Thackley Methodist Church and Community Centre

Christmas Services Sunday 15 December - 3.00 pm Nativity & Christingle Sunday 22 December - 10.30 am Favourite Carols Christmas Eve - 7.30 pm Carol Service Christmas Day - 10.30 am Family Worship Sunday 29 December - No service

The 2103 Sponsored Walk is on Saturday 26 October, starting at Shipley station at 9 am, then the train to Skipton and a gentle stroll along the canal back to church in time for tea. Those who wish, can join us either at 5 Rise Locks or at Saltaire for a shorter walk. Sponsor forms are in the foyer - please do all you can to help us raise more funds for the Redevelopment Project .

We believe there is a real need to support the community in Idle and Thackley, not only with our present community activities but also to offer accommodation to new groups wanting to use our premises.   At the start of 2013 we developed an ambitious redevelopment project. This comprises a number of essential or desirable improvements to our building, to benefit not only the church membership but also the many community groups  that use our premises. The largest single element of the scheme is replacing all the old rotting windows in the building (excluding the main church windows), but the scheme also deals with removing the external fire exit doors and fire escape from the Upper Hall, and fixing the drains! The estimated total cost for this work is £40,000! However, we are making significant progress. We have now received approval for grants from the Bradford North Circuit Advance Fund, the Allchurches Trust , the  Garfield Weston Foundation   and most significantly, a £23,450 gr

For some time, a number of our folk have been concerned about the pressures being placed on families by the current economic climate. Rachel, one of our members, works for Christians Against Poverty – https://capuk.org/ - and a while ago she gave a brilliant talk at one of our own arrangement services that strengthened this concern, but what could we do?  We don’t really have the resources to set up a CAP course or club, and although appreciated, financial help just doesn’t provide us with the opportunity to do something practical. Then, we remembered something that Rachel said about their first visits to families often finding the cupboards empty and that they’d not eaten properly for days. That provided the answer.  We’re setting up a Food Bank to support those families in crisis and from September are inviting everyone who comes on to our premises to donate tinned or dry food if they can. What’s more, this gives us an opportunity to do something together with our community grou

Dear Friends As I write this letter in July we are enjoying a heat wave with a chance to soak up the sun and to enjoy the long, light evenings.  I am also looking forward to some time on the Mediterranean coast as I venture with my family to Split in Croatia for a few days. Summer time brings opportunity for rest and refreshment, and is a time when many people are able to go away on holiday. It also brings a break from many of our church activities, although i am aware that planning is already under way for the new church year when it begins in September. And I am sure that those activities will be all the better if we give those who run them a chance of relaxation and recuperation from their exertions and endeavours. The Christian life is a call to times of both rest and busy-ness, however, we may choose to describe it - as the contemplative and the active, or as prayer and service. A healthy combination of these two aspects of the christian life will help to make us well-roun

Table top sale Saturday 27 July 2013 10.00 am to 12.00 noon Refreshments available including bacon butties. Our table top sales are one way of us supporting the local community.  Tables are offered free of charge to those in the local area and so far we've had a wide variety of talents on display with jewellery, crafts, crystals, bric-a-brac, baking, plants etc. We hold the sales in church as the community hall is often being used by our groups.  Many have commented about the calm and friendly environment that this provides; it also provides a first look inside for those who have passed by on the outside many times.  We have been particularly delighted that our open doors have drawn in couples who were married or worshipped here many years ago. We hope you will join us. Please note there will not be a table top sale in August.

107th (Bradford) Thackley Brownies Woohoo! Our Brownie pack now has its own web site .  Recently, all the girls gained either their first aid badge, first aid advanced badge or both!  Huge congratulations girls - well done! Big thanks to Carole and her team for all they do. For all those who belonged to the Brownie/Guide movement at one time or another, you might be interested that there's a new brownie promise from 1 September 2013: I promise that I will do my best: To be true to myself and develop my beliefs, To serve the Queen and my community, To help other people and To keep the Brownie Guide Law.

It was a real joy to welcome Tianna Marie Louise, her family and friends to our service this morning. She and her big sister looked absolutely wonderful if their beautiful dresses. Rev Sarah Jemison led the service of baptism where she spoke about the symbolic meaning of water and light. We use water to wash in, and in the same way water is used in baptism to represent the repeated washing away of the things we do wrong through God's loving forgiveness. We also reflected on Jesus's baptism where he was completely immersed in the river symbolic of his death and resurrection. Tianna's family was also given a candle, representing God's light in our darkness. Sarah reminded us that baptism does not mean that all the bad things in life are taken away from us; it does mean that in the dark moments of life, God will always be there, offering the light of hope. One of the hymns we sang, Colours of day, picks up the theme of light and darkness. We pray for God'

Junior Church Anniversary 10.30 am Sunday 28 April 2013 We are delighted to welcome Moira Hunt back to our church to lead the service. Everyone welcome.

Table top sale Saturday 20 April 2013 Please note it's the 3rd Saturday this month not the 4th 10.00 am to 12.00 noon Refreshments available including bacon butties. Our table top sales are one way of us supporting the local community.  Tables are offered free of charge to those in the local area and so far we've had a wide variety of talents on display with jewellery, crafts, crystals, bric-a-brac, baking etc. We hold the sales in church as the community hall is often being used by our groups.  Many have commented about the calm and friendly environment that this provides; it also provides a first look inside for those who have passed by on the outside many times.  We have been particularly delighted that our open doors have drawn in couples who were married or worshipped here many years ago. We hope you will join us.

Take a second is a new informal fellowship for all ages at 6.00 pm on the Second Sunday of the month. We  have been conscious of the need to nurture our teens in their faith journey yet haven’t been sure how best to do this.  Praise God that he provided the answer.  As we were preparing for one of our Own Arrangement services we discovered that our teens share a talent for playing guitars so we got them together with a few of us oldies who warble and bash a tambourine, and almost from nowhere we now have a Team TMC (Thackley Methodist Church) band. This has been a really positive contribution to worship on the odd occasion we’ve played; we include the little ones and they do brilliantly at keeping the beat with tambourines, shakers etc. By no means are these polished performances, but we certainly make a joyful noise and it’s been a good way to introduce some of the new hymns from Singing the Faith.  Pondering on how we can get a bit more practice for the band and encourage

At the recent Church Council is was agreed that from April onwards Junior Church will meet once a month only on the third Sunday. On other Sundays, worksheets will be available on the children’s table in church.  The reasoning behind this was the variable numbers of children from week to week, the difficulties this presents for JC staff preparing the sessions and recognition that one of our strengths is being a welcoming church inclusive of all ages.   We will, of course, continue to have focused all age worship on the first Sunday of each month.

Gentle exercise class for over 60's Tuesday afternoons 1.30 pm to 3.00 pm, starting 16th April 2013. Interested? Email thackley@bradfordnorth.org.uk

After prayerful consideration, Tuesday Fellowship has decided that there is  still a place for our meeting. We feel God continues to speak to us as we  share in Bible study, prayer and fellowship, the obligatory cuppa and  chocolate biscuit - and the occasional trip out for lunch! New members  would be warmly welcomed - we meet each Tuesday during school term time from 10 - 11.30 am in the Coffee Lounge.  We regularly take Holy Communion together and next Tuesday, the last in Lent, will be one such occasion. Allan Barker, who is a member of Tuesday Fellowship and is also one of the team who take extended communion out into the Circuit, will lead us. We hope you can to accept this sincere invitation to the Lord's Table.

BLT – Bible Light Thursdays Explore and share the Bible and faith. 18th April - 16th May - 20th June - 18th July 2013 We meet at home on the 3rd Thursday of each month and for the next  4 sessions we will be using “Nooma” DVDs by Rob Bell.  The session will involve watching the DVD and then discussing the various topics. Check out the Nooma website  www.nooma.com Our first meeting is the 18th April at Mike & Kim’s home. We start at 7.30 and finish at 9.00pm. Refreshments 9.00 – 9.30pm.

Table top sale Saturday 23 March 2013 10.00 am to 12.00 noon Refreshments available including bacon butties. Our table top sales are one way of us supporting the local community.  Tables are offered free of charge to those in the local area and so far we've had a wide variety of talents on display with jewellery, crafts, crystals, bric-a-brac, baking etc. We hold the sales in church as the community hall is often being used by our groups.  Many have commented about the calm and friendly environment that this provides; it also provides a first look inside for those who have passed by on the outside many times.  We have been particularly delighted that our open doors have drawn in couples who were married or worshipped here many years ago. We hope you will join us.

Pie & Pea Supper and Beetle Drive Saturday 23 March 2013 5:30 pm for 6:00 pm Tickets £5.00 (under 16’s £3 each) from Margaret and John Vickerman For Christian Aid Funds

Church Anniversary & Mothering Sunday 10 March 2013 Worship will be led by Mrs Marjorie Dobson Everyone welcome.

Gift Day & Coffee Morning 10: 00 am to 12 noon Saturday 9 March 2013 You are warmly invited to join us for our annual Gift Day coffee morning. Since September 2012 we have been led by a Ministry Team and experiences have, in the main, been positive. We have pulled together as Team TMC and have done much to forge closer links with our groups and local community. 2012 saw the start of our monthly Table Top Sales.  Our stallholders have commented on the calm and peaceful environment our church provides and they’ve come back again and again!  We’ve also made a steady income to support the upkeep of our buildings and the aroma of bacon butties is never far away. We were delighted to join in with Thackley’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations and it was an absolute joy to see the church near full to capacity for Tony’s Karate club’s demonstration.  Our wives group celebrated  50 years  and the  Guides’ sleepover and leading of worship  was a real hit. We were sorry to see the c

I am planning some sessions on  church membership  to take place during the spring. These are suitable for: Someone who has been coming to church for a while and is now interested in taking the next step into becoming a member of the church; Someone who has been coming a long time but for whatever reason has not become a member in the past; Someone who has come into Methodism as a member of another denomination and would like to know more about membership in the Methodist Church. I am aware that a number of churches in the circuit are LEPs and I will bear this in mind in the sessions offered, depending on where the participants come from. I already have a number of names of individuals, but I would be grateful if you could let me know of anyone else who may be interested in taking up church membership. The emphasis will be on exploring the meaning of membership. Attendance on the course does not require a prior commitment to become a member, but opportunity wi

Table top sale Saturday 23 February 2013 10.00 am to 12.00 noon Refreshments available including bacon butties. Our table top sales are one way of us supporting the local community.  Tables are offered free of charge to those in the local area and so far we've had a wide variety of talents on display with jewellery, crafts, crystals, bric-a-brac, baking etc. We hold the sales in church as the community hall is often being used by our groups.  Many have commented about the calm and friendly environment that this provides; it also provides a first look inside for those who have passed by on the outside many times.  We have been particularly delighted that our open doors have drawn in couples who were married or worshipped here many years ago. We hope you will join us.

Chair's Challenge 7.00 pm Friday 22 February 2013 Baildon Methodist Church Roger Walton, Chair of the District, will join with the Bradford North Methodist Circuit on 22nd February 2013, @ 7:00pm, at Baildon Methodist Church for a fun filled evening of table tennis coaching, tournaments and challenges.  The young people will join Roger during the first part of the evening to learn some master-strokes, then later in the evening the event will be opened up to anyone wishing to Challenge Roger to a game or two. Roger is seeking sponsorship to raise money for the  Touchstone Centre , Bradford. Touchstone is one of the leading agencies in relationships between different faiths. It is recognised by the Methodist Church as a nationally significant venture and by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for its work among Christians and Muslims. Full details and sponsor forms

It is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness", who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor 4:6) This morning was a very special service with the baptism of Zara-Leigh and Evie-Rose. A baptism is a special service that symbolises that the one being baptised is welcomed and belongs to the family of the church as a follower of Jesus. Often it is an infant being baptised; however, baptism is open to all ages. During the service parents make promises to live within the Christian faith and to support their child to grow within that faith. Members of the church also make promises to support the family.  A candle is also lit and given to the family to symbolise the light of Christ in their lives, and this was the theme of this morning's service, led by Rev Phil Drake. Our bible reading  Luke 9:28-36  focused on "The Transfiguration" and Phil read this reflection on prayer: &q

Jigsaw Holiday Playscheme Monday 18th to Friday 22nd February 2013 7.30 am - 6.00 pm (half days availabe) Children will need to bring a packed lunch.  Breakfast, afternoon snack and all drinks provided. Giant slide and bouncy castle each day except Friday. Full details

Table top sale Saturday 26 January 2013 10.00 am to 12.00 noon Refreshments available including bacon butties. Our table top sales are one way of us supporting the local community.  Tables are offered free of charge to those in the local area and so far we've had a wide variety of talents on display with jewellery, crafts, crystals, bric-a-brac, baking etc. We hold the sales in church as the community hall is often being used by our groups.  Many have commented about the calm and friendly environment that this provides; it also provides a first look inside for those who have passed by on the outside many times.  We have been particularly delighted that our open doors have drawn in couples who were married or worshipped here many years ago. We hope you will join us.

Thank you to everyone who supported the collections at our Christmas services: • Morning carol service - £43.94 for Action For Children • Christmas Eve carol service - £163.59 for Bradford Soup Run • Christmas Day - £95.10 for Macmillan Cancer Support • Church Christmas Card - £60.35 for the Blenheim Project That's a total of £362.98! Your generosity is very much appreciated.