Building for the Future
Our JustGiving page for BfF is: https://www.justgiving.com/stmatthewschurch-chapelallerton
Simply search on the JustGiving website or App for St. Matthews Church and click on Fundraise for us link or make a single donation by clicking on the Donate button.
WHITE GIFT AID ENVELOPES
For the last year we have been assigning all money given in the one-off pew envelopes to the Building for the Future fund. Thank you to all those who have given in this way. The PCC has now resolved that all future money in the pew envelopes will go towards general funds as we are struggling to meet our day to day costs. If you wish to continue to give to BfF please use one of the large white envelopes by the BfF display or see above.
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.
OUR WEBSITE IS STILL DEVELOPING -
This is our (fairly) new and evolving website. Thanks to Fred Rowland for setting this up. The content is still being edited and any comments welcome to Fred 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.
EARLY MORNING PRAYERS
Wednesdays at 8am for 20 minutes in the new Community Room, enter by Main Church door. Let’s pray for our country at this crucial time, as well as for our local community. If this time is not possible (e.g. too late for work) let me know – David Robinson.
FINANCE MATTERS
We give thanks that we have received a legacy of some £12,000. This has enabled us to pay for the repairs to our central heating boiler, our organ blower motor and essential roof repairs. However we have still fallen short of the income we require to pay our full commitment to the Diocese, called Parish Share. We have made every effort in the last three years to do so but this year we will be short. This underlines our need to increase our regular giving. Thank you for all those who responded to our ‘Seeds for Growth’ stewardship. We need to continue to build up our regular giving and if you can help, please do so. Further information from Martin Smith (Head of Finance), John Greenwood (Treasurer) or David Robinson.
COFFEE ROTA - CAN YOU HELP?
The new coffee rota will be out soon and it would be great to have a few more volunteers (male or female). If you can help just 3 or 4 times a year, please let me know. Thanks, Tina Rowe
POWER UP
is our new group for young people aged 9 years at the Gather Together service. Our aim is to help our young people explore questions of faith and connect and grow in their relationship with God.
COMMUNITY CAFE
Why not call in for a coffee and a chat every Wednesday in term-time from 9 -11.30am.
All welcome - pay as you feel.
ECO TOP TIPS for February – Be informed
1. Are you responsible for more or less than the average UK carbon footprint of 12 tonnes CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent)? Challenge yourself to reduce by 1 tonne this year. Climate Stewards have an easy to use carbon calculator www.climatestewards.org
InterACT
InterACT Church and Community Partnership. Upcoming Opportunities - Help Needed! Did you know...InterACT is a partnership of 5 churches: Holy Trinity Meanwood, Meanwood Methodists, Meanwood Valley Baptist, Stainbeck Church and St. Matthew’s?
AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS (for children aged 7-11 and their families): Wednesdays after school, in 5 week blocks. Volunteers needed to help set up, chat or be a helping hand between 2.45 and 5pm in 5 week blocks. Thank you! Contact info: Ness Brown - 07961 535 767; vanessa@interact.uk.net
CONFIRMATION
Will anyone considering being Confirmed (young people in year 7 or over, and adults) please contact me in the next few weeks. (David Robinson) or 0113 268 3072
LIVE LENT
’This Lent, we hope both adults and children might engage in God’s plea for us to “Care for Creation”. It is an opportunity for us to rebuild our relationship with our planet, and in turn with the God who is Lord of everything. During this time, we hope you might engage in prayer, learn more about the remarkable world we have been given and build habits that last beyond the season to protect and honour the earth.’ Archbishop Justin Welby & Archbishop John Sentamu
#LiveLent: Care for God’s Creation is the Church of England's Lent Campaign for 2020. With weekly themes shaped around the first Genesis account of creation, it explores the urgent need for humans to value and protect the abundance God has created. This year’s #LiveLent challenge offers 40 short reflections and suggested actions to help you, your family and your church live in greater harmony with God, neighbour and nature. It has been inspired and informed by the Archbishop of Canterbury's 2020 Lent Book, Saying Yes to Life by Ruth Valerio. To receive daily emails or to download the app go to: https://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/living-out-our-faith/lent-holy-week-and-easter/livelent-care-gods-creation
CHILDREN'S SOCIETY
The Children’s Society collection boxes will be emptied during the month of February. If you have one, please bring it to Church. If you would like one to make regular savings please ask me: Jenny Smith.
'START COURSE'
Have you questions about life and the Christian faith? If you are looking for answers then maybe it’s time to make a Start. Run in groups of 6-10 people each session involves video clips, exercises, group discussion and time for reflection. Each session lasts about one hour and is free to attend. Start will help you discover more about God, Jesus and the journey of life. On Sundays from 4-5pm in the community room at St. Matthew’s. Contact Sara Pugh or Jenny Firth.
BUILDING THE COMMON GOOD IN YORKSHIRE
Saturday 29th February 10.30am to 3pm, Boyle Room, by the Priory Church of St Mary and St Cuthbert, Bolton Abbey, Skipton, BD23 6AL. (Cost: £25 per person). This one-day Action Retreat at the beginning of Lent is designed to enable Christian leaders to reflect together on the role of the churches in building the Common Good across Yorkshire with a view to forging new connections and actions that benefit their communities. Please register as soon as possible via Eventbrite at: www.bit.ly/CommonGoodYorkshire
FAITH & FASTING - DRAWING CLOSER TO GOD
A SERIES OF THREE TALKS DURING LENT
This Lent we will be exploring the part fasting can play in deepening our faith with contributions from friends of other faiths and our own expert on the biology of fasting.
We meet on Wednesday evenings in St. Matthew’s Community Room 7.30 - 9.15pm
Wednesday 4th March - A Christian Perspective
18th March - A Jewish Perspective (Rabbi Paul Moses Stasko of The Sinai Synagogue) and from a Muslim Perspective
1st April - The Biology of Fasting (Dr Sara Pugh)
All are welcome to discover more and be challenged! To book a place please contact Sue Sanderson
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
Friday 6th March Service prepared this year by the women of Zimbabwe entitled ‘Rise! Take your Mat and Walk’. See posters for times and venues.
FAIRTRADE CAFE
Homemade cakes and drinks, Fairtrade and Easter eggs will be on sale on Saturday 7th March between 10.30 and 1pm at Chapel Allerton Methodist Centre.
FOODBANK
There is a fundraising coffee morning at St Margaret's Church Parish Centre, Horsforth LS18 5LA on Saturday 7th March from 10am -12noon. Entry is by donation of money or food for the Foodbank. There will be cakes, tombola, books, gifts and a raffle. Please support this if you can. Thank you, Audrey Reed.
A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH
Wednesday 18th March 10am - 4pm at Leeds Church Institute, LS1 6DG. This free conference aims to help us see dying as something we can plan for and manage rather than something to fear and avoid discussing. A marketplace of exhibitors from relevant organisations. An opportunity for open conversations guided by experienced facilitators. Keynote address from Healthcare Chaplain Dr Lynn Bassett. Please join us to explore how knowing that our time is limited can be an invitation to seize each day and live every moment as fully as possible. We very much hope you will join the conversation.
This is a free event that also includes lunch. Everyone is welcome so if you have any friends or colleagues who might like to join us too, please do let them know about this event. To help with catering please will you and your friends book your tickets via Eventbrite or email events@leedschurchinstitute.org or you can also phone us on 0113 245 4700.
MEN'S BREAKFAST
South Parade Baptist Church have invited us to breakfast once more on Saturday 21st March at 8.30am at The Toby Carvery (Queen's Arms) Cost is around £7
SNICKET SQUAD LITTERPICKING
on Saturday 28th March from 10am. Meet outside St. Matthew’s. Text 07999 699200 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.
SCRAMBLERS
is for 3-7 year olds. Bible stories, craft activities, songs and fun on Sunday mornings at 10am. Please pick up a programme in Church or contact Susan Robinson
PRAYERS AT STAINBECK
Thursday evenings at 7:30pm, a warm welcome is given to all to gather at Stainbeck URC for half-an-hour to pray, sing, read, speak, listen and keep silence together. A number of different people lead this time, when the service follows a varied pattern from set liturgies (including some from Iona and Taizé) to more informal worship styles. Communion is celebrated, usually on the fourth Thursday of each month.
Every first Thursday prayers focus on the community and are shared with other local churches.
THRIVE
Come and join the cell group team! On Wednesday evenings in term time a great bunch of young people from across our local churches gather at the Methodist Centre to explore faith, hang out and generally have a good time! We're looking for adults to come alongside them and support them in small groups as they chat and think about faith. If you'd like to find out more, contact Ben Cordy
HOST UK
arranges for international students to enjoy brief visits-one day, a weekend or, over the festive period, a three-day visit, with UK hosts. We warmly welcome new volunteer hosts to join us. Learn more. Can you make room for an international student to experience true British Festive hospitality? Hosting an international student will bring a whole new dimension to your Christmas, with a chance to learn about another country’s traditions and enjoy the connection and friendship that such sharing brings.
FOODBANK
We're fundraising for Leeds North and West Foodbank and would really appreciate your help to reach our target of £1,000! You can find out more and donate here Thank you, Karen Burgon and colleagues.
We are currently experiencing shortages of the following foods: longlife milk, longlife fruit juice, tinned meat, tinned fish, coffee, tea bags, rice pudding. Any donations of the above foods would be greatly appreciated.
GREEN BINS
The Church Green Bins are now in the walled enclosure behind the meeting room, away from the road. We have a good chance now of recycling materials from Church! The bins are for clean and dry plastics (1/PET, 2/HDPE & 4/LDPE), foil, cans, paper & cardboard. Sadly paper plates and hand towels do not recycle and wet or dirty items spoil ALL the collection. Thank you in advance for all your help with our ECO-Church group project.
PAFRAS
We continue to support Asylum Seekers through our gifts of food for PAFRAS – thank you for your donations of food.
MEANWOOD VALLEY FARM The Barn Coffee Shop
The Coffee Shop is a Christian Social Enterprise aimed at serving and giving to the community. For more information, please check their website.
InterACT COMMUNITY CAFE
Every Wednesday at the new Community Hall at Holy Trinity Meanwood, 11.30-1.30
IBY KNILL
If you would like to order Iby's book ‘The Woman with Nine Lives’ or her first book, now in it's tenth reprint, 'The Woman Without a Number', please search for Iby's publisher's website.
ST. MATTHEW'S CHOIR
If you are interested in joining the choir, please speak to our Director of Music, Aljoša Škorja, either after the service or by email Aljoša is always very pleased to receive enquiries from potential members of the choir, both adults and children.
LUNCH CLUB for Older People
Every Tuesday from 12.30 - 2pm at The Methodist Centre, Town Street. Cost is £4. Transport can be provided. Phone 268 2513 or 266 1502 for more information and to book.
MESSY CHURCH
is reaching out to many families with little previous contact with the church. Can you help, especially with washing up bi-monthly at Stainbeck Church? Contact Helen Greenwood click here
BEAVERS, CUBS AND SCOUTS
At 7th North Leeds (St. Matthew’s Chapel Allerton) Scout Group. Currently there are over 70 young people in three sections involved in Scouting at St. Matthew’s - Beavers (aged 6-8yrs); Cubs (aged 8 -10½yrs); Scouts (aged 10½ - 14yrs) Scouts of whatever age are encouraged to take part in a wide
range of activities to help them to find out about the world in which they live, encourage them to know their own abilities and the importance of keeping fit, and to help them develop their creative talents. They also have opportunities to explore their own values and personal attitudes as they become older.
If you’ve ever thought about making a difference for the young people in Chapel Allerton or giving something back to your local community, now is the time to take up the challenge and join the
adventure of Scouting at St. Matthew’s.
Our Scout group needs your help now, as a Beaver, Cub or Scout Leader or with the Executive Committee to assist the Leadership team in the continued delivery of exciting events and activities. Whatever time you can give, we will value your experience, talents and involvement.
For further details please contact Doug Pollock Group Scout Leader.
Thanks, Doug. stmatthewgsl@yahoo.co.uk
DO YOU BELIEVE IN OUR CHILDREN?
The WOW group on a Wednesday evening is run by our local churches for the benefit of all Chapel Allerton youngsters. A youth group with small groups as part of the time together, which explore topics of life from a faith perspective. The first half of the evening is informal and the young people are welcomed, organise games of sport or table top games, hang out and chat, and make themselves cups of tea and toast in the kitchen. Halfway through the evening we gather to share news, play a game and introduce what we’re chatting about. Then the young people split into four small groups where they explore a topic together. These groups are shaped around those who are part of the group, so each is a little different. We have looked at series such as justice, Jesus’ parables, difficult questions of faith and emotional wellbeing. Is God calling you to be part of the team? For more information talk to the vicar.
LIFTS TO CHURCH ON WEDNESDAYS
We need a couple more drivers willing to bring people to the Wednesday afternoon Communion services once a month. Please contact Carol Blackburn for details.
CURRENT VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES IN MEANWOOD
with InterACT Church and Community Partnership
InterACT run lots of different activities to help bring people from across Meanwood together, and we wouldn’t be able to do any of them without our volunteers!
We are committed to trying to give all our volunteers a really great experience and support to do the job well. You can find out more about us at www.interact.uk.net
Currently, we need volunteers for the following activities:
Monday Night Youth Club: Term time club for young people aged 9-16. Volunteers would need to be available between 6.15 and 8.45pm on Mondays in school term time and could be involved on a rota basis if preferred. This is a traditional-style club with various different activities throughout the night. There are different ways to get involved, so if you’re interested at all, please get in touch.
Make n Do crafts and games sessions: Aimed at adults but open to all, this group runs on Thursdays between 12.30-2.30pm, and it would be helpful to have a couple more people around to welcome and interact with those who come along. It’s a relaxed social session, so of course, you’d also be welcome to take part in the activities as a “punter” at the same time!
Play and Learn: This is our “stay and play” session for under 5’s and their parents/carers. Volunteers will ideally be available between 9.30 and 11.50am on Fridays in term time. Again, their are different ways to be involved, such as setting /packing up equipment, buying and prepping snacks, chatting with parents and children and encouraging play.
After school craft/science sessions: We have two lots of 6 week blocks booked in for these fun “Experimenter” sessions for primary school children and their grown-ups this Autumn. We will need some help with setting up and interacting with those who come along.
If you’d like to know more about any of these activities and how to get involved, please contact vanessa@interact.uk.net NB depending on the role, we may need to carry out a police record check.
CHURCH LIBRARY
Please use our Church Library situated near the Lady Chapel.
The following books are particularly recommended:
Paul for Everyone by Tom Wright.
The world of St. Paul wasn't as different to today's world as we might think. Broken down into ten minute reads this book makes it easy to understand St. Pauls reflections.
Simply Good News by Tom Wright
A valuable insight into why following Jesus is such good news and why God's kingdom isn't what we might expect it to be.
Mere Christianity by C.S.Lewis
Initially each chapter was a radio lecture broadcast during WW2. The author explains the importance of his Christian Faith. Though a book of its time it communicates hope for today.
Friendship with God by David Hope
A simple yet deep understanding of the fulfilling life God desires us to experience.
PATHWAYS COUNSELLING SERVICE
Pathways Counselling Service based at Moortown Baptist Church. Confidential, non-judgemental counselling for adults of all faiths and none. Daytime sessions available, no limit to the number of sessions offered. You may come with different needs and problems, for example:
Anxiety, Depression, Low self-esteem, Bereavement and loss, Relationship difficulties
Abuse/neglect (includes physical, sexual, emotional, spiritual abuse), Faith-related issues.
Book an assessment at pathwaysleeds.org
£2-£50 per weekly 50 minute session. Affiliated to the Association of Christian Counsellors.
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 the Vicar, David Robinson
(St. Matthew's Church is not responsible for content of external website
