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Otley Churches Together
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Diary of Events
Since the last newsletter we welcome three new ministers to the town: Fr.Tom O'Connor, Major Linda Watson and Heather Pollard We hope that they feel welcomed at part of the town. From the Ministers Today pollution has become a big
issue, and rightly so. Fr.Tom O'Connor Otley Methodist Church Otley Churches Together embodies for me the essential character of the Christian faith. Jesus prayed that his followers would be one. I have always encouraged a close association between the churches of the town. I hope we will continue to work and worship together throughout the year. The Methodist Church has begun an ambitious redevelopment programme. We hope to raise some £300,000 to refurbish our premises. Our plans include a new entrance on Walkergate, enhancement of present facilities and improved access for disabled persons. This will enable our fellowship to care for those who use our premises and be a means of mission to the community. The Methodist Church is not bricks and mortar; the church is the people of faith. The building gives our church family a home, it is also a means of serving the community. The Methodist Church seeks to work with other Christians in Otley to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel, the good news of Jesus, is built with the building blocks of faith – love being the foundation stone. I trust that we may refurbish our commitment to working together in order to worship and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Every blessing Alistair Newton VIGIL FOR PEACE In Otley Every Sunday 3.30 - 4.00 please join for 30 minutes a silent vigil under the Buttercross PEACE IN AFGHANISTAN A Credit Union for Otley
The Lent Courses For many years now the Council of Churches has set up a 5-week course each Lent. Groups of 4 to 8 people from different traditions meet to discuss the range of topics for the current year. The course for 2002 is from Churches Together in England & Ireland and is "Called to be Saints" - How, when and where are we called? Watch out for details in January 2002 !! Just for interest there is a children's version of the course on the Internet : at www.ctbi.org.uk/lent
FOCUS ON YOUTH
Note: By now the Youth Forum will have taken place on 14th December. We hope that this will lead to exciting new plans. My faith embraces our historic Peace Testimony and a long tradition of non-violence and direct action. It is a faith that challenges me to work, under God’s guidance, for a just, peaceful, open and caring society. Advice and Queries 1 No. 34 reminds me of my responsibilities as a citizen for the conduct of local, national and international affairs … and that I should not shrink from the time and effort my involvement may demand. I know that I have a responsibility to raise questions about things I believe to be wrong, and I try to do this through my work in CAAB.2 The talk included serious discussion about the importance of Menwith Hill Station within the plan for Star Wars and how America considers domination of SPACE as vital to their national security. Notes:
email: anni@caab.org.uk Website: http://www.caab.org.uk Week of Prayer for Peace and One World Week On the 24th October members of the churches were invited to attend a talk given by Lindis Percy and Anni Rainbow about issues related to Menwith Hill, Star Wars and the Peace Movement. The talk was extremely illuminating and in a reasoned way gives cause for concern. By way of introduction Anni gave us an insight into how she found herself led into her work for peace. A Journey in Peace - Anni Rainbow I grew up in a family of strong Anglican Christian beliefs. This gave me a solid foundation to my life although I was later to find my spiritual home with the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). College in London in the late 60s was a time of great political awareness for me and great upheaval for the world … Vietnam, Kashmir, Arab-Israeli Wars, Biafra. I was surrounded by students from many different cultures, faiths and backgrounds where political and spiritual debate was encouraged. We were full of the optimism of youth and the despair of reality and we knew that we had to try and change the old ways of doing things if the next generation were to stand a chance of inheriting a world fit for all to live in. The Vietnam War highlighted for me the depths that we humans can sink to in the name of freedom and democracy. It taught me much about how fear, ignorance and secrecy breeds complacency and acceptance of the unacceptable. Horrific weapons - napalm, defoliation agents, fragmentation bombs - were being dropped on a people chosen as ‘the enemy’ by a Superpower; a Superpower that had already made and dropped nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As my horror of war grew so did my spiritual questioning. When American cruise missiles came to Greenham Common in the 80s I picked up my telephone and very nervously rang the Ministry of Defence to lodge my objection. Later I spent one night a week at Greenham doing a regular ‘night-watch’ at Indigo Gate with women friends from my local CND group. I knew that it was too easy to blame a God in heaven for human suffering and the ills of the world … that it was up to us here on earth, now, to take responsibility and turn the tide. That perhaps we were the hands and feet and voice of God and it was up to us to change the world around us, carefully … deliberately … step by step. I am a Quaker and a peace campaigner. For me, the two are indivisible. THE COURTHOUSE PROJECT Arts for Otley was formed after the Community Play (The Heart Shaped Field) in 1996 and since then has been working with others from interested groups in the town, eg. Otley Film Society, Otley Little Theatre, Otley Arts Club, Otley Folk Festival, the Town Council and Town Partnership, to establish a Community and Arts Centre. A charitable company - The Courthouse Project (Otley) Ltd - has now been formed. The aim of the Courthouse Project is to renovate and alter the former Magistrates' Courts, cells, Probation Office and Inspector’s house on the north side of Courthouse Street, into a Community Resource and Arts Centre for Otley. Current use of the building is by the Citizens' Advice Bureau, which occupies only a small part. The former court rooms, waiting rooms, offices and cells have been empty since the mid 1990s. If the project goes ahead, the existing main courtroom will become a large, multi-purpose space, seating 150+, suitable for theatre, film, music, dance, exhibitions, exercise classes, meetings and so on. Elsewhere there will be a community café, a creche, a pottery room, rooms suitable for arts and crafts, a craft selling space, a computer suite for community use, small meeting rooms, sound recording studio, scrap store, ‘hot desk’ office space, workshop space, equipment hire. The Citizens’ Advice bureau will have more space. The proposed Otley Credit Union would have an office. One of the existing 19th century cells will be preserved as a museum piece and visitor attraction. There will be full disabled access and facilities, with a lift to the first floor. Work done since 1996 includes three Arts Festivals held between 1996 and 1999, two in the former Magistrates Court. These were funded jointly by an 'Awards for All' grant and local fund-raising. There have been negotiations with the buildings’ owners, Leeds Development Agency. Liaison with potential partners has taken place, for example Otley Action for Older People, the Primary Health Care Team, and the Youth Service. Sources of funding have been investigated and a Business Plan drawn up, preparatory to making applications for grants. Money has been raised for a feasibility study, which is now being carried out. This is an expensive project - the buildings are in a poor state of repair and the refurbishment should be as good as possible, to provide Otley people with the resources they deserve. £500,000 will give us a usable ‘shell’, it will not provide for furniture, fittings etc. More help is needed to assist with fund-raising, publicity, liaising with other groups and agencies and later, practical work on the building. A scheme for ‘Friends of the Courthouse’ will be set up as a way of giving financial support. There will be opportunities for sponsorship, by individuals, organizations and businesses. If you would like to help with this exciting and ambitious project, please contact Hazel Costello on 01943 464431 as soon as possible. There will be a public meeting early in 2002, when a model of the architect's plans will be on show and questions can be answered. Hazel Costello Foreign Aid
CELEBRATION OF 150 YEARS OF PRAISE In June this year, Our Lady and All Saints Catholic Church celebrated its 150th anniversary. Eighteen months of planning was put into the week-long series of events, many of them being ecumenical, leading up to the actual day, Sunday 24th June. Due to the high numbers expected at some of the events and so that our whole parish could attend one Mass on the anniversary day, a marquee was put up on the lawn at the back of the Church. From the first note of the first hymn (appropriately "For all the Saints") in the first event – an ecumenical Songs of Praise – we knew we had a wonderful week ahead of us. A Brownies’ SingSong followed when Brownies from the 8th Otley Our Lady and All Saints played host to 80 fellow Rainbows, Brownies and Guides from Otley as they sang enthusiastically for an audience of family and friends.
On Monday evening, Simon Lindley, organist at Leeds Parish Church, gave a superb recital in the Church. A musical contrast was provided by the Children’s Disco for 10 to 15 year-olds the next evening, proving to be a lively affair. Our young people were again involved, early on the Thursday evening, when they devised a "Life in the Spirit" Mass. Poems, hymns, special bidding prayers and a youth band all lifted the liturgy.
Thursday evening saw the first performance of the play "The Hard Road". This was an historical drama based on the settling of the Irish at the time of the Potato Famine in Ireland, and the part played by Thomas Constable in building the Church here in Otley. It proved to be one of the week’s real highlights, and so popular that a repeat performance had to be provided on the Sunday evening. Based upon information provided by the Parish History Group, parishioner Lisa Gustafson, in collaboration with a few others, wrote the script and then organised and cajoled some 70 parishioners to act in the play. Following a school Mass where pupils used puppets they had made themselves to illustrate the liturgy, volunteers brought our sick and housebound to Church on the Friday for a moving Healing Mass said by Father Tom O’Connor. This was followed by a lunch for those attending. On Saturday, 29 of our young parishioners took their First Holy Communion. 300 family and friends attended this Mass on a day that is always special but more so because it was during our celebrations. That evening, the marquee provided the setting for a parish dance. During the night, the "dance hall" was changed into a "Church" for the one-parish Mass, which followed the re-dedication of our Church by Mgr. Canon John Murphy (representing the bishop). The Mass was concelebrated by Canon Murphy (himself a curate here just over 50 years ago), current and past parish priests. After Mass, the wonderful sunny weather allowed everyone to join a barbecue and reflect on a wonderful week of celebration. Colin Swanton Useful contacts
Foreign Aid Agencies
Churches and Fellowships in Otley All Saints Parish Church, Otley (C of E) Diocese of Bradford - Kirkgate/Burras Lane Sunday Services 8.00 a.m. Holy Communion
11.00 a.m. Sung Communion, Matins on 4th Sunday
Clergy Rev. Graham Buttanshaw Tel: 462240 Rev. Phil Moon Tel: 468029
Newall Church Hall - Newall Carr Road (part of Parish Church)
This hall is available for parties, groups, meetings, classes etc. - for further information and bookings 'phone 463278 Held at Weston Social Club Thursday pm Friendship club - part of Otley Parish Church Quaker Meetings for Worship in Otley (The Religious Society of Friends) Every Sunday at 2.00 p.m. on the premises of Otley Methodist Church - for further details, please telephone 463351 Calvary Fellowship - Church on the Way - Westgate 48-52 Westgate - first floor Sunday Morning Worship 10.00am & most Sunday Evenings. Monday Prayer Meeting 7.30pm Thursday Bible Study 7.30pm
Bethel Evangelical Church - Myers Croft, Station Road
Adventurers - for children aged 7-11 - Wednesday 6.15-7.30 p.m. Wednesday - 1.15pm Women at Home (1st & 3rd Wed.) 7.45-9.15 Home & Away for 11+ Thursday 7.45 Church Night. Talking about God and the Bible. - for further information contact Pastor Martin Woodier Tel: 464631 Otley Methodist Church - Boroughgate
Sunday School (Discoverers) 10.45 p.m.
Minister: Rev. Alistair Newton Tel: 462308 Baptisms, weddings by arrangement with the Minister Caretaker: 13 Walkergate, Otley
Gospel Hall - Cross Green Services Sunday 10.30 a.m. Breaking of Bread 6.15 p.m. Gospel Service Tuesday 7.45 p.m. Prayer Meeting Thursday 7.45 p.m. Bible Reading Otley Salvation Army - Newmarket
Sundays 10.30 a.m. and 6 p.m.: Family Worship 10.30 a.m. Children's Time
Wednesdays 12 noon Luncheon Club (by prior arrangement )
Major Linda Watson Tel: 465708 / 467110 New Life Church (Prayer Centre - Mercury Row) Sundays 10.30am Midweek Growth Groups and Young People's meetings minister: Paul Lancaster contact: Peter Wilkinson 465033 Our Lady and All Saints Catholic Church - Bridge Street Masses Sunday Vigil on Saturday 6.30 p.m. Sunday 9.30 a.m. & 11.15 a.m. Holy Days 8.00 a.m., 9.15 a.m. & 7.30 p.m. Week days - Mon/Wed/Th/Fri 8.30 a.m. Tues 7.30 p.m. Sat 10.00 a.m. Confessions Sat 10.30 a.m., 5.30 p.m. and by appointment Devotions In Lent, May and October as well as other times Prayer groups and other meetings - see the weekly news-sheet Baptisms and weddings by arrangement Further information from the Presbytery: Fr. Tom O'Connor Tel: 462146 Clitherow House Social Club near church The Bridge Church - The United Reformed Church in Otley - Bridge Street Sundays Family Church (creche and facilities for all ages) 10.45 a.m. Evening Praise 6.30 p.m. Holy Communion (First Sunday - am, Fourth Sunday - pm) Baptism, weddings, funerals by arrangement with the Minister Pastoral Ministry Team of Ordained Elders
Tel: Rev. Tony Gardiner 463058 For further information, a visit from the Minister, or literature please ring The Christian Outreach Scheme - Ron or Amy Sweeney, Tel: Otley 863362 Praying Together at least once a month Consider coming along to the monthly Prayer Breakfast! On the first Saturday of each month we get together at 8.00am. for rolls and coffee, and feast together before worship at 8.30. Approximately 50 people attend and we are pleased to be graced, most months, by the presence of all the church ministers who do not necessarily take a leading role. Each month a different church, church hall or parlour is used and various individuals or groups within each church lead. Worship varies in style from meditative prayer to faith sharing.
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