Issue 20 - August 2020

St James
August 2020
August 2020
Issue 20
Messenger
Going Forward
Open for worship – vital information
lyfe – but not as you know it

.
2
Going
Forward
Well for the past four months during lockdown I’ve been producing
the Messenger on a weekly basis and this copy marks the 20 th
edition. I do hope that you’ve enjoyed reading the articles and
information about various things during this strange period of our
lives, but I do think the time has come for us to move to a monthly
format with a larger page count that in coming months will include
information about up and coming events at the church.
Being locked down for the past four months has given us a
fantastic time to re-think all that we do at St James and as we
emerge like a butterfly from it’s cocoon, I am excited that we have
the opportunity to do the unexpected (whatever that might be!)
So if you are confident about emerging from your cocoon, please
come and join us on Sunday morning as we re-open for public
worship and other activities on the 2 nd August.
Please read the opening information on the following page and
Making sure you get a seat on page 5

.
3
Open
for
worship
Please note that we are open this
Sunday 2 nd August and there will be
two gatherings in the church
buildings at 9:30 & 11:00
Both the 9:30 traditional and the 11:00 contemporary gathering
will be held in the main church building accessed via the front
entrance. Looking forward to Easter
News about our Foodbank
Exit Update for both from gatherings Church will Planting be via Team the small door adjacent to the
cafe.
Anyone wishing to enter the building will be temperature screened
and asked to comply with strict social distancing regulations to
ensure that everyone remains safe. Hand sanitiser must be used
and we will record your attendance for the purpose of Test and
Trace. The Church of England is also advising that face coverings
should be worn.
If you are from a vulnerable group please follow the governments
recommendations and keep yourself safe (unfortunately this may
mean that you would be safer accessing our on-line services).

.
4
You are
all that
matters
After playing this worship song a couple of weeks ago, a number
of people have asked for the very simple lyrics –
Perhaps you could use them as a prayer !
I'll put You in front, In front of my melody
You're all that matters, You're all that matters
I'll make room for two, You and I Jesus
You're all that matters, You're all that matters
Owei, owei, You're all that matters
Owei, owei, You're all that matters
What
Looking
would
forward
I live
to
for,
Easter
If I don't have You in my life
What
News
would
about
I
our
gain,
Foodbank
If You take the Holy Ghost
Update from the Church Planting Team
What would have become of me, If I didn't see Your light
What would have been said of me, if You didn't hold my hands
Now I've come to realise, That You are all I have
You're all that matters, You're all that matters
Is it the car or is it the house, I'll give them all to You
Is it the name or is it the fame, I'm nothing without You
You're all that matters, You're all that matters

.
5
Make sure
you get a
seat
As you will be aware all public places need to respect the social
distancing protocol and the church is maintaining the 2 meter or 6
feet rule, with that in mind we have two options.
To work on a first-come, first-served basis or to Ticket our services
We have decided to start with the first-come, first-served option
and therefore we urge you to come early if you want a gain entry
(but not to early).
If we find that this system is proving difficult, we will swiftly move
to a very simple ticketing system and keep everyone informed of
how easy it will be to obtain a ticket either by telephone on online.
Your safety
is our priority

.
6
lyfe
I wonder how many of you have figured out that this photo is the
wrong way round, while others may not have even recognised it at
all.
I’m sure we’ve all heard the phrase familiarity breeds contempt but
what does it mean – if you look it up in the dictionary is says: -
Extensive knowledge of, or close association with someone or
something that leads to a loss of respect for them or it.
That is so true about almost everything around us including those
old familiar landmarks. But what about our faith? Or more to the
point, what about God -- can we lose respect for Him too?
“lyfe but not as you know it”
It’s easy to trundle through life isn’t it, doing the same old, same old
things each day without giving thought to almost anything, but what
if we did (give thought I mean) to everything we do and have?

.
7
This Sunday I’m starting a new series called lyfe, because I want to
look at what I think is important.
You know I’ve come to the conclusion that there are two ways to
look at life – One from a heavenly prospective and the other that’s
not – in other words life is about choices, some we regret, some
we’re proud of !
In fact, I bet you would
be surprised if you took
a step back and thought
about how many choices
you make in a day.
And I’m sure you’d be
even more surprised if
you tried to see how all
those choices led you to
where you are today.
Everything that happens
to us in life is a result of
the decisions we make.
Looking forward to Easter
We
News
choose
about
to
our
go
Foodbank
to the gym or not, to have a date night with our
significant Update from other the or Church not, to Planting hit the snooze Team button or get up.
So the next time you complain about gaining 10 pounds, you know
what – you made that choice. You chose to eat the foods you did,
and you chose not to go to the gym, or go for a walk after dinner.
No one held you down and forced you to overeat or stop being
active. It was all you !
But what about Him – What about the decisions you make for Him?
The decisions you make today
will impact your lyfe tomorrow

.
8
Today we
mourn the
passing of
an old friend
Common Sense, who had been with us for many years. No one
knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long
ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having
cultivated such valuable lessons as:
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- And maybe it was my fault.
Common
Looking forward
Sense lived
to Easter
by simple, sound financial policies (don't
spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not
News about our Foodbank
children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly
Update from the Church Planting Team
when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in
place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment
for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using
mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an
unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for
doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining
their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were
required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an
aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student
became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

9
Common Sense lost the will to live when criminals received better
treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself
from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for
assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed
to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little
in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death, -
by his parents, Truth and Trust,
by his wife, Discretion,
by his daughter, Responsibility and by his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 5 stepchildren;
I Know My Rights,
I Want It Now,
Someone Else Is To Blame,
I'm A Victim and Pay me for Doing Nothing.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was
gone.
If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and
do nothing.
From an article that appeared in a daily newspaper
If you need help in any way, just give us a call on
01274 830 133 or email harry@James4u.org

.
10
That’s Life
as we know it
When NASA was preparing for the Apollo project, some of the
training of the astronauts took place on a Navajo reservation.
One day, a Navajo elder and his son were herding sheep and
came across the space crew. The old man, who spoke only
Navajo, asked a question that his son translated. "What are these
guys in the big suits doing?"
A member of the crew said they were practising for their trip to the
moon. The old man got all excited and asked if he could send a
message to the moon with the astronauts. Recognizing a
promotional opportunity, the NASA folks found a tape recorder.
After the old man recorded his message, they asked his son to
translate it. He refused.
The NASA PR people brought the tape to the reservation, where
the rest of the tribe listened and laughed, but refused to translate
the elder's message. Finally, the NASA crew called in an official
government translator. His translation of the old man's message
was: "Watch out for these guys; they have come to steal your
land."
Send us your stories...
Just email your stories to harry@james4u.org

.
11
This months Sunday
Messages
2 nd Life part 1 Harry Gwinnett
9 th Walking on Water Gloria Hardisty
16 th Life part 2 Harry Gwinnett
23 rd Who am I Gloria Hardisty
30 th Love Mavis Rouse
www.James4u.org
https://www.facebook.com/james4u.org/
https://www.facebook.com/stjameschurchthornton
https://twitter.com/harry_gwinnett

.
12
Wednesday
Worship
If you would like someone to
pray for or with you please text
or phone our Prayer line
07379 39 15 18
As from 5 th
August we will
be meeting on
the 1 st , 3 rd & 5 th
Wednesdays of
each month at
9:30 for
worship
Don’t forget that on Tuesdays at
9am we will continue to meet for
prayer and you can connect with
us via Zoom or by using your
normal landline telephone and
it’s a Freephone telephone
number.
To connect via the internet or
smartphone use the following
num. 996-9646-3899
To connect via Telephone call
0800 260 5801 FREEPHONE
0800 031 5717 FREEPHONE
0330 088 5830 Local rate
Please remember to keep
connected and keep praying.
When prompted enter the
following num. 996-9646-3899#

.
13
Just a thought or two
As I look out of the patio door, the rain clouds are gathering, and I
ponder whilst watching the grass grow, then I begin to wonder what
will the world be like after Corvid-19.
A recent study has revealed that the air quality over the past month
has improved so much that it has resulted in 11,000 fewer deaths in
the UK and elsewhere in Europe.
Sharp falls in road traffic and industrial emissions have also resulted in
6,000 fewer children developing asthma, 1900 avoided emergency
room visits and 600 fewer premature births. I don’t know where they
get these figures from but it does show that there are some good
things to come from this global crisis.
So what other positives do we get. Well doesn’t the early morning
birdsong sound louder this year, and at Llandudno in North Wales
where the wild goats that normally live on The Great Orme have come
down into the town and are freely grazing on the hedges and lawns of
the gardens close the roadside. All because of the reduction in traffic.
More people are working from home, more people have taken on the
facilities provided by the internet, people are now developing the
‘community spirit’ exploring the virtues of helping and being concerned
for each other. Even talking over the garden fence is now coming
back as neighbours share their own little stories and look to each
other. People seem to have taken a more relaxed view of the world
and on a more global scale even countries are bonding together to
fight this common cause and I ask myself will this lead to a better
understanding of world politics.
Perhaps I wish for too much but it does show that there are many
positives out there, perhaps you can see a few more. Keep well and
Keep safe and when you have a spare 5 minutes call somebody, send
them a text, use Zoom or Skype, even write a letter or a card and keep
connected.
Kevin Watt

.
14
Fun on the
Estate
On Saturday the 29 th August between
2-4pm our Church Planting team have
organised an Activity Fun-Day and
Treasure Hunt on the Allerton Estate
across from the new building on Bell
Dean Road
If you’d like to be part of this exciting
team please have a chat with Harry.
Allerton
Community
Church
A church plant from St James
12 Hours of
Prayer
Let’s give Him thanks for all that is Good
Why not come and join us on Saturday 1 st August between
9am to 9pm at St James
(PS. You don’t need to stay all day – just pop in)

.
15
There may be uncertainty about the re-starting and format of
church services, but there is no doubt about the role of the Church.
In this season, we’re hearing more clearly about the call on God’s
people to show the love of God and offer hope and healing to a
nation in need. This is a crucial moment for the Church in this
country and NewWine have planned United Breaks Out in
response to what they felt God is saying.
Go to our Website or click the link https://breaksout.new-wine.org
Starts Thursday 8pm with Miriam Swanson

.
16
History tells us that whenever plague or persecution or famine have
struck the earth, the Church has shone. What if we, the Church,
don’t emerge from lockdown blinking in the harsh light, but we break
out“ prayed up and fired up with a message of hope and healing
that we’ve experienced for ourselves and are equipped to offer to a
hurting world?
What if Satan thought he brought the Church to her knees, but
found that she became more powerful than she’d ever been? This is
the time. Let’s not miss it.
Paul Harcourt, New Wine National Leader
Never been to NewWine?
Join us Free on-line
30 th July - 3 rd Aug

Sudan Emergency appeal
The coronavirus pandemic has caused massive disruption across
the globe, including here in England. We need no reminder of the
costs of this. Imagine, then, the impact on a country such as
Sudan. Our brothers and sisters in our link dioceses there have
no recourse to support for very basic needs other than external
agencies. Their situation is more than challenging as the Church,
under the leadership of Archbishop Ezekiel (with whom I speak
frequently), seeks to feed the increasing number of poor,
dispossessed and desperate people. The pandemic has led to
rapid increase in unemployment and rampant inflation, pushing
the purchase of even basic food beyond the reach of many
people.
We have been linked with Sudan for around forty years. So, I am
launching an emergency appeal right cross the Diocese of Leeds
to support our brothers and sisters there. We are asking, on
behalf of Archbishop Ezekiel, for funds for emergency food and
supplies for those across the country who rely on the church for
support or survival. The need is urgent and is increasing in
severity:
• More than 9.6 million people are in need of urgent help with
food – that is one in four of the population.
• The inflation rate has surged to 136% in June alone. This
includes the price of food basics such as bread, grains and
cooking oil, as well as water, fuel and cooking gas.
Our partner church is deeply shaken by the effects of the
coronavirus. Archbishop Ezekiel says that his people claim “they
would rather die of a virus than of hunger”.

During the UK lockdown many of us have not spent as much as
we would normally do if we had been travelling out and about. Of
course, many people here have lost their income and security,
and not everybody will be able to give; but many have been able
to save during lockdown here. We can show our gratitude to God
by being generous towards the Church in Sudan a special gift to
help the church in Sudan. Large amounts are needed there, but
even small amounts make a difference. The funds raised will go
for emergency food, water, medical supplies, and any other
emergency help that local churches may identify themselves.
• £25 could help buy an emergency food pack for a one family.
Perhaps that equates to a meal out for two not taken over
lockdown.
• £50 could pay for fuel to help the Sudan Mothers Union
safely distribute food and emergency supplies in the
townships. Perhaps the cost of a tank of fuel saved during
lockdown here.
• £500 could help provide a church with weeks of emergency
funding to support their families in crisis.
To give, you will find information at
https://www.leeds.anglican.org/finance/donations or you can
simply make a cheque payable to ‘Leeds DBF’, posting it to
Leeds DBF, 17-19 York Place, Leeds LS1 2EX with a note saying
it is ‘for Sudan emergency’.
Prayers, a short video and the latest news will be on the website,
so please keep checking there. This will be a short term
emergency appeal (until the end of August),
With my thanks and prayers.
†Nick
The Rt Revd Nicholas Baines Bishop of Leeds

.
Many churches
have seen a
significant
increase in giving
But during the past four
months our funding has
taken an unprecedented
fall and we are asking
everyone to think
seriously about why.
If you give to St James’
you’re safeguarding the
future of your local
church.
Many ways to help
on-line
www.james4u.org
bank
Parochial Church Council of
Thornton Parish Church
Barclays Bank
20-11-81 40891355
post
300 Thornton Road, Thornton
Bradford BD13 3AB
text
2FROMME to 70085 to give £2
5FROMME to 70085 to give £5
10FROMME to 70085 to give £10