Bradford North Circuit

Christian ARTists in Bradford - Opening Friday 13 September 19.30. Exhibition open: Saturday 14 September 10.00 - 16.30 Sunday 15 September 12.00 - 16.30 Saturday 21 September 10.00 - 16.30 Sunday 22 September - 12.00 - 16.30 Saltaire Methodist Church .

John Wilson Circuit Lay Pastoral Visitor/Co-ordinator Hello Everyone, My name is John Wilson and I am the New Circuit Lay Pastoral Visitor/Co-ordinator. I am married to Heather and we have a grown up daughter who lives in York, we also have a large black cat called Stumpy (his tail had to be amputated). We like to go camping around the country in our folding camper. I worship at St Christopher's Church of England in Holmewood, where I am the Reader and one of the 2 Church Wardens. For 40 years I worshipped at Ebenezer Methodist Church at Dudley Hill where I was a Local preacher and Circuit Steward. Originally I am from Scotland (God’s own Country) from farming stock. We moved to Bradford in 1964. I have been very involved in Scouting as a Cub Scout Leader and Asst District Commissioner. I have run my own business for 20 years, but we were on the wrong side of broadband technology and my business has all but finished. I am really looking forward to getting to kno...

A big day in York Minister for the Big Fund for the building development at Baildon Methodist Church The first Big Day was pronounced 'truly memorable' by its leader. She said the participants 'felt a profound sense of the continuation of life ... where the very stones speak of worship'. a minibus was arranged to take the party from Ian Clough Hall car park to 10 metres from the back door of the Minister. they then had a Glaziers Tour with a specialist Guide: they talked with the glaziers as they worked on the East window. After a lunch arranged for the group but, chosen individually from the menu at the Treasurers House, John led a personalised guided tour of York Minister. He found everyone's name or one closely connected with their family, somewhere in the Minster on my tour. The rest of the day was spent looking at the newly reopened Undercroft, and the astounding new exhibition called the Orb about the world important East window whose glories can tempor...

It was the tradition at Harecroft Methodist church to hold a series of Summer charity Coffee Evenings. Over a number of years they raised a considerable amount of money for a variety of causes. Apart from the aspect of raising money it was always a lovely social occasion and as much a part of our local summer tradition as Wimbledon, Test Matches etc and very much looked forward to. Sadly with the closure of Harecroft this has been one of the many things we have all missed and it was decided that, partly as a tribute to our friends from Harecroft, as a way of raising money for charity and not least to continue a very pleasant social tradition, we would hold similar coffee evenings at Wilsden Trinity Church on the second Monday of each month during the summer.  They have been most successful so far. The first one in May raised around £250 for The Air Ambulance and the two subsequent evenings raised similar amounts for The Parkinson's Society and the Alzheimer's Society respect...

On Sunday 14 July inclusive worship service known as ALL, Together, celebrated its 1st anniversary with a trip to the sea side. With songs, prayer and an action packed telling of Jesus on the beach when he encouraged his friends to "fish from the other side of the boat" (John 21) the congregation found itself encircled by paper chain 153 fine fat fish that literally wrapped itself right around the fellowship. This was a happy coincidence and a blessing that could never have been planned for. ALL, Together, while still developing continues to bless and be blessed. There has been an Olympic Torch bearer, a baker at the harvest festival, a storm at sea and a picnic on the beach. We have been visited by Rev Roger Walton the district chair. All of our services have a time for activities and a sharing meal. There is a wonderful mix of people of all abilities and it has become a favourite with some of the Northcliffe families and their friends. Each time we meet we make new ...

Following on from our Year of Celebration last year, we were anxious to try to maintain the contacts we had made with the village children. In response we started a group for primary school aged children called Friends & Heroes. We now have a regular group of around a dozen very lively children who meet each week during term time. The format of the evening is usually a mixture of games and craft activities linked to a DVD which tells the ongoing adventures of a group of Jewish exiles in Roman occupied Alexandria and illustrated by a bible story. Discussion follows and a short prayer time. The favourite time for the children is Tuck Shop. The adults like that too as we have a well earned cup of tea. We end with Show and Tell when the children share what they have been doing over the week. The four of us who regularly run Friends & Heroes have to admit that we face each session with a degree of weary trepidation amidst a long and busy week but are always surprisingly blessed....

Approached by the Halle Project in 2012 to see if we would be interested in setting up a Well Being Cafe, the church was excited at the prospect of setting up a monthly session for those who suffer from dementia or Alzheimer's, for their carers, for the lonely and housebound. Jean and John Watmough worked in conjunction with Carol at halle and put together a group who would provide once a month a haven for those with particular need. For various reasons it could not be called a Well Being Cafe, and so the name "Wrose buddies" was born. Carol organises taxis to bring people to the church hall once a month, lays on the entertainment, the music, a speaker, food. From the start a charge of £3 per person and a voluntary payment of £1 per strip for the raffle was asked for and willingly given. a group of volunteers was formed and meets once a month before the session to make preparations so that those attending have an afternoon to remember. At first numbers were reaching 20...

On Thursday 13 June and again on Wednesday 26 June a team of five church members from Wilsden Trinity Church, ably (and bravely) led by Sharon, went in to Wilsden Village Primary School to enjoy a day of games, craft activities, storytelling and a puppet show all linked to the story of The Flood with year 3. This is the third year of such visits and has proved a highly effective and enjoyable means of communication and contact with the children of our community. The school have been very co-operative and have made our team most welcome - even providing them with lunch. The personal contact has made it possible to build real links with the school and they in turn have been happy to promote other things involving children on our behalf including our Friends & Heroes group. The first visit three years ago was faced with terror and foreboding but our folk have had so much fun they can't wait for the next one. Many thanks to Sharon for her expertise, energy and enthusias...

On 7 June 23 of us travelled to Grange for our annual weekend away. We all assembled for dinner on Friday evening and left after lunch on Sunday after having a good time. We were introduced to the theme for the weekend with a DVD on Friday evening. On Saturday morning we divided into three groups for discussion. Saturday afternoon was free for us to please ourselves and on Saturday evening there was a social and entertainment. After service and Communion on Sunday morning we had another couple of hours free before lunch. For anyone who has not been on one of these weekends, I can recommend them. the food was delicious and the weather was absolutely gorgeous (although I can't promise that every year of course). The topics are always interesting and thought provoking. It is a way of getting to know each other better and there is always a great feeling of fellowship. I always find the whole weekend extremely inspirational. Shirley F

Held at Allerton Methodist Church from 1 - 5 July 2013 - a very special time for me, the reason being, I joined a group of ladies plus, I think, four men during the week. Monday and Wednesday we enjoyed various activities, a few played dominoes and others got carried away finding pieces for a jigsaw puzzle. Friday we were entertained by an excellent vocalist. On Tuesday we went on a trip to Leyburn which lies amongst lovely scenery. On Thursday we spent the day at Oswaldtwistle Mills, shopping, eating and being entertained. I want to say a big thank you to Linda and her team for all the hard work in planning the holiday, and to everyone who gave time and help including the kind folk who transported us to Allerton and then home. I feel everyone enjoyed the week of warm fellowship together. Thank you again for this Holiday at Home and others in the past. Irene T (Haworth Road Methodist Church) --- 1-5 July 2013 saw over 50 of our older people having a wonderful time on the...

The Circuit Service at Baildon on Sunday 14 July 2013 was very special in lots of ways. We admitted Lorna Whiteley as a fully accredited local Preacher, presented her with a bible and John Darnbrook read the Present's letter. We presented long service awards to Senior Local Preachers - Martin Bashforth and Roy Lorrain-Smith, 30 years; Diane Greenwood, 35 years; Paul Hockney, 50 years; Brian Galling, 55 years: (Graham Banks and Peter Jackson, 30 years, were not able to be present). We also recognised Barry Empson, reinstated as a Local Preacher. A new Communion set was dedicated for use by the extended communion visitors, and Frances Trees was commissioned as a visitor. We took an offering for CMS to support Awais and Dominic Mughal as they return to Pakistan. Together, we celebrated the ministries of Linda Atkin and Lynn Britten among us, with Linda reading the lesson and Lynn preaching a challenging sermon. That sermon ended with these words: "This evening I fini...

Those of you who attended the latest circuit Meeting would have been privileged to hear the guest speakers here is a little bit of information about their calling. Bishop Nick writes ... From Pakistan to Bradford In 2001 The Revd Dominic Moghal responded to god's call to come to the Diocese of Bradford to help the church in its engagement with the growing number of people of Pakistan heritage. At that time, Dominic was director of the Christian Study Centre in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. In 2007 Dominic was ordained at Bradford Cathedral. He served a curacy at St Saviours Fairweather Green and is currently Community Outreach Priest in the Bradford Moor Cluster. Dominic's wife Awais has been active in the same field working at the Touchstone Methodist Centre in Bradford advocating and promoting interfaith and intercultural understanding. Awais has over 10 years experience of networking, project managements, and coordinating and liaising with people of different fait...

For such times as these! (Esther 14:14) On June 1st James Stannet (from e:merge , a Christian Youth organisation) began his youth work for Christchurch LEP in Windhill. He says, "Well! June has been a really busy but very productive month. On Wednesday, in the park, numbers are climbing week by week, now averaging 25. Good partnerships have been made with local organisations. this has been a blessing: enabling us to deliver varied sport activities and build good relationships.' 'The Hope Revolution, youth event, based at Christchurch LEP was a massive hit. A BIG Thank you is expressed to the Church for the support, encouragement and prayers. 200 people attended the Fun Day. Despite the rainy weather, 100 young people took part in local projects: two house clear-ups, school garden project (Windhill Primary) and running the Fun Day. 10 Christian Organisations working together resulting in several families requesting Christian children's activities.' ...

Dear Friends As I write this letter in July we are enjoying a heat wave with a chance to soak up the sun and to enjoy the long, light evenings.  I am also looking forward to some time on the Mediterranean coast as I venture with my family to Split in Croatia for a few days. Summer time brings opportunity for rest and refreshment, and is a time when many people are able to go away on holiday. It also brings a break from many of our church activities, although i am aware that planning is already under way for the new church year when it begins in September. And I am sure that those activities will be all the better if we give those who run them a chance of relaxation and recuperation from their exertions and endeavours. The Christian life is a call to times of both rest and busy-ness, however, we may choose to describe it - as the contemplative and the active, or as prayer and service. A healthy combination of these two aspects of the christian life will help to make us well-r...