2014 12 december and 2015 01 january

Quoniam tu Dominus al ssimus super omnem terram

THE PARISH MAGAZINE of St Saviour Ravensthorpe and

Holy Innocents Thornhill Lees

December & January 2014/15

50p

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Parish Priest

Father Paul Atkinson SSC

The Vicarage,

Church Street,

Ravensthorpe,

Tel: 01924 672103

Email: [email protected]

For all the latest informa on about services and events within our Parishes please see the Parish Website:

www.stsaviourwithholyinnocents.weebly.com 

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Fr Paul writes

This month I want to keep things very short and simple and so I begin with a short story. One day a senior angel was showing a young angel the splendours of the universe. They visited many galaxies and many blazing suns, travelling at unimaginable speeds, finally enter one galaxy it has 500 billion stars. As the two of them draw near to a star and to its circling planets, the senior angel points to a small and rather insignificant sphere turning slowly on its axis. It looked as dull as a tennis‐ball to the li le angel, whose mind was filled with immensity of what he had just witnessed. “I want you to look at that planet,” said the senior angel, poin ng with his finger. “Well, it looks very small and rather dirty to me,” said the li le angel. What’s so special about that planet?” To the li le angel, the planet we know as home did not seem very impressive and so he listened in stunned disbelief as the senior angel told him that, that planet, small and Insignificant as it might be, is the renowned visited Planet. Are you telling me that our great and glorious Prince went down in Person to this fi h‐rate li le ball? Why should He do a thing like that?” The li le angel’s face wrinkled in disgust. “Do you mean to tell me,” he said, “that He stooped so low as to become one of those creeping, crawling creatures who inhabit that floa ng ball?” “I do, and I don’t think He would like you to call them ‘creeping, crawling creatures’ in that tone of voice. For, strange as it may seem to us, He loves them. He went down to visit them to li them up so that they could become like Him.” As we approach the Feast of the Na vity, Christmas to most people, I always begin to think amongst many other things about the prologue to Johns Gospel (John 1.1‐14) and although not the most sen mental or popular reading appointed for use at Christmas it is the one which tells us in a very special way just who the child born into this unimpressive li le ball is. ...In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us. This is the Incarna on and as theological as Johns Gospel might be all we really need to understand about his prologue is that it tells us that God the Son was born as a human baby. A ques on I suspect not many will be asking this over their Turkey this Christmas is why did this need to happen, why did God have to become a human person and although this is a ques on that not many will ask it is I believe a ques on that every Chris an should ask every Christmas. Perhaps you already know the answer, but if you don’t it’s simply because he had to. Because the human race needed and s ll needs a Saviour, someone who can reconcile us to God. So this Christmas remember what it’s all really about, the Son of God became a man in order that you, I and everyone else might be saved. Have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year

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HOLY DAYS & SERVICES DECEMBER 2014

Saturday 6th December St Nicholas

Mass 10am St Saviour

Monday 8th December The Immaculate Concep on of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Wednesday 10th December Chris ngle Holy Innocents 6pm

Friday 12th December

Dewsbury West Scout Group Christmas Service Six Lessons and Carols 6pm St Saviour All Welcome

Saturday 13th December

St Lucy Mass St Saviour 10am

Sunday 21st December

Joint Parish Mass & Confirma on St Saviour 10am

Mass will be followed by a celebra on buffet all welcome

Chris ngle St Saviour 6pm

Thursday 24th December

Family Carol Service with Vigil Mass 7pm St Saviour

Midnight Mass

Holy Innocents 11:30pm

Thursday 25th December CHRISTMAS DAY

Mass St Saviour 10am

Friday 26th December St Stephen

Low Mass St Saviour 9:30am

Sunday 28th December THE HOLY INNOCENTS

Joint Patronal Fes val Mass Holy Innocents 10am Mass will be followed by wine and nibbles in the Church Hall

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PARISH OFFICERS

St Saviour Church Wardens Miss Pauline Denton 495136 Mr Michael Lister 468812

PCC Secretary & Deanery Synod Representative Miss Anne Blackburn 498387 PCC Treasurer Mr Tony Longstaff 462647 Stewardship Recorder Mr Tony Longstaff 462647 Electoral Roll Officer Miss Kathleen Thornton Sunday School & Safeguarding Officer Mrs Tracy Atkinson 672103 Organist Mr Tony Longstaff 462647 Church Flowers Miss Kathleen Thornton

Dewsbury West Community Centre Bookings: Anne Thornton 493551 Uniformed Organisations Group Scout Leader Sarah Haigh 07926 291877 Beavers -Charli Laverick 07919 0847862 Cubs - David Laverick 524490 Scouts - Paul Hadley - 457725

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PARISH OFFICERS

Holy Innocents

Church Wardens Mrs Mavis Idle 490457 Miss Sharon Parker 488538 PCC Secretary & Deanery Synod Representative Mrs Linda Carruthers PCC Treasurer & Deanery Synod Representative Mrs Sylvia Dudding 460111

Stewardship Recorder Mrs Sylvia Dudding 460111

Electoral Roll Officer Linda Windle 506392

Safeguarding Officer Mrs Tracy Atkinson 672130 Organist Mr Tony Longstaff 462647 Church Flowers Mrs Marion Coy 464743 Uniformed Organisations

Brownies Linda Windle 506392

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St Nicholas – patron saint of children Father Christmas seems to be as old as Europe. Once he was Woden, lashing his reindeer through the darkness of northern midwinter. Then he encountered the Church, and She transformed him into a saint, the much‐loved Nicholas, Bishop of Myra (in south‐west Tur‐key) in the fourth century. St Nicholas became the patron saint of children, and was given 6 December as his day. Since the 6th century St Nicholas has been venerated in both East and West, though virtually nothing is known of his life. Some believe he may have been one of the fathers at the Council of Nicea (325), imprisoned during the Emperor Diocle an’s persecu on. According to legend, Nicholas was an extremely generous man. He revived three schoolboys murdered by an innkeeper in a tub of pick‐les. He rescued three young women from pros tu on by giving their poverty‐stricken father three bags of gold. (Hence the use of three gold balls as the pawnbroker’s signs.) Over the centuries many, including children, sailors, unmarried girls, pawnbrokers and moneylenders have claimed him as their patron. Perhaps it was on account of S Nicholas’ generosity that in recent centuries children began to write li le notes some me before 6 De‐cember, to tell him about the toys they specially wanted. These notes were then le on the windowsill at night ‐ or else on a ledge in the chimney. But St Nicholas Day chanced to lie in the magne c field of a much more potent fes val.... and a er awhile his ac vi es were moved towards Christmas. Then in Bavaria the children s ll le their notes on the windowsill, but they addressed them to Liebes Christkind ‐ Krishkinkle as they knew him ‐ and the saint’s part in the ma er was simply to deliver the le ers in heaven. The most popular result of the cult of St Nicholas has been the ins ‐tu on of Santa Claus. He is based on Nicholas’ patronage of children and the custom in the Low Countries of giving presents on his feast. Santa Claus has reached his zenith in America, where the Dutch Protestants of New Amsterdam (New York) united to it Nordic folk‐lore legends of a magician who both punished naughty children and rewarded good ones with presents.

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Lazarus of Bethany – back from the tomb Some people have near‐death experiences.... Lazarus should be their patron saint. Except that he went all the way, and died for four days. He was quiet in his tomb and the mourners of Bethany were in full swing ‐ before Jesus called him back to life. (See John 11: 1 – 44.) What happened next to Lazarus and his sisters Martha and Mary?

The New Testament never tells us, but there are some clues from early church history and legends. It seems that Lazarus became very popular with the early Chris an Church because he was living evidence that Jesus could bring people back from the dead. It also seems that Lazarus was NOT popular with the local Jews, for the very same reason. They wanted to forget Jesus, and here Lazarus was s ll walking around, talking about resurrec on... So eventually some exasperated Jews decided to act. According to an early Eastern tradi on, they placed Lazarus and his sisters into a leaky boat and set them adri in the Mediterranean.... where the li le boat carried them safely to Cyprus. Here Lazarus became bishop and lived for another 30 years. Another, later, tradi on has it that the boat had no rudder or oars, but s ll bore them safely to Gaul, where Lazarus founded a church and became the first bishop of Marseilles, so to speak... un l he was martyred under Domi an (81‐96AD).

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Christmas: The story of the Chris ngle The word ‘Chris ngle’ actually means ‘Christ Light’, and celebrates the light of Jesus coming into the world. Stories of how the Chris ngle began look back to the Moravian Church, which is found in the Czech Republic. The Moravians have held Chris ngle services for more than 200 years, and according to them, this is how the first Chris ngle might have been made: Many years ago the children in a village were asked to bring a Christmas gi to put beside the crib in the church. One family was very poor, and had no money for gi s, but the three children were s ll determined to take something. The only nice thing they had was an orange, so they decided to give the Christ‐child that. But then they discovered the top was going green, so the eldest cut it out, and put a candle in the hole. To add some colour, one of the girls took a red ribbon from her hair and ed it around the middle of the orange. It was hard to make the ribbon stay s ll, so they fastened it in place with toothpicks. The toothpicks looked a bit bare, so the youngest child added some raisons to them. The children took their decorated orange lantern to the church for the Christmas Mass. The other children sneered at their meagre gi , but the priest seized upon it with joy. He held it up as an example of the true understanding of the meaning of Christmas, for the following reasons: the orange is round, like the world; the candle gives us light in the dark, like the love of God; the red ribbon goes round the ‘world’, as a symbol of Christ’s blood, given for everyone; the four s cks point in all direc ons, and symbolise that God is over all: North, South, East and West; and the fruit and nuts remind us of God’s blessings. The Children’s Society first introduced the Chris ngle Service to The Church of England in 1968, and it has since become a popular event in the church calendar. This candlelit celebra on is an ideal way to share the key messages of the Chris an faith, while helping to raise vital funds to help vulnerable children across the country.

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Christmas Eve How do you celebrate Christmas Eve? It has its own customs, the most popular of which is going to Midnight Mass, or the Christ‐Mass. This is the only Mass of the year which is allowed to start a er s unset. In Catholic countries such as Spain, Italy and Poland, Midnight Mass is in fact the most important church service of the en re Christmas season, and many people tradi onally fast beforehand. In other countries, such as Belgium and Denmark, people dine during the evening, and then go on to the Midnight Service. The English are behind some countries when it comes to exchanging presents: in Germany, Sweden and Portugal the custom is to exchange on Christmas Eve. But the English are ahead of Serbia and Slovakia, where the Christmas tree is not even brought into the house and decorated un l Christmas Eve . Yule logs are not so popular since the decline of the fireplace, but tradi onally it was lit on Christmas Eve from a bit of the previous year’s log, and then would be burned non‐stop un l 12th Night (6th January). Tradi on also decreed that any greenery such as holly, ivy or mistletoe must wait un l Christmas Eve un l being brought into the house. Christmas: Why does it begin at midnight with The Midnight Mass? The hour was first chosen at Rome in the fi h century to symbolise the idea that Christ was born at midnight – a mys cal idea in no way hindered by historical evidence! No one knows the hour of his birth. Certainly in recent mes, Holy Communion at midnight on Christmas morning has proved popular with modern families. One Bri sh writer pointed out its “domes c convenience” in 1947: “for where there are children and no servants, husband and wife may be unable to communicate at any other me.” (So things don’t change, then!)

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Christmas and St Luke’s Gospel It is to St Luke’s wonderful gospel that many Chris ans turn as the year draws to a close and Christmas approaches, for it is to St Luke that we owe the fullest account of the na vity. Luke alone tells us the story of Mary and the angel’s visit to her, and has thus given the Church the wonderful Magnificat of Mary. Luke alone tells us the story of Simeon’s hymn of praise, thus giving us the wonderful Nunc Dimmi s. Imagine an Anglican evensong without the Nunc Dimmi s. St Luke alone tells us the story of how the angels appeared to the shepherds and how the shepherds then visited the infant Jesus. So – imagine Christmas cards and na vity scenes every year without the shepherds arriving to visit baby Jesus. Imagine school na vity plays without our children dressed as shepherds or sheep. So – thank you, Luke! What makes it so amazing is that Luke was not a Jew! The man who wrote the fullest na vity story, and indeed more of the New Testament than any other single person, was a Gen le!

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 St Stephen Deacon the first martyr (died c 35 AD) Have you ever stopped to consider that the very first martyr of the Chris an Church was a deacon? (But no, he wasn’t worked to death by his church.) It was Stephen, one of the first seven deacons of the Chris an Church. He’d been appointed by the apostles to look a er the distribu on of alms to the faithful poor, and to help in the ministry of preaching. Acts 6 and 7 tells us all that we know of his life, and the passages seem to suggest that he was an educated Hellenis c Jew. Certainly Stephen’s famous challenge to the Jews reveals him to have been learned in the Scriptures and the history of Judaism, besides being eloquent and forceful. Stephen's proclama on on the day of his martyrdom pulled no punches. He told the Jews that God did not depend on the Temple. The Temple was but a temporary ins tu on des ned to be fulfilled and superseded by Christ, who was the prophet foreseen by Moses as the Messiah for whom the Jewish race had so long awaited. Stephen then challenged his hearers for resis ng the Spirit and for killing the Christ, as their fathers before them had killed the proph‐ets. The Jews were so outraged by this that they stoned Stephen on the spot for blasphemy. As he died, Stephen saw a vision of Christ on God's right hand. The men who were witness to the stoning placed their clothes at the feet of Saul (a erwards Paul), who (to his deep regret later) con‐sented to Stephen's death. By the fourth century Stephen had his own feast day in both East and West Churches. When his supposed tomb was discovered in 415, his popularity soared. His (supposed) relics were taken to Con‐stan nople and then Rome, along with some stones (allegedly) used at his martyrdom. Early on the Church made Stephen the patron saint of deacons. In the late Middle Ages he was also invoked against headaches

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Holy Innocents The death of a very young child is perhaps the hardest grief of all to bear. So the 28th December is a very poignant day in the church calendar. It is when the worldwide Church joins with bereaved parents to grieve the loss of babies and young children. For Holy Innocents day recalls the massacre of the young male children of Bethlehem by Herod the Great. Herod had been told by the magi, or wise men, that a great king had been born in Bethlehem, and he felt shaken. How could a child in unimportant li le Bethlehem be so powerful that the stars in the night sky honoured his birth?! Herod took the magi so seriously that he decided to try and kill this new young rival. He decreed that every male baby of two years and under should be killed. (Ma hew 2:1‐18). Bethlehem was not a large place, and Bible commentators es mate that between six and 25 youngsters were slaughtered by Roman ]soldiers. Their mothers were inconsolable at the death of their babies, as indeed mothers have always been. The death of these innocent baby boys of Bethlehem became a feast‐day in the western Church by the 4th century. This was because the Church considered them to be martyrs because they not only died for Christ, but instead of Christ. Down the centuries, the tragic loss of the Holy Innocents has touched the imagina on and hearts of poets, preachers and ar sts. Though heart‐broken parents s ll grieve today, the Church can offer them one firm assurance: that young children who die to this world will undoubtedly “this day be with Me in Paradise.” The One who eagerly said “Suffer the li le children to come unto Me” will be the last person to turn them away.

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Smile Lines Mother in a storm One cold winter night, during a violent storm, a mother was tucking her small frightened boy into bed. She was about to turn off the light when he said with a tremor in his voice: “Mummy, will you stay with me tonight?” Mummy smiled and gave him a reassuring hug. “I can’t, dear,” she said, “I have to sleep with Daddy.” A long silence – and then came his shaky reply: “The big coward!” Christmas gi s Grandfather was talking to his grand‐daughter, “When I was a child all we got for Christmas was an apple and an orange.” The li le girl clapped her hands in joy. “Brilliant! I’d love a new computer and a mobile!” Christmas shopping It was Christmas and the judge was in a benign mood as he asked the prisoner what he was charged with. “Doing my Christmas shopping early,” replied the man. “Why, that’s no offence,” said the judge. “How early were you doing it?” “Before the store opened,” replied the defendant. Christmas carols One night as Christmas approached, some friends decided to go carol singing. A man answered the door of one house, and gasped as they launched into the opening lines of the first carol. Within half a minute, he looked stricken. Soon tears were welling up in his eyes. The carollers sang and sang, and the man looked more and moved by what he heard. At last the carollers stopped, and one ventured: “I understand – you are sad because our singing reminds you of your happy childhood Christmas days.” The man looked at her with misery in his eyes. “No,” he whispered back. “It’s just that I am a musician!”

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Decembers Le er

On why Carol Services are so dangerous

The Rectory St. James the Least My dear Nephew Darren So: you are excited about being invited to plan your first Carol Ser‐vice. The dangers involved are only slightly less than being invited to judge the best cake made by the Ladies’ Group. You seem to have no idea of the lifelong offence you will inevitably cause. In decades to come when you will either be a seasoned old clergyman – or more likely a double glazing salesman – you will be remembered as “the Curate who offended Mrs Smith.” First, you have to decide which groups are going to be represented to give the readings. If the Brownies were asked last year, then it has to be the Cubs this me. But don’t forget that every third year, the Boys’ Brigade must be asked, or they will take their revenge and get their flag tangled in the nave chandelier come Remembrance Sun‐day. If someone represents the choir, then over a four year period, all four voice parts must be called on – and if the organist isn’t asked on the fi h year, then all hymns subsequently will be played at dou‐ble speed and with one verse missing. Should one person have been invited to read for two successive years, then their annual appear‐ance therea er will be taken as an inalienable right for the rest of their life me – and probably longer than that. To drop them may well invoke legal proceedings,

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If you do not specify where they should read from and how the read‐ings should end, then a form of ecclesias cal infla on will happen. If the first reader speaks from the chancel step, the next one will go to the lectern; a er the sanctuary and pulpit have been u lised, the final reader will probably ask you to move so he can take your place. The varia ons on “Here endeth”, “This is the Word of the Lord”, and “Thanks be to God”, are endless and will increase in length as the Ser‐vice progresses. The final reader will probably end with a lengthy exe‐gesis on what he thinks the passage means, correc ng whatever you said in your sermon. I once made the mistake of not telling all readers which Bible transla‐

on to use. One, an Old Testament expert, therefore decided to read in Hebrew. Not to be outdone, another read her Gospel passage in Greek – apologising beforehand that it may not be a perfect render‐ing, as she was spontaneously transla ng it from the English. And some say Chris ans are not compe ve. You have two alterna ves: either repeat last year’s Service without any altera on, saying that it could not be improved, or design your own – and then take Christmas off.

Your loving uncle,

Eustace

From the Editor May I take this opportunity to wish you all a

Blessed and Happy Christmas and the best wishes for

the new Year

Michael

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Across 1 ‘How long will you — your face from me?’ (Psalm 13:1) (4) 3 ‘Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the — he bore (Hebrews 13:13) (8) 9 Posh sin (anag.) (Romans 8:15) (7) 10 Solemn pledges (Ma hew 5:33) (5) 11 Italian term for full orchestra (5) 12 ‘For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not — the cry of the afflicted’ (Psalm 9:12) (6) 14 Prescience (1 Peter 1:2) (13) 17 Where a Hindu holy man lives (6) 19 ‘If he found any... who belonged to the Way, whether — — women, he might take them as prisoners’ (Acts 9:3) (3,2) 22 Fragrance (2 Corinthians 2:15) (5) 23 Vine hen (anag.) (Jonah 1:2) (7) 24 Precious stone decora ng the twel h founda on of the New Jerusalem (Revela on 21:20) (8) 25 ‘Will you keep to the old path that evil men have — ?’ (Job 22:15) (4) Down 1 ‘Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with — — ’ (Numbers 20:11) (3,5) 2 ‘You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, “ — — murder”’ (Ma hew 5:21) (2,3) 4 One of Paul’s many hardships endured as a servant of God (2 Corinthians 6:5) (13) 5 ‘We ourselves, who have the firs ruits of the Spirit, — inwardlyi (Romans 8:23) (5) 6 Changed (Daniel 6:8) (7) 7 ‘My yoke is — and my burden is light’ (Ma hew 11:30) (4) 8 Recoil (Revela on 12:11) (6) 13 ‘O Lord, you have — me and you know me’ (Psalm 139:1) (8) 15 ‘ — to me the joy of your salva on’ (Psalm 51:12) (7) 16 Express sorrow (Isaiah 16:7) (6) 18 ‘Then he said to Thomas, “ — out your hand and put it into my side”’ (John 20:27) (5) 20 ‘God has said, “ — will I leave you; — will I forsake you”’ (Hebrews 13:5) (5) 21 Son of Onam and brother of Shammai (1 Chronicles 2:28) (4)

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Soduko

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A Word search for November

Find the following words in the grid below once you have found them

all check your answers on page 32

Word search for December :

Once, in Royal David’s City

Christmas, Millions, Radio, Eve, Treble, Cambridge, Choirboy, Royal, Hymn, David, City, King’s, College, Chapel, Alexander, Apostles, Creed, Virgin, Mary, Jesus, Christ, Li le, Child, Earth, Heaven, Lord, Manger, Stall , Shelter, Cradle, Poor, Mean, Lowly, Saviour, Holy,

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Christmas in school This is my 39th Christmas in a school and also it will be my last. It is the one me of the year when I can guarantee that someone or some event will bring a tear to my eye. Despite the rigours and structure of the modern curriculum it is s ll possible for the children to make Christmas cards and calendars ( part of designing and mak‐ing). The Christmas par es have been pencilled in the school diary since summer and you will s ll see children playing pass the parcel and musical chairs with the same compe veness seen when I was a child. The Christmas tree forms a focal point in our atrium and is dressed by the children who s ll have a sense of awe and wonder when it is lit for the first me. Sadness when we have to take it down as school closes for the Christmas break but it then a er a short journey is transported to Holy Innocents to be resurrected as part of the church decora ons for the services over the Christmas period. So we get to the tear jerker and it is a story of great simplicity told many mes over the years and done with great enthusiasm by the children ably supported by the adults who work with them. It is of course the Christmas story. At Headfield each successive yr 3 perform the story every year to a packed house amazed at the performances of our youngest children telling a story that many have told before with a purpose and a pas‐sion that is guaranteed to bring a tear to your eye! This years perfor‐mance of our Na vity is on Thursday 11th December. You are most welcome to a end.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from everybody at Headfield.

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The Month of December Symbols of December Birthstone: Turquoise, zircon, or tanzanite Flower: Narcissus or Holly Zodiac signs: Sagi arius or Capricorn History: December was originally the tenth month of the year in the Roman calendar. It gets its name from the La n word "decem" which means tenth. However, when the Romans added January and February to the calendar, it became the twel h month. They s ll kept the name, though. December in Other Languages Chinese (Mandarin) ‐ shí'èryuè Danish ‐ december French ‐ décembre Italian ‐ dicembre La n ‐ December Spanish ‐ diciembre Historical Names: Roman: December Saxon: Giuli Germanic: Heil‐mond (Holy month)

December Events in the UK

Royal Smithfield Show

London early December

Fes val of Carols and Lessons

King's College Chapel, Cambridge December 24

Allendale Tar Barrel Ceremony

Allendale, Northumberland December 31 

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PARISH NOTICES

Advent Supper Quiz Night Monday 1st December 6pm

Dewsbury West Community Centre 6pm

Mass with Confirma on Sunday 21st December

St Saviour 10am

Wednesday 24th December Midnight Mass

Holy Innocents 11:30pm

Christmas Day Solemn Mass of Christmas

St Saviour 10am

Sunday 28th December Holy Innocents Patronal Fes val

Joint Fes val Mass Holy Innocents 10am

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THIS MONTHS RECIPE

Spiced Christmas Biscuits You can use these charming ginger biscuits to decorate your Christ‐mas tree. Makes 15 biscuits Ingredients 1 tub silver balls 2 tsp mixed spice 225g plain flour 50g bu er 1 coloured icing 1 tsp baking powder 50g brown so sugar 125g black treacle 1 tsp ground ginger

Method Preheat the oven to 180ºC/ Gas 4.

1 Lightly grease 2 baking sheets. Si the flour, baking powder and spices into a bowl place the bu er, sugar and treacle in a pan and melt over a gentle heat, s rring to mix.

2 Add the melted bu er mixture to the bowl and s r un l the mixture forms a dough. Knead briefly un l smooth. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to about the thickness of a pound coin, and cut into shapes. 3 Re‐roll the dough scraps and con nue cu ng un l all the dough is used. If you wish to thread ribbon through the biscuits, make a small hole in them before baking. 4 Arrange on the baking sheets and cook for about 15 minutes un l golden and firm. Leave on the baking tray for 5 minutes before placing on a wire rack to cool fully before icing.

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The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus The Holy Name Itself The Holy Name refers to the name of Christ, as revealed through di‐vine interven on to Joseph and Mary. It is most o en seen in em‐blem form as "I. H. S.", a La n abbrevia on of Christ's name. While the le ers themselves are not considered intrinsically holy, they stand as a reminder of blessings received through Christ's love and mercy. History of the Feast The Feast of the Holy Name originated toward the end of the 15th century, celebrated between New Year's Day and Epiphany. In its older incarna ons, the Feast was a celebra on of Christ's naming and circumcision (Luke 2:15‐21), and thus a memoriam of the first shedding of the Lord's blood. In its modern form, it is considered to be the central feast of all the mysteries of Jesus Christ. The greatest promoters of the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus were two Chris an saints ‐ St. Bernadino of Sienna and his disciple, St. John Capistrano. During the me of their ministry, they carried a monogrammed copy of the holy name beau fully painted on a tablet, with which they performed miracles and healed the sick. At the end of their sermons, they would ask the faithful to prostrate themselves before the emblem of Christ's name. They also began the prac ce of placing Jesus' monograms over gates and doorways. This behaviour was considered slightly here cal at first, resul ng in St. Bernadino being called before a papal tribunal for his ac ons. Capistrano, however, defend his master's prac ce so skilfully and successfully that the Pope, Mar n V, allowed worship of the holy name, and even assisted in a procession of the tablet. The tablet itself has survived, and is now housed at the basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli, Rome.

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Introduc on to the Epiphany of Our Lord

The Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ is one of the oldest Chris an feasts, though, throughout the centuries, it has celebrated a variety of things. Epiphany comes from a Greek verb meaning "to reveal," and all of the various events celebrated by the Feast of the Epiphany are revela ons of Christ to man. History: Like many of the most ancient Chris an feasts, Epiphany was first cel‐ebrated in the East, where it has been held from the beginning almost universally on January 6. Today, among both Eastern Catholics and Eastern Orthodox, the feast is known as Theophany the revela on of God to man. Epiphany originally celebrated four different events, in the following order of importance: the Bap sm of the Lord; Christ's first miracle, the changing of water into wine at the wedding in Cana; the Na vity of Christ; and the visita on of the Wise Men or Magi. Each of these is a revela on of God to man: At Christ's Bap sm, the Holy Spirit descends and the voice of God the Father is heard, declaring that Jesus is His Son; at the wedding in Cana, the miracle reveals Christ's divinity; at the Na vity, the angels bear witness to Christ, and the shepherds, represen ng the people of Israel, bow down before Him; and at the visita on of the Magi, Christ's divinity is revealed to the Gen les—the other na ons of the earth. Eventually, the celebra on of the Na vity was separated out, in the West, into Christmas; and shortly therea er, Western Chris ans adopted the Eastern feast of the Epiphany, s ll celebra ng the Bap sm, the first miracle, and the visit from the Wise Men. Thus, Epiphany came to mark the end of Christmas de—the Twelve Days of Christmas, which began with the revela on of Christ to I srael in His Birth and ended with the revela on of Christ to the Gen les at Epiphany.

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The Bap sm of Jesus Jesus le Nazareth, un l he reached Bethany beyond the Jordan and went to John for bap sm. Jesus joined in the line of penitents asking for bap sm, yet he was pure, free from all sin. He was the one who would say to the Jews, "Who among you can provide evidence that I have commi ed a sin." John knew of Jesus from the revela on and inspira on of the Holy Spirit (John 1:32). John, however, objected to bap zing Jesus saying, "I am the one that needs you to bap ze me!" But upon Jesus' con nued insistence, John acquiesced and bap zed Jesus in the Jordan River. Therefore, the water of the Jordan River became holy and all the waters that flow along the bap sm site were purified, reviving the souls of people at every place and me. As Jesus was coming out of the water, he saw the heavens open up and the Holy Spirit descending like a dove. He heard a voice from above say, "You are my beloved son with whom I am well‐pleased." Then the Spirit took Jesus into the wilderness where he remained for forty days, and where Satan tempted him. In the wilderness Jesus dwelt among the wild beasts, but the angels looked a er him. A er Jesus came back from the wilderness to Bethany beyond the Jordan, He found John si ng with two of his students. When John saw Jesus he said to his students, "This is the Lamb of God who will take away the sin of the world." (John 1:29) Hearing this, the two students decided to follow Jesus and were in turn followed by three others, among them Peter. Jesus carried the torch of faith from John the Bap st, the torch that had also been carried by Moses, Elijah and the other prophets. From Bethany beyond the Jordan Jesus declared the good news of God, saying, "The Hour draws near and the Kingdom of God is at hand! So, repent and have faith in the good news of God!" A er returning to Jerusalem, a dispute arose between Jesus and the Jews during the fes val of the renova on of the Temple. When this happened Jesus fled back across the Jordan to Bethany where John was s ll bap zing. The people warmly received Jesus and many came to him from the surrounding towns and villages, from Salt, Amman, Madaba and Hisban. They brought their sick to him. He cured them, and many people came to believe in him.

dvent Year B

First reading Psalm Second reading Gospe

First Sunday of Ad Isaiah 64:1 9 Psalm 80:1 7 1 Corinthians Mar

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St Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor of the Church, patron of all universi es and of students. His feast day is January 28th. He was born toward the end of the year 1226. He was the son of Landulph, Count of Aquino, who, when St. Thomas was five years old, placed him under the care of the Benedic nes of Monte Casino. His teachers were surprised at the progress he made, for he surpassed all his fel‐low pupils in learning as well as in the prac ce of virtue. When he became of age to choose his state of life, St Thomas renounced the things of this world and resolved to enter the Order of St. Dominic in spite of the opposi on of his family. In 1243, at the age of seventeen, he joined the Dominicans of Naples. Some members of his family resorted to all manner of means over a two year period to break his constancy. They even went so far as to send an impurewoman to tempt him. But all their efforts were in vain and St. Thomas persevered in his voca on. As a reward for his fidelity, God conferred upon him the gi of perfect chas ty, which has merited for him the tle of the "Angelic Doctor". A er making his profession at Naples, he studied at Cologne under the celebrated St. Albert the Great. Here he was nicknamed the "dumb ox" because of his silent ways and huge size, but he was really a brilliant student. At the age of twenty‐two, he was appointed to teach in the same city. At the same me, he also began to publish his first works. A er four years he was sent to Paris. The saint was then a priest. At the age of thirty‐one, he received his doctorate. At Paris he was honoured with the friendship of the King, St. Louis, with whom he frequently dined. In 1261, Urban IV called him to Rome where he was appointed to teach, but he posi vely declined to accept any ecclesias cal dignity. St. Thomas not only wrote (his wri ngs filled twenty he y tomes characterized by brilliance of thought and lucidity of language), but he preached o en and with greatest fruit. Clement IVoffered him the archbishopric of Naples, which he also refused. He le the great monument of his learning, the "Summa Theologica", unfinished, for on his way to the second Council of Lyons, ordered there by Gregory X, he fell sick and died at the Cistercian monastery of Fossa Nuova in 1274. St. Thomas was one of the greatest and most influen al theologians of all me. He was canonized in 1323 and declared Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius V.

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THE FIRST CHRISTIAN INTELLECTUAL This month, on January 25th, the Church celebrates probably the most famous conversion of all. At least, what happened to a young man called Saul on the road to Damascus has become a byword for all in‐stant conversions ‐ what is known as a ‘damascene’ moment. Saul was a devout Jew, a Pharisee, a student of Gamaliel and a fierce cri c of the followers of Jesus, then a very new sect on the religious scene. On his way to Damascus to organise a purge of Chris ans in that city, he was blinded by a bright light and heard a voice saying, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecu ng me?’ He asked the iden ty of the voice, and it replied, ‘Jesus, whom you are persecu ng’. Stunned by the experi‐ence, he followed further instruc ons which led him to a Chris an man in Damascus, who prayed with him. As he did, Saul’s sight was restored. The experience convinced him that Jesus ‐ crucified in Jerusalem four or five years earlier ‐ was in fact the Messiah and had risen from the dead. A er a period of instruc on, Saul was bap sed and took the name by which history has recognised him, Paul. At first some Chris‐

ans were wary about the reality of his conversion, but over a period of me he was accepted and indeed eventually recognised as an ’apostle’, a ‘special messenger’ of Jesus Christ. His intellectual stature and leadership gi s quickly marked him out, and within a few years he became a leading figure in the emerging Chris an Church, preaching and founding churches all over the middle East, largely of Gen le converts. He was eventually martyred in Rome, probably in 65AD. Paul was the first intellectual of the Chris an Church, the man who was able to set the events of the life and teaching of Jesus, and espe‐cially his death and resurrec on, into a coherent theology, with its roots very clearly in the Jewish faith of his own upbringing. He’s not always easy to follow. Even the New Testament admits that. ‘there are some things (in his le ers) hard to understand’ (2 Peter 3:16). But at the same me he gave the new faith a founda on and credibility which have stood it well down the centuries. Many people think of Paul as a rather nega ve, narrow misogynist, but even a quick reading of his le ers actually reveals a person of great warmth, who evoked enormous affec on and devo on from others. ‘You would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me!’ he writes to the Chris ans at Gala a. He was, of course, a man of his me and culture, in days when women were disregarded in terms of status and leadership.

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But read his le ers, and see how large a role women play in them and how much scope he gave them to lead and teach in the Church. In terms of the first century, St Paul was a dangerous liberal!

Paul the man of God

Holding the clothes while Stephen was stoned

Breathing out fire and filled with hate

Determined to stamp out the Chris an message

Imprisoning all he found in his wake.

Thrown to the ground on the way to Damascus,

A voice from heaven and Paul was made blind

‘Who are you Lord?’ the reply was given

‘I Am Jesus the one that you have denied’.

He was sent to the Gen les to open their eyes,

To turn them from darkness into the light,

God’s plan was to gra them into the vine

Which Paul then embraced with all his might.

Shipwrecked and beaten and le for dead

He never abandoned the path he trod

Faithful in all un l the end

We’re so grateful for Paul the man of God.  

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QUIZ ANSWERS

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20 astonishing holiday complaints

Thomas Cook and ABTA reveals 20 of the most ridiculous complaints 1. "I think it should be explained in the brochure that the local store does not sell proper biscuits like custard creams or ginger nuts." 2. "It's lazy of the local shopkeepers to close in the a ernoons. I o en needed to buy things during 'siesta' me ‐ this should be banned." 3. "On my holiday to Goa in India, I was disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served curry. I don't like spicy food at all." 4. "We booked an excursion to a water park but no‐one told us we had to bring our swimming costumes and towels." 5. A tourist at a top African Game Lodge over looking a water hole, who spo ed a visibly aroused elephant, complained that the sight of this rampant beast ruined his honeymoon by making him feel "inadequate". 6. A woman threatened to call police a er claiming that she'd been locked in by staff. When in fact, she had mistaken the "do not disturb" sign on the back of the door as a warning to remain in the room. 7. "The beach was too sandy." 8. "We found the sand was not like the sand in the brochure.Your bro‐chure shows the sand as yellow but it was white." 9. A guest at a Novotel in Australia complained his soup was too thick and strong. He was inadvertently slurping the gravy at the me. 10. "Topless sunbathing on the beach should be banned. The holiday was ruined as my husband spent all day looking at other women." 11. "We bought 'Ray‐Ban' sunglasses for five Euros from a street trad‐er, only to find out they were fake." 12. "No‐one told us there would be fish in the sea. The children were startled." 13. "It took us nine hours to fly home from Jamaica to England it only took the Americans three hours to get home." 14. "I compared the size of our one‐bedroom apartment to our friends' three‐bedroom apartment and ours was significantly small‐er.." 15. "The brochure stated: 'No hairdressers at the accommoda on’. We’re trainee hairdressers ‐ will we be OK staying there?" 16. "There are too many Spanish people. The recep onist speaks Spanish. The food is Spanish. Too many foreigners now live abroad." 17. "We had to queue outside with no air condi oning." 18. "It is your duty as a tour operator to advise us of noisy or unruly guests before we travel." 19. "I was bi en by a mosquito, no‐one said they could bite." 20. "My fiancé and I booked a twin‐bedded room but we were placed in a double‐bedded room. We now hold you responsible for the fact that I find myself pregnant. This would not have happened if you had put us in the room that we booked."

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January’s Le er St James the Least of All the Le ers of Uncle Eustace

The Rectory St. James the Least My dear Nephew Darren Since you were the one to ask this parishioner of yours to act as sec‐retary, you have no reason to complain about the minutes of mee ngs she produces. You should never let anyone act as a secre‐tary unless they either cannot speak English, or are deaf – preferably both. The more significant the commi ee and the more conten ous the issues being debated, the more you should nobly put yourself for‐ward both to chair the mee ng and take the minutes. In the majority of cases, that will spare the other members that awkward moment when you ask for a volunteer and they all feel the need to stare at their feet. If you act as secretary, then you can be certain that accounts of what took place will only be what you had wanted to happen and that the decisions taken will be what you had already decided before discus‐sions started. Any inconvenient observa ons from other commi ee members can be omi ed en rely. Admi edly, the more observant may no ce that your accounts of the mee ng may not wholly agree with their recollec ons, but the skill of being a secretary is not to produce the minutes of the previous mee ng un l the day before the next one. This will mean that the great majority will have long forgo en what actually did happen two months previously and that many will not have had the me to read them anyway and will avoid having to admit that fact by passing them.

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Only the deeply commi ed will want to pursue apparent discrepan‐cies. In that case, confess to the mee ng that your hand‐wri en notes were accidentally le on a bus and so you can no longer check the accuracy of what you have wri en. As a way of appearing helpful, you could even give the person challenging you the bus route number and me of day you travelled – but make sure that that route has subsequently been discon nued. Further challenges will rally the rest of the commi ee to your side and someone will oil the wheels by sug‐ges ng you proceed to the next item on the agenda. Since you are also the chairman, you naturally bow to their request. Just in the way that church rotas bear no resemblance to the people who actually turn up to do the jobs, minutes of mee ngs need not bear too much resemblance to what actually happened – especially if what did happen is inconvenient. Democracy is all very well ‐ provided a benign dictator is in overall control. Your loving uncle, Eustace

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Readings for December

December 7th 2nd Sunday in Advent

Reading 1 Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 Prepare a way for the Lord. Psalm Psalm 84:9-10, 11-12, 13-14 Let us see, O Lord, your mercy and give us your saving help. Reading 2 2 Peter 3:8-14 2 , We are wai ng for the new heaven and new earth Gospel Mark 1:1-8 Make his paths straight.

December 14th 3rd Sunday in Advent Reading 1 `Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11 I exult for joy in the Lord Psalm Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54 My soul glorifies the Lord. Reading 2 1 Thesselonians 5:16-24 May you all be kept safe, spirit, soul and body, for the coming  

    of the Lord Gospel John 1:6-8, 19-28 There stands among you, unknown to you, the one who is      coming 

December 21st 4th Sunday in Advent Reading 1 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 The kingdom of David will always stand secure before the Lord. Psalm Psalm 88:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29 I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord Reading 2 Romans 16:25-27   The mystery, which was kept secret for endless ages, is now      made clear. Gospel Luke 1:26-38 Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son.

December 24th Midnight Mass

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Reading 1 I aiah 9:1‐7 A son is given to us Psalm Psalm 95:1‐2a, 2b‐3, 11‐12, 13 Today a saviour has been born to us; he is Christ the Lord. Reading 2 Titus 2:11‐14 God's grace has been revealed to the whole human race. Gospel Luke 2:1‐14 Today a saviour has been born to us.

December 25th Christmas Day

Reading 1 Isaiah 52:7‐10 All the ends of the earth shall see the salva on of our God

Psalm Psalm 97:1, 2‐3a, 3b‐4, 5‐6 All the ends of the earth have seen the salva on of our God. Reading 2 Hebrews 1:1‐6 God has spoken to us through his Son. Gospel John 1:1‐18 The Word was made flesh, and lived among us.

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Readings for January

January 4th Epiphany

Reading 1 Isaiah 60:1-6 Above you the glory of the Lord appears. Psalm Psalm 71:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 All na ons shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord. Reading 2 Ephesians 3:2‐3a, 5‐6 It has now been revealed that pagans share the same        inheritance. Gospel Ma hew 2:1-12 We saw his star and have come to do the king homage.

January 11th Bap sm of Jesus Reading 1 Isaiah 55:1-11 Come to the water. Listen and your soul will live. Psalm Isaiah 12:2-6 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salva on. Reading 1 John 5:1-9 John saw Jesus coming towards him, and said: This is the Lamb      of God who takes away the sin of the world Gospel Mark 1:7-11

You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him

January 18th 2nd Ordinary me

Reading 1 1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19 Speak, Lord, your servant is listening Psalm Psalm 39:2. 4. 7-10

Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.

Reading 2 1 Corinthians 6:13-15. 17-20 Your bodies are members making up the body of Christ. Gospel John 1:35-42 They saw where he lived, and stayed with him.

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January 25th 3rd Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Jonah 3:1‐5, 10 The people of Nineveh renounce their evil behaviour. Psalm Psalm 24:4-9 Lord, make me know your ways

Reading 2 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 The world as we know it is passing away. Gospel Mark 1:14-20 Repent and believe the Good News

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          Service Rotas

St Saviour

DECEMBER Sunday 14th December Sidespersons: Pauline Denton, Valerie Derry Readings: Ann Blackburn, Kathleen Thornton, Prayers: Father Paul Coffee: Ann Thornton, Gloria Faller

Sunday 21st December Sidespersons: David Thornton, Anne Thornton Readers: David Thornton, Anne Thornton , Prayers: Anne Blackburn Coffee: Kathleen Thornton, Maureen Rawson

Sunday 28th December Sidespersons: Richard Machin, Linda Machin, Ann Ta ersfield Readers: Keith Rawson, Gloria Faller Prayers: David Thornton Coffee: June Lightowler, Tony Lightowler

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          Service Rotas

St Saviour

JANUARY Sunday 4th January Sidespersons: Pauline Denton, Valerie Derry Readings: Ann Blackburn, Kathleen Thornton, Prayers: Father Paul Coffee: Moyra Walker, Valerie Derry Sunday 11th January Sidespersons: Maureen Rawson, June Lightowler Readers: David Thornton, Anne Thornton, Prayers: Anne Blackburn Coffee: Kathleen Thornton, Maureen Rawson Sunday 18th January Sidespersons: David Thornton, Anne Thornton Readers: Keith Rawson, Gloria Faller Prayers: David Thornton Coffee: June Lightowler, Tony Lightowler Sunday 25th January Sidespersons: Richard Machin, Linda Machin, Ann Ta ersfield Readings: Ann Blackburn, Kathleen Thornton, Prayers: Father Paul Coffee: Ann Thornton, Gloria Faller

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Service Rotas Holy Innocents

Sunday 14th December Sidespersons: Carol, Chris ne Readings: Michael, Sylvia Coffee: Served in Church Hall Sunday 21st December Sidespersons: Mary, Marion Readings: Sharon, Michael Coffee: Served in Church Hall Sunday 24th December Midnight Mass Sidespersons: Carol, Jeff Readings: Michael, Anne Sunday 28th December Patronal Fes val Sidespersons: Carol, Sylvia Readings: Linda C , Michael Coffee: Served in Church Hall

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Service Rotas Holy Innocents

Sunday 10th January Sidespersons: Chris ne, Pat Readings: Michael ,Sharon Coffee : Served in Church Hall

Sunday 17th January Sidespersons: Carol, Jeff Readings: Sylvia, Michael Coffee : Served in Church Hall

Sunday 24th January Sidespersons: Carol, Mary Readings: Michael, Linda C Coffee: Served in Church Hall

Sunday 31st January Sidespersons: Carol, Chris ne Readings : Sharon , Michael Coffee : Served in Church Hall

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Regular Weekly Service Times

St Saviour Ravensthorpe

Sundays except for the first Sunday in the month Solemn Parish Mass 9:30am

Tuesdays Low Mass 7pm

Saturdays Mass of Our Lady 10am

Confessions 10:30am

Parish Office for those wishing to book Bap sms or Weddings 10:30am

Holy Innocents Thornhill Lees

Sundays except for the first Sunday in the month Solemn Parish Mass 11am

Wednesdays Low Mass 7pm

On the first Sunday of every month there will be a joint

Solemn Parish Mass, this will alternate between our Churches, the next one will be on:

Sunday 7th December 10am Holy Innocents Sunday 4th January 10am St Saviour

Full details of all our Mass Times  will be published  on our weekly pew sheet and the Parish Website: 

www.stsaviourwithholyinnocents.weebly.com