2010-12

St Chads Church, Linden Avenue, Woodseats 

email: office@stchads.org 

Church Offices: 15 Camping Lane, Sheffield S8 0GB Page 1 website: www.stchads.org 

Tel: (0114) 274 5086




Tel: (0114) 274 5086

One of the tricky decisions facing newly married or engaged 

couples is where to spend their first Christmas! If both sets of 

parents live nearby then this may not be so difficult, but if they 

live some distance apart then Christmas can involve a good 

deal of negotiation! For parents also, the first Christmas 

without one of your children can be quite a hard step. 

I faced this dilemma 13 years ago having just got engaged to 

Amy. Her parents lived in Sheffield, mine in London. Neither 

of us particularly wanted to spend a Christmas away from our 

family and so I found myself at 6am on Boxing Day morning 

belting up the A1 in order to pick Amy up and bring her down 

to London. That way somehow we managed to spend 

Christmas both home and away. 

This year, I find myself in Sheffield and most of my extended 

family in London. I have decided against dashing down to London after church 

on Christmas Day as there would be no chance of me getting my Christmas 

lunch without seriously breaking the speed limit! At the time of writing I don’t 

yet know whether the vicarage will be full of people or whether this Christmas 

will be a relatively quiet one. 

For many of us Christmas is about drawing closer as families. Whatever other 

changes have happened in our rapidly changing society, Christmas still seems 

to be primarily about “family time”. That is why Christmas for many people can 

be both a source of joy and stress – often both at the same time. 

It is also why for many people Christmas is a very difficult time. For those who 

are far from home, who have suffered bereavement or family breakdown, or 

who are housebound, ill and lonely, Christmas can be the hardest time of year. 

The Samaritans expect to receive a phone call every seven seconds during the 

Christmas season. 

At the heart of the meaning of Christmas is God drawing close to his people. 

My Boxing Day dash up the A1 to be with my fiancée in a tiny way echoed 

God’s desire to bring the world back to him. In Jesus Christ the world, at times 

so distant from its Creator, is brought back into a relationship that the Bible 

dares to call “family”. And so Christmas is indeed about family, but not just our 

biological family. Christmas is about being brought back into God’s family and 

finding ourselves in his love. 

I hope to see many of you at the various Christmas services in St Chad’s (see 

page 7), and I pray that whether you face this Christmas with longing or with 

apprehension, you will find strength, comfort and hope through being part of 

God’s family at this time. 

Rev Toby Hole 

Vicar 

St Chad’s Church 

Woodseats 




Tel: (0114) 274 5086

Bright Spark Electrical 

All types of electrical work 

Part P qualified 

Burglar alarms 

Telephone sockets 

Computer tuition, setup/ 

repair and upgrades. 

Malcolm Holmes 

77 Holmhirst Road 

Sheffield S8 0GW 

Tel: 0114 2490889 

Mob:07966 141780 

Email: msholmes1@yahoo.com 




Tel: (0114) 274 5086

Why are Christmas 

trees so bad at 

knitting? 

Because they are 

always dropping 

their needles! 

What do you 

get if you eat 

Christmas 

decorations? 

Tinsel-itus! 

John and Tracy 

went into the woods 

looking for a 

Christmas tree. 

They looked all day 

without finding what 

they wanted. 

Near nightfall John 

finally said: “I’m 

taking the next tree 

we come to — 

whether it has lights 

on or not!” 

Which of Father 

Christmas’s 

reindeers needs 

to watch his 

manners? 

Rude-olph! 

It was nearly Christmas and 

young Josh was praying upstairs with 

his mum while dad and grandma sat 

downstairs. 

"Lord I pray for a train set, a remote control 

car, and A NEW BICYCLE!!!” he said. 

You don't have to shout dear," said mum, 

"God's not deaf." 

"I know he’s not," said Josh, "but grandma 

is." 

“I’m fed up of being a shepherd nothing 

exciting ever happens round here!” 




Tel: (0114) 274 5086

Send details of your event to impact@stchads.org or write to: Impact, 

St Chad’s Church Offices, 15 Camping Lane, Sheffield S8 0GB. 

Health Walks 

Mondays – 10am: Graves Park. 

Meet at the Animal Farm car park; 

Tuesdays – 10.30am: Ecclesall 

Woods. Meet at Abbeydale Industrial 

Hamlet; 

Thursdays – 10.30am: Lowedges. 

Meet at the Community Wing, 

Lowedges Junior School. 

Call 0114 203 9337. 

National Council for Divorced, 

Single and Widowed 

Tuesdays 8-11pm 

Norton Country Club 

Club offering friendship and social 

activities. 

Call Magdalen on 0114 2394326. 

December 5 

Discover Bishops’ House 

11am-3.30pm 

Explore Bishops’ House and find out 

about life in Tudor Sheffield. Guided 

tours will take place at 11.30am and 

2pm. 

Call 0114 278 2600. 

December 5 

Meersbrook Park Users Trust Santa 

Dash 

Meersbrook Park 

11am 

A Santa Dash charity event followed by 

refreshments. 

December 5 

St Luke’s Hospice Festival of Light 

St Luke’s Hospice 

6pm 

Radio Sheffield presenter Paulette 

Edwards is special guest at the switchon 

with carols and refreshments. 

Free park and ride service from Tesco, 

Abbeydale Road from 4.30pm. 

Call 0114 236 9911. 

December 5 

Nether Edge Farmers’ Market and 

Christmas Fair 

Nether Edge Road 

12pm-4pm 

Over 80 food and craft stalls run by 

farmers and the local community. 

There will also be live entertainment 

including music from the Salvation 

Army Band, children’s activities and 

games. 

Call 0114 255 0805 

December 10 & 11 

Dore Male Voice Choir Christmas 

Concerts 

Dore Parish Church 

7pm 

December 14 

Carols by Candlelight 

All Saints Church, Ecclesall 

7pm 

Whirlow Hall Farm Trust holds a 

fundraising carol concert with readings 

and music in aid of its work with inner 

city children and those with disabilities. 

Admission £7. 

Call 0114 268 5017. 

December 17 & 18 

The Panto of the Opera 

Abbeydale Picture House 

Family fun panto written by Stuart 

Ardern and in aid of the picture house 

renovation. 

Call 07775 966106. 

January 8 

Recycle your Christmas Tree 

In front of Abbey Lane School 

10am-3pm 

Bring your Christmas tree to be 

shredded and recycled for £1 and help 

St Chad’s Scout Group fundraising 

grow! 

Beauchief Abbey holds a variety 

of services and anyone is 

welcome to attend. For more 

details see the Abbey notice 

board. 




Tel: (0114) 274 5086

4.00pm 

Christingle Service 

An informal service with traditional 

Christingles especially for children 

Sunday 19th December 

Sunday 12th December 

6.00pm 

Candle-lit Carol Service 

A traditional service with lessons and carols 

followed by mince pies and refreshments 

CHRISTMAS EVE 

10.30am 

Pre-school Nativity 

(0-4yrs) with figures from the manger 

4.00pm 

Crib Service 

(for all ages, especially children) 

11.30pm 

Midnight Communion 

(Traditional) 

CHRISTMAS DAY 

10am 

Christmas Day Service 

(Informal, with Holy Communion, for all ages) 




Tel: (0114) 274 5086

I 

t's interesting to know how 

people celebrate Christmas 

in different parts of the 

world. 

Traditions vary a great deal and 

the weather obviously plays an 

important part in how people 

celebrate. In the northern 

hemisphere it's easy to picture a 

winter 

wonderland 

outside, 

whilst 

enjoying family 

celebrations 

around a blazing 

fire - just like a 

traditional 

Christmas card. 

How different it 

must be south of 

the Equator - a 

blazing fire would 

hardly be 

welcome, though the 

thought of snow might 

come as a refreshing 

alternative to the intense heat! I 

spoke to several people at St. 

Chad's and asked them about 

Christmases spent in their native 

lands. 

India 

Sam Jacob recalled his memories: 

"Christmas was different in Kerala, 

South India. We used to have two 

Christmases annually! The 

Catholics and Protestants had theirs 

in December, like most of the world, 

and the Orthodox Churches 

celebrated theirs in early January. 

“There was hardly any 

commercial involvement as the 

giving of gifts and feasting on food 

and alcohol were not customary. 

Christians kept a star-shaped 

lantern in front of the house during 

the season and, on the day, there 

would be a mini firework display in 

the garden. The Catholic Church 

had a Midnight Mass extending in to 

the early hours of the morning, 

Protestant Churches a traditional 

carol service on Christmas Eve and 

the Orthodox 

Churches an 

early morning 

service before 

sunrise. Many 

older folk observed 

25 days of Lent prior 

to Christmas, 

abstaining from 

meat, fish and dairy 

products. On the 

whole it was a 

happy time of the 

year and often a 

peaceful time". 

Norway 

Mary Diskin's daughter lives in 

Norway and Mary has spent several 

Christmases there with the family. 

The Norwegians love candles and 

candlelight, which is not surprising 

as their winters are long and dark. 

Mary remembers her first 

Christmas there, driving from the 

airport past houses with branch 

candles alight in every window - "It 

was magical", she says, "especially 

with lots of snow everywhere". In 

Norway, as in many European 

countries, Christmas is celebrated 

on Christmas Eve. Unlike Britain, 

where Christmas trees appear in 

many houses weeks before 25th 

December, Norwegians wait until 

Christmas Eve. They decorate their 

houses in traditional style with little 




Tel: (0114) 274 5086

Norwegian flags, lots of candles and 

models of "nisses" - small mythical 

elf-like creatures who, according to 

folklore, protect children at night 

whilst the household sleeps, and 

bring them gifts. The celebration 

meal consists of ribs of pork, 

meatballs and a delicious red 

cabbage dish, the dessert being a 

special rice porridge. It's made the 

day before Christmas Eve flavoured 

with cinnamon, and fruits and cream 

are added for the celebration meal. 

"My husband wasn't very happy 

to be presented with this - he was 

looking forward to his usual 

Christmas Pudding", Mary 

remembers. However, apparently 

it's very tasty! There are lots of 

other titbits eaten throughout the 

day - a tempting spiral almond cake, 

decorated and full of marzipan, 

which is cut into rings, and 

wonderful gingerbread houses. 

After the meal it's time to 

distribute presents. Christmas Day 

is spent quietly but on New Year's 

Eve everyone celebrates with 

candles again and fireworks. 

South Africa 

Feeling a little chilly with all that talk 

of snow, I asked Dot Lockyer and 

Kerry Moon about Christmas South 

African style. Dot and her husband 

went to live there in the early 70s, 

but Kerry had lived there all her life. 

Dot said, "Well for a start the 

temperature is usually at least 30 

degrees C and there's a humidity of 

90! It may well be raining, but that 

doesn't cool things down much. 

The first year we were there we 

had a seafood braai (barbeque to 

you!) for lunch around Mum and 

Dad's swimming pool - fish, 

langoustines, crayfish, prawns and 

all the trimmings - and we wore 

swimming costumes all day! Lots 

of South Africans still have the 

braai, but we decided to revert to 

traditional Christmas food after 

that. We ate in the evening on the 

covered veranda to minimise the 

heat - Kerry's family on Christmas 

Eve and mine on Christmas Day. 

We had a decorated artificial tree, 

candles and cards strung up but no 

lights decorating the outside - they 

hadn't arrived in South Africa then! 

Neither had television until years 

later - so the Queen's message, 

always a "must", was heard on the 

radio first. 

“Kerry and I, often with our 

mums in tow, went to church on 

Christmas morning or for Midnight 

Mass on Christmas Eve. There 

was always a carol service the 

weekend before at St Michael's 

(Umhlanga Rocks) and a crib 

dressing service for the kids. 

Boxing Day was often spent at a 

beach somewhere, away from the 

crowds in Durban, usually up the 

north coast. So, all in all, a very 

traditional European Christmas - 

but with sunshine and the heat!" 

Now, where would you like to 

spend Christmas? India, Norway, 

South Africa? ...... or perhaps here, 

at home? 

Chris Laude 




Tel: (0114) 274 5086

A 

s Christmas draws closer, 

this can be a very exciting 

time of year. But for those 

feeling the pinch financially, 

the run-up to Christmas can be very 

stressful. 

Supermarket aisles have been 

bursting since October with 

Christmassy biscuits, cakes, booze 

and chocolate; other shelves are 

loaded with festive decorations and 

stacks of toys and gifts. We are 

constantly being 

reminded of the things 

we ‘need’ to make 

Christmas special. For 

those who have 

children, the stress can 

be exacerbated. The 

summer was barely 

over before my own 

six-year-old was telling 

me which hot wheels 

sets he definitely needs 

for Christmas, and he 

has been reminding me 

on a weekly basis 

since. 

The national debtline website has 

some helpful advice for avoiding 

getting into debt at Christmas. It 

suggests drawing up a budget to help 

you make sure you cover all your 

essentials – such as mortgage or rent 

and utilities bills. Then decide, in 

advance, how much you can afford to 

spend at Christmas. Work out how 

much in total you want to spend on 

presents. Then divide the present 

money by the number of people you 

want to get presents for to get an idea 

of how much to spend on each 

person. Try to spread buying 

presents so you don’t have to pay too 

much all at once. 

It’s also worth remembering that 

shops have a vested interest in trying 

to convince us that we ‘need’ to buy 

lots of things in order to have a good 

Christmas. But it is possible to 

celebrate Christmas cheaply – as 

long as you are prepared to re-think 

your Christmas rituals. Instead of 

shopping and going out, try to focus 

on spending time with family or 

friends and doing things together. 

Watch a film together at home. Go for 

walks. Go to church during Advent– 

that will get you into the Christmas 

spirit, but it needn’t cost you a penny. 

As for children’s presents – try to 

explain to them why you 

can’t afford anything 

expensive. They may not 

like it but you are the one 

in charge of your budget! 

Instead, spend time 

together making 

decorations or 

Christmassy cakes or 

biscuits that you can then 

give to people instead of 

buying presents. Try 

these ideas for easy DIY 

decorations: 

Stick a fern onto card 

to make a ‘Christmas tree’, then 

decorate it 

Cut star shapes out of card, 

cover with aluminium foil, punch a 

hole in one point and thread through 

some string or thread 

Find a large branch to hang 

decorations on instead of a Christmas 

tree 

Cut small circles out of old 

Christmas cards (or any card) and 

stick them onto a long piece of 

thread, wool or string with stickers or 

sticky labels, for garlands 

Cut some spare cloth into two 

identical shapes – e.g. a stocking, 

heart or star. Sew most of the sides 

together, leaving the top open so you 

have a small bag. Then you can fill it 

with a few biscuits for a nice present. 

For debt advice, the national 

debtline for England and Wales is 




Tel: (0114) 274 5086

J 

udy Wanjiru — who comes 

from Kenya — spent her first 

Christmas in the UK last year. 

Here she tells us about some 

of the differences between the two 

countries when it comes to 

celebrating the season 

“ 

My 

first Christmas in 

England was quite 

interesting. I went to my 

good friends in 

Chapeltown for Christmas dinner. 

They are an English family and 

very ‘Yorkshire’! 

I was suprised that people who 

don’t believe in God celebrate 

Christmas. 

In Kenya where I come from this 

is more about a Saviour being born 

as a gift to Christians. In England 

it’s about family and friends and 

getting together as a family and 

having a meal together. 

We had a turkey, sprouts, roast 

potatoes and amazing Christmas 

pudding. 

I do like the idea that people in 

this country buy Christmas 

presents and send Christmas cards 

to family, friends and even 

neighbours. The thought of thinking 

about others is great. 

In Kenya it is more about going 

to church, having special food, 

(chapati and meat and vegetables) 

also a time to see your extended 

family. 

They welcomed me to their 

house, they fed me, gave me 

presents and treated me as one of 

the brothers or sisters. I felt so 

welcomed. 

Judy Wanjiru 

THE BEAUCHIEF SCHOOL OF 

SPEECH TRAIIG 

Pupils trained in the art of perfect 

speech and prepared for examination 

and stage work 

BARBARA E. MILLS, L.G.S.M.,A..E.A. 

(Eloc) Gold Medal 

31 Cockshutt Avenue, Sheffield 8 

Phone: 274 7134 




Tel: (0114) 274 5086

Boxing Day 

Meaning - December 26, also called St. 

Stephen's Day. 

Derived from - boxes, originally made of 

earthenware, were used by the poor 

(servants, apprentices, etc.) in mediaeval 

times to save money throughout the year. At 

Christmas, the boxes were broken open and 

the savings shared to fund the Christmas 

festivities. The tradition of giving a ‘Christmas 

box’, usually money, to tradespeople who 

rendered a service throughout the year but 

were not paid directly by the recipient, began 

in the 17th century. The gifts were given, not 

on Christmas Day, but on the first 

subsequent working day. This tradition has 

stayed with us to the present time when we 

give a ‘Christmas box’ to those who deliver 

our post, milk or newspapers all year round, 

whatever the weather! 



Church Offices: 15 Camping Lane, Sheffield S8 0GB Page 12 website: www.stchads.org 

Tel: (0114) 274 5086

I 

f you have a birthday that falls 

near Christmas you probably 

know how frustrating it can be 

when, as a child, relatives give 

you a “joint present” for both 

celebrations. No matter how they 

might try to convince you that you are 

no worse off than if your birthday was 

in June, you have a sneaking suspicion 

that you are being fiddled out of a 

birthday present. When two dates fall 

next to each other it is very easy for 

them to slide into one another. 

In the Christian year this has 

happened to the feasts of Christmas 

and Epiphany. Christmas, as you 

know, is celebrated (in this country at 

least) on December 25 and it 

celebrates the birth of Jesus, the Son 

of God, to the virgin Mary in a stable in 

Bethlehem – scenes familiar from all 

school nativity plays. Most of the story 

is taken from the first two chapters of 

the gospel of St Luke. 

Epiphany (which means “revelation” 

in Greek) is celebrated on January 6 

(the 12th night of Christmas) and 

celebrates, among other things, God 

revealing his Son Jesus to the world – 

particularly to the non-Jewish world. 

Whereas Christmas contains the 

stories of the shepherds, the inn in 

Bethlehem and the angels, Epiphany 

has the mysterious characters that 

have gone down in folklore as the 

three kings. This story is taken from 

the gospel of St Matthew. We three 

Kings of Orient are is, strictly speaking, 

an epiphany hymn rather than a 

Christmas carol. 

“Why separate the two?” you might 

ask. The fact is that despite the 

tendency of nativity plays and carol 

services to conflate the two, it seems 

as though these two stories of the 

infant Jesus happen at different times 

in his childhood. The visit of the 

shepherds and the angels seem to 

take place within moments of his birth, 

but the visit of the kings (or magi) 

happens perhaps as much as two 

years later. The holy family are 

recorded as being in a house (rather 

than a temporary shelter) and Herod’s 

horrific decree to kill all the baby boys 

was applied to all infants under the age 

of two, suggesting that Jesus may 

have been a toddler. 

As well as the question of timing, 

there is also the question of who these 

people were. Tradition has called them 

kings, but it is more likely they were 

astrologers and wise men from Persia 

or Babylon. As to their number, the 

Bible is silent, although three gifts 

(gold, frankincense and myrrh) are 

mentioned. 

I will be involved with various nativity 

plays this Christmas, and I’m sure that 

all will have three (or possibly more!) 

“kings” in them. I don’t mind this a bit; 

it all adds to the drama and mystery of 

the Christmas story. But the story of 

the magi is worth celebrating on its 

own. The journey of these strange 

men, travelling from far-away lands to 

proffer gifts to a baby born in such 

inauspicious circumstances might 

serve to remind us of the strange 

power of attraction that Jesus holds for 

some of us from even further away 

both in time and in distance. 

Rev Toby Hole 




Tel: (0114) 274 5086

Sunday Services 

The 9am Service 

● Traditional in style 

● Includes Holy Communion, a sermon & hymns 

● Includes refreshments afterwards 

● Taken from Common Worship: Holy Communion 

Lifted, the 11am Service 

NEW TIME 

● Informal and relaxed in style 

● An emphasis on families 

● Includes music, led by a band 

● Refreshments served from 10.15-10.45am 

Weekday Services 

Morning Prayers 

• Monday to Thursday at 9am 

Evening Prayers 

• Monday to Thursday at 5pm 

The Thursday 10am Service 

• Traditional in style 

• Taken from Common Worship: Holy Communion 

• Includes Holy Communion, a sermon & hymns 

• Held in the Lady Chapel at the back of church 

Other Services 

REFLECTIVE WORSHIP 

• Wednesdays December 1, 8 and 15 at 7.15pm 

with the theme Our Magi Gifts. 

• A contemplative and meditative form of worship. 




Tel: (0114) 274 5086

Y 

ou may wonder what on earth 

I am going to write about 

under the title of Swiety 

Mikolaj? No it is not Sweaty 

Michael nor is it anything to do with 

sweets - well not directly - nor milk. 

However if you can speak Polish 

you will know that it is what people in 

Poland call Father Christmas. 

Our modern day view of Father 

Christmas comes mainly from the 

American poet Clement Moore who in 

1822 wrote a poem in which he 

describes Father Christmas. It is 

entitled ‘The Night Before Christmas’ 

or ‘A Visit From St Nicholas’ and 

includes bits like “He had a broad 

face, and a little round belly that shook 

when he laughed like a bowl full of 

jelly. He was chubby and plump, — a 

right jolly old elf — And I laughed 

when I saw him, in spite of myself”. 

(They don’t write them like that 

anymore). Not only is this poem where 

we get our image of Father Christmas 

but also the idea that he uses a 

sledge pulled by reindeer, lives at the 

North Pole and has lots of elves. 

The concept of Father Christmas in 

the UK is much older and comes from 

a pagan tradition in England which 

celebrated the passing of midwinter, 

signs of spring and ever lengthening 

days - which is why Father Christmas 

was originally dressed in green with a 

red beard. He would go from house to 

house and make merry with the 

families who were celebrating the end 

of a long winter. It was only in the 

1930s that Coca Cola changed his 

coat from green to red to match their 

corporate colours. 

Whilst Father Christmas and Santa 

Claus are now pretty much 

interchangeable these days they 

actually come from very different 

traditions. Whilst the story of Father 

Christmas is based on an English 

pagan tradition, the person of Santa 

Claus is based on a real life person – 

St Nicholas. He was around during the 

third century in a then Greek city 

called Myra, which is now in modern 

day Turkey. St Nicholas was a Greek 

Christian bishop and a very devout, 

kindly person who gave a lot of his 

wealth away to the poor. Because he 

did not want people to know that it 

was he that was giving the money he 

would either throw it through an open 

window or drop it down the chimney in 

the house of the families that he 

wanted to bless. On one occasion it 

landed in some stockings which were 

hanging above the fire to dry – hence 

hanging stockings up for Father 

Christmas to put presents in. 

If like me you will be celebrating the 

birth of Jesus this Christmas or just 

having a bit of a knees up to give 

yourselves a lift during the winter 

nights, or both, be very careful walking 

past an open window. Some kindly old 

chap whispering Καλά Χριστούγεννα! 

may lob a bag of gold through it. 

Steve Winks 




Tel: (0114) 274 5086

Looking for a room 

to hold your 

meeting or party? 

St Chad’s church has two 

rooms available for hire at 

56 Abbey Lane. 

Call 0114 274 5086 for details 

Beauchief Pre-School 

Where learning is fun 

Ofsted inspected & approved 

for ages 2 1 / 2 to school. Free places 

available for 3 & 4 year olds. 

A world of discovery, fun & friendships awaits your child 

Drop in to see us or for a brochure, more information or to 

enrol your child please contact Sarah 274 6930 

Beauchief Baptist Church 

Hutcliife Wood Road S8 




Tel: (0114) 274 5086

M 

any years ago my dad 

decided to dress up in 

a red Father 

Christmas outfit and 

sneak into everyone’s bedroom late 

on Christmas Eve to deliver the 

presents, including the room where 

we had Nigerian students living with 

us (three sisters named Bola, Bosé 

and Bimbo). I invite you now to 

imagine things from the perspective 

of our dear and much loved Nigerian 

sisters. One minute you’re fast 

asleep, perhaps dreaming of distant 

home and loved ones missed, when 

suddenly your slumber is disturbed 

by the creaking of floorboards 

outside the bedroom. To your horror 

the door slowly opens, and in creeps 

a hooded man dressed in red – the 

colour of blood! So you pull the 

covers tight over your head (the 

duvet is the safest place in the 

Universe) and you remain as still as 

death – too fearful to warn your 

sisters! You remain in this motionless 

state for hours – frozen in dread and 

terrified that the red hooded murderer 

might return to get you! 

The Nigerian girls came down the 

next Christmas morning (relieved that 

they were still alive!) and told us all 

about their terrible ordeal. My dad 

then fetched his red Santa suit and 

all three girls screamed – until we 

were able to explain that he was 

dressed up as Father Christmas to 

deliver the presents, not some axewielding 

maniac! I’m glad to say that 

we were all able to have a good 

laugh about it in the end. 

Yet it’s amazing how differently 

people think of Christmas and in 

particular how they think of Father 

Christmas. Many of us think of God 

as a kind of Father Christmas figure. 

Everyone says that Santa doesn’t 

really exist, but deep down some part 

of you wishes that he is real. It’s the 

same with Father God. Although 

people say that He doesn’t exist – 

many of us have this feeling deep 

down that He is really up there 

somewhere. 

My brother and I used to write out 

letters to Father Christmas, fold them 

up and then throw them up the 

chimney. Those letters are probably 

still there! I wonder if this is how you 

think of Father God. Perhaps for 

most of the year you don’t give God a 

second thought, but if there’s a family 

emergency, if illness strikes or 

money is tight, you throw a prayer 

“up the chimney” to Father God. 

The good news this Christmas is 

that, unlike Father Christmas, Father 

God is real and longs for you to throw 

your prayers “up the chimney”! You 

might not always get what you ask 

for, but He promises to answer all 

your prayers, whether His answer is 

Yes, No, or Wait. So this Christmas, 

why not give Father God a try? 

Jesus said, “But when you pray, 

go into your room, close the door and 

pray to your Father [God], who is 

unseen. Then your Father [God], who 

sees what is done in secret, will 

reward you.” Matthew 6:6 

Merry Christmas! 

Daren Craddock 




Tel: (0114) 274 5086

W 

hat comes to mind when 

Christmas lights are 

mentioned? Is it, I 

wonder, garish rows of 

Santas running endlessly between 

suburban houses? Or is it finding out 

that the tree lights don't work after 

spending hours putting them up? Or 

perhaps it's the city centre lights — 

more running reindeer — or 

Meadowhall and Santa's Grotto? 

But if you look beneath and 

beyond the Disneyland stuff, there 

are other lights, those T. S. Elliot calls 

"lesser lights": 

The eastern light our spires touch at 

morning, 

The light that slants upon our western 

doors at evening, 

The twilight over stagnant pools at 

batflight, 

Moonlight and starlight, owl and 

mothlight, 

Glow-worm and glowlight on a 

grassblade. 

Choruses from the Rock - 10 

What lights did Jesus have, I 

wonder, when He was born in that 

cold, dark stable? Not laughing 

Santas, that's for sure. Probably not 

a candle. Perhaps an oil lamp, or a 

little rush light? But the main light, I 

think, would have come from His own 

special star, the one guiding the Wise 

Men and shepherds to His manger. 

That star must have shone through 

the doorway, jewelling the dew-drops 

from the softly breathing creatures 

around His crib and lighting His 

mother's face and the sparkling tears 

in her eyes. Imagine, those tiny 

hands which once "flung stars into 

space" for now wrapped content in 

swathing bands. Did He, I wonder, 

look out beyond that bright star to the 

lesser lights and know the names He 

had given them long ago? And in the 

velvet silence of the Bethlehem hill, 

did those stars sing for Him? In 

Shakespeare's words: 

There's not the smallest orb which 

thou beholdest 

But in his motion like an angel sings, 

Still quiring to the young-eyed 

cherubims .... 

Those stars which Jesus knew and 

named are still there. They always 

have been and they always will be. 

But unless we look for them away 

from the garish man-made lights, we 

will never see them, let alone hear 

them. For who knows? Perhaps the 

stars really do sing in their courses! 

Travellers tell that the Northern Lights 

really do make their own particular 

sound and music. Some say that 

Sibelius captured this sound in some 

of his compositions. But to see these 

stars and hear their music, perhaps 

we need to go back to a gentler age 

when we had real candles on our 

Christmas trees, and went caroling on 

Christmas Eve with storm lanterns to 

light our way. We need to "tune in" 

once again to this older world and 

then, perhaps, we will find the true 

meaning and magic of Christmas. 

Imagine yourself with the 

shepherds in the quiet hills round 

Bethlehem, listening to the eternal 

music of the stars: 

How sweet the moonlight sleeps 

upon this bank! 

Here will we sit and let the sounds of 

music 

Creep in our ears; soft stillness and 

the night 

Become the touches of sweet 

harmony. 

William Shakespeare, The 

Merchant of Venice 

And think of the old, well-loved 

carol: 

Brightest and best of the sons of the 

morning, Dawn on our darkness and 

lend us thine aid: Stars of the east 

and horizon adorning, Guide where 

our infant Redeemer is laid. 

Reginald Heber 1783-1826 

Sylvia Bennett 




Tel: (0114) 274 5086




Tel: (0114) 274 5086

T 

he Operation Christmas 

Child appeal is organised 

by the charity Samaritan’s 

Purse and for the past 20 

years it has shown that there’s 

power in a simple gift. 

It has grown to become the 

largest Christmas shoebox appeal in 

the UK, demonstrating God’s love in 

a tangible way to millions of children 

around the world. 

It is supported by caring 

individuals, families, schools, 

churches, businesses and other 

organisations. Last year over 1.2 

million shoeboxes filled with toys 

and goodies were sent from the UK 

alone to children in disadvantaged 

situations in parts of Africa, Eastern 

Europe and Central Asia. 

There is something very 

rewarding about giving to a child you 

will probably never meet – 

especially when you know your 

simple act of kindness will be felt 

and appreciated in more ways than 

you can ever imagine. Often this is 

the only gift they will receive and 

even the box is important as 

somewhere to keep their 

“treasures”. 

Although by the time you read this 

article many shoeboxes will already 

have been despatched it is not too 

late. Simply giftwrap a shoebox and 

fill with small toys such as a ball, 

skipping-rope, finger puppets, trucks 

and cars for boys, dolls, hair slides 

for girls, a cuddly toy, felt-tip pens, 

pencils, crayons, writing books, 

toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, hat, 

gloves, scarf, sweets. Choosing the 

gifts is fun and all the family can be 

involved. 

Samaritan’s Purse works with 

local churches and charities 

overseas to distribute the gifts to 

those who most need them 

regardless of their background or 

beliefs. 

Volunteers from around the UK 

are privileged to join the distribution 

teams and see at first hand how 

much joy these gifts, which probably 

seem so small to us, can bring to 

these children. 

Completed shoeboxes can be 

brought to St. Chad’s office at 15 

Camping Lane up to December 17. 

Carole Titman 




Tel: (0114) 274 5086

H 

ere 

are some of the 

stories of the impact 

shoeboxes can make 

across the world. 

S a m a r it a n ’s P u r s e p a r t n e r in 

R o m a n ia , A lin a , g iv e s t h e lo w d o w n 

o n s h o e b o x e s a r r iv in g in h e r c o u n t r y : 

“ I d e liv e r s h o e b o x e s in m y p o o r 

v illa g e a n d la s t M a r c h I w a s o n m y 

w a y h o m e w h e n t w o lit t le b o y s c a u g h t 

u p w it h m e a n d b e g a n t e llin g m e a ll 

a b o u t t h e s h o e b o x e s t h e y h a d 

r e c e iv e d in D e c e m b e r . W it h 

e x c it e m e n t f illin g t h e ir f a c e s , t h e y 

n a m e d e v e r y s in g le it e m ! T h e lit t le 

b o y s a c c o m p a n ie d m e h o m e a n d 

t a lk e d n o n - s t o p a b o u t t h e ir 

s h o e b o x e s t h e e n t ir e jo u r n e y . I t w a s 

t h r e e m o n t h s a f t e r t h e e v e n t a n d 

y e t t h e jo y o n t h e ir f a c e s w o u ld 

h a v e m a d e y o u t h in k t h e y h a d 

r e c e iv e d t h e g if t s t h a t 

v e r y d a y . T h is y e a r , I 

h a v e d e liv e r e d m o r e 

s h o e b o x e s a n d t h e 

r e s p o n s e f r o m t h e 

c h ild r e n is 

o v e r w h e lm in g . T h e y 

a r e a w o n d e r f u l g if t 

t h a t k e e p s o n g iv in g 

a ll y e a r lo n g . ” 

I n a p o o r R o m a 

c o m m u n it y o n 

t h e o u t s k ir t s o f 

S a r a je v o , B o s n ia , 

s h o e b o x e s a r e 

s p e a k in g w o r d s 

o f lo v e a n d h o p e 

in t o t h e liv e s o f 

h u n d r e d s o f 

c h ild r e n . 

“ A b o u t 7 0 % o f t h e c h ild r e n w e 

g iv e s h o e b o x e s t o d o n ’t g o t o 

s c h o o l. B u t a r r iv in g w it h s h o e b o x e s 

p a c k e d f u ll o f g if t s , w e a r e a b le t o 

c o n v e y a m e s s a g e o f G o d ’s lo v e 

a n d a c c e p t a n c e in t o a c o m m u n it y 

t h a t e x p e r ie n c e s r e je c t io n . T h e 

s m ile s a n d w a r m g r e e t in g s f r o m t h e 

R o m a p e o p le a s t h e y v o ic e t h e ir 

t h a n k f u ln e s s s h o w s u s h o w p o w e r f u l 

t h e s e s im p le g if t s r e a lly a r e . ” 

Arriving back from 

Belarus, Ian Taylor, 

explains the power of 

a shoebox. 

“This photo sums up 

the excitement that 

the children show, 

delighted in their 

friend’s box, as much 

as their own.” 




Tel: (0114) 274 5086




Tel: (0114) 274 5086

A 

s you scrape the last of the 

brandy sauce from your plate 

and prepare to sleep your 

Christmas dinner off during 

the Queen's speech, spare a thought 

for those who will spend Christmas 

far from home. The soldiers, sailors 

and airmen, some of whom may 

never return, for refugees, asylum 

seekers and the homeless. Think 

also of those who will spend 

Christmas in hospital and those who 

care for them. 

And spare a thought for the many 

who will be at home for Christmas but 

alone and lonely, their Christmas 

dinner perhaps a Tesco chicken pie 

provided by a kindly neighbour. To 

many older people, home can 

become more of a prison than a 

sanctuary and they may be just as 

lonely and "homesick" as those in a 

strange land. Thoughts turn to the 

days when the house was full of 

laughter and Christmas meant 

warmth, love, firelight and stockings 

hung up waiting for Santa - that same 

home now bare and forlorn. 

Being far from home has inspired 

much great literature. Think of Ivor 

Gurney: "Only the wanderer knows 

England's graces, or can anew see 

clear familiar faces. And who loves 

joy as he that dwells in shadows? Do 

not forget me quite, O Severn 

meadows". And Rupert Brooke: 

"Say, is there Beauty yet to find?.... 

Deep meadows yet, for to forget .... 

oh! yet stands the church clock at ten 

to three? And is there honey still for 

tea?" 

During World War Two, many 

children were evacuated, some 

spending several years away from 

home. For them, there were no 

mobile phones or emails and 

telephones were almost unknown in 

country villages. Only the occasional 

letter or Christmas present would 

remind them of home. Strangely 

though, something did bind them all 

together, and that was the reassuring 

voice of Uncle Mac over the radio. 

He always closed Children's Hour 

with the words, "Goodnight 

children .... everywhere!". Evacuees, 

or "vaccies" as they became know, 

have inspired a literature of their own. 

Think of C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of 

Narnia where it's always winter but 

never Christmas, Michelle Magorian's 

Goodnight, Mr.Tom and Michael 

Morpurgo's Friend or Foe, to name 

but three. Often based on truth, they 

have heart-rending moments, but the 

bravery and resilience of the children 

shines through and they are 

strengthened by the experience. 

Many people, some of them 

children, actually choose a way of life 

which takes them away from home at 

Christmas - missionaries, doctors, 

nurses, emergency and rescue 

services. The ones I admire most are 

the Cathedral choristers who, from 

the age of seven or even younger, 

provide the hauntingly beautiful music 

of our Christmas services but, like the 

evacuees and soldiers, they are often 

dreadfully homesick. Strangely 

enough all of us, whether at home or 

far away, can at any time, "tune in" to 

a common wavelength for a message 

of hope and love. You must listen 

carefully, for it won't be a text 

message or an email, but "a still small 

voice" calling you by name. 

When you hear it, it's up to you 

how you respond - Jesus is not a 

cold-calling, pushy salesman. You 

can choose to ignore Him, or you can 

choose to open your heart, let Him in 

and help Him with His work. But I'm 

certain, whatever you decide, He will 

say to each and everyone of us, 

"Happy Christmas, children .... 

everywhere!" 

Sylvia Bennett 




Tel: (0114) 274 5086

Thanksgivings 

September 

19 Poppy Grace SAYERS 

October 

17 Harry James GOLDINGAY 

Baptisms 

October 

24 Evie Katy GREEN 

Funerals 

September 

6 Hilda NEALE (90) 

I 

f you have recently had a new baby 

and would like to celebrate that 

baby’s birth with a service in church 

then please come to our 

thanksgiving and baptism morning at St 

Chad ’s on Saturday 4 th December. 

The morning will explain the difference 

between the two services and give parents 

an opportunity to ask any questions they 

might have. Please call the church office 

on 0114 274 5086 if you are interested in 

attending. 

For Weddings & Funerals 

You don’t have to be a churchgoer to 

have a wedding in church, nor do you 

have to be ‘religious’ to have a dignified 

and meaningful funeral service at St 

Chad’s. 

If you live in 

the Woodseats 

or Beauchief 

area, St Chad’s 

would be 

delighted to 

help you, 

whether it is 

planning the Big Day or saying goodbye to 

a loved one. 

For weddings please contact St Chad’s 

church office. For funerals please tell 

your funeral director that you would like to 

have a church service. 

CALL IN FOR A CUPPA 

At Church House 

(56 Abbey Lane) 

10am to 12 noon 

On the last Saturday of each month. 

Bring & Buy (new items) 

Handicrafts Home Baking 




Tel: (0114) 274 5086

T op 1 2 toys… 

E v e r y y e a r t h e T o y 

R e t a i l e r s A s s o c i a t i o n 

p r e d i c t s t h e t o p 1 2 b e s t 

s e l l i n g t o y s . H e r e ’ s 

w h a t i t s a y s f o r 2 0 1 0 : 

1 C i t y A i r p o r t 

2 F i r e ma n S a m D e l u x 

F i r e S t a t i o n P l a y s e t 

3 F u r R e a l G o G o 

W a l k i n g P u p 

4 J e t P a c k B u z z 

L i g h t y e a r 

5 K i d i z o o m V i d e o C a m 

6 M o n o p o l y R e v o l u t i o n 

7 M o o n D o u g h B a r n 

8 N e r f N S t r i k e 

S t a mp e d e E C S 

9 P a p e r J a mz G u i t a r 

1 0 P u mp a l o o n s 

1 1 S y l v a n i a n F a mi l i e s 

M o t o r c y c l e & S i d e c a r 

1 2 Z h u Z h u G r o o mi n g 

S a l o n 

Christmas Day Muffins 

Makes 12 

Preparation time: 15 minutes 

Cooking time: 20 minutes 

Ingredients: 

175 g (6 oz) fresh cranberries 

50 g (2 oz) icing sugar, sifted 

150 g (5 oz) plain wholemeal flour 

150 g (5 oz) plain white flour 

15 ml (1 tbsp) baking powder 

5 ml (1 tsp) ground mixed spice 

2.5 ml (half tsp) salt 

50 g (2 oz) light brown sugar 

1 egg 

250 ml (8 fl oz) milk 

50 ml (2 fl oz) vegetable oil 

Method: 

Mix the icing sugar with halved cranberries. 

Grease a 12-cup muffin tin with butter or use 

paper cases. 

In a bowl mix the brown sugar, salt, mixed 

spice, baking powder and both flours. Make a 

hole in the middle. 

Add a mixture of beaten egg/milk/oil into the 

hole and just blend. Then add the cranberries 

and quickly stir. The end product should be a 

rough mixture with lumps and air pockets 

visible. (Instead of the cranberries you can 

use mincemeat (225 g, 8 oz) to put in the 

hole.) 

Take this mixture and fill the muffin cups to 

two thirds and bake at gas mark 4 (180 deg 

C, 350 F) until they are golden brown and 

well risen. About 20 minutes. 

Cool a little and serve warm. 

Over the Christmas period, collections 

at St Chad’s go to help the work of 

HARC — Homeless and Rootless at 

Christmas. 

Founded in 1989, the Sheffield-based 

charity provides a safe and warm day 

shelter to all homeless and rootless vulnerable 

men and women between 

Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day. 

It provides three free hot meals a day, 

and drinks, and guests are welcome to 

spend the entire day there at a time 

when the other services may be closed 

for the festive holidays. 

To find out more go to http://harcsheffield.blogspot.com/ 




Tel: (0114) 274 5086

CHURCH OFFICES 15 Camping Lane 274 5086 

S8 0GB 

Term time office hours: 

Mon & Thurs - 10am-1pm; 

Tues - 10am-12pm; Fri - 9.30am-11.30am 

Church Office Administrator 

Helen Reynolds 


Vicar Toby Hole (Vicarage) 274 9302 

email: toby@stchads.org 

Reader/Assistant Minister Yvonne Smith 274 5086 

for the elderly 

Youth Minister Andrew Foulkes 274 5086 

Besom in Sheffield 

Steve Winks and 

Darren Coggins 274 5086 

Publishing and Communication Nigel Belcher 274 5086 

Impact magazine Tim Hopkinson 274 5086 

email: impact@stchads.org 

Church Wardens Nigel Belcher 281 1750 

email: nigel@stchads.org 

Malcolm Smith 274 7159 

Church Warden Team Tim Hopkinson 274 0198 

Jane Jones 274 6805 

Linda Jones 07930 936067 

Caretaker Mark Cobbold 274 5086 

Uniformed Groups 

Group Scout Leader Ian Jackson 235 3044 

Guide Leader Jemma Taylor 296 0555 

CHURCH HOUSE 56 Abbey Lane 274 8289 

Bookings Helen Reynolds 274 5086 

Visit our website: www.stchads.org 




Tel: (0114) 274 5086




Tel: (0114) 274 5086




Tel: (0114) 274 5086

2010-12

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