Archive for January, 2012
Church Services Calendar, February 2012
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5th February
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10:15am
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Reverend Geoff Shutt |
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12th February
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10.15am
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Reverend Gordon Shaw – Holy Communion |
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19th February
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09:15am
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Reverend Amy Walters – Holy Communion
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19th February
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10:15am
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Reverend Amy Walters/Mrs Christine Bennett |
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26th February
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10.15am
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Reverend Steve Barlow |
Dear Friends,
What is Lent for? As I was growing up I always thought that it symbolized and helped us to remember the 40 days that Jesus spent in the wilderness being tempted by Satan. That idea of self-denial seemed to fit with the ideas of giving things up for Lent that were all around me. But Lent is much more than that. It is a time of preparation. In first few hundred years of the church, when it was still a fledgling movement, the 40 days before Easter became a time of instruction and preparation for Baptism and acceptance into the church. Each day for at least 3 hours, those wanting to be baptised had to receive teaching on the meanings of the sacraments. Some of them even lived in the church, shutting themselves off from the outside world whilst they drew close to the mystery of the death and resurrection. Let’s perhaps be thankful that that’s not what the church expects nowadays! But, we shouldn’t reject out of hand the idea that Lent is a time for contemplation and for learning.
Lent is not just a time for giving-up things that we like, but also a time to make good any relationships that are going awry in preparedness for the great celebration of Easter. This is traditionally done through prayer (relationship with God), fasting (relationship with self) and through charitable giving (relationship with neighbour). I think it’s a real shame that parts of the church and society in general has forgotten the first and the last of these practices and that Lenten discipline has become focussed on self-denial. The primary purpose of Lent is not to deny ourselves the things we enjoy but to redress the balance of our lives.
So I pray that you will find time this Lent to fix your eyes upon the cross and journey into a deeper relationship with God and the world around you.
Blessings,
Amy
Dates for the Diary, March 2012
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Thursday 1st
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7.30pm
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Young at Heart – Upper Room
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Friday 2nd |
7.30pm
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Women’s World Day of Prayer – Service
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Tuesday 6th
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10.00am
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Coffee Stop – until 12noon |
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Wednesday 7th
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2:00pm
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Wednesday Group – Real Aid followed by
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Thursday 8th
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7.30pm
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Church Council Meeting |
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Friday 9th
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7.30pm
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Tad Chorale – Requiem Mass
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Saturday 10th
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9.30am
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Open Door Café – until 1.30pm
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Tuesday 13th
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9.30am
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Coffee Stop – until 12noon |
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Wednesday 14th
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7.30pm
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Coffee Group – Revd Peter Howard |
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Thursday 15th
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7.30pm
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Young at Heart – Upper Room
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Friday 16th
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7.30pm
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Archbishop of York – Visit to meet the council Questions and Answers at St Mary’s
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Tuesday 20th
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10.00am
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Coffee Stop – until 12noon |
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Tuesday 20th
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7.30pm
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House Fellowship – at Stutton |
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Wednesday 21st
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7.30pm
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Wednesday Group – Mrs Val Berrington |
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Tuesday 27th
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10.00am
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Coffee Stop – until 12noon
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Tuesday 27th
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7.30pm
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Circuit Meeting – at Church Fenton |
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Thursday 29th
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3.30pm
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Messy Church – at the Boys’ Sunday School
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Dates for the Diary, February 2012
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Wednesday 1st
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7.30pm
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Wednesday Group – Mrs M Poppa |
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Thursday 2nd |
7.30pm
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Young at Heart – Upper Room
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Friday 3rd
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7.30pm
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Tadcaster Grammar School Big Band – Concert for Christian Aid at St Mary’s. Cheese/Wine £5
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Sunday 5th
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12:30pm
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Sunday Lunch
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Monday 6th
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7.30pm
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Stewards Meeting |
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Tuesday 7th
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10.00am
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Coffee Stop – until 12noon
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Wednesday 8th
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7.30pm
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Coffee Group – Alan Bell
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Saturday 11th
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9.30am
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Open Door Café – until 1.30pm |
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Monday 13th
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2.15pm
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Sisterhood – John Mason |
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Tuesday 14th
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10.00am
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Coffee Stop – until 12noon
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Wednesday 15th
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2.00pm
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Rainbow in the Rain – Finding hope in bereavement: Drop in at the Boys’ S School
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Wednesday 15th
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7.30pm
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Wednesday Group – Mrs Sara Raynar ‘Macular Disease Society’
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Thursday 16th
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7.30pm
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Young at Heart – Upper Room |
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Thursday 16th
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7.30pm
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Finance Committee Meeting |
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Tuesday 21st
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10.00am
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Coffee Stop – until 12noon
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Thursday 23rd
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3.30pm
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Messy Church – at the Boys’ Sunday School
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Monday 27th
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6.00pm
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Choir Rehearsal
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Tuesday 28th
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10.00am
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Coffee Stop – until 12noon
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Tuesday 28th
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7.30pm
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House Fellowship – at Stutton
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