Welcome to the Parish of Baildon

THIS SUNDAY: The Second Sunday before Lent
8.30am Holy Communion at St John’s Church
9.00am Holy Communion at St Hugh’s Church
10.00am Holy Communion at St John’s Church
10.30am Holy Communion at St James’ Church
3.30pm Rev Sandra’s Installation at Wakefield Cathedral

THIS SUNDAY: The Third Sunday before Lent
8.30am Holy Communion at St John’s Church
9.00am Holy Communion at St Hugh’s Church
10.00am Holy Communion at St John’s Church
10.30am Holy Communion at St James’ Church
4.00pm Messy Church at St John’s Church Hall

FUNDS RAISED - Thank you to everyone who donated to our January Charity of the Month - The Samaritans. We raised £43.48 from church bucket collections and £135.90 at our coffee morning at St James’. So, in total, we sent £179.38 towards the vital work of The Samaritans.

EVENSONG - On Sunday 3rd March at 6.00pm there will be a Choral Evensong at St John’s Church. Our Choir have been rehearsing as part of their RSCM training in preparation for singing with other church choirs at the Cathedral. It will be a great opportunity to hear the results of their hard work - and to join in - in our own Parish Church. Do try to join us for what promises to be a very enjoyable service.

GET ONLINE - A free 8 week course is available at The St Hugh’s Centre to over 55s who would like to learn how to get online, find information, communicate with family or friends, access services, do some shopping and more. Working on tablets, you will learn everything from how to switch it on to how to send an email and keep safe online. You can bring your own tablet or borrow one for no charge. The course starts on 25th February and continues on following Mondays from 2pm to 3.30pm. To book a place please call Sarah Baxter on 07421 328187.

REMINISCENCE AFTERNOON - On the third Tuesday of every month we hold a Reminiscence afternoon at The St Hugh’s Centre from 2pm to 4pm. We enjoy a presentation, quizzes, sharing memories and refreshments. This is a very friendly afternoon with a variety of age groups. We usually reminisce about the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. The next meeting is on Tuesday 19th February. We will be looking at a bit of music history then discussing ‘The Music that Shaped Us’. You are very welcome to bring along your thoughts and memories about music from your youth, songs which changed your life or perhaps just music that you love. Sessions cost £2. Everyone welcome!

ST HUGH’S FOODBANK - Thank you very much to everyone who continues to donate to St Hugh’s foodbank. It appears the difficulties faced by people on Universal Credit are increasing and the number of claimants has risen sharply over the past two months. We had four claimants this week and we normally have three to four per month! We are short of: toilet rolls, coffee, tinned meat, stew, fish, potatoes, vegetables, boxes of cereal, shower gel, liquid soap, shampoo, conditioner and toothpaste. We’ve got lots of baked beans, soup and teabags at the moment thanks. Collection boxes are available at the back of each of our churches.

LENT STUDY – Our study this year is based around the great film ‘The Kings Speech’. To remind ourselves of the film and to come together with people who are interested in the study, we will be showing the film on Sunday 3rd March at 12.45pm in St John’s Church Hall. After the service at St John’s, the Hall will be open for people to bring a packed lunch and St Hugh’s and St James’ are welcome to join. We will provide tea and coffee. The film is 2 hours in length. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday 6th March and we hope this will give us a timely introduction to Lent.

GOD AND BREXIT - Revd Professor Ken Medhurst is leading an exciting 3 week course entitled ‘God and Brexit’ in St James’ Church on 4th, 11th and 18th February 2019. The course starts at 7.30pm with refreshments from 7.00pm.
Ken writes: BREXIT – NOT AGAIN! The course seeks to break free from angry and divisive debates. Rather it invites us thoughtfully to contemplate the current crisis through the eyes of Christian faith. Can the Bible and Christian teaching shed light on the deep-seated issues at stake? The course covers these topics -
Week 1: Why should Christians be concerned by Brexit? What guidance can the Bible and Christian teaching offer?
Week 2: What is Brexit all about? What deep-seated issues are at stake? What is the spiritual significance of these issues? A Christian response – prophets and prophecy.
Week 3: Where do we go from here? What are the Church and Christians called to do in the face of crises and change? A Christian vision for our nation’s future.
It is a great privilege for the parish to have Ken share with us on this important subject as the country experiences massive turmoil in light of the events this week. I recommend this course to you.