News from the churches

MEMBERS OF St James Monday Group enjoyed their annual festive meal, which this year was held at the Royal British Legion in Birstall, where they were well looked after and well-fed. We now look forward to the coming year.

The beginning of the year also saw the AGM of the Birstall and Wanlip branch of the Mother's Union, marked by a service in the old part of St James Church which was presided over by Reverend Amanda. The Mother's Union is a worldwide Christian organisation, and you don't necessarily have to be a 'mum' to join!

(The Bishop of Leicester is a member, and he is a 'dad'!). Here in Birstall, the Mother's Union meets on the third Monday of every month at 10am in the community area of St James Church, Church Hill. The programme for the year includes having speakers for a range of subjects, outings to popular destinations and taking part in and organising fundraising events - a pretty busy itinerary.

Have you ever wondered what to do with those single-use face masks, blister packs (empty pill thingies) and used pens of all sorts? Well, St James has boxes in the community area, where you can dispose of them safely!

There is also a box for used ink cartridges. They are all to be recycled, so it all cuts down on rubbish and is useful!

Here's a super thing: on the first Monday of every month at 11am the British Legion is hosting a Veteran's Breakfast for all Service Personnel and Auxiliary Support (i.e. Land Army, Army Reserves, etc.). If you, or anyone you know would enjoy a good brekki, and a good chat, please book with Brian (07864 693243) or contact the helpline (0789471 15049).

Let's stay with food! There will be a Pancake Party on Tuesday February 21 at Wanlip Hall at 1pm to celebrate Shrove Tuesday. Everyone is invited and everyone will be welcome.

From Birstall Parish Churches

GOODNESS ME it has been a cold January!

Fortunately our Warm Space is able to continue operating, mainly due to a significant grant from Charnwood Borough Council, and of course our dedicated team of volunteers. We are seeing ever increasing numbers visiting us, and it is really good to see some new friendships being made.

Our boilers are managing to cope with keeping the building warm, however some of the vital parts to our system are extremely old and they need to be replaced. We are looking for an Industri-

Service.

You are very welcome to join us.

We meet on the last Monday of each month at 7pm at Braunstone Civic Centre (except December). Entry is £5, or annual membership is £30 and includes entry to all our Monday meetings, and a reduced rate for our other events.

Our occasional stitchers’ days and workshops are usually held on Saturdays.

If you would like to find out more please contact Carolyn Howard on 07487 583 614 or Jan Halliday on 01509 890369 or email leicestershirequilters40@ gmail.com. Or take a al Plumber that can work on large pipework, so do contact us if you know of someone who could help!

On January 8 we held a Covenant and Commissioning Service. It was really good to see the Boys Brigade in church with their flags, and to witness the commitment of their Officers and their Chaplain.

The time of Lent starts on Ash Wednesday on February 22, and it lasts for 40 days (not Including Sundays) representing the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness. This 40 day period is a time for us all to reflect, fast, and make amends in preparation for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday, on April 9 this year. In many respects the period of Lent, Holy Week and Easter are much more significant to us than Christmas, because the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the Cross is the central core belief for All Christians throughout the World. This year our Lent Bible study series, On Earth as in Heaven, will be led by Rev Hunt and held on Sunday evenings at 6pm. Please contact the church for the Zoom meeting details.

From Birstall Methodist Church

Honours

At the start of the year, the New Year’s Honours’ List was published, naming those men and women who have earned our respect and esteem for their contribution to their local communities look at our Facebook and Instagram pages, both under Leicestershire Quilters. Or simply come along to our next meeting on Monday January 30.

From Leicestershire Quilters

and our nation as a whole. However, such awards can easily be forgotten by many of us – for example, how many of the 1,239 recipients from January 2021 can we remember? There is one person, however, whose achievements will never be forgotten and He is the subject of our hymn this month, namely the Lord Jesus Christ and the hymn is: ‘Immortal honours rest on Jesus’ head’.

This hymn was penned by William Gadsby (1773-1844), someone who has also been all but forgotten today, although around two to three thousand attended his funeral. William was born near Nuneaton into a large family and his childhood was marked by much poverty and minimal education. When he was aged 17, he was brought to acknowledge his wayward manner of life and, responding to the Gospel, he became a Christian. He worshipped in Coventry, walking the 8 miles for the 7am prayer meeting whatever the weather. In 1795 three things changed for William, as he moved to Hinckley and began to learn stocking weaving; met and married Elizabeth and became a preacher, much against his will, first in Bedworth, and then in Hinckley and Desford. In 1805 he moved to become a pastor in Manchester and he ministered there for 38 years. He wrote over 150 hymns but only one or two are found in modern hymn collections.

The ‘Immortal honours’ hymn numbers the blessings which come from the Lord: ‘In Him I live, upon Him cast my care; He saves from death, destruction and despair. He is my refuge in each deep distress, the Lord my strength and glorious righteousness … [and] My every need He richly will supply.’ The final verse is our response: ‘O that my soul could love and praise Him more … obey His voice and all His will esteem.’ May this last wish also be our response to the Lord Jesus Christ.

You are most welcome to join us for our Sunday services – see the Diary section for details, or contact us: http://www.birstallbaptistchurch.org.uk or 0116 2214883.

From Birstall Independent Baptist Church