January 2011

Happy New Year!
Although January is traditionally a quiet month, we did quite a lot and were busy. Early January saw both of us laid rather low with a severe cold, and on Sunday 9th January neither of us were fit to preach and had to ask the congregations at Grimesthorpe Wesleyan Reform and Tapton Hill Congregational to make alternative arrangements. The church party on January 15th needed shopping and a quiz to prepare. Fortunately, a member with a car was available to help with the shopping.
On Wednesday 19th, Jonathan led the fellowship group at our Philadelphia Church on the theme of "The Wise Men". He took along samples of Frankincense and Myrrh and burned them on a charcoal block to demonstrate the smell.
The decisions taken at the Church Meeting will mean work later in the year, but at the present we will be concentrating on the publicity for them. The leaflet for "Early 2011" is in preparation and the Newsletter was produced. ( February 2011 to March 2011) Unfortunately Jonathan did not have his thinking head on when this was being done, and after printing, mistakes and omissions meant the production of two amendment sheets.

November and December 2010

Due to a combination of bad weather, ill-health and overwork we are a bit behind with the blogging, so here are the highlights of the last two months.
For a couple of days before 6th November there was preparation for the catering and the rest of the event. worthy of comment is the effort of David who stripped the turf from the site of the bonfire before the event, (not to mention putting it all back again afterwards).
Susannah preached at the "Christians against Poverty" Service and Jonathan celebrated communion in the evening.
The planning meeting on 10th and the "Created" Christmas fayre on the 13th both had to be prepared for.
Susannah preached at our Philadelphia church on Sunday morning the 14th.
On Thursday 18th we went to the Chrtistmas Fayre at Christ Church Fulwood.
Saturday 20th was the occasion of the visit of the Union President to the Sheffield Circuit, and we celebratoed this with a meal at our Richmond church. The general Secretary, Rev. Colin Braithwaite preached at Mayfield as part of this visit. On Sunday 21st Susannah preached at Tapton Hill Congregational Church in the afternoon, and Jonathan preached at Denby Dale at 6-00p.m. This latter requiring a train journey and being picked up at Denby Dale station.
Jonathan preached at Mayfield on 28th .
Thursday 2nd December was due to be the circuit meeting, but this was cancelled due to the frost.
Susannah preached at the evening communion on 5th Dec. This was the last scheduled regular evening communion service, due to our decision to hold these services on an "as announced" basis from now on.
Susannah organised the coffee morning on the morning of 11th, and Jonathan preached at Elsecar chapel on Sunday at 6-00p.m. Susannah sang at this service. The train arrives at Elsecar station at about 2 minutes to six! so the secretary started the service without us with the announcements and the first hymn.
The five courses and carols required a great deal of advance shopping and preparation for a couple of days beforehand. On the day, the meal was a little late starting, because the people who were going to grit the paths and get the place ready were travelling by bus, which terminated early due to the frost!
The rest of the month featured the carol service, carol singing round the valley and the Christmas Day service, a good time was had by all.

October 2010

October was a busy month for both of us. Friday 1st saw Susannah at chapel for the preparations to get the chapel ready for Harvest Thanksgiving and the food festival. There was shoping to be done to get the food for the festival, an early start to the market was necessary.

Susannah was again busy with the food festival on the Saturday and then she preached at the morning service. Jonathan preached at the evening communion service.

Friday the 8th saw us both at chapel to put the meat in the slow cooker to prepare the pies for the next day. The peas also had to be soaked.

On Sunday the 10th it was "Connexional Plan" and Jonathan was at Ibstock

whilst Susannah was at nearby New Swannington. Since we are without a car at the moment we were very grateful for Ray taking us and bringing us back.

On Thursday 14th, Susannah was speaking at Dodworth Methodist Church (where we were married) in the evening and travelled by train. whilst on Sunday 17th Jonathan was preaching at our Philadelphia chapel.

On Sunday 24th, Jonathan was preaching at Tapton Hill Congregational Church.

Thursday and Friday saw us preparing for the festival of light by shopping for the food and swedes to make lanterns. Last week we were in a branch of a well known supermarket and they had lorry loads of swedes. This week we went to another branch of the same supermarket; not a swede in sight!

The evening before. Jonathan was sorting sweet wrappers. The congregation had been asked to save wrappers from sweets for the lantern and "stained glass window" making. what a lot of toffees they have eaten! The festival was an encouraging success, and will be adapted for next year.

September

Jonathan was preaching and celebrating communion at 6-30p.m. on Sunday Sept. 5th at Mayfield.
It may seem strange for church pastors to be concerned about the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr, but we live in an area alongside many Muslims. Over the years we have established a tradition of giving as many of our neighbours as possible a cake to help them in their celebration of Eid. This means that Jonathan spent many hours on the 10th and 11th of September baking Swiss rolls, which were given to 8 local families. We are not aware of any special significance of Swiss rolls to Muslims!, but our conversations with Asian families have taught us that this is an aspect of English cookery which they appreciate. The gifts have resulted in many interesting conversations over the years, often a small gift of Pakistani food in return, and frequently a Christmas Card later in the year.
The church meeting on the 15th required some communication (mostly email) with the secretary in order to establish what the agenda would be.
Sunday September 19th was the last Cafe church for the summer which required Saturday being spent in preparing worship materials and baking.
The lack of a car meant that the shopping for the Supper club was a bit more involved that normal, but the problem was solved by several trips using a shopping trolley.
The coffee morning on 25th in aid of Macmillan was a success, and was followed by our friends from Richmond church using our premises for their "awayday"
Susannah celebrated communion on Sunday 26th morning whilst the team from Fulwood church led the worship.
In the evening Jonathan preached at our Philadelphia church and Susannah sang a solo ot the celebration of their anniversary, it was 45 years since the current building was opened.
Susannah attended a meeting and lunch to celebrate the acquisition of the new minibus for Pitsmoor and Shiregreen community transport on Wednesday 29th. This was held at Shiregreen United Reformed Church.
On Thursday 30th, Susannah chaired the circuit meeting at Owlerton church. Jonathan attended the meeting.

Gainsville Florida

Readers may be aware that Rev. Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainsville Florida has stated that he will be burning copies of the Koran to mark the anniverary of the terrorosm attack on New York (11th September). I have been unable to find a email address for Rev. Jones, but I have sent the email below to the city authorities with the a request that they forward it to him.

Dear Rev. Jones,

At our church prayer meeting on Tuesday we prayed for you, your church, and the people who will be affected by your proposed actions.

In Matthew's Gospel (ch 5:44), Jesus urges "Love (agape) your enemies." and "Pray for those who persecute you" Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor 13) gives us an exposition of what love (agape) is, and in his letter to the Ephesians (4:16) urges the body to build itself up (edify) in love.

You will undoubtedly say that you are free to do that which you propose, and I cannot argue with you, but may I remind you that in his first letter to the Corinthians (10: 23), Paul says that all things are permissible, but that does not necessarily make them beneficial or constructive (edifying).

I urge you to prayerfully consider whether your actions are worthy of our Lord's call to love; whether they are beneficial; whether they will edify. If any of these questions cannot be answered with an unqualified "yes", then I urge you to reconsider your course and make any protest which you feel necessary in a more loving, constructive and less confrontational manner.

Yours in the service of the Lord,
Jonathan Youdan
Pastor Mayfield Wesleyan Reform Church
Sheffield, England

August 2010

The month started with Susannah preaching at the Philadelphia church in the morning. Later that week we were visiting members of the congregation.

Susannah attended the needlework day on the 14th and bought the flowers for church the following day when it was our son's turn to provide them. The materials for the café church were printed and laminated. The seeds to plant had to be bought.

Susannah was camping at church with our dog for the camp weekend, Jonathan was working and at home looking after the animals. He was also preparing and printing the orders of service for the animal service the next day. This went well.

The shopping had to be done for the supper club, one supermarket never has everything we need for a menu!

Afterwards we had to put the pulpit back into the church ready for the wedding on Sunday.

On Saturday 28th we had the rehearsal for the wedding which was to take place the following day. Susannah was the flower arranger for the Sunday, so she did a pedestal display ready the both the morning service and the wedding.

On Sunday, Susannah was preaching at Hillsborough Trinity Methodist Church in the morning, and then making the journey back to Mayfield to take part in the wedding. Unfortunately, the car expired on Fulwood Road in a cloud of smoke and steam! Fortunately, a passing motorist stopped and asked if she could be any help, Susannah arrived at the chapel just in time for the service.

Afterwards, the car was successfully started and coaxed home, but the cloud of smoke indicated that all was not well!! It has since been decided that it was beyond economic repair.

July 2010

July was another busy month. (Is there another sort?) In addition to the activities in the church blog, it was the time to design, print, fold and distribute about 450 "What's On" leaflets for the Summer 2010 period. Towards the end of the month the next edition of the newsletter was also due and had to be printed. This month it was decided to produce a copy of the Wesleyan Reform Union's "Excited About Mission" which is distributed monthly. Members were asked to read and pray about the contents. People who want their own copy can have it sent by email straight from the Union, or ask for a paper copy.

On July 11th Jonathan was preaching at Hampden view church in the morning. This was an "All age worship" on the theme of the calling of the first disciples.

Later that week, the chapel had to be prepared for the coming visit of the Coal Aston United Churches Choir. This involved moving the pulpit and communion table into the vestry and turning several of the pews round in order to accommodate the choir. Arrangements had also to be made to produce and serve about 80 drinks. The evening went well.

Susannah attended an event at "The Rock" Christian centre on Carlisle Street where she read the scripture reading.

Also during the month, a number of visits were made to members of the congregation.