December 2012

Earlier in the year, we were inspected by the Food Standards department of the Environmental health office at Sheffield Council.  We are proud to say that we have been awarded top marks by the inspector.

Early December started with taking out about 700 Christmas cards to the local area.
On the 6th, Jonathan and Susannah attended the circuit meeting at St. Mary's church.  Jonathan chaired the meeting.
Several visits were necessary to the shops too get the ingredients for the "Five courses and Carols" on Dec. 13th.  Preparation of the meal and property started on Wednesday evening.  After the meal, the property needed getting ready for the Advent carol service, this was done on Friday.
The circuit calendar had to be prepared.  This involved getting people to send pictures of the churches in the circuit and preparing an engagement calendar.  This had to be printed and circulated to church secretaries.
On the 28th, Susannah and Jonathan took their sons to the coffee morning at Greenhead chapel.

November 2012

November was a busy month, is addition to the events, there were 800 copies of the church Christmas card to print, assemble sign and put into envelopes, ready to distribute in the area, and post to our mailing list.

On 4th November, Jonathan was preaching at our Greenhead church.

 They had recently erected a new noticeboard outside the church to advertise their activities.

 In the afternoon, Susannah was preaching at our Coal Aston Church.
On the 8th, Jonathan was speaking at Hatfield House Lane Methodist Church Guild.  His theme was heaven and the afterlife.
On the 10th, Susannah attended a prophetic prayer meeting at St. Peter's Church in Ellesmere.
Susannah preached at Mayfield on the 11th in the morning.
On the 14th Susannah went to Hampden View to speak at the midweek meeting.  On the 15th she represented the circuit at the third sector assembly meeting.
On the 16th, Susannah and two other members took our boxes to "Operation Christmas Child"
On the 17th, Susannah went as a circuit representative to the Union Half-Yearly meeting at our Syresham church.
On Sunday 18th, Jonathan visited Sharrow Vale Church as part of his commitment to visit every church in the circuit.  This is home to "The Crowded House"  He was able to check out their claim to offer some of the best coffee in Sheffield!  The inside of the building has been extensively remodelled.  A picture is available at their website.  http://www.thecrowdedhouse.org/sheffield

In the afternoon Jonathan preached at Tapton Hill Congregational Church, and in the evening at Grimesthorpe Wesleyan Reform Church.

On the 25th, Jonathan preached at Mayfield, the final service in the series on the book of Ephesians.  In the afternoon, Susannah preached at Tapton Hill Congregational Church.  

On the 27th, Susannah went to discuss the report about the half-yearly meeting to the circuit meeting.

On the 29th, both Susannah and Jonathan went to a meeting at Hampden View Church for the circuit to discuss opportunities for outreach.  Jonathan chaired the meeting.  The outcomes were decisions to further investigate a stall at Sheffield Fayre next August, and to hold events at each church followed by a central circuit event at a later date.  It is quite exciting!!

October 2012

On the 7th, Jonathan had to leave the harvest festival at Mayfield because he was preaching at our Philadelphia church for their harvest festival in the evening.

On the 9th, we went shopping for the "Five Crops and Choruses" on Thursday.  Wednesday evening was spent at chapel preparing for the next day.
On Thursday 18th, Susannah was speaking on "My Dyslexic Faith" at Pitsmoor Methodist Church Home Fire Girls coffee morning.  In the afternoon, she attended a meeting organised by the Third Sector Assembly.  this was attended by some of the candidates for the office of police commissioner..
On Monday 22nd, Susannah addressed the Hatfield House Lane Methodist Ladies' meeting on the subject of the Lord's Prayer.
On the 25th, we both attended the Sheffield Circuit Local Preachers and Leaders of Worship Fellowship.  Susannah led our thoughts on the use of drama in worship.
On the 26th, Susannah attended the coffee morning at Greenhead Church.  She took the opportunity to retrieve the coat which Jonathan had left there last time he preached!
On the 27th, Susannah represented the church at a meeting of Fulwood Ministry support team at Christ Church, Fulwood.
On Sunday 18th, Susannah and Jonathan travelled by train to Denby Dale church where they had been asked to lead the Harvest Festival celebrations.  Susannah led a family service in the afternoon and Jonathan took a more traditional service in the evening.  Tea was served between the two services.
A great deal had been done to make the church attractive and informative.

O

On the 30th, shopping a preparation was done to get ready for the Festival of Light the next day.
Towards the end of the month, Jonathan started printing and assembling the Christmas Cards ready for the distribution round the valley.  Leaflets were also printed to publicise the Christmas Fayre at the end of November, these were then posted to the mailing list.

Adverts

It is likely when you look at this blog that you are seeing adverts across the top, at the side and underneath.  You will notice that below each advert it clearly states that the advert is not by this site.  We do not endorse any of the products or services advertised.  If you feel that any of the adverts are inappropriate, please contact Google and let them know.

September 2012

Although the church had quite a quiet programme, September was a busy month for us.  There were newsletters to write, print and send out;  leaflets to prepare, print and distribute (about 700 copies), as well as the routine of a normal month.
Jonathan preached at Tapton Hill Congregational Church on September 9th.  This was their Harvest Festival.  On the 13th, there was the circuit meeting at our Grimesthorpe Church, which Jonathan chaired in his capacity of circuit president.
Susannah spent the 14th shopping for the celebration meal, which was held on the 15th.  This was a thanksgiving for the generosity and hard work which had made the recent alterations possible.
Susannah preached at our Philadelphia church on the morning of the 16th.
Our church meeting was on the 19th and again Jonathan chaired this meeting;  the outcomes will be available shortly.
Susannah spent the 26th shopping for the supper club, the last in the summer season, and the 28th and 29th organising and running the MacMillan coffee morning on the 29th.
Jonathan preached at Mayfield in the morning and at Coal Aston in the evening of the 30th.

In the bog garden the Helianthus flowered very late this year.  Perhaps it is down to it being split earlier this year.  We will have to see what next year brings.  

August 2012

The early part of the month was spent collecting books and getting them to chapel.  These then had to be displayed ready for the book festival.  Following the festival, the remaining books had to be re-packed.  If anyone has a use for about 20 boxes of second hand books for a charitable purpose, please get in touch.

The bog garden continues to grow well, and some plants which we thought had succumbed to more vigorous competition have been found to return this year.

 Walking home along School Green Lane, we were inspired to take an artistic picture of the view.

 Susannah preached at Mayfield on 5th, and Jonathan on the 12th.
Inspired by a conversation between Wally Batty and Nora Batty (Last of the Summer Wine)  Susannah led our out of doors service on the 19th.

The conversation ran something like:
Nora:  Sometimes I think that you think of me as Just a wife!
Wally:  I've never thought of you as Just a wife.  Your'e about as much wife as any man could be expected to handle!

The theme of the service was "Not just a man!"

The 21st and 22nd were spent shopping a preparing for the supper club on the 23rd.

Susannah preached at Tapton Hill Congregational church on the 26th and 2-45p.m.  and Jonathan was at Greenhead at 11-00a.m.
The sight of the swallows gathering on the telephone line reminded us that Autumn is fast approaching.

 The trees will be changing colour soon.
Mowing the field proved more hazardous than expected when Jonathan got the mower stuck in the bog near the appropriately named Bog Garden.  Unfortunately, this bent the cutter blade when it dug into the ground.  Repairs are ongoing!

July 2012

Jonathan was preaching at Mayfield on Sunday July 1st, and was under instruction not to be long winded as we were setting off to Derbyshire.  After a brief coffee following the service, we set off.

Travelling along an apparently endless track,

 we eventually arrived at what passed for a car park, but which had space for rather fewer cars than had arrived.

 A rather picturesque farmhouse came into view, and we knew that we had arrived at the journey's end.

This was where we were to attend the annual love feast in a barn.  More details and pictures are available on the church blog.
Susannah was preaching at our Greenhead church on the 8th at 11-00a.m.
On Thursday 12th, we went to Hampden View Church for the quarterly Local Preachers and Leaders of Worship Fellowship.  Andy Wilcock led us in considering the use of story telling in the old testament and in worship.

Susannah preached at Mayfield on the 15th.  On the 17th she met with the Ladies meeting leader to discuss future developments.  Later in the week, both of us prepared the afternoon pet and animal service on a theme of Noah, and printed the orders of service.

Susannah preached at our Philadelphia church on 22nd at 10-45.

On the 24th and 25th we had to do the shopping for the supper club and then spent the evening of the 25th  preparing the beginnings of the meal.

Susannah preached at Tapton Hill Congregational Church on the 29th.