At a recent Diocesan Synod meeting, we were asked by Bishop Arun who our Christian heroes were and who should be memorialised. Interesting questions, both and many names instantly sprang to mind: Mother Teresa for one, Rev’d Martin Luther King another, and what about Archbishop Desmond Tutu or Corrie Ten Boom? Or perhaps Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford or Stormzy would be on your list?

However, the name of Rev’d Charles (Charlie) Freer Andrews was brought to our attention by Bishop Arun. “Who was Charlie Andrews?” I thought. Very briefly, Charlie Freer Andrews was born in Newcastle in 1871. He trained for the priesthood and was ordained as a priest in The Church of England in 1897. In 1904, Charlie moved to India and it was here where he discovered his lifelong vocation as a friend to the poor. However, it was his long friendship and collaboration with Gandhi and his dedication to the abolition of slavery and indentured labour in India for which he is chiefly remembered and honoured there. Gandhi later said, “I have had the honour to know hundreds of honest Christians, but I have not known one better than Andrews.” High praise indeed, and yet I had never heard of Charlie Andrews because sadly, his life and work have been largely forgotten in England.

Forgive my long introduction about this remarkable man but it led me to consider my own heroes, not the well-known names I mentioned earlier but people much closer to home, men and women who have demonstrated in their daily lives a true and living faith in Christ and from whom I have learned so much.

Let me tell you something of my journey of faith. As a child, I went to Sunday School, attended church on Sunday, and was confirmed at an appropriate age - a familiar enough beginning. As a young adult, part of my weekly routine included a visit to church on Sunday but the key word here is ‘routine’. I didn’t go to church because I had a personal relationship with God, I went because I feared the reaction if I didn’t go. It was easier to stick to the routine and I must confess, I took some pride in knowing all the right moves and responses. And, although I tried to live up to Christian ideals, I’m afraid I pretty much left God out in the cold. I could get on quite well doing things my way, or so I thought.

Looking back, I can see clearly that my way was the wrong way but God is good, his grace is a free gift, he loved me enough to show me a different way – his way. Was there a sudden clap of thunder and a loud voice telling me where I was going astray? No, it was much simpler than that. We moved to Calverley and on a quick dash into church, (quick so no-one could Ask Me Anything!), I met Barbara who befriended and encouraged me and became a dear friend. Watching the way she directed her life to God, I began to see where I fell short.

We are all familiar with Galatians, ‘the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.’ In Barbara, I saw at first hand a life lived in the Spirit. She was loving, kind, and generous to all she met. Was someone being particularly aggravating? She would respond with patience and gentleness. Was there someone in need of a helping hand, a listening ear? Barbara would offer them. In difficult circumstances in her own life, she found strength and comfort in prayer.

One of the things I still find difficult is prayer. I have books of prayers, books about prayer, books on how to pray but in the end, I realise that prayer is simply ordinary people bringing their concerns to a loving Father who answers, not always as or when we expect but always for our good.

So where am I now? Have I got it sussed? Well, sadly no. I am still very much a ‘work in progress’. I may not be a Charlie Andrews but I know that God’s gift of grace will help me to keep striving to be the person God wants me to be. So, dear friends, who are your heroes, who encourages and supports you as you move closer to God?

And I leave you with a final thought - let’s not forget that you may be a hero to someone, too. What qualities do we think our children or grandchildren admire in us? What could we do better?

May God bless you and give you his grace,
Brenda

Choral Evensong for Advent
Next Sunday 3rd December at 6:30pm we will hold a Service of Choral Evensong for Advent, with beautiful advent hymns & refreshments of mulled wine and mince pies available afterwards. Information about singing in the choir for this service is below, but do come along and invite any friends or family who might appreciate the reflective and anticipatory atmosphere of a Traditional Advent Church service.

St. Wilfrid’s Singers Choir Rehearsals
The next Rehearsals with Jonathan for St. Wilfrid’s Singers are in church on 29th November 6pm-7pm, 9th December 11am-12pm, 11th December 6-7pm, 18th December 6-7pm, and 21st December 6-7pm. You are not expected to be able to attend all of these, but do come if you want to join in – it’s not too late! Any questions feel free to contact [email protected]

Christmas Services – Bookings Open for Christingle
Our leaflet showing services over the Christmas period are now available in church. Please take one and pass on to family and friends!
If you can help out at any of our Christmas services with readings, prayers, chalice etc, please contact [email protected]
To book a place at the Christingle services (Saturday 16th at 4pm and Sunday 17th at 11am) please email the [email protected]

Ask Me Anything (AMA)
Sunday 10th December is the next opportunity to ask Rob anything!
In particular, if you have questions around the recent Exodus sermon series or about Inclusive Church, this would be the perfect time to raise them – have a think and drop your question to Rob by email ([email protected]) or in the box at the back of church.

ChurchSuite
Here at Calverley Parish Church use a database called ChurchSuite to safely store your contact details instead of paper copies. If you haven’t yet provided your information to us via ChurchSuite, it makes it very hard for us to get in touch with you, so please do sign up! For more information from Revd. Rob and to sign up, please click here, and help us be the strong connected community we're called to be.

Parish Share
As I’m sure you know, I believe it is our privilege to pay Parish Share in The Diocese of Leeds. Parish Share is the main income supply for the Diocese, paying for the salaries of clergy like Lizzie and I, for housing, training, and all the staff that we lean on to do our ministry who advise and support of Children’s Work, Safeguarding, Finance, Tech, and so on. This year our Share was around £68,000, on top of our regular running costs of around £60,000 for wages, bills etc. By far the majority of our income is from the faithful regular giving of the congregation. As we approach the end of the year, we will only be around £4,000 short of that annual total of nearly £130,000, which is tantalisingly close! Your PCC would like to let you know that we will therefore be paying nearly all of our Parish Share this year, with the hope of paying the full amount in the New Year. Having told the Diocese this, we have received messages of thanks from the Finance Team, from Bishop Arun, and from Archdeacon Paul Ayers. Let me add my own thanks, this is a significant achievement! A message from Bishop Nick is available to watch online here.
If you would like to give to the work and ministry of our church, which includes missional giving such as Parish Share, do get in touch with Margaret Roundhill ([email protected]) to talk about the Parish Giving Scheme - a wonderfully simple and tax-efficient way to donate regularly, or see the link at the bottom of this email.
Yours with Great Gratitude,
Rob

Please send any items to be included in our Weekly Family Newsletter to:
[email protected]
The work and ministry of Calverley Parish Church is supported by the generous giving of the church community, and we receive no outside funding. You can make a donation or sign up to regular giving, including Gift Aid, via our Parish Giving page online here.
Thank You for your support.