salendine nook baptist church nook news · page 3 nook snippets please support the monthly coffee...

Salendine Nook BaptistChurch

Nook News

Easter2016

What would we be prepared to do for Easter?Just imagine that you are not living in 21st Century Huddersfield, or 21st CenturyBritain, but that instead you are in a situation where you are suffering for being aChristian, for coming along to Salendine Nook Baptist Church. So in thisscenario, attending church is illegal, the building has been closed by thegovernment, myself and Steven (our church secretary) have been arrested forbeing Christians. There are rumours and rumours about rumours going around.How might you react? What would you be tempted to do?

If we are following the disciples’ example during the period leading up to thefirst Easter, we might betray those we love and just look after ourselves, likeJudas did. We might run away, like most of the disciples did. We might hide thetruth and lie to strangers and be ashamed of being a follower of Christ, as Peterdid. We might give in to the pressure of the culture of the day, as Pilate did.

We can never understand all that Jesus went through and none of us here,probably will ever be faced with the dilemma of what to do when the culture andgovernmental forces say we cannot believe in what we believe. But in the Easterstory, we do hear something of how Jesus responded to those who arrested,betrayed, tried and insulted him. He was overwhelmed with anguish and evenfear; angry at the disciples’ failure to stay awake with him; desperate to see ifthere was another way; frustrated at his treatment by those arresting him. He wasfully human as well as being God’s Son.

But through it all his choice was for God, for God’s ways and God’s plan. Hekept his eyes fixed on that. And he did it for us, he did it for you and he did it forme. But if suffering Christians keep their eyes fixed on Jesus, what does thatmean? What does it mean for you and me at Salendine Nook Baptist Church?

Well instead of looking after ourselves, we care about God first.

Instead of running away, we stay and see it through

Instead of hiding the truth and being ashamed of following Jesus, we speak outfor what is right.

Instead of going with the crowd, we live for what God wants.

God still has a plan for his world - and a part for us to play in it. So we too havea choice, one that we must make every day. We need to start acknowledging thatGod is in control and like Jesus, we need to choose God’s path by relying on hisstrength and keeping close to him in prayer.

A simple Easter Prayer

Loving God,Your Son Jesus Christ carried us to the cross and shed his blood for us andbrought us into new community with you:

Help us to follow in his way,Deny ourselves and take up the cross he gives us, that the world may learn hisway of peace;

May his life and his purposes be alive in us this day, and may we be alive in him;

And when our hearts are broken,And when the burdens of this life feel too great to bear,Take us to the cross,And enable us to see there the great weight that Jesus carried;For here we receive the affirmation of your love,The assurance of your promise,And the strength to persevere.

For we ask it in his name.Amen

Happy Easter, one and allWith love and God’s Blessings from the Gilbert family

Lee

Sunday Services.Morning Service - 10:30am.

For details of Afternoon Services - see Church Weekly News sheet.

Nook Snippets

Please support the MonthlyCoffee Mornings on the SecondSaturday of every month, from

10am to 12noon.

Open ChurchThe second Saturday inthe month is the coffeemorning - 10am to 12noon when the Churchwill be open for anyoneto look round - to prayfor anyone who is ill.

The Church has now hadWi-Fi installed. This is

password protected. If youwant the log-in code have a

word with John Yorke or oneof the Deacons

For those who have looked at theChurch website in the past, wehave recently been able to add a

new version of the site specifically designed for mobile devices, with thesame information available, but viewable on mobile phone screens. Theweb-address is the same at www.snbch.org.uk.

Christian Aid Coffee MorningSaturday 14th May10am till 12noon

Coffee and biscuits - £1Also available to buy - bacon sandwiches, raffle

tickets and a cake stallAll proceeds to Christian Aid

Please try to support this worthwhile cause and tell asmany friends and neighbours as you can.

Salendine Nook Baptist ChurchConcert Programme

Saturday April 16th 2016 - Marsh Ladies Choir

May - to be confirmed

Saturday June 16th 2016 - Huddersfield Wind Band

Do you have a spare few hours a week?

Do you fancy joining the largest female voluntaryorganization and make a difference in the lives of girls and

young women?

If yes… Guiding wants you!!

From Rainbows, Brownies right through to Guides andSenior Section, Guiding is constantly on the lookout for

female volunteers.

From camping to crafts, Guiding lets girls learn valuablelife skills and have fun in a safe environment.

To get involved or find out more, please visit:http://girlguiding.org.uk/get_involved.aspx

GiftMy story starts with a sad beginning. I was born an orphan and abandoned in adark alleyway in the city of Jerusalem. I had little chance of survival as I was avulnerable new-born, with no parents, no love, no hope and no name. Screamingloudly, my cries echoed and I could hear shrieks in reply. My throat ached and Ibegan to feel weaker as each minute passed. I cried for my mother, though shewas long gone. I sobbed for love and comforting voices - however no one wasaround. I wailed for warmth and sweet milk but it never came. I screamed until Ithought there was no hope left and I was going to die, but that was when I heardfootsteps. The soothing sound of footsteps reverberated around me and thencame two strong but gentle hands lifting me up. I whimpered a little and triedwave my little, fat fists in the air but the hand rocked me and a kind, caring voicewhispered in my ear, “ there now little ’un everything’s gonna be alright…”

She was an angel. She was my angel snatching me out of the hands of death andgiving me a home. I called her Mamma. I knew of course she had a real name;however whenever I asked her what it was she shook her head at me lookingupset.

“Look here Boy. You must know that names have power and can reveal youridentity and past. I didn’t give you a name for a reason. I had a name, long ago -had a past too - but I don’t want to have a name ever again. Do you understand?”

I nodded, knowing better than to go upsetting her anymore. Mamma smiled atme, but later I saw her weeping in the corner of our derelict hut, clutching a rag-doll to her heart. I never knew her past and don’t know to this day, but she’s stillmy Mamma and she always will be.

I grew up fast. Mamma washed clothes for a living but didn’t earn nearly enough.We were poor - very poor, but we were also happy and Mamma said we shouldalways be grateful for what we had. She was very religious and made sure thatevery Sabbath we attended the temple, even though we were so poor they wouldnot allow us to enter it. So instead we sat outside on the steps, listening intentlyto the priests and praying for better lives.

Unfortunately the last of Mamma’s clients left her and we found ourselves withno money or food. Mamma scavenged around and found a few scraps but shegave all those scraps to me telling me that she had already eaten. I hated her for

that. Desperate, I searched for a job and eventually found one - not very well paidbut a job all the same. I was going to be a carpenter’s boy. That meant carryingwood back and forth every tedious day. Yes. Every single day.

Mamma didn’t exactly jump at the idea at first. “You’re only six years old Boy Iwant you to still be a child and live your childhood freely.”

She persisted determinedly, but gave in when I reminded her that I was going tobe paid. “Alright, but only do it if you really want…” Of course I didn’t want tobut I knew it would be better for thefamily, after all Mamma was growingold and struggled terribly withrheumatism.

I soon got into my new job. It was hardwork carrying heaps of wood in thescorching heat, but I got used to it andfound it easier as each day passed. Oneday as I was reaching for another loadof wood when I noticed a gathering.Intrigued, I pushed my way through tothe front of the crowd and looked ontothe dusty road. There, on the path wasa man sitting on a small donkey whichwas trotting along calmly. Strangely,people were cheering and laying palmleaves and clothes down for thedonkey to walk on. “They must bemad!” I muttered to myself, “I’mwasting my time!” That was when Isaw it - a sack full of possessions lyingbehind a man. This was my chance. I could sell it and get lots of money. Moneymeans food which both Mamma and I needed. I knew stealing was wrong anddishonest but I couldn’t help myself. I reached for the sack…

“STOP THAT BOY! HE’S STEALING MY BELONGINGS!”Fear engulfed me as two burly hands grabbed me by my neck. I struggledfrantically and managed to wriggle away but then two people grabbed me andpushed me onto the dusty road right in front of the man on the donkey. I thoughtthe donkey was going to trample on me and kill me, but the man stopped, got of

his donkey and reached out a hand for me. I took it and he helped me up. Whatwas he doing and who was he? The crowd seemed puzzled too and began tomurmur, “Why is he helping petty thieves?”

“Thank you sir,” I mumbled hastily, “who might I ask are you?”His eyes twinkled “I am Jesus, son of God. I have been sent to earth to helppeople like you.” Usually I would have laughed, but this time I nodded humblyand bowed my head. The gathering turned desolate as Jesus helped me back intothe crowd.

I don’t know if it was his kind voice or the sparkle in his hazel eyes, but I hadreally come to like this Jesus guy and respected him despite his strange ideas.

I grew up fast. Time flew by and my 8th birthday came around - a sad affair withno presents, though Mamma sang me a song beautifully and made me a smallbun. I was still employed, but not by the same master as I had been sacked whenhe heard that I had attempted to steal. Fortunately, I discovered a new job whichhad much better pay. My new master treated me well and I soon came to lovehim. The job was similar to my previous one- only instead of wood, I had tocarry water from one place to the next. My boss was kind and gave me food andwater when I needed.

One evening, on the way back home, I spotted one of Jesus’ friends who Irecognized as Judas talking to a chief priest in an alleyway. I decided to say helloto him because he was usually friendly towards me. Approaching him, I couldmake out some of the conversation and I was extremely puzzled to hear him say,“I’ll kill Jesus…but only once you’ve handed me the money…”

I began to walk back frightened and confused. Judas was Jesus’ friend. So whydid he want to kill him? I saw the chief priest hand Judas a bag of silver coinsand at that moment the plan actually sunk in. They were going to kill Jesus!Whilst I was walking backwards, I stumbled on a stone and fell to the floor witha bump which echoed loudly in the alley. Both men turned round to see melistening to their conversation. The priest shouted something at me and I began torun. I ran faster than I ever had before. I ran all the way home into the arms ofMamma who held me to her heart rocking me comfortingly. My legs ached badlyand I had a gash in my knee, but I was safe. I collapsed and began weepinginconsolably. You would too if you knew that the son of God was going to bekilled.

I was very unsettled but carried on my usual routine and went to work. However,as I was carrying the water pitcher for a refill, I saw several men walking towardsme. The first one spoke, “Take us to your master.”

I led them to my master but I was curious about what was going on. I followedthem and my master took them to a small room upstairs. It took a while for me torealise that these men where friends of Jesus. A few minutes later Jesus cameupstairs to the room with a welcoming smile. He instantly recognised me fromthe incident on Palm Sunday and greeted me warmly. He then sat me on his lap. Iwas thrilled! I had never been treated like this! Maybe this was what it was liketo have a father…

I talked to Jesus for a bit and he asked me my name. “I don’t have a nameMessiah.” (I called him this out of love and admiration.) “I’m an orphan who hasbeen raised up by an old woman. She said that names are powerful things.”

“Indeed they are,” Jesus answered, “very powerful things, but that doesn’t meanyou shouldn’t have one. I will choose a name for you… let me think… Gift! Yes.You are now called Gift because you’re a gift from heaven! A gift to this earth. ”I was overwhelmed with delight - at last I had a name!

Anna Mathew

Graveyard RecordsAs many of you know, over the last couple of years, John Yorke and I have beentranscribing our graveyard record books. The information is now available toanyone who wants to search our website www.snbch.org.uk.

We started in September 2013 and finished December 2015, meeting in the churchoffice on Tuesday evenings when we were both available. The technique for theevening was simple enough, I read out the record and John typed it onto his laptop.John then had more work to do when he got home. The oldest record book we havestarts at 27th March 1888 with the burial of Hugh Spencer of James Street, Elland.He was 65 when he died and the funeral service was carried out by the ReverendJohn Thomas. This is all the information we have and is typical of most records.This is obviously not the first grave in our graveyard but it is the first record wecan find. It is also fair to say that the record books in themselves are notcomprehensive. There are certainly some omissions.

Although John and I have done our best we are well aware that mistakes havebeen made. To some extent we can blame the handwriting, which in some caseswas almost indecipherable. Our next task is therefore to go through the work wehave done and cross reference where possible. This means checking gravenumbers against names. If anyone finds something on the website that isincorrect please jot it down and give it to either John or myself and we will try toinvestigate it.

We have also put on the website information about burial of ashes, either withingraves or in the garden of remembrance. Again for some reason these are not asaccurate as we had expected.

I have certainly found it a very interesting experience, for example before Ibegan this task I was not aware of the practise of putting the bodies of stillbornbabies into any grave that happened to be open. I got quite upset one week as Iread down the page, to see a stillborn baby buried in one of these graves, but thento find, further down the page, that the mother died a couple of days later andwas therefore not able to be buried with her baby.It is going to take John and I a few more months to get it all finalised but wehope you will find it useful and now be able to access information about relativesor friends buried in our graveyard.

Vicky Plum

How the floods affected local Churches - From the YBA

It’s always good to start on a positive note and this week we havereceived three encouraging messages from YBA churches whosebuildings were hit by floods in December. In January the YBA gave£500 each to Hope Baptist Church at Hebden Bridge, Hunslet BaptistChurch in Leeds and Roomfield Baptist Church in Todmorden.

Subsequently the three have received gifts of cash, cakes, toys, offers ofpractical support, and prayer support from various churches andindividuals, including from fellowships outside Yorkshire! What a greatexpression of Christian love from those who don’t know us personally!

Read what the churches have to say . . .

Hunslet Baptist Church:-Deacon Gill Knowles writes: “All the members and friends ofHunslet Baptist Church would like to say a big thank you to thechurches and individuals that have donated gifts - money, , toys,cakes! - to help us following the flooding of the church on BoxingDay. We have been overwhelmed by the support of our brothers andsisters in Christ. The work is moving slowly but we hope to be ‘backto normal’ some time during April. It is only a few years since wefinished the redevelopment of this community area and it wasdevastating to see it submerged in water but we remain positive thatGod has a plan and are trusting him for what the future holds.”

Roomfield Baptist Church:-Treasurer Arline Simpson writes: “On behalf of all at Roomfield Iwould like to pass on our grateful thanks to the Baptist ministers andto any other contributors for the generous gift of £671.18 towards ourflood relief work. It is very much appreciated and we are touched bythis support from our Baptist family. We are hoping to be back at thechurch early in April when we will hold our covenant service. Wehave shared a service with our friends up at Vale where we will also

attend on Easter Sunday when Kath Lawson is to conduct her lastservice as their minister. We also have shared a service with ourfriends at Todmorden Methodist Church and will meet with themagain early April. (When our present church was being built in theearly 1960s we shared premises with them for two years and forged aclose fellowship with them).”

Hope Baptist Church:-Ann Liston writes: "After a period of great uncertainty, we have had avery generous financial offer from our insurers, which, with carefulbudgeting and a conservative approach to restoration, will allow us tomove back into our building. We would like to thank everyone whohas supported us financially, some of whom we know by name, manyothers who have given anonymously. We have been moved by yourgenerosity. To those who have visited, brought cake, and prayed,enormous thanks. We are looking forward to the next phase of ourjourney."

A HISTORIC CHURCH.The story of Salendine Nook Church, honoured as the oldest Free Church inHuddersfield, goes back to 1689. After the passing of the Toleration Act of thatyear, Michael Morton, a member of the family whose help was invaluable in thatearly period, secured a license for a meeting-place for Protestant Dissenters. Theplace, licensed on October 10th, 1689, was probably a barn, and became one ofthe many preaching centres of William Mitchel and David Crosley, the famouspioneer evangelists of Rossendale, Lancs.In 1743, the members at Salendine Nook were formed into a separate Church,with Henry Clayton, who had already served them as their regular preacher fortwelve years, as their minister. From that time the Church has grown, extendingher religious and philanthropic activities, a notable witness to the Lord JesusChrist and His Gospel. She is the mother Church from which most of the BaptistChurches of the district have sprung.The chapel, situated on high ground, 800 ft. above sea level on the outskirts ofthe town, attracts the eye. The present structure, built in 1843, is the fourth tooccupy the position. The chapel is spacious and well-proportioned, with severalrooms adjoining. Since 1843, at various times, large sums have been spent onalteration and equipment. The Church has three Sunday-Schools, at SalendineNook, and at Longwood and Jagger Green, two places in her vicinity. Hence tosuccessive generations the old Church has been a spiritual birthplace, the sceneof sacred memories.What was written of Salendine Nook some time ago is true of her now, she " isold but not infirm, wrinkled but not decayed, alive with the everlasting life ofGod."

D. J. J.

Archives from the PastSalendine Nook Baptist Church - Year Book 1947

MINISTRY OF FUEL.It is not generally known that there is coal under Salendine Nook. I have recentlybeen reading Dr. D. A. Wray's book on " The Mining Industry in Huddersfield,"and he says that the very pure clay which forms a prominent feature atLongwood Edge and Lindley Moor, and which has been successfully mined bythe Mortons for 300 years, is overlaid with a thin coal seam.

This pot clay coal, as it is called in the vicinity of Sheffield, though seldom morethan a few inches thick, is remarkably persistent.When it is realised how scarce and precious such fuel has been during recentmonths and how it is the basis of much of our heat and light and power, it istantalising to feel that a source of supply has been so near us all the time.Perhaps there is a spiritual lesson for us at Nook in all this. If we are lukewarm intemperature like the folk at Laodicea, and our lamps are well nigh going out, aswere those of the foolish virgins and our power is more obvious by its absencethan its presence, may be this condition is not due to the lack of the source, butrather to our failure to avail ourselves of what is there for our use.

My God shall supply . . . . . . . . . ?L.W.K.

HAVE YOU A COLLECTING BOX?Eight months ago the C.E. Juniors at Longwood asked for a collecting box forthe Sudan United Mission. It has recently been opened and 19/4d. forwarded toheadquarters, made up of 5/9 in silver; 10/- in nickel; 3/7 in copper.What a splendid effort by such a small band of youngsters. Wouldn't you like abox for your home or your ass and for any particular society you may care tochoose?• Don't let the children beat you.Bravo, Longwood!

L.W.K.

Women’s FellowshipMeetings are held in the Church Vestry

Please see the weekly news-sheet for further information onforthcoming meetings - Come and Join Us.

This is just a get together as friends to chat and exchange any news.All ladies are welcome.

Men’s Contact ClubWe meet on the fourth Monday of the month in the Vestry starting at

8pm. All men of all ages are invited to join with us at our meetings. It isa good way to get to know each other better. We listen to interesting

speakers, on interesting subjects. It is not a formal meeting as such, verylow key with plenty of banter and laughs, giving a relaxed atmosphere..Information about forthcoming meetings will also appear in the Church

weekly news-sheet.Why not give it a try? We are sure you will enjoy yourself.

Please, Please Join Us

Tuesday CircleWe invite all ladies to join us at any of our meetings. We meet on the

first Tuesday of each month in the Vestry at 7:45pm. We have a varietyof speakers and try to go on an outside visit once a year, and also out fora meal. We hold a coffee evening each year, raising money for different

charities.Come and find out more! We have no lower or upper age limit, and we

guarantee a warm welcome. We look forward to seeing you.Pam Hebblethwaite

See the weekly news-sheet for details of all thesemeetings

ACROSS

8 ‘He poured out his life unto death,and was numbered with the — ’(Isaiah 53:12) (13)

9 ‘When they had sung a hymn, theywent — to the Mount of Olives(Matthew 26:30) (3)

10 Comes between Galatians andPhilippians (9)

11 ‘Your heart will — and swell withjoy’ (Isaiah 60:5) (5)

13 Muslim holy month (7)16 Ten ears (anag.) (7)19 Under (poetic abbrev.) (5)22 How Abram described himself to

God when he complained that hisinheritance would pass to a servant(Genesis 15:2) (9)

24 ‘Go to the — , you sluggard’(Proverbs 6:6) (3)

25 Debar from receiving Communion(13)

DOWN1 My — for His Highest(Oswald Chambers’ best-knownbook) (6)2 Festival of the resurrection (6)3 ‘His sons will prepare for warand — a great army’ (Daniel11:10) (8)4 ‘Let not the — string his bow’(Jeremiah 51:3) (6)5 Name of the River Thames inand around Oxford (4)6 ‘From then on Judas watchedfor an opportunity — — himover’ (Matthew 26:16) (2,4)7 ‘But Christ is faithful — — —over God’s house’ (Hebrews 3:6)

(2,1,3)12 Long-handled implement used to till

the soil (Isaiah 7:25) (3)14 Order to which monks and nuns

devote themselves (8)15 Appropriate (Proverbs 15:23) (3)16 I, uncle (anag.) (6)17 ‘They gave him — — of broiled

fish’ (Luke 24:42) (1,5)18 ‘Weren’t there three men that we —

— and threw into the fire?’ (Daniel3:24) (4,2)

20 Mountain where Noah’s ark came torest (Genesis 8:4) (6)

21 ‘Don’t you know that friendshipwith the world is — towards God?’(James 4:4) (6)

23 Prominent architectural feature oflarge cathedrals such as St Paul’s (4)

The Bible version used in ourcrosswords is the NIV.

ACROSS: 8, Transgressors. 9, Out. 10, Ephesians. 11, Throb. 13, Ramadan. 16, Nearest. 19,Neath. 22, Childless. 24, Ant. 25, Excommunicate.

DOWN: 1, Utmost. 2, Easter. 3, Assemble. 4, Archer. 5, Isis. 6, To hand. 7, As a son. 12,Hoe. 14, Monastic. 15, Apt. 16, Nuclei. 17, A piece. 18, Tied up. 20, Ararat. 21, Hatred. 23,Dome.

Visit our website atwww.snbch.org.uk

Facebookwww.facebook.com/SalendineNookBaptistChurch

salendine nook baptist church nook news · page 3 nook snippets please support the monthly coffee...

Documents