This is a word only version for the full version in either pdf or Doc go to http://www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/news.php?id=165
Welcome to the December
Edition of Yorsay.
FOLLOWING ON FROM LAST
MONTHS REQUEST FOR DE-
TAILS OF EVENTS AND SER-
VICES ARE YOUR CHURCH’S
CHRISTMAS EVENTS AND
SERVICES ON THE DISTRICT
WEB SITE ???? http://
www.yorkhullmethodist.org.u
k/news.php?id=206
IF NOT THEN LET ME HAVE
THEM STRIAGHT AWAY I
would rather have them more
than once than not at all.
May I wish all our readers not
only in the District but from
all over the Country and
Europe a Very Happy Christ-
mas..
Items for the January Yorsay
to be with me before 20th
December Please and I will try
to get the edition out before
Christmas as the Communica-
tions Office will be officially
closed 23rd Dec to 5th Janu-
ary
DECEMBER 2009
From the Chair’s Desk
―And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a
father’s only son, full of grace and truth.John 1:14 (NRSV)‖
I have just finished writing a week of Bible studies for A Word in Time – the daily reflections on
the Methodist Church website (www.methodistchurch.org.uk) which link in with the readings that
are set out for each day in the Methodist Prayer Handbook, Each Returning Day. This year, my
week begins on Sunday 10th January, and the theme is The Anointed King. Sunday is the day
when we remember the Baptism of Christ, and the rest of week draws readings from the First
Book of Samuel.
I found myself captivated once again whilst reading those stories – especially passages relating
to Samuel’s family background; his birth and dedication to God; his sense of call during a night
in the Temple; the account of a devastating battle between the Philistines and the Israelites; the
people wanting a king like other nations had; and Samuel anointing Saul as King. It is a
breathtaking story which continues through a vast swathe of history. It is about politics, fighting,
infidelity, and human frailty of the greatest. It is also about God’s interaction with God’s people,
despite their behaviour and disobedience.
It was a grubby period of human history – but perhaps not that different from our own. It was
certainly not that different from 2000 years ago when God interacted uniquely with the human
race through the birth of Jesus Christ. This December, once again, we celebrate that God so
loved the world that he sent his only Son to live among human beings. The Word became flesh
and lived among us...
There are varied translations of that verse: lived among us, dwelt among us, made his home
among us, even tabernacle among us. A lovely translation, and even a truer one, could be that:
The Word became flesh and pitched his tent among us…
Whatever version catches your attention, or captures the meaning best for you, we approach our
own celebration of Christmas amazed and humbled that despite, or because of, our human
condition, God pitched his tent among us, and remains involved in this world. He is alongside all
the pain and nastiness – and in all the wonder and glory.
Thanks be to God for the wondrous gift of His Son, and to him be the glory now and for ever.
Every blessing throughout this Advent season and at Christmas.
Stephen Burgess
(Chair of District)
PS If you want a very brief lesson in New Testament Greek, then the word which is
translated variously above is εσκηνωσεν – one of my favourite Greek words. It resonates with
the Israelites setting up tents or booths or tabernacles, when they were journeying in the
wilderness. It talks to me of God throwing in his lot with us in a humble way, and journeying
with me – even me – and with you. Amen.
P a g e 2
EVANGELISM - Filey Methodists pelted with skate wings!
From The Filey Circuit
In 1806 a few Methodists in Filey, Yorkshire, attempted to preach in the
streets but were pelted with dried skate wings, one of the major exports of
the fishing industry there. In 1823 the Primitive Methodists Society in nearby
Bridlington almost gave up on Filey, knowing of its reputation for 'swearing,
gambling, drunkenness, cock-fighting, fishing on Sunday and other heinous
crimes'. John Oxtoby asked for a final opportunity to convert the people of Filey and thanks to him, according to
Canon Cooper of Filey, the town was 'turned upside down'. The fishermen of Filey became staunch Primitive Meth-
odists and started going out around the north of England, spreading the gospel in song, and this was the start of
the Filey Fishermen's Choir.
Today, the Choir is still going strong and is based at Filey Methodist Church but visits churches and chapels of any
denomination throughout the district and beyond. The Choir can take the whole service, and has its own organist.
The Choir sing old hymns, many with the sea as the theme, and most are introduced by members, perhaps relating
the theme to their own lives or maybe with a personal testimony.
The Choir members are no longer fishermen, although it does have some who are retired, but they consider them-
selves as fishers of men. Because the Choir is something different, perhaps unique, it can attract people who do not
worship regularly, if at all. The Choir has made several recordings which helps in furthering its ministry.
Maybe a visit from the Filey Fishermen's Choir would provide a great opportunity to invite friends and neighbours to
your church.
E-mail contact: - Christine Imeson mailto:Christine@bcimeson.freeserve.co.uk
Phone contact: 01723 513809
Website: http://www.thefileyfishermenschoir.co.uk
[From the Buzz 76 Magazine]
OPEN AREA
For several years there had been a feeling that the
Sanctuary area of Bricknell Avenue Methodist Church in
the Hull West Circuit needed a revamp. It was just over
50 years old and as the buildings were part of the first
―new‖ church buildings to be constructed in Hull after
the second World War they were beginning to look a
little tired. Plans were made and Finance sought and in
February the Church building closed.
Harvest seemed a good time to reopen the building
and in October the New Area was rededicated— The
communion Rail is removable the Pulpit and Choir stalls
have gone and a new and revamped multimedia control
has been installed.
P a g e 3
RIDING LIGHTS THEATRE COMPANY
Riding Lights Christmas show 'On Christmas Night'
at All Saints Church Hall, Hessle
Saturday 19th December at 2.00pm.
Prices are £5 adult, £4 concessions, £3 children,
£12 family ticket for 2 adults + 2 children, £20 for group of 8 children.
Tickets can be obtained from Barry Baxter 01482 645398.
WHO VISITS US ??
I am sometimes asked as to the effectiveness of the District Web site and its outreach. Apart from the regular visitors
from the District Churches the Web site and Yorsay are used by Methodist Church House to keep up to date with
what is going on in the District and for your information I have compiled a list of the places outside of the District
that regularly access the web site or download information. The Following list was compiles over a 3 day period at the
end of October [25th-28th] this year.
Benfleet [Essex] Kranj [Slovenia] Tucson [Arizona] London, Rotherham, Consett , Nottingham, Montreal [Canada],
Leeds, Wigan, Vancouver [Canada], Chatham , Mountain View [California] , Congleton, Knaresborough, Farnham ,
Dagenham, Chelmsford, Leicester, Tirana [Albania], Real [Philippines] Swaddlingcote, Houghton le Spring, France,
Manchester, Cole, Doncaster, Leesburg [Virginia], Cambridge, Worksop, Brazil, Bolton, Birkhamsted, Warrington, Shef-
field, Worcester, Durham, Swindon, Spennymoor, Wokingham, Haywood, Bombay [India], Louth [Ireland], Delmanhorst
[Germany], Nelson [New Zealand] Cirebon [Indonesia] ,and the Cote D’Ivorie.
As you can see quite a wide outreach and most of them are using the News pages, The Circuit Pages and the accom-
modation pages. With surprisingly a large number also looking at our Synod pages.
Yorsay itself is sent to just over 400 e mail recipients per month but is downloaded from the web site over 600 times
per month [mainly in pdf but some doc ].It goes not only to the Churches in the District but to the Major Media out-
lets including the BBC and Local Press.
Use the Facilities you have for outreach—you never know who you might touch.
Also where you aware that if you want to keep up to date with News Releases and informa-
tion from Methodist Church House then sign up to our PAT Newsletter service via the
Home page on the District web site or use the following http://
www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/newsletter/newsletter.php
Hull Methodist Central Hall are pleased to announce the latest addition to their fam-
ily.
A Christian Bookshop has opened in the former bank premises on King Edward
Street in Hull. The book shop which is open every Wednesday to Saturday 10am to
4pm.
The Co-ordinator Brenda Arnold says" This is an exciting sequence of events that can
only be of God which started in July 2008". The shop contains a selection of second-
hand titles as well as stock from the Methodist Publishing House.
Come along and tell your fellow Methodist!
For more information http://www.hullmethcenthall.net/booksn'bibles
THE METHODIST CHURCH
E
30 October 2009
Getting the best for Local Preachers
First phase of major consultation begins
The Methodist Church is carrying out a major review of training and support for local preachers throughout Great
Britain.
This week, questionnaires and discussion documents have been sent to all circuit local preachers' secretaries and
circuit superintendents inviting them to facilitate a review of continuing development programmes for Britain's
10,000 local preachers.
Revd Dr Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the Methodist Church, said; "Local preachers are essential to the life and
ministry of the Church. As a team, we are committed to listening to local preachers about their needs and concerns
so that we can offer them better support and training, helping them to live out their calling to the full."
The first phase of the consultation will ask local preachers about what kind of continuing development programmes
they would find most helpful. Each local preachers' meeting has been asked to encourage all local preachers present
to complete a questionnaire about existing and future continuing development provision. Each meeting is also being
asked to discuss what the major challenges are for local preachers today and how they can best be supported in
their ministry. Documentation to support the consultation is available online at www.methodist.org.uk/
lpconsultation.
Speaking of the Church's duty to nurture and uphold the ministry of local preachers, Revd Dr Mark Wakelin, Secre-
tary for Internal Relationships, said; "Sitting in a pew I want the person leading to know that they are not simply
there to fill a plan appointment, but because God has called them, that the Church recognises this and had tried to
equip and support that call. I have been most helped when a preacher exudes a sense of their worth and value as
God's messenger."
A second consultation phase in spring 2010 will specifically consider Faith and Worship, the local preachers' training
course.
METHODIST CONFERENCE
2011.
The Venue for the 2011 Conference has been decided
as the newly refurbished Southport Conference Centre.
Conference was previously in Southport in 1999.
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful
lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees.. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a
ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all
that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine
with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think
people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that Amer-
ica is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to w orship God
as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities
came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's
intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this hap-
pen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is
deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to
get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing
and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered,
her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not
read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped
and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking
about. And we said okay.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them
to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers
say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start
sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely
through cyber space, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
Are you laughing yet?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or
what they will think of you for sending it.
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.
Pass it on if you think it has merit.
If not, then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad
shape the world is in.
Youth Worker
Hull (East) Methodist Circuit
A vacancy has arisen in the Hull East Circuit for a Circuit Youth Worker.
This applicant, with experience of working with teenagers, will make connections with all young people from each
Church in the Circuit. They will effectively lead the new monthly Circuit Youth Fellowship and look to draw older
young people into leadership roles within it.
Building on the work of MaXlife, the ecumenical / secular young people charity situated in the region of the Circuit
the youth worker will develop Christian groups for discussion and fellowship. They will also follow up links with sec-
ondary schools in the area. The person should be able to work with small and larger groups making all teenagers feel
they belong to the Circuit.
Salary Circuit Youth Worker £6140 per annum 16 hours per week Three Year Initial Contract
For more information and recruitment pack contact:
Mr Bruce Taylor Circuit Administrator
c/o Kingston Wesley Church 882 Holderness Road
HULL HU9 3LP
email bt@methodisthulleast.org.uk and Tuesdays only 01482 788728 Mobile 07723 433945 (inc text)
Closing date for applications - Noon 30 November 2009 Interviews to be held 13 January 2010
OLD RECTORY EVENTS
Epworth Old Rectory Craft Fair
Epworth Old Rectory will host a Craft Fair on Saturday 5th December from 10am-3pm in the Rectory. There will be a
variety of stalls with crafts from local craft makers, including hand crafted furniture, glasswork, homemade cards and
stationary, jewellery, paintings, and plants. Live music will be played and refreshments (including mince pies and
punch) will be available. Admission is free of cost. For further information contact Epworth Old Rectory at 01427
872268 or ado@epwortholdrectory.org.uk
Doncaster Waites Concert at Wesley Memorial Church in Epworth
The Doncaster Waites are a local band that plays early
17th century music using a large selection of period
instruments. They will perform in concert at Wesley
Memorial Church in Epworth on Saturday 5th December
at 7.30pm. Refreshments will be served during the
intermission. Tickets cost just £5 per person and can
be booked by calling 01427 872268 or emailing
ado@epwortholdrectory.org.uk Information about their
music can be found at: www.doncasterwaites.co.uk
This concert is in support of Epworth Old Rectory, a
registered charity of the Methodist Church.
Candlelit Tours
Epworth Old Rectory's popular Candlelit Tours are back! We will
be offering the Candlelit Tours every Friday and Saturday at 7pm
during the months of , February 2010, and March 2010. Since
the Tours sold out last February, it is necessary to book tickets in
advance. Tickets cost £5. If you would like to book a ticket(s)
please ring the Rectory at 01427 872268 or email
ado@epwortholdrectory.org.uk
Put a little Christmas in your pocket
The Methodist Church is hoping to spread a little festive cheer with the latest edition to their
hugely popular In Your Pocket booklet series.
Christmas in Your Pocket offers readers an inspiring collection of images, Bible verses, prayers
and reflections on the Christmas season. It draws together contributions from authors as di-
verse as Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Benjamin Franklin and Bob Hope.
Joy Fisher, Series Editor, said; "This is a pocket-sized reminder that Christmas starts with Christ and finds its home in
us. Christmas is for everyone - it's a time of miracles, hope, expectation, excitement and the most precious gift that
anyone can receive."
Christmas in Your Pocket is ideal for personal or group reflection, but churches are also encouraged to share the
Christmas spirit with their communities by giving the booklets away.
The whole range of In Your Pocket booklets (also including Prayer in Your Pocket and Hope in Your Pocket), are avail-
able from Methodist Publishing at £5 for 50 copies. They can be purchased online here: http://tinyurl.com/yen2zce/.
Sat 28 Nov –Carol Concert—Trinity Methodist Hull East Riding of Yorkshire Band and Endsleigh Holy Child Primary Choir
Fri 4 Dec– An Angels Delight—Saltmine Theatre Co– Milton Rooms Malton
Sat 5 Dec - York City Gospel Choir - A Joyful Celebration. A celebration of Christmas with the York City Gospel Choir.
Sing-a-long to favourite carols and hear a special gospel performance of "Hallelujah" from Handel's soulful Messiah!
Manor C E School, Millfield Lane, York, 7.30pm. Tickets from www.ycgc.org.uk.
Sat 5 Dec-Hot Gospel Choir—Willerby Methodist 7.30pm
Sat 5 Dec - Bach’s Christmas Oratorio at York Minster. York Musical Society will be performing this thrillingly festive work
in York Minster on Saturday 5th December at 7.30pm. Tickets (£7 – £18 with concessions) are available from York Min-
ster Box Office: 0844 939 0015; www.boxoffice.yorkminster.org
Sat 5 Dec - East Riding County Choir at Beverley Minster. East Riding County Choir will be performing Handel's Messiah
at 7.00 pm on Saturday 5th December at Beverley Minster. Tickets available from Beverley Tourist Information Centre
tel: 01482 391672 or at the door from 6.15 pm. For more information visit www.eastridingcountychoir.co.uk
Sat 5 Dec - In the Father’s Hand, St Paul's Church, Holgate, York, 2-4pm. A service to enable people with learning dis-
abilities to participate with others in exploring what God means to them. Full details on www.stpaulsyork.org.uk
Sat 5 Dec - Brass Band Concert at Bridlington Priory. For more information, visit http://www.bridlingtonpriory.co.uk/
Sat 5 Dec –Evening of Seasonal Music at Swanland Methodist –Ferriby ladies Choir & Christ Church Youth Band 7.30pm
Tues 8 Dec - A Christmas Celebration, Selby Abbey. Selby Communities and District Industrial Mission presents 'A Christmas Celebration',
with carols, readings and music with The Grimethorpe Colliery Band in Selby Abbey on Tuesday 8th December 2009 at 7.30pm Tickets
from: Selby Abbey shop; Abbey Travel, 3 New Lane, Selby; Scadim Office, Community House, Portholme Road, Selby.
Tues 8 Dec– Christmas Concert –Skidby & Little Weighton Meth—7.30pm Priory Park Singers
Fri 11 Dec - East Riding County Choir at St Peter's, Hutton Cranswick. The East Riding County Choir will be performing at St Peter's, Hutton
Cranswick, on Friday 11th December at 7:30pm. Tickets cost £5. For more details contact Revd Ruth Hind on 01377 270402 or ruth-
hind@tiscali.co.uk.
Fri 11 Dec - 'Messiah' at Bridlington Priory, with Bridlington Choral Society. For more information, visit http://www.bridlingtonpriory.co.uk/
Sunday 13th December Westborough Methodist Church Scarborough 2.00pm Scarborough Concert Band and
Gladstone Road School Choir- Music for Christmas
Sun 13th December Filey Methodist Church 3.00pm Filey Festival Singers 'Journey of Hope'
Mon 14 Dec - Fairburn Singers Christmas Concert at St Wilfrid’s Church in Monk Fryston. The Fairburn Singers will be presenting a festive
evening with all that is familiar from the Christmas Season, beginning at 7.30pm.
Fri 18th December Filey Methodist Church 7.00pm Filey Fishermans' Choir Carol Concert
Sat 19 Dec—Abbey Belles Concert—Snaith Methodist 7.30pm
Sat 19 Dec– On Christmas Night– Riding Lights Theatre Co—All Saints Church Hall Hessle 2.00pm [Tickets £5 adult £3 Children]-see
advert
Sat 19 Dec-Concert with York Railway Institute Band & Pocklington Choir 7.00pm Pocklington Methodist Church
Mon 21 Dec– Riding Lights Theatre Co—Nawon Memorial Hall [awaiting details]
Christmas Story Teller
This Christmas, an Aussie chap called Andy Wright who is a Biblical Storyteller will be visiting Hull East Circuit on the
weekend before Christmas. He will be taking part in the morning service at Bilton Grange on December 20th and in the
evening Carols by Candlelight at Kingston Wesley, then on the evening of Monday 21st , the Open Door Fellowship at
Bilton Grange. If you have never come across this form of devotion before, it will really open your ears to the story
you know only too well. Do come along on the Monday evening, a full house would be really great – there is no charge
though we will take an offering towards expenses.
ADVENT CALENDAR
Courtesy of our Friends at Damaris Media and Walden Media we
have an automated Advent Calendar on the District Web
Site .http://www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/news.php
This will run from 1st December to 24th and at present is show-
ing an extract and interview re the film Advertised above
―Nativity‖
Yorsay is sent on behalf of the York & Hull Methodist District by the Communications Office
Bob Lawe 27 Ryde Avenue Hull Hu5 1QA communications@yorkhullmethodist.org.uk or
yhcommunications@msn.com
Please note that some of you may receive this and other mailings from a Karoo e mail address – Please do not reply
or use this address as it is for mail delivery only The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily the offi-
cial views of the Methodist Church or of the York & Hull Methodist District and no inferred support for any of the
items or organisations should be taken as granted.
Yorsay Newsletter © 2009 York & Hull Methodist District – All rights reserved.
Monday, 23 November 2009
Monday, 28 September 2009
OCTOBER YORSAY
THIS IS A TEXT ONLY VERSION TO SEE THE FULL VERSION DOWNLOAD IN EITHER DOC OR PDF FROM http://www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/news.php?id=165
Welcome to the
October Edition
of Yorsay.
I must apologise
if a story or infor-
mation you were
expecting to be
in this edition
has not been
published. This is
because as I was
backing up the
files the Hard
disc’s on my
computer
crashed and all
the information
was destroyed. I
have been able to
find some of the
articles as they
had been backed
up on line but
some I am afraid
have been lost.
OCTOBER 2009
From the Chair’s Desk
Is it really stationing time again? I suppose I too might well have asked that question at one time – until,
that is, I became immersed in one of the most mysterious but highly important aspects of our life within
God’s Methodist Church. We probably all know that Methodist Ministers move in August – much to the
delight of removals firms, no doubt. But the process starts well before that.
Ministers, both Presbyters and Deacons, will start to consider whether they might move appointments at
least fifteen months before it actually happens. In May each year, Kate Woolley (our District Lay
Representative for Stationing) and I brief ministers and circuit stewards about the whole process – looking
ahead to the following year. We explain what happens when a minister and circuit are considering whether
an appointment should be extended, or whether it is right for a change. A consultation is organised within
the local churches, the circuit and any other areas in which the minister is involved; the Circuit Invitation
Committee considers the responses and discerns whether to recommend an extension to the minister’s
appointment; the Circuit Stewards meet with the minister; a decision is made whether to take a
recommendation for an extension to the September Circuit Meeting, when a vote is taken.
To say that it is a tense time for both ministers and circuit stewards would be an understatement – and all
those concerned need, and I hope are supported by, the prayers of all those involved. But we trust that it is
a process of discerning God’s will for a circuit, for a minister, and for the wider church.
When a minister is going to move the following summer, then a chain of events is put in motion. Deacons
consult with the Methodist Diaconal Order, through whom their stationing is undertaken. Presbyters meet
with Kate Woolley and me as they prepare their personal profile; similarly, circuit stewards meet with us to
prepare the circuit’s profile of the appointment to be filled; and both profiles are submitted to Stationing
Administration at Methodist Church House. And then we wait for the publication of the books – one book
with ministers’ profiles, and one with circuit appointment profiles.
The tense time continues! Presbyters study the circuit profiles in order to identify those appointments to
which they feel God might be calling them; circuit stewards similarly seek to identify ministers with
appropriate gifts and experience. And then I head for the meetings of the Stationing Matching Group -
residential meetings of all Chairs of District plus some others. In a carefully organised process, we seek to
match ministers to appointments, starting with superintendents and then other circuit presbyters. Presbyters
visit the appointment in order for them, and the Circuit Invitation Committee, to discern whether the match
should be confirmed. Sometimes we have to go back to the matching group for a another attempt, but in
our deliberations we trust that all factors can be carefully and prayerfully considered so that the best
possible match between minister and circuit is achieved – bearing in mind always the needs of the whole
Methodist Connexion, not just our own district or circuit.
At the final session of the annual Methodist Conference, by a standing vote the stations of the ministers for
the ensuing year are confirmed, and in early September new ministers are formally welcomed into their new
appointments, but already the next year’s process is underway – so it’s not a case of it being stationing time
again, it always is!
Please do pray for those ministers, and those close to them, who will be looking to new appointments; for
those with responsibilities in the circuits who are seeking new ordained colleagues; and for all of us who
striving to discern what matches will best serve God’s Church.
Every blessing
Stephen
PS If you would like to know more about the Stationing Process, then do consult The Constitutional
Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church and The Connexional Good Practice Guide for all involved
in Stationing – or on second thoughts, chat with Kate or with me!
P a g e 2
CAFOD and Christian Aid are holding an event in York to
draw attention
to the issue of climate justice as part of the run-up to
the UN talks on
climate change in Copenhagen. We are looking to make
a WAVE of peaceful
protest around York Minster from 10.30am on Saturday
24 October. Details
are on the attached poster.
We also need up to 50 event stewards to help us mar-
shal people
effectively on the day.
Would you be so kind as to publicise the event through-
out Methodist Circuits in the area inviting people to
attend and to help with stewarding.
If people require any further details they can contact me
either by emailing dcross@cafod.org.uk or on the tele-
phone number below.
Many thanks in anticipation of your support.
Best wishes
David
David Cross
CAFOD Diocesan Manager
Diocese of Middlesbrough
54 Blossom Street
York
YO24 1AP
Tel: 01904 671 767
Fax: 01904 658 054
VITRUVIAN TRIATHALON
You may recall from last months
Yorsay that Rev Rory Dalgleish was
“ducking out” of Synod to take part
in the Vitruvian Triathalon around
Rutland Water. The race is Half-
Ironman distance, and comprises a 1.2
mile swim, 53mile cycle and 13 mile run.
He is fundraising for Amnesty Interna-
tional again after raising a tidy sum last
year doing a 97 mile non-stop canoe
race around the Cheshire Ring Canals,
and has a fundraising page at
www.justgiving.com/
rorysepicadventures which can be
used online, or you can contact Rory
directly (01904 414398) to arrange a
contribution in person or by cheque if
you would like to do so. Any donations
would be welcome in the direction of a
very good cause.
[Photos (c) Vitruvian and Show Rory in the Race]
P a g e 3
Wedding Fayre –
Cottingham Methodist
October 3rd 10am-3pm.
Cottingham Methodist is taking a leaf out of Market Weighton’s
book and has organised a Wedding Fayre to be held at our church
on Saturday the 3rd of October from 10am- 3pm.
There will be two catwalk shows, one at midday and the second at
2pm, literally down the aisle, with dresses from Jacqueline’s
Gown’s and menswear from Len Beck tailors, and hair by Dizzy’s.
This is a Cottingham centric event, and all of the suppliers are ei-
ther local, or within a stones throw of the village. We have two
types of limo’s, cake makers, photographers, venues, stationers,
lingerie, florists – you name it we have it, including the minister! .
STRIPS of wallpaper discovered in a 300-year-old house are providing valuable clues as to how it once looked.
The discovery was made earlier in the year on parts of the walls at Epworth's historic Old
Rectory, home to John and Charles Wesley who founded the modern Methodist movement.
A section of wallpaper was found under a raised floor during refurbishment work - possibly
dating to the late 18th century - and another strip was located in a cavity underneath the
garret stairs.
This second section has proved harder to date but it bears a strong resemblance to early
18th century wallpaper on display in London's Victoria and Albert Museum.
Rev Claire Potter, Old Rectory development manager and curator, explained professional
views were being sought to see if the paper dates back to when the Wesley family lived at
the house.
She added: "As we work on the refurbishment we will be investigating ways of recreating
the wallpaper in order for the Rectory once again to have the 'paper chamber' mentioned in
the family's letters."
The potential historic discovery comes at an exciting time for the venue as plans move ahead for a new visitors' cen-
tre, shop and cafe, all coinciding with the Old Rectory's 300th anniversary this year.
And ongoing refurbishment is aimed at remodelling the house as closely as possible to its 18th century roots.
"Here in this house, the roots of Methodism were planted," added Rev Potter. "There is much in the story of the re-
markable Wesley family to inspire the churches, historians and pilgrims of today."
The Grade One-listed building relies on volunteers and those who help out in a variety of roles and all training is pro-
vided by existing staff.
Friends of the Old Rectory also receive free entry, a newsletter and event information in exchange for an annual sub-
scription. For more information contact 01427 872268. [(c) Epworth Bells August 2009]
In response to the increasing demand from our church-based supporters for more worship resources, we've added a new
"harvest" pack to the worship materials on our website. You'll find it at www.traidcraft.org.uk/churchresources along with
an accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
Look out for new Advent resources next month and, to help celebrate your church's commitment to fair trade, a new set of
worship materials for next year's Fair Trade Fortnight (22 Feb - 7 March) will be available in November.
I hope you find the new materials useful - and thank you for your continuing support.
Peter Collins
Church Relations Manager
T +44 (0)191 497 6465 (Direct)
T +44 (0)191 491 0591
www.traidcraft.co.uk
Traidcraft, Kingsway, Gateshead, NE11 0NE, UK
Time to start wrapping, packing and sending!
It’s that time of year again. Empty shoeboxes are starting to pile up. Volunteers are on the lookout for great
deals. The season for Operation Christmas Child 2009 has begun.
This year, Samaritan's Purse has pulled together great new resources for schools, churches and workplaces,
packed with ideas on how to encourage people to get involved. So whether you’re wanting to tie Operation
Christmas child into your school curriculum, reach out as a church to your local community, or get your col-
leagues at work to start saving shoeboxes, we have great ideas to help you along.
Our prayer for 2009 is that even more children from disadvantaged backgrounds will experience the love of Je-
sus as they receive shoeboxes bursting with joy. Our hope is that in this time of financial crisis, churches in the
UK will reach out to their communities through Operation Christmas Child so that people from all walks of
life can experience the power of a simple gift.
Here are just a few easy ways you can be part of this Christmas miracle:
1) Order your FREE resources and get your group involved
2) Join our Operation Christmas Child fan page on Facebook and share your shoebox stories, pictures and videos
3) Volunteer to help out in a warehouse, drive a delivery van or present at a local school.
VISIT THE DISTRICT MANSE
A reminder to you all of the Chair's Coffee Mornings which
are in aid of Methodist Homes this year, but also just an
opportunity to visit the District Manse and Office.
Saturday 10th October is particularly, but not exclusively,
for those of you in Ryedale, Pickering, Malton, Ripon and
Thirsk & Northallerton Circuits.
We still have no idea what will happen if everyone arrives
at the same time, but we'll face that if it happens!
There will be a Bring & Buy table, including any
reasonably new paperbacks.
Stephen
Arrivals & coffee
Worship
Introductions
Lunch
Worship
Ointment and bandages: an outline of Luke’s Gospel
Coffee break
Sight for sore eyes: the parables in Luke’s Gospel
Words of life and health: preaching Luke’s Gospel
Pause
Good voice: Christmas and Luke’s Gospel
ANCIENT MEDICINE FOR MODERN ILLS:
PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF LUKE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
POCKLINGTON METHODIST CHURCH, NORTH YORKS – SAT 28 NOV 09
LED BY REVD JOHN PROCTOR
Year C of the Lectionary, the year of Luke, will start this Advent. Most Sunday services in the coming twelve months
will feature a reading from this gospel.
0930
1000
1015
1020
1110
1130
1230
1315
1410
1420
1515
1530 Tea & dispersals
____________________
The day will include speaking from the front by John Proctor, and group work, with a chance to talk together over the
scriptures and the task of preaching. Please bring a Bible, and come expecting to learn from the gospel and from one
another.
We hope to achieve the following:
- to acquaint ourselves afresh with the shape and substance of Luke’s Gospel
- to reflect on how to preach in the coming year, when Luke informs the lectionary
- to see how parables preach and how they can be preached, and to appreciate afresh their blend of direct challenge
and open-ended question
- to look at Luke’s perspective on the incarnation, and at our task as preachers this coming Christmas
------
John Proctor was born near Stirling in 1952 and grew up in England. He trained for the ministry at Glasgow University,
and served a Church of Scotland parish in Glasgow from 1981 to 1986. Then he came south again, to work for the
United Reformed Church, teaching New Testament at Westminster College, Cambridge. Here he works with theologi-
cal students from many Christian traditions, and travels regularly to lead study or training events around the church.
John is married to Elaine, with an adult daughter and son. Away from work, he bird-watches, follows cricket and sup-
ports Cambridge City in the Southern Football League.
Mind The Gap Africa
For a number of years Jenny has been living and working in Zimbabwe. There is a lot of work to do as Jenny works with a lot of
the children in Zim. Mind the Gap Africa runs a Kids Club, looks after some abandoned babies and wants to run Children's
homes. The Aids virus is rife there and a lot of children are left without their parents. There is tremendous need there.
If any one wants to know more about the Jenny's work in Zimbabwe please email me mehadmin@vodafone.net
Thanks Bruce
Jenny Hensman, Youth for Christ, PO Box FM34, Famona, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Home 002639 242313 mobile 07930
366121 jennyhensman@gmail.com - June 2009
Hi everyone!
Hope all is well and if you feel you have missed out on an English summer come to Zimbabwe as it's now summer and the sun is
shining!
I finally have the permission from social welfare to bring Grace Joy to England and the last hurdle is to get her a visa. I have just
put in the application so would ask for your prayers that she will get one. If all goes well I'll be in the UK beginning of October for
about 7 weeks. It's not long enough to do everything that needs doing especially in terms of speaking at churches and groups and
seeing everyone so please bear with me and what and who I can't see on this visit will be done on the next one. Don't forget you
are always invited to visit me here!!
Leaving Mary and Thomas will be hard but I knew when I took them I'd have to leave them at times and thankfully I have a fantastic
support structure at home to look after them. Please pray for Thomas and Mary whilst I'm away from them.
Life in Zim. . .
It's been a tough few months as we're all had a horrible strain of flu that's in its 10th week now as well as being so busy in minis-
try. We've had several very sad situations where two of the babies we were trying to help have died.
One of which was little Angela, the 7 month daughter of Samkele. Samkele at 19 years old with no mum to care for her came to
stay with us for 4 weeks to be in a safe place to grieve. Thankfully she now has a job with Sister Maliki, the Matron of the baby
home who will be like a mum to her. Please pray for Samkele.
It's great when things fall into place and we have just been able to move Johannes, the young man who used to live at the orphan-
age, to 'The Windles' children's home. He is helping in the garden and with security in exchange for board and putting him through
college. He's a lovely lad and the kids are so pleased to have an older brother around. He is new in his faith so please pray for
Johannes.
Holiday club
The highlight of the past school holidays was the holiday club we ran for our kids and also some of the little ones from Youth for
Christ. On the Thursday we hired two bouncy castles as hardly any of the children had ever seen one let alone been on one. It's
hard when money is so tight to splash out on such an 'unnecessary' expense but to see the kids faces light up when it arrived and
the enjoyment they got it was worth every penny of the £30!
Rehoboth
We are praising the Lord for His wonderful provision of a very generous gift that has finally meant we can buy the house. It's been
on a rent to buy for some time and we've been seeking the Lord as we wanted the security for the children. I want to thank the
couple who have given this gift so much for investing this huge amount of money into these kids lives, and all the others that their
gift is already touching. Bless you both. Rehoboth now has child number 10 as one of the boys there was reunited with his
brother. He was living in terrible circumstances so Mark and Dorcus felt it right that they take him into the home.
What now. .
Having the three children is an absolute gift from God but it's also the biggest challenge I've ever faced in my life! Mary in particu-
lar is a very broken little girl and needs a lot of love and attention to help her see the healing that only God can bring. I know God
has brought all three of these little ones into my life so I must invest time and energy into their lives, especially over the next few
years. This leaves me with a few options: either Mind the Gap has to stay as it is and we do what we can or I need someone to
come and help in the leadership and development of the project.
As we don't have the money to employ someone my fleece is to pray that God would send a volunteer from outside of Zimbabwe
who has the experience in running a project and all that that entails. I would like someone to commit for a two year period and we
can offer plenty of challenges and frustration but also a great sense of making a real difference to vulnerable children's lives. So if
you are interested or know of someone who may be please let me know. Please join me in prayer for this as I believe Mind the
Gap has the potential to change many more lives, but we need the people with the necessary skills to help us do that effectively.
Thank you
I want to thank those who give to this ministry so much. We couldn't do what we do if people weren't being faithful in giving and I
have been so touched by the kindness and generosity I have experienced. It just proves to me how much God's heart is for these
vulnerable children.
If you want to help financially. . .Please Contact Bruce East Hull Circuit Administrator bt@methodisthulleast.org.uk
Yorsay is sent on behalf of the York & Hull Methodist District by the Communications Office
Bob Lawe 27 Ryde Avenue Hull Hu5 1QA communications@yorkhullmethodist.org.uk or
yhcommunications@msn.com
Please note that some of you may receive this and other mailings from a Karoo e mail address – Please
do not reply or use this address as it is for mail delivery only The views expressed in this newsletter
are not necessarily the official views of the Methodist Church or of the York & Hull Methodist District
and no inferred support for any of the items or organisations should be taken as granted.
Yorsay Newsletter © 2009 York & Hull Methodist District – All rights reserved.
Welcome to the
October Edition
of Yorsay.
I must apologise
if a story or infor-
mation you were
expecting to be
in this edition
has not been
published. This is
because as I was
backing up the
files the Hard
disc’s on my
computer
crashed and all
the information
was destroyed. I
have been able to
find some of the
articles as they
had been backed
up on line but
some I am afraid
have been lost.
OCTOBER 2009
From the Chair’s Desk
Is it really stationing time again? I suppose I too might well have asked that question at one time – until,
that is, I became immersed in one of the most mysterious but highly important aspects of our life within
God’s Methodist Church. We probably all know that Methodist Ministers move in August – much to the
delight of removals firms, no doubt. But the process starts well before that.
Ministers, both Presbyters and Deacons, will start to consider whether they might move appointments at
least fifteen months before it actually happens. In May each year, Kate Woolley (our District Lay
Representative for Stationing) and I brief ministers and circuit stewards about the whole process – looking
ahead to the following year. We explain what happens when a minister and circuit are considering whether
an appointment should be extended, or whether it is right for a change. A consultation is organised within
the local churches, the circuit and any other areas in which the minister is involved; the Circuit Invitation
Committee considers the responses and discerns whether to recommend an extension to the minister’s
appointment; the Circuit Stewards meet with the minister; a decision is made whether to take a
recommendation for an extension to the September Circuit Meeting, when a vote is taken.
To say that it is a tense time for both ministers and circuit stewards would be an understatement – and all
those concerned need, and I hope are supported by, the prayers of all those involved. But we trust that it is
a process of discerning God’s will for a circuit, for a minister, and for the wider church.
When a minister is going to move the following summer, then a chain of events is put in motion. Deacons
consult with the Methodist Diaconal Order, through whom their stationing is undertaken. Presbyters meet
with Kate Woolley and me as they prepare their personal profile; similarly, circuit stewards meet with us to
prepare the circuit’s profile of the appointment to be filled; and both profiles are submitted to Stationing
Administration at Methodist Church House. And then we wait for the publication of the books – one book
with ministers’ profiles, and one with circuit appointment profiles.
The tense time continues! Presbyters study the circuit profiles in order to identify those appointments to
which they feel God might be calling them; circuit stewards similarly seek to identify ministers with
appropriate gifts and experience. And then I head for the meetings of the Stationing Matching Group -
residential meetings of all Chairs of District plus some others. In a carefully organised process, we seek to
match ministers to appointments, starting with superintendents and then other circuit presbyters. Presbyters
visit the appointment in order for them, and the Circuit Invitation Committee, to discern whether the match
should be confirmed. Sometimes we have to go back to the matching group for a another attempt, but in
our deliberations we trust that all factors can be carefully and prayerfully considered so that the best
possible match between minister and circuit is achieved – bearing in mind always the needs of the whole
Methodist Connexion, not just our own district or circuit.
At the final session of the annual Methodist Conference, by a standing vote the stations of the ministers for
the ensuing year are confirmed, and in early September new ministers are formally welcomed into their new
appointments, but already the next year’s process is underway – so it’s not a case of it being stationing time
again, it always is!
Please do pray for those ministers, and those close to them, who will be looking to new appointments; for
those with responsibilities in the circuits who are seeking new ordained colleagues; and for all of us who
striving to discern what matches will best serve God’s Church.
Every blessing
Stephen
PS If you would like to know more about the Stationing Process, then do consult The Constitutional
Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church and The Connexional Good Practice Guide for all involved
in Stationing – or on second thoughts, chat with Kate or with me!
P a g e 2
CAFOD and Christian Aid are holding an event in York to
draw attention
to the issue of climate justice as part of the run-up to
the UN talks on
climate change in Copenhagen. We are looking to make
a WAVE of peaceful
protest around York Minster from 10.30am on Saturday
24 October. Details
are on the attached poster.
We also need up to 50 event stewards to help us mar-
shal people
effectively on the day.
Would you be so kind as to publicise the event through-
out Methodist Circuits in the area inviting people to
attend and to help with stewarding.
If people require any further details they can contact me
either by emailing dcross@cafod.org.uk or on the tele-
phone number below.
Many thanks in anticipation of your support.
Best wishes
David
David Cross
CAFOD Diocesan Manager
Diocese of Middlesbrough
54 Blossom Street
York
YO24 1AP
Tel: 01904 671 767
Fax: 01904 658 054
VITRUVIAN TRIATHALON
You may recall from last months
Yorsay that Rev Rory Dalgleish was
“ducking out” of Synod to take part
in the Vitruvian Triathalon around
Rutland Water. The race is Half-
Ironman distance, and comprises a 1.2
mile swim, 53mile cycle and 13 mile run.
He is fundraising for Amnesty Interna-
tional again after raising a tidy sum last
year doing a 97 mile non-stop canoe
race around the Cheshire Ring Canals,
and has a fundraising page at
www.justgiving.com/
rorysepicadventures which can be
used online, or you can contact Rory
directly (01904 414398) to arrange a
contribution in person or by cheque if
you would like to do so. Any donations
would be welcome in the direction of a
very good cause.
[Photos (c) Vitruvian and Show Rory in the Race]
P a g e 3
Wedding Fayre –
Cottingham Methodist
October 3rd 10am-3pm.
Cottingham Methodist is taking a leaf out of Market Weighton’s
book and has organised a Wedding Fayre to be held at our church
on Saturday the 3rd of October from 10am- 3pm.
There will be two catwalk shows, one at midday and the second at
2pm, literally down the aisle, with dresses from Jacqueline’s
Gown’s and menswear from Len Beck tailors, and hair by Dizzy’s.
This is a Cottingham centric event, and all of the suppliers are ei-
ther local, or within a stones throw of the village. We have two
types of limo’s, cake makers, photographers, venues, stationers,
lingerie, florists – you name it we have it, including the minister! .
STRIPS of wallpaper discovered in a 300-year-old house are providing valuable clues as to how it once looked.
The discovery was made earlier in the year on parts of the walls at Epworth's historic Old
Rectory, home to John and Charles Wesley who founded the modern Methodist movement.
A section of wallpaper was found under a raised floor during refurbishment work - possibly
dating to the late 18th century - and another strip was located in a cavity underneath the
garret stairs.
This second section has proved harder to date but it bears a strong resemblance to early
18th century wallpaper on display in London's Victoria and Albert Museum.
Rev Claire Potter, Old Rectory development manager and curator, explained professional
views were being sought to see if the paper dates back to when the Wesley family lived at
the house.
She added: "As we work on the refurbishment we will be investigating ways of recreating
the wallpaper in order for the Rectory once again to have the 'paper chamber' mentioned in
the family's letters."
The potential historic discovery comes at an exciting time for the venue as plans move ahead for a new visitors' cen-
tre, shop and cafe, all coinciding with the Old Rectory's 300th anniversary this year.
And ongoing refurbishment is aimed at remodelling the house as closely as possible to its 18th century roots.
"Here in this house, the roots of Methodism were planted," added Rev Potter. "There is much in the story of the re-
markable Wesley family to inspire the churches, historians and pilgrims of today."
The Grade One-listed building relies on volunteers and those who help out in a variety of roles and all training is pro-
vided by existing staff.
Friends of the Old Rectory also receive free entry, a newsletter and event information in exchange for an annual sub-
scription. For more information contact 01427 872268. [(c) Epworth Bells August 2009]
In response to the increasing demand from our church-based supporters for more worship resources, we've added a new
"harvest" pack to the worship materials on our website. You'll find it at www.traidcraft.org.uk/churchresources along with
an accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
Look out for new Advent resources next month and, to help celebrate your church's commitment to fair trade, a new set of
worship materials for next year's Fair Trade Fortnight (22 Feb - 7 March) will be available in November.
I hope you find the new materials useful - and thank you for your continuing support.
Peter Collins
Church Relations Manager
T +44 (0)191 497 6465 (Direct)
T +44 (0)191 491 0591
www.traidcraft.co.uk
Traidcraft, Kingsway, Gateshead, NE11 0NE, UK
Time to start wrapping, packing and sending!
It’s that time of year again. Empty shoeboxes are starting to pile up. Volunteers are on the lookout for great
deals. The season for Operation Christmas Child 2009 has begun.
This year, Samaritan's Purse has pulled together great new resources for schools, churches and workplaces,
packed with ideas on how to encourage people to get involved. So whether you’re wanting to tie Operation
Christmas child into your school curriculum, reach out as a church to your local community, or get your col-
leagues at work to start saving shoeboxes, we have great ideas to help you along.
Our prayer for 2009 is that even more children from disadvantaged backgrounds will experience the love of Je-
sus as they receive shoeboxes bursting with joy. Our hope is that in this time of financial crisis, churches in the
UK will reach out to their communities through Operation Christmas Child so that people from all walks of
life can experience the power of a simple gift.
Here are just a few easy ways you can be part of this Christmas miracle:
1) Order your FREE resources and get your group involved
2) Join our Operation Christmas Child fan page on Facebook and share your shoebox stories, pictures and videos
3) Volunteer to help out in a warehouse, drive a delivery van or present at a local school.
VISIT THE DISTRICT MANSE
A reminder to you all of the Chair's Coffee Mornings which
are in aid of Methodist Homes this year, but also just an
opportunity to visit the District Manse and Office.
Saturday 10th October is particularly, but not exclusively,
for those of you in Ryedale, Pickering, Malton, Ripon and
Thirsk & Northallerton Circuits.
We still have no idea what will happen if everyone arrives
at the same time, but we'll face that if it happens!
There will be a Bring & Buy table, including any
reasonably new paperbacks.
Stephen
Arrivals & coffee
Worship
Introductions
Lunch
Worship
Ointment and bandages: an outline of Luke’s Gospel
Coffee break
Sight for sore eyes: the parables in Luke’s Gospel
Words of life and health: preaching Luke’s Gospel
Pause
Good voice: Christmas and Luke’s Gospel
ANCIENT MEDICINE FOR MODERN ILLS:
PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF LUKE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
POCKLINGTON METHODIST CHURCH, NORTH YORKS – SAT 28 NOV 09
LED BY REVD JOHN PROCTOR
Year C of the Lectionary, the year of Luke, will start this Advent. Most Sunday services in the coming twelve months
will feature a reading from this gospel.
0930
1000
1015
1020
1110
1130
1230
1315
1410
1420
1515
1530 Tea & dispersals
____________________
The day will include speaking from the front by John Proctor, and group work, with a chance to talk together over the
scriptures and the task of preaching. Please bring a Bible, and come expecting to learn from the gospel and from one
another.
We hope to achieve the following:
- to acquaint ourselves afresh with the shape and substance of Luke’s Gospel
- to reflect on how to preach in the coming year, when Luke informs the lectionary
- to see how parables preach and how they can be preached, and to appreciate afresh their blend of direct challenge
and open-ended question
- to look at Luke’s perspective on the incarnation, and at our task as preachers this coming Christmas
------
John Proctor was born near Stirling in 1952 and grew up in England. He trained for the ministry at Glasgow University,
and served a Church of Scotland parish in Glasgow from 1981 to 1986. Then he came south again, to work for the
United Reformed Church, teaching New Testament at Westminster College, Cambridge. Here he works with theologi-
cal students from many Christian traditions, and travels regularly to lead study or training events around the church.
John is married to Elaine, with an adult daughter and son. Away from work, he bird-watches, follows cricket and sup-
ports Cambridge City in the Southern Football League.
Mind The Gap Africa
For a number of years Jenny has been living and working in Zimbabwe. There is a lot of work to do as Jenny works with a lot of
the children in Zim. Mind the Gap Africa runs a Kids Club, looks after some abandoned babies and wants to run Children's
homes. The Aids virus is rife there and a lot of children are left without their parents. There is tremendous need there.
If any one wants to know more about the Jenny's work in Zimbabwe please email me mehadmin@vodafone.net
Thanks Bruce
Jenny Hensman, Youth for Christ, PO Box FM34, Famona, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Home 002639 242313 mobile 07930
366121 jennyhensman@gmail.com - June 2009
Hi everyone!
Hope all is well and if you feel you have missed out on an English summer come to Zimbabwe as it's now summer and the sun is
shining!
I finally have the permission from social welfare to bring Grace Joy to England and the last hurdle is to get her a visa. I have just
put in the application so would ask for your prayers that she will get one. If all goes well I'll be in the UK beginning of October for
about 7 weeks. It's not long enough to do everything that needs doing especially in terms of speaking at churches and groups and
seeing everyone so please bear with me and what and who I can't see on this visit will be done on the next one. Don't forget you
are always invited to visit me here!!
Leaving Mary and Thomas will be hard but I knew when I took them I'd have to leave them at times and thankfully I have a fantastic
support structure at home to look after them. Please pray for Thomas and Mary whilst I'm away from them.
Life in Zim. . .
It's been a tough few months as we're all had a horrible strain of flu that's in its 10th week now as well as being so busy in minis-
try. We've had several very sad situations where two of the babies we were trying to help have died.
One of which was little Angela, the 7 month daughter of Samkele. Samkele at 19 years old with no mum to care for her came to
stay with us for 4 weeks to be in a safe place to grieve. Thankfully she now has a job with Sister Maliki, the Matron of the baby
home who will be like a mum to her. Please pray for Samkele.
It's great when things fall into place and we have just been able to move Johannes, the young man who used to live at the orphan-
age, to 'The Windles' children's home. He is helping in the garden and with security in exchange for board and putting him through
college. He's a lovely lad and the kids are so pleased to have an older brother around. He is new in his faith so please pray for
Johannes.
Holiday club
The highlight of the past school holidays was the holiday club we ran for our kids and also some of the little ones from Youth for
Christ. On the Thursday we hired two bouncy castles as hardly any of the children had ever seen one let alone been on one. It's
hard when money is so tight to splash out on such an 'unnecessary' expense but to see the kids faces light up when it arrived and
the enjoyment they got it was worth every penny of the £30!
Rehoboth
We are praising the Lord for His wonderful provision of a very generous gift that has finally meant we can buy the house. It's been
on a rent to buy for some time and we've been seeking the Lord as we wanted the security for the children. I want to thank the
couple who have given this gift so much for investing this huge amount of money into these kids lives, and all the others that their
gift is already touching. Bless you both. Rehoboth now has child number 10 as one of the boys there was reunited with his
brother. He was living in terrible circumstances so Mark and Dorcus felt it right that they take him into the home.
What now. .
Having the three children is an absolute gift from God but it's also the biggest challenge I've ever faced in my life! Mary in particu-
lar is a very broken little girl and needs a lot of love and attention to help her see the healing that only God can bring. I know God
has brought all three of these little ones into my life so I must invest time and energy into their lives, especially over the next few
years. This leaves me with a few options: either Mind the Gap has to stay as it is and we do what we can or I need someone to
come and help in the leadership and development of the project.
As we don't have the money to employ someone my fleece is to pray that God would send a volunteer from outside of Zimbabwe
who has the experience in running a project and all that that entails. I would like someone to commit for a two year period and we
can offer plenty of challenges and frustration but also a great sense of making a real difference to vulnerable children's lives. So if
you are interested or know of someone who may be please let me know. Please join me in prayer for this as I believe Mind the
Gap has the potential to change many more lives, but we need the people with the necessary skills to help us do that effectively.
Thank you
I want to thank those who give to this ministry so much. We couldn't do what we do if people weren't being faithful in giving and I
have been so touched by the kindness and generosity I have experienced. It just proves to me how much God's heart is for these
vulnerable children.
If you want to help financially. . .Please Contact Bruce East Hull Circuit Administrator bt@methodisthulleast.org.uk
Yorsay is sent on behalf of the York & Hull Methodist District by the Communications Office
Bob Lawe 27 Ryde Avenue Hull Hu5 1QA communications@yorkhullmethodist.org.uk or
yhcommunications@msn.com
Please note that some of you may receive this and other mailings from a Karoo e mail address – Please
do not reply or use this address as it is for mail delivery only The views expressed in this newsletter
are not necessarily the official views of the Methodist Church or of the York & Hull Methodist District
and no inferred support for any of the items or organisations should be taken as granted.
Yorsay Newsletter © 2009 York & Hull Methodist District – All rights reserved.
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
SEPTEMBER YORSAY TEXT ONLY
THIS IS A TEXT ONLY VERSION FULL VERSION AVAILABLE http://www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/news.php?id=165
Dear Friends
Welcome to the September
Edition of YORSAY. At the
start of a new Methodist Year
We welcome our new Staff
and any one else into our
District Also if you are re-
ceiving Yorsay for the first
time this is probably due to
your e-mail address being in
either the District or a Circuit
Directory as it is at the re-
quest of Synod that informa-
tion is made available as
widely as possible through-
out the district
Let me have news from your
Churches and Circuits; con-
tact details as the foot of the
newsletter. Harvest Celebra-
tions are very imminent so
that is up to you!! Make sure
you send me your details in
good time so that others can
plan what and where to visit.
[not only for Yorsay but for
the web site as well]
Yorsay is available via e mail
or as a download from the
web site . However just as a
warning the doc version in
word is a very large file and
not all the graphics will
download correctly so the
advice is to download the pdf
copies. [Adobe reader is
available as a free download
from the website]
Yorsay is not only meant
for those who receive it via
their e mail address it is
hoped that at least one per-
son in each church will
copy it and make it avail-
able to All members of the
congregation via notice
boards or through church
newsletters.
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 9
CHAIR’S MESSAGE
From the Chair’s desk
It was a wonderful family holiday in Cornwall. We spent a week in a delightful cottage, overlooking
Mousehole and with a wonderful view across Mount’s Bay to St Michael’s Mount and right down to The
Lizard. In the night, there were the lights of fishing vessels, navigation buoys and the Lizard Lighthouse –
plenty to interest anyone with a penchant for sailing!
Barbara and I were joined by our two sons, Christopher and Jonathan, for most of the time. We walked,
lazed, swam, read, had a barbecue and felt really refreshed – in a different way than on sabbatical, after
all the family were with me this time.
At the beginning of the week, we went to morning service at Mousehole Methodist Church. I admit that
we felt a bit like the dreaded “mystery worshippers” and, of course, we didn’t know what we would find.
There was an appropriately warm welcome in the lovely chapel close to the harbour. The service was led
by a laywoman – one of the local congregation, we learnt. There were a few children, despite it being the
school holiday, and they received a good children’s address before leaving for their own activities. The
rest of the worship was based on five of the stained glass windows in the chapel: John Wycliffe, John
Bunyan, John Wesley, Jesus the Good Shepherd and Jesus the Light of the World. There was a word
about each one, including a scripture reading and an appropriate hymn. It was really good to be there,
with good singing and interesting, though-provoking addresses. Over coffee after worship, someone did
elicit from me what my job was, and I found out that the service was, in fact, a “Local Arrangement”. The
person leading the service was not a Local Preacher, but she had prepared a special service using the
available resources, and she had obviously put in an enormous amount of work. It was a fine and worthy
act of worship – praise God!
And then at the end of our holiday, we went to morning service at Liskeard Methodist Church, where I
was ordained on St. Peter’s Day 1982. I had not been back since then, and it was a gloriously nostalgic
visit. This time, worship was led by a Local Preacher from a neighbouring circuit – readings chosen from
the lectionary for the day, with well-chosen hymns, and an amusing and apposite children’s address –
even though the young people were all away on a weekend together! The sermon had us laughing, and
thinking. Again, it was a fine and worthy act of worship, and we were pleased we had been there.
So why do I mention these two Sunday mornings? Not to claim any particular bonus points for having
been there whilst on holiday, but because in their different ways they were examples of worship which
was of the best. Firstly, a “Local Arrangement” and secondly a Local Preacher, and in both instances I
would have been proud to have taken anyone with me, and I felt God’s presence there.
Do you remember Our Calling which includes the statement that “The Church exists to Worship – to
increase awareness of God’s presence and to celebrate God’s love”? At the Methodist Conference in
July, and recently in the pages of the Methodist Recorder there has been conversation about the im-
mense importance of really good preaching within really good worship. At the beginning of another Con-
nexional Year, can we all commit ourselves once again to making our worship the very best it can be –
for the glory of God and the furtherance of God’s Kingdom?
And you know, I think it was the congregations as much as the leaders of worship who made those two
services so memorable – their obvious commitment to the task in hand. Every single one of us has a part
to play in God’s Church – not least in worshipping God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Stephen Burgess
P a g e 2
WELCOME SERVICES
Friday 4th September 7.30pm Hull West Tower Hill Hessle Hull for Janet Whelan
Sunday 6th September 10.30am Snaith and Selby Circuit Sherburn in Elmet Welcome
for Sally Coleman [Probationer]
3.00pm Goole Circuit Commissioning Service for Linda Day [Superintendent]
6.30pm Malton Circuit Welcome for Geoff Floyd [Superintendent]
A
New Venture in
the
Princes Avenue
Area of Hull
An area near the
University and
very busy on a
Friday and
Saturday to Rival
the City Centre
P a g e 3
P a g e 4 ANCIENT MEDICINE FOR MODERN ILLS:
PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF LUKE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
POCKLINGTON METHODIST CHURCH, NORTH YORKS – SAT 28 NOV 09
LED BY REVD JOHN PROCTOR
Year C of the Lectionary, the year of Luke, will start this Advent. Most Sunday services in the coming twelve months will fea ture a reading
from this gospel.
930 Arrivals & coffee
1000
1015
1020
1110
1130
1230
1315
1410
1420
1515
1530
____________________
The day will include speaking from the front by John Proctor, and group work, with a chance to talk together over the scriptures and the task of
preaching. Please bring a Bible, and come expecting to learn from the gospel and from one another.
We hope to achieve the following:
- to acquaint ourselves afresh with the shape and substance of Luke‟s Gospel
- to reflect on how to preach in the coming year, when Luke informs the lectionary
- to see how parables preach and how they can be preached, and to appreciate afresh their blend of direct challenge and open-ended question
- to look at Luke‟s perspective on the incarnation, and at our task as preachers this coming Christmas
------
John Proctor was born near Stirling in 1952 and grew up in England. He trained for the ministry at Glasgow University, and served a Church of
Scotland parish in Glasgow from 1981 to 1986. Then he came south again, to work for the United Reformed Church, teaching New Testament
at Westminster College, Cambridge. Here he works with theological students from many Christian traditions, and travels regularly to lead
study or training events around the church.
John is married to Elaine, with an adult daughter and son. Away from work, he bird-watches, follows cricket and supports Cambridge City in
the Southern Football League.
For details contact Mary Jackman District LP Secretary jackmans@madasafish.com
Worship
Introductions
Ointment and bandages: an outline of Luke’s Gospel
Coffee break
Sight for sore eyes: the parables in Luke’s Gospel
Lunch
Words of life and health: preaching Luke’s Gospel
Pause
Good voice: Christmas and Luke’s Gospel
Worship
Tea & dispersals
Family Friendly Churches Trust
Revamped Multimedia Courses
We have decided to revamp our multimedia days and
weekends to give more flexibility to those organising the
day or weekend.
Instead of the full day courses we are now offering half day
modules. A Multimedia Day would consist of two modules,
a weekend of 3 modules plus Sunday worship. There is
also the option of adding an extra session on the preceding
evening – usually a Friday. The church can choose which
are the most suitable modules for their needs.
The modules we are offering are:
B uy ing a nd I ns ta lling a Dat a Pro je c to r : T his gives
essential information about purchasing and installing an
LC D P r oj e ct or a nd is i d ea l f or t h os e who m us t ma k e
purchasing decisions. Helps a church to explore a range of
Key Questions that affect the type and power of projector
that will be installed. Also explores other knotty issues such
as the placing of a screen.
Basic PowerPoint Training Course: Any church running
multi-media will need a host of people proficient in using
P o we r P o i nt . T h is c o ur s e g o es t hr o ug h t h e b a s i c s of
producing and running a presentation. It is a very „hands
on‟ session and unlocks the fun of using animations. This
is ideal for those who will build and run presentations.
Using Projection well: Learning PowerPoint is only half
the battle. To gain wide acceptance the equipment has to
be used really well. This course first of all runs through an
"MOT" of your installation so that you can sure that you are
using it as effectively as possible. Then it develops the skill
of producing interesting presentations that are still very
readable. Also explores what works and what doesn't.
PowerPoint tasks: A workshop that covers the quickest
method of copying the words of a hymn into PowerPoint
and b uilding a librar y of wor ds. Also covers b uilding a
meditation of images and background music.
PowerPoint Operators: Covers setting up PowerPoint to
work in twin screen mode with the presentation control
screen. Also looks at using Zionworx to project the words
of hymns etc.
P a g e 5
U s i n g mu s i c i n mu l t i - me d i a : T h is wo r ks h op
explores how to take pieces of music from CDs, edit
them and then build them into PowerPoint presentations. The course
focuses on how to do this smoothly and without errors. Participants will need
a working knowledge of PowerPoint.
U s i n g v i d e o i n m u l t i - m e d i a : T h i s w o r k s h o p
explores how to take video from tape or DVDs and
b ui l d t h e m i nt o P o we r P o i nt p r es e nt a t io ns . T h e
cour s e f o cus es on ho w t o do t his s moot hl y a nd
wit hout er r or s . P ar t icip a nt s will n ee d a wor kin g
knowledge of P owerP oint. Explor es how you can
Multimedia Residential Courses
All the above modules are included in our 3 day
residential courses at Willersley Castle.
The next courses are for 16th-19th November, 2009
and 22nd-25th February, 2010 and there are still a
small number of places left. Ministers should be able
to use their CDIM allowances to pay the bulk of the
cost.
You can find out more at:
www.familyfriendlychurches.org.uk/mmwspec.htm
P a g e 6
SYNOD
The September Synod is at Askham Bryan Agricultural College
on Saturday 5th September.
For map and location www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/synod.php
This page also carries the updated version of the Safeguarding
procedures that will hopefully be adopted by this synod.
“I am the bread of life”
We invite you to come and explore Holy Communion through dance, drama, singing,
prayer and worship.
We particularly welcome those with learning disabilities or complex needs, their
carers, friends and family.
But everyone can come— to worship together and learn more of God and Jesus.
Further details contact:
Co-Ordinator,Carole Meikle ifh.meikle@ntlworld.com or 07834166226
In the Father’s Hand When? Saturday 19 September Time? 2-4pm Where? St Paul’s
Church,Holgate York YO24 4BF Fully accessible venue, blue badge parking
P a g e 7
Acomb SummerFest
On the 21st June 2009, 10 local congregations of Acomb (York South Circuit) joined together to share in an open air service. Members of t he
Methodists, Anglicans, Catholic, Baptists, Quakers, the gateway and ark churches, as well as local residents put aside worshi p differences to
unite in a time of worship, prayer and fellowship on a scorching hot day. There was well over 300 people there and a good tim e had by all.
Worship was led by Godrey Birtill, a musician, song writer and worship leader and the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu preached. A
BBQ and children‟s activities followed the service.
Steve Redman, of The Ark church, as one of the main organisers, said this after the event:
“The day was met by fantastic local support and public response and this is the first time in history these ten churches have stopped their meet-
ings and all come together – and to such a fantastic result. The crowd loved Archbishop Sentamu – he really is popular and lots of people say
they like to see him in person. He got everyone involved and sprits were really high. It was meant to be a one-off event but afterwards I was
inundated with people coming up to me saying „Right Steve – let‟s plan next year‟. So it definitely looks like this could be an annual event.””
Rachel Wood.
Holy Rood House
The Centre for the Study of Theology and Health
Annual Hildegard Lecture
Fri 25th September 7.45 at Sowerby Methodist Church, Thirsk.
'Living with Difference - Life on the Edge'
Rev David Gamble President of The Methodist Conference and Consultant to Holy Rood House
York Minster and placed in the Lady Chapel.
Members of the Church of England are often hardly aware of the saint in question, who d ie d a t
t he ag e o f 24 in a nu nner y in no r t her n France. She was, after all, a French Roman Catholic who
about God is pro fo undly r e le vant to our t ime . Wit h few r esour ces ( not even a fu ll B ible) ,
comparatively little education, and a background that may strike us as cloyingly pious, she goes to
the heart because she wrote honestly, passionately and wisely. I have long loved Thérèse, and believe
that divide us, but on the high altar will stand a chalice bearing the ring of Cardinal Mercier of Malines, who in the 1920s led
a brave conversation with Lord Halifax about unity between Anglicans and Rome. They failed. But love and prayer allow
God to do what humans cannot do.
At York we treasure that memory. In this place where for a short time the shining faith of Thérèse will be strongly present,
we shall pray that God‟s will be done. The Minster will be open all night. Come and pray with us, with Thérèse, with Jesus
and with all who long to see God‟s will done on earth as in heaven. Bring a rose as a sign if you wish.
The Very Revd Keith Jones, Dean of York
Rev Rory Dalgliesh, Chaplain to the University of York, will be taking part in the Vitruvian Triathlon around Rutland Water on the
5th September.
The race is Half-Ironman distance, and comprises a 1.2 mile swim, 53mile cycle and 13 mile run.
He is fundraising for Amnesty International again after raising a tidy sum last year doing a 97 mile non-
stop canoe race around the Cheshire Ring Canals, and has a fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/
rorysepicadventures which can be used online, or you can contact Rory directly (01904 414398) to ar-
range a contribution in person or by cheque if you would like to do so. Any donations would be welcome in
the direction of a very good cause.
The Chairman has kindly given Rory permission to not be present at Synod on the day.
never came to this country, and probably knew nothing much about us. Her world was in many
ways a narrow one, and an alien one.
B u t S t T hé r è s e o f L is ie u x is w o r t h k no w in g a bo u t . Somehow, she wrote down what it was
like to have faith: that in itself is a rarity for a young Carmelite sister. These papers, gathered and
published as “The Story of a Soul” reveal to us a brilliant and spiritual woman, whose teaching
she is a Christian teacher from whom we may all safely learn much about Jesus Christ. No saint of
modern times has had such an impact as Thérèse. In New York, the relics stopped Fifth Avenue.
I am delighted that the Order of Carmelites have agreed that her bones should stay 18 hours at Anglican York Minster. At
7.30p.m. on October 1st guests from the Roman Catholic and other churches will gather with us at the Minster to thank God
for her, and also to pray for increased understanding and friendship between our traditions. There are some serious issues
Rev Gamble will lead a seminar and workshop on the theme on Saturday 26th at Holy Rood House
and will preach at the Eucharist at Holy Rood House on Sunday 27th
All are welcome - and residential facilities are available.
Please contact Rev Elizabeth Baxter for details and bookings: 01845 522580 enquiries@holyroodhouse.org.uk
The Visit of a Saint
On October 1st a casket containing some of the bodily remains of a saint will be brought into
Opportunity to Experience the Church in India
Flying out on or around January 10th 2010 and back on or around February 7th 2010, a group of seven people from our region and
from the Midlands will be visiting the Tamilnadu region of India, and engaging in a month of immersion in a very different culture.
Based in the Tamilnadu Theological Seminary of the Church of South India the group will visit church based social projects in both
urban and rural areas, and spend time reflecting together in the light of their faith. The visit will include sharing in communal
meals and daily worship while in college, and will be accompanied by a tutor from one of our British colleges who will act as group
enabler. Those who are applying to be part of the group need to have:
no previous substantial experience of travel outside Europe
ability to engage in reflection, using the Bible and other faith resources
openness to engage with different cultures and willingness to tackle basic language learning
membership of the Methodist Church (including joint membership of LEPs) OR membership of the Church of England
while demonstrating, in relation with the Methodist church, a clear commitment to working ecumenically
The trip will cost £2050, but grant funding of £1050 has already been secured, and it is hoped that individuals might be able to
secure further grant funding from home churches, circuits and districts.
If you would be interested in applying to be part of this group please contact:
Revd Andrew J. Lunn By post: St John’s College, 3 South Bailey, DURHAM. DH1 3RJ
By e-mail: andrew.lunn@methodist.org.uk
Contact should be made to allow time for application forms to be sent and returned by the closing date of 21 st September 2009.
Preliminary considerations
There is one places available on this programme for a lay person from the North-East and Yorkshire. It involves a four week visit
from about 10th January to about 7th February 2010. Places are open to Methodists (including joint members of LEPs), and mem-
bers of electoral roles in the Church of England who have demonstrated, in relation with the Methodist church, a clear commit-
ment to working ecumenically.
It would be important that members of the group were able to engage in theological reflection. This will be enabled by the accom-
panying tutor, but some prior engagement in Bible study or other religious studies would be necessary.
Funding Arrangements
The expected cost per participant will be about £2050. Grant aiding of £1050 per participant has been obtained from Methodist
Church connexional sources. In light of the Anglican-Methodist Covenant and other ecumenical understanding, this money is
available to Anglicans who demonstrate current and specific commitment to working as active partners with the Methodist Churc h.
This leaves £1000 to be met by the individual, with sponsorship they can arrange (circuit or District). This costing includes a con-
tribution by each participant to cover the costs of the accompanying tutor. This does not include any spending money, and partici-
pants will need to make their own way to the departure airport in the UK.
For further details and application form contact as above or the District Communications Office
East Coast Christian Community Music Festival
After months of planning the East Coast Christian Community Music Festival is beginning to take shape. Centred on
Bridlington the festival has attracted the support of the Bridlington Urban Renaissance Town Team and the East
Yorkshire Schools Music Service and The Kingston upon Hull Music Services. The festival will open on Wednesday
18th November 2009 with an afternoon matinee featuring the U3A Entertainers and supporting guest artiste.
Wednesday night is The Big Band Night with The Buckrose Concert Band and the Hunmanby Silver Band.
Thursday lunchtime will feature an electronic organ concert with Michael Carr. Thursday night is The Big Night Out
concert with local amateur groups performing various musical styles including country and western, jazz etc.
Gospel Artists Friday lunchtime we have a classical piano concert with the young pianist Gareth Deakin. Friday eve-
ning will see a distinct change of mood as Marylyn Baker the blind gospel singer and recording artists heads the
evening concert supported by the University of York Student Gospel Choir. On Saturday there will be workshops for
musicians of all abilities and seminars for church choir leaders, worship leaders and worship teams. Further infor-
mation: rob.parker@christchurchbridlington.co.uk
Saturday afternoon events move to the Bridlington Spa complex with the final of the East Coast Youth Musician
Competition. This competition has three categories 11 years and under, 14 years and under and 19 years and un-
der. Closing date for entry to the competition is Saturday 19th September. (Visit web site for details and entry
forms). The East Riding Senior Wind Band will be performing during the competition final. Web Site
www.ccmf.co.uk. On Saturday evening the Spa Royal Hall will echo to the inspiring sound of the Salvation Musicians.
This is to be followed by the presentation of the musical by the American Composers Jimmy and Carol Owen “Come
Together” which had outstanding success touring the US and UK with Hollywood Star Pat Boone. Dr Anthony Clarke
will be conducting an augmented Churches Together Choir. Rehearsals start Thursday 17th September at the Brid-
lington Salvation Army, Wellington Road, Bridlington. YO15 2BJ. If you or someone you know would like to join the
choir for this exciting musical come along, you will be welcomed. For full rehearsal details see web site or e-mail
anthony-clarke@ccmf.co.uk. Festival Sunday commences with the Festival Services in the Spa Theatre featuring the
Ridings Lights Theatre Group. On Sunday afternoon school choirs and ensembles will be performing in the Bridling-
ton Spa Theatre at the East Coast Festival of School Music Making. To date 14 East Coast schools and school music
services have already agreed to take part in this event. Further details next time.
Finally on Sunday night at 6:30pm the festival will be brought to a close with a Grand Finale Concert and Thanks-
giving in the Bridlington Spa Theatre. East Yorkshire churches will congregate at the Bridlington Spa in a combined
18-22nd November INVITATION TO JOIN FESTIVAL CHOIR
On Saturday Night 21stNovember 2009
there is to be a performance at the Bridlington Spa of the Jimmy and Carol Owen Musical “Come Together”. Singers
of all abilities are invited to join the Festival Choir for this performance. Rehearsals start Thursday 17thSeptember
at the Salvation Army Citadel, Wellington Road, Bridlington 7:30pm.Just come along or contact anthony-
clarke@ccmf.co.uk
INVITATION TO JOIN FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
On Sunday Night 22ndNovember2009
the Festival Finale Christian Heritage Concert will take place in the Spa Theatre, Bridlington. The organisers would
like to form a Festival Orchestra to accompany the mass hymn singing. Musicians interested to joining this orches-
tra should contact Festival Director paul-lowe@ccmf.c.uk. Bringing Together Church and Community Through Mu-
sic
www.ccmf.co.uk to find out more ––
Wedding Fayre –
Cottingham Methodist
October 3rd 10am-3pm.
Cottingham Methodist is taking a leaf out of Market Weigh-
ton‟s book and has organised a Wedding Fayre to be held at
our church on Saturday the 3rd of October from 10am-
3pm.
There will be two catwalk shows, one at midday and the sec-
ond at 2pm, literally down the aisle, with dresses from
Jacquelines Gown‟s and menswear from Len Beck tailors,
and hair by Dizzy‟s.
This is a Cottingham centric event, and all of the suppliers
are either local, or within a stones throw of the village. We
have two types of limo‟s, cake makers, photographers, ven-
ues, stationers, lingerie, florists – you name it we have it,
including the minister! .
Fijian Church leaders appear in court
Leaders forbidden to speak, preach or meet together
Nine Methodist Church leaders in Fiji have appeared in court, pleading not guilty to charges of breaching Public Emergency Regulations.
The nine leaders, including the Church‟s President, Revd Ame Tugaue and General Secretary Revd Tuikilakila Waqairatu, appeared in court
yesterday, and have been released on bail until a full hearing on September 24.
For the last three weeks the leaders have been forbidden to speak, preach or take part in meetings, making life almost imposs ible for a church
whose spiritual life-blood is based on gathering together. The church‟s solicitor is in negotiation with the police and the Fijian Government to
relax the conditions for the next bail period.
Last month the Church agreed to comply with the Government‟s demands, cancelling this year‟s Methodist Conference and negotiations are
proceeding with the police concerning an administrative meeting planned for August 31. Currently the Government insists that only ordained
ministers (excluding the arrested leaders) should be allowed to attend, but the Church does not want to exclude lay people.
Steve Pearce, World Church Partnership Coordinator for the Methodist Church in Britain, said; “It is clear that the military government is ac-
tive in the life of the courts. Where police actions contradict court decisions, the courts are reluctant to assert themselves. Negotiation and dia-
logue are difficult in these circumstances but the Church is clear in its wish to avoid confrontation.”
Speaking to Steve this morning,[13th August] the Church‟s Deputy General Secretary, Revd Tevita Bainavanua, expressed his frustration dur-
ing a monitored phone call, saying, “We can talk about Jerusalem and Galilee but not Fiji! We are telling our people not to do anything to
worsen the situation.”
The Church continues to work and worship despite this situation, which is consuming much time, energy and finance, with the p rospect of a
long court case ahead. Traditional choir festivals will go ahead as planned, beginning August 22, although no national festivals will take place.
ENDS
No Graven Image?
By Paul Lucas
Surprisingly few people actually know the Ten Commandments these days and even as Christians we may
well defer to Jesus‟ emphasis on the great command: „Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your strength‟(Deut 6:5). Jesus coupled this with the new teachings „love your
neighbour as yourself‟ (Lk 10:27) and of course the Golden Rule „Do to others as you would have
them do to you‟(Lk 6:31). The implication being that if we do these simple things, then all other commands
and requirements will simply fall into place - just because we love God and it shows. The King James version
commands us to worship no graven image, or idol in place of the true living God.
Some eleven years ago three Anglican priests from Tyneside, all of whom I knew quite well, were tragically
killed in a road accident on the A1 in Northumberland. The whole community was stunned, not just the
church folk, everyone. People asked the inevitable „why‟ questions that we just cannot answer. The need for
a reason and the anger towards God ran high – why ever would God allow it? Sorely tested by such times of
trail some will turn to God in faith while others turn away in utter disbelief and to some the „‟Almighty‟
seems silently aloof. Yet, in the midst of the pain and anguish, the cross of Christ reveals the ageless truth that
God himself has, as the saying goes, ‟been there, done that and bought the T shirt‟ and actually worn out the
T shirt completely!
One of these priests had got me started as a tree carver when, in a former occupation as a tree surgeon, I had
dismantled a large dead elm in a Church Hall grounds. I‟d said: „pity we couldn‟t make use of the timber
somehow‟ to which he replied „well actually, as it happens….‟ One thing led to another and a chainsaw sculp-
ture of a mother and child was the result. Clearly representational of Mary and the Christ child, some had said
the piece spoke not only of birth and life‟s potential, but strangely also of death and premature loss, even
more poignantly with the oncoming events.
I was captivated by the possibility of telling the gospel story through carved symbols and carved many a sim-
ple cross for customers and others from bits of tree trunk left from the day‟s work. Recently, when the chance
came to undertake a chainsaw carving as a minister rather than a tree surgeon I knew that sense of all things
working together for the good. On the off chance I rang the Hull Daily Mail and then Radio Humberside got
wind, next came Look North, but the people who really made it worthwhile were the passers by who stopped
to look. „ Hey mister, what you doing?‟ gave the perfect opportunity to respond „well it‟s the story of Jesus,
the birth, the death and resurrection, in just three images‟ Mary and child, the cross and the risen sun (son),
and the flying dove of the Holy Spirit. The old lime tree that grew for years in the forecourt of a Methodist
Church, far too close to a neighbouring building, eventually just had to go, but it gave me the chance to re-
cycle the timber into a new landmark that tells something of the Gospel beyond the doors of the church, out
on on the street - in this case the busy Holderness Road in Hull.
In these days of media, sound bites and constantly moving images, all sorts of stuff passes as „real art‟ but
very little really communicates anything of intrinsic value. The old cliché „beauty is in eye of the beholder‟ is
absolutely true, but the motive behind the art is for me what really speaks the message. This Christian „totem
pole‟ story of Jesus reminds us that „no graven image‟ should ever be admired or worshipped in itself, but
should be a way mark pointing to what is true and real and genuine, even to God. It may even be that vital
talking point that reminds someone, that even out of death, God‟s love forever rises and returns to fill each
and every open heart and soul. „God so loved the world‟ and still so loves us with all his heart, soul, mind and strength; He sent Jesus to say so,
even unto death on a cross to prove that he meant it, then sent the Spirit to say so again. All we need to do is say „yes, Lord, here am I, send
me‟ - that others may also come to know the Lord our God.
Swine flu guidance update August 2009
Swine flu is spread by droplets that come from the nose and mouth when a person sneezes. These
droplets stick to surfaces and can remain infectious for some time.
In response to queries from local churches, recommendations have been made to reduce the risk of
spreading these droplets during common church activities. Each church is different and individual
ministers may wish to consider further ways in which the risk of spreading the disease could reasona-
bly be reduced.
Holy Communion
For the period of the pandemic, we recommend that:
•a common cup should not be used
•intinction (dipping bread in wine) should not be practised as it can carry unnecessarily high levels
of risk
•individual communion vessels should be carefully cleaned (this is crucial)
•those handling the vessels and the bread should use an antibacterial gel on their hands before tak-
ing part in Communion
•when using individual cups, the cups should be handed directly to communicants, not passed be-
tween them
bread should not be passed from one communicant to another. Where there are clear pastoral reasons
for doing so, giving Holy Communion ‘in one kind’ (using only bread or wine) is also acceptable prac-
tice within the Methodist Church.
Sharing in the Peace and other greetings
During worship services and gatherings, it is common for people to share a sign of Christ’s peace with
one another, often through handshaking or hugging. Where there appears to be a significantly in-
creased risk of infection, such as when members of the congregation have recently come into contact
with people with swine flu, we recommend that people refrain from physical expressions of the Peace.
The usual practice of shaking hands when greeting each other on arriving at church, or saying goodbye
after the meeting, should also be reconsidered in these circumstances.
Church facilities
Think about the cleanliness and accessibility of your church facilities.
•Are tissues and bins easily accessible?
•Are the contents of such bins disposed of regularly and hygienically?
•Are the hand washing facilities satisfactory
•Could you provide sanitising gel in addition to soap?
If you serve drinks or food on church premises, are you following all the recommendations in the
food hygiene certificate to reduce cross infection?
Supporting those with swine flu
Please check that people with the virus have a designated ‘flu friend’ – a healthy friend or relative who
can collect anti viral or other required medication, as well as delivering essential supplies whilst the suf-
ferer is restricted to their home.
Where it is inadvisable to visit people in person, regular contact by phone, email or other means may
prove invaluable for those isolated by the virus.
Those wishing to share in worship but restricted to their home may wish to attend an online worship
service at St Pixels, the online church, or share in worship broadcast on the radio, such as the Daily
Service on Radio 4 longwave, each weekday at 9.45am. For more information, visit www.stpixels.com
or www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006wzfs.
Please pray…
•for the NHS ; for the pharmaceutical industry working to produce vaccinations ; for victims in
less-developed nations ; for those with underlying health problems; for those caring for the sick
This is an update to the May Guidelines for full details http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.content& cmid=2684
THE WEB SITE DETAILS FOR HELEN SHAPIRO SHOULD READ http://www.mannamusic.co.uk/
Please note :- many of the items in this months Yorsay have been gleaned from other sources
than the churches in this district– I think it is a poor show that I have had to find this infor-
mation from in some cases other denominations rather than our own churches please let me
have information on your events etc not only for Yorsay but for the web site—contact details
are below.
Yorsay is sent on behalf of the York & Hull Methodist District by the Communications Office
Bob Lawe 27 Ryde Avenue Hull Hu5 1QA communications@yorkhullmethodist.org.uk or yhcommunications@msn.com
Please note that some of you may receive this and other mailings from a Karoo e mail address – Please do not reply or use
this address as it is for mail delivery only The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily the official views of
the Methodist Church or of the York & Hull Methodist District and no inferred support for any of the items or
organisations should be taken as granted.
Yorsay Newsletter © 2009 York & Hull Methodist District – All rights reserved.
Dear Friends
Welcome to the September
Edition of YORSAY. At the
start of a new Methodist Year
We welcome our new Staff
and any one else into our
District Also if you are re-
ceiving Yorsay for the first
time this is probably due to
your e-mail address being in
either the District or a Circuit
Directory as it is at the re-
quest of Synod that informa-
tion is made available as
widely as possible through-
out the district
Let me have news from your
Churches and Circuits; con-
tact details as the foot of the
newsletter. Harvest Celebra-
tions are very imminent so
that is up to you!! Make sure
you send me your details in
good time so that others can
plan what and where to visit.
[not only for Yorsay but for
the web site as well]
Yorsay is available via e mail
or as a download from the
web site . However just as a
warning the doc version in
word is a very large file and
not all the graphics will
download correctly so the
advice is to download the pdf
copies. [Adobe reader is
available as a free download
from the website]
Yorsay is not only meant
for those who receive it via
their e mail address it is
hoped that at least one per-
son in each church will
copy it and make it avail-
able to All members of the
congregation via notice
boards or through church
newsletters.
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 9
CHAIR’S MESSAGE
From the Chair’s desk
It was a wonderful family holiday in Cornwall. We spent a week in a delightful cottage, overlooking
Mousehole and with a wonderful view across Mount’s Bay to St Michael’s Mount and right down to The
Lizard. In the night, there were the lights of fishing vessels, navigation buoys and the Lizard Lighthouse –
plenty to interest anyone with a penchant for sailing!
Barbara and I were joined by our two sons, Christopher and Jonathan, for most of the time. We walked,
lazed, swam, read, had a barbecue and felt really refreshed – in a different way than on sabbatical, after
all the family were with me this time.
At the beginning of the week, we went to morning service at Mousehole Methodist Church. I admit that
we felt a bit like the dreaded “mystery worshippers” and, of course, we didn’t know what we would find.
There was an appropriately warm welcome in the lovely chapel close to the harbour. The service was led
by a laywoman – one of the local congregation, we learnt. There were a few children, despite it being the
school holiday, and they received a good children’s address before leaving for their own activities. The
rest of the worship was based on five of the stained glass windows in the chapel: John Wycliffe, John
Bunyan, John Wesley, Jesus the Good Shepherd and Jesus the Light of the World. There was a word
about each one, including a scripture reading and an appropriate hymn. It was really good to be there,
with good singing and interesting, though-provoking addresses. Over coffee after worship, someone did
elicit from me what my job was, and I found out that the service was, in fact, a “Local Arrangement”. The
person leading the service was not a Local Preacher, but she had prepared a special service using the
available resources, and she had obviously put in an enormous amount of work. It was a fine and worthy
act of worship – praise God!
And then at the end of our holiday, we went to morning service at Liskeard Methodist Church, where I
was ordained on St. Peter’s Day 1982. I had not been back since then, and it was a gloriously nostalgic
visit. This time, worship was led by a Local Preacher from a neighbouring circuit – readings chosen from
the lectionary for the day, with well-chosen hymns, and an amusing and apposite children’s address –
even though the young people were all away on a weekend together! The sermon had us laughing, and
thinking. Again, it was a fine and worthy act of worship, and we were pleased we had been there.
So why do I mention these two Sunday mornings? Not to claim any particular bonus points for having
been there whilst on holiday, but because in their different ways they were examples of worship which
was of the best. Firstly, a “Local Arrangement” and secondly a Local Preacher, and in both instances I
would have been proud to have taken anyone with me, and I felt God’s presence there.
Do you remember Our Calling which includes the statement that “The Church exists to Worship – to
increase awareness of God’s presence and to celebrate God’s love”? At the Methodist Conference in
July, and recently in the pages of the Methodist Recorder there has been conversation about the im-
mense importance of really good preaching within really good worship. At the beginning of another Con-
nexional Year, can we all commit ourselves once again to making our worship the very best it can be –
for the glory of God and the furtherance of God’s Kingdom?
And you know, I think it was the congregations as much as the leaders of worship who made those two
services so memorable – their obvious commitment to the task in hand. Every single one of us has a part
to play in God’s Church – not least in worshipping God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Stephen Burgess
P a g e 2
WELCOME SERVICES
Friday 4th September 7.30pm Hull West Tower Hill Hessle Hull for Janet Whelan
Sunday 6th September 10.30am Snaith and Selby Circuit Sherburn in Elmet Welcome
for Sally Coleman [Probationer]
3.00pm Goole Circuit Commissioning Service for Linda Day [Superintendent]
6.30pm Malton Circuit Welcome for Geoff Floyd [Superintendent]
A
New Venture in
the
Princes Avenue
Area of Hull
An area near the
University and
very busy on a
Friday and
Saturday to Rival
the City Centre
P a g e 3
P a g e 4 ANCIENT MEDICINE FOR MODERN ILLS:
PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF LUKE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
POCKLINGTON METHODIST CHURCH, NORTH YORKS – SAT 28 NOV 09
LED BY REVD JOHN PROCTOR
Year C of the Lectionary, the year of Luke, will start this Advent. Most Sunday services in the coming twelve months will fea ture a reading
from this gospel.
930 Arrivals & coffee
1000
1015
1020
1110
1130
1230
1315
1410
1420
1515
1530
____________________
The day will include speaking from the front by John Proctor, and group work, with a chance to talk together over the scriptures and the task of
preaching. Please bring a Bible, and come expecting to learn from the gospel and from one another.
We hope to achieve the following:
- to acquaint ourselves afresh with the shape and substance of Luke‟s Gospel
- to reflect on how to preach in the coming year, when Luke informs the lectionary
- to see how parables preach and how they can be preached, and to appreciate afresh their blend of direct challenge and open-ended question
- to look at Luke‟s perspective on the incarnation, and at our task as preachers this coming Christmas
------
John Proctor was born near Stirling in 1952 and grew up in England. He trained for the ministry at Glasgow University, and served a Church of
Scotland parish in Glasgow from 1981 to 1986. Then he came south again, to work for the United Reformed Church, teaching New Testament
at Westminster College, Cambridge. Here he works with theological students from many Christian traditions, and travels regularly to lead
study or training events around the church.
John is married to Elaine, with an adult daughter and son. Away from work, he bird-watches, follows cricket and supports Cambridge City in
the Southern Football League.
For details contact Mary Jackman District LP Secretary jackmans@madasafish.com
Worship
Introductions
Ointment and bandages: an outline of Luke’s Gospel
Coffee break
Sight for sore eyes: the parables in Luke’s Gospel
Lunch
Words of life and health: preaching Luke’s Gospel
Pause
Good voice: Christmas and Luke’s Gospel
Worship
Tea & dispersals
Family Friendly Churches Trust
Revamped Multimedia Courses
We have decided to revamp our multimedia days and
weekends to give more flexibility to those organising the
day or weekend.
Instead of the full day courses we are now offering half day
modules. A Multimedia Day would consist of two modules,
a weekend of 3 modules plus Sunday worship. There is
also the option of adding an extra session on the preceding
evening – usually a Friday. The church can choose which
are the most suitable modules for their needs.
The modules we are offering are:
B uy ing a nd I ns ta lling a Dat a Pro je c to r : T his gives
essential information about purchasing and installing an
LC D P r oj e ct or a nd is i d ea l f or t h os e who m us t ma k e
purchasing decisions. Helps a church to explore a range of
Key Questions that affect the type and power of projector
that will be installed. Also explores other knotty issues such
as the placing of a screen.
Basic PowerPoint Training Course: Any church running
multi-media will need a host of people proficient in using
P o we r P o i nt . T h is c o ur s e g o es t hr o ug h t h e b a s i c s of
producing and running a presentation. It is a very „hands
on‟ session and unlocks the fun of using animations. This
is ideal for those who will build and run presentations.
Using Projection well: Learning PowerPoint is only half
the battle. To gain wide acceptance the equipment has to
be used really well. This course first of all runs through an
"MOT" of your installation so that you can sure that you are
using it as effectively as possible. Then it develops the skill
of producing interesting presentations that are still very
readable. Also explores what works and what doesn't.
PowerPoint tasks: A workshop that covers the quickest
method of copying the words of a hymn into PowerPoint
and b uilding a librar y of wor ds. Also covers b uilding a
meditation of images and background music.
PowerPoint Operators: Covers setting up PowerPoint to
work in twin screen mode with the presentation control
screen. Also looks at using Zionworx to project the words
of hymns etc.
P a g e 5
U s i n g mu s i c i n mu l t i - me d i a : T h is wo r ks h op
explores how to take pieces of music from CDs, edit
them and then build them into PowerPoint presentations. The course
focuses on how to do this smoothly and without errors. Participants will need
a working knowledge of PowerPoint.
U s i n g v i d e o i n m u l t i - m e d i a : T h i s w o r k s h o p
explores how to take video from tape or DVDs and
b ui l d t h e m i nt o P o we r P o i nt p r es e nt a t io ns . T h e
cour s e f o cus es on ho w t o do t his s moot hl y a nd
wit hout er r or s . P ar t icip a nt s will n ee d a wor kin g
knowledge of P owerP oint. Explor es how you can
Multimedia Residential Courses
All the above modules are included in our 3 day
residential courses at Willersley Castle.
The next courses are for 16th-19th November, 2009
and 22nd-25th February, 2010 and there are still a
small number of places left. Ministers should be able
to use their CDIM allowances to pay the bulk of the
cost.
You can find out more at:
www.familyfriendlychurches.org.uk/mmwspec.htm
P a g e 6
SYNOD
The September Synod is at Askham Bryan Agricultural College
on Saturday 5th September.
For map and location www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/synod.php
This page also carries the updated version of the Safeguarding
procedures that will hopefully be adopted by this synod.
“I am the bread of life”
We invite you to come and explore Holy Communion through dance, drama, singing,
prayer and worship.
We particularly welcome those with learning disabilities or complex needs, their
carers, friends and family.
But everyone can come— to worship together and learn more of God and Jesus.
Further details contact:
Co-Ordinator,Carole Meikle ifh.meikle@ntlworld.com or 07834166226
In the Father’s Hand When? Saturday 19 September Time? 2-4pm Where? St Paul’s
Church,Holgate York YO24 4BF Fully accessible venue, blue badge parking
P a g e 7
Acomb SummerFest
On the 21st June 2009, 10 local congregations of Acomb (York South Circuit) joined together to share in an open air service. Members of t he
Methodists, Anglicans, Catholic, Baptists, Quakers, the gateway and ark churches, as well as local residents put aside worshi p differences to
unite in a time of worship, prayer and fellowship on a scorching hot day. There was well over 300 people there and a good tim e had by all.
Worship was led by Godrey Birtill, a musician, song writer and worship leader and the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu preached. A
BBQ and children‟s activities followed the service.
Steve Redman, of The Ark church, as one of the main organisers, said this after the event:
“The day was met by fantastic local support and public response and this is the first time in history these ten churches have stopped their meet-
ings and all come together – and to such a fantastic result. The crowd loved Archbishop Sentamu – he really is popular and lots of people say
they like to see him in person. He got everyone involved and sprits were really high. It was meant to be a one-off event but afterwards I was
inundated with people coming up to me saying „Right Steve – let‟s plan next year‟. So it definitely looks like this could be an annual event.””
Rachel Wood.
Holy Rood House
The Centre for the Study of Theology and Health
Annual Hildegard Lecture
Fri 25th September 7.45 at Sowerby Methodist Church, Thirsk.
'Living with Difference - Life on the Edge'
Rev David Gamble President of The Methodist Conference and Consultant to Holy Rood House
York Minster and placed in the Lady Chapel.
Members of the Church of England are often hardly aware of the saint in question, who d ie d a t
t he ag e o f 24 in a nu nner y in no r t her n France. She was, after all, a French Roman Catholic who
about God is pro fo undly r e le vant to our t ime . Wit h few r esour ces ( not even a fu ll B ible) ,
comparatively little education, and a background that may strike us as cloyingly pious, she goes to
the heart because she wrote honestly, passionately and wisely. I have long loved Thérèse, and believe
that divide us, but on the high altar will stand a chalice bearing the ring of Cardinal Mercier of Malines, who in the 1920s led
a brave conversation with Lord Halifax about unity between Anglicans and Rome. They failed. But love and prayer allow
God to do what humans cannot do.
At York we treasure that memory. In this place where for a short time the shining faith of Thérèse will be strongly present,
we shall pray that God‟s will be done. The Minster will be open all night. Come and pray with us, with Thérèse, with Jesus
and with all who long to see God‟s will done on earth as in heaven. Bring a rose as a sign if you wish.
The Very Revd Keith Jones, Dean of York
Rev Rory Dalgliesh, Chaplain to the University of York, will be taking part in the Vitruvian Triathlon around Rutland Water on the
5th September.
The race is Half-Ironman distance, and comprises a 1.2 mile swim, 53mile cycle and 13 mile run.
He is fundraising for Amnesty International again after raising a tidy sum last year doing a 97 mile non-
stop canoe race around the Cheshire Ring Canals, and has a fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/
rorysepicadventures which can be used online, or you can contact Rory directly (01904 414398) to ar-
range a contribution in person or by cheque if you would like to do so. Any donations would be welcome in
the direction of a very good cause.
The Chairman has kindly given Rory permission to not be present at Synod on the day.
never came to this country, and probably knew nothing much about us. Her world was in many
ways a narrow one, and an alien one.
B u t S t T hé r è s e o f L is ie u x is w o r t h k no w in g a bo u t . Somehow, she wrote down what it was
like to have faith: that in itself is a rarity for a young Carmelite sister. These papers, gathered and
published as “The Story of a Soul” reveal to us a brilliant and spiritual woman, whose teaching
she is a Christian teacher from whom we may all safely learn much about Jesus Christ. No saint of
modern times has had such an impact as Thérèse. In New York, the relics stopped Fifth Avenue.
I am delighted that the Order of Carmelites have agreed that her bones should stay 18 hours at Anglican York Minster. At
7.30p.m. on October 1st guests from the Roman Catholic and other churches will gather with us at the Minster to thank God
for her, and also to pray for increased understanding and friendship between our traditions. There are some serious issues
Rev Gamble will lead a seminar and workshop on the theme on Saturday 26th at Holy Rood House
and will preach at the Eucharist at Holy Rood House on Sunday 27th
All are welcome - and residential facilities are available.
Please contact Rev Elizabeth Baxter for details and bookings: 01845 522580 enquiries@holyroodhouse.org.uk
The Visit of a Saint
On October 1st a casket containing some of the bodily remains of a saint will be brought into
Opportunity to Experience the Church in India
Flying out on or around January 10th 2010 and back on or around February 7th 2010, a group of seven people from our region and
from the Midlands will be visiting the Tamilnadu region of India, and engaging in a month of immersion in a very different culture.
Based in the Tamilnadu Theological Seminary of the Church of South India the group will visit church based social projects in both
urban and rural areas, and spend time reflecting together in the light of their faith. The visit will include sharing in communal
meals and daily worship while in college, and will be accompanied by a tutor from one of our British colleges who will act as group
enabler. Those who are applying to be part of the group need to have:
no previous substantial experience of travel outside Europe
ability to engage in reflection, using the Bible and other faith resources
openness to engage with different cultures and willingness to tackle basic language learning
membership of the Methodist Church (including joint membership of LEPs) OR membership of the Church of England
while demonstrating, in relation with the Methodist church, a clear commitment to working ecumenically
The trip will cost £2050, but grant funding of £1050 has already been secured, and it is hoped that individuals might be able to
secure further grant funding from home churches, circuits and districts.
If you would be interested in applying to be part of this group please contact:
Revd Andrew J. Lunn By post: St John’s College, 3 South Bailey, DURHAM. DH1 3RJ
By e-mail: andrew.lunn@methodist.org.uk
Contact should be made to allow time for application forms to be sent and returned by the closing date of 21 st September 2009.
Preliminary considerations
There is one places available on this programme for a lay person from the North-East and Yorkshire. It involves a four week visit
from about 10th January to about 7th February 2010. Places are open to Methodists (including joint members of LEPs), and mem-
bers of electoral roles in the Church of England who have demonstrated, in relation with the Methodist church, a clear commit-
ment to working ecumenically.
It would be important that members of the group were able to engage in theological reflection. This will be enabled by the accom-
panying tutor, but some prior engagement in Bible study or other religious studies would be necessary.
Funding Arrangements
The expected cost per participant will be about £2050. Grant aiding of £1050 per participant has been obtained from Methodist
Church connexional sources. In light of the Anglican-Methodist Covenant and other ecumenical understanding, this money is
available to Anglicans who demonstrate current and specific commitment to working as active partners with the Methodist Churc h.
This leaves £1000 to be met by the individual, with sponsorship they can arrange (circuit or District). This costing includes a con-
tribution by each participant to cover the costs of the accompanying tutor. This does not include any spending money, and partici-
pants will need to make their own way to the departure airport in the UK.
For further details and application form contact as above or the District Communications Office
East Coast Christian Community Music Festival
After months of planning the East Coast Christian Community Music Festival is beginning to take shape. Centred on
Bridlington the festival has attracted the support of the Bridlington Urban Renaissance Town Team and the East
Yorkshire Schools Music Service and The Kingston upon Hull Music Services. The festival will open on Wednesday
18th November 2009 with an afternoon matinee featuring the U3A Entertainers and supporting guest artiste.
Wednesday night is The Big Band Night with The Buckrose Concert Band and the Hunmanby Silver Band.
Thursday lunchtime will feature an electronic organ concert with Michael Carr. Thursday night is The Big Night Out
concert with local amateur groups performing various musical styles including country and western, jazz etc.
Gospel Artists Friday lunchtime we have a classical piano concert with the young pianist Gareth Deakin. Friday eve-
ning will see a distinct change of mood as Marylyn Baker the blind gospel singer and recording artists heads the
evening concert supported by the University of York Student Gospel Choir. On Saturday there will be workshops for
musicians of all abilities and seminars for church choir leaders, worship leaders and worship teams. Further infor-
mation: rob.parker@christchurchbridlington.co.uk
Saturday afternoon events move to the Bridlington Spa complex with the final of the East Coast Youth Musician
Competition. This competition has three categories 11 years and under, 14 years and under and 19 years and un-
der. Closing date for entry to the competition is Saturday 19th September. (Visit web site for details and entry
forms). The East Riding Senior Wind Band will be performing during the competition final. Web Site
www.ccmf.co.uk. On Saturday evening the Spa Royal Hall will echo to the inspiring sound of the Salvation Musicians.
This is to be followed by the presentation of the musical by the American Composers Jimmy and Carol Owen “Come
Together” which had outstanding success touring the US and UK with Hollywood Star Pat Boone. Dr Anthony Clarke
will be conducting an augmented Churches Together Choir. Rehearsals start Thursday 17th September at the Brid-
lington Salvation Army, Wellington Road, Bridlington. YO15 2BJ. If you or someone you know would like to join the
choir for this exciting musical come along, you will be welcomed. For full rehearsal details see web site or e-mail
anthony-clarke@ccmf.co.uk. Festival Sunday commences with the Festival Services in the Spa Theatre featuring the
Ridings Lights Theatre Group. On Sunday afternoon school choirs and ensembles will be performing in the Bridling-
ton Spa Theatre at the East Coast Festival of School Music Making. To date 14 East Coast schools and school music
services have already agreed to take part in this event. Further details next time.
Finally on Sunday night at 6:30pm the festival will be brought to a close with a Grand Finale Concert and Thanks-
giving in the Bridlington Spa Theatre. East Yorkshire churches will congregate at the Bridlington Spa in a combined
18-22nd November INVITATION TO JOIN FESTIVAL CHOIR
On Saturday Night 21stNovember 2009
there is to be a performance at the Bridlington Spa of the Jimmy and Carol Owen Musical “Come Together”. Singers
of all abilities are invited to join the Festival Choir for this performance. Rehearsals start Thursday 17thSeptember
at the Salvation Army Citadel, Wellington Road, Bridlington 7:30pm.Just come along or contact anthony-
clarke@ccmf.co.uk
INVITATION TO JOIN FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
On Sunday Night 22ndNovember2009
the Festival Finale Christian Heritage Concert will take place in the Spa Theatre, Bridlington. The organisers would
like to form a Festival Orchestra to accompany the mass hymn singing. Musicians interested to joining this orches-
tra should contact Festival Director paul-lowe@ccmf.c.uk. Bringing Together Church and Community Through Mu-
sic
www.ccmf.co.uk to find out more ––
Wedding Fayre –
Cottingham Methodist
October 3rd 10am-3pm.
Cottingham Methodist is taking a leaf out of Market Weigh-
ton‟s book and has organised a Wedding Fayre to be held at
our church on Saturday the 3rd of October from 10am-
3pm.
There will be two catwalk shows, one at midday and the sec-
ond at 2pm, literally down the aisle, with dresses from
Jacquelines Gown‟s and menswear from Len Beck tailors,
and hair by Dizzy‟s.
This is a Cottingham centric event, and all of the suppliers
are either local, or within a stones throw of the village. We
have two types of limo‟s, cake makers, photographers, ven-
ues, stationers, lingerie, florists – you name it we have it,
including the minister! .
Fijian Church leaders appear in court
Leaders forbidden to speak, preach or meet together
Nine Methodist Church leaders in Fiji have appeared in court, pleading not guilty to charges of breaching Public Emergency Regulations.
The nine leaders, including the Church‟s President, Revd Ame Tugaue and General Secretary Revd Tuikilakila Waqairatu, appeared in court
yesterday, and have been released on bail until a full hearing on September 24.
For the last three weeks the leaders have been forbidden to speak, preach or take part in meetings, making life almost imposs ible for a church
whose spiritual life-blood is based on gathering together. The church‟s solicitor is in negotiation with the police and the Fijian Government to
relax the conditions for the next bail period.
Last month the Church agreed to comply with the Government‟s demands, cancelling this year‟s Methodist Conference and negotiations are
proceeding with the police concerning an administrative meeting planned for August 31. Currently the Government insists that only ordained
ministers (excluding the arrested leaders) should be allowed to attend, but the Church does not want to exclude lay people.
Steve Pearce, World Church Partnership Coordinator for the Methodist Church in Britain, said; “It is clear that the military government is ac-
tive in the life of the courts. Where police actions contradict court decisions, the courts are reluctant to assert themselves. Negotiation and dia-
logue are difficult in these circumstances but the Church is clear in its wish to avoid confrontation.”
Speaking to Steve this morning,[13th August] the Church‟s Deputy General Secretary, Revd Tevita Bainavanua, expressed his frustration dur-
ing a monitored phone call, saying, “We can talk about Jerusalem and Galilee but not Fiji! We are telling our people not to do anything to
worsen the situation.”
The Church continues to work and worship despite this situation, which is consuming much time, energy and finance, with the p rospect of a
long court case ahead. Traditional choir festivals will go ahead as planned, beginning August 22, although no national festivals will take place.
ENDS
No Graven Image?
By Paul Lucas
Surprisingly few people actually know the Ten Commandments these days and even as Christians we may
well defer to Jesus‟ emphasis on the great command: „Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your strength‟(Deut 6:5). Jesus coupled this with the new teachings „love your
neighbour as yourself‟ (Lk 10:27) and of course the Golden Rule „Do to others as you would have
them do to you‟(Lk 6:31). The implication being that if we do these simple things, then all other commands
and requirements will simply fall into place - just because we love God and it shows. The King James version
commands us to worship no graven image, or idol in place of the true living God.
Some eleven years ago three Anglican priests from Tyneside, all of whom I knew quite well, were tragically
killed in a road accident on the A1 in Northumberland. The whole community was stunned, not just the
church folk, everyone. People asked the inevitable „why‟ questions that we just cannot answer. The need for
a reason and the anger towards God ran high – why ever would God allow it? Sorely tested by such times of
trail some will turn to God in faith while others turn away in utter disbelief and to some the „‟Almighty‟
seems silently aloof. Yet, in the midst of the pain and anguish, the cross of Christ reveals the ageless truth that
God himself has, as the saying goes, ‟been there, done that and bought the T shirt‟ and actually worn out the
T shirt completely!
One of these priests had got me started as a tree carver when, in a former occupation as a tree surgeon, I had
dismantled a large dead elm in a Church Hall grounds. I‟d said: „pity we couldn‟t make use of the timber
somehow‟ to which he replied „well actually, as it happens….‟ One thing led to another and a chainsaw sculp-
ture of a mother and child was the result. Clearly representational of Mary and the Christ child, some had said
the piece spoke not only of birth and life‟s potential, but strangely also of death and premature loss, even
more poignantly with the oncoming events.
I was captivated by the possibility of telling the gospel story through carved symbols and carved many a sim-
ple cross for customers and others from bits of tree trunk left from the day‟s work. Recently, when the chance
came to undertake a chainsaw carving as a minister rather than a tree surgeon I knew that sense of all things
working together for the good. On the off chance I rang the Hull Daily Mail and then Radio Humberside got
wind, next came Look North, but the people who really made it worthwhile were the passers by who stopped
to look. „ Hey mister, what you doing?‟ gave the perfect opportunity to respond „well it‟s the story of Jesus,
the birth, the death and resurrection, in just three images‟ Mary and child, the cross and the risen sun (son),
and the flying dove of the Holy Spirit. The old lime tree that grew for years in the forecourt of a Methodist
Church, far too close to a neighbouring building, eventually just had to go, but it gave me the chance to re-
cycle the timber into a new landmark that tells something of the Gospel beyond the doors of the church, out
on on the street - in this case the busy Holderness Road in Hull.
In these days of media, sound bites and constantly moving images, all sorts of stuff passes as „real art‟ but
very little really communicates anything of intrinsic value. The old cliché „beauty is in eye of the beholder‟ is
absolutely true, but the motive behind the art is for me what really speaks the message. This Christian „totem
pole‟ story of Jesus reminds us that „no graven image‟ should ever be admired or worshipped in itself, but
should be a way mark pointing to what is true and real and genuine, even to God. It may even be that vital
talking point that reminds someone, that even out of death, God‟s love forever rises and returns to fill each
and every open heart and soul. „God so loved the world‟ and still so loves us with all his heart, soul, mind and strength; He sent Jesus to say so,
even unto death on a cross to prove that he meant it, then sent the Spirit to say so again. All we need to do is say „yes, Lord, here am I, send
me‟ - that others may also come to know the Lord our God.
Swine flu guidance update August 2009
Swine flu is spread by droplets that come from the nose and mouth when a person sneezes. These
droplets stick to surfaces and can remain infectious for some time.
In response to queries from local churches, recommendations have been made to reduce the risk of
spreading these droplets during common church activities. Each church is different and individual
ministers may wish to consider further ways in which the risk of spreading the disease could reasona-
bly be reduced.
Holy Communion
For the period of the pandemic, we recommend that:
•a common cup should not be used
•intinction (dipping bread in wine) should not be practised as it can carry unnecessarily high levels
of risk
•individual communion vessels should be carefully cleaned (this is crucial)
•those handling the vessels and the bread should use an antibacterial gel on their hands before tak-
ing part in Communion
•when using individual cups, the cups should be handed directly to communicants, not passed be-
tween them
bread should not be passed from one communicant to another. Where there are clear pastoral reasons
for doing so, giving Holy Communion ‘in one kind’ (using only bread or wine) is also acceptable prac-
tice within the Methodist Church.
Sharing in the Peace and other greetings
During worship services and gatherings, it is common for people to share a sign of Christ’s peace with
one another, often through handshaking or hugging. Where there appears to be a significantly in-
creased risk of infection, such as when members of the congregation have recently come into contact
with people with swine flu, we recommend that people refrain from physical expressions of the Peace.
The usual practice of shaking hands when greeting each other on arriving at church, or saying goodbye
after the meeting, should also be reconsidered in these circumstances.
Church facilities
Think about the cleanliness and accessibility of your church facilities.
•Are tissues and bins easily accessible?
•Are the contents of such bins disposed of regularly and hygienically?
•Are the hand washing facilities satisfactory
•Could you provide sanitising gel in addition to soap?
If you serve drinks or food on church premises, are you following all the recommendations in the
food hygiene certificate to reduce cross infection?
Supporting those with swine flu
Please check that people with the virus have a designated ‘flu friend’ – a healthy friend or relative who
can collect anti viral or other required medication, as well as delivering essential supplies whilst the suf-
ferer is restricted to their home.
Where it is inadvisable to visit people in person, regular contact by phone, email or other means may
prove invaluable for those isolated by the virus.
Those wishing to share in worship but restricted to their home may wish to attend an online worship
service at St Pixels, the online church, or share in worship broadcast on the radio, such as the Daily
Service on Radio 4 longwave, each weekday at 9.45am. For more information, visit www.stpixels.com
or www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006wzfs.
Please pray…
•for the NHS ; for the pharmaceutical industry working to produce vaccinations ; for victims in
less-developed nations ; for those with underlying health problems; for those caring for the sick
This is an update to the May Guidelines for full details http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.content& cmid=2684
THE WEB SITE DETAILS FOR HELEN SHAPIRO SHOULD READ http://www.mannamusic.co.uk/
Please note :- many of the items in this months Yorsay have been gleaned from other sources
than the churches in this district– I think it is a poor show that I have had to find this infor-
mation from in some cases other denominations rather than our own churches please let me
have information on your events etc not only for Yorsay but for the web site—contact details
are below.
Yorsay is sent on behalf of the York & Hull Methodist District by the Communications Office
Bob Lawe 27 Ryde Avenue Hull Hu5 1QA communications@yorkhullmethodist.org.uk or yhcommunications@msn.com
Please note that some of you may receive this and other mailings from a Karoo e mail address – Please do not reply or use
this address as it is for mail delivery only The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily the official views of
the Methodist Church or of the York & Hull Methodist District and no inferred support for any of the items or
organisations should be taken as granted.
Yorsay Newsletter © 2009 York & Hull Methodist District – All rights reserved.
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
AUGUST YORSAY
FULL VERSION AVAILABLE AS A DOWNLOAD FROM www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/news.php?id=165
Dear Friends
Welcome to the August Edition
of YORSAY. Let me have news
from your Churches and Cir-
cuits; contact details as the foot
of the newsletter. Just a re-
minder that is up to you!! Make
sure you send me your details
in good time so that others can
plan what and where to visit.
At several peoples request I
have dispensed with large areas
of coloured background with
the exception of the front page
I hope that this will make copy-
ing easier for you.
Yorsay is not only meant for
those who receive it via their
e mail address it is hoped
that at least one person in
each church will copy it and
make it available to All
members of the congrega-
tion via notice boards or
through church newsletters.
•
A U G U S T 2 0 0 9
Methodist Church elects
new President and Vice
President Designate
The Revd Alison Tomlin has been
elected President Designate of
the Methodist Conference for
2010-2011, and Deacon Eunice
Attwood has been elected Vice
President Designate. The elec-
tions were announced at the an-
nual Methodist Conference in
Wolverhampton.
Alison Tomlin is currently Chair of the Northampton Methodist District, having previously
chaired the Oxford and Leicester District. In September she will become co-
Superintendent of the Thames Valley Methodist Circuit with her husband Dave. She has
served the Church as a minister for 25 years, having originally been ordained in Wolver-
hampton in 1984.
Alison said; 'It is a great privilege to be elected as President Designate and I am humbled
to be trusted with this role by the Conference. In my year of Presidency I will seek to help
the Church be more receptive to go where God is inviting us. The Church has not always
been very good at risk-taking but it's easier to take risks when we are confident in God's
love and listening for God's voice.'
Central to Alison's ministry has been the imaginative use of the Bible in prayer. She said;
'The Church has designated 2011 as the Year of the Bible and this will be very important
and exciting for me in my year of office.'
Eunice Attwood works as part of a team of lay and ordained ministers in a busy city centre
church in Newcastle. She has been instrumental in establishing the Newcastle Street Pas-
tors Project and supports work with asylum seekers, street workers and teenage runaways.
Eunice spent 12 years working as an Intensive Care Unit nurse and brings experience of
hospital chaplaincy and 10 years of serving the Church as a member of the Diaconal Or-
der. She is a Methodist Local Preacher and a part-time diaconal tutor at the Wesley Study
Centre in Durham.
Eunice said; 'As a member of the Methodist Diaconal Order it's a real honour to be elected
Vice President Designate. I am passionate about enabling the people of God to reach out
to and better engage with their communities. In my year as Vice President, I hope to in-
spire God's people to reconnect with the servant ministry to which we are all called and
celebrate the rich contribution of the Diaconal Order to the life and work of the Church.'
Eunice Attwood Alison Tomlin
Chair’s Sabbatical Reflections
Ministers are known to have an ambivalent relationship to our Standing Orders in CPD (Constitutional Practice and
Discipline of the Methodist Church), except perhaps that Standing Order which requires them to take a three month
sabbatical after ten years from first being stationed, and then at seven year intervals. Sabbaticals are a much appreci-
ated gift from the Church to us as ministers, and I trust that we repay that gift in our refreshed ministry after them.
My previous sabbatical was while I was Superintendent Minister in Cambridge. I spent most of those three months
studying for two modules of an MA course in Pastoral Theology, as well as some reading of novels. The aim was to
read one per week, but rather good weather meant that the vegetable patch received more attention than the book
pile for some of the weeks.
For my recent sabbatical, I took the opportunity of a major sailing trip with the Rona Sailing Project. I have taken
young people sail training for nearly forty years now, and last summer I skippered a girls’ crew to second place in
class in a race from Bergen to Den Helder. That fitted into a normal holiday slot, but this year a five week trip marvel-
lously coincided with the sabbatical opportunity.
The Transatlantic Tall Ships Race series is still underway as I write, and the fleet is due in Belfast during August after
four legs taking in Vigo, Tenerife, Bermuda, Charleston, Boston and Halifax (Nova Scotia). I sailed as Mate (or second
skipper, which we require for long distance races) on the race
from Vigo to Tenerife. We were on board Rona II, a 68ft ketch
(i.e. yacht with two masts) with 23 of us in the ship’s company
– skipper, mate, 3 watch officers, 3 watch leaders, 15 crew
between 15 and 25 years old.
We left our base on the River Hamble in April and set sail for
northern Spain as the race was due to start in Vigo, where the
fleet was to gather. My previous voyage across the Bay of Bis-
cay in 2000 was breezy to put it mildly – it took us eight days
of gale force winds and more. This year we managed it in just
over three days with the large spinnaker set for most of the
time – it was a fast and smooth passage.
Our landfall was La Coruña where we spent a couple of nights
before a gentle cruise down the rias of northern Spain. We
spent time race training – spinnakers up and down, changing
headsails, reefing the mainsail, etc. We anchored and swam,
and had a barbecue on a beach, and focussed ourselves on the
task ahead of us. Three nights were spent in Vigo with the rest
of the international fleet, with partying, a formal dinner for
captains and first officers and much singing and getting to
know the other crews.
A parade of sail led us out of the Ria de Vigo and down to the start line. The large, traditional tall ships start first;
Rona II is in the last class to start. We were thrilled to be first over the line after our gun, with spinnaker flying and we
were off to six days of exhilarating racing. For nearly all the time we had a following wind and our large headsails or
spinnakers were well-used. So well-used in fact that there was some gear failure for us and our competitors. That is
all part of the challenge, of course. Rona II’s crew quickly settled into the routine of a long sail – on watch; off watch;
mother watch, who cook and clean and generally take care of those doing the actual sailing. We are required to report
our positions regularly by radio to Race Control, who then report back with race positions.
“A Birthday on Board”
We knew that we were doing well, although a German yacht Peter von Danzig was much fast than us but with a stiffer
handicap. We had calm periods and windy periods; we had some fantastic cooking and some meals which were a bit
less appetising; we had some hilarious moments, and just a bit of seasickness.
The final stretch to the finish line off the northeast corner of Tenerife was nail-biting, with Peter von Danzig only
about three miles ahead of us for the last few hours. They just took line honours and we were second, reassured by
their handicap which meant that on corrected time we had made it! There was a spontaneous party on board Rona II,
before a night sail to Gran Canaria for a few
days cruising.
The fleet gathered in Tenerife in due course –
much partying again and resuming those in-
ternational friendships which are integral to
Tall Ships Races. Another crew parade through
the harbour area before the prize giving, and
then handing over to the girls’ crew who had
flown out to take Rona II on leg two to Ber-
muda. We had achieved our goal – to be first
in our class – but it’s really more than the
sailing. It’s actually about living together in a
fairly confined space; cooking for each other;
going to bed and getting up when told to do
so; washing up and cleaning (yes, and the
heads, i.e. toilets); not being able to give up
even if you’re tired or seasick or fed up. One of the younger members of crew said to me on the flight home that he’d
remember it for the rest of his life – and I think I will too.
And the rest of my sabbatical? Well, there was some reading, of novels again, and theology. I attended a day’s confer-
ence on Paul, and the Northern Church Leaders’ Retreat. I cleared large piles of paper from my study, and did those
jobs around the house which somehow don’t get done in the normal busyness of life. And yes, I was looking forward
to getting back to work, honestly!
My thanks are especially due to Richard Andrew (Deputy Chair), Heather Shipman (Synod Secretary) and Siân Hender-
son (District Administrator) who held the fort so competently for those three months, and for the Methodist Church
for providing sabbatical opportunities.
And thanks be to God for a wonderful creation (especially including the sea!) for us to enjoy, and for young people
who maybe just help to keep us a little younger than we would otherwise be.
Stephen Burgess
(Chair of District)
A photo sequence of Stephen’s trip in the tall Ships Race is now on line on http://www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/
news.php?id=197
“The Old Men on board”
P a g e 2 P a g e 4
Holgate Methodist In the York South Circuit is celebrating it’s
Centenary in 2010 and is planning a year of celebration commenc-
ing October 2009 [Which commemorates the laying of the Founda-
tion Stone] The Celebrations will end 12th September 2010 com-
memorating the opening of the Church. They would welcome
memories , Photographs and memorabilia from past members and
friends.
Copies of the programme of events available from Angela Skilbeck
28 Manor Drive South York YO26 5SA [tel 01904 792301]
„Taste and See‟ – a second slice
On Saturday 13th June seventy-three Christians of different denominations participated in a variety of workshops trying new ways of relating to
God and to one another. Taste and See 2009, a day of Bite-Size Spirituality in York City Centre Churches provided a wonderful way to experience
different types of prayer and worship in a friendly atmosphere across ten of the Churches in the City Centre.
The day was endorsed by many church leaders including Rt Rev Terence Drainey (Bishop of Middlesbrough, Roman Catholic), Rt Re v Martin
Wallace (Bishop of Selby, Anglican), Rev Kevin Watson (Moderator of the United Reform Church, Yorkshire Synod), Rev Ernie Wha lley
(Yorkshire Baptist Association) and Rev Richard M. Andrew (York Institute for Community Theology, Methodist).
Taste and See was organised by CoRE York and representatives from several Christian organisations. CoRE‟s Chairman Rev Canon Simon
Stanley said “Taste and See provided a fun and informative way of exploring different types of prayer in an ecumenical context. The event was
open to everyone with individuals travelling from as far-a-field as Lytham St Anne‟s. Trying a new experience of worship allows those participat-
ing to discover more about themselves and their spiritual tastes. This may lead to a better understanding of their fellow Chr istians who pray in
ways different to them, and deepen their relationship with God.”
The event, which began at York Minster with a welcome from the Minster Precentor, Revd Canon Jeremy Fletcher and an opening a ct of worship
from Revd Graham Maskery then gave participants the chance to join two of sixteen workshops in the churches across the city. Choices included
Carmelite Prayer, Taize, Ignation Prayer and Making a Poustinia.
Individuals who participated in the day reflected that the event gave them time to explore other ways of becoming rooted in G od. One partici-
pant said “Both workshops taught me something I will be able to keep with me and use in my everyday life. Thank you for a wonderful opportu-
nity that has made a marked difference for my journey in Christ.”
P a g e 5
P a g e 6
SYNOD SEPT 2009
Synod Hosted by the
York South Circuit will
be held at Askham Bryan
Agricultural College on
Saturday 6th September
at 10.00am
Maps and approx travel-
ling times are available
from the District Web
site http://
www.yorkhullmethodist.
org.uk/synod.php
The mileages and times
are approximate but will
give a good indication.
Revival Night! with Rodney Howard Browne, New Life Church, Hull -
Monday 27th July 7.30pm
It's with great excitement I invite you to join us for a Revival Night with Dr
Rodney Howard Browne. Rodney is one of the worlds leading revivalists,
being key to the move of God in 1994, and is still seeing the fire of God sweep
through cities throughout the world, with hundreds of thousands of salvations,
powerful moves of God's Spirit and signs & wonders. This is an awesome
opportunity for Hull to have a minister of such caliber.
Why not fill a few cars up, and join us at New Life Church in Hull for what I
believe will be a powerful step forward as we seek God for revival in our
region and nation?
If you can help us get the word out at this late notice, that would be awesome!
As seating is limited booking your free seat is essential by emailing
office@newlifehull.org with your name and party size.
I believe these are significant days. In 1910 the leader of the Azusa Street
Revival stated that in 100 years time a great move of God, eclipsing the one
they were experiencing, would commence. That's next year. In a
recent leaders meeting with Jean Darnell, God spoke to me quite miraculously
about the fire of God sweeping from the Humber up through East Yorkshire.
Quite separately, other national leaders have been drawn from around the
nation to pray along the banks of the Humber for a wave of revival. Something
is going on. Join us as we seek our King for More in our region and nation.
For our King.
Jarrod Cooper
Days of Wonder TV Show: SKY 587 Sundays and Tuesdays @ 10am, Mondays @ 7pm
Days of Wonder Radio Show: Sundays 10am UCB on DAB radio across the UK and SKY
0125
P a g e 7
Dearne Valley Big Band Concert 15 August
Filey Methodist Church welcomes the return of the Dearne Big Band and
Singers for another Concert on 15th August.
The Barnsley based act who have regularly performed in Filey for more
than 20 years play music by the likes of Glenn Miller and Frank Sinatra.
The show starts at 7.30pm. Admission on the door £5.
Filey Fishermens Choir
As seen on BBC TV‟s „Last Choir Standing‟. Also to feature in a forth-
coming new BBC series. in Concert 29 August
Filey Fishermens Choir in Concert in Filey Methodist Church on Saturday 29th
August 2009 at 7.00pm.
‘Harvest of the Sea’ 30 August
The Choir will be leading our Worship at 6.00pm on 30th August.
A plea for sponsorship and prayer
Over the weekend of the 29 - 31 August the Revd Steve
Barlow and one or two members of Wetherby Methodist
Church are walking The Minster Way, a walk of 50 miles
between the Minster‟s of Beverley and York. This is a spon-
sored walk and the money will go towards the Wetherby
Methodist Church re-development appeal which is a
£360,000 project.
On the Sunday, the walkers will be joined by our District
Chair, Revd Stephen Burgess, for a leg of 17.5 miles and on
the Monday I have agreed to walk the 15.75 miles of the last
leg.
If you feel you would like to sponsor Steve or Stephen then
please let them or me know. They would be delighted to
hear from you. I am too nervous to ask for personal spon-
sorship.
This initiative has certainly challenged me. Why did I agree
to take part I ask myself? I once walked 13 miles around
Buttermere and Crummock Water in the Lake District but
that was 10 years ago. A month ago I walked from Tad-
caster to Wetherby but that was only 10 miles and my legs
ached at the end of it and this sponsored walk is half as
much again. I am now, however, locked into this. Pride
wont let me back out (though I am mindful that pride
comes before a fall and it's not exactly recommended as a
Christian principle is it?) I also wonder if I am physically
capable of walking 15 miles in one go and have decided that
the only way to find out is to try. Do many people I won-
der, embark on sponsorship events that they are doubtful
about? Anyway, instead of sponsorship I ask for your
prayers for the success of the walk and the safe keeping of
those taking part .Thank you for reading this and if you can
For booking form http:// www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/
HateCrimebookingform.doc
please sponsor Steve or Stephen
Heather Shipman ;Synod Secretary and Lay Pastor for
Wetherby Methodist Church
P a g e 8
BEFORE the bicentenary of Charles Darwin's birth is over, I recommend that you see an absorbing new
film, and a range of accompanying resources to help churches in their teaching and out-
reach (see www.damaris.org/creationmovie).
Creation (UK cinematic release 25 Sep) dramatically portrays Darwin's struggle with traditional belief
and his world-changing theories published in 'On the Origin of Species'.
As the official film information says: "Creation is the powerful story of Charles Darwin as a young, vi-
brant father, husband and friend. His mental and physical health gradually buckles under the weight
of guilt and grief for a lost child. Told in a dazzling collage of scenes from the past and present, laced
with stories of exotic animals and the dark dreams of a troubled mind, Creation is a film that will pro-
voke and entertain...'
Nick Spencer, author of Darwin and God (SPCK, 2009), comments: 'A well-made and beautifully shot
film, Creation uses appropriate artistic licence to simplify and dramatise the specific details of the
story of Darwin's writing of The Origin of Species - and, in doing so, raises many important and chal-
lenging issues around the question of evolution and belief in God.'
I am delighted to let you know that the Damaris Trust will publish a range of helpful resources for
churches and groups to use when the film is released - to include downloadable film clips, video dis-
cussions, house group material, special outreach events and themed church service plans.
Angles/ themes under discussion:
* Did Darwin kill God? The clash between science and religion
* Conflicts within families and couples. How to deal healthily with these and resolve them
* Suffering in God's world. Is it part of the plan?
* Reasons for believing and changing your beliefs
The film goes on general release on 25 Sep, so please consider this superior production for news, feature and review purposes. Also check out the web-
sites:
Official movie website: http://creationthemovie.com/
Damaris’ site for resources: www.damaris.org/creationmovie
Stephen Goddard Associates
PR Consultants
1 & 2 Ellison's Cottages, Crank Rd,
St Helens, Merseyside WA11 7RQ
Tel: +44 (0)1744 733898
Mob: +44 (0)7930 198209
Email: steve@shipoffools.com
CHARLES DARWIN
P a g e 9
Lydia Barlow
Lydia Barlow the District Youth Enabler comes to the end of her period of office on 31st August. So if any
Youth Group wants her to visit You had better be quick. lydia@lyd.me.uk
The Racial Justice Sunday materials provide resources,
suggestions and stories for worship and other activities to
be used for the Racial Justice Sunday (September 13th
2009) or any Sunday.
This year the materials are all online and downloadable
for use. This will be accessible on the CTBI webpage
(www.ctbi.org.uk) and webpages of various denomina-
tions and national ecumenical instruments.
The 2009 Racial Justice Sunday resource will include the
following:
A4 Poster• Biblical passages (based on the Lectionary
readings) and reflections • homilies • Personal sto-
ries • Suggested hymns and prayers • Resources for
work with young people• A children's activity • A
prayer leaflet • References to further material on the
Website
Congregations that may prefer a Racial Justice-
Pack will need to contact their respective
Church Headquarters Office, Racial Justice/
Equalities Office or
National Ecumenical Office.
RITES OF PASSAGE
Songs for the Journey
Elstronwick Methodist/St Lawrence’s Church
Paul Field and Dan Wheeler thought the village of
Elsternwick was deserted as they arrived in June!
But by 6.30pm the intimate space of St Lawrence‟s
Church became standing room only with local people
gathering to hear them perform „Rites of passage‟.
Each song took us further through life, exploring the
joy and pain that happens along the way. „Joel‟s song‟
was written when Paul‟s first son was born, „Still For-
give‟ was
inspired by the London bombings, and the poem
‟There will be stars‟ was written for the funeral of Rev
Rob Frost. Tears were shed, there were many smiles,
and a great rendition of new words to ‟Love Divine‟.
What began as a simple invitation for them to do a
concert by the young people of the Methodist Church,
grew into a real community event. Wedding dresses
and Christening robes, many of which had been worn
in the church, adorned the chancel and the font, and
the windows were filled with flowers representing
seven Sacraments.
The Methodist Chapel held the celebration buffet after
the concert, and also displays of photographs and
other memorabilia connected with life‟s journey.
A Personal View of Conference by Heather Shipman
What is it like at Conference? Would I want to go?
Those are just two of the questions I am frequently asked. I have to
admit that after Conference in Blackpool and Scarborough, Wolver-
hampton didn't have quite the same appeal but, I was pleasantly sur-
prised. Our hotels are booked by the Connexion and the York and
Hull District stayed, along with several other Districts, in the Brittania
Hotel, a 3 star hotel in the centre of town within 10 minutes of the
Civic Hall, which was where Conference was held. As a group we
would meet up for breakfast at 7.30am and then leave for the Civic
Hall where we would sit together in designated seats for the duration
of Conference. You are not allowed to vote unless sitting in your seat.
We would often meet up at lunchtime or go with other members of the
group to fringe events or visit the stalls which are always a big part of
Conference. At the end of the day we would head off at 7.00pm when
Conference finished to find a place where we could have dinner before
returning to our hotel. We ate in Thai restaurants, English restaurants,
Italian restaurants and had a buffet Chinese meal with over 100 members of Conference. As a District we work closely togethe r,
supporting one another, looking at the effect of issues on our District and contributing to the debate. We get to know one a nother
better and we have fun especially dining together at the end of a long day.
Conference is good for networking, meeting the people from other parts of our Connexion and being a part of the policy making
body of our Church. I won‟t go into the detail of the debates - you can read all about those on the various websites, but it is excit-
ing. Conference is not about rubber stamping policies and issues already decided upon. The standard of the debates is high and
the chairing very good. David Gamble and Richard Vautrey, as President and Vice President shared the chairing of the meeting s
and they were excellent. If there were any mumblings of discontent it was that the leadership of our church has been male do mi-
nated for a few years now but this is about to change with the election of Alison Tomlin and Eunice Attwood to the posts of Presi-
dent and Vice President for 2009-2010.
It is of course Conference which ordains, and this year it was especially good to be supporting Rachel Wood as she was received
into full connexion in worship on the Sunday morning and to go to her ordination at Swan Bank Methodist Church, Burslem in
the afternoon. Both these services are ticketed events because of their popularity and owing to their special significance i n the life
of our church.
So, have I nothing bad to say about Conference? Well, just occasionally you get bored with some of the debates especially if there
really is no debate worth having. When speaker after speaker speaks for a motion and no-one is against it, it can be very frustrat-
ing and you wish the chair would move to a vote. As there are over 300 people in the Conference Hall it can be pretty hot an d
airless. Ask the members of our group who were present at the Ministerial Session of Conference on a very hot Thursday after-
noon.
Conference representatives are elected at the Autumn Synod and this year we will be seeking to elect one minister and three lay
people to go to Conference in Portsmouth in 2010. If you are interested in standing and want to give me a ring please do so.
I would just add one further point, which is very important for us all, and that is please use your Conference representative s. Tell
them what issues are important to you and what view you hold and this will enable them to come to Conference from an in-
formed position. Also, ask them what happened at Conference and perhaps to speak to your circuit or church on Conference
matters. We would be more than willing to do so.
Just to remind you, your representatives at Conference this year were;
Chris Kirkman, Linda Day, Sue Sowden, Stephen Leah, Andy Lindley, Steve Barlow, Kate Woolley, Heather Shipman and
Stephen Burgess.
The Full Conference Newsletter is available on the District web site http://www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/conf.php
Yorsay is sent on behalf of the York & Hull Methodist District by the Communications Office
Bob Lawe 27 Ryde Avenue Hull Hu5 1QA communications@yorkhullmethodist.org.uk or yhcommunications@msn.com
Please note that some of you may receive this and other mailings from a Karoo e mail address – Please do not
reply or use this address as it is for mail delivery only The views expressed in this newsletter are not
necessarily the official views of the Methodist Church or of the York & Hull Methodist District and no
inferred support for any of the items or organisations should be taken as granted.
Yorsay Newsletter © 2009 York & Hull Methodist District – All rights reserved.
Dear Friends
Welcome to the August Edition
of YORSAY. Let me have news
from your Churches and Cir-
cuits; contact details as the foot
of the newsletter. Just a re-
minder that is up to you!! Make
sure you send me your details
in good time so that others can
plan what and where to visit.
At several peoples request I
have dispensed with large areas
of coloured background with
the exception of the front page
I hope that this will make copy-
ing easier for you.
Yorsay is not only meant for
those who receive it via their
e mail address it is hoped
that at least one person in
each church will copy it and
make it available to All
members of the congrega-
tion via notice boards or
through church newsletters.
•
A U G U S T 2 0 0 9
Methodist Church elects
new President and Vice
President Designate
The Revd Alison Tomlin has been
elected President Designate of
the Methodist Conference for
2010-2011, and Deacon Eunice
Attwood has been elected Vice
President Designate. The elec-
tions were announced at the an-
nual Methodist Conference in
Wolverhampton.
Alison Tomlin is currently Chair of the Northampton Methodist District, having previously
chaired the Oxford and Leicester District. In September she will become co-
Superintendent of the Thames Valley Methodist Circuit with her husband Dave. She has
served the Church as a minister for 25 years, having originally been ordained in Wolver-
hampton in 1984.
Alison said; 'It is a great privilege to be elected as President Designate and I am humbled
to be trusted with this role by the Conference. In my year of Presidency I will seek to help
the Church be more receptive to go where God is inviting us. The Church has not always
been very good at risk-taking but it's easier to take risks when we are confident in God's
love and listening for God's voice.'
Central to Alison's ministry has been the imaginative use of the Bible in prayer. She said;
'The Church has designated 2011 as the Year of the Bible and this will be very important
and exciting for me in my year of office.'
Eunice Attwood works as part of a team of lay and ordained ministers in a busy city centre
church in Newcastle. She has been instrumental in establishing the Newcastle Street Pas-
tors Project and supports work with asylum seekers, street workers and teenage runaways.
Eunice spent 12 years working as an Intensive Care Unit nurse and brings experience of
hospital chaplaincy and 10 years of serving the Church as a member of the Diaconal Or-
der. She is a Methodist Local Preacher and a part-time diaconal tutor at the Wesley Study
Centre in Durham.
Eunice said; 'As a member of the Methodist Diaconal Order it's a real honour to be elected
Vice President Designate. I am passionate about enabling the people of God to reach out
to and better engage with their communities. In my year as Vice President, I hope to in-
spire God's people to reconnect with the servant ministry to which we are all called and
celebrate the rich contribution of the Diaconal Order to the life and work of the Church.'
Eunice Attwood Alison Tomlin
Chair’s Sabbatical Reflections
Ministers are known to have an ambivalent relationship to our Standing Orders in CPD (Constitutional Practice and
Discipline of the Methodist Church), except perhaps that Standing Order which requires them to take a three month
sabbatical after ten years from first being stationed, and then at seven year intervals. Sabbaticals are a much appreci-
ated gift from the Church to us as ministers, and I trust that we repay that gift in our refreshed ministry after them.
My previous sabbatical was while I was Superintendent Minister in Cambridge. I spent most of those three months
studying for two modules of an MA course in Pastoral Theology, as well as some reading of novels. The aim was to
read one per week, but rather good weather meant that the vegetable patch received more attention than the book
pile for some of the weeks.
For my recent sabbatical, I took the opportunity of a major sailing trip with the Rona Sailing Project. I have taken
young people sail training for nearly forty years now, and last summer I skippered a girls’ crew to second place in
class in a race from Bergen to Den Helder. That fitted into a normal holiday slot, but this year a five week trip marvel-
lously coincided with the sabbatical opportunity.
The Transatlantic Tall Ships Race series is still underway as I write, and the fleet is due in Belfast during August after
four legs taking in Vigo, Tenerife, Bermuda, Charleston, Boston and Halifax (Nova Scotia). I sailed as Mate (or second
skipper, which we require for long distance races) on the race
from Vigo to Tenerife. We were on board Rona II, a 68ft ketch
(i.e. yacht with two masts) with 23 of us in the ship’s company
– skipper, mate, 3 watch officers, 3 watch leaders, 15 crew
between 15 and 25 years old.
We left our base on the River Hamble in April and set sail for
northern Spain as the race was due to start in Vigo, where the
fleet was to gather. My previous voyage across the Bay of Bis-
cay in 2000 was breezy to put it mildly – it took us eight days
of gale force winds and more. This year we managed it in just
over three days with the large spinnaker set for most of the
time – it was a fast and smooth passage.
Our landfall was La Coruña where we spent a couple of nights
before a gentle cruise down the rias of northern Spain. We
spent time race training – spinnakers up and down, changing
headsails, reefing the mainsail, etc. We anchored and swam,
and had a barbecue on a beach, and focussed ourselves on the
task ahead of us. Three nights were spent in Vigo with the rest
of the international fleet, with partying, a formal dinner for
captains and first officers and much singing and getting to
know the other crews.
A parade of sail led us out of the Ria de Vigo and down to the start line. The large, traditional tall ships start first;
Rona II is in the last class to start. We were thrilled to be first over the line after our gun, with spinnaker flying and we
were off to six days of exhilarating racing. For nearly all the time we had a following wind and our large headsails or
spinnakers were well-used. So well-used in fact that there was some gear failure for us and our competitors. That is
all part of the challenge, of course. Rona II’s crew quickly settled into the routine of a long sail – on watch; off watch;
mother watch, who cook and clean and generally take care of those doing the actual sailing. We are required to report
our positions regularly by radio to Race Control, who then report back with race positions.
“A Birthday on Board”
We knew that we were doing well, although a German yacht Peter von Danzig was much fast than us but with a stiffer
handicap. We had calm periods and windy periods; we had some fantastic cooking and some meals which were a bit
less appetising; we had some hilarious moments, and just a bit of seasickness.
The final stretch to the finish line off the northeast corner of Tenerife was nail-biting, with Peter von Danzig only
about three miles ahead of us for the last few hours. They just took line honours and we were second, reassured by
their handicap which meant that on corrected time we had made it! There was a spontaneous party on board Rona II,
before a night sail to Gran Canaria for a few
days cruising.
The fleet gathered in Tenerife in due course –
much partying again and resuming those in-
ternational friendships which are integral to
Tall Ships Races. Another crew parade through
the harbour area before the prize giving, and
then handing over to the girls’ crew who had
flown out to take Rona II on leg two to Ber-
muda. We had achieved our goal – to be first
in our class – but it’s really more than the
sailing. It’s actually about living together in a
fairly confined space; cooking for each other;
going to bed and getting up when told to do
so; washing up and cleaning (yes, and the
heads, i.e. toilets); not being able to give up
even if you’re tired or seasick or fed up. One of the younger members of crew said to me on the flight home that he’d
remember it for the rest of his life – and I think I will too.
And the rest of my sabbatical? Well, there was some reading, of novels again, and theology. I attended a day’s confer-
ence on Paul, and the Northern Church Leaders’ Retreat. I cleared large piles of paper from my study, and did those
jobs around the house which somehow don’t get done in the normal busyness of life. And yes, I was looking forward
to getting back to work, honestly!
My thanks are especially due to Richard Andrew (Deputy Chair), Heather Shipman (Synod Secretary) and Siân Hender-
son (District Administrator) who held the fort so competently for those three months, and for the Methodist Church
for providing sabbatical opportunities.
And thanks be to God for a wonderful creation (especially including the sea!) for us to enjoy, and for young people
who maybe just help to keep us a little younger than we would otherwise be.
Stephen Burgess
(Chair of District)
A photo sequence of Stephen’s trip in the tall Ships Race is now on line on http://www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/
news.php?id=197
“The Old Men on board”
P a g e 2 P a g e 4
Holgate Methodist In the York South Circuit is celebrating it’s
Centenary in 2010 and is planning a year of celebration commenc-
ing October 2009 [Which commemorates the laying of the Founda-
tion Stone] The Celebrations will end 12th September 2010 com-
memorating the opening of the Church. They would welcome
memories , Photographs and memorabilia from past members and
friends.
Copies of the programme of events available from Angela Skilbeck
28 Manor Drive South York YO26 5SA [tel 01904 792301]
„Taste and See‟ – a second slice
On Saturday 13th June seventy-three Christians of different denominations participated in a variety of workshops trying new ways of relating to
God and to one another. Taste and See 2009, a day of Bite-Size Spirituality in York City Centre Churches provided a wonderful way to experience
different types of prayer and worship in a friendly atmosphere across ten of the Churches in the City Centre.
The day was endorsed by many church leaders including Rt Rev Terence Drainey (Bishop of Middlesbrough, Roman Catholic), Rt Re v Martin
Wallace (Bishop of Selby, Anglican), Rev Kevin Watson (Moderator of the United Reform Church, Yorkshire Synod), Rev Ernie Wha lley
(Yorkshire Baptist Association) and Rev Richard M. Andrew (York Institute for Community Theology, Methodist).
Taste and See was organised by CoRE York and representatives from several Christian organisations. CoRE‟s Chairman Rev Canon Simon
Stanley said “Taste and See provided a fun and informative way of exploring different types of prayer in an ecumenical context. The event was
open to everyone with individuals travelling from as far-a-field as Lytham St Anne‟s. Trying a new experience of worship allows those participat-
ing to discover more about themselves and their spiritual tastes. This may lead to a better understanding of their fellow Chr istians who pray in
ways different to them, and deepen their relationship with God.”
The event, which began at York Minster with a welcome from the Minster Precentor, Revd Canon Jeremy Fletcher and an opening a ct of worship
from Revd Graham Maskery then gave participants the chance to join two of sixteen workshops in the churches across the city. Choices included
Carmelite Prayer, Taize, Ignation Prayer and Making a Poustinia.
Individuals who participated in the day reflected that the event gave them time to explore other ways of becoming rooted in G od. One partici-
pant said “Both workshops taught me something I will be able to keep with me and use in my everyday life. Thank you for a wonderful opportu-
nity that has made a marked difference for my journey in Christ.”
P a g e 5
P a g e 6
SYNOD SEPT 2009
Synod Hosted by the
York South Circuit will
be held at Askham Bryan
Agricultural College on
Saturday 6th September
at 10.00am
Maps and approx travel-
ling times are available
from the District Web
site http://
www.yorkhullmethodist.
org.uk/synod.php
The mileages and times
are approximate but will
give a good indication.
Revival Night! with Rodney Howard Browne, New Life Church, Hull -
Monday 27th July 7.30pm
It's with great excitement I invite you to join us for a Revival Night with Dr
Rodney Howard Browne. Rodney is one of the worlds leading revivalists,
being key to the move of God in 1994, and is still seeing the fire of God sweep
through cities throughout the world, with hundreds of thousands of salvations,
powerful moves of God's Spirit and signs & wonders. This is an awesome
opportunity for Hull to have a minister of such caliber.
Why not fill a few cars up, and join us at New Life Church in Hull for what I
believe will be a powerful step forward as we seek God for revival in our
region and nation?
If you can help us get the word out at this late notice, that would be awesome!
As seating is limited booking your free seat is essential by emailing
office@newlifehull.org with your name and party size.
I believe these are significant days. In 1910 the leader of the Azusa Street
Revival stated that in 100 years time a great move of God, eclipsing the one
they were experiencing, would commence. That's next year. In a
recent leaders meeting with Jean Darnell, God spoke to me quite miraculously
about the fire of God sweeping from the Humber up through East Yorkshire.
Quite separately, other national leaders have been drawn from around the
nation to pray along the banks of the Humber for a wave of revival. Something
is going on. Join us as we seek our King for More in our region and nation.
For our King.
Jarrod Cooper
Days of Wonder TV Show: SKY 587 Sundays and Tuesdays @ 10am, Mondays @ 7pm
Days of Wonder Radio Show: Sundays 10am UCB on DAB radio across the UK and SKY
0125
P a g e 7
Dearne Valley Big Band Concert 15 August
Filey Methodist Church welcomes the return of the Dearne Big Band and
Singers for another Concert on 15th August.
The Barnsley based act who have regularly performed in Filey for more
than 20 years play music by the likes of Glenn Miller and Frank Sinatra.
The show starts at 7.30pm. Admission on the door £5.
Filey Fishermens Choir
As seen on BBC TV‟s „Last Choir Standing‟. Also to feature in a forth-
coming new BBC series. in Concert 29 August
Filey Fishermens Choir in Concert in Filey Methodist Church on Saturday 29th
August 2009 at 7.00pm.
‘Harvest of the Sea’ 30 August
The Choir will be leading our Worship at 6.00pm on 30th August.
A plea for sponsorship and prayer
Over the weekend of the 29 - 31 August the Revd Steve
Barlow and one or two members of Wetherby Methodist
Church are walking The Minster Way, a walk of 50 miles
between the Minster‟s of Beverley and York. This is a spon-
sored walk and the money will go towards the Wetherby
Methodist Church re-development appeal which is a
£360,000 project.
On the Sunday, the walkers will be joined by our District
Chair, Revd Stephen Burgess, for a leg of 17.5 miles and on
the Monday I have agreed to walk the 15.75 miles of the last
leg.
If you feel you would like to sponsor Steve or Stephen then
please let them or me know. They would be delighted to
hear from you. I am too nervous to ask for personal spon-
sorship.
This initiative has certainly challenged me. Why did I agree
to take part I ask myself? I once walked 13 miles around
Buttermere and Crummock Water in the Lake District but
that was 10 years ago. A month ago I walked from Tad-
caster to Wetherby but that was only 10 miles and my legs
ached at the end of it and this sponsored walk is half as
much again. I am now, however, locked into this. Pride
wont let me back out (though I am mindful that pride
comes before a fall and it's not exactly recommended as a
Christian principle is it?) I also wonder if I am physically
capable of walking 15 miles in one go and have decided that
the only way to find out is to try. Do many people I won-
der, embark on sponsorship events that they are doubtful
about? Anyway, instead of sponsorship I ask for your
prayers for the success of the walk and the safe keeping of
those taking part .Thank you for reading this and if you can
For booking form http:// www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/
HateCrimebookingform.doc
please sponsor Steve or Stephen
Heather Shipman ;Synod Secretary and Lay Pastor for
Wetherby Methodist Church
P a g e 8
BEFORE the bicentenary of Charles Darwin's birth is over, I recommend that you see an absorbing new
film, and a range of accompanying resources to help churches in their teaching and out-
reach (see www.damaris.org/creationmovie).
Creation (UK cinematic release 25 Sep) dramatically portrays Darwin's struggle with traditional belief
and his world-changing theories published in 'On the Origin of Species'.
As the official film information says: "Creation is the powerful story of Charles Darwin as a young, vi-
brant father, husband and friend. His mental and physical health gradually buckles under the weight
of guilt and grief for a lost child. Told in a dazzling collage of scenes from the past and present, laced
with stories of exotic animals and the dark dreams of a troubled mind, Creation is a film that will pro-
voke and entertain...'
Nick Spencer, author of Darwin and God (SPCK, 2009), comments: 'A well-made and beautifully shot
film, Creation uses appropriate artistic licence to simplify and dramatise the specific details of the
story of Darwin's writing of The Origin of Species - and, in doing so, raises many important and chal-
lenging issues around the question of evolution and belief in God.'
I am delighted to let you know that the Damaris Trust will publish a range of helpful resources for
churches and groups to use when the film is released - to include downloadable film clips, video dis-
cussions, house group material, special outreach events and themed church service plans.
Angles/ themes under discussion:
* Did Darwin kill God? The clash between science and religion
* Conflicts within families and couples. How to deal healthily with these and resolve them
* Suffering in God's world. Is it part of the plan?
* Reasons for believing and changing your beliefs
The film goes on general release on 25 Sep, so please consider this superior production for news, feature and review purposes. Also check out the web-
sites:
Official movie website: http://creationthemovie.com/
Damaris’ site for resources: www.damaris.org/creationmovie
Stephen Goddard Associates
PR Consultants
1 & 2 Ellison's Cottages, Crank Rd,
St Helens, Merseyside WA11 7RQ
Tel: +44 (0)1744 733898
Mob: +44 (0)7930 198209
Email: steve@shipoffools.com
CHARLES DARWIN
P a g e 9
Lydia Barlow
Lydia Barlow the District Youth Enabler comes to the end of her period of office on 31st August. So if any
Youth Group wants her to visit You had better be quick. lydia@lyd.me.uk
The Racial Justice Sunday materials provide resources,
suggestions and stories for worship and other activities to
be used for the Racial Justice Sunday (September 13th
2009) or any Sunday.
This year the materials are all online and downloadable
for use. This will be accessible on the CTBI webpage
(www.ctbi.org.uk) and webpages of various denomina-
tions and national ecumenical instruments.
The 2009 Racial Justice Sunday resource will include the
following:
A4 Poster• Biblical passages (based on the Lectionary
readings) and reflections • homilies • Personal sto-
ries • Suggested hymns and prayers • Resources for
work with young people• A children's activity • A
prayer leaflet • References to further material on the
Website
Congregations that may prefer a Racial Justice-
Pack will need to contact their respective
Church Headquarters Office, Racial Justice/
Equalities Office or
National Ecumenical Office.
RITES OF PASSAGE
Songs for the Journey
Elstronwick Methodist/St Lawrence’s Church
Paul Field and Dan Wheeler thought the village of
Elsternwick was deserted as they arrived in June!
But by 6.30pm the intimate space of St Lawrence‟s
Church became standing room only with local people
gathering to hear them perform „Rites of passage‟.
Each song took us further through life, exploring the
joy and pain that happens along the way. „Joel‟s song‟
was written when Paul‟s first son was born, „Still For-
give‟ was
inspired by the London bombings, and the poem
‟There will be stars‟ was written for the funeral of Rev
Rob Frost. Tears were shed, there were many smiles,
and a great rendition of new words to ‟Love Divine‟.
What began as a simple invitation for them to do a
concert by the young people of the Methodist Church,
grew into a real community event. Wedding dresses
and Christening robes, many of which had been worn
in the church, adorned the chancel and the font, and
the windows were filled with flowers representing
seven Sacraments.
The Methodist Chapel held the celebration buffet after
the concert, and also displays of photographs and
other memorabilia connected with life‟s journey.
A Personal View of Conference by Heather Shipman
What is it like at Conference? Would I want to go?
Those are just two of the questions I am frequently asked. I have to
admit that after Conference in Blackpool and Scarborough, Wolver-
hampton didn't have quite the same appeal but, I was pleasantly sur-
prised. Our hotels are booked by the Connexion and the York and
Hull District stayed, along with several other Districts, in the Brittania
Hotel, a 3 star hotel in the centre of town within 10 minutes of the
Civic Hall, which was where Conference was held. As a group we
would meet up for breakfast at 7.30am and then leave for the Civic
Hall where we would sit together in designated seats for the duration
of Conference. You are not allowed to vote unless sitting in your seat.
We would often meet up at lunchtime or go with other members of the
group to fringe events or visit the stalls which are always a big part of
Conference. At the end of the day we would head off at 7.00pm when
Conference finished to find a place where we could have dinner before
returning to our hotel. We ate in Thai restaurants, English restaurants,
Italian restaurants and had a buffet Chinese meal with over 100 members of Conference. As a District we work closely togethe r,
supporting one another, looking at the effect of issues on our District and contributing to the debate. We get to know one a nother
better and we have fun especially dining together at the end of a long day.
Conference is good for networking, meeting the people from other parts of our Connexion and being a part of the policy making
body of our Church. I won‟t go into the detail of the debates - you can read all about those on the various websites, but it is excit-
ing. Conference is not about rubber stamping policies and issues already decided upon. The standard of the debates is high and
the chairing very good. David Gamble and Richard Vautrey, as President and Vice President shared the chairing of the meeting s
and they were excellent. If there were any mumblings of discontent it was that the leadership of our church has been male do mi-
nated for a few years now but this is about to change with the election of Alison Tomlin and Eunice Attwood to the posts of Presi-
dent and Vice President for 2009-2010.
It is of course Conference which ordains, and this year it was especially good to be supporting Rachel Wood as she was received
into full connexion in worship on the Sunday morning and to go to her ordination at Swan Bank Methodist Church, Burslem in
the afternoon. Both these services are ticketed events because of their popularity and owing to their special significance i n the life
of our church.
So, have I nothing bad to say about Conference? Well, just occasionally you get bored with some of the debates especially if there
really is no debate worth having. When speaker after speaker speaks for a motion and no-one is against it, it can be very frustrat-
ing and you wish the chair would move to a vote. As there are over 300 people in the Conference Hall it can be pretty hot an d
airless. Ask the members of our group who were present at the Ministerial Session of Conference on a very hot Thursday after-
noon.
Conference representatives are elected at the Autumn Synod and this year we will be seeking to elect one minister and three lay
people to go to Conference in Portsmouth in 2010. If you are interested in standing and want to give me a ring please do so.
I would just add one further point, which is very important for us all, and that is please use your Conference representative s. Tell
them what issues are important to you and what view you hold and this will enable them to come to Conference from an in-
formed position. Also, ask them what happened at Conference and perhaps to speak to your circuit or church on Conference
matters. We would be more than willing to do so.
Just to remind you, your representatives at Conference this year were;
Chris Kirkman, Linda Day, Sue Sowden, Stephen Leah, Andy Lindley, Steve Barlow, Kate Woolley, Heather Shipman and
Stephen Burgess.
The Full Conference Newsletter is available on the District web site http://www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/conf.php
Yorsay is sent on behalf of the York & Hull Methodist District by the Communications Office
Bob Lawe 27 Ryde Avenue Hull Hu5 1QA communications@yorkhullmethodist.org.uk or yhcommunications@msn.com
Please note that some of you may receive this and other mailings from a Karoo e mail address – Please do not
reply or use this address as it is for mail delivery only The views expressed in this newsletter are not
necessarily the official views of the Methodist Church or of the York & Hull Methodist District and no
inferred support for any of the items or organisations should be taken as granted.
Yorsay Newsletter © 2009 York & Hull Methodist District – All rights reserved.
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