Today 25th May,2025 at St. Oswalds’ Church Guiseley and St. Paul’s Church, Esholt, the Parish celebrated Rogation Sunday.
Rogation Sunday is – in the Christian Church, a solemn supplication consisting of the litany of the Saints chanted on the three days before Ascension Day.
This year our Eucharist Service was combined with the Eco Service.
Both our churches are attaining to achieve the highest awards from A ROCHA UK – Eco Church which is a learning community of churches of all shapes and sizes. Providing a framework to support our church and its leadership to take practical action on caring for Gods Earth.
We are very proud to present today the Silver Eco Church Award and Plaque to the Church for their efforts this year in becoming more environmentally friendly and promoting sustainability within the Church and its Congregation.
We have a team of volunteer workers all very willing and able to ‘get stuck in’ shown from left to Right are Members of the Green Team and Clergy
From Left to Right – Colin Avison (Secretary of the PCC) Ian Metcalfe (Green Team Chairman) Fr. David Pickett – Priest of our Parish. and other members of the Green Team, including – Jean Fickle, Paul Brylov, Dorothy Jones, Elaine Walton, Sarah Phipps, Marguerite Clatworthy and Kathrin Dunning. Absent Members were Graham Redmond, Isaac Loftus and Judith Barnett.
Special thanks too go to Kevin Greenwood and Martin Baker for their work throughout the year bringing the fabric of the church into the 21st Century.
MOTHERING SUNDAY CELEBRATIONS WITH THE LADIES OF THE MOTHERS UNION
Mothering Sunday is very much the day that the Church Celebrates our Mothers Union and all Mothers throughout the World.
Mothering Sunday was originally a time when people returned to the church in which they were baptized or where they attended services as children. This meant that families were reunited as adults returned to the towns and villages where they grew up.
Congratulations to St. Oswald’s Church Guiseley.
You have been awarded an Eco Church Silver Award.
Message from the Green Team
Our thanks go to everyone who has taken part and given us the chance to move forward to gain this award.
The Green Team have worked particularly hard in 2024 and with the combined assistance of Kevin Greenwood and Martin Baker have reached the next milestone in the Church’s journey.
Leeds Diocese Commissioning Service at Wakefield Cathedral
Commissioning of the Diocesan President and the Board of Trustees. All are welcome.
On March 15th a Service was held in Wakefield Cathedral at which the Bishop of Leeds Commissioned those members from the Diocese who are to serve in positions of office for the following three years. One of our members, Dawn Baker, has agreed to be MU Prayer Team Leader and she was commissioned at this service. Father David Pickett was also commissioned in his role as Area Chaplain for the Leeds Area of the Diocese. Seven Members of our congregation went to this service to support them.
ADVENT CAROL SERVICE 2024
what a wonderful evening of Carols beautiful music put together by our Director of Music, Martin Baker – ably assisted in the organisation by (I don’t know what we would do without him) Kevin Greenwood.
The Service had an atmosphere I have only this once experienced anywhere. The thought, planning and preparation that went to putting this event together must have been mammoth.
The Service commenced with the church in complete darkness, and as the choir processed singing around the church, they left a trail of light. Lessons and Prayers were intertwined with the music which was both ethereal and Advent based. The Choir processed through the church to the hymn ‘O Come o Come Emanuel by which time the aisles were lit as can be seen in the photograph. The Congregation joined in heartily with the hymns and Wine and Mince Pies were enjoyed at the end of the service.
What a wonderful event to mark the beginning of our Advent Journey.
2024 CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL AT ST. OSWALD’S
FROM 7TH DECEMBER
This years Festival is a community celebration bringing people and local organisations together by each decorating a Christmas Tree. The trees are then displayed collectively, for a limited time and open to the public. Our thanks go to Kevin Greenwood, Martin Baker, Mandy Waters and those who have spent time and effort putting their trees in the wonderful interior of the church.
Please notice too on the outside of the church, two trees have been decorated as ‘Living Trees’ with seeds and nuts to feed the local bird population.
Fun Question:-
Why do you leave your Christmas Tree up until the 6th January???
January 6th is known as the Epiphany, Little Christmas or Three Kings Day. From the perspective of religion tradition, its the day that the Magi (the Three Kings or the Wise Men) brought gifts to the infant Jesus, so it makes sense for many to mark this as the last day for the Christmas Season.
Today 5th January, 2nd Sunday in Epiphany, we awake to a snow filled Guiseley and Surrounding Area. Many thanks to Fr David for ‘Live Streaming’ the Eucharist Service for all those parishioners’ who have not been able to make the journey. Stay safe everyone, its a treacherous morning out there.
Our thanks also go to Martin Baker for the amazing photographs below.
