Bamford Chapel
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BAMFORD CHAPEL Mission/Vision Statement MISSION TO MAKE KNOWN THE GOOD NEWS OF THE LOVE OF GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
WORSHIP We believe as a congregation that our worship should be wholehearted and meaningful as we join together in praise and thanksgiving to God. In response to God’s love, we wish to express our joy, to open our hearts to God’s voice and to respond to His word.
LEARNING Recognising our need to learn of God and from God, we seek to provide an environment within which learning and teaching can take place. We would want to enable each person to accept God into their life and to have the ability to discuss and share their faith with all.
PASTORAL We are joined together in our faith by the Holy Spirit. As a loving fellowship we wish to deepen and extend our care for each other encouraging everyone to use their gifts, as they are enabled by God, to show tenderness and compassion in a spirit of humility.
MISSION/SOCIETY We accept that we are called to make Christ known in our community at Bamford and in all other places. We would wish to influence others by example and comment, accepting that God will speak through us as we maintain a relationship with Him. We recognise the need for the Church to participate in all aspects of the life of the world, and proclaim God’s will, as it is revealed to us.
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10.30 am
Family Worship with Holy communion led by Rev Richard Bradley
12 noon
Vision Sharing meeting (4 of 5)
6.00 pm
Evening Worship To Advent and Beyond with The United Christian Singers conducted by Walter Brisk and our Minister Rev Richard Bradley (no charge)
Monday 2nd December
8.00 pm
Prayer Group
Thursday 5th December
7.00 pm
Joint Finance Committee and Elders Meeting
Saturday 7th December
from 9.30 am
Grounds Working Party - All Welcome
10.30 am
Family Worship led by Joanne Ackroyd with mandarin Speaking Students Followed by Pot Luck Lunch and Barn Dance to which all are welcome
6.00 pm
Evenng Worship led by our Minister Rev Richard Bradley
Sunday 1st December
Sunday 8th December
Monday 9th December
8.00 pm
Prayer Group
Tuesday 10th December
12 noon for 12.45 pm
Light lunches followed by concert given by students from the Royal College of Music 1
Sunday 15th December
Monday 16th December
10.30 am
Family Worship led by our Minister Rev Richard Bradley
12 noon
Vision sharing meeting (5 of 5)
6.00 pm
Nativity Pantomime “Who do you think you are kidding Mr Herod?” led by Food for Thought. Written by Ben and Addie Redmond. Tickets Adults £5, Children £2 All Welcome
8.00 pm
Prayer Group
12 noon
Churches Together - Carol Singing at Cutgate Precinct, followed by refreshments at Cutgate Baptist Church
Saturday 21st Dec
Sunday 22nd December
Tuesday 24th December
Wednesday 25th December
Sunday 29th December
10.30 am
Nativity Service led by our Junior Church
4.00 pm
Family Tea - please sign up
6.00 pm
Traditional Service of Carols and Readings led by Red Richard Bradley together with our Choir followed by seasonal refreshments All Welcome
7.30 pm
Christmas Eve Family Party
11.30 pm
Midnight Communion led by our Minister Revd Richard Bradley
10.00 am
Christmas Day Service when we celebrate the birth of Christ. Children (and Adults) are encouraged to bring a present with them to show. led by Walter Brisk
10.30 am
Morning Worship where our sister church in Norden (Norden URC) join with us for worship
Please note there will be no evening service 2
Sunday 5th January
10.30 am
Family Worship with Holy Communion led by our Minister Rev Richard Bradley
6.00 pm
Evening Worship led by Walter Brisk
Monday 6th january
8.00 pm
Prayer Group
Thursday 9th January
7.30 pm
Elders Meeting
10.30 am
Family Worship led by Margaret Ogden
6.00 pm
Evening Communion led by our Minister Rev Richard Bradley
Monday 13th January
8.00 pm
Prayer Group
Tuesday 14th January
12 noon for 12.45 pm
Light Lunches followed by concert given by Chris Holmes Jazz Trio
10.30 am
Family Worship led by our Minister Rev Richard Bradley
6.30 pm
Joint Service, Churches Together in North West Rochdale to be held at St George’s Oakenrod led by Revd Karen Smeeton
Sunday 12th January
Sunday 19th January
Saturday 25th January
tbc
Ignite GEAR day 3
Saturday 25th January
Sunday 26th January
Wed 29th January
9.30 am
CVS Rochdale are holding a session for Youth & Group Leaders in our local Church communities. This is a 3 hour session, let Gillian Galloway know if you would like to attend
10.30 am
Family Worship led by David Watson
6.00 pm
Evening Worship led by Ken Greer
1.30 pm
Mid Week Communion Service
Please check all dates and times on the Bamford Chapel website at
www.bamfordchapel.co.uk as arrangements are subject to change. Thank you
Dates for Elders’ Group Meetings about The Vision If you were unable to attend your Elder’s Meeting you are welcome to join one of the remaining 2 detailed below.
Elders’ Group
Date
Julie Platt Laura Davies Ian Hampson Joan Warner
Sunday 1st December
Liz Hazlehurst Gill James Addie Redmond Barbara Redmond
Sunday 15th December
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Message from the manse I love Christmas!! I used to drive my Mum and Dad mad when I was younger because I would start getting excited about Christmas and start having sleepless nights following my birthday. This drove my Mum and Dad mad because my birthday is at the end of August! This is a true (and rather embarrassing) story! I would literally struggle getting to sleep because of my increased excitement levels. As a Dad I have continued my love for Christmas seeing the same excitement from my children – although I am glad they don’t start having sleepless nights in August! Christmas is such a busy time of year with a huge amount going on. We are often busy with preparing gifts, writing cards, arranging family events and parties, doing all that is expected and planned when it comes to church as well. But it is a truly amazing time of year; a time when we celebrate the birth of our saviour Jesus Christ the greatest gift ever given. This year will be our 4th Christmas in the manse. It is amazing to think that just after Christmas we will reach my 3rd Anniversary of my induction to Bamford and Norden URCs. We are also in this period of discerning the vision for Bamford Chapel. Much work has been done. We have had:*The year of seeking God’s Vision when we had themed services. *We have had the questionnaires that people were invited to fill out. 5
*We are currently in the middle of the vision sharing meetings (2 have taken place and three are yet to take place) *I am hoping that a service will take place soon so that those who haven’t been able to get to the meetings will hear and be able to respond to what has been put forward. There have been magazine articles and a discussion at a Church Meeting on the proposed vision statement. I feel the time is coming when a final decision is needed. We are coming through a consulting period and I want to ask you to write in your diaries the date of the January Church Meeting. That is the meeting when, and where, I hope the vision statement will be adopted by the church and we can then continue to work with, and towards, that vision. I feel it has been an exciting time. I have felt extremely excited about the vision and the hope for the future of Bamford Chapel. I want to encourage people to talk about things and the ideas that will come from this process. There were lots of suggestions in the questionnaires that I hope will come to fruition and be implemented. The basic proposal of the vision is that all that we do as a church fits with the overall suggested vision of “Loving God, Serving others, Building Community.” The Elders will discuss this at the January Elders’ meeting and I hope will make the recommendation to adopt this as our new vision statement. This will then come to the Church Meeting on the 19th January 2014. The meeting will take place on this day after the morning service. 6
If anyone wants to speak to me about the vision before then please just ask me, phone me, email me, speak to me at church. I am passionate about it because I feel strongly that it is from God. I hope we all have blessed Christmas and a very happy New Year. God Bless, Your servant in Christ, Richard.
News of the family Concerns are expressed for Anne and Ian Newman, Win and Don Schofield, Audrey Morris, Molly Brierley, Joyce and Derek Yates, Dorothy and Bob Hartley, Geoff and Margaret Ogden, Margaret Entwistle and Joyce Cooper. Please remember these friends in your prayers, along with any others of whom you are aware or who I have omitted to mention. I have just returned home from the Brownies Coffee Evening, which is the first of the Christmas events held at Bamford Chapel. The coffee area and lounge were full of children, parents and grandparents along with church members who were supporting the event. Thanks to everyone concerned with the organisation and planning of this annual fund raising effort. With Christmas rapidly approaching we will all be kept busy with the multitude of activities at church. The Christmas Fair, Toy Service, Advent displays and coffee morning, Luncheon Club Christmas lunch, Pantomime, Junior Church Nativity, Family Tea, Christmas Eve Party and Communion and Christmas Day service. How blessed we are to be part of such a vibrant and exciting church. 7
Fair Trade in Rochdale Since Rochdale became a Fair Trade Borough in March 2006, the “Fair for All” stall in Rochdale Market has been offering a range of fairly-traded goods (foods, household and crafts) to the people of Rochdale. The stall is situated in the middle of the Indoor Market and is open every Monday & Wednesday to Saturday from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. During the run-up to Christmas the stall carries a larger range of gifts and cards. By buying fairly traded goods for gifts at Christmas you will also be spreading the message of Fair Trade. The “Fair for All” organizers, Monica Fowler (659453), Jan Hicks (648779) & Jenny Buckley (358686), are looking for volunteers (or all ages) to help with running the stall. Volunteering provides a special opportunity for young people (16+) to do service towards targets set under the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (and similar schemes) or to gain experience in retail work. With 20 2-hours periods of duty to fill each week – they need your help! What better way for us, as Christians, to demonstrate our care and concern for the poor of this world!
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Workdays at Church I have been conscious that the Monday Gang that meet on a Monday morning to do jobs around the church have been reducing in number over the last three years. As the Church buildings are so large and take a huge amount of work to keep clean and maintained I suggested at the Elders’ meeting that we might try having a Saturday morning once a month to tackle some of the bigger jobs (or smaller ones!) that might need more people to complete. This is NOT to suggest that we don’t think the Monday Gang or the Cleaners are not doing a good job – without them we would need to pay out quite a bit of money to pay for those jobs to be done. The Saturday morning idea is to supplement the work already being done. With this in mind we are going to try it on Saturday 7th December. If you can spare anytime from 9.30 am then you will be most welcome to come. Thanks and God Bless, Richard.
Workdays at Bamford Chapel
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“To Advent and beyond……..” An act of worship for the evening of Advent Sunday:
1st December 2013 The United Christian Singers invite you to join them in a celebration of this special season: not yet quite Christmas, though all around there will be visible signs of the Nativity just a few weeks away. We want to take you back across the centuries when the Hebrew people were trying to discover what God was really like. Preachers and prophets tried to add to the knowledge and expectations of each new generation. Slowly the idea developed that God might one day send a very special Teacher; the Messiah. We share in their history, looking as they did to when and how this Messiah might come; we arrive in due course at the events in Bethlehem; and we see the Holy Family forced to flee from the terrible persecution of Herod. Then Jesus disappears for many years, in due time to become the Jesus that we know as the Son of God. That is our “beyond” – and we live in it still! This is not the programme we took to churches a couple of years ago, though necessarily it has a similar theme. It always gives me great pleasure to bring this choir to Bamford, where more than twenty years ago it had its beginning. Do come and share the evening with us if you can. Walter Brisk 10
Advent Coffee Morning Saturday 14th December 10.00 am - 12.30 pm Tickets ÂŁ3 including refreshments or pay on the door Come along and see the floral displays , Christmas trees and tableaux all based on Christmas Carols.
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Child Sexual Exploitation The Council for Voluntary Services Rochdale has very kindly offered to hold a session on the above subject for anyone from our church community who would like to learn more about protecting all our children from exploitation. We invite you to attend the session
at:
Bamford Chapel, Norden Road, Rochdale
on:
Saturday 25th January 2014 starting at 9.30am
Please contact: Gillian Galloway on gillianburc@hotmail.com with your booking numbers before the Saturday 11th January to allow for paperwork and handouts to be organised. This is a free 3 hour course on a very informative and necessary topic. Coffee, Tea and biscuit refreshment available.
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Magazine Editor Needed I am writing to ask for your help! There are many roles that need filling in the church and the Editor of the magazine is one of those roles. I want to ask for prayerful consideration for someone to take the role of Magazine as soon as possible. The role consists of collating all the articles and putting them into the format then it is sent to Martyn James who prints it and John Lapworth who photocopies it. It is then given to a small group of people who fold and staple it and place it in the pews. Without a new editor the magazine will cease to be produced. There will be the joint December and January edition and then it will stop. Please see Richard or Ian Sturrock if you wish to take this role on. If you want to know more about it then please speak to Louise Aspinall. Thanks and God Bless Richard.
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BAMFORD CHAPEL Midday concert
12.45 p.m. – 1.45 p.m. Lunch served from 12 noon Admission to the concerts: £3 Lunch items individually priced
Tuesdays December 10th 2013 Students from The Royal College of Music January 14th 2014 with the Chris Holmes Jazz Trio
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BELARUS ABANDONED BABIES Thank you to all who supported the recent Coffee Day, held at the Trinity Methodist in Heywood. (either in person or by donations received) The sum of ÂŁ1234.90 was raised, which is money that will help to provide shoes and winter clothes for these children. A big thank you once again for your support' Love Carol Hartley.
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A Christmas Quiz Are these statements true or false? 1.
The town of Bethlehem is just over 20 miles from Jerusalem. 2. The composer, Gustav Holst, who wrote the music for the carol ‘In the Bleak Mid-Winter’, lived in Thaxted, Essex. 3. A pheasant is one of numerous birds mentioned in the song: ‘The 12 days of Christmas’. 4. The first light bulbs used to decorate a Christmas tree were switched on at London’s Great Exhibition in 1851. 5. After leaving Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph with the baby Jesus went into Egypt. 6. The Christmas stamps produced by Royal Mail in 2009 depicted the Nativity on stained glass windows. 7. The second line of the carol ‘Once in Royal David’s city’ is: ‘Stood a smelly cattle-shed’. 8. ‘Vrolyk Kerstfeest’ means ‘Happy Christmas’ in the Slovakian language. 9. ‘Merry Christmas Everybody’ sung by Slade was top of the UK singles chart in 1983. 10. Bethlehem in Israel stands 2,550 feet above sea level.
5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 1. 2. 3. 4.
False: It is only five! True. False. False: Light bulbs were not commercially available until after 1879. True. True. False: Replace the word ‘smelly’ with ‘lowly. False: It is Dutch. False: It was 1973. True.
Answers to Christmas Quiz 16
Advent Celebration We are holding an event to celebrate the beginning of Advent. It will be an occasion when we invite members of the church and community to come and view displays of Christmas trees, nativity scenes and floral arrangements which will have been produced by the many organisations within our fellowship. This is our third ‘Celebrating Advent’ the last one was in 2010, We hope you will encourage your friends and neighbours to ‘come and see’.
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Bamford Chapel Project 2013. “The Big Banana Apeel” At the time of writing this article the project total is £658 and I know that there is much fundraising going on as well as personal giving. The Brownies have just hosted a very well attended coffee evening and the Rainbows and Guides are collecting spare change. We were pleased to welcome Jean and Peter Franey who are Gulu Link Trustees to the coffee evening they were very impressed with the Brownies commitment to the project. In addition we hope to arrange a fundraising meal in January. I am sure you will be aware from the project launch and previous articles in the magazine that we are raising funds to help the people of Gulu in Northern Uganda. These people have endured 20 years of devastating warfare, but now they face an even bigger challenge as one of the poorest regions in Africa are now experiencing the impact of post war rebuilding of the economy and community. Following the war, the population, largely widows and orphans and returned child soldiers, are rebuilding their lives after enduring years in IDPs (Internal Displaced People’s camps). They are returning home to find their crops and animals gone and their communities decimated with limited opportunities to alleviate their poverty. We are working with the Lancashire Gulu Link to help build on previous projects they have organised in partnership with the Gulu people. The project involves growing and cultivating bananas and then splitting the plants to give to others. The money we raise will fund the plants and a local project manager so that local people are supported, learn new skills and plants are passed on in an organised way thus sustainable for future generations. 18
Why bananas? I hope you find the following information interesting:
Uganda grows more bananas than any other country with the exception of India; producing 9 million tons of bananas every year In many regions of Uganda bananas are eaten at every meal The average Ugandan eats between 750g and 1 kg of bananas every day Matooke bananas which are green are widely grown and cooked by steaming, boiling then mashed and eaten with fish or meat Sweet bananas are often roasted over charcoal fires Bananas give many areas of Uganda an evergreen look, due to the green bananas and large green leaves When ready to eat the whole banana plant is harvested at once The plants regrow and can be split and then replanted Bananas and their leaves are not just used to provide nourishment they are also used for arts and crafts, to wrap and protect other foods, to make medicines, juice, wine and Waragi Gin, wonder what that tastes like?
Please do not hesitate to ask if you want any more information about the project or get involved. The following people are on the Church in the World Group who organise the project. Margaret Ogden, Lyn Jefferies, Barbara and Addie Redmond, Rebecca Abbott, Carole Greaves. Thank you Carole Greaves 19
Prayer of Thanks at Christmas Loving Father of Christmas, In this year when we have welcomed the birth of a baby, born to be King of this country for a generation, we thank you for the everlasting gift of your precious son, Jesus, King of all Kings, whose reign will last for ever and ever. Thank you that he became one of us; that he lived and died and rose again so that we might be offered the gift of eternal life. Please open our eyes and ears and hearts this Christmas, by the power of your Holy Spirit. May we see, hear and experience the peace and joy, comfort and life, which is your Christmas present to us, wrapped up in the presence of Jesus. Emmanuel, God actually with us, today! Thank you, thank you Lord. Amen. By Daphne Kitching
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Food For Thought presents its Nativity Pantomime
Who do you think you are kidding Mr Herod? by Ben & Addie Redmond Sunday 15th December 2013 at 6 pm Bamford Chapel, Norden Road, OL11 5PQ
Adults ÂŁ5
Children ÂŁ2
inc refreshments Tickets available after service or from Addie Redmond 01706 354559 or 07906 599 966 21
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Come to the craft group at Norden URC Group meets on Tuesday afternoons at 12.30 - 3.00 p.m. Norden URC, Forsyth Street £2.50 per session—bring your lunch, tea/coffee and biscuits Learn to knit and crochet Make new acquaintances in our friendly group. Phone Jean 07764 233 382 for further information
Line Dancing at Norden URC Held in the church Monday weekly at 1pm. Pay £3 at the door includes tea, coffee and biscuits Everyone welcome, no partner required. For a little gentle keep fit exercise and memory test!
Fab Dance Dance Classes at Norden United Reformed Church Mondays Bokwa Fitness 7.30 to 8.30 pm Thursdays Junior Disco 6.15 to 7.15 pm Saturdays Tiny Boppers age 3 to 7 10.30 to 11.30 am Fiona 07811829056 fabdance1@hotmail.co.uk 24
BAMFORD CHAPEL MAGAZINE
EDITORS:
Louise Aspinall
01706 719449
l.aspinall@yahoo.co.uk
Martyn James
01706 868885
martyn-james1@sky.com
SECRETARY:
Joan Ashton
01706 360395
ray-joanashton@sky.com
DATES FOR THE NEXT MAGAZINE (provided a new editor can be found) February 2014 Articles to be handed in by:
Sunday 19th January
Magazine to be completed by:
Thursday 30th January
Magazine distributed:
Sunday 2nd February
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BAMFORD CHAPEL United Reformed Church Charity - Reg’d No 1128387
(FAIRTRADE CHURCH) Norden Road, ROCHDALE, Lancs. OL11 5PQ
The Manse, Norden Road, ROCHDALE, Lancs OL11 5PQ Telephone: 01706 369622 www.bamfordchapel.co.uk Minister : Email:
Rev Richard Bradley richardbradley@cantab.net
Church Secretary: Telephone: Email: Wedding Secretary: Telephone: Email:
Ian Sturrock 01706 653109 i.sturrock@talktalk.net John Lapworth 01706 632460 john@lapworth37.plus.com
Lettings Manager: Telephone: Email:
Linda Kerford 01706 624256 l.kerford@btinternet.com Times of Services:
Family Worship : 10.30 am : Holy Communion 1 st Sunday in month Evening Worship : 6.00 pm : Holy Communion 3 rd Sunday in month 26