groups are keeping really busy, doing as many of their usual activities in different ways. Ben made a "backyard bivi" and a Bedsheet fort as part of an internet based sleepover.

Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th May is the Oldham District Beaver Sleepover, which is still going ahead but with a couple of (small) changes. We have invited all the Beaver Scouts from Greater Manchester North along, and possibly a few from Bristol & London. Because of social distancing we are going to be having it in our own homes with bedsheet forts, mini beast safaris and the chance to earn a "My Indoors Challenge Award". 

Josh, one of our Young Leaders turned 18 at the end of April and, unable to all get together properly we invested him as our new Assistant Beaver Scout Leader using the HouseParty video program. This meant we could all dial in and watch him make his Scout Promise and take his place in our Leadership Team. The Video is on facebook under Oldham Borough Scouts. 

St George’s Day is usually when Scouts all get together and renew their promise, but with lockdown and isolation this was not possible. St George's day fell on a Thursday, so all the Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts, Young Leaders & Leaders  wore their uniforms to clap for our front line staff that night.

The Beavers, Cubs & Scouts have all taken part in the Scouts “Hike to the Moon” campaign organized by Scouting HQ with the aim to raise £240,000 and hike 240,000 miles which is the distance from the Earth to the Moon. As a Group we did really well and managed the challenge I set of 173 miles (the distance from Earth to Space and back). In fact we outdid ourselves and had enough miles leftover from getting back to earth to nip over to Huddersfield for Fish & Chips & a cup of tea, not a bad days work from everyone!

The 75th Anniversary of VE Day was celebrated throughout the parish last Friday. Here's a little snippet of what our families did to celebrate, and for more pictures please look at our Sunday School pages - St Thomas Leesfield Sunday School and St Agnes Knolls Lane Sunday School

This week's "Worship for all Generations" celebrates the 150th Anniversary of St Agnes'. 

You can join us at 6.30 pm on Thursday on our parish facebook page by following this link - Leesfield Parish 

We'll try and get much more information about St Agnes' into next week's "Mid-week Joy", so if there's anything you would like to share with us please do send articles and photos.

Finally, for all the nature lovers who have really appreciated the new quietness of our mornings, here's a link to help you identify the birdsong in your garden. Hope you like it!

Sunday 10th May 2020

The Fifth Sunday of Easter

You can find all of our latest information, Edith's reflection for this Sunday, our Thursday "Worship for all Generations" and much more by clicking on the following link to our facebook page - Leesfield Parish

Today is the 5th Sunday after Easter, Ascension Day is on the horizon. We seem to have settled into this difficult way of life, it is beginning to feel normal! But to have spent Holy Week and the Easter season in isolation, unable to be in our churches, is not normal. We have Good News to spread, we have much to celebrate, but we are not able to be with others.  It is hard too to celebrate when we are in such challenging circumstances. Many are finding life very hard right now. Being the Body of Christ in these circumstances is not easy. That is our challenge though. We are called to be the Easter people, and we are needed more in these times than when things are easy. There is a temptation to see this lockdown period as a gap in our lives, as we wait to return to normal, but we need to remember each day is important, each day is to be lived to the full, within whatever constraints there are. Each day, with its opportunities and challenges, really matters. I am reminded of the John Lennon quote “Life is what happens when you ae busy making other plans” So let’s try to make the most of each of these strange days. 

And remember Christ is Risen                Alleluia! 

Edith

Our first hymn today - 

Today's Bible Reading -

The timing of this seems rather odd. Here we are still in the Easter season but today’s gospel is set at a time when Jesus has just told his disciples he is going to die. At this point in the gospel Jesus has just been telling the disciples that he is about to be betrayed: that he is only going to be with them a little longer. This must have been difficult for them. They say quite clearly that they do not understand where Jesus is going – it is way beyond what they can grasp. They are puzzled, unsure and troubled – Jesus calls on them to believe in God and also in him. And that isn’t about a set of beliefs, a creed if you like, it is about seeking a living and trusting relationship with the Father and himself. To have faith is to have a personal relationship with God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is a relationship built up by being in each other’s presence and communicating with each other. Just as John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, so Jesus tells the disciples how he is going ahead of them to prepare a place for them. Once all is prepared, Jesus will come and take us to himself. It is easy to put off his coming again to some future life. We need to remember that Jesus is alive and comes to us, is present now. By this stage in the Gospel passage, Thomas feels quite lost. Perhaps he spoke for all the disciples when he said “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” There is much about God that we cannot comprehend with our minds, we can only grasp it with our hearts through a loving, trusting relationship with him. Jesus replies by saying to Thomas “I am the way, the truth and the life”. Jesus doesn’t offer instructions in that way. He offers himself “I am the way” He doesn’t say this is how you get there, but rather “I’ll take you there". It is not through words or ritual but through Jesus that we have access to the Father. If we put our trust in him, build up relationship with him, he will lead us into the fullness of life and into the kingdom of God. 

If we are on a journey and lose our way, we might ask someone to help. If they tell us “turn left at the crossroads, over the first roundabout, right at the second etc",  the chances are we still won’t find our way. Either we forget all the steps or our helper accidentally misses out one vital piece of information. If instead he says “Follow me and I will take you there” that person becomes the way for us and we cannot get lost. The way, the truth and the life through which we know and find the way, is Jesus himself - the Jesus who washed the disciples feet and told them to copy his example, the Jesus who was on his way to give his life as the shepherd for the sheep. In the same way, we need to be alongside others, accompanying them on the journey – even if that is not possible in physical terms. 

Edith

 And a final hymn -

mid-week joy 7th May 2020

Mid-week joy

This is a new feature, with items that don't necessarily fit in with Sunday services or liturgy - but will bring a smile to your face (or a tear to your eye), and some hope and joy.

Firstly - a Blessing on all our Nation - for everyone, whoever you are, from 65 churches and Christian organisations throughout the United Kingdom 🙏💖

Enjoy the VE Day 75th Anniversary celebrations tomorrow in whatever ways you can. There will be lots on TV and radio, and locally the Lees, Springhead and Grotton Business Hub in conjunction with Lees and District Royal British Legion are hosting a virtual celebration. The bellringers from Leesfield would have loved to be ringing for the celebrations - as they have done for so many celebrations in the past, so here's a little message about why we can't do this at the moment.

Whilst you're out on your daily walk, or in your garden, looking through your windows, or even watching your favourite nature programme on TV, why not reflect on the wonder of God's creation. There are photos here, with relevant Bible Readings, and if you've enjoyed them why not send us your own? 

Many of you will remember Ellie Knott, who has played flute and sax at so many of our services and events in the past. As a special treat we now have not one, but eight Ellies, performing her tribute to Matt Lucas' "Thank you baked potato", lovingly engineered by her dad, Jake Knott. Ellie's mum, Judith, set up this blogspot for us several years ago, and then when she was no longer able to continue for health reasons, she spent so much time showing me how to use it. Thank you so much Judith - without your help we wouldn't be able to share all we do with everyone in these difficult times 💕

And just in case - like me - you didn't have a clue what the "baked potato" thing was all about - here's the performance by Matt Lucas with the BBC Concert Orchestra for last week's "Big Night In" for Comic Relief.