Category: News

General posts about what’s happening in the Parish of Guiseley with Esholt

Easter and Holy Week

Our Parish has  had a wonderful weekend of Easter events.

It all started with Maundy Thursday and the Liturgy of the Last Supper, followed on Friday morning with our Children’s Easter Event,  then a change of mood for our solemn liturgy.  On Friday evening there was an impeccable rendition of The Crucifixion by Sir John  Stainer, sung by our fantastic choir with an audience of over 100 people.

On Saturday evening we celebrated the first Eucharist of Easter and the Service of Light,  followed by our Easter Day services on Sunday in a flower-filled church.

 

Thank you to all who have worked so hard to make this weekend so special; you are all an inspiration.

Fr David Pickett

Rector of Guiseley with Esholt

Lent 2018

Ash Wednesday on February 14th marks the start of Lent, and this year our six week Lent Course will begin on Monday 19th March and look at the Beatitudes. 

A few short sentences, the Beatitudes are perhaps the most important, subversive and revolutionary text in the Bible. They sum up Jesus’ teaching about what it means to live as a child of God’s kingdom. They can be found right at the beginning of a long passage of teaching by Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel, known as the Sermon on the Mount.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
Blessed are those who suffer persecution for righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Join us in St Oswald’s Parish Centre from 7-9pm every Monday in Lent for a course of study and meditation, led by our Rector, Fr David Pickett.

Happy New Year

As we begin 2018, the Rector and PCC of the Parish of Guiseley with Esholt would like to wish everyone a very happy and peaceful New Year.

From pilgrimages and parades to a new parish centre, from Messy Church to Movember, we’ve been busy in 2017,  and we hope you enjoy just a few highlights:

 

 

World War 1 Memorial Window

St Oswald’s Church, a Grade 1 listed building,  has two stained glass windows which are World War 1 memorials.

One is on the North side of church and the other on the South side. The Lych gate is also a World War 1 memorial. Close inspection of the window on the South side will reveal the wear and tear from 99 years of sun, wind and rain. This window has become bowed and cracked, and is in need of restoration. A project to renovate and protect the window together with the Lych gate is now underway.

 

The plan is to complete the work by September 2018 so that the anniversary of the end of World War 1 hostilities can be marked with a service of rededication at St Oswald’s. As this is a significant event in our community’s history, the aim is to mark the 100th anniversary with projects, concerts and exhibitions involving our schools, community organisations and other churches.

Sponsorship being encouraged from local businesses and organisations to
supplement a bid being submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The names of the 151 men who lost their lives in World War 1 were read out at our Remembrance Service this year:  our aim is to ensure that their contribution during World War 1 is marked in next year’s centenary so that the town that they helped establish and preserve is appropriately marked by us all.

Music For Remembrance

This week’s Music for Remembrance Concert was very well attended, especially for a mid-week event, and the choir were superb. The programme, which  included music by Farrant, Stanford, Aston and Sumsion, was ambitious but executed with musicality and enthusiasm.

The Allegri Miserere is a particularly treacherous piece to pull off, but went very well. Our chorister Maddy, who is only 13, sang the high first soprano part in the semi-chorus with ease and poise.  Tina, Gill and Peter who, as always, sang with musicality and assurance joined Maddy in the semi-chorus. Maddy and Peter also sang the solo sections in Gabriel  Faure’s Requiem, which we sang after the interval.

Our thanks to Jonathan Kingston who once again came to play the organ.

With Advent Sunday only 3 weeks away and our first Christmas engagement next week, we have a very busy time ahead. The choir continues to show a high  level of commitment and dedication.

 

Martin Baker