FR. Hugh writes :-
"The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing."
It's getting worse, it seems. There is yet another unwelcome outbreak of
ludicrous municipal political-incorrectness. It has to be "winterval" with
"winter" lights. We must not use the "C" word when talking about The
Incarnation of Our Lord. Well I'm going to say "Christmas" whenever I like -
and so I'm sure are all you good readers. We are not prepared to put up with
this kind of thing, even less begin to take it seriously!
Let's ignore this silly nonsense and stare the wonderful
festival of Christmas in the face. First of all it's about preparation, in
that God prepared His world for the coming of His Son, Jesus born for us.
"Incarnation" actually means "Being made flesh." All this came about in the
fullness of God's time. Then the angel Gabriel appeared to Blessed Mary,
who, thank God, said, "Yes," to God.
As the world was prepared (think of all the people we
hear from during the Sundays of Advent), so was Mary. No-one else was so
highly-favoured by God. She was spotless and lived her life without any
stain coming upon her. She was humble and obedient. I often think also of
the assurance given to Joseph that this was of God, so all would be well.
The actual events around the last weeks of the pregnancy
do not give any impression of good preparation at all. We think of the
compulsory census, the uncomfortable miles travelled on the donkey, the
congestion and fighting for space, the lack of room at the inn, the having
to cope with childbirth in a stable full of animals. This serves to remind
us not only of the reality of the world we live in, but also the measure of
God's love for us. This was the King of Heaven born into very difficult and
filthy conditions. If we have missed that point, then the savage and
un-necessary brutality of the slaughter of the Innocents lets us not forget
it.
I'm happy that for many people, Christmas is the
principal commercial and trading opportunity of the year, and that it
usually begins early September and ends abruptly on Christmas Day. But for
those of us who believe, while we live with this, Christmas is the time when
we remember that we received the Present to end all presents, the birth of
Our Lord and Saviour; taking on human form, for us and for our salvation. By
my reckoning, "real-Christmas" begins on Christmas Eve and takes us through
to Candlemas (2nd February).
"The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us; and we
beheld His glory, glory as of the Only-begotten from the Father, full of
Grace and truth." That's what the world lay in waiting for, and why the
angels sang.
God bless you all in your real-Christmas celebrations.
Fr Hugh .
A LETTER FROM . . .
The Reverend David S. Cook,
The Vicarage,
17 Sutor Close, Copmanthorpe, York. YO23 3TX.
Telephone 01904 778701.
The Worship Leaders Course that was offered to the
Deanery earlier this year proved so successful that another one is planned
to begin very early next year. After consultation with those who took part
the Course has been adapted slightly and the main emphasis will be on
leading Family and All Age Worship and less emphasis on leading Morning and
Evening Prayer. An additional module has been added to help those who assist
with the chalice at the Eucharist.
It will be assumed that those who are intending to lead
Family / All Age Worship will attend each of the modules with the exception
of the additional one to do with the Eucharist. It may be that some are only
interested in the modules on leading intercessions or reading in
Church in which event they are welcome to attend that particular one.
Each session will begin at 7.30 pm in St. Giles Church
and Centre Copmanthorpe.
It will be led by the Reverend David S. Cook and Miss
Jean Rutherford with help from various individuals from the Parishes across
the Deanery.
Upon completion of the Course the Bishop of Selby has
agreed to come and authorise the participants at a time to be arranged.
A selection of resources for purchase will be available
at each session provided by the SPCK Bookshop in York.
New Ainsty Deanery Worship Leaders Course
January 17th:
The theology behind it all.
January 24th:
The role of the worship leader.
The preparation of the worship leader.
The place of prayer.
Support structures.
January 31st:
The shape, structure and content of prayers and intercessions.
Leading intercessions in Church.
Involving others.
Resources available to help.
Using silence and meditation
February 7th:
The ministry of the Word.
A service without a sermon.
Reading in Church.
February 14th and 21st:
Leading worship in Church.
Putting a service together.
Resources.
February 28th:
Assisting at the Eucharist.
Administering the chalice.
Please write to me indicating which modules you will
attend.
Please give your name, address and the Parish from which
you come, together with the signature of the Vicar and return to me as soon
as possible.
Thank you,
Yours sincerely,
David S. Cook
BRAMHAM BROWNIES
Thank you to Jill Hogden for helping with the Brownies we
are pleased that she has agreed to stay with us until Easter.
All the older Brownies have passed their Agility Badge
and between now and Christmas are working towards their Artists Badge. All
new Brownies have been enrolled.
Hannah Bowen is the finalist in a competition in
conjunction with Leeds Health Service Health Plan, designing a Healthy Day
Calendar for 2006 and on the 28th November is to meet the Mayoress at Leeds
Town Hall.
The Brownies have designed Christmas Cards which will be
on sale at the Church Bazaar for the Village Hall Restoration Fund.
We shall be attending the annual Carol Service at St
Mary's Church Boston Spa on 6th December and the pantomime in Bramham
Village Hall on the 8th December.
We attended the Remembrance Day Service at Bramham Church
with a good turnout of fourteen Brownies.
Wishing all Brownies a Happy Christmas and hoping to see
you in the New Year.
Brown Owl Brown Owl
SUNFLOWERS SUNDAY SCHOOL
CH _ _ RCH WHAT'S MISSING? -
U R !
F_N WHAT'S MISSING? - U !
Our Christmas Party
will be in the Village Hall on
Sunday 4th December at 10.30 am to noon
with a fantastic Children's Entertainer and a surprise
guest.
We look forward to welcoming some new faces.
For more information call Karen Smailes on 842844
WETHERBY IN SUPPORT OF THE ELDERLY
WiSE Befriending Services
The aim of the service is to provide companionship and
social contact to older people either living alone in their own home or who
live in care homes and have either no or few visitors.
If you know someone who is alone, isolated and lonely
then please consider contacting Wetherby in Support of the Elderly who can
arrange for a volunteer to visit.
What is befriending?
The befriending service involves matching older people who live alone with a
volunteer who undertakes to give a minimum of 1 hour a week to the
friendship. There is no cost for this service.
What benefit is such a friendship?
Through the friendship and support offered by the volunteer befriender, many
older people have benefited from an improved quality of life and increased
social input.
Who are our volunteers?
Volunteers are members of the public who have offered their time to WiSE.
People of all ages from all walks of life become volunteers. What they have
in common is a liking and respect for older people and a willingness to make
a long term commitment. Volunteers are carefully selected and references
taken up, and all are supported by WiSE.
How does this service work?
We try to make sure that the befriender lives near to the older person and
that they have a similar interest. Volunteers are introduced to the older
person by the organiser.
What will we do together?
This will depend on the interests of yourself and the
volunteer. As in all friendships both people come to an agreement as to what
activities they want to do.
How do I refer someone to the Befriending Service?
Contact Neil Bellamy:
WiSE Co-ordinator
01937 588994
PRODUCTION OF THIS MAGAZINE
Due to popular demand we have been asked to produce this
magazine every month i.e. twelve times a year instead of the usual ten. We
issued a magazine last August and plan to issue one in January this year.
Sincere thanks must be extended to the small team who
staple and collate, to the 22 people who deliver the magazine and the
Contributors who send
in their articles each month. Without them, this magazine
would not be possible. Our thanks are also due to the businesses who
advertise with us.
We wish all our helpers, readers and advertisers
A Very Happy Christmas
BRAMHAM IN BLOOM
In the November issue of the Parish Magazine we said that
most things were going to happen in October and they did.
After many hours of working out the number of plants and
colours for each bed and a sleepless night wondering whether we’d got it
right, the planting of the beds on the 22nd went very smoothly.
We are pleased with the results and we hope that this will provide some
colour in the village right up to the summer planting.
From the gardeners point of view this was only the
beginning and the beds now have to be looked after on a regular basis. As we
said before the Village is very lucky to have people prepared to give up
their free time for the benefit of all of us.
We also had the help of children from the School to plant
daffodil and crocus bulbs under the trees in the Medical Centre. They were
an enthusiastic group that worked very hard, supported by a steady flow of
orange juice, biscuits and chocolates.
On the 29th bulb planting really started!! and
over 2000 daffodil bulbs were put in before our tractor and plough began to
suffer from “stress” and had to retire to a darkened garage
for a week; it is nearly 50 years old!! We are assured
that it’s now out of intensive care and well on the way to recovery. The job
was completed on the 26th November.
A particular thank you to Paul Sanderson who provided the
tractor and drove it. Bulb planting would have been a really backbreaking
job without his help.
We now wait for the Spring with baited breath to see if
its all been worthwhile. In total we planted 2000 bedding plants, numerous
shrubs and about 5000 bulbs. The plants were paid for by our sponsors.
Part of the Lottery Grant paid for the shrubs and the
majority of the daffodil bulbs but we were also given 1500 bulbs by Leeds
City Council who also supplied 1000 crocus bulbs.
*************
The first Annual General Meeting was held on the 31st
October attended by 15 people. Ernest Nichols was in the chair and welcomed
everyone especially two new faces.
The Chairman reviewed the last hectic six months and
given below is a short report of the most significant items covered. The
Treasurer presented the balance sheet as at 30th September 2005 and the
accounts were adopted by the meeting.
The Committee applied for and has been successful in
obtaining a grant of £3,300 from Awards for All (part of the National
Lottery). £1000 for the renovation of the Cattle Ramp, £1000 to open up a
wildlife area on the other side of the stream from the Old People Shelter
and £1300 for plants, shrubs and all things floral.
As with most grants the money is for capital expenditure
and not on-going expenses. A grant of £500 has been applied for from Leeds
City Council (Floral Initiative).
Sponsorships for the flower beds amount to just over
£1000 and the Chairman expressed gratitude to the Sponsors, without whom we
couldn't have made a start.
At no cost, we have had the YEB gates replaced and the
Post Box at the
corner of Lyndon Road put on a proper post.
Leeds Floral Initiative (part of Leeds City Council) in
the guise of Richard Gill, Andrew Culloden and Paul Ackroyd have been
extremely helpful, providing guidance, support and practical help. They
provided soil to build up the flower beds and also the bark for the garden
at the Medical Centre, and even put it down for us! Formal thanks were
recorded for all their help.
All the officials concerned offered themselves for
re-election and were duly elected by the meeting.
Chairman: Ernest Nichols,
Secretary: Gillian Young,
Treasurer: Meryl Nichols
Co-opted Committee Members: Martin Batt and Vicky Kernon.
Ernest and Meryl are responsible for producing a book of
walks, dealing with all problems associated with Rights of Way, grass
cutting and strimming and helping with all things floral.
Gillian Young is responsible for all things floral.
Martin Batt is responsible for renovating the Cattle
Ramp, the Square and creating a Wildlife Area.
Vicky Kernon is responsible for trees and bulbs and also
helping with all things floral.
The question of funds for tree planting is being
researched by Ernest and Vicky. We have also applied to the Parish Council
and the Community Fund.
We would like to open up further flower beds next year
but this is subject to further sponsorships. If we do expand there will be a
need for more gardeners to look after the beds, mowing and strimming etc.
The Parish Council has offered £200 per annum for us to
provide and maintain flowers round the War Memorial from Summer 2006.
A number of people commented on the lack of and poor
grass cutting in the village. The Chairman said that the Committee had
raised this with Leeds City Council because it affected the look of the
flower beds but if individuals had complaints then these should be raised
with the Parish Council.
*************
The Environment Group
BRAMHAM FOOTBALL CLUB
A very big thank you to everyone who has kindly donated
to the Car Boot Sale, it will take at least one van to transport all the
items to Rufforth, such has been the response. Let hope that the 27th was a
fine day with lots of shoppers. This magazine went to press before the event
so I will let you know how much was raised next month.
With the season now three months old, the Junior Section
Management are now fully understanding what they have taken on and I am
pleased to say they are all equipping themselves well. Results are not the
be-all-and-end all of Junior Football. Getting the kids playing and enjoying
the game is what matters and looking at the number we have training and
wanting to play I can only describe as very encouraging. But that’s not to
say we are still not constantly looking and want more players to build and
strengthen - so bring your kids along.
We are also on the lookout for more people who want to
become involved with the running of the Juniors. If you feel you would like
to get involved just let me know.
The 1X1 suffered their first defeat
of the season, last monthly, sadly it was in the Barkston Ash Cup.
In the league we are going very well, when the last time
tables were sent we were sitting proudly on the top of Division 1. Lets hope
this is still the case after the Final Game of the season The Reserves still
can't find the consistency that we are hoping for; still suffering from late
team changes doesn't help but great credit to them all for pulling together
whatever the circumstances.
Hopefully we can get a settled team for the second half
of the season and make a big push for promotion.
I know it’s a bit early but this will be the last chance
we have to wish all Readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Mick
A note from Richard Woodcock Vice Chairman of Bramham
Football Club to say that Bramham Football Club is the first in the
Harrogate and District League to have its own website, so to keep up with
what's happening in football in the village log on to www.freewebs.com/bramhamfootballclub.
ALL THE WORLD'S CHILDREN by P Maguire
1. If all the world's children
Wanted to play football together
They would build a football pitch
From North to South and East to West
2. If all the world's children
Wanted to play football together
They would be football engineers
Building pitches as bridges
3. If all the world's children
Wanted to play football together
They would share the colours and
Win or lose still have fun
4. If all the world's children
Wanted to play football together
They would build a football club
That everyone could join!
BRAMHAM RAMBLERS
No walks planned until further notice
Sue Craven
BRAMHAM YOUTH CLUB
EVERY FRIDAY
in Bramham Village Hall
New Members Welcome
We have Volley Ball, Basket Ball, Table
Tennis, Snooker/Pool, Badminton, Football, Air Hockey,
Play Stations and X Boxes.
If you are over 12 years of age come along and join in the
fun
Entrance Fee £1
for further information contact Sue Craven
on 842991
BRAMHAM DRAMA GROUP
PINOCCHIO
by Doreen Moger
WED 7th DECEMBER to SAT 10th DECEMBER (inc Sat matinee)
7.30 pm evening performances
2.30 pm Saturday matinee
BRAMHAM VILLAGE HALL
Don't miss out!
Book now, only a few tickets remaining!
Once more we have chosen a modern script with one or two
surprises!
So, why not come along and join in the fun
Box Office / Tickets
Tel: 842459
Martin House Hospice for Children & Young People
CHRISTMAS FAIR
Saturday 3rd December 10.30 am - 1.30 pm
Boston Spa Village Hall
Admission £1.00
(includes coffee & mince pie) free admission for children
BRAMHAM OLD
PEOPLE'S WELFARE FUND
XMAS FAYRE
Saturday 10th December
11.00 am to 4.00 pm at the
home of Mrs Elizabeth Bustard
10 Lyndon Square
Bramham
Morning Coffee, Afternoon Tea
Xmas Gifts, Books, Cakes
Everyone Welcom e
NEW YEARS EVE
CELEBRATIONS
in Bramham Village Hall
The SPACECATS
Saturday 31st December from 8.00 pm
£10 by ticket only
Tickets available from the Post Office (cash only please)
Bring your own food and drinks
All profits to the Village Hall Restoration Fund
NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATIONS
Once again The Spacecats will be performing in the
Village Hall for the New Year’s Eve Celebrations on Saturday 31st
December.
The Spacecats are a 5 piece local band (with the
exception of Dave the drummer who hails from York) and play a variety of
covers of songs recorded by bands such as The Beatles, Rolling Stones, David
Bowie and the Who (they are even threatening to play a Kaiser Chief’s song).
If you’ve never seen The Spacecats expect to know many of
the songs they play and to be dancing most of the night!
The New Year’s Eve Party is very much a Village event and
people are encouraged to bring their own drinks (there will be no bar) and
food for a communal buffet table.
In the past tickets have sold out very quickly so, if you
want to come, buy your tickets early from the Post Office (cash only please
and thanks to John for organising this).
This event promises to be “Another Quiet Night” (not!)
Hope to see you there ,
Keith Richards
BOCCIGALUPE &
THE BADBOYS NOW
RESCHEDULED!
I know that a lot of people were disappointed when Bocci
postponed his September date in Bramham. However, the good news is that we
now have a new date. The band will now be playing in Bramham on
Saturday 4th March 2006.
As usual, we will be running the bar to raise money
towards the cost of refurbishing the Village Hall. Tickets will be on sale
early January 2006.
Contact Keith Robinson
on 01937 845651 for more information.
|
