Friction 4

engage Issue 4 - Autumn/Winter 2014 Articles include... Recent Events 3 The Bible - Fact / Friction 4 Riding Lights Theatre Co 8&9 Priestley...
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engage Issue 4 - Autumn/Winter 2014

Articles include... Recent Events

3

The Bible - Fact / Friction

4

Riding Lights Theatre Co

8&9

Priestley by name

10

Sue Ryder

15

and more...

www.francisofassisi.co.uk

Welcome to Engage - a magazine produced by St Francis Church for West Bessacarr. We seek to be a church that is outward looking and relevant for the community. We desire to contribute, along with many others, in making Bessacarr an even better place to live. Since the publication of the last magazine, it has been a real joy to see so many new faces at Café Theo on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It has been great to keep meeting new families at Messy Church. I love getting to know new people at Meet and Eat.

some exciting new initiatives. You can hear from Adam and his wife Kim on page 10.

Recent Events at St F!

St Francis Church is pleased to welcome and encourage the team from Sue Ryder as they operate the Bessacarr Friends’ community drop in from our hall and café on Mondays. You can read about their work on page 15, or better still drop in and meet them. Once again, please keep a look out for events and activities on our website(www.francisofassisi.co.uk) or look at the poster display at the main church entrance, opposite the Vets at Nostell Place.

Easter Fun Morning

Bessacarr Arts

We have also been welcoming a number of new people to our church services on Sundays. As I am out and about I keep meeting people who say that they want to come to church either for the first time, or come back to church after a break. They are often quite nervous about what they will find there!

Messy Church

To help them we have produced a document on our website (http:// www.francisofassisi.co.uk/about-us/ sundays/first-time-at-church.aspx). You can also find out a bit more on page 7. In June it was a delight to welcome Adam Priestley and his family to Bessacarr. Adam is a curate, or trainee vicar, who will be working alongside me as well as developing 2

Pancake Party

Bessacarr Arts

Main Cover Pictures: Front: John Stones painting a scene in record breaking time at the Arts Weekend. Back: Adam Priestley on the day he was ordained.

Easter Sunday - Egg Rolling

Easter Fun Morning

Pancake Party

Good Friday March

Ordination at Sheffield Cathedral

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The Bible: The Bible is by far the World’s bestselling book. The complete Bible has been translated into over 500 languages, and parts of the Bible have been translated into over 2000 other languages. In the UK the Bible is widely available in a variety of English versions in bookshops and online. Despite its worldwide popularity, the Bible is often criticised, ridiculed or left unread by British people. In this short article we will very briefly look at some of the criticisms people make about the Bible, before finishing with some of the reasons Christians love reading it. “The original meaning of the Bible has been lost over time’ Even the most sceptical of scholars will admit that the bulk of the New Testament was written within 40 years of the death of Jesus. These early records by eye witnesses, or those who had spoken to eye witnesses, were early enough to be written down and scrutinised by those who could validate their accuracy. The number of ancient copies of these documents to which we have access, is staggering, as is the level of accuracy of the copies. The Bible has been translated into many English versions, such as the King James

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Version, and The New International Version. Each good translation seeks to go back to the earliest manuscripts in the original languages of Greek and Hebrew. Translators then seek to remain faithful to the original meaning, while writing something in words that are accessible to people today. “The Bible is full of contradictions” There are places in the Bible where there do appear to be contradictions. However, when you examine many of them more carefully you discover that they are not contradictions at all! The many Bible writers had different reasons for writing, and each part of the Bible was written for a specific original audience. Considering the sheer scale and the length of time over which it was written, the Bible has a remarkable consistency in its message about God and his relationship with humanity. For example, in the accounts we have of the witnesses to the resurrection Matthew, Mark and Luke mention several women at the tomb. John’s gospel only mentions Mary. Which is correct? All of them! John was aware of the other gospel accounts but chose to focus on one initial significant witness of the resurrection for the purposes of his more in-depth account, even though he was fully aware of the other witnesses.

fact or friction? “The Bible is just full of rules” Whilst it certainly is correct that some parts of the Bible do contain rules, (or commandments,) for a whole variety of things, it is also much more than that. The Bible is actually a collection of books, (66 in total), and includes a whole range of different genres, such as history, poetry, prose, law, prophetic writings and letters. Consequently the Bible addresses a surprisingly large number of topics and themes. Prominent among these is God’s relationship with humanity. “The Bible is irrelevant today” In one sense, the Bible was written by and for people in a very different context from our own today. Nevertheless, as is often said, “people are people”, and our experience of the ups and downs of life are remarkably similar. Feelings such as joy, pain, love, and grief have been common to humanity throughout all ages. Whilst the Bible may speak directly to us at times, many people find that a knowledge of the original context helps them to view its relevancy in an indirect, yet highly intimate way. “The Bible is all down to interpretation” None of us come to the Bible, (or any other text), completely free of our own interpretation or presumptions about how it should be read. Consequently there

are cases where people want to read the Bible in either an excessively literal or metaphorical way. Both of these positions can be particularly problematic for a variety of reasons. Many Christians do, however, recognise that when the Bible is read with even a basic knowledge of its different genres and original contexts, some of its most important themes can become amazingly clear. Words of life for today We asked some people from our Church why they read and value the Bible. They said that through reading it they receive guidance, encouragement and strength. They said that they love to learn about God and his dealings with people, and how that applies to their life. They said that, even when reading a familiar passage, often something in it stands out for them in quite a remarkable way, as through these ancient words God speaks directly into their life situation today. If you have further questions about the reliability of the Bible, you may want to bring your questions to the Big Ask (see page 14). If you would like to learn to read and understand the Bible better email admin.francisofassisi@googlemail. com or leave us a phone message (01302 538487) and we will suggest some groups, courses or 1:1 opportunities. Richard Heard & Adam Priestley

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Why I love church......

There will be a

Special Service of Remembrance for the Bereaved on Sunday 2nd November at 4pm at St Francis Church.

All are welcome. 6

To me the Church is a group of people who meet together to worship God in words, music, singing and prayer, and who grow together in faith, learning how to share the good news about God with others. Church is not about the building, important as it is to have a place to meet. St Paul describes the church as like the many parts of a body working together in order for it to function. Every member is needed and important, and the whole cannot function properly without the individual parts, however small and seemingly unimportant. That is why I love to meet with people from church on Sundays and at other times during the week. I can’t wait to find out what new things God wants to show me, through the teaching we receive and my interactions with others. Everyone has something to offer, even if it’s just a smile, a hug or a word of encouragement. Two years ago, our vicar, Richard, asked if I would lead one of several small groups of church members who would meet regularly, seeking to grow together in love, faith and action. I had just retired, and was looking for fresh ways I could be involved in church life, so after prayerful consideration, I accepted the role and found a willing co-leader to help me. This task is both a privilege and a responsibility. It has required quite a few hours dedicated to planning, organising and studying the Bible in preparation, but I have learned so much and grown through the experience, and I love encouraging others to develop their relationship with God and grow in faith too.

years I have been a Christian, I have found just how important prayer is. I’ve received many answers to prayer myself and seen God move powerfully to change circumstances in the lives of others, so I felt strongly that God was wanting people to have the opportunity to come to Him and receive prayer for the concerns they had in their own lives, or that of a loved one. Richard was open to the idea of extending prayer ministry within the church to include others who were not necessarily church goers, inviting them to come and receive prayer. So now we have “Prayer Available Here” in the chapel on the last Saturday of the month. It is great to have been given a vision for something and see it come into being. I pray people will come and be blessed by it and discover, like me, just how faithful, how completely loving and how awesome God is! For me, going to church is exciting because God is very much alive and active there. If you’ve never been or not been for some time, why not come and see for yourself. You might just be surprised! Elisabeth Hallam

It has been said that prayer is the power house of the church, and over the many

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Working Hard & Resting Well

A little about Riding Lights....

An employee, or volunteer, who works hard at work, whether or not they like their job, is quite rightly a highly valued commodity.

Riding Lights Theatre Company is one of the UK’s most productive and long-established independent theatre companies. Founded in York over 30 years ago, partly through the initiative of a city-centre church, the company continues to take innovative, accessible theatre into all kinds of communities far and wide. Their aim is to create unforgettable, entertaining theatre in response to current issues and the hopes and fears of the world we share. While the company’s roots are in a Christian ethos, their work is open to everyone, using faith as a springboard to explore all aspects of life.

Being someone who is good at resting and avoiding the dangers of overwork is somewhat less valued! Resting is often equated with being lazy. The truth is that resting well is often the opposite of being lazy! It takes real discipline, effort and courage to prioritise and complete the most important tasks of the days so that at the end of the shift you can say “That’s enough for today. What’s unfinished will have to stay that way until tomorrow.” Resting well also includes the ability to switch off from the work. Some find this nigh on impossible as they keep reading and acting on emails late into the night. But if we don’t learn to rest well everyone suffers. Rest is built into the first biblical account of creation. Rest is incorporated in the 10 commandments. Rest is something that Jesus talked about and modelled. Despite this, so many of us are not good at resting. It may be that we see work as something that gives us worth, and we work all the more so as to gain more and more self-esteem. It can feel that when we are ‘doing things’ we are being of value, and that makes us feel good. Resting can seem like wasting time. The truth is, rest is crucial to our well-being and productivity. Good rest enables better work - smart employers in the industrial revolution realised this hundreds of years ago. Good rest enables relationships with those who are important to us to be restored and renewed. We all need to spend time with those who are important to us, and no amount of work should ever take this away. Good rest enables us to rediscover that our value is not in what we do but in who we are. Working hard and resting well needs motivation, and usually someone to keep us accountable. May your friends, your values or faith, and your own efforts help you to work hard and rest well.

What the press have said about their productions: “The York Mystery Plays have returned to their natural, outdoor setting… Their home-coming is a triumph.” Guardian (5 stars) “Riding Lights excel at raw, exciting drama… a refreshingly original experience” Metro “Riding Lights has established an enviable reputation for theatre which aims its sights high… an excellent track record for success.” The Stage We are pleased to invite them to perform their show ‘FANTASTIC ACTS’ at St Francis Church. Professional quality theatre and a great night out. Invite your friends to see the show, or for details log on to http://ridinglights.org/acts/

Richard Heard

This article is adapted from the blog revrichardheard.wordpress.com

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PRIESTLEY BY NAME ADAM & KIM ARRIVE IN DONCASTER Adam and Kim Priestley have recently moved to Doncaster. Having been ordained in June in Sheffield Cathedral, Adam will now continue his ministerial training at St Francis Church in Bessacarr for three years. They both come from the Nottinghamshire area and their growing family includes Ellie, Asher and a new arrival due in October (and also their two pet goldfish). We asked them a few questions about themselves and what they thought about their move. Having just moved into the area how are you settling in to your new home?

Adam: I have done a few jobs in the past, but directly before coming to Bessacarr I trained for three years at a Church of England theological college in Nottingham. During that time I did lots of practical training, but also managed to complete a Masters degree in theology.

Kim: Having completed a degree in British Sign Language just before Adam went to theological college I worked with deaf people in education. However, since we had Asher, and with the new arrival on the way, I’ve also “There’s been on maternity leave.

loads to do here”

Kim: Although we haven’t previously had any connection with Doncaster, we’ve found that it’s a great place to live. There’s loads to do here and we love having Lakeside on our doorstep. Adam: Also the people really make a place and we’ve been made to feel very welcome by both the church family at St Francis and the wider community in Bessacarr.

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What were you doing before you came to St Francis?

How have you found your transition into St Francis Church?

Adam: As well as being a place of quiet Even before coming to St Francis prayer St Francis also has an amazingly Revd Richard Heard and I discussed the benefits of some kind of youth packed schedule, you can see some of the many things we do from the posters and young adults’ outreach in the area. When I came to Bessacarr my in the window. Before theological observations only served to confirm training Kim and I were both actively involved in a lively Coffee Shop Church, this. That was the conception of what we have now affectionately named which always had new things to do ‘Franky’s Nostell Place’. Although it is and try. St Francis is very similar in that still very much in the early respect, and so we feel “There is stages, it is an initiative that very much at home. definitely a strong is seeking to build positive community feel to relationships with young What are your plans people and provide a safe the place ” for your time at St place to meet. St Francis Francis Church? has the use of both a café and a large hall. Key to the DNA of ‘Franky’s Nostell Place’ is Adam: As part of my training to be a an open atmosphere in which young Church of England vicar I will learn people are encouraged to shape and and do all the regular things needed define their own sense of community. for ministry, such as leading services, Please look out for further notices weddings, funerals and the general about ‘Franky’s Nostell Place’ coming day-to-day duties required of a parish soon! priest. However, this post has also given me some really exciting opportunities to develop a new initiative.

Adam: There is definitely a strong community feel to the place and the congregation has been extremely welcoming. The congregation have also really embraced the children as well. Kim: Yes, Ellie and Asher both love the Sunday services and groups but have also enjoyed taking part in Messy Church, Toddler Group, and helping with a church clear-up. I have also found time to go to the Summer Bible School for adults. 11

What takes place at St Francis Church & Centre?

Christmas Fun Morning & Services

Church Contact Ann Gray: Centre Administrator & PCC Secretary - Hall/Room Bookings please phone (01302) 538487 / or email: [email protected]

Summary of Regular Activities At the time of going to press, these are the regular activities and events taking place at the Church and Centre. Many of these are run by the church or by church members. Some are run by outside agencies.

Prayer and Worship: Daily, .................................................................Church Office - 538487

Coming Soon!

Sue Ryder Community Drop in: Mondays,.......................... Kerrice Cavanagh 01302 380077

“Franky’s Nostell Place”

Rainbows & Brownies: Monday evenings, ............................................. Jane Chick - 535363

A new place for youth & young adults to meet!

Rock Choir: Monday evenings: .................................................. Kate Threfall - 01252714276 Meet and Eat Lunch: 2nd Monday monthly, .................................. Sarah Rogerson - 535747 Beavers, Cubs and Scouts: Wednesday and Friday* evenings,...Noreen Sherburn - 535769 Hope Bereavement Drop In: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays,.....................Church Office - 538487 U3A - Mah Jong: 2nd Tuesday monthly, .................................... Mrs Willy Fry - 01302 538172 St Francis Toddler Group: Wednesday mornings, ................................ Dawn Kwok - 539839 Coffee Morning in the Café: Thursday, ..................................................Mary Scott - 533539 Slimming World: Thursday evenings, ...................................................... Sue - 01302 867451 Line Dancing: Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, ............................... Fran Harper - 817124

Please join us on

Remembrance Sunday 9th November 2014 at St Francis Church, Nostell Place, 10.30am

Mothers’ Union in the Café: 2nd Thursday evening monthly, .................. Jan Laws - 874305 Mothers’ Union Soup lunch: 4th Friday monthly, ........................... Sarah Rogerson - 535747

Sun 14th December

6pm Carols by Candlelight Service --------------------------------------4pm Christingle and Crib Service You are also invited to Midnight Mass starting at 11.30pm ---------------------------------------

KT Danz: Street/Freestyle Dance: Friday evenings, ............... Katie Hodgson - 07867613929 Café Theo Community Café: Saturday & Wednesday mornings, .Marlene Gannon - 530470 Sequence Dancing: 1st and 3rd Saturday evenings, .................... Michael Ingman - 538199 *Beavers and cubs meet at St Francis Church. Scouts meet at Willow School.

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Sun 30th November

10.30am Advent Sunday Special All Age Service ---------------------------------------

Wed 24th December

Mothers’ Union Whist Drive: 1st and 3rd Saturday evenings, ................. Pat Hilson - 531282

Please contact those in charge of individual groups to confirm details and times of meetings prior to attending for the first time as some details may change.

Sat 29th November

Christmas Fun Morning (Christmas crafts, games, some gift stalls and an early visit from Santa) 10.30am to 12.30pm at St Francis Church Hall ---------------------------------------

Thurs 25th December ...... we will remember ......

10.30am Christmas Day Celebration Service

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Community News...

n Coming soo ! to St Francis 16th Oct

Riding Lights FANTASTIC ACTS @ St Francis

7.30pm

25th Oct

Community Dinner Date

7pm

2nd Nov

Service of Remembrance for the Bereaved

4pm

8th Nov

Messy Church

4pm

9th Nov

Remembrance Sunday Service

10.30am

29th Nov

Christmas Fun Morning

10.30am

30th Nov

Advent All Age Service

10.30pm

14th Dec

Carols by Candlelight

6pm

24th Dec

Crib and Christingle Service

4pm

24th Dec

Midnight Mass

11.30pm

10th Jan

Messy Church

4pm

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?

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Why so many religions? Why do bad things happen to good people? Hasn’t evolution removed the need for God?

Come and ask YOUR questions, and we’ll see if between us we can find the answers. To enquire about the next course leave a message at 01302538487 or email admin.francisofassisi@ gmail.com 14

drop-in centre Sundays @ St Francis Join us for breakfast!

A complementary breakfast is served from 9.30am to 10.15am every Sunday morning. 8.30am Service A shorter service for early birds, and those who like the traditions and beautiful language of the Book of Common Prayer. 10.30am Service A friendly and informal modern style of worship, with groups for children and young people available. 6pm Service First Sunday of the month A traditional communion service with hymns.

Sue Ryder has established a number of community-based services in Doncaster over the previous few years, supporting adults and older people who may have physical disabilities, dementia, or who are at risk of social isolation. We provide befriending and a range of community-based activities, promote peer support and have experience of working with other organisations to provide a meaningful range of day activities and useful information.

Community Friends’ Café

Following success with our application for the innovation fund, we have begun to develop community groups in three areas of Doncaster that run weekly between 10am and 3pm.



Your local café meets on Mondays from 10am to 3pm at St Francis Church Hall, Bessacarr. Contact Kerrice Cavanagh on 01302 380077 for details.

People from the local community can call in and stay for as little or as long as they wish, get to know others in their community, and take part in some activity that can be facilitated to take place by our support workers. •



Other Sundays A quieter reflective service to end the day.

www.francisofassisi.co.uk



support network (for older people and their carers). Establish new volunteering opportunities (available to people of all ages / abilities). This may also include volunteering opportunities linked to other Sue Ryder services (including Retail, Fund-raising and Administration functions). Establishing new local community links in each of our chosen localities (helping to create ‘friendly communities’).



We aim to: establish a local community network, accessible to older people (we are not restricting the service to people over 65 years of age), who are living with a long term condition (including dementia) and may be at risk of social isolation. Create and empower a local interest group, able to eventually assume control of the service (directly managing volunteers), with on-going (minimal), support from Sue Ryder. We aim to establish a service which is sustainable. Make a difference for individuals, provide a sense of purpose, and establish a local

Café visitors at St Francis

Other café locations are: Wednesdays 10am to 3pm at St Paul’s Church Hall, Wheatley, and Thursdays 10am to 3pm at St Peter’s (The White Church) Hall, Warmsworth.

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engage Issue 4 - Autumn/Winter 2014

The opinions expressed in ‘engage’ are not necessarily those of the Vicar or the PCC, although we fully accept responsibility for the content. Errors and omissions excepted. If you wish to talk about any issues mentioned in ‘engage’, please contact us via our Centre Admin email address which is [email protected] - Thank you. Design by Malcolm Johnston ([email protected])

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www.francisofassisi.co.uk

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