St Matthew's Church. Wood Lane, Chapel Allerton, Leeds, United Kingdom LS7 3QF
07484 635886 revsijones@outlook.com or stmatthewschurch1900@gmail.com
Touch Here to Give
And
Thank YOU in Advance
Please visit our Home page for our latest news about Services.
Keep in touch - we will continue to produce our weekly bulletin (an abridged version of this page) available by ‘joining our mailing list’ from the link in the header above. Hard copies available.
Please tell others about this!
OUR WEBSITE IS CONSTANTLY DEVELOPING -
If you have any suggestions for improving it, please contact either Fred Rowland or David Keighley.
PLEASE LET US KNOW
if you are aware of anyone from Church who is poorly, or become housebound or in need of some support, and especially those in hospital, and if you yourselves are going to hospital, so that the Pastoral Visiting Team can arrange for someone to visit. Please contact any of the staff team.
Help us to help Others by donating to the running of St Matthew's Church Chapel Allerton THANK YOU!
Donate Here Thank You In Advance
UKRAINE CRISIS
WE PRAY for the people of Ukraine.
CAFOD has established an appeal to support them at this critical time.
UKRAINE CRISIS
The Church of England has produced a toolkit for parishes responding to the Ukraine crisis, it has lots of good information which might be of interest.
SCRAMBLERS
takes place for children aged 3-6 during the 10am Communion Service
usually on the 3rd Sunday of the month. See Homepage
TEDDY PRAISE
a short informal pram service for pre-school children and their parents/carers, followed by craft/play and refreshments. We are always pleased to welcome new families. In the meeting room at 10am every Wednesday in term time.
WHERE DO YOU FIT IN?
Please don’t forget to pray for our vision here at St Matthew’s and for God to show you where you might join in with what we are trying to achieve with a renewed commitment, rebuilt church and restored lives. Check out our vision board in church and complete one of our ‘Where do you fit in?’ forms and we can get in touch and get you involved.
MUSIC @ ST MATTHEW'S
St Matthew’s enjoys a rich and varied musical tradition. Why not become a part of it? If you play an instrument, you could join our Music Group; if you’re an enthusiastic singer but unable to commit on a weekly basis, you could join our Family Service Singers; if you have some singing experience and can sing with our St Matthew’s Choir – why not consider joining them! Or, if you’re an experienced singer with strong reading abilities – you could join our Extra Choir and sing with us at major festivals. For more information, speak to Josh, Nick or Ellen after the service.
JULY ECO TIPS from A Rocha UK
Week 1. How do you get to church, work, or the shops? Walking, cycling and public transport are all lower carbon than a car, even an electric one, and will help you stay active too.
Week 2. If you are able, ditch the tumble dryer and air dry clothes: outside on a line if you have an outdoor space; inside on an airer in a room that you can ventilate or with a Sheila Maid over the bath or sink - https://sheilamaid.com/collections/sheila-maid-new
Week 3. Turn off the tap when cleaning your teeth. On average, about two gallons of water flow from a tap each minute. Something as simple as turning off the water while brushing your teeth can save up to three or four gallons of water per person per day!
Week 4. Just Say No to Plastic Cutlery and Straws - Disposable cutlery and straws are among the worst plastic pollution culprits. Like plastic bags and bottles, they’re used just once, for a few minutes, and then thrown away. Keep metal or wooden utensils set in your purse or travel pack
Week 5. Wash clothes in cold water. Not only does it save water by washing clothes in cold water, colours last longer and clothes retain their size and shape
For more eco-tips visit https://arocha.org.uk
COMMUNITY CAFÉ/WELCOME SPACE
We invite you to our Community Café, serving a variety of refreshments as well as soup lunches every Wednesday 9am to 1pm. Please come along and invite your friends too?
LOOSE WOMEN
Meet on the second Wednesday of the month, usually at 7.30pm in the Community Room. New members always welcome. Dates for 2025 as follows: 8th Jan - Post Christmas catch up and games night. 12th Feb - Meal out - Deliziosa. 12th Mar - Roger Quick. 9th Apr - Freedom for Girls. 14th May event is cancelled - 11th Jun - An evening with Alexandra, Trinidadian plantation owner and writer.
9th July - Viv Anderson, death doula, advance planning we all need to be thinking about.
August - no meeting.
GARDENING AROUND THE CHURCH
There are opportunities for gardening tasks through the year on alternate Tuesdays between 1.30 - 3pm to maintain the beautiful space around the church for all to enjoy. NEXT SESSION Tuesday 15th July To volunteer your help, please contact Doug Pollock.
SNICKET SQUAD LITTERPICKING
(Every 3rd Saturday) Next session is Saturday 19th July.
Meet outside Toby Carvery (Queen's Arms) at 9.45 or better still, join us for breakfast with friends from Cornerstone Baptist Church (from 8am). Text 07999 699200 to let us know you're helping (we'll get more grabbers) or to join the WhatsApp group to keep updated of changes (due to weather etc.) and suggest sites for future pickings. Not suitable for young children. Finishing at the cemetery - see below.
HYMNS IN THE STREET
We are looking for a volunteer for this years Hymns in the Street – see the following message from this year’s organisers... We at Stainbeck United Reformed Church, are delighted to be taking the lead on Hymns in the Street this year, Sunday 31 August. In terms of format, we would like to follow previous years with each church providing a representative who will share a 2 minute faith story followed by introducing a hymn/song. The theme is: Be brave! We invite faith stories of how we as individuals or as churches have been courageous and stepped out in faith. Perhaps, we have tried something new in our community, engaged in social justice or instance or spoke truth to power. The Episcopal Bishop of Washington Cathedral, Marriann Budde, writes that these are ‘moments that shape our lives and make us the people we are and who God calls us to become.’ Please email me with the person from your church who will be sharing by Monday 21st July
Please can you all think and pray about this and let me know if you would like to volunteer – thank you, Simon.
FREEDOM4GIRLS LEEDS BASED CHARITY
Loose Women had an enlightening talk by Maureen and Tina from Freedom4girls recently. Some of you will be familiar with their work and others will not, so here's a link to their website. Please consider how you might help women here in Leeds who don’t have this basic need met. Please be generous.
GRASS CUTTING OF THE CHURCH LAWNS
Would you be willing to give a couple of hours or so, of your time once every 2-3 months? As a member of the grass cutting team of volunteers on a rota, you would be given access to the church's lawnmower/fuel and receive full instruction on its operation. To volunteer your help, please contact Doug Pollock.
LEEDS NORTH & WEST FOODBANK
RICE. We are continuing with our more targeted approach to our giving to the foodbank. During July, we encourage you to donate packets of Rice. This may seem less cost effective than buying large packets, but the Foodbank are not allowed to split and share out larger boxes. Everyone needs to receive sealed items in their original packaging. Thank you in advance. Let’s continue to show the foodbank we care about the people they support and help them to provide what’s really needed.
Any questions speak to Helen Jones or Audrey Reed.
GET KNOTTING FOR AGE UK
A very big thank you for all those who used their scraps and leftovers to knit little woolly hats for the tops of Innocent smoothie bottles. Altogether 44 hats were made for the appeal, and they were dropped off at Age UK on 18th June. Special shout out to the Community Café knitters.
ST MATTHEW'S REFRESHMENTS TEAM
The new rota for the team serving refreshments after our Sunday morning service is being drawn up. The team are always looking for new volunteers and it would be great to get some new people joining the team. Please do think about whether this is a way you could be serving here at St Matthew’s. Please speak to Tina Rowe for more information.
THRIVE
We have a fantastic group of young people who gather on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and are looking to grow the team as we meet again after lockdown. Could you help by...
- welcoming and showing an interest?
- preparing and sharing snacks?
- joining in discussions about faith and life?
- showing young people they are valued?
Totally Tuesday is for 9-12s and meets from 7-8pm.
WOW is for those 13+ and meets from 8-9pm on Wednesdays.
Thank you for the support that you give Thrive - we really appreciate you and how you encourage us!
A couple of ways that you can continue to support us:
By praying - let us know if you would like to join the Thrive prayer WhatsApp group.
By nominating us for the Co-op Community Fund - we are excited that Thrive Leeds have been chosen as one of the local causes for the Co-op Community Fund this year! The money raised will go towards exploring youth work in Meanwood (including the area in St. Matthew's' Parish) - empowering young people to take the lead and shape how things develop, as we build on our current work. If you are a Co-op member, you could nominate ThriveLeeds as your favoured charity. You can do this on the app or by ringing 0800 0686 727. If you're not a member yet, please become one and then nominate us! Check this out.
View or download our latest Newsletter from the base of our Home Page
Contact Hannah Dey or your church's Thrive Trustee (Helen Copeland)
if you would like to explore this opportunity. See our Annual Report.
PAFRAS (Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers)
Dear Friends and Supporters, Thank you very much for your donations of food on 08.08.2024, this is very kind of all of you. The need for PAFRAS's services is growing. Every week we distribute around 80 food parcels which are almost entirely made up out of donations from our supporters. We couldn't provide our vital services without the support of our fabulous donors and supporters - we are incredibly grateful to you for your support, especially now when there is so much hostility and racism towards people who are viewed as migrants. To subscribe to our newsletter, visit our website and go to ‘subscribe’ at the bottom of the page. If you can help please put donations of food (Tomatoes, Chickpeas and Rice are particularly helpful) and/or toiletries in the (green) collection box at the back of church. Many thanks. Read their latest newsletter.
COMMUNITY CAFÉ
Our Community Café is becoming increasingly popular as a Welcome Space here in Chapel Allerton. People are beating the winter blues and making new friends and enjoying lovely soup lunches. Because of this we need more helpers to help serve in our café and also to come along and befriend newcomers and offer hospitality and conversation. If you are interested, please come along to the café any Wednesday and meet the team.
WYDAN NIGHT SHELTER
Please consider supporting WYDAN's Night Shelter, either behind the scenes (please contact Doug Pollock to find out more) or financially WYDAN's work financially (payment can be made online here)
View or download the latest Newsletter from the base of our Home Page
SCOUTING FOR VOLUNTEERS
7th St. Matthew’s Scout Group needs Section Helpers, Assistant Leaders and Leaders! Are you interested in working with and supporting our young people. If you can give an hour a month, a week or more please get in touch for more information at: falcon.stmatthewsbeavers@gmail.com
COFFEE ROTA
Thanks to all those who help serve refreshments after the Sunday service. It would be great to have more volunteers on the rota. If you can help, please let us know. Thanks, The Coffee Crew.
CHAPEL ALLERTON METHODIST CHURCH LUNCH CLUB
New members and volunteers welcome. Booking is essential. The 2 course lunch costs £5, and is served at 12.30pm. Transport can be arranged if needed. Please visit their website.
GENEROUS LIVING AND PLANNED GIVING
If you would like to contribute to the upkeep of our beautiful building and make it a place for worship, meetings, drama and music. Please help by making a regular payment to our scheme this is to help with our charitable giving and payment of the various bills we have to pay to keep this building in good working order, for all that seek to find God and also help our local community and those less fortunate.
Please use the attached form by clicking the donate button this will take you to our donation form which you can then fill in. And if you are a UK tax payer please consider gift aiding your contribution this will not affect your pocket, but the Tax Man will give us .25p for every £1.00 you give us. Thank you in advance and remember click donate.
InterACT
We believe communities are important: they give us belonging, human contact and shape our identity. And we believe that we all have something to learn from one another. Getting to know one another is a pretty important part of community, so when we began as a project around 15 years ago, we were all about meeting other people - mainly through creative arts activities. Since then, we've expanded what we do a little, reflecting the needs and passions of our local area. However, the vision remains to bring people together from across the various neighbourhoods that make up and connect to Meanwood, so that we all have opportunity to share in what it offers, what we can learn from one another, and what we can give. As a partnership of 5 local churches, we seek spiritual wellbeing and fullness of life for all. And because we work alongside other agencies in the area, we are able to signpost people to other services where needed. Our Official Vision Statement:
Hearing Christ’s call to unity and recognising that we are stronger together than we are apart, the Partnership seeks to:
Work together to demonstrate God's love in word and actions
Serve and witness in Meanwood and beyond.
Work with other agencies in reaching out to our local communities.
SUPPORTING GOOD MENTAL HEALTH
A booklet produced by the Church of England. You can read thirteen daily reflections written by Professor Chris Cook and accompanied by "have a go" habits developed by Ruth Rice.
The effects of mental health problems are huge. Nearly nine out of ten people with mental health problems have been affected by stigma and discrimination. Given the challenging times we are living in with coronavirus, the reflections in this booklet were updated and new resources written in March 2020. They seek to provide hope, reassurance and comfort. If you want to speak to someone, please visit the Mental Health Foundation website, which has lots of helpful resources and contacts. Visit www.mentalhealth.org.uk
ROGER QUICK "Entertaining Saints"
Some of us remember that Revd. Roger Quick was curate of St. Matthew’s from 1996-2000. Since 2013 he has been Chaplain to St George’s Crypt, the homeless charity in Leeds which St. Matthew’s has supported for many years. Roger has written a book about life in the Crypt, called Entertaining Saints. He describes every day as being a mixture of laughter and tears. The new Archbishop of York has written the foreword, in which he describes Roger’s book as “Vivid and engaging”. Copies are available in paperback from publisher Darton, Longman and Todd ISBN 0232534896: or from St George’s Crypt Charity Shop on Street Lane. The illustrations are by the Leeds-based artist Si Smith. Roger also has "Sheltering Saints" book available ISBN 9781913657680.
HOME SCHOOLING (from Libby Kennedy)
If you, or anyone you know needs advice on home schooling primary school aged children, please get in touch. I can offer assessments, catch-up lessons, materials to work from, teaching tips for parents or just a chat for reassurance and ideas. Please contact Libby Kennedy.
DAILY HOPE
The Church of England has launched a free national phone line as a simple new way to bring worship and prayer into people’s homes. ‘Daily Hope’ offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services at the end of a telephone line. The line – which is available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044.
IBY KNILL
If you would like to order either book ‘The Woman with Nine Lives’ or 'The Woman Without a Number', by our much loved and dear departed friend, Iby Knill, please search for Iby's publisher's website.
STRUGGLING WITH DEBT?
Free debt counselling for everyone from an award winning charity. This service has recently expanded to cover our area, with sponsorship from Chapel A Baptist Church. If you know anyone who would benefit from this expert service, please ask them to call free on 0800 328 0006.
EVENTS
If you would like to hear about upcoming social events at St. Matthew's (including Loose Women and Men on the Loose), please send your contact details to eventsatStMatthews@yahoo.com to be put on the mailing list. Thanks, Tina.
To submit a notice please contact:
Revd. Simon Jones, Vicar, St. Matthew’s Church, Chapel Allerton
(by Tuesday evenings for the Bulletin on the following Sunday).
Email: revsijones@outlook.com
Mobile: 07484 635886
(St. Matthew's Church is not responsible for content of external websites)