Dear Friends,

Among our celebrations of the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, every day and every month, this month is very special, since it is the anniversary of The Accession of H M Queen Elizabeth to the throne sixty years ago in 1952. She is an amazing Lady and is loved with a lot of respect around the world and the Commonwealth of Nations, where she is their Queen. Those of us who live in U.K. do not realise this Monarch has a lot of influence on how the rest of the world looks up to U.K. because of the Royal Family with their Palaces and Ceremonies.

To mark this very important day in our history and in the life of Her Majesty, The Prayer Book Society in our Diocese will be holding a Service of Choral Matins on Monday 6 th February at 11.30 am at St Mary's Church Nether Alderley. I hope many of us will find time to attend this Service of thanksgiving for Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee.

Our Lord's Jubilees are every day and every hour since the living, loving God is speaking his words of wisdom through the revelations and the bringing forth of the Baby Jesus we welcomed at Christmas, now grown to manhood, and is going about His Mission of Salvation.

And so this month we begin our journey with Jesus during the forty days and forty nights in the wilderness. But our journey must not be alone for we are the family of God and He calls us to be part of the whole body. God gave each of us a uniqueness in that we are individuals but we co- exist; not to be separated from what we belong to - that bigger family of which we are a part.

St Paul's image of that body is most helpful in the way we pray and support one another, for the lifeblood of God is flowing through the whole Church even though there are parts rejoicing, parts weeping, parts strong, parts needing support, parts that are exposed and isolated, parts that function in close harmony with each other. But the blood flows, the oxygen of God's healing love moves through the arteries and veins that link us all mysteriously into Christ's Body, His Church. So during this period of Lent we need to move into partnership praying and interceding for our world and humanity, absorbing pain, purifying toxins, releasing agents of healing and hopefulness, allowing each part to be dependent on the other.

Around the world we have nations who need our prayers and their situations need to be presented before God's throne of Heavenly Grace, so that their hardships and difficulties can be shared by all of us, for we are one Body - a body that is nourished by our one Lord and Christ who taught us through His suffering during these forty days and forty nights.

In the Western world we are too comfortable to the point of wastefulness, and materialism has removed what matters most for example, shelter, homes, medicines, education, food, clean water and security for the whole human race. We are challenged during Lent to draw our attention to these necessities as Our Lord did. Have a Holy observance of Lent in fasting, prayer, study, and alms giving.

Your Fellow Co- worker in Gospel. … William

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

St.James the Great

MOTHERS' UNION

Our Annual General Meeting was held on Monday, January 16 th when the Branch Leader, Hazel Gardner, welcomed a full attendance of members, despite the cold weather.

The three Branch Officers - Hazel Gardner (Leader), Pat Rose (Secretary) and Ida Nettleton (Treasurer) – agreed to serve for a further twelve months. Bishop William enrolled Rebecca Salmon as a new member - she has also agreed to serve on the Committee and we welcome her to the Branch and hope she will spend many happy times with us.

Hazel reported another busy and successful year with a good attendance at all meetings – we have seen an increase in membership when many other branches are losing members for one reason or another. The meeting was followed by ‘Hazel's Game' and a ‘Bring & Share' supper.

Our next meeting is on Monday, February 20 th when Mrs Celia Lea will take us on a photographic tour of Cheshire villages. Visitors are very welcome.

Our Annual Pancake event will again be held on Shrove Tuesday, February 21 st – 11am to 3 pm in the Meeting Room – when there will also be a ‘Bring & Buy' stall and Raffle.

Tickets at £3.00 are currently on sale from members .

CHURCH STUDY GROUP

The next meeting will be on Monday 13 th February 2012 at 8 pm in the Church Meeting Room. The speaker will be Mr John Gillett.

The subject will be The Huguenots.

If you would like to come along, we should be delighted to welcome you.

Jennifer and David Hardman,

01260 252165

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Social and Fundraising Report

As a result of our successful Christmas Tree Festival we were able to bank £2482.70 for church funds. Many thanks are due to the sponsors and to everyone who helped throughout the week, either in the church or in the Meeting Room.

We are hoping to repeat the event during December 2012.

We would like to thank Mrs Caudwell and her family for hosting a Sherry and Mince Pie evening at the Old Rectory. Everyone enjoyed it greatly and £500 was raised for church funds.

The first event of this year will be a Quiz and Chips night on Saturday 18 th February . Lesley Holland and Jane Palmer are organising the evening and the tickets costing £8 will be on sale soon.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What do those strange names mean?

Septuagesima (in full, Septuagesima Sunday ) is the name for the ninth Sunday before Easter, the third before Ash Wednesday. The term is sometimes applied also to the period that begins on this day and ends on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, when Lent begins.

Septuagesima comes from the Latin word for "seventieth" with Sexagesima and Quinquagesima equalling "sixtieth" and "fiftieth" respectively. They are patterned after the Latin word for the season of Lent, Quadragesima, which means "fortieth", as Lent is forty days long excluding Sundays.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Candlemas Day 2nd February

the Christian festival of lights

This ancient festival marks the midpoint of winter, halfway between the shortest day and the spring equinox.

Candlemas is a traditional Christian festival that commemorates the ritual purification of Mary forty days after the birth of her son Jesus. On this day, Christians remember the presentation of Jesus Christ in the Temple. Forty days after the birth of a Jewish boy, it was the custom to take him to the temple in Jerusalem to be presented to God by his thankful parents.

In pre-Christian times, this day was known as the 'Feast of Lights' and celebrated the increased strength of the life-giving sun as winter gave way to spring.

How did the 2nd February come to be called Candlemas?

It was the day of the year when all the candles, that were used in the church during the coming year, were brought into church and a blessing was said over them - so it was the Festival Day (or 'mass') of the Candles.

Candles were important in those days not only because there was no electric lights. Some people thought they gave protection against plague and illness and famine. For Christians, they were (and still are) a reminder of something even more important. Before Jesus came to earth, it was as if everyone was 'in the dark'. People often felt lost and lonely. Afraid. As if they were on their own, with no one to help them. Then came Jesus with his message that he is, with his followers, always ready to help and comfort them. As if he is a guiding light to them in the darkness. Christians often talk of Jesus as 'the light of the World' - and candles are lit during church services to remind Christians of this.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ELECTORAL ROLL – 2012

There will be a revision of the Church Electoral Roll from 28 th February to 6 th March 2012. If you wish your name to be added to or taken off the roll, please contact Jane Robertson, 01625

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GAWSWORTH MEETING ROOM

The Meeting Room is available for hire for £20 per session, a session being    approximately four hours.  This includes the use of the kitchen.
The room is suitable for birthday parties, meetings, receptions, etc.
Enquiries 01625 267342

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WANTED –  for St James’ Church, Gawsworth

CAN YOU HELP ???
We are rather short of Church cleaners.  Would anyone like to join the cleaning rota?  The current rota runs on an approx. 8 week cycle.  
 Further details from Jane Robertson, 01625 267342.
Volunteers to make coffee on Sunday after church and also to help clean the Meeting Room.  If any person is willing to help, please put name on list on notice board at the back of the Church or speak to  Frances Nixon.
All help will be  greatly appreciated.

..........................................................................................................................................