The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in 2021 has been prepared by the Monastic Community of Grandchamp in Switzerland. The theme that was chosen, “Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit”, is based on John 15:1-17 and expresses Grandchamp Community’s vocation to prayer, reconciliation and unity in the Church and the human family.Today the community has fifty sisters, all women from different generations, Church traditions, countries and continents. In their diversity the sisters are a living parable of communion. They remain faithful to a life of prayer, life in community and the welcoming of guests. The sisters share the grace of their monastic life with visitors and volunteers who go to Grandchamp for a time of retreat, silence, healing or in search of meaning.For 2021, the sisters are inviting churches across the world to enter into their tradition of prayer and silence that is rooted in the ancient traditions of the Church catholic.
The Horsforth Walk of Art is a community led arts organisation. The Parish Centre at St James' has often been a venue for installations on the art trails and, as Horsforth prepares for Christmas 2020, we're delighted to be on the trail map once again.Under the general theme #letthelightshine, five windows in the Parish Centre are being decorated to reflect Advent themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, Love and Light. The windows will be revealed over the course of Advent with 'switch-ons' on Sundays 29 November, 06, 13, 20 December and Christmas Eve. Christian households across the town are contributing to the Walk of Art with window displays on the same theme.Decoration of the windows is being coordinated by Churchwarden Ruth Dent who commented, "we hope that these displays will point to Jesus, the light in the darkness, at the end of a difficult year."
St George’s Crypt is dear to many at St James’ and celebrates its 90th anniversary in October. Like many charities, St George’s has experienced a reduction in income this year and has generously opened its storehouses to meet the needs of those experiencing food poverty in the City of Leeds. Following a proposal from Tracey Greig, the PCC unanimously agreed to give to St George’s this harvest time. More detail about the current challenges at St George’s was given in a message from the Chief Executive, Chris Fields which appeared in church and on our YouTube channel last Sunday. Chris’ message will be repeated this Sunday and next.You can support the appeal in three ways:Joining our Harvest Quiz: We’re planning a ‘rule-of-6-compliant’ church social on Zoom on the evening of Saturday 03 October, starting at 20.00. The quiz will be loosely based on environment/ creation themes. All welcome and there is a suggested minimum £5 per household entry fee which will go towards our Harvest Appeal (see below for how to pay). You can get the Zoom link here.Donations of food – tins of meat, vegetables and potatoes can be brought to St James’ on Sundays 27 and 04 October and to the Parish Centre on Monday to Thursday 28 September to 01 October, between 09.00 and 12.00.Donations of cash – Please pay by BACS transfer to the church account: CAF Bank Account no 00022695, Sort code 40-52-40, account name St James Woodside PCC, if possible, or make cheques payable to St James Woodside PCC, and in either case please make a reference to “St George’s Harvest Appeal”, so that the treasurer can identify what it’s for.Alternatively cash donations can be made directly to St George’s here.
