March, April and May 2013

Sorry for the lack of posting, but it has been a hectic three months, both at church and in our family lives.  Susannah and Jonathan have finished one business ("Bright and Beautiful", a pet supplies shop on Fulwood Road) and opened another, ("S and J's Pantry", a stall in the Sheffield Market, selling Traditional, local, Artisan and Fairly-Traded produce.)  If you would like details of the new venture, look at http://s-and-j-s.blogspot.co.uk
An "edited highlights" of the church's activities will have to do for these three months, or I could never get back up to date.
We struggled with some extremely unseasonal weather,

looked for problems with the drainage in the field,

and started to mow (after the mower had come back from being serviced!)

All the regular activities have continued;

the bible fellowship, the ladies' meeting, Sunday worship, the men's breakfast.

 The supper club started in April, and met in May.  Two church meetings happened, and a coffee morning was held.  A needlework day was organised, a coffee morning and carwash took place on Easter Saturday,

We organised a pie and peas supper in support of St. Luke's Hospice and held a Garden Party on the Bank holiday Monday.

February 2013

February started with the Christening of Jasper, younger brother of Barnaby who was Christened about 18 months ago.  Our pastor Susannah led the service, which was well attended.

 The Bible fellowship met on February 5th when we continued our studies of Amos.  The men's breakfast on the 11th was again poorly attended due to the weather.

Even the crows were grounded!
On the 19th we started out Lent study course.  We are following the CTBI course "This is Our Story"  Journeys of Faith.
The second session was on the 26th.

January 2013

The new year started with our annual Covenant Service on January 6th.  This is where we renew our covenant with God.  This service was led by our pastor, Jonathan.  

The weather was against us later in the month, and only three people were able to attend the men's breakfast  on the 14th, but we were very well fed!  The bible fellowship on the 15th was cancelled as a number of our people were unwilling to risk falling on the icy surfaces.  The Ladies' fellowship on the 15th was also cancelled for the same reason.  The church party on the 19th did go ahead, but the attendance was well below what we had originally expected.  In spite of the low numbers, those who braved the conditions had a good time.  

December 2012

December started with Advent Sunday, when we lit the first candle on our Advent crown.  Andrew has been following a course to prepare for church membership with Susannah, and at the service, he was received into full membership.

The bible fellowship met on Tuesday 4th, when we continued the study of Amos.  Because the rest of the month is busy, we will next meet in January.

Men's breakfast met on Monday 10th as usual.

The annual "Five courses and Carols" took place on the 13th, when we dined on:  Oxtail soup, mackerel paté, ham baked on hay, fig pudding, cake and cheese, tea and coffee, with carols between each course.

The chapel was re-arranged for the Advent Carol service on the 16th.

The theme was "Prepare ye the way of the Lord."  

On Monday the 17th we gathered in the car park at 6-30 p.m. for our annual carol sing round the valley.
Wednesday 19th was the Ladies' meeting carol sing with the Salvation Army band.  The chapel had to be put back to normal for this event.
Brian led our Christmas carol service on the 23rd.
Susannah led the Christmas day service.  The completed Advent crown is visible in this picture.

 Susannah then unwrapped parcels to complete her display, this is shown below.

Jonathan led the last service of 2012 on Dec. 30th.

November 2012

November started out with our annual bonfire and barbecue on Saturday the 3rd.  The event was well attended and enjoyed by all.  Although the ground was rather wet, following the wet summer, the night was fine.  The bonfire went up well.

 Susannah worked extremely hard in the kitchen, preparing the food for the barbecue.

David also worked hard putting the finishing touches outside.

 The queue seemed to go on for ever, but eventually everybody was fed.

 And people settled down to enjoy the evening.

Later on in the month, after all the debris had been cleared, the grass square was put back.  David had worked extremely hard, numbering the turves so that they went back in the right place.

Our bible fellowship met on November 6th and 20th, studying the book of Amos.  Apart from some slightly dated illustrations, the theme of justice and fairness could have been written this year.

Our series of sermons on Ephesians continued through the month, with Jonathan finishing up on Ephesians 6 on the 25th.

The men's breakfast met on the 12th,

The annual planning meeting was held on the 14th when we examined the events held so far this year and discussed ideas for next year.  The outcome of the meeting will be discussed at the church meeting in January and will then be added to the website (see link on the left).  If you would like a copy of the newsletter with the details enclosed, please get in touch.

Our annual Christmas Fayre was held on 24th, when opportunities to purchase fairly traded goods and crafts were available.  The event was well attended.

October 2012

We opened October with the bible fellowship on Tuesday the 2nd.  Our pastor Jonathan started  a short series of studies about heaven and the afterlife.  This first session was a look at what the old testament has to say on the subject.  The next session was on the 16th.

October the 6th and 7th was the Harvest Festival weekend.  Saturday morning was a coffee morning, and an opportunity to meet, bring gifts to the harvest, and decorate the church.  

We had requested that the gifts be dry and long life goods as they were to begiven to St. Wilfrid's centre in the city to support their work with the disadvantaged.  Contributions were received during the services on Sunday as well.

 Monday the 8th was our monthly men's breakfast.  David started work on clearing the square for the bonfire next month.
On Thursday the 11th we held our annual "Five Crops and Choruses".  This is a five course meal with seasonal songs.
The Ladies' meeting met on the 17th, Elaine led the meeting in making decorative crafts.

On the 31st October we held our annual Festival of Light where we made angels,

 pumpkin lanterns

 ate supper,

 demonstrated the lanterns,

and then went home.

The trees are definitely showing their autumn colours now.

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