CENTRAL METHODIST LADIES FELLOWSHIP
IT was good to start our new season’s meetings on Tuesday, after a winter break.
One of our own ladies, Janet Helm made it a very entertaining afternoon, starting with a quiz on baby animals, which linked up with the title of her presentation ‘Growing With Faith’.
There were 20 names to guess on baby creatures some answers easier than others, but Janet certainly got everybody’s brain working.
She then handed round sheets of pictures showing different stages in child development starting with new born babies and how they learnt to do many things during their first year.
Babies are born helpless, gradually open their eyes, smile, kick their legs, start to sit up, crawl, pull themselves up with the furniture, try to walk with a little help, and then gain confidence to walk on their own. These gradual developments were compared to young animals, and how quickly they too go through various stages in their life.
Growing as a Christian with faith goes through stages too, as we live by faith we can grow in grace, and mature spiritually.
It takes longer than babies and small animals growth, but if we take each step in our life just as a child we will achieve the ultimate goal.
Faith can be expressed in many ways particularly love for each other, as in the bible verse - “Faith, hope and love, but the
greatest of these is love.”
The next meeting is on Tuesday, April 5 at 2pm.
The speaker is an author from a farming family and his illustrated subject is ‘Liverpool Cowkeepers’ a family history.
Dave Joy is a polished speaker who comes highly recommended, he has written several books and these will be on sale at the meeting.
The afternoon is open to everyone so come and join us, enjoy the talk and share in refreshments.
ROSSENDALE RAMBLERS
NO fooling – the weather for our three walks last week was fantastic.
There were two walks on Wednesday, March 23, the first an eight-mile ‘beating the bounds’ walk from Foulridge, near Colne.
The eight walkers played out the centuriesold tradition of walking the boundary line of a parish, intended to remind adults - and teach children - exactly where the boundary lies.
The other Wednesday walk was a local 11 miler around the Edenfield area, when 11 ramblers circled this lovely area, albeit dominated by Scout Moor wind farm.
Finally, on Mothering Sunday, March 27, eight walkers enjoyed a gentle six-mile walk around the
Whalley area, with rolling views. Highlights were the 48 arch 1850 railway viaduct, and the 14th century Whalley Abbey.
Coming up, on Saturday, April 2 we have another of our very popular two-hour morning pub walks, followed by an optional lunch.
The walk starts at 10.30am from the Helmshore Textile Museum car park, and will explore the lovely Alden and Musbury valleys.
Do please join us for a very sociable walk.
Then on Wednesday, April 6, we are in ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ country for a 10-mile walk from Holmfirth.
Maybe there will be a
few beanies and wrinkly stockings on view?
These walks are free, but after three walks with us we ask you to join The Ramblers, at a cost of only £3.05 per month.
Further information about Rossendale Ramblers can be found on our website at www.rossendale-ramblers.co.uk, or you can contact us via secretary Glyn on 01706 561 042, or at glynbr45@ gmail.com
ROSSENDALE PROBUS CLUB
WITH an appropriate atmosphere inducing period of silence at the opening of an intriguing and informative talk on
“The Quakers of Rossendale”, the husband and wife team of Philip and Hilary Whitehead proceded to recount how, from a vision on Pendle, George Fox, a hitherto itinerant preacher, founded a worldwide new Society of Friends, with the local group building their meeting room in 1715 at Crawshawbooth, where it remains.
With minimal formal structure, apart from Clerk, Treasurer and Eldership, members sit in silence unless one is so moved to profess and share their feelings and emotions. Although tucked away from the main Burnley Road, initially it was sited at an
important pack horse crossing and attracted members from far afield. From a lively discussion/ question and answer session, such issues as pacifism, equality, truth, justice and the environment were addressed along with their current need to raise £75,000 for property projects, to which our Club was pleased to make a tangible contribution.
Our next meeting at Ashday Lea will be on Wednesday, April 13 when Paul Nester presents “Letters from Famous People”. As always, non members always welcome. Set your satnav to BB4 6QX and up the hill by St Mary’s Chambers!