2013-08

THINK
THINK BIRKDALE
SCHOOL
With small class sizes,
quality teaching and a
wealth of opportunity
we inspire our pupils to
think big.
For a prospectus or to arrange
a tour call 0114 266 8409
www.birkdaleschool.org.uk
WELCOME to Impact - the magazine of St Chad’s Church,
Woodseats. Impact is published every two months and distributed
to over 5,000 homes in S8.
St Chad’s Church is committed to serving you - the people of
Woodseats, Beauchief and Chancet Wood. To find out more about
St Chad’s, visit our website at www.stchads.org or call the church
office on 0114 274 5086.
Here’s where to find us:
Abbey Lane
Outstanding academic
results.
Individual care and
attention, helping
each pupil to achieve
their potential.
Co-educational sixth form
providing the balance
when it matters.
Linden Avenue
Church
House
Abbey Lane
School
St Chad's
Church &
Church
Office
Please note: The inclusion of adverts in Impact does not mean the advertisers are
endorsed by St Chad’s Church.
COVER PHOTO: Archive picture courtesy of Sheffield Newspapers.
Camping Lane
G. & M. LUNT LTD
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A A personal family service at at all all times
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0114 274 5508
gmluntltd@btconnect.com
36 36 Abbey Lane, Sheffield, S8 S8 0GB
Chesterfield Road
When I was young I used to enjoy playing
the game othello. You may have played
it yourself. It was a little bit like a cross
between draughts and noughts and crosses in that
you had a board made up of squares and counters
and you had to convert the other players counters
from black to white (or vice versa) by placing one
of your tiles either side of your opponent’s. The
winner is the one who, by the time the last space
is filled, has turned most of the board to his colour.
As I’ve grown older I’ve realised that too often
we treat the world in a similar light. The world is
made up of black and white and our task is to turn
the majority of the world to the same colour as
ourselves. This is often true of religious people,
although by no means confined to them. Political,
sporting and ethical views can also treat the world like this. In recent
years the very public arguments between religious and atheist viewpoints
have often seemed like a tedious game of othello, and one in which
despite the sound and fury, hardly anyone seems to have changed their
point of view in the slightest. For a non-religious example, think of the
strong views held over human-influenced climate change.
In my experience a change from one viewpoint to another is rarely
a sudden flash of insight that flips our counter over. Sometimes it can
happen like that – we “see the light”, as St Paul did on his famous trip to
Damascus. However, I think that it is more usual to change our thoughts
and our views over a longer period of time, perhaps most of a lifetime. We
find it difficult to adjust to change, and a change in our worldview is one
that takes a great deal of acclimatizing to. It also takes a great deal of
humility.
Christians, perhaps more than most, have had to face a world that
has changed almost beyond recognition in the past twenty years. The
religious, political and social landscape has changed dramatically. Some
Christians have embraced these changes enthusiastically, others have
resisted with equal passion. These tensions are often very public and
rarely do the church any credit. Some of us still seem to playing othello.
My prayer is that at this time of great change and
uncertainty people from across the religious and nonreligious
divide will be able to hear voices other than their
own, and entertain other notions and opinions – even at
the risk of their own views being challenged and their
prejudices being changed.
Arguments are very rarely won by shouting, but even
sharp differences can be understood by listening to
one another respectfully.
Rev Toby Hole,
Vicar,
St Chad’s Church, Woodseats
August/September 2013
Delivered free to 5,250 homes in S8
Not always black and white
St Chad’s Church, Linden Avenue, Woodseats
email: office@stchads.org
St Chad’s Church, Linden Avenue, Woodseats
Church Office: 9 Linden Avenue, Sheffield S8 0GA
Page 2 website: www.stchads.org
Church Office: 9 Linden Avenue, Sheffield S8 0GA
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Tel: (0114) 274 5086
email: office@stchads.org
website: www.stchads.org