GREETING: Our Vicar, the Rev Tom Lusty, pictured at his Licensing Service at St Oswald's Church, Arncliffe, on July 28, 2021, with his wife, Helen, and the then Bishop of Ripon, the Right Rev Dr Helen-Ann Hartley Picture: Peter Vetch
Services This Week
On Sunday, December 10, we will have: *A Service of Morning Prayer at St Oswald's Church, Arncliffe, at 9.30am. *A Service of Holy Communion at St Michael and All Angels Church, Hubberholme, at 11.15am. *A Carol Service in the Reading Room at Halton Gill, at 2.30pm. *A Service of Holy Communion at St Mary's Church, Conistone, at 4.30pm.
Looking Ahead: On Sunday, December 17, we will have: *A Service of Holy Communion at St Michael and All Angels Church, Hubberholme, at 11.15am. (Please note that this is the correct time for the Hubberholme Service, which is not as stated in the December edition of The Link and the Parish Christmas Card.) *A Carol Service at St Oswald's Church, Arncliffe, at 3pm. *A Carol Service at St Mary's Church, Kettlewell, at 6.30pm (this is a joint Service with St Mary's Church, Conistone).
Posada Adventure in Advent
(The message below from Tom, our Vicar, is taken from the December edition of The Link.) I am delighted to say that a recent request for help in knitting some woolly Nativity figures has resulted in a stunning Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus, complete with donkey, who are now ready for doing the rounds of the parish this Advent. The hope is that the children and young families of this parish might wish to host the figures in their homes in the run-up to Christmas. We will send them on their way out into the world on Advent Sunday and then welcome them back into the different Churches of the parish on Christmas Eve. The posada tradition comes from Latin America. The word posada means “an inn”, or “place of shelter”. The concept is that folk are invited to offer hospitality to the figures as a way of spiritually being open to God present in our midst, the message at the heart of the Christmas story. Hosting the Nativity figures is a tradition that I have tried in former parishes, and also when I was a hospice chaplain, where all of the different departments were happy to be hosts. In one parish the idea really took off and we had three separate nativity figures doing the rounds. I hope all those involved will enjoy giving shelter to the Holy Family as a spiritual exercise in the run up to Christmas. It was a team effort bringing the idea to life and our grateful thanks to Sandra, Sandie, Josie, Charmaine, Barbara, Maggie, Jayne, Sue, Deirdre and Christine for creating this joyful and precious new resource.
Please go to the News and Views Section of our website for the latest on events in the Parish. At the bottom of the News and Views page you will also find links to the latest edition of The Link magazine and to an updated version of the advertising Yellow Pages of The Link, containing details of local businesses and services.
The Upper Wharfedale Refugee Christmas Collection will take place again this year and collections will open from November 27. Please click on the button above to find a poster with more details, particularly of what items are required. You will notice that there is no end date given on the poster for the collections, but the posters should be going up in individual churches with the specific end date displayed on them.
Guide to Services in the Parish
Please click on the green button below to find the proposed pattern of Services for June to October, 2023. Please note that there may be changes to these Services and people should check with this website and other sources of information, such as the black What's On button at the bottom of this page, The Link magazine and the weekly Parish Email, to confirm that these are going ahead as planned. Please click on the black button below to see the general pattern or template for Services in our Parish.
The church communities of Upper Wharfedale and Littondale aim to be open and welcoming to everyone. We extend the hospitality of Jesus to people of all faiths and none whatever your background or identity.
Whether you are seeking God's presence, looking for information or some help with prayer and worship, we hope that you will discover that God's love is unconditional and within all things.
Keep us, good Lord, Under the shadow of your mercy In this time of uncertainty and distress. Sustain and support the anxious and fearful, And lift up all who are brought low; That we may rejoice in your comfort, Knowing that nothing can separate us from your love In Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Peace to all who enter. God's grace to all who depart