We would like your favourite recipes please. St James' book of recipes is to be published sometime in the New Year. We are raising funds for the new audio/visual system. Please think about this and send your recipes to the Parish Office marked "Recipes" or email to stjames@dsl.pipex.com Thank you

The two boxes of educational material which were sent to Malawi last August have finally arrived. They have been distributed to the two schools and been gratefully received by the teachers. Thank you to all who contributed. David Bailey

Much more so than when you were last in St James'! Thanks to the dedication, hard work and drive of the sewing team, we now have wonderful, comfortable and welcoming pew cushions for all our pews. This huge work has been completed at lightening speed, but has taken many, many hours of effort. Our thanks go to Carol Farrar and her group of many helpers for all their skilled work, and to the many donors who have kindly supported the project. The pew cushions bring a real improvement to our experience of using the church building. Thank you.

Please come along for a coffee, homemade cakes, sandwiches, raffle and lots more at 57 Glenfield Avenue (map), where Pat is kindly holding a fundraiser for the new seat cushions in Church. Please come along and support.

Confirmation marks an important step in our journey of faith.

We will be holding two groups in which people can explore the meaning of the Christian faith - a group for adults and a group for young people (year 6 and above).

In each group there will be opportunities to learn and to ask questions about Christianity. We are planning a confirmation for 10.00 on Sunday 24 June.

Please do consider whether you would like to learn more about the Christian faith and to be confirmed.

Please contact Brendan to find out more and to sign-up. The groups will start after the Easter Holidays.

Walking, either singly or in a group, has long been part of spiritual discipline. It is a discipline that appeals to me because it is enjoyable too, as well as being a good way of getting things in a better perspective.

We are planning a couple walks focused on two of our Yorkshire Abbeys during Lent. It would be lovely to have one or two car loads of people for each walk. Both walks are relatively easy but will require boots and a packed lunch.

If you would like to come on either walk please contact Brendan to arrange transport. We will leave the St James' carpark at 09.00.

Tuesday 6 March Rievaulx Abbey 5 miles

Tuesday 27 March Jervaulx Abbey 5.5 miles

Dear Friends,

Leaps, bounds and steps

Recently the ministry team at St James' enjoyed a day together at Parcevall Hall, Bradford Diocese Retreat Centre, in the Dales. It was good for us to pause and spend time together.

In the afternoon some of us went for a walk through Troller's Gill, which is a limestone gorge that for most of the year has a dry river bed. It is not dry in January. In fact it was pretty wet. "Shall we turn back?" I asked our intrepid crew. "Of course not", came their response. By now I should know better than to even hint at questioning the determination of clergy and readers. It just spurs them on.

It was wet, steep in places and slippery everywhere. The sensible thing would have been to turn back. But we made it. We criss-crossed the river bed more times than any of us would care to remember. We shared walking sticks, offered hands and step by step we edged our way to the top and then back down again via a more sensible route.

They said they loved it. I loved getting back, getting back in one piece with the team intact.

Last month I wrote about the significance of a leap of faith. Such leaps, when we make a decisive change are hugely important. Leaps of faith matter, but so do small steps. Lent, as the days gradually lengthen, is a time of making such steps of faith. Do consider whether you would like to join a Lent Study Group, or join us for the Thursday Meditations and lunches or even a walk - certainly less slippery than the one I have just described.

With every blessing,

Brendan

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You can follow Rev Giblin on twitter @RevGiblin

Dear Friends,

Leaps, bounds and steps

Recently the ministry team at St James' enjoyed a day together at Parcevall Hall, Bradford Diocese Retreat Centre, in the Dales. It was good for us to pause and spend time together.

In the afternoon some of us went for a walk through Troller's Gill, which is a limestone gorge that for most of the year has a dry river bed. It is not dry in January. In fact it was pretty wet. "Shall we turn back?" I asked our intrepid crew. "Of course not", came their response. By now I should know better than to even hint at questioning the determination of clergy and readers. It just spurs them on.

It was wet, steep in places and slippery everywhere. The sensible thing would have been to turn back. But we made it. We criss-crossed the river bed more times than any of us would care to remember. We shared walking sticks, offered hands and step by step we edged our way to the top and then back down again via a more sensible route.

They said they loved it. I loved getting back, getting back in one piece with the team intact.

Last month I wrote about the significance of a leap of faith. Such leaps, when we make a decisive change are hugely important. Leaps of faith matter, but so do small steps. Lent, as the days gradually lengthen, is a time of making such steps of faith. Do consider whether you would like to join a Lent Study Group, or join us for the Thursday Meditations and lunches or even a walk - certainly less slippery than the one I have just described.

With every blessing,

Brendan

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You can follow Rev Giblin on twitter @RevGiblin