St Thomas ,

Purston

All Saints, North

Featherstone

Featherstone Community Church

Magazine September 2019

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Father Peter’s September

Reflection: I find myself yet again saying where has this year gone? Here we are in September already! It’s a month the last remnants of summer drift lazily toward the Autumn. Please forgive me for stealing a line from Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 when he stated that, “... summer's lease hath all too short a date.”

Too short a date indeed! But, although the end of summer brings ever shortening days there is a slowing down, and a mellowing as nature slowly but surely prepares to rest. We all dream of an Indian Summer with late heat and glorious golden sunsets. Perhaps, a long walk on a beach for the romantically inclined. Or, just gazing out of the windows at the leaves on the trees slowly changing colour ready for their autumnal displays, which are just around the corner.

September sees the return of ‘Follow me 6’ With an invitation from Bish-op Tony to attend a sixth series of evening teaching sessions. I have attended many of the previous along with Jill and I can thoroughly rec-ommend them to you. They begin on Thursday 12th September 2019 at 18:30 - 21:15 at Wakefield Cathedral with, 'Cloud of Witnesses' with the Revd Richard Coles. A man of many talents, the Revd Richard Coles is both a journalist and Church of England priest. He hosts the BBC Radio 4 programme Saturday Live and appears regularly on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show1. The evening begins with Choral Evensong at 18:30 followed by food at 19:15. The teaching session begins at 19:45. To sign up email caroline.asquith@leeds.anglican.org or ring 01924 434450 giving any dietary requirements. It would be great to have a strong representation from both our Churches at these sessions. Did I mention they are free?

For me this year has been one of pilgrimage. Early this year along with John (a fellow priest) I joined a retreat in the Monastery in Alnmouth. Northumberland holds a special place in my heart, and early in Septem-ber I hope to return there to tread in the footsteps of St Cuthbert and the Northern Celtic saints. I particularly enjoy a visit to Lindisfarne (Tide

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permitting) and spending some quality time enjoying that thin place with Jill. It is a place where the veil between Heaven and Earth is so thin that the two domains are said to touch. It is a place to walk, pray and bless the Lord for his creation. I sometimes wonder if the seals bobbing their heads curiously out of the water bless the Lord for us. The benefits of finding a peaceful place to pray far from the Madding Crowd are many. If it was good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for me:

Luke 5:16 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Luke 6:12-13 12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he al-so designated apostles:

Mark 6:46 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

Matthew 14:23 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone.

On Saturday the 28th of September this year the Church will be open for a while for a quiet time of prayer and reflection. I believe that thin places can be created wherever you are. Quiet always precedes deep meaningful prayer. There will be more details issued soon re-garding this day.

In the meanwhile, enjoy the end of summer and the slow change to Autumn.

Love in Christ,

Father Peter

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SHOE BOXES

These need to be ready mid November, so if you are planning on do-ing one you could start shopping now.. More details to follow in next months magazine.

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Contact details during Father Joseph’s Sabbatical

St Thomas

Derek & Frances Varndell—Tel 07535350705

All Saints

Wendy Wilson—Tel 07931 710335 /277947

David Brooks—Tel—01977 55074

TUESDAY PARENT & TODDLER/BABY GROUP

Come & join us at our new free group. Time to chat, whilst having a cup

of tea and time for your children to play together

& socialise. Come along to All Saints church

every Tuesday in school term time from 9.15 a.m.

to 10.30

Church Website for St Thomas & All Saints Take a look & find

out what’s on, who’s who & the history of your

local churches

Just type in this address

https:/featherstonechurches.co.uk

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GOD’S COFFEE

-- Author unknown

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old uni-versity professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite -- telling them to help themselves to the

coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the cof-fee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups." "Now consider this," he continued... "Life is the coffee. The jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrat-ing only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us." God brews the coffee, not the cups... Enjoy your coffee! "The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything they have." Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply.

Speak kindly... and leave the rest to God.

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HUGGAMUG COFFEE SHOP

NEW SEASONAL MENU

Church lane, Featherstone

Hot & cold food to eat in or take away.

Small after hours functions available e.g.

baby showers, afternoon teas.

Open 7.00a.m. –4.00p.m. Mon

to Friday

Tel: Jo—0758 4635870

NOSH’S FINEST FISH AND CHIPSDelivery available

168 Featherstone Lane 01977 780821

Everything cooked to order

Mon-Thurs 4.30—8.00

Fri 11.30—1.45 and 4.30 8.00

Sat 11.30—2.00

Kids meals inc. drink £2.40

Other food available

Family Feast Special £21

OAP special (over 65) £ 4.50

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DENTURES BY DOMINIC

General dental Council Reg No 145164

11 Andrew Street, Featherstone WF7 5NS

01977 793193

Private Denture Clinic where quality & service count.

At Dentures by Dominic, we don’t just make dentures, we create smiles.....

Complete or partial acrylic dentures

Soft comfortable linings

Denture care & denture repair

Metal/chrome dentures

Wheelchair access

Home visits available

Residential & Care Home visits

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1st September Churches Together St Thomas 10.30 am

No service at All Saints in the morning

8th September Songs of Praise 6.00pm All Saints

DAY OF PRAYER

SATURDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER

10.00AM—3.30P.M.

There will be four separate one hour sessions, so feel free to at-tend any or all.

10.-11.00am Prayer for the local community

11.30—12.30

1.00 –2.00

2.30 –3.30 pm

More details will be available in both churches and the Notice boards nearer the time.

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SEPTEMBER RECIPE

ROCKY ROAD

4ozs chopped unsalted butter

5ozs plain choc (at least 70% solids)

9 ozs marshmallow chopped

3 1/2 ozs rich tea biscuits chopped

2-3 tablespoons of Amaretto, rum or brandy

1. Grease 7” square tin & line with baking parchment

2. Melt butter & chocolate in a heatproof bowl over simmering pan of

hot water. Leave to cool a little

3. In a large bowl mix other ingredient, add melted chocolate mixture &

stir

4. Pour mixture into cake tin & chill for at least 2 hour. Cut into squares &

serve with ice cream

NUMBER 1 JOKE FROM Edinburgh festival

I keep randomly shouting out, “Broccolli, cauliflower!” ……… I think I might

have florets.

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DRIVING HOME

I was driving home from a work when my car started to choke and sputter and died. I

barely managed to coast, cruising, into a petrol station. Before I could make the call, I

saw a woman walking out of the shop, and it looked like she slipped on some ice and fell

into a petrol pump! So I got out to see if she was okay. When I got there, it looked more

like she had been overcome by sobs than that she had fallen. She was a young woman

who looked really haggard with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something as I

helped her up, and I picked it up to give it to her. It was a penny

At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient car

crammed full of stuff with 3 kids in the back (1 in a car seat), and the petrol pump reading

£4.95. I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she just kept saying "I

don't want my kids to see me crying," so we stood on the other side of the pump from her

car. She said she was driving to her Mum’s that things were very hard for her right now.

So, I asked, "And you were praying?" That made her back away from me a little, but I

assured her I was not a crazy person and said, "He heard you, and He sent me."

I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up

her car completely, and while it was fueling, walked to the next door McDonald's and

bought 2 big bags of food, some gift certificates for more, and a big cup of coffee. She

gave the food to the kids in the car who attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump

eating fries and talking a little.

She told me her name and that she lived nearby. Her boyfriend left 2 months ago, and

she had not been able to make ends meet. She knew she wouldn't have money to pay

the rent January 1st, and finally, in desperation, had called her parents, with whom she

had not spoken in about 5 years. They said she could come live with them and try to get

on her feet there. So she packed up everything she owned in the car. She told the kids

they were going to Grandma’s for Christmas but not that they were going to live there.

I gave her my gloves and a little hug and said a quick prayer with her for safety on the

road. As I was walking over to my car, she said, "So, are you like an angel or some-

thing?" This definitely made me cry. I said, "Sweetie, at this time of year, angels are real-

ly busy, so sometimes God uses regular people."

It was so incredible to be a part of someone else's miracle. And of course, when I got in

my car, it started right away and got me home with no problem. I'll put it in the shop to-

morrow for a check, but I suspect the mechanic won't find anything wrong.

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WORLD WAR 1 FEATHERSTONE HOME GUARD 1941 –45

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF DR R G FORSTER , who was captain of

the Home guard, (second from right on the front row)

4th from right on front row is Bill Fleming, major, who was area

agent for the Ackton Hall & Hemsworth Colliery company.

We don’t know any others but you might have fun looking for your

ancestors! Let us know if you recognise anyone.

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HENPECKED

Why???

1. Why do overlook and oversee mean opposite things?

2. Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one?

3. 'I am' is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language.

Could it be that 'I do' is the longest sentence?

3. If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow

that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged,

models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?

4. What hair colour do they put on the driver's license's of bald men?

5. I thought about how mothers feed their babies with tiny little

spoons and forks so I wondered what do Chinese mothers use? Toothpicks?

6. Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office? What

are we supposed to do, write to them? Why don't they just put their

pictures on the postage stamps so the postmen can look for them while

they deliver the mail?

7. You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive. (my fav)

8. No one ever says, 'It's only a game' when their team is winning.

9. Ever wonder about those people who spend £1.50 apiece on those

little bottles of Evian water? Try spelling Evian backwards: NAIVE

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LOVING MY PARENTS

Growing up, I was always very grumpy and did not co-operate with anyone. Little

things like people looking at me could get me angry. When someone gets to close

to me, I would push them away. My mum was no exception. I didn't understand at

that time how much my mum had did for me. But growing up, I realized I have been

causing endless streams of trouble for my family. It was either accidentally break-

ing/spoiling something or making my parents angry at me for something. I started to

think ' What if my parents abandoned me? There are thousands of children world-

wide who do not have parents. I am not one of them'

No matter how hard it was to take care of me, my

parents never gave up. So I realized that I should not

treat them badly and have to try and be nice to them all

the time. I do not say this to my parents often but I love

them deep down in my heart.

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Tuesday Coffee Morning St Thomas Church Hall Tuesday 9.30 am—12 noon. Delicious homemade cake & buns & toasted teacakes

Wednesday Coffee Morning All Saints Church Wednesday 10.30—12 noon Delicious homemade cake, quiche & toasted teacakes

J M HENNEL MRICS AMM T ENG

Plans drawn and put through

Planning and Building Regulations

Houses to garages

Newlands

Cutsyke Road

Featherstone

WF7 6BD

Tel 01977 780436

Mobile 07932 773241

E-mail: hennel369@gmail.com

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SEPTEMBER HUMOUR

DANCING DUCK A circus director goes into a bar and is surprised to see every-one gathered round a table in the centre of the bar. He el-bows his way in and to his surprised ton find himself face to face with a duck dancing on a little pot. This is great, he thinks, that is one of the best acts I have ever seen. A few minutes haggling later, he parts with £5000 and gets both the duck and the pot it dances on. A few days pass and the circus director is back in the bar seeking the ex-owner out. “What’s all this about?” he rages, “Your duck hasn’t been dancing for 3 days. I want my money back.” “Hold on a minute matey,” the guy replies, “ You say the duck hasn’t been dancing at all?” “That’s right!” “Well did you remember to light the candle under the pot?” SORRY DAVE What would David Beckham’s stage name be if he was one of the Spice Girls? A waste of Spice!

WHAT WOMEN UNDERSTAND THAT MEN DON’T The need for the same style of shoe in different colours Spending £50 on a haircut that lasts two weeks The difference between beige, off-white and eggshell Eye lash curlers The inaccuracy of every bathroom scale ever made

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ST THOMAS SEPTEMBER’S Years Mind

I Mary D Wilson

Peter D Jay

Henry A Parker

2 Rita Bailey

Lavinia Watkin

Thomas Hall

4 James Beardsley

David J Brightmore

6 Vincent Kinsey

Mary S Blackett

7 Leah Rycroft

Irene Oliver

Lucy Jean – Louis, Erich Stocker

8 Florence M Morley

9 Stephen Duffield

Doreen Jarvis

10 Eliza Howgate

Ronald Sharpe

12 Jemma C Ruse

13 Fred Mann

Jack Sykes

William Leake

14 Lorna Gibson

15 Robert C Garrod

16 Annie Howgate

Derek Firth

17 Hannah Brown

Emily Banks,

Pricifla I Charles

19 Eileen M Dutton

20 Bessie Corbett 21 Robert Dawson

Cyril Chilton

22 Gwendoline Howgate 23 Harry Mann

25 Herbert Hewitt

JohnMarshall 26 Mary E Lowe

Kathleen J Peasant, 27 Emily Dawson

Ruby Amery

28 John N Emery

Charles J Pashley

29 Frank H Holgate

Florence Williams

. Daisy Padgett

30 Alice Winter

May they rest in peace

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Brooks Gardening Services

General Garden maintenance

Fencing

Lawn care

Landscaping

Tree & hedge Pruning

Paving

For a friendly, professional & reliable service

call Matthew on 07534281804 for a quote

Twisted Vintage

Give your home a soul

We Have an eclectic mix of modern, vintage and rustic style home accesso-

ries and gifts.

Handmade soft furnishings

Candles

Pre-loved vintage items

Fabric, ribbon and lace

Gifts

Garden accessories

The Old Mexborough Arms

CastlefordWF10 5PT

Tel:01977 512939

Opening Times: Everyday 10am – 4.00pm

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ALL SAINTS Years Mind

2nd Doreen Mary Smith 2006

3rd Sheila Dougherty 2013

4th Freda Conway 2014

4th Margaret Gill 2006

8th Neil Rothwell 2018

9th Christine Walters 2014

9th Marie Todd 2013

11th Elizabeth Glover 2011

12th Edna Maxwell 2008

14th Jean Walters 2011

17th Gordon Pickering 2016

18th John D Gosney 2016

19th Barbara Brookes 2011

19th Winnie Box 2014

19th Fr Michael Bootes 2014

26th Phyllis Smith 2014

28th Ivy Brookes 2010

30th Colin Curtis 2013

Maurice Smith 2007

Evan Evans 2018

Alice Maskill 2008

Philip M Longley 2010

MAY THEY REST IN PEACE AND RISE IN GLORY

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PARISH MASS

Sunday 9am at All Saints’ Parish Church Featherstone 1st Sunday of Month 9.30am Family Service All Saints

and at 10.30am at Saint Thomas' Parish Church also 8am Said Mass at Saint Thomas

Father Joseph Grosu Saint Thomas’ House

32 Victoria Street, Purston WF7 5EZ

Telephone 01977 792288 Curate Peter Clapham

Usual Said Masses

Tuesdays 12pm St Thomas Church Hall Wednesdays 9.30am All Saints’–

Including Healing on last Wednesday of each month

Baptism enquiries St Thomas ;Joyce Dibb Tel . 709680 All Saints ; Jane Wyard Tel. 796050 or Gail Copley Tel. 706064 Magazine editors: Jenny Pye & Clare Grosu & Val Carter

Hire of St Thomas Church Hall Tel. Clare 01977 792288 Hire of All Saints Rooms Tel. Sue Kirkham 01977 703113 Churchwardens

St Thomas ; Frances & Derek Varndell: Tel. 075353 50705 All Saints; David Brooks Tel. 550748 , Wendy Wilson Tel. 277947 Saint Thomas Junior School Head teacher Mrs D Randall Telephone: 01977 706063 All Saints Church of England Academy Headteacher Mr M Jones Telephone 01977 780225