We are all on an ageing journey, albeit perhaps at different stages along the way. As we travel life’s pathway we encounter rich and varied experiences. At times, life can seem bountiful with opportunities, but equally there can be challenges and frustrations too, especially in our later stages of life. Change is inevitable and, if we’re honest, we’re not always very good with change. So how do we age well? What is meaningful ageing?

Research has shown that spirituality plays a positive role in the ageing journey. For some, spirituality will be a part of their religious beliefs, but not for all. Spirituality allows the time and space to reflect on the bigger questions in life, searching for meaning, purpose, value and hope. It can also be used as a way of coping with change and uncertainty.

The role of spiritual care is gradually being recognised for its health benefits, the potential for improved well-being and sense of peace. For example, Marie Curie advocates spiritual care as an important part of palliative care. Though spiritual care is not confined to end of life care. As part of a national strategy in 2016, the charity ‘Meaningful Ageing Australia’ were instrumental in drawing up the Government funded National Guidelines for Spiritual Care in Aged Care.

The charity’s work highlights the importance of and provides practical support for integrating spiritual care into those services accessible to older people, both in care homes and in the community. Their aim is to support those caring for older people to enable them to have a better quality of life. As part of this they created the Meaningful Ageing course, designed to provide people with the skills and knowledge they need to undertake volunteer spiritual care. This can be used in different settings, such as churches, families and for those in residential care homes.

The Circuit staff explored this course together earlier this year, and found it helpful in drawing out some of the questions of how to support others as they age, and as we all age together.

The course follows a series of 8 sessions exploring the following topics through video, reading, reflection, and discussion:
· the ageing journey
· spirituality in ageing
· good communication
· the power of story telling
· dementia
· a new home/a new way of life
· loss, grief, death and dying
· roles, boundaries and self-care

The Circuit would like to offer opportunities to be part of this course as churches and/or individuals. If you or your church would be interested in finding out more please contact me.
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Suzanne Bridges
 

The first two weeks of walking have seen 33 miles covered, 11 churches and 2 graveyards passed through.

Thank you for the welcome has been warm and generous, refreshments and a seat, even if my four-footed friend has washed the floor with her water bowl a couple of times. We have enjoyed meeting people, even if that means you may get bounced, and hearing about the places that make up the circuit. The snapshot of what church means to the congregations across the circuit and there is a great diversity already, the time to help get a feel of this place and wide range of communities that combine to make up Huddersfield. It has been a privilege to have heard some of the hopes and fears, of dreams and doubts of the people I have met. It has been most helpful beginning to build a better picture of Huddersfield Methodist Circuit.

It has been a good to join in the buzz of places as people come together, as friendship, love and support is being offered. It has been humbling as people have turned out specially to give a place of rest on the way. The provision of food and drink and even a pocket cross that is now making its way during Len around the circuit.

I have heard testimony to the pride and love for buildings around the circuit that have and do serve the community through the generosity of the congregations. I have heard the vocalising of tough choices ahead and the reality of the changes that have been taking place for years but have come into sharp focus by Covid and now the rises in living costs which offer us all an opportunity to respond in ways that fit this age drawn but not limited by the tradition that has brought us this far.

I thank God for those who have shared the road and helped me find my way and my bearings as we have picked our way around the odd, unexpected, obstacle as well as choices on paths where the way is not as clear as it looks on the map.

Travelling the road together is a privilege especially as it gives time for conversation and getting to know each other better.
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We do make the road by walking, and I am looking forward to the road that lies ahead.


If you want to see where Peter will be next then follow this link

The last two years have caused many of us to let go of old ways and to search for God in different ways. I am hearing that for many of us, our church habits have changed and the way we used to engage with God has been challenged during lockdown.  I believe many are seeking to meet with the Lord on a different plane and in a different way. 

Lent gives us the chance to stop and re-evaluate our spiritual life and turn our yearning for spiritual connection into a reality.  In following the ‘lostness’ of Jesus in the wilderness to the adulation of Palm Sunday we can journey with him in a human and tangible way as we feel every stone in his shoe and every hunger pang he shares with the disciples.

If you are interested in finding a new way to meet Jesus, talk about how it all feels or maybe practise ancient tried and tested methods, I am hosting evening sessions over Lent at Dalton St Pauls to offer us the opportunity to meet God. 

We will capture that warm and safe feeling of Sunday evenings by sharing something to eat, talking about what is alive for us and then welcoming God into our midst.  We will learn a new way of touching the intangible by learning contemplative prayer, centring prayer and mindfulness and finding stillness in a frenetic world.

Whilst our Lenten journey will begin in the wilderness, we will not take the old familiar route to Easter Sunday morning.  Often Lent is seen as a journey of suffering and abstinence, yet we can fail to see it as liberating and illuminating.  My hope for our time together is let go of seeing Jesus from outside of us but find the Jesus who is inside and uncover what the Spirit is saying to us internally, as we prepare to discover how full the empty tomb is on Easter morning.

I am looking forward to meeting you all, whether you are feeling close to or far away from God.  It will be a great opportunity of uniting or re-uniting with God and one another as we make our way together to the cross and beyond. 

We will meet at 6pm at Dalton St Pauls for some tea and then begin our contemplative journey, finding new skills and ways to touch the hem of his garment.  This is a Circuit-wide event, starting Sunday 6th March 2022 and details will be on the plan.
Walking with Jesus was never meant to be easy, but his companionship and friendship have always been the reward.  Let’s talk and then sit in stillness and silence as we look for his hand in the days ahead.
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If you want to know more, get in touch.  I hope you can make it on the 6th March as we take our first steps together.
 
Rev Tim Moore

Following a course exploring and re-visiting Jesus's interaction with others during his ministry on earth, the seeds of St Paul's newest community venture were sown....
 
Wednesday Welcome provides a relaxed, safe space to spend a few hours. Open from 10.00am to 3.30pm for people of faith and of no faith, it offers a warm welcome to everyone. Teas, coffees and lunches are available, as are board games, dominoes and quizzes. Daily newspapers are on hand for those who may wish to sit quietly with their tea or coffee, whilst there is always someone to talk to for sharing or just for a chat. An afternoon programme of speakers, discussion groups, faith-based sessions and activities are also on offer.
 
A recent afternoon session of Mindfulness facilitated by Tim Moore was very positively received, albeit, after initial curiosity, prior to the session. Another interesting and thought-provoking session ' Guy Fawkes and all that 5th November stuff, ' led by our own minister Rev'd Tim Francis, proved not only interesting, but gave rise to discussion around the consequences of the gunpowder plot. Rev'd Peter Catford, Superintendent of the Huddersfield Circuit and new to post, came to share 'This is my story'.

So, what plans do we have moving forwards? Two consecutive afternoons in December will explore Advent. A morning Carol Service is planned followed by Turkey sandwiches and mince pies. Future plans are to introduce a morning gentle exercise group. A smorgasbord of sessions!
 
To date, after a few weeks, word is getting around the neighbourhood; uptake is slowly increasing and interest from those attending has already extended to their presence at other activities at St Paul's.
One attendee, on returning a second week said, " I didn’t know what to expect, but I like being here, I live alone and I like the company and enjoy playing dominoes.... something you can’t do when you're on your own. "
 
Wednesday Welcome is still in its infancy, we are learning as we go along and are open to suggestions. Some adjustments have already  been made, but as we continue to look to God for guidance and assurance, the seeds of Wednesday Welcome are gaining strength. 
We are learning as we journey to interact with others in a Jesus Shaped way.
 
We will keep you posted ...
Dalton St Paul's
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Whilst Christmas this year isn’t looking quite as bleak as this time last year; the threat of Covid is still a very real one and we at the Mission are still taking the safety of our customers and staff very seriously.

During ‘normal’ times, the lovely Helen from Taylor’s Funerals would be busy preparing for our annual Christmas Day shoebox appeal – where generous individuals donate items to be given to one of our customers who would otherwise get nothing for Christmas.

This year however, with the threat of Covid still looming, we have taken the decision to do things slightly differently and instead ask for a monetary donation so that we are able to buy the items for our customers and present them on Christmas Day. This is a much better way of making sure those in need still receive a present and that customers, donors and staff are kept safe. We are also able to buy more for the money using our charity wholesale suppliers. 

We are looking to buy the contents of around 50 boxes at £10.00 each. If you would like to donate to buy a box, please visit our Facebook page @Huddersfield Mission, or our website – www.huddersfieldmission.org.uk

If more money than the amount needed is generated through this campaign, the surplus money will be put towards the general costs of running the Mission.

We’re also organising Christmas Jumper Days! We’ll be hosting ours here at the Mission on Friday 17th December, but you can join in with your colleagues, family, church, school, friends, or community group on 17th, 18th or 19th December – simply don your best festive gear and donate £1.00 to help support the most vulnerable in our community this Christmas. We will provide you with your own poster showing your chosen date.

To find out more or to get involved, please email [email protected]

​Beth Currie, Fundraising & Communications Manager, Huddersfield Mission 
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​On Sunday 5th September 2021 we entered a new Methodist Year and it was appropriate that this was designated as Climate Sunday. We have all been on a journey; shared and yet different. We have found out things about ourselves, our neighbours, the creation of which we are a treasured part and about our understanding of who God is.
 
On Climate Sunday and during the Autumn season, which includes a most treasured tradition of harvest festival, we are challenged to consider how we respond to the God given gift of life that is in us and around us. For many the creation has been a saving grace during the pandemic, we have become aware of how we are a part of it, and it is a part of us. This God-given relationship grounds, sustains, and feeds us so that we and all creation can flourish.
 
I was in the garden doing some tidying and reflecting on our forthcoming move when the well-known passage from Ecclesiastes 3 popped into my head. “There is a time for everything” and from that the following flowed which embraced my experience of Pandemic and the current move:
 

Farewell to David On the 12th December 2007 Rev David Bidnell wrote to accept the appointment of Superintendent in the then Huddersfield East Circuit comprising eight churches and three staff. He commented that he was ‘full of anticipation with regard to the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead’. Little did he know that thirteen years later he would still be here, heading up a Circuit of twenty-eight churches, twelve ordained staff and two lay employees. Having indeed experienced many challenges along the way, including steering us through a time of transition, melding three Circuits into an entity which sees itself as ‘one’, and, incidentally, dealing with the Circuit in times of a global pandemic. Would he still have been looking forward to it so enthusiastically had he known what challenges actually lay ahead? Maybe not, but, knowing David as we now do, we, the Methodist people in Huddersfield would certainly have been enthusiastically awaiting his arrival. 

So, what has David brought during the thirteen years here? I asked individuals around the Circuit for one word to describe David. Here’s what came back, ‘inclusive’,’ ‘innovative’ ‘creative’, ‘dedicated’ ’enigmatic’, ‘gifted’, ‘witty’, ‘careful yet courageous’. People who have been bereaved have spoken of his empathetic and loving accompaniment of them along the journey. Those who have come, perhaps nervously, with suggestions for innovation have been received with encouragement and support. Under David’s leadership the Huddersfield Circuit has become known as a centre of excellence as a ‘training circuit’ and a place where innovative action is welcomed.What shall I personally miss most? Well, not the 8am emails! But the experience of working with someone of the utmost integrity, and the fun! Thank you, David!

Barbara Hutchinson, on behalf of the Circuit