WELCOME TO THE PARISH CHURCH OF
SAINT MARY THE VIRGIN, OXENHOPE
especially all who are new to our Church.

If you are a regular member of the congregation, please try to speak to someone you don't know!

Sunday, 25^th July

The Eighth Sunday after Trinity:

James the Apostle R

10 am, Parish Communion.

We will say our farewells to June
and to Ken and give them our
good wishes for the future at an informal time of fellowship immediately after this service.

We will also take the opportunity to congratulate Eileen and Tony Holmes on the occasion of their Ruby Wedding: and to say “Goodbye” to Elaine Lord, who is moving from Oxenhope this Tuesday (we think!).

This morning’s readings:

Epistle, Acts 11 27-12.2: Sam Mawer.

Gospel, Matthew 20.20-28.

Lay Ministrant: Jeremy Mackrell.

Intercessor: Margaret Hindley (Leeming).

Hymns, from Common Praise:

627 Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim

393 Brother, sister, let me serve you

622 Will you come and follow me

287 Broken for me, broken for you

Anthem: Take this moment

497 Let all the world in every corner sing

Today’s Collect:

Almighty Lord and everlasting God,
we beseech you to direct, sanctify and govern
both our hearts and bodies
in the ways of your laws
and the works of your commandments;
that through your most mighty protection, both here and ever,
we may be preserved in body and soul;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Today’s Post Communion Prayer:

Strengthen for service, Lord,
the hands that have taken holy things;
may the ears which have heard your word
be deaf to clamour and dispute;
may the tongues which have sung your praise
be free from deceit;
may the eyes which have seen the tokens of
your love shine with the light of hope;
and may the bodies
which have been fed with your body
be refreshed with the fullness of your life;
glory to you for ever. Amen.

Tea, coffee, fruit squash and biscuits are served in the Tower Room after our service.

Morning Prayer (BCP): this Tuesday
at 9 am, in Church.

From the Clergy…

James - What comes to mind when you think of James; one of Jesus’ first disciples; brother of John; one of the ‘inner circle’; leader of the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem; martyr for the faith; or the one whose mother asked for the best seats in heaven?

If we take stock of James’ life we note a major change. He responded to Jesus’ proclamation of the Kingdom, yet, along with the other disciples, initially failed to understand what that entailed.

His mother wanted status and prestige for her sons. Jesus presented a different picture.

Citizens of Christ’s kingdom are called to lives of humble, self-sacrificial and self-effacing service. Conventional understandings of authority and leadership are turned on their heads.

It is apparent that James experienced a major transformation in the wake of Jesus’ resurrection – even to the point where he is prepared to embrace a martyr’s death.

It is good for us to reflect on James’ journey and what that might have to say to us, both in our personal and corporate life. We are all called to move forward in a spirit of adventure and committed lives of shared service, valuing each other and the differing gifts we have been given for use in God’s service. In our Gospel we are reminded that none is greater than the other – we are all bound in one community in obedience to Him, the head of his body, the Church.

For Ken and I, it will mean discovering what new things ‘God has prepared for us to walk in’ as we move on to pastures new.

For people of St Mary’s it will be a time of discovery as you get to know Nigel, Joe, Archie, Jacob and Daniel. They will need your help and support as they adjust to life in the Vicarage.

It is also a time of discovery as you explore, with Nigel, what ‘good things God has prepared for you to walk in’; exciting times for those who worship the God of Surprises and who are open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

As for us, we ask your forgiveness for the times when we may have unintentionally offended you, With the best will in the world we are bound to get things wrong at times. We will always be grateful for your support and friendship; for letting us into your lives and for what you have taught us. We move on much richer for all of that.

As we leave St Mary’s, the words of the following hymn by John Bell express our thoughts, feelings and our prayer. We hope they may be your prayer too.

Take this moment, sign and space;

take my friends around;

here among us make the place

where your love is found. 

Take the time to call my name,

take the time to mend

who I am and what I’ve been,

all I’ve failed to tend. 

Take the tiredness of my days,

take my past regret,

letting your forgiveness touch

all I can’t forget. 

Take the little child in me,

scared of growing old;

help him here to find his worth

made in Christ’s own mould. 

Take my talents, take my skills,

take what’s yet to be;

let my life be yours, and yet,

let it still be me. John Bell

Shalom June and Ken

This Tuesday, 27^th July: Funeral, at 11 am; Annie Whitehouse. Also Wedding Rehearsal, at 7 pm.

This Thursday, 29^th July: Wedding, at 1.30 pm; Tom William Raynor and Helen Jane Freem.

Next Sunday, 1^st August

the Ninth Sunday after Trinity G

8.30 am, Holy Communion (BCP): Celebrant, the Reverend Peter Mott.

10 am, Parish Communion:
Celebrant, the Reverend Peter Mayo-Smith.

It’s “Outreach” time again! Would you please send your contributions to the coming Harvest and Dedication edition of “Outreach” to Tony Matthews (649095) to reach him by Monday week, 2^nd August. Also please send your “Oxenhope Diary” contributions to Sue Harding (642634) by the same date.

We were delighted to hear that Fiona Lloyd-Owen’s Bookstall at the Millennium Green fête achieved just on £80 for our Church funds. Thanks go to Fiona and to all others involved!

June and Ken will be leaving the Vicarage on Thursday week, 5^th August. Change of address cards are at the back of the Church.

If you need a priest in an emergency during the Interregnum please contact the Reverend Geoff Banks (644876), or the Reverend Peter Wilson (07891 183682), or our Rural Dean, the Reverend Peter Mott (601499). Otherwise please contact either of our Readers, Fiona Bolam-Peel (648182) or Richard Berry (647974).

Rotas for the next few weeks:

Today, Sunday 25^th July: the Eighth Sunday after Trinity: James the Apostle. R. Sidespersons: Jean Dunn & Tony Holmes. Coffee: Pauline Bedford. Cleaning, Church and Tower: Pat Schofield & Jean Dunn. Flowers: June Medhurst.
This service will be immediately followed by a time of fellowship (with light refreshments) when we can take time to say our farewells and to give our good wishes to June and Ken.

Next Sunday, 1^st August: the Ninth Sunday after Trinity. G. 8.30 am, Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer): Celebrant, the Reverend Peter Mott. 10 am, Parish Communion: Celebrant, the Reverend Peter Mayo-Smith. Epistle, Colossians 3.1-11: Tony Matthews. Gospel, Luke 12.13-21. Lay Ministrant: Eileen Holmes. Intercessor: Jan Berry (Moorside & Hawksbridge). Sidespersons: Hazel Belsey & Edna Randell. Coffee: The Bennetts. Cleaning, Church and Tower: Anne Collinson & Kathryn Sharp. Flowers: Anne Collinson.

Sunday 8^th August: the Tenth Sunday after Trinity. G. 10 am, Parish Communion: Celebrant, the Reverend Michael Savage. Epistle, Hebrews 11.1-3, 8-16: Robert Whitaker. Gospel, Luke 12.32-40. Lay Ministrant: Michael Cope. Intercessor: Jennifer Whitaker (Marsh & Upper Marsh). Sidespersons: Jackie Cope & Michael Holroyd. Coffee: Anne Collinson. Cleaning, Church and Tower: Robert Whitaker & Eileen Holmes. Flowers: Kathryn Sharp.

Sunday 15^th August: the Eleventh Sunday after Trinity – The Blessed Virgin Mary. W. 10 am, Parish Communion. Celebrant: the Reverend Peter Wilson. Epistle, Galatians 4.4-7: Celia Holmes. Gospel, Luke 1.46-55. Lay Ministrant: Jackie Cope. Intercessor: Jeremy Mackrell (Black Moor & Haley). Sidespersons: Pauline Bedford & Robert Whitaker. Coffee: The Butlers. Cleaning, Church and Tower: The Bennetts. Flowers: Sue Harding.

Sunday 22^nd August: the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity. G. 10 am, Parish Communion. Celebrant: the Reverend Peter Hutchinson. Epistle, Hebrews 12.18-end: Kathryn Sharp. Gospel, Luke 13.10-17. Lay Ministrant: Jeremy Mackrell. Intercessor: Jackie Cope (Hebden Bridge Road). Sidespersons: Jan Berry & Michael Cope. Coffee: Jackie Cope. Cleaning, Church and Tower: Brenda Emmett & Sue Harding. Flowers: Sue Harding.

Sunday 29^th August: the Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity. G. 10 am, Parish Communion. Preacher and Celebrant at this Ecumenical Service: the Reverend Geoff Banks. Epistle, Hebrew 13 1-8, 15-16: Methodist Reader. Gospel, Luke 14.1, 7-14. Lay Ministrant: Eileen Holmes. Intercessor: Richard Berry (Churches of village). Sidespersons: Marion Povey & Kathryn Sharp. Coffee: Edna Randell. Cleaning, Church and Tower: Chris Jones & Edna Randell. Flowers: Celia Holmes.

Sunday 29^th August: Wedding, at 1 pm: Ross Allan Balderstone and Lisa Jane Richmond.

Sunday 5^th September: the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity. G. 8.30 am, Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer): Celebrant, the Reverend Geoff Banks. 10: am, Parish Communion: Celebrant and Preacher: the Reverend Geoff Banks. Epistle, Philemon 1-21: Brenda Emmett. Gospel, Luke 14.25-33. Lay Ministrant: Margaret Hindley. Intercessor: Jennifer Whitaker (Uppertown). Sidespersons: Jane Clavin & Nigel Sutcliffe. Coffee: Sue Harding. Cleaning, Church and Tower: Jackie Cope and Norma Mackrell. Flowers: Jean Dunn.

Sunday 12^th September: the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity. G. 10 am, Family Communion with Parade: Celebrant and Preacher, the Reverend Peter Mott. Epistle, 1 Timothy 1.12-17: tba. Gospel, tba. Lay Ministrant: Fiona Bolam-Peel. Intercessor: tba. Sidespersons: Jean Dunn & Tony Holmes. Coffee: Kathryn Sharp. Cleaning, Church and Tower: The Butlers. Flowers: Sue Gibson.

Sunday 19^th September: the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity. G. 10 am, Parish Communion. Epistle, 1 Timothy 2.1-7: John Chambers. Gospel, Luke 16.1-13. Lay Ministrant: Jeremy Mackrell. Intercessor: Margaret Hindley (Sawood). Sidespersons: Hazel Belsey & Edna Randell. Coffee: Jan Berry. Cleaning, Church and Tower: Pat & Rob Schofield. Flowers: Sue Gibson.

Sunday 26^th September: the Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity - Harvest Festival. 10 am, Parish Communion. Epistle, Deuteronomy 26.1-11: Rob Schofield. Gospel, tba. Lay Ministrant: Eileen Holmes. Intercessor: tba. Sidespersons: Jackie Cope & Michael Holroyd. Coffee: Marion Povey. Cleaning, Church and Tower: Anne Collinson & Kathryn Sharp. Flowers: flowers & helpers welcome.

Sunday 3^rd October: the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity. G. 8.30 am: Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer). 10 am, Parish Communion. Epistle, 2 Timothy 1.1-14: Jackie Cope. Gospel, Luke 17.5-10. Lay Ministrant: Margaret Hindley. Intercessor: Jan Berry (Moorhouse Lane area). Sidespersons: Jan Berry & Michael Cope. Coffee: Hazel Belsey. Cleaning, Church and Tower: Robert Whitaker & Eileen Holmes. Flowers: Cath Denby.

Sunday 10^th October: the Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity - Dedication Sunday. G. 10 am, Family Communion with Parade. Epistle, Ephesians 2.19-end: tba. Gospel, John 2.13-22. Lay Ministrant: Jackie Cope. Intercessor: tba. Sidespersons: Marion Povey & Kathryn Sharp. Coffee: Jean Dunn. Cleaning, Church and Tower: The Bennetts. Flowers: Brenda Emmett.

Sunday 17^th October: the Twentieth Sunday after Trinity. G. 10 am, Parish Communion. Epistle, 2 Timothy 3.14-4.5: Eileen Holmes. Gospel, Luke 18.1-8. Lay Ministrant: Michael Cope. Intercessor: Jeremy Mackrell (Station Road). Sidespersons: Jane Clavin & Nigel Sutcliffe. Coffee: Celia Holmes. Cleaning, Church and Tower: Brenda Emmett & Sue Harding. Flowers: Brenda Emmett.

Sunday 24^th October: the last Sunday after Trinity – Bible Sunday. G. 10 am, Parish Communion. Epistle, Romans 15.1-6: Michael Cope. Gospel, Luke 4.16-24. (Epistle: Bible Sunday Reading). Lay Ministrant: Jeremy Mackrell. Intercessor: Jackie Cope (Best Lane & Hill House). Sidespersons: Jean Dunn & Tony Holmes. Coffee: Pauline Bedford. Cleaning, Church and Tower: Chris Jones & Edna Randell. Flowers: Margaret Hindley.

Margaret Hindley and Pauline Hudson clean the Chancel. Celia Holmes cleans the toilets, tidies the kitchen and washes tea towels. Cover for illness or for emergency only, please: Sidespersons, Chris Jones (646056): Coffee, Kathryn Sharp (643279).