Bradford North Circuit

At a recent meeting someone posed that seemingly simple question. And as it happens I’d been sent a possible answer just a couple of days before in a quote attributed to one Richard Exley: Prayer is multidimensional. It includes petition, confession, intercession and praise, but its highest purpose is fellowship with the Father. In prayer we share our needs with God, but more importantly we spend time with the Father. Relationship takes precedence over everything else. Remember, the primary purpose of prayer is not petition but fellowship. It's about spending time with the Lord. Listen to most prayers, and it’s about praise and asking – and there’s a lot right with that. Jesus certainly told us to praise God the Father and ask for what we needed, especially when we’re in a fix (Matthew 6:9ff). And (perhaps obviously) especially when what we need is for God’s work on earth: promoting Jesus-shaped values of human and cosmic welfare (you can think big if you’re a Christian), includ...

Calverley Pentecost Praise and Picnic in the Park After morning service…. in the park that’s next to Calverley Methodist Church. We will be having a praise and picnic worship time with live music – fun – games – and… A Pentecost Celebration CAKE! Please remember bring your picnic…. Pentecost Sunday 8th June at 12.30pm put the date in your diary now everyone is welcome

My last formal academic study of theology ended in 2002. So part of my sabbatical was spent auditing a Masters level course in Celtic Mission and Spirituality. It is one thing to come across prayers and liturgies to use in worship – it’s quite another to know about the traditions from which they came and how they have evolved. The course allowed some reflection on what we may learn from the Celtic Church, in terms of how we are Church today, and how and where we minister and share the gospel. My Sabbatical was taken over Christmas. Instead of leading the services, I was able to see what someone else did. As ministers, we rarely get to see how anyone else leads or approaches worship. Christmas is also a time when families get together; this was the first time I have seen my Mum at Christmas in 10 years. I spent some time looking at current underlying principles of Youth Ministry. It made me realize that we can take these principles into adult ministry and mission. This will i...

Do you have a young baby? Looking for something to do? If the answer is yes then Soupermums is for you. We're here from 11 until 1 every Monday, Mums (and dads) have a rest and the babies can play. Have a lovely sit down whilst you sip on a brew. Enjoy having someone else make lunch for you! Come along to Wilsden Church, meet the rest of the group. Lovely ladies cuddle the babies, whilst you eat your soup. Chat with the mums, new friends you will make. Swap tips and advice over a slice or two of cake. So what are you waiting for? come on along, For homemade treats, good company and if you're lucky a song. We're looking forward to meeting you, please come take a peek, 11-1 at Wilsden Trinity, we're here every week! Celine V  (a Soupermum!) Where can new mums go, to have lunch where it’s warm and safe and you get to eat fresh soup and homemade cakes, while someone holds your baby? Too big an ask? Not at Wilsden Trinity! Every Mond...

Each November, some of the St Andrew’s Church family spend a weekend away at Green Gables Hotel in Scarborough. This year’s weekend is to be on 14-16 November and will be led by Rev Christine King, who is joining the Bradford North Circuit ministerial team in September. The weekend consists of a short welcome/introduction on the Friday evening, 2 sessions of 1 hour each on both Saturday and Sunday mornings on a theme chosen by the leader. Saturday and Sunday afternoons are free time, to explore Scarborough and surroundings, or to chill in the hotel, possibly swimming in the indoor pool! We have a family concert on Saturday evening. The weekend concludes with family communion at 4.00 pm on Sunday, followed by high tea. We return home around 6.00 pm. The cost for the weekend, full board, is £115 per head. Children 5-12 years are half price and under 5s are free. The hotel is very comfortable, the food is very good and the company is…..what you make it! We have such a good time, ...

The new Drop-in Centre at Haworth Road Methodist is proving a great success. We have been operating for a year now and the regular visitors who come most weeks are enjoying time to chat, exchange views and generally have a good time. At Christmas we were entertained by choirs on two successive weeks. The Thornton Singers, and our own choir members joined us and sang carols which everyone joined in, and also enjoyed mince pies and Christmas cake. We meet every Friday morning from 10.00 and the centre is open to all. Members of the Church work on a 6-weekly rota to provide home-made confectionery and warm drinks, for which there is no charge. We have a well-stocked bookstall and also have home-made jam available. Voluntary donations can be made, but this has never been pushed; we want people to come and enjoy friendship and not feel they have to pay. We have welcomed many people from outside the Church, and we hope that the Lord will work within us, to spread the good news and brin...

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week, 4 of our Churches took part in Prayer for Bradford. For a first time activity, I am thrilled at this. The churches were: Baildon , Crag Road , Haworth Road , and St. Andrew’s . Each church brought a distinctively individual and fresh approach to praying for our Metropolitan area. There were maps, leaflets, bookmarks, prayer sheets and lots of other ideas. I hope that this has made a difference to Bradford. In Lent, the whole Metropolitan area has been prayed for on a daily basis. Perhaps next year we can do more. May God bless you all. John W