yorkhullmethodist

text version of February Yorsay

2012-01-20T21:07:00.001Z

Welcome to the February
Edition of Yorsay. Pdf version available http://www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/uploads/documents/sic_4840d2ed66_20012012021415.pdf

Page2 400th Bible anniver-
sary follow up/ Biblefresh
Page3 Singing the Faith Plus
Page4 Plough Sunday /
Legal Check List for Church
Events
Page 5 Festival of Preaching
Page6/7 Climate Change
Questionaire
Page8 Facebook and Leo’s
Visit.
Page9 Lidgett Grove
Page 10 MWiB Launch
Page11 onwards Event ad-
verts

February 2012

From the Chair’s Desk
Last month I reflected on the Methodist Covenant Service and my intention to speak about it
on Radio York on New Year’s Day. That occasion did indeed give me the opportunity to do just
that, and, amongst other topics, to mention my “Chair’s Challenge” relating to our commitment
to children and young people.
This month I would like to reflect on the Methodist Church as a connexional church. The
Connexion is, loosely speaking, the connecting together of Methodists throughout the land –
through local churches, circuits, districts and the Conference. We don’t operate by ourselves
as local churches, because we have a responsibility to act together – supporting and being
supported. This is particularly evident in the stationing of our ministers. The Conference,
through the stationing process, endeavours to send ministers to those places where they are
most needed. That can be challenging at times to ministers and local churches, who may not
always get “what they want”, but we do it because we are part of a larger connexion than our
own church or circuit. I want to pay tribute to all those who co-operate in this discernment
process – especially ministers and circuit stewards.
Our connexional life has also been evident in recent days in the life of the District. During
January we have welcomed the President of the Conference, the Revd Leo Osborn, on a four
day presidential visit.
Firstly, he helped to lead our annual day for supernumerary ministers, and 33 out of our 101
supernumerary colleagues spent time together at Wydale Hall. After that the President and I
were splendidly fed at Ayton Church and told about the work undertaken in what will be the
North Yorkshire Coast Circuit – especially in the smaller rural chapels. It was an inspiring
event, and I would like to think that the presentation can be shared more widely.
On the second day, Circuit Stewards, Circuit Treasurers and Superintendents attended a
training event at Acomb Church. The President gave an invigorating opening address and
joined in each of the four workshops: property, finance, stationing and healthy circuits. It was
partly a way of thanking those who have particular responsibilities, and trying to provide
encouragement and resources for their work.
The Sunday was a full day of worship: the beginning of Kirkbymoorside Church’s 200th
Anniversary celebrations, Evensong in York Minister and an evening Circuit Service in Boston
Spa. We were blessed by the President’s preaching in each place – and a different sermon too
on each occasion!
The District Policy Committee met with the President on the fourth day – again a valuable time
of sharing in District and Connexional conversations, before delivering him to York Station to
allow him to be in London for the Parliamentary Covenant Service later that day. So, alongside
a commitment to connexionalism we land up back with that renewal of our covenant with God
with which I started this letter.
And I write having just said farewell to the Secretary of the Conference, the Revd Dr Martyn
Atkins, who has spent the day in the District. Martyn spent the morning with our Synod
Secretary, Heather Shipman, and me as we undertook my annual Ministerial Development
Review. In the afternoon he joined in our monthly meeting of the District Executive Committee.
You can’t say we haven’t been part of a connexional church, and we thank God for the
partnerships that exist in so many ways. It is a partnership not only between fellow disciples,
but a journey with a God who walks with us – as we seek to be that “discipleship movement
shaped for mission” which we believe we are called to be.
We are all invited – called even – to be part of that journey, and may God bless each one of
us.
Stephen Burgess
District Chair

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"400th Anniversary of the Bible:
In 2011 we celebrated the bible in many ways and many places around the District. It has been great to hear how
people all around the District have been touched by their experiences in this anniversary year. If you were blessed
by reading the bible in a new way, sharing the bible with others, writing a verse or putting on an event please will
you share your story with us. We really would love to hear your experiences. Please email Tricia
(DDE@yorkhullmethodist.org.uk), Sue (revsuepegg@tiscali.co.uk), Ivan (ivan@ipegg2.wanadoo.co.uk) or Mary
(jackmans@madasafish.com) or speak to one of us to share your news. The anniversary celebrations may be over
but we hope that you are still being challenged and encouraged by God's word in this new year."

The Bible Fresh initiative inspired creative ideas across the circuit for engaging with the Scriptures. The Circuit held
three events, Digging Deeper ; Walk through the Bible; Riding Lights Theatre Co.
Digging Deeper was a day for doing exactly that. Around fifty people from around the circuit and further afield spent
the day under the excellent tutorship of David Wood and David Bryan. We looked at King David, and the Son of David,
taking a sometimes sideways and surprising angle, being challenged but also helped in our thinking and understanding.
WALK THROUGH THE BIBLE. A great day was had by all!
The Rev Joanne Archer-Siddall (Jo), a Methodist minister from the Huddersfield circuit, came with her two older
daughters (who manned the bookstall) plus husband and baby, and led us through the entire Old Testament in an
unforgettable way. Walk Through The Bible (OT) consists of a total of 77 key words with accompanying actions, each
representing a different part of the story of the Old Testament helping those present to learn and recall it
chronologically. Jo brought a wonderful combination of facts, actions and humour: for a few minutes she would talk
through the stories in a section of the OT, then we would see how it fitted into the overall picture, followed by learning
the key words and actions for that portion. She would finish the section with humorous comments, practical application
or interesting additional information. What might have been a long day passed quickly in a lively interactive, educational
and thought-provoking way. It was a thoroughly well-spent Saturday making us all wish we’d brought a friend!
Both of these events were thoroughly enjoyed by those who took part, and were considered to have been very
worthwhile. The third event was the Riding Lights Theatre Co, on 3rd Dec, and lived up to the promises of their usual
high standard. Bring it back Mac -a tale of two shepherds losing a sheep and Mac the inn keeper needing to feed all
those at the inn including the family with a new born baby in the barn. A good night was had by all. A busy year and
hopefully all the good things started in the Bible fresh year will continue.............
Pip Smith
Circuit Support Manager
Ripon and Lower Dales Methodist Circuit Office
riponcsm@btconnect.com

Helping your family to live alongside dementia
More people are affected by dementia everyday: often children find themselves having to offer sensitive care to their parent s and
loved-ones having to cope with a changing relationship with a partner. This free course offers practical help to those facing d ementia
within their family. Over three weeks it will enable you to:find out more about dementia and understand the jargon involved;
understand what it may feel like to be experiencing dementia;
explore your own feelings and uncertainties as you find yourself responsible for the welfare of someone else;
explore practical plans and actions that can help you care for those close to you.
The course will be held at Aroma Coffee Shop, 30 The Village, Haxby, York
on Tuesday 6th,13th & 20th March 2012from 7.30p.m.-9.15p.m.
To book a place, or for more information contact: Corinne Brown 01904 761141 or email corinnebrown@btinternet.com

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Available now at www.singingthefaithplus.org.uk

Singing the Faith Plus meeting your needs
Singing the Faith Plus (www.singingthefaithplus.org.uk) is the web-based resource designed to complement and support
the new hymn book of the Methodist Church, Singing the Faith. It was established in order to provide a platform for new
hymns, songs and contemporary worship resources as well as offering a single point of access for information on
Methodists hymns and worship.
Designed for musicians and leaders of worship, Singing the Faith Plus (StF+) includes unique search and index facilities,
together with suggestions and articles to assist in choosing the right hymns and songs for local needs. It is also a place to
share new hymns and songs, words and opinions, and to explore new materials for Methodist worship.
Answering your questions
Already, StF+ is evolving as more people use the site and write in with specific notes and queries. We've added a new
menu section, "About StF" (http://www.singingthefaithplus.org.uk/?page_id=293), with pages devoted to the hymn book
itself, other editions and "Frequently asked questions". We've also created a central space for leaving your questions and
comments.
Other editions
At the moment, the most frequently asked questions have to do with other versions of the hymn book - especially organ,
electronic words, and backing track versions. These and other options continue to be discussed by the newly formed
Singing the Faith Reference Group, which will guide the development of the book, website and all things related. At the
moment, the latest news is this:
The Electronic Words Edition is now available and further information about this is on the "Other editions" page of the
website (http://www.singingthefaithplus.org.uk/?page_id=4917).
We've also heard that Hymnal Plus has produced an upgrade to accommodate all the content of Singing the Faith. This
features backing tracks of all 826 accompanied music items in the book. For further information, please go to the Hymnal
Plus site (www.hymntechnology.com). We are happy to bring this product to your attention but, as it has been produced
independently, we have not tested it thoroughly and cannot guarantee its accuracy or quality.
News of all further developments will be posted on the website as soon as they happen.
Lectionary suggestions
Already, the "Hymns for Sunday worship" calendar on StF+ is being well used. Here you can find suggestions for which
hymns you might use to accompany the readings of the Lectionary. We are working three months ahead - which means you
can already start planning for Ash Wednesday if you feel like it!
We would be very interested to hear which hymns you actually use for Sunday worship - or at any other time. I was recently
told of a "groundbreaking ceremony" for a new church development at which the gathering sang (outdoors - of course - with
a guitar) "Ye servants of God" (StF 340) and Peter Relf's recent hymn, "In this place, with God's word" (StF 554).
You can let us know what you used (and what worked and what didn't) by posting your choices underneath our own
Lectionary suggestions. And don't forget the Biblical Index - another resource to help you choose appropriate hymns.
An online hymn companion?
StF+ has begun to compile background notes and ideas for singing to accompany each hymn entry on the site. There's a
long way to go but, in the run-up to Christmas, we posted information about Singing the Faith's three new Advent candle
hymns (StF 165, 166 & 174), as well as Marjorie Dobson's "Jesus the carpenter" (StF 275), Geoffrey Ainger's "Born in the
night" (StF 193) and Bernadette Farrell's popular "Longing for light" (StF 706).
Do take time to explore Singing the Faith Plus and let us know what you think. You can get in touch with me by emailing
stfplus@methodistchurch.org.uk, using the feedback page of the website, or posting your thoughts to "Editor, Singing the
Faith Plus" at Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR.
In the meantime, may I offer you my good wishes for 2012 and for all your worship and music-making.
Yours -Laurence Wareing (Editor, Singing the Faith Plus)
L a u r e n c e w a r e i n g writer, producer & trainereditor, Singing the Faith Plus
e. lw@laurencew.org p. 01968 680934 m. 07968 538816
a. 246 Rullion Road, Penicuik EH26 9JL
Latest news now available at www.laurencew.org Available now at www.singingthefaithplus.org.uk

World Church event at Pickering Methodist Church at 10 am on 10 March.
Speaker: Francis Nabieu, minister in the York North Circuit and past President of the Sierra Leone Conference

3

Plough Sunday Service held at
Ripon Cathedral 8th January
[ Andy Rylands John Carter and
Elizabeth Clark ]

Organising a Church Event?

You know all too well that churches often organise occasional events such as special suppers, parties and concerts. The
regulation of such events – whether by the local authority or by licensing bodies – is becoming more complex each year. But fear
not, the Churches Legislation Advisory Service had produced a handy checklist of things that organisers must bear in mind. To get
the Checklist http://www.churcheslegislation.org.uk/files/publications/CLAS_events_checklist_01-12.doc

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5

The Christian Census on Climate Change:
A Catholic group from the North East has launched a “Christian Census on Climate Change.” The initiative is intended to allow
Christians from all denominations across the country to voice their opinions and produce lasting data for discussion.
From a Christian viewpoint, do people think that climate change is of little importance and untouchable, or is it something that
needs to be tackled from both a scientific and moral perspective? We would love to have your views._For churches who would
like to take action in the wake of the UN climate talks in Durban, the census is an ideal way to get congregations talking.
We would like as many people as possible from as many churches as possible to complete the census and email, or post it
back to us. For efficiency, we would suggest that one person per church/meeting to become the ‘messenger’ and promote the
census to the rest of the congregation. They then return completed questionnaires to us.
The deadline for completing the census is the end of March 2012. Results of the census will be released at a special event in
York Minster on Saturday 21st April. The morning service will be led by Archbishop Sentamu, Bishop Terence Drainey and
leaders of other denominations. The afternoon will feature practical workshops on climate change and how congregations and
communities can become more environmentally sustainable.
To download the census and for more information on the York Minster event, please visit our website at;
www.CConCC.wikispaces.com. For paper copies of the census, or if you want to participate in the event in York Minster,
please contact Emma Casson, Administrator for the Christian Census on Climate Change tel: 07879372999, email:
CConClimateChange@gmail.com.
Thank you very much.
EXTRA INFORMATION ON QUESTIONS e.g The example shows what is expected
General Questions about climate change
1 This question asks how much of increases in the world's temperature (around 1°C over the past century) has been due to our
burning of fossil fuels (oil, gas etc) which add to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Some people think that climate change is part
of normal climate cycles, and some Christians believe that manmade climate change is part of God’s plan for the Earth.
2 If your knowledge is: never considered climate change score 1, read newspapers 10, read occasional report 20, listen to TV or
radio programmes 30, attend a conference 40, read books 50, witnessed affects 60, keep abreast of 2011findings from scientists
70, study technical papers 80, top expert 90-100.
Questions asking about dangers to others
3 This asks about any link between destructive storms, droughts, and floods etc and climate change.
4 The question asks for an idea of how many people in the world may have to move from their homes due to the effects of drought,
problems with agriculture, sea level rise and other flooding etc within 10 years of the world temperature rising to 3°C (or 5°F) above
pre-industrial levels. This is asked to get your idea of the scale of the problem.
5 This follow-on question asks how many people are going to be able to live on the Earth a generation after the problems outlined in
Question 4 for a 5°C (or 9°F) rise, plus wars associated with migration etc. This is again asked to get your idea of the scale of the
problem.
Questions asking when any action might be needed
6 Some experts have been advising us to act quickly, while others tell us to wait and leave it for our children or grandchildren to sort
out. Please give your opinion, assuming it is not too late.
7 This question asks if there is a risk of "tipping points" being reached that will spoil future efforts by mankind to control warming.
Such tipping points could include: loss of Arctic sea ice, the release of frozen methane from the seabed, decay of peat and frozen
tundra, and the burning of the Amazon forests.
8 This question seeks your opinion on how quickly the ice floating in open water around the North Pole (with an area usually the size
of Western Europe) will melt.
Questions on the ethical issues
9 This asks how much of British Christians' thought and action should be on climate change, or is it an issue for scientists,
politicians, emerging nations etc...
10 This asks whether there could be a direct link between our lifestyle and the deaths of people in other parts of the world.
Questions about actions
11 How much our politicians should act on our behalf? 1-10 leave well alone, 10-20 of little importance, 20-30 worth minor
consideration, 30-40 worth some consideration, 40-50 features in some policy recommendations, 50-60 starts to underpin policy
making, 60-70 features in a politician's top 10 campaign priorities, 70-80 underpins major policy decisions,
80-90 in a politician's top 3 campaign priorities and underpins most policy decisions, 90-100 of utmost importance and nothing else
matters.
12 The question asks whether in the UK there should be personal carbon allowances for all, or whether cuts in the use of fuels etc
should continue to be from businesses, through green taxes for petrol etc and on a voluntary basis.
Forwarding your questionnaire
It would be useful if each parish/area had a 'messenger' who would collect and forward questionnaires: please consider
volunteering for your area.. Results will be released at the Culmination on April 21st in York Minster - see web for details.

6

A PDF version of this questionnaire can be downloaded from http://www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/uploads/documents/
sic_be5bddf705_18012012085140.pdf

7

York and Hull Methodist Page on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/pages/York-and-Hull-Methodist-Church/329151680438680
Why not join us for discussions- advertising events– or just keeping in touch with your fellow Methodists ect

Photos taken during the Visit of Rev Leo
Osbourne to the North Yorkshire Coast Circuit
© Ellinor Pugh [ Copied from Facebook All
Rights reserved ]
If any one else has photos taken during Leo’s
visit to the District I should be very pleased to
receive a copy.

8

Good evening, ladies and gentlermen, boys and girls, and welcome. You may think from the title, that our play
has something to do with the story of the Wizard of Oz.
It hasn't.
You may think that it's full of beautiful music with a thought-provoking script.
It isn't.
You may think that you will go home thrilled with the quality of our production.
You won't.
Perhaps you are looking forward to a simple story without any convolutions of plot for which the writer of this
enterprise is known.
Don't.

The week before Christmas saw Lidgett Grove Methodist Church in Acomb, York, become Lidgett village – the setting
for the church pantomime. The young people (and some not so young) came together to perform “Somewhere over the
rainbow”, a pantomime best described by the opening words by the Good Fairy and the Pessimistic Pixie:
GF

PP
GF
PP
GF
PP
GF

PP

The pantomime told the story of Herbie and Dorothy, whose mum (Mother Goose) and sisters had been kidnapped by the
snow queen. Herbie and Dorothy, with the help of a snowman, the good fairy, an Irish scarecrow, 3 witches, Cinderella
and her ugly sisters, some sailors and soldiers and an American ogre (aka Revd Graham Carter – ex president of
conference) along with the wizard of Oz, finally defeated the snow queen and the family were re-united.
The pantomime was written, produced and directed by Miss Pauline Onyett (aka the snow queen) and a good time was had
by all.

9

10

11

c/o Speaking Volumes
Po Box 1020
Whittlesford
Cambs, CB22 4WX

01223 832671
info@christianbookawards.org
www.christianbookawards.org
Charity no. 255001

Press release

David Winter to present the Ultimate Christian Library Book Award 2012

The Ultimate Christian Library Book Awards this year will be presented by David Winter and will take place at the National CRE
at Sandown Racecourse on 9th May. Everyone is welcome to see the awards ceremony, starting at 11.30 hrs in the Park View
Suite and will receive a packed 'goody bag' with vouchers and freebies worth up to £50.
David Winter, former Head of Religious Broadcasting at the BBC, regular contributor to 'Thought for the Day' and columnist in the
Church Times is himself an author of over 40 books. His initial and best selling book 'Hereafter' was the first ever supported by
the 'Speaking Volumes' trustees (CBPT) and is delighted to be asked to present the 2012 awards saying that 'I feel a particular
connection to the sponsors of this award'.
Meanwhile, public voting has started swiftly for both the adult and children's category and all books look like they will be hotly
contested.
Shortlisted books in the adult category include 'A Time to Care' by Emily Ackerman, 'Resistance Fighter' by Susie Howe both
published by IVP, 'The Wrong Messiah' by Nick Page published by Hodder Faith, 'Mugabe and the White African' by Ben Freeth
of Lion Publishing and 'Faith Under Fire' by Andrew White published by Monarch.
The Children's list includes 'A New Shape' by Anna Payne published by CWR, 'The Lion Classic Bible' by Andrea Skevington and
'My Look and Point Bible' both by Lion, 'Babylon' by Hannah MacFarlane and 'The Oncoming Storm' by Andrew R Guyatt both
from Scripture Union.
Emily Ackerman, author of 'A Time to Care' (her first book) said ‘I am really pleased to have been shortlisted for this particular
award, because I set out to write a book about parent caring that would be useful for anybody and reveal the riches of the faith in
a user-friendly way.’
Voting is possible until 31st March at www.christianbookawards.org. Every person voting receives a free ticket to the National
CRE. David's story shows how vital early support for Christian authors can be - your vote could make that difference!
For further details contact:
Paula Renouf, Director of Speaking Volumes 01223 832671

12

_
Situated_in_over_2_000_acres_of_outstanding_natural_beauty__the_works_of__mpleforth__bbey_are_diverse___It_is_home_to_a_community_of_80_
monks__more_than_815_students_on_two_separate_school_sites_and_500_staf_
Retreat_Team
Hospitality__dministraion_Manager
Salary__£27_000_per_annum

The_Hospitality_&_Pastoral_Services'_Team_welcome_over_10_000_residenial_guests_per_annum__who_take_part_in_residenial_and_day_retreats_
run_by_the_Benedicine_Monks_of__mpleforth__The_Hospitality__dministraion_Manager_will_be_fully_supporive_of_the_Benedicine_
Community’s_aims_and_responsible_for_the_eicient_administraion_of_guest_bookings__providing_a_warm_welcome_to_all_guests__management_
of_guesthouses_comprising_accommodaion_for_up_to_100_guests__staf__budget_and_health_and_safety_management_and_oversight_of_
housekeeping__Proicient_in_administraion__guest_relaions_and_in_establishing_strong_interdepartmental_working_relaionships__the_ideal_
candidate_will_be_educated_in_hospitality_management_and_have_a_proven_track_record_of_retreat_or_hospitality_management_

Skills_required_
Experienced_Hospitality__dministraion_Manager
Excellent_people_management_skills
Excellent_administraive_skills
Budget_Management
Promoing_a_posiive_aitude_and_fostering_open_communicaion
Organised__friendly__calm__lexible__self_reliant
Educated_in_hospitality_management
Minimum_educaion_requirement__3___levels

Closing_date_for_applicaions__31_January_2012_
Interviews_will_be_held_on_13_February_2012
_________________________________________________________________Previous_applicants_need_not_re-apply

Contact_for_further_informaion/applicaion_form_
_The_Human_Resources_Oice___mpleforth_College__YORK__YO62_4EY
Tel__01439_766415___Fax___01439_788770
email__humanresources@ampleforth_org_uk

Job_descripions__speciicaions_and_applicaion_forms_available_on_our_website_at__www_college_ampleforth_org_uk/
employment/

Ampleforth College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and a
Criminal background check will be carried out on all successful applicants.

13

It's for YOU - "For You"
The third European Methodist Festival takes place in Krakow on 8-12 August 2012. It is for everyone; children and adults,
individuals and families.
We will meet in workshops, seminars, Wesley (small) groups and prayer groups, at Morning Praise and in night cafés, at Gospel
workshops and informal coffee sessions at the 'EMK-Mobil'. Sports and games will also be offered. A guided tour of the city and trips
to nearby sights (e.g. the Auschwitz memorial site) are being planned. More information about the festival and current news can be
found online at www.methodistfestival.eu
Anne-Marie Holloman l Executive Support Officer
The Projects, Research & Development Cluster | The Connexional Team 020 7467 5219 [direct line]

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Yorsay is sent on behalf of the York & Hull Methodist District by the Communications Office
Bob Lawe 27 Ryde Avenue Hull Hu5 1QA 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 © 2012 York & Hull Methodist District – All rights reserved.
Publication deadline for next month Yorsay is 20th of the Month

16

January 2012 Yorsay Text version

2011-12-20T14:35:00.002Z

For full versionClick here

January2012
YORSAY January 2012
From the Chair’s Desk
Welcome to the January Edi-
tion of Yorsay.
Back in November I was invited to participate in the Radio York New Year’s Day
“Sunday Breakfast” Show. A number of religious leaders have been asked to “reflect
on the year past and bring us their hopes for 2012” – mainly by means of pre-
recorded interviews. In further conversation with the presenter, Richard Staples, I
somehow agreed to drop into the studio for the conversation on Sunday 1st January –
an arrangement which might just moderate my plans for New Year’s Eve!
Please make sure that a copy
of Yorsay is available in your
Church—I have noticed on my
travels that many Churches
do not have copies available.
This is a district resource and
should be in each Church.
The first challenge of 2012 will be, therefore, to ponder how I will respond to that
challenge, and in the light of any breaking news nearer the time. You will be able to
judge how well I do if you are able to listen in – or maybe catch up with it on iPlayer
later on.
I won’t spoil things by mentioning any themes I have in mind, except to say that I
intend to speak a little about the Methodist Covenant Service in which many
Methodists will be sharing early in the New Year. It is a hard service in some ways,
as it requires from us a certain amount of self-reflection and a deep commitment –
we will be reminded that “In this covenant God promises us new life in Christ. For our
part we promise to live no longer for ourselves but for God.” and that:
Page2 Haiti 1 year on
Page3 President’s Visit/
Anlaby Park
Page4 Olympic News
Events page 5 onwards

Christ has many services to be done:
some are easy, others are difficult;
some bring honour, others bring reproach;
some are suitable to our natural inclinations and material interests,
others are contrary to both;
in some we may please Christ and please ourselves;
in others we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves.
Yet the power to do all these things is given to us in Christ,

who strengthens us.
The Covenant Prayer which is said together by the congregation is equally
challenging, and can be found in the Methodist Worship Book. If you have made
those promises many times before, then do your best to ensure that you take them
as seriously as when you first said the words. If you are new to the service, then
perhaps you could talk it through with someone: your pastoral visitor or minister, or
someone else whom you trust. Following Jesus can be a costly endeavour, but
ultimately a rewarding one.
I wish you all a blessed New Year, and please don’t forget my challenge to the
District, that in 2012 we all try, each and every one of us, to do something extra for
children and young people, within or outside the Church.
New Year Blessings to you all.
Stephen Burgess
District Chair
1

Spending of Humanitarian Funding Haiti Earthquake 2010 [from MRDF Trustees report]

United Nations states and international partners pledged £5.3 billion United Nations donors conference in March 2010
towards Haiti’s long-term recovery after the earthquake of January 12 2010.
However, in November 2010, the Washington Post commented that only $2 billion had been committed, however less than half, $732
million, had been disbursed; much of which had been spent on getting the Haitian government functioning again, after a third of
government employees were killed in the earthquake and most of its buildings were destroyed.
There was a significant delay in spending of the funds, due to factors such as:
Bureaucratic red tape in donor nations
Time being taken to make decisions regarding how to rebuild Haiti, a country that had little infrastructure before the earthquake
A cholera epidemic that affected thousands of citizens
Logistical difficulties removing rubble from Port-au-Prince’s narrow unpaved streets
A contested election in 2010-2011
Examples of international aid pledges and how they are being spent
The American Red Cross announced $1.8 million to create a waste collection hotline and removal network in the capital Port-au-
Prince
The Clinton Foundation committed $1.5 million to address the cholera outbreak, implement an education and awareness
campaign, train public health workers and distribute treatment packs
Examples of how aid money is being spent by INGOs:
ActionAid
A year after the event, ActionAid reported on particular achievements they had made, including building over 31,000 transitional
homes and clearing 7.5 percent of the rubble had been cleared from Port-au-Prince. However these figures represent only
fractions of the total work that needs to take place to affect the 1.5 million people who had been left homeless.
For more information, please visit the ActionAid website here
International Medical Corps
Running cholera treatment and prevention activities in three of Haiti's departments most vulnerable to cholera, and have built a
network of hundreds of community health volunteers to educate communities on how to prevent, identify and treat cholera.
This allows Haitian communities to build resilience to the disease within their own areas. Because of these efforts, more tha n
30,000 cholera patients received life-saving treatment and more than 800,000 people were educated on the disease and
good hygiene practices.
Today, 100 percent of facilities are staffed and run by Haitian doctors and nurses, with expatriate staff providing technical
assistance.
Working closely with the Haitian Ministry of Public Health and Population; the World Health Organization, and other international
NGOs that specialise in the provision of emergency health care such as Doctors Without Borders and Medecins du Monde.

For more information, visit the International Medical Corps website here
Christian Aid
One year after the earthquake:
Immediate medical care provided to 15,000 people. Working through partners, Haitian women distributed over 237,000 hot
meals to those left with nothing
More than 2,300 families received dry food parcels or vouchers for food and over 10,000 hygiene kits distributed
2,500 families supported with emergency shelter appropriate to their needs, ranging from plastic sheeting to sturdy temporary
shelters
Distributed cash to more than 5,600 families so they could buy emergency supplies, instead of relying on hand-outs. These
were often used to buy vital food or to send their children to school
Christian Aid partners provided:
1,400 people with tools and seeds in time for the planting season
More than 1,000 families with cash to help either start or regenerate a small business
Therapy for over 7,800 people to help them deal with the trauma of the quake
Water purification tablets for 1,200 people
More than 900 families with information on best hygiene practices to prevent the spread of disease
School fees for the children of 190 families.
Christian Aid partners will be working on the emergency response programme in Haiti until 2014, but plans for the next six month or
so include:
Repairing 150 houses and building 370 permanent, hurricane and quake-resistant houses, training 250 people in construction
trades, from masonry to carpentry
Training 1,250 people in agriculture, livestock, fisheries and fruit processing units
Projects to raise awareness of the importance of protecting the environment as well setting up tree nurseries within people’s
own community.
For more information, visit the Christian Aid website here
Oxfam
Providing clean drinking water and sanitation facilities to approximately 400,000 displaced people in Port-au-Prince and the
neighbouring areas of Carrefour Feuilles, Croix des Bouquets, and Delmas and, outside the capital, in Gressier, Petit-Goâve,
Grand-Goâve, and Léogâne
Providing over 300 million litres (approximately 79 million gallons) of clean, chlorinated water each month to the camps and areas
where they work
Building 2,500 latrines and 1,032 bathing shelters, which the camp residents and local people maintain
Distributing hygiene kits containing personal care items such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, sanitary pads, and
towels to more than 120,000 people
Developing innovative and environmentally friendly solutions to sanitation problems, including bio-degradable "peepoo" bags
Recruiting and training community members as health promoters to work as ‘mobilisers’ in the camps to reinforce messages about
good health and clean sanitation facilities

2

President’s Visit
The president of the Methodist Conference Rev Leo Osbourne will be in our district from the 13th– 16th January
2012
The itinerary is as follows
Friday January 13 is a day with supernumeraries at Wydale Hall
Saturday January 14 is a day for circuit stewards and treasurers (no venue yet)
Sunday January 15 he is preaching at Kirkbymoorside in the morning, the York Minster in the afternoon, and
Tadcaster in the evening
Monday January 16 he is at DPC in Pocklington in the morning then leaving in the afternoon

Space mission launched to serve the community

IT IS a place where people go to worship.
But now a church is hoping to reach more people in the community after being granted planning permission for a new
development.
Anlaby Park Methodist Church's Ignition project will see the expansion of the site in Hull Road.
Peter Richardson, Ignition executive team member, said: "We realised that the services we could offer were limited
because of the space we have at the church, so we want to be able to provide more for the community. "The way
people use churches is changing, so we decided to improve our facilities to meet more of the community's needs."
Phase one of the Ignition project, which is set to begin next March, will include the opening of a new coffee shop.
Mr Richardson said: "We already have a community coffee morning held in the church each Saturday, but the new
facility, which will hopefully be a smart glass building, will make it much more inviting."
Phase one will also include the launch of a "Live At Home" scheme, which is set to start early next year. This scheme
aims to improve the quality of life for older people, relieving isolation and encouraging the elderly to take an active
part in the community. Mr Richardson said: "We will look at each person's individual needs and get to know what they
want to do and how they want us to help them. This scheme is aimed at all of the elderly community, not just
members of the church."
Potential new facilities also include the expansion of pre-school services on offer and before and after-school clubs –
all helping the church appeal to a wider audience. Church members have helped to raise £30,000 for the project,
through cake sales and "odd jobs" for members of the community.
Mr Richardson said: "Everyone has done their bit to help raise money and in addition to the church members' own
fundraising efforts, support is being sought from the Methodist Church corporately and external funders such as the
Hull And East Riding Charitable Trust. "Our fundraising efforts will continue to phase two and three."
Work on phase one is set to be completed by next summer. Phases two and three are hoped to be finished in the next
five to ten years.
Mr Richardson said: "During the
next phases, we want to knock
down the old hall at the back and
replace it. We will then look at
improving the kitchen area and all
of the facilities throughout the
church. "We would like to make
more room for everybody as we
have a growing community."

Rev Christopher Mabb and Peter
Richardson look at the plans
[Article from Hull Daily Mail]

3

Olympic Relay

Readers of Yorsay might be interested to know that quite a while ago I nominated our
Boys Brigade leader at Weighton to be one of the carriers of the Olympic Torch and I’ve
heard that he has been chosen. His name is Tom Clayton and he is a remarkable 26 year
old. His father was the leader of BB but sadly died suddenly just before I arrived in
Weighton. After his death Tom decided to dedicate much of his leisure time to the
tremendous work of BB leader and carry on the work his father started. As a result the
once 20 strong BB has now over 60 youngsters on its books and is a thriving company.
Tom works as a teacher in Scarborough and travels each weekend back to Weighton to
lead the Friday evening sessions as well as spending other weekends at camp and other
events. He’ll be carrying the Olympic Torch somewhere around East Yorkshire but I’ll let
you have more details when they come through
Sue Pegg.

News Release
16 December 2011
Holy Biscuit wins cultural approval from Olympic organisers
The London 2012 Organising Committee has given the go-ahead for a community arts project linked to the Methodist Church
to feature as part of the Cultural Olympiad. LOCOG awarded an Inspire Mark – its official seal of approval – to the Outside/In
project, which will see young people and adults from different parts of Newcastle telling stories about themselves, their history,
culture and communities through art. The artists’ work will feature as four exhibitions at The Holy Biscuit from March through to
July 2012. The Holy Biscuit (formerly Shieldfield Methodist Church) is a community arts space partnered with The Methodist
Church and The Biscuit Factory – an independent art gallery in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Ish Lennox, Olympic and Paralympic Games Coordinator for the Methodist Church, said: “It’s fantastic that a Methodist project
has won an Inspire Mark. We are completely committed to engaging with the Cultural Olympiad. Methodist Christian
Discipleship is life-long and whole life. Arts and culture is a vibrant and essential part of that wholeness. Being awarded an
Inspire Mark from LOCOG is a great achievement.”
The Outside/In project will showcase as four exhibitions: The St James Drama Project; Images of our Newcastle;
Togetherness and Playtoon. The overall goal of the project is to widen social integration and personal development, as well as
provide space for a legacy of community engagement with the arts.

The “St James Drama Project” is a one-day exhibition of a film produced and acted by children from St John's School, Benwell,
Newcastle, based on the lives of people buried in the graveyard of St James Church.
“Images of our Newcastle” will be a week-long community exhibition, organised by The Holy Biscuit, of photographs taken by
school children and Newcastle-based street photographers documenting day-to-day life in Shieldfield, Newcastle.
“Togetherness” will also be a week-long exhibition involving film footage and photographs of a large (temporary) sculpture
made up of wooden blocks created by service-users and students from the Percy Hedley Foundation and the local community.
“Playtoon” is an exhibition of photography, video, maps and the written word representing street cultures, specifically
skateboarding, BMXing and free-running. The week-long exhibition will be organised by the School of Built and Natural
Environment, Northumbria University.

© Paul Duxberry
UK -German
Shepherd Dog
Rescue
organisation

4

Tickets available by calling Andrew Marshall 01937 573167

5

Easter Treasure

An ecumenical opportunity to explore resources for children’s workers and leaders
of children’s liturgy of the word during Holy Week and Easter.
Hosted by the Anglican Diocese of Ripon & Leeds, the Catholic Diocese of Leeds,
the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church

Who is this evening for?
 Do you work with children or young people in church or school?

 W ould y ou lik e t o ex p lor e fr es h ideas for working with children on the themes of Holy Week & Easter?

 Would you like to explore the theme in different ways to find different ways of working?

 Do you wish to share and learn with Christians of different traditions?

Dates and Venues:

Choose one of the following:
Wednesday 1st February 2012
at Holy Trinity Church, Church Lane, Ripon. HG4 2EY

Thursday 2nd February 2012
at Longcauseway URC, Dewsbury, WF13 1NH

Wednesday 8th February 2012
at St Andrew’s URC, Shaftesbury Avenue, Roundhay, Leeds, LS8 1DS

Time: 7:15 – 9:30pm
Refreshments from 7:15pm

In order to cover costs, we need to make a charge of £7 per person for this event.
This includes coffee and cake on arrival, and a resource pack to take home afterwards!
(Do encourage your Parish/PCC/Church to pay for you to attend!)

Numbers are limited to 40, so please
return the form [Available from Viv Morrisy] by the 23 Jan to:

Janine Garnett, "Easter Treasure"
Hinsley Hall, 62 Headingley Lane,
LEEDS LS6 2BX
(0113) 261 8040

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Yorsay is sent on behalf of the York & Hull Methodist District by the Communications Office
Bob Lawe 27 Ryde Avenue Hull Hu5 1QA 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 © 2012 York & Hull Methodist District – All
rights reserved.

Publication deadline for next month Yorsay is 20th of the Month

10

December Text only edition of Yorsay

2011-11-20T08:35:00.000Z

[For the full pdf version Click here

Welcome to the December
Edition of Yorsay.
May I wish you all a very Hap-
py and peaceful Christmas
The January Edition will
hopefully be published just
before Christmas as the
Communications office is
virtually closed from 23rd
December to 3rd January
2012
Contents
Page2 New District Resource/
Epworth Rectory Milestone
Page3 Letter to the Chancel-
lor
Page4 Community Award/Not
Church Project/Scouse Wis-
dom
Page5 Margaret Cundiff /
Various
Page 6/7 FICC
Page 7onwards Christmas
Events that have been sent in
to us [ See also http://
www.yorkhullmethodist.org.u
k/index.php?cid=47&pid=24
For Services and Events for
Christmas. ]

DECEMBER 2011

YORSAY December 2011

From the Chair’s Desk
Twelve months ago I was writing this December YORSAY letter
from a warm, South African summer. This year I am writing in the
depths of a Yorkshire autumn – not too cold at present, but plenty
to warn us of colder times ahead.
Some thoughts which are uppermost in my mind at present – firstly
that we are in the midst of difficult financial times in this country and
throughout Europe. The uncertainly which many people are facing,
and wrestling with just what has led us into all this, are concerning
to us all.
Secondly, there is much which is challenging us within the life of
the Methodist Church, as we strive to discern where God is leading
us. We are in the midst of the Stationing process, as ministers and
circuits are matched, and visits take place. The future pattern of
training within the Church is being considered across the
Connexion – watch out for an invitation to be part of The Fruitful
Field consultation in Malton on Saturday 10th December, for
example.
Thirdly, whilst I am not writing at length this month about my Chair’s
Challenge regarding our commitment to children and young people,
I cannot help but be challenged personally by news such as the
disturbing rise in unemployment particularly among the young.
Challenges and deep concerns – and yet as we move into Advent
and prepare for Christmas, let us hold fast to our faith in a God who
visits and is deeply involved in His creation. By all means let’s
celebrate and enjoy Christmas, but let’s also remember that Jesus
was born into a world which was deeply troubled and challenging.
At the darkest time, God became one of us in His Son, and that is
the greatest saving act of all time.
Plenty to ponder on, so take time to think and pray and prepare,
and even to share with those around us just what we, as Christians,
are celebrating.
Advent, and in due course Christmas, Blessings to you all
Stephen Burgess
District Chair

1

Help with Church Events

Are you running a Church event ? Have you an adequate Sound system ?
The District office has available a portable Sound System [ including speakers– Microphone—cables—and sound
desk ] A portable Loop System [ to make your event legal for the hard of hearing] and if required a digital sound
recording system plus digital projection system.
To hire these for your church Contact the District Office who can make the arrangements.

Restoration Project Hits A Milestone
A move to restore an ancient religious book – held at the popular tourist attraction of Epworth’s Old Rectory – has hit a
milestone with the first £300 having been raised through donations.
However, the original estimated restoration fee of £1,000 rocketed once the book binder and restorer actually saw the poor st ate
of disrepair of the tome and it now stands at £6,600.
Curator at the Old Rectory, Rev Claire Potter, said: “The book has 1,000 pages and it was thought that if we could get people to
sponsor a page each at £1 a time, we’d have the restoration fee covered.”
The Old Rectory is famous throughout the world as the boyhood home of John and Charles Wesley, who founded a movement
that went on to become the Methodist Church.
And the book in question is of extreme significance as it carries the signatures of Charles, his wife Sarah and two of their
children –also called Charles and Sarah.
“Its title is ‘Contemplations On The History Of The New Testament’ and we don’t know if it was donated or has been here all
the time,” said Rev Potter.
She has successfully obtained a £3,000 grant towards the restoration costs and is hoping to raise more money this way.
But, in the meantime, it is hoped people will continue to make donations and all who do will have their name recorded in a
special book with a page in the tome dedicated to them.
“There is another signature in the book but that has been crossed out,” explained Rev Potter. “It is that of a John Jones, who was
an early and loyal associate of John Wesley.
“We can reasonably assume the book was given to Charles by John Jones. However, the cost of repair is way beyond the coffers
of the Old Rectory. It has survived for nearly 350 years and we are appealing to people to help it survive for another 350 ye ars,”
added Rev Potter.
People can make a donation in person by calling in at the Old Rectory on Epworth’s Rectory Street or by post. Cheques should
be made payable to Epworth Old Rectory and Sent to Epworth Old Rectory, I Rectory Street, Epworth DN9 1HX.
Anyone making a donation is asked to include their name and address, so that this information can be included in the records
book.
Ends

2

Representatives from a range of Christian denominations and charities handed over a letter to the Chancellor on Monday 31st October
asking the Government to tackle tax avoidance in order to Close The Gap between rich and poor in the UK.
The text of the letter to the Chancellor follows:
Dear Chancellor,
We are writing as senior representatives of a range of Christian denominations and charities who have come together out of a shared
concern about the urgent need to Close the Gap between rich and poor in the UK.
As the Institute for Fiscal Studies has shown, not only is the gap between rich and poor in the UK higher than at any point f or at least the
last fifty years, the numbers of people in both absolute and relative poverty are projected to increase substantially in the coming years. It
is our experience that this level of inequality is tearing at the fabric of society. The consequence is that increasing numbers of
individuals and communities feel that they have no stake in wider society and have no realistic hope of their children bettering
themselves.
We welcome the Coalition Government’s commitment to protect the poorest and most vulnerable from the impact of the spending cuts,
but we are concerned that the cuts are nevertheless having a severe impact on many of the people we work with on a daily basis.
In this climate, as Churches, Christian organisations and individual Christians, we are increasingly concerned about the impact that tax
avoidance and tax evasion are having on the public purse. In an age of austerity and spending cuts, we believe that tax avoidance is
morally unacceptable and tax evasion has to be seriously addressed. Tackling these issues will reduce the need for further damaging
cuts in public spending.

Tax evasion and avoidance is estimated by the Treasury to cost the UK purse at least £35 billion annually. Others estimate the number
to be substantially higher. This is nearly 9% of UK tax revenue and the efficient collection of this revenue would lessen the demand to
cut social and welfare expenditure which is hurting the poorest in our communities so much. Treasury estimates also suggest that those
who are avoiding paying their contribution are mainly wealthy individuals and corporations, so the recouping of this money would not
harm the poorest and most vulnerable.
We welcome existing initiatives on the part of Government to reduce levels of tax avoidance, but would urge that you take stronger and
more decisive action to crack down on unjustifiable tax avoidance measures.
In particular, we would urge you to consider three specific measures.
A first, simple step would be to end the anomaly that when goods are bought by internet or mail order from a company based in the UK
they attract VAT, but if they are bought from some off shore territories they are entirely tax free. A tax avoiding industry has sprung up,
routing purchases though these territories purely to avoid tax. The £130 million that this costs the UK exchequer is small in comparison
to the total loss, but for instance would be enough to largely protect the Sure Start programme and children's services from the 11% cut
in the Early Years Intervention Grant.

Secondly, we would urge you not to proceed with the draft proposals on Controlled Foreign Companies announced on 30 June. Whilst
advocates of the policy claim that it will increase the UK’s ‘business competitiveness,’ what it actually offers is big incentives for
companies to shift their financial operations to ‘off-shore’ tax havens as a means of avoiding paying UK taxes. Even on the Treasury’s
own estimates, this will cost £840 million in lost taxes a year.

Lastly, we would also urge you to seriously consider the introduction of a General Anti-Avoidance Rule into UK domestic law. Whilst we
all await the outcome of the Aaronson inquiry, due to report today, we are convinced that such legislation could be framed to meet the
objectives of deterring and countering tax avoidance in a fair way, whilst at the same time providing certainty for business.

Yours sincerely,
Rt Rev David Walker Bishop of Dudley
Gwen Shaffer Co-clerk of Quaker Peace and Social Witness Central Committee
The Revd Leo Osborn The President of the Methodist Conference
Revd Richard Mortimer Deputy General Secretary United Reformed Church
Niall Cooper National Coordinator Church Action on Poverty
Sr Maureen Tinkler Director Vincentians in Partnership
Anne Peacey Chair of National Justice and Peace Network
Alison Gelder Chief Executive Housing Justice
The Revd Jonathan Edwards General Secretary The Baptist Union of Great Britain

3

Rev Sue Pegg being presented with her Community Award Iby the Mayor of Market
Weighton. The Awards were given to those who it was felt had made an 'outstanding
contribution to Community life in the town' . Sue says _I'd received six nominations
from folk in Weighton - quite a few were from young mums who'd been coming to our
Tea and Toast project. Of course its all a 'team effort' at the Methodist Church but it
was good to know all our efforts are being appreciated. Still wondering if I have
freedom of the town now and am allowed to walk my chickens down High Street ! ha
ha _
Congratulations to Sue and the Folk at Market Weighton

Hi,
I’m Ashley Kemp, I work for the Methodist Church as an One Participation Programme worker. I am based in Beverley at the Toll Gavel
Centre working with Peter Barley. My project for this year is called the Not Church Project. This project has been set up to give young
people the chance to engage with people to find out about their work, their relationship with God and how these two go together.
The aims of this project are
To demonstrate to young people how having a faith has affected the working lives of people from different vocations.
To show young people that you don’t just have to go to Church on a Sunday to have a relationship with God.
Produce a resource DVD showing different aspects of work from a Christian perspective.
The Not Church Project will be putting on monthly meetings where we will be inviting guest speakers to come and share with the
young people about their jobs and why they chose this line of work. The young people will also be given a chance to ask questions to
our guest speaker.
I got your contact details off Peter Barley the Methodist Youth Worker in Beverley as he thought that you may be interested in either
bringing some of your own young people to our events or you may be able to assist in spreading the information to other interested
people.
Please find details of our first seminar where we will be thinking about those people in Ministry and Chaplaincy further in Yorsay
Should you require any further details please don’t hesitate to get in contact.

Thanks
Ashley Kemp

Scouse Wisdom
In ancient Israel it came to pass that a trader by the name of Abraham Com did take unto himself a young wife by the name of Dot. And
Dot Com was a comely woman, broad of shoulder and long of leg. Indeed, she was often called Amazon Dot Com.
And she said unto Abraham, her husband, "Why dost thou travel so far from town to town with thy goods when thou canst trade w ithout
ever leaving thy tent?
And Abraham did look at her as though she were several saddle bags short of a camel load, but simply said, "How, dear?"
And Dot replied, "I will place drums in all the towns and drums in between to send messages saying what you have for sale, and they will
reply telling you who hath the best price. And the sale can be made on the drums and delivery made by Uriah's Pony Stable (UPS)."
Abraham thought long and decided he would let Dot have her way with the drums. And the drums rang out and were an immediate
success. Abraham sold all the goods he had at the top price, without ever having to move from his tent. To prevent neighbouring
countries from overhearing what the drums were saying, Dot devised a system that only she and the drummers knew. It was known as
Must Send Drum Over Sound (MSDOS), and she also developed a language to transmit ideas and pictures - Hebrew To The People
(HTTP).
And the young men did take to Dot Com's trading as doth the greedy horsefly take to camel dung. They were called Nomadic
Ecclesiastical Rich Dominican Sybarites, or NERDS.
And lo, the land was so feverish with joy at the new riches and the deafening sound of drums that no one noticed that the real riches
were going to that enterprising drum dealer, Brother William of Gates, who bought off every drum maker in the land. And indeed did
insist on drums to be made that would work only with Brother Gates' drumheads and drumsticks.
And Dot did say, "Oh, Abraham, what we have started is being taken over by others." And Abraham looked out over the Bay of Ez ekiel , or
eBay as it came to be known. He said, "We need a name that reflects what we are."
And Dot replied, "Young Ambitious Hebrew Owner Operators." "YAHOO," said Abraham. And because it was Dot's idea, they named it
YAHOO Dot Com.
Abraham's cousin, Joshua, being the young Gregarious Energetic Educated Kid (GEEK) that he was, soon started using Dot's drums to
locate things around the countryside. It soon became known as God's Own Official Guide to Locating Everything (GOOGLE).
That is how it all began. And that's the truth.
[Source and Copyright unknown sent in by a reader republished in good faith ]

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World Record for Carol Singing?

On the 18th December 2011 at 7pm churches and individuals up and down the country will take part in an attempt to smash the
current World Record for the largest number of people singing carols together across multiple locations.
This World Record attempt is being organised by ChurchAds, Biblelands and Premier Christian Radio. It's a great opportunity to invite
people into your church and get into the Guinness Book of Records!
We need 15,000 people to join in for 15-mins of carolling, to include Silent Night, O Come All Ye Faithful , O little Town of Bethlehem,
Away in a Manger and Hark the Herald Angels Sing. But before we can get 15,000 people taking part we need churches to get
involved.
In essence, all a church needs to do is commit to be open at that time, have musicians or recorded music lead the singing, provide
the carols sheets which will be supplied by BibleLands, have nominated witnesses to confirm the attempt and send back some
substantiating evidence. Full rules and guidelines can be found here.
To find out how to get involved, visit www.christmasstarts.com, and please tell the Communications Office, The attempt at the World
Record is a great news story, and a wonderful way to share what Christmas is all about.

More Than Gold
On the next pages there are details of what Churches can do during the Olympic Torch Relay_Please if your Church is thinking of
taking part in these events let the Communications Office know as soon as possible so that we can co-ordinate events with not only
London but the other Local Churches taking part.

The Revd Margaret Cundiff RIP

The Revd Margaret Joan Cundiff, who died on 8 October aged 79, had been a member of St James' Church, Selby for 41 years,
though her ministry as parish worker, then deaconess, deacon and priest, extended throughout her adopted Yorkshire and beyond.
As a broadcaster on Radio 2, BBC and independent local radio stations, and the British Forces Broadcasting Service her upbeat
'thoughts' were appreciated by millions. "I'm not religious" said one, "but I always listen to Margaret because she speaks out of
ordinary experience and I can understand what she says."
Regular articles in local newspapers and fourteen books, of which four were written for the Bible Reading Fellowship, drew on
incidents in everyday life, with wit and honesty to reveal the presence of the down-to-earth God of the Bible in whom Margaret
passionately believed. The first chapter of LIVING BY THE BOOK which explores the Sermon on the Mount is headed "Sit Down and
Listen!" (See Matthew, 5.1) and is presented as a no-nonsense challenge to discipleship.
In his Foreword to NORTHERN LIGHTS, Archbishop David Hope wrote: 'Whether it be from the pulpit of Westminster Abbey
addressing Brownies, on a housing estate in Doncaster, conducting a retreat for ordinands at Ampleforth Abbey or in the setting of
her own parish and ministry, Margaret Cundiff, in her own inimitable way and style, at once both homely and lofty, probes beneath
the tragic and the comic and the very ordinary to discern the deeper things of the Spirit.'
Born at Minehead in Somerset to parents who were in service, Margaret moved North with them in her early teens. Never a docile
child, she would question authority when she disagreed with it. Leaving school at 14, she qualified as an assistant cook, which she
hated. Later she trained at St Michael's College, Oxford and was appointed parish worker at a church in the Midlands where the
Vicar said "we needed someone and you were cheaper than a curate". She felt she was too young and inexperienced for parish work
and became a personnel officer in the textile industry, where she was to meet her husband, Peter. They celebrated their golden
wedding anniversary in 2010.
An experience of renewal years later prompted Margaret to return to full-time ministry. She describes this in CALLED TO BE ME,
which is a highly entertaining account of her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated church. During a service of Holy
Communion she felt drawn to 'be filled with the Spirit' and found herself saying 'yes'. From then her calling was sealed. She was
never disturbed by those who opposed the ordination of women, but rather determined to work alongside them in the service of their
common Lord.
In addition to her extensive pastoral and priestly ministry in the parish, Margaret was a Bishops' Selector for candidates for
ordination training, Broadcasting Officer for the Diocese York and Anglican Adviser to Yorkshire Television. As a member of the
General Synod she served on the Church of England Committee for Communications. She would amuse the staff at Church House by
wafting the latest perfume under their noses, having dropped in en route to the cosmetics Department of the Army & Navy Stores to
try out a sample.
As Chaplain to the York diocesan Mothers' Union, Margaret's visits throughout the diocese were eagerly anticipated. She was a
stirring preacher, full of personal anecdotes, which encouraged ordinary Christians to recognise their high calling.
Margaret had been suffering from a form of leukaemia for two years, which forced her to slow down, but not stop. When her body
reacted badly to a radical chemotherapy treatment and she was rushed into intensive care, she asked for a pen so that she could
record the experience for an article later on. Not long before she died she was anointed by the Archbishop of York.
The former President of the Northern Province of the Mothers' Union, Canon Stella Vernon, provided a fitting epitaph for Margaret,
describing her as a "communications officer for the Gospel".
Margaret is survived by her husband Peter and their children Julian, who is a legal adviser and a national authority and writer on carp
fishing, and Alison, who is on the staff of the Archbishop of York.

The Ven John Barton

This obituary originally appeared in the Church Times. It appears in Yorsay as a Tribute to Margaret who was well known throughout
our Methodist District and Church.

5

Enabling Adult Learning in the churches.

Once more in 2012 we hope to offer the York St John validated course, Facilitating Learning in Christian Contexts. See the le aflet for
dates and details. With the impending changes to Higher Education funding the future of this course is in doubt. Consequently we
advise you to take this opportunity while it is still available. The course is for anyone who is, or wishes to be, involved i n enabling adult
learning in the church. It provides an opportunity to develop skills and confidence, and to reflect theologically on the role of an adult
educator in churches. Ministers, Local Preachers, and House Group Leaders are among those who could find this relevant and
helpful. For further information contact Viv Morrissey, Training Officer vivmorrissey@oxfordplacecentre.org.uk 0113 242 5978 .

a course for lay and ordained people wishing to develop skills in helping adults learn.
Developed in partnership between the Methodist Church (Yorkshire and the North East
Region) and the United Reformed Church (Yorkshire Synod) the course is validated by York
St John University at level 2 of the Foundation degree in Theology and Ministry.

Course Dates for 2012
Module 1: How Adults Learn: Learning, Training and Facilitation Styles
10th Jan 9th Feb 13th March
Module 2: Understanding and Managing Process in Christian Adult Learning Groups
20th/21st June, 4th July
Module 3: Designing, Delivering and Evaluating Learning Opportunities in Christian Contexts
4th Sept, 2nd Oct 6th Nov
Times are 9-5pm on all dates except the Module 2 residential for which exact timings will be notified.
Venue: York St John University Lord Mayor’s Walk, York
The programme includes:
•How adults learn
•Identifying learning needs
•Managing diversity in learning
•Working effectively in groups
•Presentation and communication skills
•Enabling theological reflection
•Designing and delivering learning events
•Evaluation and reflective practice
Theological reflection on adult learning in context and the educator’s role
Who can apply?
Those able to study at level 2 of the Foundation Degree as evidenced by: Having an award at level 1 or equivalent
Having significant experience, lay or ordained, paid or voluntary, of Christian ministry or leadership, or
Being willing to demonstrate capability by successful completion of Module 1

Enquiries to any of the Methodist Training Officers in the region
Viv Morrissey 0113 242 5978 vivmorrissey@oxfordplacecentre.org.uk
Caroline Riley 07721 09460 trainingofficer@sheffieldmethodist.org
Mark Bagnall 0191 384 0864 mark-bagnall@btconnect.com
or URC Development Officer
James Coleman 0113 289 8490 do@urcyorkshire.org.uk
For bookings please contact the programme administrator
s.henderson@yorksj.ac.uk
01904 786275
Course fee £130 per module Total £390
Grant support may be available – contact your District/Diocese/Synod

6

Who is it for?
Clergy, Lay Workers, Readers, Preachers, Church Leaders, Tutors, Mentors, House Group Leaders – anyone involved in
helping adults learn, designing or delivering learning events in the church or other Christian contexts.

Those who:
wish to be more confident or effective in that role
are discerning a call to ministry in adult Christian education
have a teaching background but need to adapt their approach to working with adults
have experience in an area of Christian ministry and now want to enable others
wish to reflect theologically on adult learning in context and the role or ministry of the educator

Programme facilitators
The team bring many years experience as practitioners of adult Christian education and the delivery of learning in a
variety of contexts. Caroline Riley, Viv Morrissey and Mark Bagnall are Training Officers of the Yorkshire and North
East Districts of the Methodist Church. Revd Dr James Coleman is the Development Officer of the United Reformed
Church, Yorkshire Synod. Bob Young leads a District Learning and Development Group and is a consultant and freelance
learning and development professional.

Programme options:
Students will receive the University Diploma in Facilitating Learning in Christian Contexts on successful completion of
assignments at the end of each module. Students who elect not to submit assignments will receive an attendance
certificate.
The modules are not available separately, they form a united programme. Registration for all three modules is required
for all students.

Saturday December 10. 10.00 a.m. - 12.00

Saville Street Methodist Church, Malton

Carol Singing on the Saville Street steps in aid of 'Action for Children'

Coffee Morning inside - also in aid of 'Action for Children'

Come along and listen - or join the impromptu choir!

7

8

9

The Not Church Project is putting on seminars that are once a month.
Each month there will be a different theme . We have invited people into
talk about their
relationship with GOD in their field of work.
Wed 30th Nov 2011 6-8PM
Ministers, Rural Chaplains and
Vicars
For more information please feel free to contact us or find
us on facebook.

Toll Gavel Centre, Walkergate Beverley

10

For full details of the tour and on line booking go to the World Wide Christian Travel Web site or contact
Brian or Bob on the e mails shown who also have the brochures

11

December 17th – 20th at Norwood Church Beverley (HU17
9HN)
Come and help us celebrate Christmas at our
Christmas Tree Festival
Church open to see the trees and join us for refreshments
Sat 17th 10 am – 8 pm
Sun 18th 12 – 6 pm
Mon 19th 4 – 8 pm
Tues 20th 10 am onwards
Event closes with our carol service at 7 pm accompanied by
Beverley Brass Band
Huntington Methodist Church
Strensall Road, Huntington, YO32 9SH

Christmas Tree
Festival
On the theme of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
Supported by Local Businesses and Organisations

Friday 25 November Viewing times 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday 26 November Viewing times 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
S u n d a y 2 7 N o v e m b e r V i e w i n g t i m e s 2 : 0 0 p m t o 5 : 0 0 p m
M on d a y 2 8 N o v e m b e r V i e w i n g t i m e s 1 0 : 0 0 a m t o 3 : 0 0 p m
Admission Free
Refreshments & Light Lunches Everyday
Stalls for Christmas Gifts, Jewellery, Crafts,
Proceeds for the Improvements Fund

12

13

Willerby Methodist Drama Group
Presents

Thursday/Friday/Saturday 12th – 14th January
&
Wednesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday
18th – 21st January.
7.30-pm & Matinees on both Saturdays @ 2.15pm

In the Willerby Methodist Church Hall.
Tickets:- Adults £6 Children £5
Ring 655066 to order tickets.

14

A Festival of Christmas Trees
Experience the joy of Christmas through our display of
decorated trees.
Clifton Methodist Church York
Friday 9th December 12 noon - 5 p.m.
Saturday 10th December 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday 11th December 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Free entrance. Refreshments available.

15

16

Tuesdays, 6.45 pm – 9.00 pm

An introductory Training Course in Prayer Guiding

What is Prayer Guiding? Is it for me?

Prayer Guiding is for people who are on their Christian journey and who are looking for ways in which their journey with God might be
invigorated and deepened, or who are looking to progress that journey in new and creative ways.

Prayer Guides are people whose gifts are to encourage and affirm others, yet who can gently challenge and suggest new and
innovative ways in which others may move forward in their own way, and at their own pace, with God. Prayer Guides are those who
feel that God is calling them to this kind of shared ministry.

Prayer Guide training is an opportunity for a person to first of all test out this calling and then to develop the skills and gifts to be able
to perform it. The training will encourage Prayer Guides to explore their own personal prayer and their attitudes towards ot hers’ ways
of praying, particularly developing skills such as listening, creativity, the ability to offer different ways of praying, whilst accompanying
others on their journey of faith.

This introductory training is open to women and men of any denomination.

Interested? Then please complete the application form below and return by 1st December 2011.
An introductory Training Course
in Prayer Guiding at:
The Endsleigh Centre,
481 Beverley Road,
HULL, HU6 7LJ

The training consists of eight sessions on:
Jan 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st, and Feb 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th in 2012

Time:

Suggested Donation: £30 for all eight sessions

Training will be offered by an experienced team

INTRODUCTORY TRAINING COURSE IN PRAYER GUIDING: Jan/Feb 2012 reply slip

Name:……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Address:
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………….
Tel No:………………………………………………Email……………………………………………………
Please return to: Sister Catherine at the Endsleigh Centre (address above) by December 1st 2011. Cheques to
be made payable to: “The Endsleigh Pastoral Centre”

17

Yorsay is sent on behalf of the York & Hull Methodist District by the Communications Office
Bob Lawe 27 Ryde Avenue Hull Hu5 1QA 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 © 2011 York & Hull Methodist District – All
rights reserved.

Publication date for Yorsay is 20th of the Month so all items by 19th of the month please [ie 19th December for Jan-
uary edition]
18

November Yorsay Text only Edition

2011-10-20T13:21:00.001+01:00

November Yorsay full pdf version Click here

Welcome to the November
Edition of Yorsay.
Some items you may wish to
peruse
Page 2 A Festive Challenge
for Young People/ Singing
the Faith Copyright issues.
Page3 Methodist Council Pa-
pers
Page4 Cautionary Tale for
Web sites and Magazines
Page5 Singing the Faith Plus/
CRC Release
Page6/7 Information re the
electronic edition StF

Page8 Paraphrase Lost Para-
phrase regained
Page9 Lent Course
Page10 Walk through the Bi-
ble/Mind the Gap
Page 11 onwards—General
Notices

November 2011

YORSAY November 2011
From the Chair’s Desk
The Chair’s Challenge continued…
My contribution to last month’s YORSAY was an unusual one – the full text of
my sermon at the District Synod in September. You can still read it at “http://
www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/uploads/documents/
sic_396df56e03_20092011025757.pdf “ or http://
www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/index.php?cid=75&pid=23
I have been encouraged by a number of comments from those of you who have
taken to heart some of the things I said on that occasion. I still stand by the
wish to challenge us all to consider what we can do – as part of our call to
discipleship – to develop our work with children and young people. Remember,
the important aspect of this challenge is not to drop everything else, but just to
strive to make a difference in our communities.
The main part of my Chair’s Challenge is to endeavour to make a difference
during 2012, but let’s start during November as the New Year approaches.
In these next few weeks, will you join with me and others in discerning two
things in particular?
Firstly: what needs are apparent as we look around us? Is there enough
provision for young people? If possible, can you talk with them – at home, or in
your community, or within the church family if appropriate? In what ways might
we address needs we perceive?
And secondly: can you discern where God might be calling you to play a part?
This will undoubtedly vary from person to person. Some of us will be able to
play an active role – and others will necessarily be called to be supportive of
others. That support is just as crucial as hands-on involvement – it may be
prayer, or administrative support, or financial giving, or in other ways.
And finally, for this month, speak to others about how, together, we might
respond. I hope that in each month’s YORSAY we might share some of the
ideas which develop. Not all will come to fruition, but please let’s try to make
that difference, as part of our call to follow Jesus as Christian Disciples.
May God bless us all in whatever we are called to do in God’s Kingdom.

Stephen Burgess
District Chair

1

Youngsters Given
Festive Challenge

A challenge has been thrown out to local youngsters to produce a Christmas Carol, which will then be performed at a special s ervice to be
held in December.
It has come from Epworth’s Old Rectory – which is now an internationally renowned museum as it was the childhood home of John and
Charles Wesley the founders of a movement that went on to become the Methodist Church.
Charles Wesley was the most prolific hymn writer of all time with some 6,000 published and a approximately 3,000 unpublished and it is
one of his best know Christmas Carols - Hark The Herald Angels Sing – that is at the centre of the challenge.
For youngsters can either rewrite the words and use the same tune or keep the words and write a new tune.
The competition is open to youngsters in two age categories - seven to 11 and 12 to 18 – and entries can come not only from schools but
from organisations including Brownies, Guides, Cubs, Scouts and other youth groups.
Entries need to be a minimum of two verses and not exceed five verses – the length of Charles Wesley’s original hymn – and must be in the
manner of joy or praise for Christmas.
The winning entries will be performed by the winners at a Carol Service to be held at the Wesley Memorial Methodist Church in Epworth on
Wednesday, December 7th. In addition, there are prizes on offer with the first prize in each category being a tour of the Trax FM’s radio
studios and the second being a tour of the Old Rectory with refreshments.
Closing date for entries is Friday, November 11th, and a full set of rules, teachers’ resources and application forms are available from the Old
Rectory’s webpage at epwortholdrecetory.org.uk or from the museum’s curator –Rev Claire Potter – on (01427) 872268.

For further information contact Rev Claire Potter on (01427) 872268.

Singing the Faith

The new Methodist Hymnbook Singing the Faith was published at the end of September. The Electronic copy has been
delayed and they hope will be published towards the end of October.
However [ at the time of writing ] the publishers have not yet registered the Hymnbook with the relevant licencing
authorities which creates difficulties for the electronic versions or photocopying of the music.
I have been in contact with the publishers and have had the following sent to me which should cover all those who
have CCLI Licences

As the book has just been published, a copy has not made its way to CCLI yet to be logged. But it will do this week, so hopefully by
the time you need to use the material it will be registered with CCLI. Therefore if you have a current CCLI MRL license, you are allowed
to photocopy and project the material for your congregation. Although the matter is pending with CCLI, under good faith that you will
note the usage when able, no more permissions need to be sought.
However CCLI inform us that it will take several months for Singing the Faith to be registered
In the meantime my understanding both from Hymns Ancient and Modern and the Singing the Faith resources group are to keep a
record of the Hymns Projected or copied and then report them when the CCLi Clearance has come through
Also Please note that there are at least 30 hymns in the new book that are not covered under the CCLI licence but under their rival
Calamus so unless you also have a Calamus Licence—these hymns legally cannot be projected or copied.
If you wish to have a list of them then they are on the District web site http://www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/index.php?
cid=47&pid=24.
Please note that there are still restrictions on hymns such as Morning Has Broken and Come and Join the Celebration.
For a full list of the copyright sources contact the communications office. Stating in word or Excel

2

Fiona Castle is the founder and figurehead of Activate Your Life. Her passion is to equip Christian women with the tools and resources to
share their faith through friendship with others. One of the ways she does this is through Activate Your Life and its Dream Team,
On November 26th 2011 there will be an opportunity to hear Fiona as part of the 'Better Together' training day as she shares her
thoughts on how to "Upgrade your Evangelism". Becky Legg, editor of Liberti will be inspiring delegates to use "Evangelism Through Social
Networking and the Media". Other empowering speakers will be taking workshops as they share practical ideas on reaching communities
and building confidence as we discover that, with God and each other, we are 'Better Together'.
Who is it for: Christian women of any denomination
Where: The Rock Church, Priory Street, York
When: Saturday 26th November 2011
Time: 9.30am-4.30pm
Cost: £15.00 per person including lunch and refreshments
How to Book: visit the Activate website to book your place www.activateyourlife.org.uk

Fiona will also be speaking at The Rock Church on the evening of Saturday 26th November at 6.45pm during Communicating Life, the
main meeting held by the church. Visitors are very welcome.
Please get in touch (mobile: 07968158659 or e-mail) if you require further information or would like promotional literature sending, I'll be
delighted to help. See attached flyer for more information.
Finally, on behalf of Fiona and the Dream Team, we would love to see you at this event, the first of its kind in the north!
With kindest regards,
Alison L. Tinsley
Activate Dream Team
www.activateyourlife.org.uk

News Release

11 October 2011
A vision of fruitfulness for the Methodist Church
Council papers are available online here

The Methodist Council discussed the Church’s long-term vision when it met at High Leigh Conference Centre on 10-11 October.
Council members considered two key documents setting the Church’s direction and focus for the coming years: the General
Secretary’s report to the 2011 Methodist Conference and the Fruitful Field report, which re-examines the Church’s learning and
training resources.

Revd Gareth Powell, Secretary to the Methodist Council, said, “This Council meeting has offered a rare opportunity to spend
significant time in thoughtful discussion about what kind of Church we believe God is calling us to be in today’s world. What we are
concerned with is preparing the Church to fulfill its calling, to become more confident and effective in our task. We look to the future
with hope as we work out what this looks like in practice.”
A wider consultation on the Fruitful Field project’s proposals will be launched on Monday 17 October.
Speaking to Council members about the Church’s need to focus in order to be effective, Revd Dr Mark Wakelin, Secretary for
Internal Relationships, said “There is always cost and loss, as well as benefits. But I feel a real call and a real commitment to
encourage the Church to believe that it is possible to be different. It is possible to be more effective as a discipleship movement
shaped for mission.”
Other matters discussed by the Council include plans to establish the Methodist Academies and Schools Trust to support the
Church’s 65 state funded schools in their transitions to becoming academies.

3

‘Free’ photo for your website, sir? That’ll be £24,000 please... A cautionary tale.
You know how it is. You've just created that web page but as it’s just text, it looks about as exciting as something from the Inland
Revenue's website.
You know that images speak so much more than words, and more people are likely to see them than read your carefully-crafted prose.
You’re in a hurry - where can you get a zippy-looking picture to liven-up your web page?
“Why, verily, Google shall come to my rescue!” You cry, “Forsooth, they even givest me a goodly image search to maketh mine job
easier. Done!”
Wrong. Yea, verily wrong.
Every image on the Internet belongs to someone and you cannot use it without their express permission to do so (there are som e
exceptions to this, but that’s for another post). If you do, you’re breaking copyright law.
And bad things happen to people who break the law...
Many of the images on the Internet are owned by image libraries who make their money from charging for the use of such photos etc.
One of the largest organisations which owns a number of these libraries is Getty Images.
AND, Getty now have special search technology which spiders out across the Internet, searching for instances of their images being
used and checking them against a database of those who’ve paid to use their stuff (or not).
And they sue...
As London-based removals and haulage firm, JA Coles, found out to their cost: They used one of Getty’s images without permission
(actually in good faith - their web designer simply used it as a postage stamp-sized, temporary, placeholder image, but it got forgotten)
and suddenly found themselves in receipt of a rather frosty letter from Getty’s solicitors - It wasn’t an invitation to tea, but a demand for
money related to illegal use of the image - they were after the missing fees and associated costs: £1,951. Ouch!
Now, anyone who’s read Matthew 5 will know that the smart thing to do would have been to have settled out of court:
“Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the
judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.”
However, Messrs JA Coles, after taking poor advice, unwisely decided to simply remove the image and ignore Getty’s letter (wrong). Bad
decision. Getty decided to sue them in the High Court and invited them to join them on a little visit to the scary Royal Courts of Justice,
The folks at JA Coles now thought this maybe wasn’t such a great idea and decided to settle, rather than going before the beak. They
had to cough up the £1,951 - but by now, because Getty had also hired barristers, their costs had gone through the roof - the whole
thing cost Coles in excess of £24,000! Grievous ouch!
Now, gentle reader, what’s the moral of this sorry tale?
You might think. “Oh, we’re only a little church, this doesn’t really apply to us. Who’s going to bother if we use the odd image from here
and there.”
You’d be wrong. Very wrong again. You’d be £hundreds of pounds wrong.
I know of three of our church customers (and there may be others) whose unknowing illegal use of images was spotted by Getty’s image
search technology and who received just such a letter as JA Coles. They both wisely settled out of court, but not before they’d paid very
serious money which they could have used for much better purposes.
So, what’s a humble website editor to do?
1. Only utilise images which you have permission to use - see my next post for some great, legal sources of images for free or next to
nothing. You can also use photos which have been taken for you or which you’ve taken yourself. NB Where these feature children in
your church, might be worth checking with parents that they’re happy for the image to be used on the website.
2. Got anyone you’ve delegated editing permissions to on your website? Yes? Well, stand them up against a wall, slap them round the
face and tell them the above tale - and that they’re footing the bill if you get a solicitor's letter! Resist any suggestion you’re being a
party pooper; this is serious stuff - and action for illegal use of images is increasing.
3. Conduct a site image audit - do you have permission to use all the images on your site? Better to check now, rather than have to pay
out a hefty fine or out of court settlement. Got your template from a third party? Might be worth checking with them. If anyo ne tells you
they’ve got permission - don’t assume they’re correct; get them to prove it & explain how they got permission.
I recently queried a welcome mat image which had been added to our church website as I was 98% sure it was from an image library
and wanted to ensure we had permission (I was also 100% sure it was naff, but that’s another issue). The new editor told me he’d got it
from a university website in Florida! We had the stand-up-against-the-wall-slap-face chat and I told him to remove it ASAP. I checked a
week later and found he’d left the image in place. What?!
On querying this, he told me, "It's fine, I've contacted the university department, and they’ve given me permission to use it.” Hmm. As I
said, I was pretty sure this image was from a stock photo library and it took me only 10 mins to find it - the uni department did NOT have
permission to grant use of the image; it didn’t belong to them! This would not have been an excuse in a court of law. Smoke was seen
coming from the the editor’s fingers as he removed the photo! So, make sure the images you use are legal - it's easy to get your hands
on great-looking images for your church website AND do it legally for peanuts.
For more information on the JA Coles case, see the following: http://www.out-law.com/page-9880 & http://www.out-law.com/page-
10367
Re-published from the Church Insight blog

4

Singing the Faith Plus launched today

www.singingthefaithplus.org.uk - the website companion to the printed collection launched today. For the rest of this
newsletter, Laurence introduces you to some of its key features:
Faith in “singing the faith”
The Revd Martyn Atkins, Methodist General Secretary, describes a vision of British Methodism as “a discipleship
movement shaped for mission”. So… how do hymns inform, inspire and reflect our discipleship? How does singing
hymns and making music in church intersect with the rest of your day-to-day life and Christian experience?
We hope Singing the Faith Plus will be a place where music and discipleship meet face to face.
Share your experiences by contacting us at stfplus@methodistchurch.org.uk.
Ideas and inspiration
Singing the Faith Plus will offer suggestions and opportunities to think about hymns, discuss likes and dislikes, and
find further resources to support weekly worship. Already you will find writers – some well-known, some less familiar
– who talk informally about how their hymns came about – their revealing comments may inspire you to go and write
one of your own.
The Special Sundays page, previously only on the Methodist Church website, has been updated for Singing the Faith
Plus – and we will add more hymn suggestions as these Sundays come round. There’s a Useful Links page, which
does exactly what it says on the tin – and we’ve also added the What others are saying page, which includes links to
a less formal, more eclectic mix of other websites and blogs. Let us know which ones you visit regularly and we can
add them to our list.
“Work in progress”
Yes, Singing the Faith Plus is up and running – but it’s an ongoing project that depends as much on your
suggestions, stories, requests (and, yes, corrections!) as it does on what we have been developing behind the
scenes.
We know you want to hear the tunes. Copyright is an issue here and we haven’t yet resolved this one – but we really
are working on it! The lectionary suggestions are, in many ways, our “starters for ten” – a resource that we can grow
out of your suggestions. There are new ideas emerging every day and, this being a website, we can adapt and
respond flexibly.
We are excited by the beginnings of Singing the Faith Plus, and by its potential. We make no excuse for describing
the site as a “work in progress”. Isn’t that – like discipleship – precisely what it needs to be?

_n_important__new_publicaion_for_churches_in_Yorkshire_and_the_Humber_ofers_
a_challenging_view_of_the_Government’s_proposals_for_the_Big_Society__The_
Churches_Regional_Commission’s_(CRC)_report__Chrisian Mission and the Big
Society, notes_that_many_people_worry_that_the_Coaliion’s_plan_to_expand_
community_life_by_encouraging_more_communal_acivity__greater_volunteering_
and_increased_giving_ is_simply_a cover_for_cuts_in_public_spending___In_spite_of_
arguing_that_the_welfare_state_is_sill_the_most_comprehensive_way_of_protecing_
vulnerable_members_of_society__CRC_nevertheless_urges_greater_engagement_by_
churches_with_their_local_neighbourhoods_
CRC’s_policy_paper_illustrates_how_many_of_the_region’s_4500_churches_are_already_socially_acive_within_their_communiies__
From_partnership_work_with_a_children’s_centre_in_Doncaster__through_community-building_at_a_high_street_café_in_
Huddersield__to_the_development_of_a_community_post_oice_in_Sheield__Chrisians_across_Yorkshire_and_the_Humber_
express_their_acive_and_creaive_commitment_to_the_places_in_which_they_are_embedded__“Whether we call it Big Society or
not,” says_Rt_Revd_John_Packer__the_Bishop_of_Ripon_and_Leeds__“there is always room for us to be beter neighbours to each
other.”_
CRC_concludes_with_a_series_of_challenges__to_the_church_itself__to_maintain_and_develop_its_commitment_to_local_
neighbourhoods__to_other_chariies__to_ind_beter_ways_of_working_in_partnership_with_churches__to_local_authoriies__to_
appreciate_well_the_contribuion_that_faith_communiies_make__and_to_naional_government__to_ensure_that_the_Big_Society_
agenda_and_cuts_in_public_spending_do_not_increase_poverty_among_the_most_vulnerable_members_of_our_communiies_
Chrisian Mission and the Big Society is_available_for_download_from_the_CRC_website__www_crc-online_org_uk____conference__Called to the Big Society?_is_
taking_place_at_the_Leeds_Church_Insitute_on_November_4th__Contact_the_oice_in_Leeds_for_further_informaion__–_0113-244-3413

5

We are sorry to inform you that the development of the Singing the Faith electronic words edition is taking longer
than anticipated. The publishers of the hymn book, Hymns Ancient & Modern, estimate that the launch date is
now likely to be late October. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. We attach some further
information on this edition for your reference. This includes some screen shots taken from similar packages.
With best wishes
Methodist Publishing
Singing the Faith – Downloadable Electronic Words Edition
Preliminary description
(As the edition is in preparation, the illustrations are taken from similar packages.)
The Downloadable Electronic Words Edition is a software package which provides controllable per-item access to the texts of the
hymns and songs in the book.
Using the HymnView software developed for similar editions of the Irish Presbyterian Hymnbook, the Church Hymnary Fourth Edition and
Sing Praise, the package, while freely downloadable, can be installed and activated for use on a single PC at any one time only by the purchase
of an individual Program Key.

At the core of the software is the Browser, which represents a low-resolution image of the pages of the Music edition, and gives the look and
feel of that edition. You can view the words in high-resolution by right-clicking on them. (This opens a read-only window.)
You can export the words by left-clicking them. Please note: only the words are exportable in this edition (and not the music). The ability to
export the words of each hymn is individually controlled according to the wish of the respective copyright holders.

6

Items can be exported either as a single file per item, in Microsoft WordTM document format, or in PDF, Rich Text and plain text. They can
also be copied via the clipboard in Rich Text or plain text. Users have found it convenient to paste the Rich Text versions into presentation
software such as PowerPointTM, or the plain text versions into service compilation programs such as Easy WorshipTM.

Some copyright holders require that users have a valid CCLI licence before the ability to export can be granted. There is provision for
entering a licence number when activating the program, or one can be added at a later date. Where the copyright holder does not participate in
CCLI, there is no implied licence for export or use of any of the material, and some copyright holders have required this be expressed
specifically via an agreement notice which is displayed at the time of export of the item, along with the address of their agent through whom a
licence for the item may be obtained. It is estimated that approximately 80% of the words are covered by a CCLI licence or are out of
copyright.

The Browser is backed up by clickable versions of the major indexes for the book, and there are facilities for jumping easily from
item to item if, for example, the user wishes to access several hymns by their numbers.
Users can easily check for free upgrades (modifications and new features), which are installed at the click of a button. Future
modules will include a word search across the entire book, either for single words or word combinations, as well as proximity
search (the presence of a secondary word in the preceding or subsequent line).
An alternative method of activation, updating (e.g. adding a CCLI licence) or upgrading is provided via the HymnView website if
the user's machine is not connected to the internet, in which case this is done via another computer, and the downloaded
bespoke file taken to the registered computer on a removable device, such as a USB stick. At any time the software can be
uninstalled and unregistered, and then reinstalled on another machine of the user's choice.
The software is compatible with all versions of Windows from 2000 to Windows 7. There is no version for Macintosh. A limited number of
copies may be obtained on CD-ROM for an additional charge.

7

For the courageous people of Dunblane -Victims of landmines and injustice
Children in need—And all who suffer
That faith may flower
I will always be with you and comfort you…

This little book of poems and meditations has grown unintentionally over a number of decades. The author (writing under the
pseudonym Blessing to avoid confusion with the common name Smith) first wrote a poem for his church magazine around 1970
when, having been caught unexpectedly in a sudden storm, he was moved by what
he had observed. Others followed from time to time but some still lay hidden away
as the years passed by.
The anthology draws on Biblical texts from Genesis and the creation story to The
Revelation of John and mankind’s ultimate reunion with his Creator in the New
Jerusalem. As it is written in varying styles from the simplistic to the more deeply
theological, it is hoped that child, teacher or preacher may find something to appeal
or wish to study the Bible with a new openness of heart or freshness of mind.
Written mainly in light-hearted vein, yet still serious in nature, the meditations are
intended to supplement and complement each poem. The author has tried to keep
closely to biblical text and true paraphrase. He has avoided, wherever possible,
outmoded words and phrases, the allegoric verse form popular in hymns of
previous generations, and the tendency in some, but not all, modern ‘hymns’ to be
vague in meaning, secular in nature, or possibly with little apparent scriptural base.
He questions what Bernard L Manning, Cambridge church historian and writer on
the hymns of Wesley and Watts, would have made of today’s frequent poor regard
to rhyme and metre? But unlike him, the author believes only religious verse
addressed directly to the Father, Son or Holy Spirit can truly be a hymn. If the Bible
is accepted as the Word of God, then paraphrase is still Word to our ears. Only when
the text is rearranged to form a prayer can paraphrase truly become a hymn. This is
not to dismiss other ‘hymns’ which can touch the heart, proclaim faith or exhort
others to closer communion with the Trinity. The author includes both types of
verse! Unlike the early Christians, we are privileged to see with two thousand years
perspective events that for them had only recently occurred. Can we understand
more fully, perhaps, Christ's words and actions and indeed the Word of God
Himself? If controversy exists, could this be because we choose to deviate from
God’s natural Law and His Word?

.

Copies @ £5 may be ordered by email: d.asmith@tiscali.com or over the telephone: 01944-759159 but I suggest £1 is
added towards postage & packing if I cannot deliver.

8

HANDING ON THE TORCH - Sacred words for a secular world
Archbishop Sentamu (97th Archbishop of York), Clifford Longley JP (Roman
Catholic writer and broadcaster) and Rachel Lampard (Methodist Adviser on
political and social issues) are among the distinguished contributors to the new
Lent course CD from York Courses. Dr David Hope introduces the course and
Bishop Graham Cray provides the thoughtful closing reflections on the CD.
Canon John Young has written the course booklet for Handing on the Torch -
Sacred words for a secular world. Each of the 5 sessions offers a good selection
of stimulating questions aimed at engaging every group member.
Course synopsis:
Christianity is the largest movement our world has ever seen. It continues to grow
at an immense pace - especially in Asia (including China), Africa and Latin
America. At the same time, Christianity in the West struggles to grow and -
perhaps - even to survive. In this course we consider some of the reasons for this
and what it might mean for individual Christians, for churches and for Western
culture, in a world where alternative beliefs are increasingly on offer.
Prices:
CD Taster Pack (comprising 1 CD, 1 booklet, 1 transcript) @ £17.50 each (a
saving of £2.23 over buying these 3 items separately)
Booklet @ £3.75 or £3.25 each for 5 or more
CD @ £10.99 or £8.99 each for 2 or more
Audiotape @ £8.99 or £6.99 each for 5 or more
Transcript @ £4.99 or £2.99 each for 2 or more
Save online at www.yorkcourses.co.uk
Free packing and 2nd class postage within UK.
Subsidised postage overseas.
York Courses, PO Box 343,York YO19 5YB, UK
Tel: 01904 466516 www.yorkcourses.co.uk
For further information, please contact Carrie Geddes : 07792 272010 / 01904 466516
December 17th – 20th at Norwood Church Beverley (HU17
9HN)
Come and help us celebrate Christmas at our
Christmas Tree Festival
Church open to see the trees and join us for refreshments
Sat 17th 10 am – 8 pm
Sun 18th 12 – 6 pm
Mon 19th 4 – 8 pm
Tues 20th 10 am onwards
Event closes with our carol service at 7 pm accompanied by
Beverley Brass Band

9

WALK THROUGH THE BIBLE
On Saturday, October 15, 28 people from the Circuit and beyond met at Trinity Methodist Church, Norton, to 'Walk Through the New
Testament'. John Nuttall, of Walk Through the Bible Ministries, gave us an overview of the 27 books and their historical background in an
entertaining, interactive and informative way. By means of excruciating puns, a myriad of hand and arm signs and gestures, maps and time
charts the New Testament was made memorable. Provision of a workbook meant we will be able to revise what we have learnt. At the end of
the afternoon, after seven most enjoyable hours that went very quickly, those present - having been greatly enthused - eagerly pledged
themselves to a deeper commitment to the reading of God's Word.
We can strongly recommend this Walk - and we could very well be doing the companion one, 'Walk Through the Old Testament' in the not
too distant future.
Also:
Saville Street (Malton) is still celebrating its Bicentenary! The chapel was full on Saturday October 1 when two excellent local choirs (the
Malton and District Male Voice Choir and the Harmonia Ladies Choir) entertained us, and a week later, on the 8th, we had a very successful
Barn Dance and Harvest Supper at Norton Indoor Bowling Club.
Geoff Floyd

Mind the Gap – Africa Christmas Challange
At our last Circuit Service I was asked to give a presentation about the work of my friend Jenny who is working in Zimbabwe helping
Children.
Jenny is a Baptist Minister and works in Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. She has helped set up 3 Forever Homes for Abandoned Children.
This year Jenny is offering a Christmas challenge where for Christmas you send the Children in Zimbabwe say £4 (for which they can
buy 10 chicks) instead of sending one of your friends a Christmas present – very useful for that person who has everything and you
can’t think of what to buy. In return the person receives a Christmas Card thanking them for participating in the Christmas
Challenge.
There are more gifts that you can buy
£4 will buy 10 chicks for our orphan support project
£7 will feed a child in one of the homes for a month
£8 will help with the medical expenses for the Children
£10 will but 10 square meters of land for the proposed Children’s village
£15 will pay school fees for one of the Children for a month
£20 will help us install boreholes for water
£50 will buy a sheep
Also please pray for Mind The Gap - Africa
It is Jenny’s vision to convert a Farm into a village for the Children to cut the cost of the 3 individual homes and utilise the services.
This will enable them to reach some sustainability - growing their own produce and the children can learn skills to enable them to
support themselves through life.
To get a leaflet about this please email Bruce Taylor Circuit Administrator Hull East bt@methodisthulleast.org.uk or ring / text 07790
969062
If you want to know more about this project I can arrange for a presentation to be shown.
The Christmas Challenge is Administered by Peckham Park Baptist Church LONDON and Jenny also works with Bulawayo Baptist
Church in Zimbabwe.

10

“Living Word Workshops No.2”
To celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible we are
offering second series of training sessions on the Bible.
They will led by Rev Piers Lane (Cliff College) and will be helpful for
ministers, lay preachers and Christians alike.
All the sessions will take place at:
Copmanthorpe Methodist Church YO23 3ST, near York.
There will be 3 sessions:
Please come to one, two or all three sessions
Food, coffee and tea are provided. If you would like lunch you please
ring 01904 709110 to confirm.

Thursday 24th November 2011 with Rev Piers Lane
3 presentations followed by questions and discussion – help
shape the teaching packages that will be produced

9.30am-11.00am Studying the Bible individually
(Getting to grips with the Word)
11.30am-1.00pm Studying the Bible in groups
(Learning and shaping together)
2.15pm-3.45pm Living the Bible
(A daily discipleship/commitment)

11

12

Sunday 27 November at Huntington Methodist Church there will be an 'After
8' service at 8pm. This service will be led by the worship band and our young
people and will be part of our Christmas Tree Festival.

13

Called to the Big Society?
Leeds Church Institute, 20 New Market Street, LS1 6DG
Friday 4th November 2011
Chair: Bishop of Hull, The Right Revd Richard Frith
Speakers
Dr Patrick Riordan SJ
Lecturer in Political Philosophy at Heythrop College has written widely on the common good.
Prof Peter Wells
Director of the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University - has written recently on regional
disparities in the Big Society for Yorkshire and the Humber
Speaker for the Government or from the Centre for Social Jusice to offer an explanation of the government's perspective on The Big
Society (to be confirmed)
With contributions from Christian projects across Yorkshire and the Humber that illustrate Christian mission in the context of a Big
Society.
A regional event to consider what the Big Society is from a government perspective, how that fits with a Christian theology of the
Common Good, and what sort of regional and local inequalities we can expect to address in the context of the Big Society.
The CRC paper on 'Christian Mission and the Big Society' is available to download here

To book go to calledtothebigsociety.eventbrite.com or contact Wendy or Moira on 0113 245700.

Admin and Finance Officer
The Churches Regional Commission
for Yorkshire and the Humber
20 New Market Street
Leeds
LS1 6DG

Tel: 0113 2443413
Mobile 07595 410705
email: info@crc-online.org.uk

14

For full details of the tour and on line booking go to the World Wide Christian Travel Web site or contact
Brian or Bob on the e mails shown who also have the brochures

Bookings will close January 2012

15

For all the family
at

Phone[01482] 653245 for tickets
th at 2.00pm
at 2.00pm
A modern day Nativity story

A modern day Nativity story
For all the family
Saturday December 10tth
Saturday December 10

Adults: £6 Children: £3
Adults: £6 Children: £3

A modern day Nativity story
For all the family

Saturday December 10

Adults: £6 Children: £3
Phone[01482] 653245 for tickets

16

Willerby Methodist Drama Group
Presents

Thursday/Friday/Saturday 12th – 14th January
&
Wednesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday
18th – 21st January.
7.30-pm & Matinees on both Saturdays @ 2.15pm

In the Willerby Methodist Church Hall.
Tickets:- Adults £6 Children £5
Ring [01482] 655066 to order tickets.

17

Friday
11th
November
7:30pm
ADMISSION
£10 inc
refreshments

The Return of
Mart Rodger
Manchester Jazz
Wetherby Methodist Church Hall
Proceeds for the Reaching Out Development Fund

For Tickets Phone:
01937 573167

18

19

Yorsay is sent on behalf of the York & Hull Methodist District by the Communications Office
Bob Lawe 27 Ryde Avenue Hull Hu5 1QA 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 © 2011 York & Hull Methodist District – All
rights reserved.

Publication deadline for next month Yorsay is 20th of the Month

20

October Yorsay [Word Version]

2011-09-21T10:32:00.005+01:00

Welcome to the October Edition of Yorsay.
Some of the items to note are
Page1-3 A Chair’s Challenge
Page 3 View of Synod/
Page4 Synod Newsletter ?
Page4/5 50th Anniversary
Page 6 Church Schools
Page7 Epworth Rectory/York Luncheon Club
Page8 Singing the Faith
Page 9Congratulations / MWiB
Page10 Roll on Christmas
Page 11 Beverley Appointments/Singing the Faith/Tell Show Be
Page12 Fair Trade Progress

September Synod reports and presentations are available on the District Web site http://www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/index.php?cid=70&pid=23

OCTOBER 2011 Mark 10 13-16
A CHAIR’S CHALLENGE – Sermon at Holy Communion John 6:1-14 I want to offer to you a challenge for 2012 – the calendar year from January to December. I have been extraordinarily restrained so far this connexional year – all nine and a bit days of it thus far. At none of the eleven Welcome Services which have already been held have I mentioned sailing – nor do I intend to do so tomorrow at the final two such occasions, although they are in Whitby and Scarborough where the temptation will be enormous. That is a wonder which is hard to comprehend, and it is somewhat mitigated by my Foreword in the District Directory. Avid bedtime readers of that worthy tome will have learnt a little of how I used part of my holiday allowance this year Sailing with young people is an intriguing experience – and actually an immense responsibility, to be honest. I spend much of my time worrying that somebody will get hit on the head (it happened this year) or someone will fall overboard or something like that. It isn’t really about teaching young people how to sail (although we hope they learn a little bit about it), but it is about learning to live together, to be disciplined; doing the cooking and the washing up, and doing the cleaning – including the toilets, going to bed when you are told to, getting up when you are told to, being cold, yes and being seasick, (and I’ve forgiven the Watch Officer who came charging through my cabin from their cabin in the aft end of the boat and was was sick as she came through my cabin, and carried up on deck to carry on with what she felt called to do); and doing all of that never more than 20 metres away from the other 22 people on board, unless you happen to be in harbour. It’s about life. And the variety of backgrounds that we have on our Sail Training Voyages are the background to my challenge. There may be someone who is from the Combined Cadet Force in their independent school and someone whose probation officer who felt they should experience something which we have to offer. Within that spectrum – which is probably present in many of us in one sense – we learn to live together; to put up with each other; to take the rough with the smooth, literally and metaphorically. One or two little stories: Amy, a wonderfully feisty young 17 year old was very tired at lunchtime one day. We had been sailing overnight and had plenty more distance to go. She was basically exhausted. She wasn’t on watch – we were running a three watch system and she was off watch. I said “Look, you’re off watch, have a nap after lunch, there’s nothing else for you to do. Finish your lunch and have a nap.” As she got into her bunk, she said “I feel just like an old age pensioner.” And then Elena, a bright young woman, 19 years old: she was filling in the ship’s log one night – it’s a legal document, of course, which has to have a record every hour, of our position, course steered, distance run, anything which has happened, barometric pressure, wind force and direction, and visibility. I looked at the log at the end of the watch – I had got up to oversee the change of watch – and I looked at the log to see in the visibility column the word: dark. The background to it was that it was meant to be good, moderate, poor or fog; but she had called up to the cockpit from the navigation area to ask “What’s the visibility?” and someone had answered “Well, it’s dark.” And then on an earlier sail training voyage there was Gareth, a young lad from South Wales. As he came on board, I thought he was handicapped in some way. He was actually terrified, but he gradually got his confidence. We anchored the first night just off the Isle of Wight, and set sail for Cherbourg the following morning – about a twelve hour trip. About half an hour into the voyage, Gareth came up to me and said “Skipper, I never knew the 1 (Mark 10:13-14) sea was so large.” He had grown up where you could see Weston-super-Mare from where he lived across the Bristol Channel. At the end of the trip, he was one of those who said “I never ever want to do this again, but thank you for the experience.” Some of you will feel like that about Synod, I am sure. This year’s trip was a voyage from Greenock on the Clyde, up through the Western Isles to Orkney and then to Shetland. There are some wonderful stories and those of you who are members of Heworth Wesley Guild, or Sinnington People’s Guild, or Derringham Bank Men’s Fellowship will hear about it. It was while we were in Shetland that we heard the news about the dreadful happenings in Oslo and on Utøya Island. I was sitting at the Captains’ Dinner with some Norwegian friends from two of the Norwegian vessels as the news broke. The news was muddled, but by the end of the race across to Stavanger, the appalling news had come out in its entirety. The Shetland people and the Norwegians have an enormous amount in common, and also the feeling within the whole fleet, including about 1500 young people of the same age as those young people camping on the island, meant that we felt it all very much. We did go ahead with the celebrations in Stavanger, but the opening ceremony was very poignant. They wanted two young people from every nationality represented by boats in the fleet to participate, and I was proud that two of my crew were invited – one to carry the Union Flag, and one to carry a rose which was placed on a floral tribute to those young people of the same age, who had suffered to terribly. My crew was all girls this year – and one of the Watch Officers happened to be our niece who has sailed with the Rona Sailing Project for some time now. The girls learnt a lot, for example how to cope with young Russian sailors who had been away at sea for quite a long time. I thought the Cold War had started again, but it was certainly hotting up at times. It was our wedding anniversary while I was away sailing – it has always bewildered why Barbara agreed to marry me on a date during the sailing season, but we have had one or two wedding anniversaries together. I had a card ready for her, to be sent from Shetland. I invited all the crew to sign it. It was the first time she had received an anniversary card signed by eighteen young girls. One of them said to me “This might be the last card you need to send to your wife.” All of us who have had contact with children or young people will have had even more amusing or moving stories – times when you have been extremely frustrated or just uncomprehending of their antics. It’s easy to forget that it wasn’t all that many years ago that we were their age. There have probably been times when we have been moved to tears, and times when we’ve even been educated by them. I suspect that during twenty years of school chaplaincy early in my ministry I learnt more than many of my pupils. Early teaching years for me were at Hitchin Boys School. “It was hard to keep the School in good order. Competition from other schools didn’t help. The School maintained strong numbers, but discipline had decayed, with many boys "discharged" for "playing truant and not attending. There was more mention of the playing of the students, of games of football and cricket in nearby Paynes Park than of work, and frequent visits by the School carpenter often came about because of the demolition of fences and windows by these games.” That was an account of events at Hitchin Boys School, or rather Hitchin Grammar School as it then was, in the year 1777; and writers from ancient Greece, complaining about the young, tell much the same story. So, let’s not ever get things out of perspective. But I am perplexed by what has happened this summer on the streets of some of our cities. It’s still too early for a final analysis of the reasons behind those disorders, but stresses in families; lack of aspiration among many young people; the job market, or lack of it; increasing inequality in our society; a get-rich-quick mentality at the expense of others, which pervades all ages it seems to me, and those who should know better; gang culture; we could go on… none of things can have helped. And people get caught up in mindless acts which they would never have done if they had been by themselves. There are some poignant stories. Such as the eleven year old boy who has been given an 18 month youth rehabilitation order for stealing a bin from a shop during the recent riots in London. He committed the offence just five days after being given a referral order for arson and criminal damage on a bus. The youngster took the waste bin, which was worth £50, from Debenhams in Romford on 8th August. Eleven years old… People were bringing little children to Jesus in order that he might touch them, but the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. I want to invite as many of you who feel you can to join with me during 2012 – a few months’ time - to commit to one, I think, crucial area of Our Calling and indeed of the Priorities for the Methodist Church. “Being a good neighbour to people in need” (and even helping people to learn and grow) and “supporting community development … especially among the most deprived and poor”. The needs of God’s World are, of course, immense. Sometimes we justifiably find it difficult to know where to start – and many of you already have your own deep commitment to world issues, at home or abroad. But, in addition to whatever else you are called to do, will you join me, and others with whom I have shared this vision, in endeavouring to build up a society here in our own communities, where children and young people are encouraged, valued, loved, given good – and challenging, sometimes - things to do, educated in what is right, listened to, helped to be full and caring members of the society which they share with us and which we share with them – and even to give a glimpse to people of why we do what we do as Methodist Christians in God’s Church. 2 (John 6: 9- John Wesley’s challenge was to “go not only to those who need you but to those who need you most”. So, what can we do then? It will vary. For some of us it may be prayer and support of others who are more active or who are in a position to give of their time (to Brigades, Guides and Scouts, teachers in church settings or schools, youth clubs, after-school activities, holiday clubs, Youth Participation Strategy, Youth Assembly - need I go on?). We could make an enormous list of ways that we could try to make that difference that God calls us to make. So will you look at your church and circuit life and see where the needs are? Look at what is already being done, and build it up and support it, whether it is within our Methodist part of God’s Church or by ecumenical partners – or secular agencies. And let’s join in and help. Will you also seek to discern what is missing, and ask yourself prayerfully whether God has a part for you to play there? What are the good stories? I hope after lunch we’ll hear some of them. I saw one of them at a Welcome Service in Thirsk, and I’d like us all to hear about what’s happening there, round the back of St James Green Methodist Church in Thirsk. And what could we do better, that we already do at the moment? Action for Children have a stall here at Synod, of course, as the child care agency of the Methodist Church. What about our support of the work they undertake – it may be the most that some of us can do is to dig a little bit deeper into our pockets and help their work with some of the most troubled and deprived and challenged of God’s children I don’t want us to drop everything else – nor to be unrealistic, but together we can make a difference (sometimes a small difference, but sometimes we may be surprised). There’s a lot going on in 2012, and who knows what else God has in store for us. But let’s not think that anything is too big for us to commit too, or that our resources are too meagre. There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people? 11) But Jesus just got on with it, and used that meagre, pathetic, offering in the world’s terms, to feed a multitude. Will you join with me and others to bring what we have for God to make a difference? Amen

[Stephen has received several requests for his sermon at Synod so we print it here instead of his normal letter—an audio version is available on the Synod Pages of the District Web site.]

Synod September 2011 “So will you write your impressions of Synod now you have returned from 5 years ‘in a stranger land’ over the Pennines?” or words to that effect asked Heathers’ persuasive voice down the phone line. I must learn! Heather (synod secretary) knows how to catch a person unawares – be on your toes! So where do I start? I admit to having mixed feelings about ‘business’ meetings of the Church – as I know many people do. We are a diverse group of people weaving a tapestry of experiences and faith journeys together as we seek to learn God’s will for this time and how to live it out effectively where we are. Formal meetings, such as Synod are not always in our experience, so we lack confidence. For some representatives there is a great sense of responsibility and involvement in shaping the policies, issues and decisions of the Methodist Church so the reports from District and Conference informed and encouraged the understanding of being part of ‘something’ bigger than York and Hull. Others were challenged and inspired by the various stories of different projects, both small and large, that ‘people like us’ were engaged in their local churches and communities. Still more enjoyed the opportunities to learn something more of the activities or changes within other organisations – the renewing mission of Methodist Women in Britain; the needs of Epworth Old Rectory; the Sierra Leone Partner Tour enabled by Christian Aid; the Lifeline charity requiring pen friends and prayer for those on Death Row. There may be a ‘something for everyone’ feel about Synod but 3 things bring us together as one – the times of worship, particularly in Holy Communion; the “Invitation to Still Deeper Discipleship” that is for all (see the leaflet that should be available in your church); and the times of fellowship over coffee and lunch. It was wonderful to meet up again with so many people throughout the District who ‘welcomed’ us back to ‘God’s own County’! There were times I admit that, in part because of the warm atmosphere, in part because of my hearing impairment and the tiredness it can bring with intense sessions – my mind wandered to ‘tea is still in the freezer so it’s fish and chips for the third time this week’. And leading from that admission, there were agenda items I would have appreciated the information being given in paper form before Synod with just an opportunity for any questions arising from it …but in everything, there are always lessons to be learned within each Synod, in each District. So my impressions of York and Hull District Synod? It is still a place where, dedicated, committed Christians offer their gifts and time to further the Kingdom of God, even when it seems against their ‘natural inclinations’; where love and faith find a road to follow and a service to be offered; where people can discuss and disagree but remain united in their love and mission. Is there anything I miss about the ‘other District’ I was asked?…well, there is one thing…..Synod ended by 1 pm! Good thing? Bad thing? You decided! I am not getting into another ‘War of the Roses’! Rev Denise Free 3

Where’s the Synod Newsletter?
When I became Synod Secretary 5 years ago I continued the practice of writing an easily reproducible Newsletter containing some of the salient points of Synod business begun by my predecessor. Now, 5 years on and with many more people able to access the website and read the full minutes, I am wondering if the Newsletter is still a valuable tool for churches and circuits or if the pressure to reproduce and use it is counter-productive to our ‘Green’ objectives. Would it be more appropriate for each Church to put one copy of the minutes on its notice board? To test this out I will not be producing a Newsletter for this Synod and future producti on will be discussed by the District Communications Group but please let me know if you feel you have lost something of value. I would also appreciate any comments you have about its format if you do feel it is valuable. With best wishes Heather Shipman Synod Secretary E mail your comments to either Heather heather.shipman@lineone.net

HIH GOLDEN JUBILEE LUNCH
Hull International House celebrated its Golden Jubilee with a Lunch at Princes Avenue Methodist Church, Hull with 45 invited guests including past officers, chaplains, Friends of the House, committee and Wardens of the House. Here Chair of District Revd Stephen Burgess is enjoying lunch with former President Revd David Gamble, the preacher at the Celebration service, The superintendent of Hull West Circuit, Revd Dr David Perry and Revd Randall Barlow, current chaplain shared in the service. Submitted by Stephen Rippon, Secretary HIH. www.hullih.org.uk 4 An CUTTING THE CAKE at Hull International House Golden Jubilee Lunch on 17 September 2011 Janet Woolley (volunteer supporter) Loretta Lynch (Warden) Effie Glauch (former Warden)

5 Church schools get chance to shine in second annual national awards Awards extended to cover whole of the UK Church schools across the whole country are being invited to showcase how they help foster strong community relations with the launch of the second annual Church School Awards. Schools will be asked to describe what nurturing global citizenship and fostering community cohesion means to their school, and how these are embedded in school life. Regional prizes will be awarded at primary and secondary level, with overall national winners for both drawn from regional winners. The Awards will be presented at a special ceremony in London next March, demonstrating how Christian schools lead the way in building communities locally, nationally and internationally. Recently published research on Ofsted data showed that secondary schools with a religious foundation contribute ‘significantly and substantially’ more to the promotion of community cohesion and the provision of equality of opportunity for students than other types of school. Education Minister Lord Hill, who presented the first ever awards at the 2011 Gala, said: “Church schools make an important contribution to education in this country – not only in achieving good exam results, but also in nurturing young people to become real ambassadors for the ethos of their schools. Thanks to the Church School Awards, we are able to celebrate this and see the links they have established in volunteering in local communities, fundraising for countries hit by disaster and building relationships with pupils around the world.” Schools from all over the UK, including, for the first time, Scotland and Northern Ireland, are encouraged to apply by the deadline of 4 November 2011 for a chance to win some great prizes and to tell other schools about their experiences. More information about the 2011 winners and how to apply for the 2012 awards can be found at www.churchschoolawards.com. The Methodist Church | Unsubscribe | Forward to a friend | Change your details Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5JR 020 7486 5501 (Help Desk) www.methodist.org.uk Registered charity no. 1132208

6
New Attraction At Old Rectory A new attraction has been added to the highly popular North Lincolnshire tourist attraction - the Old Rectory in Epworth. It is an authentically reproduced costume of a style that was worn by women in the early 18th century, when the Old Rectory was the home of the Wesley family. The dress is of a style likely to have been worn by their mother Susanna, who had no less than 19 children, and was hand-stitched by Cheryl Crick, who was a volunteer at the Old Rectory as well as its gardener. “I got the pattern from a book called ‘The Cut of Women’s Clothing 1600 to 1900’, explained Cheryl.”It’s mainly wool with cotton lace and it took me about a month to make,” she added. The dress itself is worn over a hooped petticoat and incorporates lace at the neck and sleeves – the neck frill being called at the time a ‘tucker’ and those at the sleeves were referred to as ‘ruffles’ or ‘engagements’. Cheryl, who used to live in Epworth’s Rookery Croft but has now moved to Beacon Park in Pickering, North Yorkshire, has her dress on display in what is called the Period Room at the Old Rectory. Guide Pam Taylor with the early 18th century costume now on display at Epworth’s Old Rectory. YORK LUNCHEON CLUB THE York and District Methodist Women's Luncheon Club are looking for former members to attend their 50th anniversary celebrations. The event will take place on Monday October 3 at the Elm Bank Hotel in York. It will include the inauguration of the new president, lunch and a talk by former President of the Conference the Rev David Gamble. Contact Mrs Judith Newstone for further details by telephone (01759 306195) or post to her at, 32 Harper Close, Broadmanor, Pockington, York Y042 2GW.
7

8 Congratulations We send our best wishes and congratulations from the district to Siân Henderson our District Administration officer and David Stalker on their engagement in June. [ Sorry it is a bit late]

YORK AND HULL DISTRICT METHODIST WOMEN IN BRITAIN DISTRICT PRESIDENT’S PROJECT DAY AT DRIFFIELD METHODIST CHURCH ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18TH, 2011. Coffee from 10a.m. for 10.30a.m. start. Finish at around 3p.m.Please bring packed lunch. Come and hear about Jean’s projects for 2011/13

Toll Gavel United Church, Beverley An evening with Doug Stewart, resident gardening expert On BBC Radio Humberside's Great Outdoors Oct 27th 7.30pm at Toll Gavel Tickets £6 from Jennifer Miles 01482 868458
QUIET DAY/DAY APART AT BISHOP BURTON CHAPEL SATURDAY, 29 OCTOBER We have had two very different days recently at Bishop Burton that were appreciated by all who attended and we would like to invite you to come along to another day that is being arranged for 29 October. As we each seek to develop our own prayer life we shall spend the day exploring creative prayer in different forms. God is the 'God of Surprises', always encouraging us to know more. Come along and see what gift of surprise you may receive. Coffee/tea will be served at 9.30 am - session beginning at 10 am finishing at 3.00 pm with afternoon tea. Depart 3.30 pm. Please bring a packed lunch. Enquiries to Revd Ruth Crompton 01482 882325 ruth.crompton@methodist.org.uk
Saturday 19 November 7.30pm PAUL LIDDELL (plus support) At Toll Gavel United Church, Beverley Ticket £7.50 Further information: TollGavelChurch@gmail.com Proceeds to Beverley Community Lift & MRDF See more about Paul Liddell on www.paulliddell.com [More details next month]

9 ROLL ON CHRISTMAS! NATIVITY PLAY ON FACEBOOK SET FOR NOVEMBER RELEASE ROLL ON CHRISTMAS is the First Coming as never seen before – an online, interactive nativity play on Facebook set for release in November. The scene will be instantly familiar – a smelly stable in Roman- occupied Bethlehem. But the action will be as much Marx Brothers as Mary and Joseph, Mission Impossible as Matthew's Gospel. Devised by iconoclastic webzine Ship of Fools and Bible Society, with more than a little help from Jerusalem Productions, Roll on Christmas is a two-minute farce about the incarnation getting lost in the madness of Christmas 2011. The stars of this chaotic animation are your Facebook friends – their faces cut out and stuck on toilet rolls depicting the usual Bethlehem suspects. "Anyone on Facebook will be able to cast the play," explained Ship of Fools editor Simon Jenkins, who wrote the script with co-editor Steve Goddard. "Which pal will you choose to play your mystical Virgin Mary or shopaholic wise man? Whose lusty lungs will make up your cacophonic choir of angels? Which of your friends would best fit love-to-hate, anti-hero King “Horrid” Herod and that door-slamming innkeeper (who finally gets his comeuppance)? You decide." Aimed at anyone over 18 years of age, Roll on Christmas caricatures the way we behave over the festive period: shopping, drinking, eating, partying, celebrating to excess - for what? “Our cunning and playful plan is that Roll on Christmas will entertain Facebookers but also send them away considering an important truth beneath the laughter," said Jenkins. A recent survey confirms that using the Internet has become a traditional part of the festive period in many households. Almost nine out of 10 UK adults logged onto the internet over Christmas Day and Boxing Day in 2010 - an increase of more than 10 per cent on 2009, claim eDigital Research. For the first time ever, Facebook received more UK visits than Google UK on Christmas Day 2010, according to Hitwise. "Roll on Christmas is not a simple re-telling of the original story," said Bible Society's Rachel Rounds. "Instead, it is a fresh encounter with that amazing event 2000 years ago in a new medium and in the light of contemporary culture. By casting our friends in the play, the focus is on our response to the nativity." For those of any faith or none, Roll on Christmas will be free to pass on to Facebook friends, who can then cast their own friends in the same play. And so on. And so on. Ship of Fools and Bible Society are working with BAFTA-winning animators. Based in Bath, Complete Control have designed online, interactive children's entertainment and educational projects for a host of organisations including the BBC, The World of Beatrix Potter, CAFOD and Dr Who. "Roll on Christmas is a really exciting project," said Complete Control's Glynn Hayward. "We are relishing the chance to flex our creative muscles and create something funny enough to encourage people to share the end product, balancing this with an important mess age." Part pantomime and part parable for our times, Roll on Christmas will roll out from November until the end of December. •Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/RollOnChristmas

10 METHODIST CIRCUIT WELCOMES GAP YEAR WORKERS The Beverley Methodist Circuit, with churches in Toll Gavel, Norwood, Walkington, Tickton and Bishop Burton, is pleased to be hosting two gap year workers starting in September. We are delighted to be able to welcome, Charlene, a young lady from Germany who will be supplementing our youth work team unt il the end of July 2011, working with our existing youth work activities but also looking at what else we are able to offer young pe ople in the Beverley area. We hope that Charlene will also be able to supplement the work that we are involved in, and that has shown po sitive results, at Longcroft school. This gap year placement has been organised and facilitated through ‘Time For God’. The Methodist Circuit is also pleased to be able to host a part time gap year worker as part of the Methodist Church’s ‘One Participation Programme’, a scheme set up ‘to give young people the opportunity to work for a year in their local churches and districts in creative projects that help to show Jesus to others.’ We are pleased that Ashley will be joining us to develop a programme looking at how people share their faith in the work place. He will also look at how we share this information with young people who are either already in the work place or will soon be employed, helping them to share their faith and letting them know that they are not the only Christians out there in the working world. Both workers will be based alongside our full time youth worker Peter Barley, who has recently completed his initial three year contract and has accepted a three year extension. The youth worker team is based out of our office at the Toll Gavel United Centre. For more information on our gap year workers or on our youth work, please visit http://www.bmcy.org.yk or email peter@bmcy.org.uk

It's arrived! Singing the Faith is here – and it's simply stunning! The music edition of Singing the Faith was delivered to the warehouse yesterday and the two printed words editions (standard and large print) will arrive hot on its heels next week. Hymns Ancient & Modern will be despatching orders from their warehouse in Norwich from now on. For those who haven’t already ordered copies, the pre-publication discounts remain available until 31 December 2011. And don’t forget to watch out for www.singingthefaithplus.org.uk (which launches in the first week of October) and the electronic words edition which is also on its way. Phew! Find out more here. [From a weekly update sent by the National Communications Office]

http://www.tellshowbe.com/# - The focal point of the project is the "Tell Show Be" video that at-tempts to dispel the myths about evangelism and challenge people to think about daily opportunities to share their faith. Using music, voice, words and graphics produced by Christian charity Kore UK, the two- minute video breaks down the concept of evangelism into telling peo-ple of faith, showing faith and "being" faith. The video was the brainchild of evangelism in contemporary culture officer the Rev Joanne Cox, who collaborated with the Rev Mark Sten-nett and the Rev Dr Peter Phillips to develop the idea. Ms Cox initiated "Tell Show Be" to make the message of evangelism understandable by all. Having worked in the past with children with special needs and people who were illiterate or had English as a sec-ond language, she realised the importance of making the video as ac-cessible as possible. As a result, the newly-launched video avoids Christian jargon to communicate its message. Ms Cox said: "I am really excited about the opportunities we all have, every day, to share our faith - yet so often we lose our confidence and think that we need a formula or script in order to share with peo-ple the good news of Jesus." The website has been designed for personal use and for churches and study groups of all denominations. One of the first churches to use the video will be a New Frontiers church in Loughborough where there is a large student population. Church co-ordinator at the Well church believes that "Tell Show Be" could help people to rethink their approach to evangelism and remind people that they do not need to be "special" to evangelise. The "Tell Show Be" project will be publicised through social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook and will be propagated by viewers choosing to share the video with friends.

114 FT churches out of 266 Target total 133 On 16th April 2005 York and Hull District Synod made a commitment to work towards these five goals needed to become a Fairtrade District. To_support_and_promote_Fairtrade,_further_encourage_the_use_and_sale_of_Fairtrade_products_and_to_serve_ only_Fairtrade_cofee_and_tea_at_meeings_it_is_responsible_for._ Ensure that one half of the churches in your denominaional area have become a ‘Fairtrade Church’. Encourage_other_local_churches,_parishes,_circuits_etc._to_adopt_a_Fairtrade_policy. __s_far_as_possible,_ display_literature_adverising_the_fact_that_Fairtrade_products_are_used_and_served_there. _tract_media_coverage_and_coninue_raising_awareness_of_the_F_IRTR_DE_Mark. _If_possible,_make_ reference_to_denominaional_area’s_Fairtrade_status_on_the_relevant_website._ Set_up_a_Fairtrade_steering_group_to_take_responsibility_for_monitoring_that_these_goals_coninue_to_be_ met_and_developed_over_ime._ We are making slow but steady progress to achieving the 2nd goal as shown below Spring Synod 2006 September Synod 2010 85 FT churches out of 253 Target total 127 May Synod 2011 108 FT churches out of 248 Target total 124 September Synod 2011 111 FT churches out of 242 Target total 121 We need another 10 Fairtrade Churches to reach our required target but we aim for 100%. 3 circuits (all with 9 or more churches) have achieved 100% so we know it is possible. Please let me know of any churches which have recently gained a Fairtrade certificate. If your church doesn’t have one, please raise the issue of Fairtrade at your Church Councils, this remains one of the most effective ways injustice and poverty in the developing world can be challenged in our every day lives. For more information on Fairtrade and how to become a Fairtrade Church contact me or see www.fairtrade.org.uk/get_involved/campaigns/ fairtrade_places_of_worship/fairtrade_churches/ Thanks for your help with this Diane J Robinson (District Fairtrade Representative) My contact details are:- É 01723 363002 e-mail dianeil@phonecoop.coop
12 13 14 15 c/o Speaking Volumes PO Box 1020 Whittlesford 01223 832671 info@christianbookawards.org Press release New category for the Ultimate Christian Library Book Award 2012 Nominations are currently being sought for two categories in the ‘2012 Ultimate Christian Library book award’. They are Adult and Children’s. The award has been divided in order to encourage writers of Children’s books as well as adult. ‘Children’s book borrowing at public libraries has increased over the last six years and almost 80% of 5-10 year olds now use the service.* So it’s clear we should celebrate good Christian Children’s books too and encourage their writers’, remarked Paula Renouf, Director of Speaking Volumes. Winners of both categories will receive £1,000 cash prize. A shortlist of 5 books in each category will be selected by a panel of experts including librarians, booksellers and educators. Public voting will commence in January 2012 and the winners will be announced at National CRE, Sandown Racecourse on 9th May 2012. Nominations can be made during September by anyone for any book that captures the interest of the wider public and encourages them to look further onto the Christian faith. Books must be published in the UK between September 2010 and September 2011. Entry forms are available from www.christianbookawards.org. *Source:MLA (Museums, Libraries & Archives) For further details contact: Paula Renouf, Director of Speaking Volumes 01223 832671 Bearing Witness - Saturday 1st October, Manchester Join Christian Aid, CAFOD and Tearfund ahead of the Conservative party conference in Manchester to act and pray from climate justice. 12 - 7.30pm with workshops, a service and a procession and vigil outside the party conference venue. Be a climate witness and speak out for strong government action, challenging injustice and being a voice for the voiceless. For more information and to register visit: www.christianaid.org.uk/bearingwitness or contact us on 0207 523 2264 or info@christian-aid.org Alex Jones Regional Coordinator, Yorkshire Region  Christian Aid, Oxford Chambers, Oxford Place, Leeds, LS1 3AX  0113 244 4764 skype: caid-ajones 16 Methodist Heritage Coach Tours We are excited to introduce two new holidays for 2012, in conjunction with Methodist Heritage. These coach tours will explore the history of Methodism, taking in key sites along the way. Southwest England 14th - 21st July 2012. £515 per person. Based at Treloyhan Manor Hotel, this week includes two full-day and one half-day coach tours, plus a walking tour of St Ives. There will be stops at many of the towns and churches John Wesley preached in during the 1740s, as well as a visit to one of his favourite preaching places - Gwennap Pit, now part of the Cornwall and West Devon World Heritage Site. Interspersed throughout the itinerary will be plentiful opportunities to explore the beautiful area around St Ives at your own leisure. A PDF including the full itinerary for this trip can be downloaded from our website. To book on this holiday contact Derwent House on 01629 580550. Central & Northern England 2nd - 9th September 2012. £550 per person. This 2-centre tour includes 4 nights at Willersley Castle Hotel in Derbyshire, followed by 3 nights at Raven Hall Hotel in North Yorkshire. During this holiday there will be excursions to Oxford, where Methodism began; a half- day Derbyshire tour; an exploration of 19th century Christianity and the origins of Primitive Methodism; a stop at John and Charles Wesley's birthplace at Epworth; and visits to the two oldest Methodist Chapels in continuous Methodist use, dating from the 1750s. A PDF including the full itinerary for this trip can also be downloaded from our website. To book, contact Derwent House on 01629 580550. There are also a number of other Further Afield holidays planned for the coming months, including Belgium for the Floriade Festival and the Isles of Scilly. Details of all these will be available on the website at www.christianguild.co.uk as they are finalised. 17 November Friday 11th 7:30pm ADMISSION £10 inc refreshments The Return of Mart Rodger Manchester Jazz Wetherby Methodist Church Hall Proceeds for the Reaching Out Development Fund For Tickets Phone: 01937 573167 18 19 Hull Yorsay is sent on behalf of the York & Hull Methodist District by the Communications Office Bob Lawe 27 Ryde Avenue Hull Hu5 1QA 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 © 2011 York & Hull Methodist District – All rights reserved. Publication deadline for next month Yorsay is 20th of the Month 20

Yorsay DSeptember 2011 Word version

2011-08-20T08:18:00.000+01:00

This is a text version The full Colour version is downloadable from http://www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/index.php?cid=75&pid=23

SEPTEMBER 2011
With this new connexional year I begin my seventh decade as a Methodist
minister and have been asked to share my reflections here. It is inevitable
Welcome to the September
that there are some too incriminating to divulge, but I welcome this
Edition of Yorsay. opportunity to reveal more innocent ones.
I imagine myself being asked, in the course of an interview “In sixty years
At the start of a new Method-
of ministry you must have seen many changes in the Methodist Church? “
ist year we welcome new
To this I reply [ still in my imagination of course] “ Certainly I have, and
staff to the District [Page2]
have voted against every one of them !”
and some of you will be re-
While it is true that so much in our twenty-first century Methodism is
ceiving this newsletter for the unrecognisably different from what I found in the late ‘ forties of the
first time—this is because twentieth’ when I was struggling to deal with the call to ministry, yet I
your names have appeared in constantly give thanks for one Methodist peculiarity which remains intact
the 2011/12 directory. and unthreatened.
I have learned from a neighbour of mine what retirement means. He was
Highlights
for many years a police office : now he is a retired police officer. It was a
Page 2 Wetherby surprise to me to learn that retirement severs him completely from the
Police Service—he has no greater authority than the next man. He isn’t a
Page 3 Malton policeman any more.
How different for those of us who have “sat down” after our time of
Page 4 District World Church
travelling as Methodist ministers ! Although our abbreviation in the
Day / Greenbelt
District Directory is RM [ which looks suspiciously like ’Retired Minister’ ]
Page4/5 Handwritten Bible we are Supernumerary , we are still under the discipline of the Conference;
there is , thank God, no retirement for us.
Page5 Synod Parking
Thus in my Supernumerary years I have had the opportunity of continuing
Page 6 MHA Conference to exercise my preaching ministry in neighbouring circuits as well as in
my own. My diaries confirm that I have averaged at least a hundred
Page7 onwards - General
appointments in each year so far : a source of great delight to me [ and to
Events my hirers ?]
In these visits to very many chapels in our District I almost always see a
framed copy of our covenant with sister churches [ though usually hung in
the vestry so as to be seen only by the few]. So far, though , I cannot recall
even one of these places where I have noticed any change locally that has

resulted from it’s existence.

The covenant was one change that I did vote for , but , just because I did , I
feel even more regretful that none of us seems to take it seriously. Is this a
case of “ I’m quite prepared to accept change so long as it makes no
difference”?

This month letter from Rev Peter Howard ‘Retired Minister’ in the York South
Circuit who was ordained in 1951.
1

Welcome
We extend a very warm welcome to our new staff in the District well I say new 4 of them are returning to us after tasting life outside
of Yorkshire and realising that “God’s own County were best!!” David Perry, Ian Hill, Chris and Denise Free. We also extend a very
warm welcome to Philip Turner Peter Barnett Amy Walters John Pugh , Helen Webster and John Fisher.
If I have missed anyone then my apologies.
WETHERBY METHODIST CHURCH
OPENING SERVICE FOR THE NEWLY REFURBISHED CHURCH CENTRE
19 JUNE 2011
Over the weekend of the 18/19 June Wetherby Methodist Church celebrated the completion of a building project which had taken the
congregation over 3½ years to complete and cost £435k. The Church is now able to offer greatly enhanced facilities through modern
rooms, new toilets and an enhanced chapel which enable the congregation to ‘Reach Out’ to the local community.
Under the banner of ‘Reaching Out’ the intention behind the project was to create
A spiritual home for those who seek it
A physical home for community and social needs groups of all types
A base from which volunteers are resourced and energised
As a Church committed to being part of a discipleship movement shaped for mission, stage one – the building – is now complete and
as the Revd Stephen Burgess, Chair of District, reminded us when he preached at the opening service, we look forward to the next
steps. The gospel lectionary reading for Trinity Sunday was ‘The Great Commission’ and we look forward to playing our part as we
receive the legacy handed on to us from those first 11 disciples.
Saturday 18th was an open day when we invited people to look around the new centre and to join us for Coffee
Sunday 19 June – morning and evening service. Over 225 people including Civic dignitaries, members of community groups, our
architect Steve Potts of PPI & Y and Mark Nelson representing the builders Manor House developments attended the morning service
Our ecumenical friends and circuit churches attended the evening service which was similarly well attended. A fantastic weekend

From Left to right the people are Revd Steve Barlow (Minister) Mr Mark Nelson (Contractor - Manor House Developments) Mr Stephen
Potts (Architect - PPI & Y) Leslie Kwallah (young person) Mrs Betty Wilson Revd Stephen Burgess (District Chair) Mrs Heather Shipman
(Lay Pastor)
2

Article courtesy Methodist Recorder 4th August 2011
York Gospel Male Voice Praise invite you to a Gospel Concert
in
Acomb Methodist Church, York
Saturday 10th September at 6.45 pm

Admisssion free. Offering during concert

Guests Trevor Jones, The Trimadonaires, John Woodmansey.

Male Voice Praise is a men's choral movement singing Christian music and
is now over 70 years old. The emphasis is on fellowship and mission.

The York choir will be augmented by members from eight other choirs
ranging from Carlisle to Leicester.

Further details from the conductor David Lindsay 01723 585919

3

District World Church Day
October 15th
at Tadcaster Methodist Church
10.0 am to 2.30.pm
The speaker is Dr Richard Vautrey, Past Vice- President of Conference.
He will be speaking about his recent visit to the World Methodist Council in South Africa
Please bring a packed lunch
Methodist Mingle at Greenbelt
Methodists attending Greenbelt are invited to come to the
Methodist Church venue Galilee on Saturday 27 August from
6.45pm to 7.45pm to mingle together over some nibbles and
refreshments. The president of the Conference, the vice-
president, the general secretary and the president designate
will all be there mingling! It will be an opportunity to share
together. The mingle will follow on from Martyn Atkins’s talk
entitled ‘Why the first Christians were really Methodists’ and
we hope people will stay around afterwards to chat.
There will also be a Methodist presence on one of the
Greenbelt panels. Paul Morrison from the Joint Public Issues
Team will be debating 'The Poor are Poor because the Rich are
Rich' on Saturday 27 August and Steve Hucklesby, also from JPIT, will be helping to set up the prayer station at Creation
Challenge: the environmental network of the Methodist Church, The Baptist Union and the United Reformed Church.
In addition to a full programme of talks, debates and study at Galilee, there will also be social media surgeries and a film school.
80 attendees will be offered the chance to form an instant production team, shoot a short film in the space of a few hours and
receive encouragement, advice and feedback from an experienced industry professional from a team of BBC producer-directors.
Anyone with a camera phone, a PC and a YouTube account is now a broadcaster: Come and get some tips from the professionals.

The Handwritten Bible can now be viewed online!
A huge THANK YOU To everyone who helped in any way in the transcription of the bible chapters within York and Hull District. If you are
one of the many people who helped to write a verse or illustrate one of the pages then your work has now been bound into one of the
31 volumes and forms part of this unique copy of the bible. What is more you can go on line to the deepening discipleship website to
see your work in the scanned copy. Why not take a look and read the work of other scribes around the District and country while you
are there.
We will have the two of the volumes here in the District in early September. Part of the book of Isaiah (including the chapters written in
York and Hull) plus Hebrews to Jude in the new testament (including 2 Thessalonians and 1 Timothy written in our District) are coming
to visit our District. Your first opportunity to see them will be at the Bible Festival in Strensall on 3rd and 4th September. Synod
members will have another opportunity to see them when Synod meets in Norton the following Saturday. Please do take the
opportunity to see them if you can.
If you would like to host one or more volumes of the bible in your Circuit please contact me for details of how to make arrangements.
Once again an enormous thank you to everyone who made the transcribing possible around our District. Well done everyone!
Tricia dde@yorkhulldistrict.org.uk
4

News Release
11 August 2011
The Methodists' Handwritten Bible goes live online
The complete Methodists’ Handwritten Bible, created by tens of thousands of people across Britain and
Northern Ireland, is now online.
The Handwritten Bible contains 7,000 pages of text and illustrations transcribed by people from every part of Britain and further
afield. More than 30,000 volunteers joined in from across communities - including prisons, schools, colleges, libraries, nursing
homes, airports and shopping centres - to copy the whole of the NRSV translation of the Bible after Methodists voted to
transcribe the Scripture at their Conference in Portsmouth last year.
Since the first volume went live on the Deepening Discipleship website last month, the Handwritten Bible has been viewed more
than 1,000 times. Most of those readers accessed the site from within the UK, but there have been visitors from 76 other
countries, including the United States, Malaysia, Australia and South Africa.

Revd Jenny Ellis, Co-ordinator of Evangelism, Spirituality and Discipleship, said: “We have already had many people asking to
display the hardbound copies of the Bible, including a request from the Caribbean. The Handwritten Bible has been divided up
into 31 volumes; some of those volumes are currently on display at the Liskeard Methodist Church in Cornwall while others are
on show at Worcester Cathedral. Now that all the volumes are online, people can view the whole Bible. It’s a way of connecting
us all together as we value and celebrate the Scriptures.”
As part of the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, people were invited to join Methodists in handwriting verses from the
Scripture. Verses have been written in English, Chinese, Welsh and Braille with accompanying illustrations.
Dave Webster, Internet Communications Coordinator who was responsible for uploading the Handwritten Bible online, said: “The
Handwritten Bible has the human touch. The care and love that people put into it are expressed in the ever-changing handwriting
and illustrations. This makes reading it a unique and moving experience.”

The Methodists’ Handwritten Bible will be available for display at churches, Bible Fresh events, anniversaries and museums up
until the 2012 Methodist Conference.
AUTUMN SYNOD INFORMATION—ALSO AVAILABLE IN MORE DETAIL VIA THE WEB SITE
Please Note that parking at the College is limited but should be sufficient ; an overflow
car park has been arranged at St Peter's Church House Langton Road Norton YO17 9AE
[shown on map] and will be signposted if required
5

Church appeals following UK riots

A number of people have been in touch to ask how they can give to church appeals supporting communities
following the riots. The Methodist Church is not running a national appeal. If you want to support a church in an
affected area, then the best thing to do would be to get in touch with that church directly. If you want to help that
church get publicity for its appeal, then perhaps you could get in touch with the local paper, or suggest that the
church publicise its appeal on its own website (if the church has a website).

If you would like to make a donation to the Mission in Britain Fund which makes grants to local churches and
circuits, you can give online through JustGiving here. Or, if you would prefer to send a cheque, please make it
payable to Mission in Britain Fund and send it to The Mission in Britain Fund, Methodist Church House, 25
Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR. However, the Mission in Britain Fund is not running a national appeal
following the riots.

An introductory Training Course
in Prayer Guiding at:
The Endsleigh Centre,
481 Beverley Road,
HULL, HU6 7LJ

The training consists of eight sessions on:
Jan 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st, and
Feb 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th in 2012

Time: Tuesdays, 6.45 pm – 9.00 pm

Suggested Donation: £30 for all eight sessions

Training will be offered by an experienced team

INTRODUCTORY TRAINING COURSE IN PRAYER GUIDING: Jan/Feb 2012 reply slip

Name:……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Address:
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………….
Tel No:………………………………………………Email……………………………………………………
Please return to: Sister Catherine at the Endsleigh Centre (address above) by December 1st 2011. Cheques to
be made payable to: “The Endsleigh Pastoral Centre”

6

An introductory Training Course in Prayer Guiding

What is Prayer Guiding? Is it for me?

Prayer Guiding is for people who are on their Christian journey and who are looking for ways in
which their journey with God might be invigorated and deepened, or who are looking to
progress that journey in new and creative ways.

Prayer Guides are people whose gifts are to encourage and affirm others, yet who can gently
challenge and suggest new and innovative ways in which others may move forward in their
own way, and at their own pace, with God. Prayer Guides are those who feel that God is
calling them to this kind of shared ministry.

Prayer Guide training is an opportunity for a person to first of all test out this calling and then
to develop the skills and gifts to be able to perform it. The training will encourage Prayer
Guides to explore their own personal prayer and their attitudes towards others’ ways of
praying, particularly developing skills such as listening, creativity, the ability to offer different
ways of praying, whilst accompanying others on their journey of faith.

This introductory training is open to women and men of any denomination.

Interested? Then please complete the application form overleaf and return by 1st December
2011.
We are often concerned
about the lack of use our
buildings are put too but
this Catholic Chapel is on a
farm in a small village of
three or four farms and is
used once a month for
services.

Location
Haus Holl
Scherenau
Unterammergau
Germany
7

METHODIST HOMES

Invite you to a Day Conference in Birmingham

Caring for the Whole Person:
Honouring the Spiritual in the Care of Older People

Wednesday, 9th November 2011 ● Registration from 9.30am
The Paragon Hotel, 145 Alcester Street, Birmingham, B12 0PJ

The event will explore the context of ageing in the 21st Century and help carers,
whether formal, informal or family members, discover ways of meeting the spiritual
needs of older people

Celebrity Guest: Pam Rhodes, Television Presenter and Patron of MHA

Keynote Speakers: Nigel Thompson, Head of Equality, CQC
Ann Morisy, Community Theologian and Lecturer
Keith Albans, MHA Group Director, Chaplaincy & Spirituality

Who Should Attend:

Health and Social Care Professionals, Chaplains, Clergy and Church pastoral leaders, Older People, Informal Carers
For a booking form and enquiries please contact:
Hazel Twynham
Department of Chaplaincy & Spirituality
Methodist Homes (MHA)
Epworth House
Stuart Street
Derby
DE1 2EQ
Tel: 01332 221831. Email: hazel.twynham@mha.org.uk

Cost (full day including lunch): £35 for bookings received before 30th September or £45 thereafter.
8

9

Booked your 2012 Holiday yet ?? Why not join us
For full details of the tour and on line booking go to the World Wide Christian Travel Web site or contact
Brian or Bob on the e mails shown who also have the brochures
Day 1 - Saturday Travel from Northern England to the south coast. Dinner and overnight at Plymouth.
Day 2 - Sunday Board the Brittany Ferries cruise ferry service to Spain. Relax and enjoy a night on board ship.
Day 3 - Monday Arrive in Spain and proceed to the wonderful old city of Leon for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 4 - Tuesday Some time to explore the beautiful Cathedral city of Leon. In the afternoon the route travels through Astorga before
continuing on the faster route via Lugos and Betanzos to arrive in Santiago de Compostela, for a 4 night stay.
Day 5 - Wednesday Full day at leisure in Santiago. We suggest a morning guided sightseeing tour including a visit to the Cathedral
followed by an afternoon at leisure.
Day 6 - Thursday Full scenic day excursion to Rias Baixas. Start from Pontevedra and travel through a succession of pretty villages
following the route through Combarro, Sanxenxo, Pontonovo and Cambadas. See the small fishing ports, cliffs and wonderful
beaches.
Day 7 - Friday Another full day in Santiago. In addition to the many historical and cultural sites there are countless restaurants
specializing in Galician cuisine.
Day 8 - Saturday Depart Santiago and travel along Spain’s northern coast, through Asturias, to arrive in the province of Cantabria for
a 2 night stay.
Day 9 - Sunday A short local excursion to Santillana del Mar, a town best described as a living museum.
Day 10 - Monday Join the a Brittany Ferries cruise-ferry service from Spain with a comfortable night on board.
Day 11 - Tuesday Arrive on England’s south coast and travel home.
Itinerary subject to change.
10

11

Between March and June 2012 Riding Lights will be touring nationally an original, extra-ordinary piece of
theatre about the revival of the modern Olympic Games. Monsieur de Coubertin's Magnificent Opymlic©
Feat! takes you back to where it all began - to the glittering banquets in Paris where big moustached men
made big plans, to Shropshire's Much Wenlock Olympicks, a huge source of inspiration for the father of
the games, Baron Pierre de Coubertin. It's set to be glorious fun and games - epic and energetic, this new
production will appeal to sports fans and theatre nuts.. everywhere! It will capture the mood of the
country in the build-up to the London Games and it will also bring together the Company's natural church-
linked audience with a new audience of people who are passionate about sport. The show will provide a
really enjoyable meeting point for outreach in the local community. We hope it will bring people together
in a way which will kick start relationships that become much more than bronze, silver or gold.
Riding Lights would like to bring this production to you and be part of your Olympic celebrations! If you
would like to host in your church, village hall, local leisure centre, or theatre, then get in touch with the
administrator for this tour, Jessica Lawson, on Jessica.lawson@rltc.org or 01904 655317.
12

rd
SATURDAY 3 SEPTEMBER 2011
CAR BOOT & TABLE TOP SALE.
10.00am – 3.00pm.

BOUNCY CASTLE - REFRESHMENTS – FURNITURE - CAKES

COME ALONG FOR A FUN DAY!!
CAR BOOT SALE in the front car park.
To book a car space, £5.00 general public £8.00 trade.
Please contact Dale Brittain Tel: 075 221 925 76
OUR TABLE TOP SALE in the rear car park.
DONATIONS NEEDED – HAVE YOU SURPLUS GOODS YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE.
ANYTHING IN GOOD CONDITION EXCEPT CLOTHING.PLEASE CONTACT RAY MOSLEY
(01377 257323) OR SHEILA REDSHAW (01377252198)
13

14

15

Yorsay is sent on behalf of the York & Hull Methodist District by the Communications Office
Bob Lawe 27 Ryde Avenue Hull Hu5 1QA 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 © 2011 York & Hull Methodist District – All
rights reserved.
Publication deadline for next month Yorsay is 20th of the Month
16

2011-07-21T13:51:00.000+01:00

This is mainly a text only version of the August newsletter YORSAY for a full colour version go to August 2011

Welcome to the August Edi-
tion of Yorsay.
Forgive me if a large amount
of the magazine has confer-
ence details in it but as it is
the Governing body of the
Church I feel it appropriate to
include press releases as well
as delegates thoughts.
Guide to some articles

Page 2 London Olympics/
Lord Malwhinney
Pages 3-7 Conference Re-
ports and News releases
Page 8 Synod Mileage

Page 9 Trevor Bettley
Page10 Sutton Fundraising
11-15 General information
Page 16 DIGITAL SWITCH-
OVER REMINDER

AUGUST 2011

David Perry was asked to provide some photographs for use in Sunday Worship at the Methodist
Conference in Southport. The brief was to come up with images to accompany the reading of
Colossians 1:15-20
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven
and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or
powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things,
and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all
the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to
himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
(NRSV)

What you have here is his artistic intepretation of this passage. As used in the Sunday morning
worship at Conference. He hopes the results are self-explanatory and provides no commentary as
none seems necessary.

The Full size version of these can be found http://www.visualtheology.blogspot.com/

Olympics 2012. CHURCHES ARE FREE to show BBC coverage of London 2012 on big screens with no
need for a special licence. That's the assurance from the BBC's Editor of 2012 live sites, Tim Plyming, 'so
long as the content is not changed or charged for'. The BBC is committed to making every event available
through digital technology. This also offers churches a way to serve those from other countries or with an
interest in specialised sports. As part of their commitment to encouraging big screens, the BBC is to
identify the likely 'golden moments' when people will want to share the experience. The Corporation is
also working with LOCOG, the Games organising committee, on a practical guide for those planning to
hold big screen events. 'We hope thousands of churches will seize the opportunity,' says Marty Woods
leader of More Than Gold's Festivals Team. 'They could run a series of events that put them at the heart
of the community.
News Release
05 July 2011
Lord Mawhinney fires up Methodists for the 2012 Olympics
Methodist Conference shows support for More Than Gold
The Rt Hon Lord Mawhinney Kt told the Methodist Conference that the 2012 Games will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for
Churches to engage in the largest logistical event in peacetime Britain.
Speaking at the Southport Theatre and Convention Centre today, the chairman of More Than Gold backed the Methodist
Church’s response to the Olympics and Paralympics. Lord Mawhinney said that next year will provide the single biggest
opportunity for people to see what Jesus can do in communities.
"The Olympics creates an opportunity for all of us in our communities,” said Lord Mawhinney, former cabinet minister and
current Honorary President of the Football League. “It will provide a once in a lifetime opportunity for churches, either
separately or together, to serve their local communities thereby witnessing to the power of the Christian Gospel. Next year this
country is going to be totally bombarded with sport. The choice is not complicated: either be part of it or barricade yourself off
from the rest of the country for a few months. And we don't do barricades as Christians. More Than God’s job is to inspire,
encourage and train church workers. We are facilitators. We are going to make it happen.”
Ish Lennox, Olympic and Paralympic Coordinator for the Methodist Church, is a member of the More Than Gold executive; the
umbrella group for Christian outreach during the Games. “Now is the time for churches to get involved in what’s happening,”
she said. “Churches need to appoint a Gold Champion to find out all the latest news and there are lots of resources out there
that can help. The Games are an exciting mission and discipleship opportunity that we cannot afford to miss. The Shetland
district is already engaged and they are the furthest from any of the Olympic venues – other districts can engage too as the
Games take place across the country.”
Gold Champions act as a link between More Than Gold and churches. They receive dedicated eNews updates and invitations
to briefings. People can sign up to become Gold Champions by emailing Games@methodistchurch.org.uk and find out about
resources via the More Than Gold resources website.
2

3

06 July 2011
New Methodist president and vice-president designate elected

The Revd Dr Mark Wakelin has been elected president designate of the Methodist
Conference for 2012-2013 and Mr Michael King has been elected vice-president designate. The results of
the elections were announced at the annual Methodist Conference in Southport
Dr Wakelin is described by his nominators as "an inspirational and energetic speaker who speaks directly to
people in ways which they can apply to their own lives and the Church." He brings to the role of President a
wide experience of circuit ministry, chaplaincy, youth work and strategic leadership. He was formerly the
national secretary of the Methodist Association of Youth Clubs and is currently Connexional Secretary for
Internal Relationships for the Methodist Church in Britain. He lives in Oakwood with his wife Judith and has
three children and three grandchildren.
“Now is a good time to be in the Methodist Church," Dr Wakelin. "We have a real opportunity to become a
more confident and effective discipleship movement again. We need to be brave, creative and more
focused on God’s loving purpose for us and our world. The presidency can help the Church find and catch a
vision that will play a part in God transforming Methodism for the next generation and of Methodism playing
its proper role in transforming our society and world.”

Michael King is a Methodist local preacher, church steward and former circuit steward in the Enfield
Methodist circuit. He has been leader of the Church's World Church Relationships team for 11 years, and is
chair of the European Commission on Mission. Prior to 2000 he spent most of his working life teaching is
Sierra Leone and UK comprehensive schools.
Mr King describes himself as 'glocal', with a passion for thinking globally and acting locally. He said: "I want
to see God's love shared with all people. I want to see Christians deepen their understanding of what it
means to welcome others, offering genuine hospitality and inclusion. I long to see our overseas partners
taking part and making decisions at all levels of church life in this country. I want to see our church enriched
and invigorated by people from all over the world."
Michael is married to Isabel, has two married children and a six-month-old grandson.

Dr Wakelin and Mr King, who both live in the Enfield Circuit, will be inducted as President and Vice-
President as the first items of business at the 2012 Methodist Conference in Plymouth.

Stephen Leah
Stephen Leah
Sue Pegg
Joint Ethical Investment Advisory Committee (JACEI)
This committee was set up in 1983 to advise the Church on the ethics of its many investments and how we can encourage
Corporate Responsibility. It reports to the Conference each year and its report in 2011 demonstrated the huge breadth and
importance of its work. Amongst the areas addressed this year were Armaments, trafficking of children, Caste Discrimination
and the extraction of Oil Sands. The Conference accepted the report overwhelmingly, but in the debate two other areas
reported on were discussed.
One was to congratulate JACEI on its ethical investment policy regarding Palestine/Israel and the criteria it will use to judge
whether to invest in companies that profit from Israel’s illegal activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This policy has
been accepted by the Central Finance Board and amongst other things, will involve the CFB ensuring companies they invest in
have addressed human rights concerns and international law in their dealings. A concern was raised however, over its initial
implementation regarding Veolia which it has been suggested has been involved in several business dealings in the West Bank
including the building of light railway and bus services between illegal settlements. JACEI agreed that these were serious
concerns that needed to be addressed.
The other concern that was expressed was over Executive Pay on which JACEI has also done much work. How is it
reasonable that some companies pay their Executives 75 times what they pay their lowest rank workers? What are the ways in
which JACEI is engaging with companies to help them moderate these differentials?

THE METHODIST
CONFERENCE

SOUTHPORT 2011

Newsletter Prepared by Representatives from York and Hull District
Representatives
Revds Sue Pegg, Andy Lindley, Mark Haynes, Dr Stephen Leah, Mrs Kate Woolley, Mrs Tricia Mitchell, Mr William Swires and
Mrs Heather Shipman. All Chairs of District are members of Conference so our Chair Revd Stephen Burgess was also with us.
Southport is a very attractive place with a wonderful marina and an adjacent Conference Centre. York and Hull District
representatives were staying in a Premier Inn and just in case you think we had a lovely relaxing week I have to tell you it is
hard work during the Representative Sessions. A 9.00am – 7.00pm day in a Conference Hall even if the sun is shining outside,
but it is also good fun and fellowship and very exciting worship.
On Thursday, Conference meets in Ministerial Session and on the Friday they remember those who have died during the year
in a moving service. As Lay representatives we joined our colleagues for the Communion Service on the Friday afternoon. And
then it was into the weekend’s services and celebrations. We heard addresses from the new President and Vice President and
Sunday was devoted to the Reception into Full Connexion of the ordinands, and their ordination at various venues during the
afternoon. This year we were delighted to support Sally Coleman in her ordination in Liverpool Cathedral. Sally was also well
supported by friends and colleagues from the Snaith & Selby and Goole Circuits.
This very brief newsletter can only give you a flavour of some of the discussion at Conference. We will all be at Synod in
September with red badges on and will try to give you a further update on Conference matters. Please do contact us.
Heather Shipman

Epworth Press
One of the saddest decisions that were made during the Conference was to close the Epworth Press publishers. For over a
year, no new books have been published and the only sales have been from back-listed titles. A Review Group has been
meeting to discuss the future of the Epworth Press, and their initial hope was that it could be maintained as a going-concern
and assist with the deepening of discipleship and learning. However, it was also recognised that if this were to occur,
additional investment would be needed.
It was initially hoped that a strategic alliance with a third party publisher might be the way forward, however, during this year,
this was tried but without success. As a result, Conference decided that keeping the publisher going was not its priority, so it
reluctantly took the decision to close Epworth Press.
Faith and Order – Re-affirmation of baptism vows?
Conference agenda included a suggestion from the Faith and Order Committee that a liturgical rite using water for the re-
affirmation of Baptism vows could be useful. This was particularly in the case of those who were Baptised as babies and then
later, as adults, had a conversion or renewal of faith experience. There were several speakers in the debate including one who
made the further suggestion that a rite could also be useful in some pastoral situations. These included babies born
prematurely and baptised in hospital sometimes without their families present and also in the case of older adopted children.
Conference gave permission for the rite to be written and the Faith and Order Committee will seek approval of it at next year’s
Conference
Youth
One more year to await the review of the Youth Participation Strategy, but already three of the 16-23 year olds employed thus
far are now pursuing vocations in the church. It was also clear to see that the Youth Assembly, which has now replaced
‘Breakout’, is a huge success and continues to develop confident and talented young leaders. What is also clear is our young
people want action, not just reflection, unlike much of our proceedings, which often leaves Conference off balance. This year
youth assembly asked us to support the simple idea, that sport shouldn’t be a distraction from church, but a part of what we do
as Church. It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised at the arguments! They reminded us again that our worship leader

4

Andy Lindley
Andy Lindley
Tricia Mitchell

training isn’t good enough…we wait for 2012 for that to deliver! Finally they wish us all to respond better to those with mental
health and drug issues…no easy task, but absolutely right as usual!
Statistics for Mission
This year Conference was also given the opportunity to divide up in order to address several topics in more depth, and perhaps
surprisingly, one of the most popular and exciting sessions was Statistics for Mission. Each year we send off our October
figures, details on ceremonies and church groups, but until this year all we’ve had back is tables. This year we’ve seen the start
of something new – statistics visualised for mission, not just tables, but graphs and maps. Our data, not just presented back to
us, but against a backdrop of census data, from population density to deprivation, in order that we might ask the simple question
– is our mission focussed in the right place! Normal non-geeky people were heard to say it was ‘sexy’ and ‘exciting’. Watch this
space - more developments to come! See www.methodist.org.uk for the present offerings.

President Designate - Revd Dr Mark Wakelin
Vice President Designate - Mr Michael King
What is worth More Than Gold?
Are you an armchair sportsperson? Did you miss out on tickets for the Olympics? Are the Olympics only really of concern to
those living near London, or with a particular interest in sports? At Conference we were inspired by Lord Mawhinney and invited
to take another look at the opportunities the London Olympics offers to Churches. More than Gold was set up to help Churches
to use the Olympic Games as a means to engage with local communities and to share God’s love beyond our Churches.
What can we do? As Olympic fever sweeps the nation we need to be ready to link in. From Easter onwards Children’s holiday
clubs and sports events might link to the Olympic theme. A big screen could be a community focal point to come and share the
games together. Churches could organise sports events of all sorts for their community linking to the Olympic enthusiasm –
from athletics and football to table tennis, bowls or beetle drives. How about a quiz with a range of questions but a sports
theme? Whatever the event Churches can reach out through hospitality and friendship and touch the lives of our communities.
The More Than Gold team offer advice and ideas so please look at their website: www.morethangold.org.uk. Think of the
impact we can make if every church reaches out just once during the Olympics and Para-Olympics in 2012.

The Theology of Pastoral Care
Revd Leo Osborn’s theme throughout his Presidential year will be “Pastoral Care as Disciples of Jesus”. The Statement on the
Theology of Pastoral Care engages with the scriptures and current practical issues. It identifies caring as being the fundamental
spirituality where loving attention focuses on humbly serving others. It characterises Christian care as disciples of Jesus
prayerfully working together, each contributing particular gifts and experience, to enable others to flourish, always being
sensitive and respectful to other lifestyles and faiths and engaging with individuals and groups. The statement recognises that
much can be learned about caring from dialogue with external organisations that deliver care. Whilst every Christian has a
ministry of pastoral care it is the lay and ordained leaders and pastoral visitors who share the responsibility for encouraging care
and discerning best pastoral practice. The statement emphasises the importance of good listening and the sharing of personal
testimony in releasing possibilities for mutual support and bridge building between church and society. Pastoral conversations
are just as likely to begin in the coffee shop or walking the dog as in a formal pastoral visit which often only happens when an
emergency arises. The President expressed concern that the Church does not always live up to its high calling and that many
still feel uncared for. The Conference therefore directs that further work is done to support the various pastoral ministries and
that the statement is discussed in local meetings for further comment.

Kate Woolley
Contemporary Methodism: a discipleship movement shaped for mission The General Secretary’s Report 2011
Revd Dr Martyn Atkins presented his Report to Conference.
He says, ‘I share with many Methodist people a desire to grow in Christian hope, passion and witness and kingdom focus – a
more effective vessel for use by a missionary God and that includes, ‘turnaround’. I believe God has made our direction of travel
clear, to be the best we can.’
The report states that there is always a fertile period for making hard choices which must not be missed rather than wait until
resources and energy to implement them are no longer available. This means permitting God to reshape and renew us, and
travelling with God. Faith means that we trust God for our very life as a Church, in profoundly real and concrete ways.
Patterns of ministry: discipleship and mission
A key theme is that ‘the ministry of the whole people of God’ must increasingly shape the way in which we actually use and
prioritise our resources.
•The size of many new Circuits and the changes this will bring about suggests that ‘pastoral charge’ is also necessarily
‘missional charge’.
•Greater team building, collaborative working and multiple partnerships are indispensible often requiring dedicated
training for new ministries discerned.
•Circuit ministry/leadership teams must take seriously the commitment to be outward-facing, world transforming,
beginning in their own locality - resulting in a host of healthy ministries, projects and initiatives.
•Greater investments in small group leadership - to discern, identify, train and help those so called.
•Seeking to respond positively to the insights and challenges posed by the ‘Missing Generation’ report including
children and young people.
•A review of Local Preacher learning, training and continuing development is integrated into the wider challenges and
opportunities of the project, Fruitful Field. This also includes Worship Leaders and one of the questions the report asks
is, ‘How can both these lay ministries best relate to each other, presbyters and deacons in leading worship?’

5

William Swires

God’s ‘worthship’ and our worship
Worship is everything that the Church offers to God in response to God’s love: its ‘wonder, love and praise’ and therefore its
ministries, property and resources – all is an offering to God.
God’s properties and our stewardship: resources of discipleship and mission
An overall roll call of 582,000 people
About 8500 local preachers (active and sat down)
Active presbyters – 1750
Active deacons 125
There are in excess of 5200 church properties
We are at our best when we regard our ‘plant’ as resources for God’s mission rather than an inheritance to be preserved at all
costs. We need to consider the sacrificial, strategic approach – ‘What kind of space do we need to be the discipleship, missional
movement God wants us to be?’
A fluid’ mixed economy’
Many fresh expressions of Church and new communities are emerging and new patterns of ministry and new policies regarding
our premises must be enabled to grow and flourish. Ministry and property are the two main factors in finance and challenges us
‘to change a mind set,’ that we use our giving, budgeting and spending to prioritise what we feel God is calling us to become.
Evangelism….making more disciples of Jesus Christ
Of the Regrouping for Mission initiative. Martyn goes on to say, ’We Methodists openly acknowledge that making new disciples
in ‘appropriate’ and ‘apt’ ways is what we feel least good and confident at.’ He then asks some ‘outcome’ questions: what do I
expect to happen? What will the person who says ‘yes’ to Jesus be expected to become like? A Christian discipleship
movement inevitably includes a commitment to making new disciples of Christ, and as the weakest ‘health indicator’ throughout
the Connexion we are being urged to make this a key priority.
The Ministries Committee, Faith and Order Committee and Methodist Council were directed by Conference to establish working
groups to report on several of these sections and the issues raised in them and to report back to Conference as soon as
possible.
Throughout Conference a highly significant number of speakers and presenters referred to this report. Conference commends
the report and its emphasis on the Methodist Church as a ‘discipleship movement shaped for mission’ to the whole connexion
for study, response and action.

The Fruitful Field
I’m not sure how many people would rush to read a report on training, even if it is called “The Fruitful Field project”. The name of
this interim report comes from a series of resolutions from 1820, but its impact will be felt in the future, and the implications
could be far reaching. The Higher Education Sector is currently going through tumultuous change, and not only as a result of
Lord Browne’s report on funding and student finance. This will inevitably affect initial training in all denominations. The
uncertainties that must be felt in all the training institutions should not be forgotten, decisions need to be made by conference
2012.
The Methodist Church is also in a period of change, and as the church positions itself to become much more a “discipleship
movement shaped for mission” the use of training resources needs better to reflect what we seek to be and do. We are
encouraged to use our resources “to facilitate what we feel God is calling us to become rather than adopting a default position
of sustaining what we have”. The greater part of the church’s training budget has previously been used to equip and sustain
presbyters and deacons. In the future as we seek to rediscover the ministry of the whole people of God, as more diverse
ministry teams are explored, decisions will need to be taken about the training and budgetary implications.
“A healthy Connexion is consequently a community of learning where every disciple is learning about their faith and telling the
story of the faith, where every minister is an educator and a reflective learner, and where every Circuit is a learning Circuit”.
Mark Haynes
The Big Society/Of Equal Value: Poverty and inequality
These two reports belong together. The former begins by asking “What is the Big Society and how could churches respond?”. It
is a balanced report which outlines some of the main strands and components of the Big Society. There are critiques of the Big
Society and then some church responses to it, from the enthusiastic to the cynical. The report quotes Archbishop Rowan
Williams “two and half cheers for the Big Society”. In its conclusion the report states that Methodists will have a range of
responses to the Big Society; that it is right that the church encourages people to engage with critiques of the Big Society and
that we should beware of being seen to collude with a politically divisive agenda. “It is possible to remain critical whilst seeking
ways in which the church can be a good neighbour to people in need and to challenge injustice”
Of Equal Value: Poverty and Inequality is filled with the results of much research. There is the necessary theological
underpinning and a reminder that “concern for the poor has been central to the message and ministry of the Christian Church”.
Also that there is a gospel bias to the poor and the marginalized.
Over 9 million adults in the UK rely on state benefits as their major source of income; of the £156bn spent by the Department of
Work and Pensions each year approximately 60% is accounted for by payments to people of state pension age, 13% by
payments to disabled people and only 2% for those who are unemployed.
There are many hurdles for people living in low income families if they are to move out of low income, money alone is not
sufficient. Poverty affects health and life expectancy. The poor are often misrepresented eg portrayed as scroungers. However
the government estimates benefit fraud to be £1.6bn per year while it estimates underpayment to those who qualify but do not
claim to be £16.8bn.
There are many practical and campaigning responses to poverty and inequality by churches: Credit unions; Faith in Affordable
Housing; Christians against Poverty; homelessness projects; the Church of Scotland’s Priority Areas programme and its church
twinning programme.
At the end of the report there are a number of recommendations including a commitment to a fair tax system where all income
groups share fairly the tax burden. The report calls upon the Methodist people to consider how best they may play their part in
bringing this about be it by prayer, charity, social action or political action. The website of the Joint Public Issues Team contains
6

Mark Haynes

many stories in written and video format in part a response to the Methodist councils call to listen to and tell the real stories of
those who struggle on low incomes.
We have agreed to support the Robin Hood tax. What is it? Ask your representatives or look at the report

Other Reports
Reports were also brought to Conference on: Safeguarding, Methodist Heritage, Missing Generation Research Project, Youth
Presidency and the Youth Assembly
Supporting Ministers who experience ill health, Moving Forward in Covenant (more locally enabled opportunities agreed by
Conference), Ministerial Development Review (approved in the format we have looked at) as well as those which are required at
all Methodist Conferences
Leading and Presiding : Developing the Presidency
No change. Conference rejected the suggested change of title for the Vice President to Co-President. Well, at least we have
talked about it!
Please remember that any of your Conference Representatives will be very happy to answer your questions or assist in any
way in bringing the work of Conference to the attention of Circuits and Churches.

Heather Shipman

CONFERENCE ROUND UP PRESS RELEASE
The 2011 Methodist Conference has drawn to a close in Southport after six days of prayer, worship and debate. The annual
Conference is the governing body of the Church and meets in difference venues each year.
More people than ever before followed the events and business of the Conference, with live video from the debates streamed over the
internet on the Methodist Conference website. At its peak, 180 people tuned in to watch the proceedings. Conference members and
guests, as well as those watching the live feed, were encouraged to use Twitter and Facebook to comment on debates and keep up to
date with the action. The Conference hashtag on Twitter (#methconf) was used every 14 seconds on average at its peak on July 6,
with 540,805 impressions (views) created and #methconf tweets reaching 58,303. During the week of the Conference, the Methodist
Media Facebook page was viewed over 9,500 times.
Toby Scott, Director of Communications, said: “I’m delighted that so many people were able to participate online, whether they were in
Southport or not. We have been using social media and live broadcast to share the Conference with the world for a few years, but this
year it all came together beautifully. The heart of Methodist Conference is in being together: praying, worshipping, celebrating and in
deliberating on important issues. But through online media we have helped share that worldwide. This only worked because so many
people got involved, both those in the office and the hundreds of others contributing online. There’s something wonderfully Methodist
about the whole experience – being and staying connected with each other wherever we may be.”
The Conference debated major reports on the Big Society, poverty and inequality, climate change and the Anglican-Methodist
Covenant . The Conference also elected a new President and Vice-President Designate for 2012/13, the Revd Dr Mark Wakelin and
Mr Michael King , who will be inducted as the first items of Conference business at Plymouth in 2012.
Conference representatives also expressed their deep gratitude to the Revd Kenneth Howcroft, who is stepping down from his role as
Assistant Secretary to the Conference to work as a presbyter at the Ponte St Angelo church in Rome and as Methodist Representative
in Rome. Mr Howcroft been Assistant Secretary to the Conference for seven years and will be succeeded by the Revd Gareth Powell.

Final Week~End
Travelled north again to spend time in the Malton Circuit. It was good to be able to be with them for the
evening of music and to rejoice at the talent available for their celebration. It was also fun to catch up with
friends from College days!
We shared in the 200th Anniversary on the Sunday morning, reflecting on the Fruit of the Spirit, and God's
desire to grow all that the Spirit offers in us. We gave thanks for all that our forebears had offered in
service and witness and committed ourselves again to what God has planned for the future.
Then a celebration meal; a visit I had promised to make while I was in the north; and home to finalise all
that is needed for Conference and the new President and Vice President.
Thank you for all your prayers which have sustained us during this year, and for the prayers that are
already supporting Leo and Ruth as they too follow God's leading.
Posted by Alison Tomlin at 16:15 27th June 2011

[Alison Tomlin’s final Presidential Blog of her year in Office]

7

by fastest
21
38
39
33
42
28
18
28
52
36
23
16
27
31
30
17
23
12
10
28
37
40
Miles
recommended route
38 mins
1hr 07 mins
1hr 01 mins
54 mins
1hr 08 mins
49 mins
33 mins
52 mins
1hr 33 mins
1hr 05 mins
39 mins
31 mins
46 mins
54 mins
45 mins
32 mins
40 mins
19 mins
18 mins
49 mins
1hr 03 mins
1hr 08 mins
Time

Representative Synod, 10 September 2011

to be held at Norton College Malton YO17 9PT
Please Note that parking at the College is limited and an overflow car park has been arranged at St Peter's Church House Langton Road
Norton YO17 9AE [shown on map on the web site]

Mileage to Synod

FROM
York
Hull
Snaith
Selby
Goole
Beverley
Driffield
Bridlington
Withernsea
Hornsea
Filey
Pocklington
Mkt Weighton
Whitby
Tadcaster
Helmsley
Scarborough
Sherburn
Pickering
Thirsk
Northallerton
Ripon
Mileage and times are approximate and supplied via Google mapping taking the the fastest route which may not be
the shortest .

8

25/6/45 – 30/6/11
PO BOX 1070, Cambridge, CB22 4WX
Call 01223 832671
Visit www.speakingvolumes.org.uk
e-mail info@speakingvolumes.org.uk

TREVOR BETTLEY
.
Trevor Bettley was born in West Hull on June 25th 1945 and passed away in East Hull on June 30th 2011, aged 66. He was an only child
but a much loved husband for Margaret – with whom he celebrated his Ruby wedding last year, proud father of Mark; Andrew and Tim, a
special granddad for Stephanie & Tyler and a much missed in law; cousin; uncle AND Christian friend.
Having left Hymers school with 10 ‘O’ levels Trevor spent all his life working as a Accountant in Hull for Hodgson Harris / Impey and then
Gray’s, retiring only last year. He was a man of many hobbies with football being his main one, notably Hull City but best known for his 20
years spent refereeing around East Yorkshire.
But it is for his great faith that Trevor will be remembered. From his early life at ‘Plain Street’ Methodist to his latter years at Sutton
Methodist, Trevor has been a true Disciple of his Lord. Yes he has done many jobs within our Churches at local; Circuit and D istrict Level
– not least Hull International House and the Church & Society committee but for Trevor working for the Church was always second to
working for Jesus.
He had a passion for working with children and young people – in many groups and lots of way – because he wanted them to meet the
Jesus that he knew personally. Trevor was a regular at Easter People, being much inspired by the ministry of Rob Frost and his faith grew
through regular sharing in house groups and prayer meetings.
Trevor, though in some ways a traditional man, loved new songs especially the ones written by Noel Richards and his signature song was
‘My Jesus; My Saviour’. The highlight of Trevor’s year was Easter Sunday when Trevor would help carry the transformed Easter Cross
outside Sutton Methodist Church singing Thine Be The Glory.
It was my privilege to be with the family as Trevor made that peaceful journey from this world to the better place Trevor lived his life for,
knowing without a shadow of a doubt that “in the Splendour of the King {even in sickness and death} HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD”.
May all who were blessed by Trevor’s presence reflect on his witness and continue to offer love and support to his family as we say ‘God
Bless You Trevor, thou good and faithful servant and witness.
Rev. Keith.

An initiative of The Christian Book Promotions Trust
Registered Charity 255001

‘One Step Beyond’ in up to 4000 public
libraries

Libraries have responded extremely positively to receiving a copy of the
book ‘One Step Beyond’ by Gram Seed. Over 4,200 copies were sent by
Speaking Volumes with the help of publishers CWR to celebrate 30 years
of the Speaking Volumes scheme that helps Churches give new Christian
books to libraries and schools in their community.

Knowing the difficulty libraries face with representing all faiths, Speaking
Volumes were not certain of the reaction. However, as letters and emails
were sent thanking them and asking for more Christian material, it soon
became apparent that giving Christian books to libraries is still as relevant
and necessary as ever.

One library commented that ‘donating Christian books to Libraries is a wonderful idea,
giving hope to our society through uplifting literature is certainly very welcome in the currently prevailing atmosphere’.

‘Christians all too readily perceive that a gift of Christian books would not be welcome by their local library but this response
blows that myth apart!’ Commented Paula Renouf, Director of Speaking Volumes.

To find out how your Church can make a gift of books to your library or school please go online at
www.speakingvolumes.org.uk or request a catalogue from info@speakingvolumes.org.uk or by telephoning 01223832671.

9

£ 900 raised in Sutton to help Christian Orphange in Africa.
Malet Lambert school were delighted to receive a cheque for £900 from year 11 pupil Jessica Brownlee . Jessica was part of a group of
pupils and staff who visited the orphanage whilst on an educational visit to South Africa in 2010. .
That visit so inspired Jessica that she and her friends at Sutton
Methodist Church set together raising money for it. With the Hot
Chocolate Sunday morning group and our Youth Group, Jessica
encouraged us to hold a pancake evening; sell breakfasts after
morning worship; make donations from mum’s and toddlers as well
as use images from the orphanage in worship services.
Miss Dyer, the head teacher, was delighted to see how Christians in
Sutton have responded to the needs of those less fortunate and is
proud her school helped inspire such generosity.
Rev Keith Borwick.

The following email from the school explain more about the trip and the orphanage (it comes from one of the teacher who ran the trip).
Hi Keith,
The orphanage we visited is just outside Livingstone on the road to Zambia. It has a website and the link is:
http://www.ebenezerchildcare.org/about.htm
The trip was organised by Ashley Chapman, a science teacher at Malet Lambert School. We spent almost two weeks in southern Africa, landing
in Johannesburg, and then touring in two minibuses, through Botswana, going as far north as Victoria falls before returning to Joburg to fly home.
We camped all the way and had had many memorable experiences. The wildlife was amazing, seeing Elephants and Rhinos from just a few feet
as well as crocodiles, wildebeest and giraffe. We visited an area known as the cradle of mankind where some of the earliest known examples of
hominid fossils have been found. It certainly made us think about who we are and where we have come from.
However, visiting the Ebenezer Orphanage was undoubtedly one of the most moving experiences. All the orphans have been rescued off the
streets by Ranji Chara. The website explains how she had a vision, and that this experience was the driving force behind her work. When we
arrived all the orphans sang songs for us and danced for us. They were so open and friendly that many of the party were a little taken aback.
They ranged in ages from about 6-7 up to 16. They showed us around where they lived and many of our pupils started to realise just how
fortunate they were living in England. The accommodation was clean and well looked after but it was 4 to a room and each had an area for
personal possessions no bigger the 2 foot square. Each orphan had a teddy on their bed. All the pupils receive an education for free. This
includes English and Maths and has a formal curriculum structure so they leave with useful qualifications. They are also taught practical skills,
based around making African objects that tourists would want to buy. We all bought many little presents. I bought a model crocodile for my son
that was made from copper wire that was twisted round and round and is really quite beautiful.
We then had some healthy competition with our boys challenging their boys to a football match (we lost even though they played bare foot!). The
girls had a rounders match which we also lost.
What was particularly touching was, despite the rotten start to life the orphans had experienced, they were joyful, friendly, and had all developed a
firm faith that allowed them to see the positive futures they could have.
It was very hard to leave as many friendships had been made. I remember seeing the tears welling up in Jess’s eyes as she tried to say goodbye
and the orphans just kept hold of her hands.
All of this through the exceptional determination and courage of Ranji, who was an inspirational lady.
Regards
Gary Taylor Deputy Head teacher Malet Lambert School Kingston-upon-Hull
10

'And why is everyone so quiet,
So sombre - give me a clue.'
'they're all in shock.
No one thought they'd be seeing you.'
JUDGE NOT!!
Remember...Just going to church doesn't make you a
Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.
Every saint has a PAST...
Now it's your turn... Share this poem.
Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil...
[Poem of unknown source [to me] sent in by one of our readers.]

For local church or news:

On Saturday 1st October, the eve of the Conservative Party Conference, supporters from around the UK will be joining Christian
Aid, Cafod and Tearfund in Manchester for a day of learning, campaigning and worship on the issues of climate change and
global poverty.

Speakers from around the world will come together to discuss global issues with a focus on the damaging effects of climate
change on the world’s poorest communities. They will include former president of the South African Council of Chuches, activist
and theologian, Prof. Tinyiko Maluleke, who will speak on how the global church and Christians can lead action on climate
change.

After the speakers and a special ecumenical service in the Anglican Cathedral, attendees will form a procession to the conference
centre, where the Conservative Party Conference will be taking place, and will hold a candlelit vigil to pray for the government not
to forget the world’s poor during its conference.

By taking a stand in Manchester on this day, organisers and supporters hope to remind the Conservatives of David Cameron’s
promise to be the ‘greenest government ever’. The world’s poorest and most vulnerable people are already suffering the impacts
of climate change and are being hit first and hardest, despite doing the least to cause the problem. Now is the time to reflect on
what the government has achieved so far, but also to remind them of their pledge and encourage them to do more to help these
communities.

If you would like to join the ‘Bearing Witness’ event, or you would like further information, you can register at
www.christianaid.org.uk/bearingwitness or call the Christian Aid’s Yorkshire office on 0113 244 4764.

BEST POEM IN THE WORLD

I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven's door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or its decor.
'Hush, child,' He said,
But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp--
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The alcoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbour
Who never said anything nice.
Every sinner has a FUTURE!
Bob, who I always thought
Was rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
Looking incredibly well.
It has no point!
I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How'd all these sinners get up here?
God must've made a mistake.

11

Our Boys Brigade (boys and girls) has more than doubled in number at St Johns Methodist Market Weighton over the last three y ears
and now has over 60 members – young people from 5yrs to 18yrs .
Last week two of our youngsters, Sam and Stacey were presented with their Queens Awards (the highest awards attainable) for
services to the community, service to the Company, and other skills. The ceremony took place in the Town Hall in Sheffield and the
awards were presented by the Queens Lord Lieutenant and the Lord Mayor of Sheffield. Three other young people have also qualified
for the same award and will be presented with theirs later in the year.
Sue Pegg

Hi everyone,
Many of you will be aware that I am part of the team that organised ECG (Equipping Calling Going) which grew out of Easter People,
but which has a greater emphasis on outreach, helping in the town etc. ECG haas been in Llandudno for the last 5 years, and we were
due to go to Southport in 2012. This venue has had to be changed, and I have been asked to forward the attached letter to explain.
ECG will now be held in SCARBOROUGH for 2 years, and we will be contacting you shortly to see how the churches can be involved.
PLEASE ANNOUNCE THIS CHANGE OF VENUE IN YOUR CHURCHES - as some people are now booking for Southport.
Thanks,
Ruth Dale

www.ecgevent.org.uk

12

We are delighted to have added another Hotel to the Epworth Group of Methodist Holiday Hotels Ltd. which has been refurbished and
re-opened recently.

Formerly known as the Divan Hotel, we have a new name of the WHITE HORSE
LODGE HOTEL taken from the nearby "White Horse " at Kilburn.

The Hotel is on the main A171 just over a mile out of Thirsk, in 'Herriott Country,
located in beautiful countryside and the ideal base for exploring The North Yorkshire National Park,
Dales, Ryedale and the many Heritage sites and attractions close by.

The 14 bedrooms include a family suite for up to 2 adults and 3 children, and both twin and double rooms.

There is a large car park, garden, lounge bar with TV and restaurant with a menu catering for all tastes - drinks, snacks and of course
coffee and cakes are available all day.

Rates are based on Bed and Breakfast for a twin/double room with the flexibility
of dining in the Restaurant for a full meal or light bite,
& special opening including 2 centre breaks with Raven Hall [http://
www.ravenhall.co.uk/ ] our
award winning Country
House Hotel in Ravenscar.

We are very excited about
this new business and
delighted to invest in the
Yorkshire Region.

For further information http://www.whitehorselodgehotel.co.uk/
Or telephone 01845 522293 or e mail :enquiries@whitehorselodgehotel.co.uk

Norton Bethel Methodist Church
Commercial Street, Norton. Malton. North Yorkshire. YO17 9HY
1864-2011
Sankey Evening
Friday 12th August
7.30pm
Praise & Worship from the Sankey Hymnal
Items by;
The Mens Choir. The Ladies Choir. Bethel Singers.

13

14

15

Bilsdale Moor Transmitter not due to switchover
until 2012

Yorsay is sent on behalf of the York & Hull Methodist District by the Communications Office
Bob Lawe 27 Ryde Avenue Hull Hu5 1QA 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 © 2011 York & Hull Methodist District – All
rights reserved.

Publication deadline for next month Yorsay is 20th of the Month

16

Yorsay July 2011 Word version

2011-06-20T06:31:00.001+01:00

Welcome to the July Edition of
Yorsay. This is just a word version of the newsletter for the full version with graphics go to July 2011 pdf edition

Some of the items included in
this month edition are :-
Page 2 Clergy Movements/
Church Copyright Law
Change
Page 3 Snaith, Selby & Goole
Page 4 Methodist Conference
Page 5 Electronic Information

Page 6 & 7 Singing the Faith
Newsletter
From Page 8 onwards Events
throughout the District

1

JULY 2011

YORSAY July 2011
From the Chair’s Desk
Many of you will be aware that by the time July begins the Methodist
Conference will be in session in Southport – if not, then just look
elsewhere in this issue of YORSAY or on the Methodist Church website!
Amongst many crucial matters to be debated, both within and outside
the Church, my thoughts turn towards the report from the Joint
Implementation Commission. That is a rather grand title for the group
which encourages and oversees the work undertaken between the
Church of England and the Methodist Church, “moving us forward in
covenant” as their report calls it.
One aspect of that report is a proposal that we create “Covenant
Partnerships in Extended Areas” to provide “a greatly enhanced form of
shared ministry”. There remain things within each tradition which
perplex the other. For example, as Methodists we watch with some
amazement as the Church of England wrestles with the prospect of
women bishops; our Anglican friends wonder just how long it will be
before we accept some form of episcopacy (i.e. bishops) into the British
Methodist Church.
But, the idea of covenant partnerships in extended areas is seen as a
way forward together in mission – within existing church “rules”. I am
attracted to the proposals, not least because we can thereby share in
God‟s work, rather than being seen as in competition with each other.
I hope that those of who will be at the Conference can come back
inspired – in many ways, but especially in this ecumenical initiative. And
I also hope that each of you might make a commitment to consider just
how we might work together more closely with all our fellow Christians,
and particularly with our covenant partners in the Church of England. All
of us have a part to play in this, so please let‟s push the boundaries and
try something different.
After all, it is for the sake of the Gospel, and for the good of God‟s world.
Every blessing
Stephen Burgess
District Chair

Out
Andrew Robinson
Stephen Beer [Retiring]
Keith Borwick
Chris Kirkman [Retiring Staying in
District] and Brice Herbert
Dale Cotton
Cameron Stirk
Elizabeth Clark
Barrie Morley [Retiring]
Ray Coates [Retiring Staying in
District]
Stuart Gunson [Retiring]
Nigel Spencer [Retiring Staying in
District]
Peter Cross
In
Chris Free
John Fisher (supernumerary)
David Perry
Peter Barnett
Denise Free
Ian Hill
Philip Turner
Kathie Heathcoat
Elizabeth Clark
Amy Walters
John Pugh and Helen Webster
Peter Cross
-

2

P a g e 2
Stationing movements August 2011

Circuit

Bridlington

Hull West
Kathie Heathcoat

Hull East
Filey

Driffield
York North
Thirsk & Northallerton
Sherburn
Tadcaster

Whitby
Scarborough

Pickering

Other information
Mark Haynes will be Super of Scarborough, Whitby, Filey and Sherburn
Steve Barlow will be Super of Tadcaster
We send all those leaving the District or “Sitting Down” our heartfelt thanks for their service and fellowship during their time with
us and for those moving on to pastures new God Speed.
[Information as known at present before Conference approval any alterations will be notified in a future edition ]

Changes in copyright law
From 1 January 2011 changes to copyright law in the UK mean that churches now require a PPL
licence to play recorded music. This amendment followed lengthy government consultation
during which CCLI registered its concern regarding the proposed changes. However, the
exemptions previously enjoyed by churches have now been removed.
There is one exception. Following discussions with CCLI, PPL has agreed to waive the
requirement for a licence if the only time recorded music is played on church premises is during
acts of divine worship. However, if recorded music is played on any other occasion, a licence is
required.
If you are a CCLI licence-holder, CCLI will be contacting you shortly with more details about how
the change in law might affect you. Meanwhile you can find more information at www.ccli.co.uk/
ppl.

P a g e 3

E100 CHALLENGE IS ALIVE AND WELL ON FACEBOOK!
After launching the E100 Biblefresh initiative at local churches some of those taking part are logging in to St
Hazelnuts Church on Facebook to report their progress and encourage others.
One recent Blog was „ 5 down just 95 to go!‟. The message promoted by St
Hazelnuts is that „the news on the street about Bible reading is that everybody‟s
doing it – so pick up yours and read it now !‟ The on line church of St Hazelnuts
was set up several months ago by myself and two other Post Grad students from
Cliff College. Anyone can join by simply logging in and requesting to join the 90
strong church which offers regular God chat, Prayer support and even worship
on line from time to time.
Revd Sue Pegg

St Hazelnuts facebook site is http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/
home.php?sk=group_167001273346728

SNAITH SELBY AND GOOLE CIRCUIT NEWS
Rev Sally Coleman's Ordination (July 3)
The Methodist Church's governing body is the Conference which meets annually around the end of June/early July in different parts of
Britain. This year it is in Southport and, during the Conference, Ordination services will take place in four venues, with thirty five people
being ordained as ministers or deacons. Because of the large number of people attending these special services, large churches are
needed and one such venue this year is Liverpool Cathedral. (We don't mind using Anglican churches if it suits us!)
It is a long time since we had a local ordinand from our Circuit (and the only one this year from the York and Hull District) so it is a really
special occasion to have one of our own ministers, Rev Sally Coleman from Sherburn in Elmet, finalising her training and preparation as
she is received as a fully ordained presbyter in Liverpool Cathedral. Quite a few of us will be travelling over the M62 to Liverpool for this
very special service. It will be the first time most of us will have been to this kind of service so we are looking forwarding to the
experience.
For those who cannot make it to Liverpool, there will be a local "Ordination" celebration at Hensall, led by Malcolm Bott, as part of our
monthly Circuit Service.
Burn Flower Festival (July 1-3)
Burn Methodist Church is holding a Flower Festival based on Bible Stories themes. On the Friday, there will be a Festival Songs of Praise
at 7.30 pm, then the chapel will be open for the Flower Festival all day Saturday and Sunday afternoon. There will be refreshments
galore (Burn is very good at this) to sustain visitors before, during and after their perambulations. There is a lot of very creative talent in
Burn so please support them on this weekend. You will be glad you've gone.
Inter Circuit Cricket Match (July 9)
Regular readers of this Magazine may recall my past notes of this all-important Yorkshire cricket match between circuit teams from
Snaith & Selby and Goole. Forget the Test and County matches, T20's, ODI's and other minor events, this is the one to watch. These
regular readers will also recall that the ICCM has previously taken place on the first Sunday afternoon in July at the world-renowned
cricket ground at the rear of Barlby Chapel and that our Snaith and Selby team (with several Brayton members) have won the ma tch and
trophy since its inception four years ago.
Not surprisingly, the Goole team are a bit peeved so they are insisting that this year's match takes place on their territory so we are
travelling across country to Gilberdyke (Where? Location can be found via Google Maps.) Not being as righteous as our lot, th ey have
arranged the match for Saturday afternoon. I'm sure they await our visit with trepidation whilst we are looking forward to securing
(hopefully) another success. Time will tell! If you want a nice afternoon out, feel free to come and support us. I'm told an excellent Bring
and Share tea will follow.
Ministers' Prayer Cycle Ride (July 22-23)
Last year, our three Circuit ministers gallantly cycled round the whole of the Circuit, visiting each of our nineteen churches within a
twelve hour period one very hot Saturday in May. At each church, they spent time with the local people in prayer and worship and,
through sponsorship, over £2000 was raised for Christian Aid. More importantly, this was a day of prayer and each of our chap els was
opened for two hours (coinciding with the cyclists' visit) for prayer, reflection and meditation.
This year, these intrepid (or maybe another word might be appropriate!) clergy are going even further - to the ends of the known earth.
Well, to Goole and thereabouts! Joined by the Goole minister, the Fab Four are cycling to each of the eight Goole churches spread along
the river bank, from Garthorpe to Gilberdyke and a few inland, and then around the nineteen chapels in our Circuit. At least, this year
they are doing it over a two day period but it will still be a lot of hard work, a lot of cycling and a lot of miles.
As last year, there will be an opportunity at each church for prayer and worship and to support a charitable aim - this time Methodist
Homes for the Aged. At a time when some care homes are under scrutiny for their poor management and treatment of elderly peop le
and the whole ethos of care for the elderly is a political concern, we would encourage people to support this wonderful organ isation with
its Christian ideals and loving care for those within its responsibility. (If you wish to donate, please contact 707530.)
The cycle team will be visiting our local chapels (Brayton, Burn and Thorpe) sometime on Saturday but the final timetable has not yet
been organised. Contact 707530 for further information if you are interested.

3

4

Methodist Conference 2011
30 June – 7 July
www.methodistconference.org.uk
This year’s Methodist Conference will take place in Southport, at the Southport Theatre and Convention
Centre .The reports on the agenda for this year’s Methodist Conference are all now available online here .
Live video of the main Conference debates from the main hall will be streamed online and people will also be
able to watch debates later through the Conference website.
_____

Key events and issues for debate will include:
Saturday •
The inaugural address of the President and Vice-President of the Conference, Revd Lionel Osborn and Mrs
Ruth Pickles.
Sunday•
Presentation of the Handwritten Bible – a full transcript of the Bible handwritten by Methodists from every
part of Great Britain.
Monday •Report of the General Secretary of the Methodist Church .
•Carbon Reduction – the Conference is due to make a major statement on climate change, including practical,
ethical and theological perspectives.
Tuesday•Report on More Than Gold– helping churches make the most of the 2012 Olympic Games.
•Celebration of the new Methodist hymn collection, Singing the Faith , due to be published in September
2011.•Research on the 18-30s age range, also known as the 'Missing Generation' in today’s churches.
Wednesday
•Discussion of the latest report on the Anglican-Methodist Covenant , which urges the Churches to join forces
in a more far-reaching way than ever before
•Debates on the Big Society , poverty and inequality .

Please note that this timetable may change as Conference business progresses.

Through the Conference website, people will be able to watch the debates live as they happen, or catch-up
later on. The media team will also be live-tweeting the debates and decisions on the Methodist Media twitter
stream – follow us via @methodistmedia (#methconf) on Twitter . You can also check out the latest news
from Conference on the Methodist Media Facebook page .

For Information
Singing the Faith – Electronic Words Edition

The Electronic Words edition is a software package which provides access to the hymn and song words in Singing the Faith.

1 Browser

At the core of the software is a low-resolution image of each double-page spread of the music edition. You can navigate the pages by
clicking forward or backwards at will.

2 Search facility

The software package also includes a search facility which enables you to locate a hymn or song by page or hymn/song number.
(These correspond to the pages and hymn/song numbers in the book.) Alternatively there is a set of indexes.

3 Export function

Once you have found your chosen hymn or song, you can export the words for which copyright permission has been given.

The words can be exported either as a single file per item, in Microsoft WordTM document format, or in PDF, Rich Text and plain text.
They can also be copied via the clipboard in Rich Text or plain text. Users may find it convenient to paste the Rich Text versions into
presentation software such as PowerPointTM or the plain text versions into service compilation programs such as Easy WorshipTM.

4 Copyright

Purchase of this electronic words edition does not guarantee access to all of the hymn and song texts.

Access to the hymn or song words on each page is individually controlled according to the wish of the respective copyright holders.
(Note: the music cannot be exported.)

Some copyright holders require that users have a valid CCLI licence before access is granted. There is provision for entering a
licence number when activating the software, or one can be added at a later date.

Where the copyright holder does not participate in CCLI, there is no implied licence for export or use of any of the material.
Consequently, permission must be sought in each instance from the appropriate copyright administrator.

5. Technical specification

The main installation package is downloadable from a website. When you order the electronic words you will be sent a Program Key
which is needed to activate the software. The software can be installed and activated for use on a single PC at any one time only by
the purchase of the Program Key.

The software is compatible with all versions of Windows from Windows 2000 to Windows7, including XP and Vista. There is no
version for Macintosh. If you install on Windows 2000 or later you need Administrator privileges to run the program successfully.

The program requires around 15Mb of space on your hard drive, as well as an equivalent amount of temporary space during
installation.

The Browser requires adequate screen display resolution to appear at its best. The minimum resolution is 800 x 600 pixels, but it
will look best at higher resolutions, and has been optimised for 1024 x 768 and 1280 x 1024 pixels. If your system is running at a
resolution less than 800 x 600 then this program will not run.

An alternative method of activation, updating (eg adding a CCLI licence) or upgrading are provided via the website if the user‟s
machine is not connected to the Internet, in which case this is done via another computer, and the downloaded bespoke file taken
to the registered computer on a removable device, such as a USB stick.

At any time the software can be uninstalled and unregistered, and then reinstalled on another machine of the user‟s choice

5

May 2011

The Methodist Church

Singing the Faith
news

Welcome to the May 2011 edition of
Singing the Faith News

It was good to meet some of you at the Christian Resources Exhibition (CRE)
a couple of weeks ago. I was pleased to discover that the majority of visitors
to the Methodist Church stand were very aware of the hymn book‟s imminent
arrival. The message is definitely working its way through the Connexion!
Many other events have already taken place at church, circuit or district level
where Singing the Faith has been introduced. Thank you if you have been
involved in any of these.

The Methodist Conference

The final report of the Music Resources Group (MRG) will be presented to this year‟s Conference in early July. This
marks the beginning of the end of a process that began in 2004 when the Conference first set the wheels in motion
for a new music resource for the Methodist Church.

Presented by the Chair of the MRG, Barbara Bircumshaw, the report will describe the work that has been
undertaken over the last 12 months and recognises all that has been done by past and present members of the
Group in order to bring the new collection to fruition.

In order to celebrate all of their achievements, a Singing the Faith cake will also be presented to the Conference and
a local choir will sing a selection of songs and hymns from the new collection. We trust that the Conference
Representatives will enjoy this edible and audible interlude in their busy schedule of work.

We are delighted that the Good News Singers have volunteered to be our choir not just for the Conference launch event
but also for the „singing the faith‟ themed Sunday Worship service for BBC Radio 4 (broadcast in June). The choir, based in
the Chorley and Leyland Methodist Circuit, is a large ecumenical group led by Sue and Mark Guénault.

Dates for your diary

The Conference celebration will be the first of a number of launch events taking place across the Connexion. These
will culminate in a service of thanksgiving and praise at Wesley‟s Chapel, London on Friday 21 October at 6.30pm.
You are warmly invited to this very joyful occasion. We will be „raising the roof‟ as we thank the MRG for all their
hard work and dedicate the hymn book to the praise and glory of God. More details to follow but put the date in your
diary! If London is a little out of reach then these two other events could be of interest:

•24 September, The New Room Bristol, 10am-6pm
A celebration day to mark the 75th anniversary of The Hymn Society of Great Britain & Ireland and the launch of
Singing the Faith.
For further details, contact Philip Carter or 0117 977 9152.
•08 October, Coventry Central Hall, 7pm-9pm
Singing the Faith launch night – a district celebration of music and song
For further details, contact Amanda Bicknell or 024 7625 2411.

Further information on all these events will also be available on www.singingthefaith.org.uk

6

Getting ready for publication

It has been a hectic few weeks for our Editor-in-Chief, Peter Brophy, and all those who have been assisting him. I will
leave it to Peter to provide you with a snapshot of his current tasks. He writes:

All the hymns are chosen, the typesetting and music engraving is well advanced, the printer and binder booked, the
paper for printing the new book was ordered back in January – so all is going smoothly. Well, sort of. That well worn
metaphor of the swan sailing smoothly across the lake comes to mind. On the surface all is calm and quiet progress.
Underneath there‟s frantic paddling!

Much of what we‟re doing is checking and agreeing the fine detail. Page proofs – which show what each page will look
like – have been produced and are being minutely examined for possible errors – of which there are, perhaps
inevitably, quite a few. Some are typographical glitches that would be very embarrassing if they slipped through (so
we‟ve corrected „ide on, ride on in majesty‟!). Some are mistakes in the music: an incorrect note, a missing slur, an
omitted bar line. Some concern a mismatch between the words printed with the music and the words printed as a
block of text opposite. Some are about the „geography‟ of the pages – we want to avoid musicians having to make
awkward page turns, for example. A few concern mis-attribution of words or music.

At the same time, the page proofs have gone to the holders of the copyright in each piece with a request for
permission to include it in the book – this may seem late in the day but most rights holders want to know not only what
it is intended to publish but how it will look in the book. This process, in which our publishers, Hymns Ancient &
Modern are well-versed, shouldn‟t produce too many problems, but there will be some.

Then there‟s all the ancillary material, such as the biblical index (nearly 6,000 entries there), the Lord‟s Prayer in its
traditional and modern versions (which must be exactly as printed in the Methodist Worship Book), the Preface and so
on. Each of these has to be carefully checked.

We expect there to be a revised set of page proofs to check in the next few days, followed by the final set in the order
in which they will be printed, complete with their final numbers. Also the words only edition will need to be checked
carefully. So, by God‟s grace, the swan will reach the farther shore – and Methodism will have its new hymn book.
Please keep us in your prayers.

Singing the Faith Plus

Don‟t forget to let us know your thoughts and ideas about how we can make Singing the Faith Plus the resource you
want. Email the editor, Laurence Wareing, at editor@stfplus.co.uk, or phone him on 01968 680934.

Kind regards

BBC celebration of Singing the Faith - 26 June

The BBC will be celebrating the forthcoming publication of the new Methodist hymn book with
two programmes scheduled to broadcast on 26 June.
There is a „singing the faith‟ themed Sunday Worship service on Radio 4 at 8.10am followed by a
special edition of BBC One‟s Songs of Praise in the afternoon. The programme will reflect upon
what makes a truly inspiring hymn and features interviews with some of those involved in the
production of the new hymn collection.

7

Journey through the land of the Bible
For many, the opportunity to journey through the land of the Bible can be a
momentous experience_ Joining with others for such a journey allows people
to share those experiences and make lasing friendships with like-minded
people_
Riding Lights Theatre Company irst visited Israel in May 2006 when the
message from the Palesinian Chrisian communiies was ‘tell our story, pray
for us, visit us’_ This irst visit was the inspiraion for the play Salaam
Bethlehem which toured the UK in 2007 and helped to tell their story as well
as encouraging audiences to involve themselves through acion and prayer
and by visiing the Holy Land_
In November 2008, Riding Lights’ irst Living Stones tour saw a group of 50
people on a unique trip to Israel/Palesine which combined the special Riding
Lights brand of theatrical storytelling on visits to some of the places of Jesus’s
life and ministry_ Those who joined the tour described it as a life-changing
experience_
Bookings are now being taken for a second Living Stones tour which takes
place in October 2011 Organised in conjuncion with Lightline Pilgrimages, the
pilgrimage starts in the north of Israel, around Galilee, before moving south
to Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank and onwards to Jerusalem_
Jonathan Brown, Riding Lights’ General Manager said_ “Living Stones is a very
special visit to an extraordinary place_ Our tour combines spiritual pilgrimage
with an encounter with people who are the ‘living stones’ of the church in the
Holy Land today and on-locaion performances by Riding Lights actors to help
enrich the stories associated with the places we visit_ It is a diverse and rewarding experience of pilgrimage, insight and encounters with
the people of Israel and Palesine_”
To ind out more or make a booking, visit www_ridinglights_org or call 01992 576065_
Talking of God is a new faith sharing course. It will help individuals and congregations to talk about their faith journey.
Written by a group of evangelism and mission experts from across the country,the course will give people more confidence
when it comes to sharing the stories of their faith in everyday life. It does this by encouraging conversations about convers
ations, and rooting it all in the Gospels.
“We have so many opportunities to talk about how Jesus continues to transform our lives,” said Evangelism in Contempor
ary Culture Officer Joanne Cox. “This resource is an exciting development in helping each of us to talk of God wherever we
are.”
Talking of God follows from the 2005 report to the Methodist Conference Time of Talk of God, which
featured on the Church Times list of bestselling Christian books. The report encouraged Methodists and other Christians
to renew their ability to talk about God with each other.
Talking of God is made up of four sessions:

• Starting the Conversation ‐ each of us has a story to share
• Conversation Stoppers – conversations can be hard
• Conversations in Context – how our world can frame our conversations
• Living the Conversation – conversations are more than just words
These sessions (plus a preamble and concluding worship) can be held over consecutive weeks or even
the course of a weekend or day. Each session includes opening and closing prayers, Bible study,
discussion topics and practical ideas for getting conversations started.
http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentoworld.content&cmid=3400
8

9

CU in the Park
C U In the park is an event organised by the Youth of Haxby and Wigginton Methodist Church, aiming to provide a fun family day for
all in the community, taking place on the Oaken Grove Community Centre park, Haxby, York.

The day will consist of a church service from 11-12 am, lead by the youth and Rev. Cameron Stirk. This all age worship will be a fun
way to worship God in the sun, and introduce new people to church.

The service will lead onto a bring-your-own picnic, followed by an afternoon of fun and games from 2-5pm, including face painting,
sports day races and much more.

As the light fades, a barbeque will be taking place on the field, followed by live entertainment from the Northern Irish Christian rock
band [Crave]: from 7-9pm.

The whole event is free of charge; however there will be a small cost for the barbeque. This is a great opportunity to come along
with your family and friends to a relaxed and fun day in the park, with something for everyone. This is the perfect event to bring your
youth group to!

For more information, please contact Steve Padfield: 01904 764122, or Hannah Brown: 01904 761141. To find our more about
the band [Crave]: visit their MySpace page
www.myspace.com/craverock

So, will we C U in the Park?

10

11

What is it?
Everlasting is a jam-packed weekend designed by young people specifically with young people in mind! Come along, get to know other
christians your age, from your area, and support and encourage each other as you dig deeper with God, wherever you're at in your
journey!
When/Where is it?
The weekend starts at 6.30pm on Friday 8th July, and finishes at 2pm on Sunday 10th July. It's at Guisborough Methodist Church (see
'how to find us' for directions).
Who is it for?
Anyone at all from Y7 upwards! If you're under 18, you will need an adult to accompany you (so go and nag your youth/church leaders
to come along and get a group organised!)
What's happening?
We've got all sorts of things lined up for you over the weekend, from workshops and seminars (to dig a little deeper), to a gig on the
Saturday night with Philippa Hanna and Roo Walker! Workshops include: Sports, Graffiti, Drama, and Crafts. There'll also be plenty of
time to get to know other people there and make a few new friends your age, with activities specifically tailored to different age groups
over the weekend. A more detailed itinerary will be on here closer to the weekend, so watch this space!
Tell me more about this gig!
On Saturday evening, at 7.30pm, we have two really talented artists coming to play live music and put on a real show for you! The gig
itself is open to all ages (so parents, or other people from your church are more than welcome), and tickets for the gig are £5 (if you
would just like tickets for this, then e-mail us, or just indicate on a booking form and send a cheque for £5 per ticket). The venue for
the concert is just around the corner from the church, at: The Parish Hall, Bow St, TS14 6BP
Sounds great! How do I get involved?!
Simple! get a booking form from http://www.guisboroughmethodistchurch.org.uk/index.php?topic=IDEverlasting
here, fill it out, and post it to us with a cheque for £15 (for the whole weekend). The deadline for bookings is 25th June 2011, although
some tickets may be available after this (contact us if you miss the deadline but still want to come!). There will also be some tickets
available on the door for the concert on Saturday night. If cost is an issue, get in touch, as we'd like everyone to be able to come if they
want to! if you have any questions at all, do feel free to get in touch with us at everlastingyouth.info@gmail.com, or call 07737242540
12

13

HOLY LAND

Hi,
We are running a tour of the Holy Land. Includes stays at Jerusalem and Galilee.
28th January - 6th February 2013.
Led by Mike and Ann Bossingham. The cost is £1420 which includes everything (flights, food, hotels,
travel etc) except tips.
There is a blog with videos of our previous trip at: http://mikeandanntrip.blogspot.com/

For further information contact
Mike Bossingham Mike@bossingham.com
Or
Ann Bossingham ann@bossingham.com

For full details of the tour and on line booking go to the World Wide Christian Travel Web site or contact Brian or Bob on the e
mails shown who also have the brochures

Yorsay is sent on behalf of the York & Hull Methodist District by the Communications Office
Bob Lawe 27 Ryde Avenue Hull Hu5 1QA 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 © 2011 York & Hull Methodist District – All
rights reserved.

Publication deadline for next month Yorsay is 20th of the Month

14

Text Version of June Yorsay

2011-05-24T09:30:00.006+01:00

JUNE 2011
Welcome to the June Edition of Yorsay. Some of the arti-cles are indexed below
Page 2 Living Wage
Page3 Royal Wedding
Page4 Synod Newsletter
Page6 Rural Work
Page7 Driffield Revamp
Page8 Ordination venue changed
Page9 Santiago
Page10 Third Age
To make sure that you re-ceive the emails from the communications office please put our e mail addresses in your safe lists.
yhmethodist@msn.com communica-tions@yorkhullmethodist.org
yhmeth@yhmeth.karoo.co.uk
bob_lawe@hotmail.com

When we think of sharing our faith what usually comes to mind are words, lots of words, crafted with passion into sentences designed to persuade and convince someone
else that embracing faith in God will be truly transformative for them.
As the disciples got to grips with Easter the risen Christ offered them a radically enhanced alternative to this narrow view of faith-sharing. How we live our lives - what we do and who we are in relation to God and to each other - becomes central, because we share the value and meaning of our faith each and every time we put it into practice as God's Kingdom-building people. Just like Jesus did. Words then are only part of the picture. Loving actions and attitudes always speak more loudly.
Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit." (John 20:21-22)
It is through the phrase 'As the Father sent me' that we enter the revolutionary 'Jesus' dimension to sharing our faith which reframes our understanding so decisively. With stark simplicity it really does flesh out the magnitude of what Jesus expects to be normative for those who dare to follow him as disciples. We are to be as focussed on being good news for the poor as he was. We are to be as determined to see justice done as he was. We are to be as passionate about those whom society excludes as he was. We are to be as resolute in facing up to evil as he was. We are to be as in touch with the needs for healing and wholeness in those around us as he was.
Because being sent by God to bring the Kingdom of Love near looks like this, entails this and demands nothing less than this. And so like Jesus we have to have absolute and total trust in God. And God makes it all possible.
Which is surely why throughout this first Easter the risen Jesus gifts this selfsame trust to his disciples as he prepares them to share their faith as Christ-followers. And time and again as he does so he gifts to them peace; that real, deep and lasting shalom in God's presence in which is our true wellbeing, together with the peacefulness which comes from having a true and rock-solid sense of godly purpose in life. And then he breathes the Spirit right into every fibre of their being human. He then sends them out to do likewise for others. Our sending is no different.
The truths Jesus discovered in the wilderness finally shape his closest friends to follow his path. From now on, when it comes to faith-sharing, for them it's as natural as breathing. Inbreaths of the Spirit and outbreaths of the Kingdom.
[This month front page is by Rev David Perry and is taken from his award winning blog http://www.visualtheology.blogspot.com/ ]
xPage 2
FTSE 100 companies must adopt Living Wage, say Methodists  Living Wage Campaign celebrates 10 year anniversary A campaign to lobby FTSE 100 companies to adopt the Living Wage has been backed by the Methodist Church and its Central Finance Board.
The Living Wage is the minimum hourly wage necessary for an individual to meet their basic needs, including shelter, clothing and nutrition. Revd Alison Tomlin, President of the Methodist Conference, will publicly endorse the launch of the Fair Pensions campaign at Methodist Central Hall on May 2, with more than 2,000 people expected to attend.
Revd Tomlin said: “The Living Wage is about treating people with dignity and respect; it is about recognising our value as individuals, as human beings. It is absurd to pay people a wage that will never allow them to meet their needs. The majority of those living in poverty are in working households and this kind of practice keeps people in poverty. FTSE 100 companies should lead the way in bringing about fair wages for all who work.”
The Fair Pensions campaign will be launched at a mass rally organised by London Citizens at 2pm at Methodist Central Hall on May 2. Churches, charities and institutional investors will join in urging FTSE 100 companies, to become Living Wage employers. One of the signatories is The Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church, which manages funds on behalf of Methodism in Britain. People will be encouraged to lobby FTSE 100 companies directly online at www.activateyourmoney.org.
Bill Seddon, Chief Executive of the Central Finance Board said: “With the Methodist Church supporting the Living Wage campaign, it is entirely appropriate that the Central Finance Board signs these letters to FTSE 100 companies. We look at the relationships companies have with their employees, suppliers, and service providers. That leads us to consider not only executive pay levels, but also the lowest paid in a company. The Central Finance Board is helping to put Methodist Church policy into practice by encouraging companies from its position as a socially responsible investor."
BEVERLEY METHODIST CIRCUIT
PART-TIME PRESBYTER OR DEACON
This small Circuit centred around the historic market town of Beverley, East Yorkshire, wishes to appoint a part-time PRESBYTER or DEACON to work 15-19 hours per week.
The successful applicant would have pastoral oversight of 3 village churches –
Bishop Burton, Tickton and Walkington
The appointment would begin on 1st September 2011 or 1st January 2012 and would be for an initial period of 18 months, with an option to review and extend.
Closing Date for the applications is 24th June 2011.
For further information and an application form contact
Hilary Hoggarth, Circuit Steward 01482 861112
or hmhoggarth@hmhoggarth.karoo.co.uk
Page 3
Hi ,
I thought readers of Yorsay might like to see the attached pictures. They’re of the Royal Wedding Party at Market Weighton Methodist Church where we watched the Royal Wedding on big screen – all the young ones dressed in wedding attire, the little ones made crowns and tiaras. We had the usual bunting, flags, buns and balloons -about 60 folk came. We managed to borrow the life sized cardboard replica of William and Kate from the local Slimming Club and here are a few of the young mums and children posing for photos
THE METHODIST CHURCH York and Hull District
Newsletter following
Synod on 7 May 2011
Hosted by Snaith & Selby and Goole Circuits
From
Heather Shipman 3 Templar Gardens Wetherby West Yorkshire LS22 7TG synodsec@yorkhullmethodist.org.uk
Full Synod Minutes are available on the District Website (Synod pages) www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk
(If you have any problem at all in accessing information in this way please don't hesitate to contact either Siân Henderson or myself for a paper copy)
Dear Friends
The purpose of this Newsletter is merely to highlight some of the issues which were raised at Representative Synod. They are only highlights and to learn more of what went on I would recommend a visit to the District website where you can see and hear some of the presentations as they happened.
Synod began with worship which included hymns and prayers led by members of the Circuits’ worship band and the organisers of this Synod. This set the scene for a very full day of business. Members were welcomed by Revd Linda Day, Superintendent Minister.
After the early business of the meeting which included the reporting of dispensations granted and apologies received Synod requested that letters of greeting be sent to various people. After giving approval to the appointment of scrutineers should Synod be moved to vote on an issue, the Revd Mary Jackman read the list of Local Preachers who had died during the past year and thanked God for all their work in His name. She also reported that there had been a considerable increase in the number of people offering for Local Preaching and Worship Leading in the District.
One of the responsibilities of the Spring Synod is the agreement to the appointment of officers in the District and a list had been circulated with the Synod agenda. Various amendments had been received and others were added during the day. If you are in receipt of the Directory and can spot any inaccuracies please let myself or Siân Henderson know.
Cessation of Worship
Synod agreed to the cessation of worship in the following churches:
Settrington Methodist Church (Malton Circuit)
Pickering Carr Methodist Church (Pickering Circuit)
Committee Reports and presentations from Representatives
Synod received reports from the following:
District Policy Committee, Ministerial Synod, Finance, Methodist Council and Conference.
Fuller details of these reports can be seen in the minutes which are on the website. They deal with the everyday work of the District and are important for the wellbeing of churches, circuits and the District as well as being part of our response to the connexional nature of Methodism.
A Way Forward for Mission
Two proposals from Synod which will be taken to Conference are as follows:
Hull (East) Circuit and Withernsea Circuit shall be combined to form a new circuit from 1st September 2012, and the two circuits will work in federation until that date.
The Whitby, Sherburn, Filey and Scarborough Circuits should amalgamate to form one new Circuit. This change to take effect from 1st September 2012 and will include the close working of the separate circuits in the interim period.
These two proposals mark the first of our circuit clusters to move towards a proposal which has been debated locally and submitted to the District Policy Committee and finally to Synod. They will be received by Conference in July 2012.
District Policy Committee and Presbyteral Synod
The business of both DPC and Presbyteral Synod which was brought to Representative Synod can be read in the minutes of Synod and so I will not take up space in this newsletter recounting those issues.
Treasurer’s Report
I would encourage all Church and Circuit Treasurers to look at the website and read the report. Mr Ian Stockley, the District Treasurer, had some important points to make for the future.
Hull International House
It is the 50th Anniversary of the founding of Hull International House. This house provides accommodation for students studying at Hull University. It has a warden and can accommodate up to 40 students. If you would like to know more about it the presentation to Synod is on the District website.
Acts 435
Jenny Herrera gave a presentation on this newly formed charity. It has grown out of an Anglican initiative in the Diocese of York but is now ecumenical. Jenny outlined how the charity worked to directly help those in need. It put people who can give, in direct contact with those who were in need, using the Church as the physical face-to-face forum and enabling people to give online. She outlined the 4 step process involved and invited churches and circuits to consider getting involved. If you would like any further information about the charity or a leaflet explaining how it works please contact either myself or Siân.
Mission, Ministry and Money
This was the title of the final presentation to Synod. Revd Richard Andrew, the Deputy Chair of District introduced the subject, a vitally important one for all our churches, circuits and the District as we look to the future and how we will deploy our resources. The full text of the presentation is on the website or either Siân or myself will email it to you if you wish. Richard drew our attention to two points:
1. A recognition that as Circuits re-structure there will be a need for local churches, Circuits and the District to think carefully about its priorities in spending and a more strategic approach to giving. Eric Morecambe once famously said to Andre Previn, ‘I’m playing all the right notes but not necessarily in the right order’. In a parallel way the church is, in many respects, resource rich, but not necessarily in the right places or in any discernible order.
2. Secondly, there is a recognition that we are a connected people, the body of Christ together, and part of our mission involves raising our horizons to support others at points of need or opportunity. How can we do that better?
He went on to say that there is a tendency in the life of the church to leave the finances to a few people – the concern of those with the appropriate knowledge and expertise. We see this aspect of church life as something far removed from the spiritual or ‘real’ purposes of the church. The reality is that the gospel has to ‘earthed’ as well as ‘heavened’ and it is perhaps no surprise, therefore, that something like one third of Jesus’ parables involve money in one way or another.
Ministry, buildings, training, witness at home and abroad, action for social concern and in the public square, relationships with others, and not least the complexities of running an organization, all have to be paid for and cannot be divorced from the question of mission as the apostles recognized when they shared their possessions in common and then later appointed people from within the community to administer its life in order to serve and release energy for the mission of the early church.
Synod then broke into groups to discuss this presentation. It raises vital issues for the Church in the foreseeable future and I would encourage all members of every congregation to make themselves aware of these issues and this presentation
Synod concluded with a service in which Revd Sally Coleman gave her testimony. It was a very fitting end to Synod, reminding us of the beginning of a journey for Sally and our own journeys alongside one another. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sally as she goes forward for ordination.
Blessings Heather
Copies of the presentations from Synod [including Sally’s Testimony Service ] - The Full Minutes of Synod—The Memorial and the Briefing Mission Ministry Money are available on the District Web Site Synod Page
http://www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/index.php?cid=70&pid=23
Rural Work
In the York and Hull District there are many examples of small rural churches working at being an Effective Christian Presence at the heart of their communities. It has been very hard to pick just two or three examples.
The Rural Business Project which is based at Thirsk Auction Mart began life as a project of the Churches Regional Commission for Yorkshire and the Humber (CRC). The finance for the project came from Yorkshire Forward. The aim of the project is to reach those farmers who are hard to reach, who don‟t readily engage with organisations providing professional help and support. From the beginning it has worked with both Farm Crisis Network (FCN) and local churches. Originally one person was employed full time to engage with famers and offer help, support and signposting to other agencies. Over time the project has expanded to comprise 1 full time and 2 part time officers in North Yorkshire along with a part time administrator. The project has also planted another scheme in the South Pennines area.
Although still managed by the CRC the funding now comes from the Land-skills sector and the emphasis of the project has changed slightly to include mentoring and training alongside the pastoral support. The project was mentioned in a recent DEFRA report as an example of good practice in reaching the hard to reach and helping them to move on. Certainly the project and the churches that support it have earned the respect of the Land-skills sector that funds it. It is a real example of practical Christianity reaching out to those who need it most.
On a different scale, but still a means of reaching out to the community, is the community newspaper Sowerby Now. This is enabled by the two churches in the village of Sowerby as a way of communicating not only their own news but encouraging the exchange of community news. Local clubs and organisations along with the schools can all submit articles. It is a professionally printed newspaper that is delivered free of charge by a group of volunteers to every home in Sowerby once a quarter. Paid for by advertising, the paper generates a small surplus which is given to local charities and events. On page three there is a letter from the clergy along with service times and church events.
A website has just been launched to enhance the paper as a place to advertise diary dates and as a general resource for the village with useful contact numbers and other local information.
Church buildings can be another way of engaging with the community especially if it is the only public space in the village. Woldgate chapel is in the village of Hayesthorpe and it is the only public space for 4 villages. 4 years ago it was facing closure but the Bridlington Circuit decided to keep the building and adapt it for community use. Now, as well as hosting various village events, worship has restarted on a monthly basis.
The district has two Post Offices which operate out of Methodist Churches. The first in Rufforth has been going for about 5 years and is well used by the village. The post office is open for two sessions a week and the church hosts a coffee morning at the same time. This provides a good opportunity for the village to get together. One regular visitor who has M.S. says that these sessions are a life line as she has a chance to get out of her house and see people.
Weaverthorpe was the last remaining Methodist Church in the Wolds Valley. The Sherburn circuit were reluctant to close it and so it was refurbished to become a community space as well as continuing to be a worship centre. The local Post Office closed and the service went into the local pub and the chapel started a coffee morning on one of the two post office days. The post office struggled in the pub and has recently transferred to the chapel were business is picking up because people can stop and chat as well as do business.
There is so much more to tell. The village of Levening where the Methodist Church was sold and the money raised was used to refurbish both the parish church (used for joint worship) and the Methodist schoolroom (used for church and village activities). Or the breadth of children‟s work that takes place ecumenically in the many small communities, with their after school clubs, holiday clubs and activity days; youth and children‟s workers that are employed ecumenically and supported by large groups of volunteers.
The rural church is alive and kicking in our district helping to provide services and premises holding out the Christ light to their communities.
2011 Prayer Handbook
“Run the Race”
Available August 2011.
Price £3.50 (£3.15 for 10 copies or more)
2011/12 Diaries
Standard £7; Interleaved / loose leaf: £10
For collection at Synod in September please give orders to Tricia Mitchell by 7th August. (dde@yorkhullmethodist.org.uk ; telephone 01347 838569)
A BOLD decision has been made over the future of one of Driffield‟s best-known buildings.
The Custodian Committee of Driffield Methodist Church has announced it is exploring the feasibility of rebuilding the church on Middle Street North, as the existing building is no longer fit for purpose.
At a meeting held on Monday, the Committee voted unanimously that to knock down the existing building and rebuild on the same site would be the best way forward for the church.
The other option they were faced with was a complete refurbishment of the inside of the building.
“We know the decision is not without emotion because, for the people who have been attending the church all their lives it is part of who they are and we respect that – but changes need to be made,” said the Rev Robert Amos, the church‟s Minister.
Poor disabled access, out dated facilities, the cost of heating and the general cost of keeping the building going meant a decision had to be made that would improve the church for future use.
“It is a bold move but we feel that it is needed for the future,” Mr Amos said.
The current Methodist building has been on the site since 1880, although re-modelling work was undertaken in 1966.
“We want to keep the size of the building so it can be used for concerts as well as worship.
“It is the biggest building in Driffield for groups to use and we want to keep that community use,” said Mr Amos.
Plans for various work totalling £460,000 had previously been unveiled to provide a new kitchen, entrance and better disabled access at the church. However those plans have been put on hold.
Mr Amos said: “It was felt after a lot of decision making that whether we refurbished or rebuilt it would not make a lot of difference financially.”
The cost of a rebuild is one thing that has not yet been fully discussed but it is something which the Custodians will now look into.
Mr Amos said: “What we felt we wanted to do was get the vision, which is the most important thing, first.”
The group will now look at getting architects on board and the costings involved.
Plans include minimising the building‟s dependency on fossil fuels as much as possible.
The Custodians are looking into using solar panels to generate electricity and installing solar water heaters and heat exchangers.
Plans state the new building would need to incorporate worship space for up to 450 people, a main hall with a capacity of up to 100 people, with moveable chairs, a cafe room and garden space.
Custodians would also like to see an atrium for up to 50 people and a meeting room to cater for the same number.
Plans also include retaining as much car parking space as possible.
“We want to involve the whole community and want to know what they want, and what they see for the future,” Mr Amos said.
Article from the Driffield Times May 2011 © Johnston Publishing
www.acts435.com „ ...giving to anyone who has need.‟
Acts 435 - an effective tool to relate mission, ministry and money
It is quick and easy to get involved and be able to bless others in very practical ways - new shoes for the children, or some food for a family in need. Please email Executive Director Jennifer Herrera at jherrera@acts435.org.uk for more information as to how you can get involved as a church or circuit, or if you would like to give to those in need, go to our website - www.acts435.org.uk - and give as little or as much as you feel you can.
Ordination Service Moved
The Ordination service from the Southport Methodist Conference that was due to take place at the Roman Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral in Liverpool has had to be moved to Chester Anglican Cathedral after the invitation by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Liverpool the Most Rev Patrick Kelly has been withdrawn on the advice of the Vatican
In a statement the Archbishop said it had never been a question of simply having a large enough venue. "It could also be a word about the ecumenical journey to which we have been long committed, which was reaffirmed when Cardinal Kasper visited Liverpool at Pentecost in 2010 and yet more powerfully by Pope Benedict during his visit to this island last September," he said. "In response, therefore, to this request I did last autumn give my permission for the use of the cathedral for this purpose."
"However, it was always clear to me that the occasion would be a symbol and given the iconic reality of the Metropolitan Cathedral far beyond Merseyside it would be watched, interpreted, scrutinised quite properly by many. And symbols are dangerous things; they can explode. Every pattern of ordination known to me is at the service of Communion and an occasion for profound renewal of the most personal, hidden demands of discipleship. Spotlights, controversy, fear of misinterpretation undermine the prayer and discipleship into which the Spirit would lead us.
"During my recent prolonged time to reflect because of convalescence, I found myself often wondering if what I had encouraged was inappropriate at this time and a possible scandal in the original meaning of that word, a stumbling block for an ordination and for the ecumenical journey. I was not entirely surprised when I was informed that this was the judgment of the Holy Father's Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments and the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity in tiieir interpretation of the principles set out in the Ecumenical Directory of that same Pontifical Council. Sadly, therefore, I have to conclude that the invitation for some Methodist ordinations to be celebrated in the Metropolitan Cathedral should be withdrawn."
The Archbishop said he recognised that this decision would bring "pain to some, relief to others and confusion to many'! "I can only apologise for any rift for which I am responsible and pledge that I will continue to be as faithful as I have for all the nearly 50 years of my life as a priest to the ecumenical journey to which the Second Vatican Council committed every Roman Catholic," he said.

In the Way of St James
Santiago de Compostela
Saturday 15 – Tuesday 25 September 2012
Led by Brian Thornton & Bob Lawe
After a Successful Tour to Oberammergau Brian Thornton & Bob Lawe would like to welcome you on a journey of Discovery to Santiago de Compostela in the footsteps of St James. See some of the heritage of Northern Spain on this 10 day tour of fellowship and discovery.
The Pilgrims Route to Santiago de Compostela is renowned as a path of signiicant world historic and religious heritage. Along the route there are a succession of beautiful towns and villages and history can be found around every corner. Our tour includes a journey along the Pilgrims Route between Leon and Santiago and a return along the Pilgrims Coastal Route through Asturias and Cantabria.
Day 1 - Saturday Travel from North of England to the South coast . Dinner and overnight at Plymouth.
Day 2 - Sunday Board the Brittany Ferries cruise ferry service to Spain. Relax and enjoy a night on board ship.
Day 3 - Monday Arrive in Spain and proceed to the wonderful old city of Leon for dinner and an overnight stay
Day 4 - Tuesday Some time to explore the beautiful Cathedral city of Leon. In the afternoon the route travels through Astorga before continuing on the faster route via Lugos and Betanzos to arrive in Santiago de Compostela, for a 4 night stay.
Day 5 - Wednesday Full day at leisure in Santiago. We suggest a morning guided sightseeing tour including a visit to the Cathedral followed by an afternoon at leisure.
Day 6 - Thursday Full scenic day excursion to Rias Baixas. Start from Pontevedra and travel through a succession of pretty villages following the route through Combarro, Sanxenxo, Pontonovo and Cambadas. See the small fishing ports, cliffs and wonderful beaches.
Day 7 - Friday Another full day in Santiago. In addition to the many historical and cultural sites there are countless restaurants specializing in Galician cuisine.
Day 8 - Saturday Depart Santiago and travel along Spain‟s northern coast, through Asturias, to arrive in the province of Cantabria for a 2 night stay.
Day 9 - Sunday A short local excursion to Santillana del Mar, a town best described as a living museum.
Day 10 - Monday Join the a Brittany Ferries cruise- ferry service from Spain with a comfortable night on board.
Day 11 - Tuesday Arrive on England‟s south coast and travel home.
Cost £1020 per person - Full Brochures and booking details/forms available from Bob or Brian
bob_lawe@hotmail.com or thornton813@btinternet.com

Saturday 23rd July
2.00pm to 4.00pm
Free Children’s Bouncy Castle
Tombola, Face Painting
Teas, Ice creams, Plants
BBQ , Cake stall & tuck shop
Boys Brigade Band
Plus the famous Fairtrade Chocolate Fountain
All Proceeds to
Christian Aid
Summer fete
Willerby
Methodist
Church
Yorsay is sent on behalf of the York & Hull Methodist District by the Communications Office
Bob Lawe 27 Ryde Avenue Hull Hu5 1QA 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 © 2011 York & Hull Methodist District – All rights reserved.

Yorsay April 2011

2011-03-21T10:53:00.001Z

Text Version of the Monthly Magazine Yorsay -full version on http://www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/index.php?cid=75&pid=23

Welcome to the April Edition
of Yorsay.

APRIL 2011

YORSAY April 2011
From the Chair’s Desk
Well – I am well and truly hooked on reading the Bible! You may be
reassured to hear that, or wonder why I start with such a statement.
Regular readers of YORSAY will know about the commitment made by
a number of us to read the whole Bible during 2011 – the 400th
Anniversary of the King James Bible.
Since last month, we have completed Leviticus and we are well into
Numbers. In the New Testament, we have completed Mark and we are
now reading Luke‟s Gospel. Psalms and Proverbs continue to
accompany each day‟s readings. It is an addictive business, and I do
hope that many more people will catch the habit as it is never too late to
join in. I have even found myself enjoying dipping into my commentary
on Leviticus and Numbers as I read the Bible.
And during Lent in particular, I have decided to do some other reading. I
have started with Roy Hattersley‟s biography of John Wesley – A Brand
from the Burning. In some ways it is a “warts and all” account of
Wesley‟s life and influence, but I have been gripped by the story. For
many of us, our Christian discipleship is lived out within the Methodist
tradition, and John Wesley is of course a crucial figure in our history.
Throughout the British Methodist Church, discipleship is a major theme
for us. During 2011 – this year of the Bible – we are grounded in
Scriptural Discipleship. I do believe that we need to rediscover our
roots. As Methodist Christians that means grounding our faith in
Scripture, as well as in the Wesleyan tradition which continues to
nurture us and resource our Christian journey.
I hope you will capture something of the excitement of this Year of the
Bible, and that Lent is providing for you an opportunity to deepen your
own faith.

Every blessing
Stephen Burgess
District Chair

'Nobody is treading water by BARRY WEETMAN
[From Methodist Recorder 3rd March 2011
"POTENTIALLY huge strides forward" for the Anglican-Methodist Covenant relationship are likely to be outlined within the next 18
months and the Methodist Church will be expected to take them very seriously, says the General Secretary of the Church, the R ev Dr
Martyn Atkins.
Dr Atkins, who is now half-way through the five-year appointment that includes being Secretary of the Conference, has assured the
Methodist Recorder that "nobody is treading water" in terms of formal ecumenical progress. He said he was optimistic about progress,
although some people thought talks on relationships with other Churches were dragging on.
"There are some serious questions we are asking the Church of England that they are taking seriously. There are serious questions Anglicans
are asking of the Methodist Church that we must take seriously, possibly more seriously than we have done to date," said Dr Atkins.
Relationship
He continued: "I find that, in the next year to 18 months, the joint implementation committee of that Covenant relationship will be bringing
to us potentially huge strides forward and we will be asked again how seriously we are committed to this relationship. The Methodist
Church and the Church of England will again have to reassess or reassert it, or how you do otherwise with it."
In line with "Our Priorities" the General Secretary's personal commitment is to a Methodist future that lay in partnership with others
wherever possible.
He said: "We should never want to see the end of the Methodist movement. There are people who believe every time you make a statement
like this you somehow have a death wish for Methodism.
"I have no death wish for Methodism but I do not have an isolationist view that my job, or the calling of God of the Methodis t people, is
somehow to be empire-building here as distinct from what God is doing in the Christian constituency and broader society generally."
Giving his views on big questions surrounding the outward agenda, "the big agenda" of the Methodist Church, the General Secretary said it
was very much linked to recognising the Church was a "small part of a thing called the Body of Christ" as it existed in the UK as one
faith among many rather than as a Christian monopoly.
The contemporary hugely diverse and rich culture presented all sorts of opportunities and challenges, he suggested.
Witness
According to Dr Atkins, how to articulate and bear witness to God's goodness and love in Christ within that context - together with inviting
people to share the perspective the Christian Gospel brought to life - was the "big thing" for the Methodist Church, every Methodist
disciple, local congregation, District officer and the Connexional Team.
He explained: "We do this in very subtle and clear ways . There is a clear secularist agenda as well as a clear and clearly-spoken humanist
agenda. I do not dissent from the right of those things. It is in that context, as from the Early Church to this day, God asks us to be good
disciples.
"For the Methodist Church, that has always involved not just an interior piety for us, but also as a body politic in Connexion. It has always
caused us to be involved rather than not - with all the communities, with our society, with the big issues of the day and to bear testimony
honourably in that as to what it means to be Christian."
Asked whether, as Methodists, we are getting any better at this and whether it relates to signs the Methodist Church could be a growing
denomination, the General Secretary said we were getting better in the sense of understanding our culture. He referred to statements on
behalf of the Church to the Gambling Commission as an indication of this.
"For a long time we acted as a Church, as did other Christian groupings and people, as if our present time was like a previous time that could
loosely be described in sociological and missional terms as the Christendom context," he remarked.
Dr Aktins continued: "This means the Church is allowed to be outspoken and expects people to listen to it, can shout and expect people to
stop, whereas nowadays we know the Christian voice has become more marginalised.
"It takes its place among several other voices and the Church has taken a long while to get used to it This does not mean out -and-out
rejection, but it does mean it has to use its voice and understand its position vis-a-vis society in different and more subtle ways. We are now
getting better at working out what a Christian prophetic voice might be."
The annual count of Church members is now replaced by "statistics for mission" and the General Secretary likes the idea that fewer people
are "beating themselves up" about numbers in the Church when currently there are lots of people belonging to Methodist churches who are
not historically Methodist.
Buildings were included in the phenomena associated with church growth and the General Secretary said the stock of church buildings
continued to shrink. The present number, about 5,500, should continue to shrink because of the Methodist constituency and the challenges
of its mission.
Discernment
Dr Atkins observed: "That is not to say I know which ones should go and how they should go. That is for the discernment of Methodists
where they are."
However, he is currently General Secretary of a Church where membership is "much more bottoming out than it has been for the last
30-40 years". Alongside this ; statistic there are many people who regularly worship with Methodist groups as committed Christian
disciples who were not Methodist members.
Reflecting on this, Dr Atkins said: "We are currently trying to reimage and recast membership as something that is appropriate, apt, exciting
and relevant for people living within a Methodist Christian grouping.
"Empirical and anecdotal evidence suggests to us that when we get all the things right - our involvement in new forms of church, in
Fresh Expressions and in pioneering ministry, in very important things like making our premises better, making worship more awesome in a
sense of deep and mysterious and godly - Methodism is becoming numerically stronger in a number of places. It is undoubtedly becoming
deeper and more effective in its discipleship in a whole host of places."
Evidence
The General Secretary said he was not given to "empty spin" Different pictures of Methodism could be gained depending on which three or
30 case studies were looked at; to those who feared Methodism was "dead in the water" this was not his perception or evidence. He is a great
believer in natural ecumenism and community cohesion projects.
Everywhere, there are increasing signs of living, deepening and healthy discipleship \dth churches engaging in mission in every District and
circuit. There are equally communities that seem to be declining, ageing, tired and dying away, he noted.
However, as the Coalition Government talked so much about the "Big Society" Dr Atkins stated that he was very proud of the am ount of
"voluntaryism and voluntaryness" represented in Methodist disciples up and down the country, which meant the Church "punched well
beyond our weight"
Furthermore, he believes that, like the Government, the Church is only just beginning to discover what the phrase "Big Societ y" means as it
takes place during a time of huge national debt and international recession affecting people in different ways. Whatever else it seemed to be,
the Coalition Government seemed to be saying: "We want to be smaller and we want to be less prescriptive about what happens in various
places. Therefore we are devolving responsibility to various places."
The big question for churches came in assessing the priorities and how best they should use the available resources, Dr Atkins suggested.
Methodism, because of its very engagement with society, had developed partnerships with local charities and councils part-funding projects
up and down the land. Next year or the year after, the question would be "What do we do about this or that project?"
Commenting further on this, Dr Atkins said: "My own feeling is that, as a Church, we cannot yet be in a position to be openly critical of the
'Big Society,' as if we suspect every motive of it. Neither can we be fully embracing of it because we do not know every motive and effect of
it.

"What we can do - and what I would urge local Methodist Christians to do - is consider the ministries in which they are involved, work out
how many projects will already be challenged and what is the godly and possible response."
Congregation
He also urged people never to underestimate what a local congregation or community might do and the partnerships churches might make in
times of extreme difficulty.
On a domestic level, the Methodist Church at present has a renewed emphasis on discipleship - an area in which Dr Atkins has played a key
role. The "Discipleship" initiative within the Church is still in its infancy, he said. He was careful to say it was not an initiative of "Martyn
Atkins"
The General Secretary regards the initiative as having arisen out of "Holiness and Risk Gathering" and contributions from hug e numbers of
sources. People were concerned that Methodists should honour their tradition, have a better narrative about themselves and should want to
remain connected and engaged while finding contemporary ways of being the best disciples of Jesus Christ, both individually a nd as a
movement.
To some, the word "disciple" may have appeared old-fashioned and it could be that new ways of articulating what it means will have to be
found; nevertheless, its pedigree within Christianity and the Methodist movement was a recognisable starting point.
Dr Atkins said: "I have unashamedly been a champion of this discipleship initiative by saying I think Methodism, at its best and in its heart,
understands itself as being a discipleship movement, by which I mean a missional movement within the whole Christian Church of disciples.
"This is a big agenda. It is not at all a narrow thing. It allows Methodists to find their place, both in terms of their own piety and their
belonging in societies called churches alongside other churches, and manages to capture the outward urge that is in Methodism."
Dr Atkins related this to the international dimension of Methodism and to events in Britain revealing evidence that the Holy Spirit was still
breathing through this community of people called Methodists. It was an act of faithlessness where and whenever this went unr ecognised.
Initiative
The General Secretary sees the "Discipleship" initiative as an agenda to bring Christians back to a place of openness to God, discernment of
God, the challenge and the call of God, whatever time or place this was happening. It was more than he could have hoped for if the booklet on
discipleship, which he has written, is helping the many people who, feedback suggested, are using it in house groups and in courses.
The Connexion and Connexional Team now have to assess, from the kinds of messages given out, what resources and tools would b e most
useful as people pursued discipleship.
"I think the agenda of 'discipleship' and the agenda of the Connexional Team since 2008 has been about a constant discourse with the Church,
through the Conference and through listening, through me going on the road, through the Methodist Council," said Dr Atkins, responding
to a question about "Our Priorities'!
He believes this was basically sharing together a narrative "that says 'If we can't do everything, what do we do? If we can't be everything, then
what don't we be? If we try to be everything to everybody, then who are we?' I would much sooner put our real efforts into three, four or five
things the rest of the Church discerns as needing to be resourced than do 64 things of which none make any real difference."
Two-and-half years on from taking on the role of General Secretary, Dr Atkins says it was "a great gift and providential" being President of the
Conference in the preceding year.
He has since found that a greater overview of the Conexion and its different layers means the General Secretary usually picks up the
discontent of Methodism before its good news stories
He found greater expectations and greater constitutional clarity about the job with its management commitment associated with the
Conexional Team and the life of the Connexion.
Dr Atkins was then asked how he felt about being thought of as "the man at the top!
He responded: "This may really sound pious, but I recite it to myself because I really need to do so: I am a disciple of Christ, a servant of God
who was called into the Methodist ministry and stands sometimes in awe of what I finished up doing, when all I thought I was going to do was
to be pastor of a church.
"Where God calls God equips. This doesn't mean everybody is perfect, although it does mean you are given the resources to do these things. I
see myself as a person under the responsibility of the Conference, charged with various responsibilities on behalf of our Church as we try to
discern what God is saving to us and as we follow and release this. "
Authority
Line-management authority is part of the General Secretary's task and in some cases the buck stops with him. In the Church's collegiate style
of leadership, he constantly takes soundings from District Chairs and talks to Connexional Team staff.
He recognises that both himself and the Connexional Team have a curious role in being expected to lead and resource as well as listen and
respond.
"In the Connexional Team and in my own ministry, that is what we try to do. So I do not like the notion of 'top', but neither am I somehow
falsely suggesting we are all in the gutter and somebody kicks us about. It is not like that either," he remarked.
Requirements
Never once as General Secretary has he felt the requirements of the Methodist Church being in conflict with what he perceived to be the
requirements of God: "I am not the kind of person who has a kind of dualism, of saying the Church set out to do this although I really want to
do that.
"As with all of us, there are things where there is slight discrepancy. I have never ever in two-and-a-half years had to stand up and say there
was something I profoundly disagreed with."
Recalling an outstanding event of the last 12 months, Dr Atkins said he welcomed the visit to the UK of Pope Benedict, was grateful for it and
pleased that it had such a beneficial effect in conveying what it meant to be a Christian community
in a society like ours.
In his view, the Papal visit helped convey the sense of mystery and purpose: what it meant to
believe in God in a society where lots of people did not believe and many who would like to
believe. He commented: "The Pope, because of his very standing in world leadership and world
faith terms, was able to bring that centre-stage to the minds and places where I and others could
not. We ride on this because in that sense it is a shared agenda."
When asked how he envisaged the Church 10 years hence, the General Secretary responded by
saying: "Some of the best things will be in what is yet only a twinkle in God's eye."
While stating he was wary of answering such a question, Dr Atkins said: "I want to see a
Methodism that has demonstrably been shaped in its spirit and in its structures by what it has
genuinely perceived God has asked it to be and become. So I am looking for a Church that is
obedient to what it discerns. I think of a key phrase in Scripture: 'It seemed good to us and to the
Holy Spirit"'
Brave
He continued: "I want a Church that is brave enough to genuinely ask the questions of what it
means to be a missional, discipleship movement
in Britain in the 21st century, cherishing the past but not dogged by it. I want a Church open to the
challenges of the future with the DNA of fervency, vibrancy, passion, commitment, self-giving, self
-sacrifice and engagement."
As the Church was currently emerging, some of it would have survived and some of it would not,
but the General Secretary observed: "I don't believe the Church will disappear because I just do not
believe the superficial rhetoric of somewhat nai've GCSE-level statistics that says: 'If by 2043 there
will be no Methodists left, will the last one at home put the lights out!"
© Methodist Recorder 2011

TRAVEL TO SYNOD Disruption ???

Please Note that at present there are long term road works on the A614 with Boothferry Bridge being closed to all traffic
and Diversions in operation. The work is due to take 10 weeks and the weekend of Synod is the last weekend that the
closure is supposed to be taking place. Also the A19 at Selby Toll Bridge is closed until 22nd May 2011. Please use the
BBC travel unit [ Humberside or York ] to obtain the latest details.

News Release

15 March 2011

Church responds to cries for help in Japan
•Methodist Church launches appeal following earthquake
The Methodist Church‟s World Mission Fund has launched an appeal on behalf of its partner church in
Japan following the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami that struck on Friday (March 11).
Reports from the United Church of Christ in Japan (UCCJ) reveal that the 8.9 magnitude earthquake,
which has left more than 10,000 people missing, has damaged at least 36 churches in the affected
Sendai region.
Teruki Takada, a representative for the UCCJ, reported that the UCCJ established a relief planning
team on March 12. The team arrived in Sendai on March 13 and visited the sites of the local churches
in the area.
Steve Pearce, Partnership Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific, said: “It is not possible to comprehend
the scale of this disaster. Our hearts go out to our brothers and sisters there. Our Mission Partners in
Japan are safe and well, but they are worried about people they know in the north and on the coast. I
have assured my colleagues at UCCJ that Methodists in Britain and Ireland are praying for them and
that we will respond to their financial appeal.”
Revd Makoto Kato, the Executive Secretary for Ecumenical Ministries at UCCJ, said:
“We truly appreciate your deep concern and encouraging prayer following the gigantic earthquake
which we have never ever experienced before. Churches in Tokyo are okay, but we are still not able
to get contact with people in Sendai where the earthquake hit most severely. Please keep on praying
for us”.
People can donate to the World Mission Fund appeal via the Methodist Church Just Giving page or by
sending a cheque payable to the World Mission Fund to Steve Pearce, World Church Relationships,
at Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5JR. Postal donations should be
labelled „Japan Appeal‟. If you are a UK taxpayer, you can Gift Aid your donation, which allows us to
reclaim the tax you have already paid. Just include a completed Gift Aid form with your donation.

DO YOU HAVE ANY UNWANTED CHRISTIAN BOOKS OR BIBLES?
Before you send your unwanted books to a charity shop or to the Church Fayre
THINK - BOOK AID
Book Aid is a charity that collects and distributes Christian books and Bibles to Christian organisations throughout the world where
people cannot afford such books themselves. More than one million Bibles and books are being sent every year to Africa, Asia and
the Caribbean. These areas are experiencing tremendous church growth but are being starved of the basic spiritual food that we take
for granted in the UK - Christian Bibles and literature. There is a real Book Famine in these areas and we could do so much to help.
Look around your house or your Church. Are there books you don't need, books you don't use or books you simply want to get rid of?
If so, to arrange a convenient collection arrangement, pick up the phone and contact:
Tony Service on (01757) 707530
Alternatively, Tony will be at the May 2011 Synod in Goole and would be pleased to accept any Bibles and Christian books you may
wish to donate to Book Aid.
If you want to know more about Book Aid, or how you can help financially, Tony will be able to provide further information. Prayer for
the work of Book Aid is always valued.

P a g e 6

NO PAIN NO GAIN

A Circuit Minister in the Pickering Circuit, Revd Peter Cross discovered the truth of the old adage that there is no gain wit hout pain
recently when he agreed to help raise money for a charity trip to Mexico by some young people from the Church. He agreed that if they
could raise £100 in sponsorship then he would submit to having his chest hair removed by waxing. The target was easily reache d and
eventually Peter Raised £175 for the cause.

The three young people from Pickering will be travelling to Mexico in a few weeks time, with the organisation "Urban Saints" (formerly
Crusaders) as part of a national scheme to build houses for one of the 800,000 homeless families who lack a basic secure plac e to
live in that country. The cost of the trip is well over £1,000 each, but they have now raised the entire amount through their own hard
work and generous support from members of the church both present and past.

The waxing took place at a coffee morning on 5th March. Before it Peter was heard to say. "Most of my sponsors are women who
readily agreed and gave me a sort of look that suggested they knew something I didn't. But it can't hurt that much can it?" A fterwards
he was unavailable for comment but was later seen in the local chemist buying large tubes of soothing cream.

For more information on the House building Project visit http://www.facebook.com/l/97a85Dd5nRgQtt52zGLDNoCVF3g/
www.urbansaints.org and click the "Rebuild" button or alternatively http://www.facebook.com/l/97a85Hq9PiUyCifEY_dfQfi3Qug/
www.amor.org

P a g e 7

NEWS RELEASE
Bigger Conversations
Time to dust off your Bible for 2011‟s Big Read

People across Great Britain are getting ready to take a fresh look at the Gospel of Matthew during Lent with the Big Read.

The Big Read is part of the Big Bible project, an online digital community that promotes regular Bible reading and engagement
with contemporary culture. After the success of last year‟s Big Read, which was based in the North East, this year‟s project is
bigger and better as it aims for a wider outreach.

This year the project takes full advantage of social media tools like Twitter and Facebook, as well as adding multimedia
resources available through the Big Bible blog, with a „blend‟ of physical and digital materials. The latest statistics show that the
website has more than doubled its visitors between November 2010 and February 2011*.
The Project is launching this year‟s Big Read with Tom Wright's Lent for Everyone: Matthew. As well as using the book, house
groups will be able to take advantage of free online study materials from a range of contributors, including week-by-week group
resources, videos and audio reflections, and a challenge to carry that learning through the week. The Big Bible website also
allows people to discuss the text with people all over the world, from a range of different perspectives.
Bex Lewis, Big Bible Project Manager: “People become really comfortable in their own house groups, staying in the same one
for years. The Big Read offers another layer of conversation in the online forums, where they can engage with others and
where thinking can be challenged.”
Revd Dr Peter Phillips, CODEC: “Researchers at Durham University have found that although three quarters of the population
own at least one Bible, only one fifth of people commit to reading it week by week. BigBible offers a great opportunity to dust
off your bible, share with your friends and neighbours and learn more about what God wants for your life.”

Methodist Heritage now Online
The Methodist Heritage Handbook is now online at www.methodistheritage.org.uk. There you can check out all our
heritage sites, events and news, as well as the Heritage blog.

SPRING DAY

YORK AND HULL DISTRICT
WOMEN’S NETWORK
SOON TO BE
METHODIST WOMEN in BRITAIN

at
Thornton-le-Dale Methodist
Church
on
Wednesday, April 6th, 2011
Speakers: Rev. Brice and Mrs.
Judith Herbert.
Coffee from 10a.m. for 10.30 start.
Finish at 3p.m. approximately.
Green and Yellow Bring and Buy.
You will be very welcome!

FASHION SHOW
Introducing
CHERRYS COUNTRY CLOTHING
Of North Frodingham
Fashions for Ladies, Gents & Children (Joules – Aigle)

GET AHEAD HATS
Of Snainton
Jewellery – Handbags – Shoes

Friday 15th April – The Old Town Hall Driffield – at 7.00pm
Raffle
Tickets £5.00 – including a glass of wine or fruit juice
Tickets available in February from Joy Ewbank and Gill Hara
Telephone 01377 256450 or 252286
All proceeds to the Driffield Methodist Church Improvement Fund.

A SUMMER OF YORKSHIRE VOICES
PERFORMING AT SEAMER METHODIST CHAPEL
EASTGATE, SEAMER, Nr SCARBOROUGH
SAT 2nd APRIL – DALESMAN SINGERS
SAT 21st MAY – STEPHEN, PAUL & FRIENDS
SAT 18th JUNE – LEALHOLM LADIES CHOIR
SAT 23rd JULY – NEWTON MENS CHOIR
SAT 24th SEPT – DRIFFIELD MALE VOICE CHOIR
All at 7.30pm. Admission £5 which includes a bit of supper.

For more information ring Margaret on 01723 863341 or Ron on
01723 355656

All proceeds to Chapel building fund

A WARM WELCOME TO ALL

March 2011

Welcome to the March 2011 edition of Singing the Faith News
'Pre-publication prices' offer extended
In light of the new publication date for the music edition (changing from June to September this year), I am pleased to confirm that
the „pre-publication prices' offer period has been extended to 31 December 2011. This offer applies to all four editions of the hymn
book ordered direct from Methodist Publishing. (Please note: The decision to extend the offer was made after the sampler
published, so this still shows 30 September as the deadline.)
Singing the Faith Plus
I am delighted to announce that Laurence Wareing has just been appointed as Editor for Singing the Faith Plus – our new online
resource that will launch alongside the printed collection. Laurence will be responsible for coordinating the content of this free
website. Laurence is a freelance writer and editor with a background in management and media production. He brings to this new
role a broad commitment to singing in worship that builds both on his involvement in worship both as an experienced musician
and as a Methodist Local Preacher.
Singing the Faith Plus will play a pivotal role in providing new and additional resources for those using the core, printed collection.
Although access to either the hymn book and/or the website will not be mutually dependent, Singing the Faith Plus will offer a
range of extra resources related to the core hymn collection. For example, it will signpost commended new material, contain
commissioned hymns responding to topical events and showcase new talent.
Until now, the main focus of work on the website has been the development of a search function. This will enable you to search
the contents of the printed collection using different categories eg age range, festivals and seasons and Methodist Church „special
Sundays‟. There will also be separate lectionary and scripture indexes, as well as week-by-week hymn and song suggestions. (If
you do not have easy access to the Internet, the printed music edition will contain a set of indexes.)
Further information on how you can get involved with the website will appear in a later edition of this newsletter.
Sampler events
Since the last edition of this newsletter, the sampler has published and orders subsequently despatched. We have received lots of
complimentary comments and continue to receive many orders. At present, there are over 11,000 copies in circulation!
Do let me know if you are using the sampler at a forthcoming event and you think the event could benefit from a little publicity. We
are going to create an events diary on www.singingthefaith.org.uk and we would be happy to publicise your event here.
Methodist Prayer Handbook - 'hymn of the day'
Some of you may have seen recently a letter in the Methodist Recorder referring to the Methodist Prayer Handbook. It asked
whether the „hymn for the day‟ will still be taken from Hymns & Psalms. The 2011-12 Handbook Run the Race will use references
from Hymns and Psalms, but the 2012-13 and subsequent editions will use Singing the Faith content for the „hymn of the day‟.

And finally...

I have had a sneak preview of what the final version of the music edition will look like. A „printer‟s dummy‟ was presented at a
recent production meeting. It looks wonderful! It is going to be photographed so that you, and the wider Church, can see it too.
We are moving ever closer to finalising the page extent and dimensions of the book. As soon as this has all been confirmed, you
will be the first to know.
Kind regards
Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5JR 020 7486 5501 (Help Desk)
Registered charity no. 1132208

Religious education is under threat in our secondary schools...
And we need your help to protect it!

GCSE Religious Education was excluded from the English Baccalaureate- a crucial new gold standard curriculum introduced
in secondary schools across England.

Despite the subject's popularity, academic rigour and ability to teach young people about other faiths and cultures- it is now
in danger of being marginalised.

To get involved please visit: www.reactcampaign.co.uk

FESTIVAL WORSHIP led by REV PETER KINDLEYSIDES
CELEBRATION WORSHIP with THE FESTIVAL SINGERS led by REV JOHN McCARTHY
MALCOLM HUGHES with some of our TALENTED YOUNGSTERS
CATHERINE SIGN (FLUTE) QUARTET & THE SEVEN SISTERS
FILEY SCHOOL ORCHESTRA, CHOIR & SOLOISTS
THE DOUG STEWART BAND
SCARBOROUGH CONCERT BAND sponsored by Mr. Ray Williams
FILEY HANDBELL RINGERS
MARTIN HEWITT (PIANO) & PHILIP MINDENHALL (VIOLIN)
CHANTICLEER SINGERS
DRIGHLINGTON BRASS BAND at the Bandstand (weather permitting)

Lunchtime Concerts 12.30 – 1.30 pm £3. Evening Concerts 7.30 pm £5.
Season Tickets £25 (Covering all Events during Festival Week) Patrons £30
01723 516568
LIGHT LUNCHES SERVED EACH DAY FROM 11.30 TO 12.30
FRIDAY 27TH MAY
7.30 PM CEILIDH with ‘THE HUNTMAN’S CHORUS’
SATURDAY 28th MAY
7.30 PM HULL MALE VOICE CHOIR (CENTENARY YEAR)
SUNDAY 29th MAY
10.30 AM
2.30 PM ‘SIMPLY BRASS’ sponsored by Filey Lions
6.00 PM
MONDAY 30th MAY
12.30 PM
7.30 PM
TUESDAY 31st MAY
12.30 PM
7.30 PM
WEDNESDAY 1st JUNE
12.30 PM FILEY FISHERMEN’S CHOIR
7.30 PM
THURSDAY 2nd JUNE
12.30 PM
7.30 PM ‘GOSPEL EVENING’ STEVE & JANICE SMITH and GUEST MICHELLE SMITH
FRIDAY 3rd JUNE
12.30 PM ‘WORDS & MUSIC’ GEOFF DRUETT (READINGS), DR. TIM RAYMOND (PIANO) & DAVID OWEN-LEWISS (BASS-
BARITONE)
7.30 PM
SATURDAY 4th JUNE
10 AM TO 12 NOON ‘COFFEE MORNING’ WITH DANCERS
7.30 PM
SUNDAY 5th JUNE
10.30 AM ‘TOP 10 HYMNS 2011’ led by Rev CHRIS KIRKMAN
2.30 PM
7.00 PM ‘LAST NIGHT of the FESTIVAL. (£6 including Flag) with DRIGHLINGTON BRASS BAND
Sponsored by Filey Town Council)
DANCING 4-ALL CLASSES led by Carole Gerada will take place each morning from 10.30 to 11.30 am Monday to Friday.

Fashion Show at Holy Trinity Church, Hull

More Th an Gold

As part of their planning towards the
Olympics in 2012, One Voice York
has invited Jon Burns, UK Director of
„More than Gold‟ to speak on how
churhes can use the Olympics as a
mission opportunity.

You are invited to attend his
presentation on Wednesday 27 April
at St. Columba‟s United Reformed
Church, York at 9.15am. Tickets
must be booked: contact Juliet
Wright on 07811 496602 or
wright.juliet@googlemail.com.

Holy Trinity Church, Hull, will host a
fashion show on 30th April as the
highlight of Hull's Fashion Week,
organised by Hull BID.

The Fashion Week runs from 25-30
April, is intended to promote local
fashion retailers and associated
businesses in the city and to boost
trade for the city‟s leisure sector.

The Revd Neal Barnes, Vicar of Holy
Trinity Church said, “We're
delighted to be hosting the Hull BID
fashion show. A fashion show is
about creativity and colour and
music and I think it's important that
the church celebrates local creativity
and supports the local economy.”

Since the 1996 Atlanta Games,
the
Christian community‟s
involvement
with the world‟s major
sporting
events has been under the
banner of
“More than Gold”, established in the
UK as a charitable trust in 2008 and
supported by all the main
denominations as well as over 60
Christian organisations and mission
agencies.
You can find out more at
www.morethangold.org.uk.

The Ryedale Christian Council are holding a one-day conference at Alban Roe House, Ampleforth Abbey, on 30th April 2011. The day
runs from 9.30am (arrival/coffee) with the conference commencing at 10.15a.m. finishing with a short ecumenical service at 3.45pm
followed by refreshments.
Our morning speaker will be the Rt. Rev & Rt. Hon. Lord John Habgood, former Archbishop of York, member of the Ethics
Committee, writer and well-known speaker on matters of science, ethics and spirituality. In the afternoon, Mrs Pauline Dodsworth will
make a power point presentation. She is a practising Marie Curie nurse and lecturer at the Leeds School of Nursing as well as being
involved with the Universities of East Anglia and Cardiff.
Both speakers will cover a variety of ethical matters, the emphasis of the day being on the sanctity of the whole of life, not just the birth
and death issues that are often brought to our attention. Following the presentations by each speaker, there will be group discussions
and an opportunity for sharing with the whole conference questions that may arise during discussion.
All are welcome to attend. The cost of the day will be £10 per person. Please bring a packed lunch, but all drinks/biscuits are provided.
For further details and booking form please visit www.ryedalechristiancouncil.org.uk and click on Conference 2011 or phone Mike Gray
01751 431338

Yorsay is sent on behalf of the York & Hull Methodist District by the Communications Office
Bob Lawe 27 Ryde Avenue Hull Hu5 1QA 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 © 2011 York & Hull Methodist District – All
rights reserved.
Publication deadline for next month Yorsay is 20th of the Month

Text Version of March Yorsay

2011-02-26T09:28:00.001Z

From the Chair’s Desk
For the second time, I am preparing a talk for a Wesley Guild meeting, having been invited to speak on a literary theme. At the previous meeting I skilfully steered (helmed?) the topic round to boats – including a recent book, Over the Top, about a yachtsman who had completed a circumnavigation taking him North-South round the Earth. I think the members of the Wesley Guild may be expecting “boats and books” again, but actually I have chosen something slightly different this time.
I was once asked what had most influenced me in my younger years. It set me thinking, and somewhat predictably I thought of family and church – I do owe an immense debt of gratitude to my parents, and to those who put up with me in three different churches, in London, Leeds and Bristol. But my carefully considered answer to the question was firmly: Scouting. Wolf Cubs (as they were then known), Scouts, Senior Scouts and then Venture Scouts gave me great opportunities for self-development, and exciting activities – including sailing, which has remained a part of my life ever since. Furthermore, at various times in my adult life, I have helped to run a Venture Scout Unit and a Scout Troop. Scouting has as much to offer young people today as it ever did – similarly with Guiding.
So, back to my literary theme for the Wesley Guild meeting: you may have guessed that one of the books I have chosen to speak about will be Scouting for Boys. Written by Lord Baden-Powell, it was first published just over a century ago, and despite understandably dated language in places I have enjoyed dipping into it again. My listeners will also hear me dip into Scouting Round the World, Lessons from the Varisty of Life, and Rovering to Success – all by Baden-Powell, as well as a book which one of my sisters gave me for Christmas: Playing the Game (A Baden-Powell Compendium for Scouts old and young). We‟ll see what they make of my musings.
Readers of last month‟s YORSAY will know that I am also committed to “dipping into” another world best-seller this year. Alongside many other people, I am reading the whole of the Bible during 2011. Last month it was Genesis, Matthew‟s Gospel and selections of Psalms and Proverbs. Since then we have been through the Book of Job and started Exodus and Mark‟s Gospel – and I have yet to miss a day‟s readings! It is a great read – as many of you know well.
And I mention again the committed work of the District Biblefresh Group, and I encourage you all to find out what is happening, and to get involved. The 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible has had an impact on the media (and for that we are grateful) – may it also have an impact on each of us, and on God‟s Church once more.
Every blessing
Stephen Burgess
District Chair
MARCH 2011
Welcome to the March Edition of Yorsay.
We are approaching the Lent and Easter Period . Don’t for-get if your church is holding Lent Courses and special Easter services or events then let me know so that they can be advertised via the web site.
25 January 2011
January meeting of the Methodist Council
The Methodist Council met at Methodist Church House in London, on 24-25 January.
Council members discussed a report on poverty, hearing that there are an estimated 13.5 million people living in poverty in the UK. They also heard that these levels are likely to increase to 16.8 million by 2014, and that the experience of living in poverty is likely to become worse as public services face increased financial pressure.
The Council expressed concern that the Government’s housing benefit reform should have at its heart the needs of vulnerable families and should seek to provide affordable homes for all regardless of their means. The Council also resolved the Church should work with other partners on this matter, including the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the United Reformed Church, Church Action on Poverty and Housing Justice.
Revd Ken Howcroft, Secretary of the Methodist Council, said “Concern for the poor has always been at the heart of the Gospel message and many in our churches face the challenges of poverty, unemployment, debt and homelessness. If we wish to see less poverty, economic growth just isn’t enough. The story of the last twenty years is that the poor simply didn’t get their fair share.”
The Council also discussed the Church’s commitment to addressing climate change and voted to endorse Climate Week. Climate Week (21-17 March 2011) is a national week of positive action, seeking to offer an annual renewal of our ambition and confidence to combat climate change.
Council members also spent time in groups discussing how the Church might better embrace cultural diversity, fostering understanding and spiritual growth in a society that is becoming increasingly multi-cultural.
Other matters discussed by the Council include Methodist involvement in various types of education, from the provision of schooling to chaplaincy, and how this might develop over the coming years.
ENDS Notes 1. The Methodist Council meets three times annually to undertake ongoing work on behalf of the Methodist Conference, which is the governing body of the Methodist Church. Methodist Conference 2011 will take place in Southport from 30 June to 7 July. 2. For more information about Climate Week, visit www.climateweek.com.
The Methodist Church | Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5JR 020 7486 5501 (Help Desk) www.methodist.org.uk Registered charity no. 1132208
Page 3
Charity showing of Africa United
Sunday March 6th at 1.15pm York City Screen
Did you miss it when it was around or want to see it again? Want to ask the producer some questions?
City Screen are showing Africa United in aid of All Saints Parish church trip to Uganda with Food for the Hungry UK, and the producer Jackie Sheppard will be with in attendance to answer your questions after the showing of the film.
For more details please contact Richard Staples via purplepatch57@gmail.com or purchase tickets directly from the City Screen Box Office.
Walking Land’s End to John O’Groats
John and Nancy Eckersley are looking to raise £10,000 for water supplies and farming improvements in Sierra Leone.
For every £1 raised, the European Commission will match-fund with an extra £3.50 so the target figure will become £45,000 to the people of Sierra Leone.
John and Nancy Eckersley are walking over 1,200 miles for this Christian Aid project in West Africa.
They start their walk on All Fools‟ Day, 1st April 2011.
You can follow their progress on their website http://johneckersley.wordpress.com and you can donate through the „Just Giving‟ link. Alternatively please send cheques made out to Christian Aid to Mrs Jill Johnson,45 Vyner House, Front Street, York YO24 3DW.
Come and Meet….. Jan Sutch Pickard
Does the name ring a bell? If so, perhaps it is because Jan is a past Vice President of the Methodist Conference (1996) and was also editor of the former Methodist Magazine Contact. If you have associations with the Iona Community, you may have heard of her, or met her, in that context. She is a member of the Community and was for 5 years the Warden for the Community’s work at the Abbey and the McLeod centres on Iona. In recent years she has been a member of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Israel/Palestine. And some of her faith, work and experience finds expression in her poetry and storytelling. She is coming for a weekend to Northallerton Methodist Church and you will be very welcome to share in any of the events. If you would like to come, why not put a note in your diary now?
Friday 25th February, 7.30 p.m. – The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine/Israel (EAPPI)
It sounds innocent enough doesn’t it? If you are only vaguely aware of the confrontation between Israel and Palestinian in what we call the Holy Land, come and hear something of the frightening reality. EAPPI members courageously stand at the crossing points between Israel and Palestine as an international presence. This is a place which is anything but holy, where occupation and dispossession of Palestinian homes and lands is a daily fact of life leading to terrible suffering. And the actions of the Israeli Government damage the Israeli nation as well as Palestine, not to mention the effects on relationships with the global Islamic community. Jan will share something of her experience of the EAPPI and the tragic situation in the birthplace of Christ. There will be a retiring collection for EAPPI
Saturday 26th February 7.30 p.m. – Poems, Songs and Stories
And now for something quite different! An evening with Jan when she will tell some stories, share a poem or two ( or three), the Northallerton Choir will lead a “wee sing” of a song or two ( or three) and we will enjoy a light supper together - provided you bring something to share! An evening of faith and fellowship for everyone. £3 to help cover expenses (tickets available). Copies of Jan’s booklets of poems will be available.
Sunday 27th February 10.30 a.m. Morning Worship at Northallerton
To complete her weekend with us Jan will preach at Northallerton, no doubt sharing something of her work for justice and peace as well as her lively and engaging Christian faith.
Throughout the weekend a selection of Hadeel craftwork from Palestine will be on sale.
Jan Such-Pickard living in Palestine
31 January 2011
Egging on Easter with a seasonal gift The Methodist Church is aspiring to spread the hope of Easter in the form of an inspirational booklet telling the Easter story.
The richly illustrated A Gift of Easter is filled with encouraging words from the Bible, as well as prayers and reflections. It also features popular prints from the Methodist Art Collection.
Revd Alison Tomlin, President of the Methodist Conference, said: “Easter is about God's love, it‟s about discovering the cost and rejoicing in the gift. I trust this booklet will help people to do just that.
“The A Gift Of series is simple, attractive and accessible. The pricing means that even small church communities can afford to give them away. I highly recommend A Gift of Easter to everyone.”
The booklet is the third in the A Gift Of series. A pack of 50 booklets costs £5 (including postage and packaging). Copies can be ordered from Methodist Publishing on 01733 235962 and online at www.methodistpublishing.org.uk .
A free PowerPoint version is now available at www.methodist.org.uk/gift and on the Twelve Baskets website at www.twelvebaskets.co.uk/
Church-goers raise money for service after crash rescue
Donation: Members of the Walkington Methodist Church have raised £500 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Front, from left, Hilary Hoggarth, Reverend Liz Allison and Bob Smailes, regional fundraiser for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, at Walkington Methodist Church, Walkington. Picture: Kate Woolhouse
WHEN Adrian Hoggarth and his two young children were trapped after a serious road accident, it was the air ambulance service that came to their aid.
Adrian Hoggarth's car was hit by another car travelling in the opposite direction, which had lost control near High Hunsley.
The collision threw Mr Hoggarth's car into the air and left it resting on its side in a ditch by the B1230.
Now residents in nearby Walkington – from where the family were travelling after visiting relatives – have raised money for Yorkshire Air Ambulance after hearing about the rescue.
Members of Walkington Methodist Church and All Hallows, including Mr Hoggarth's mother, Hilary, raised £500 from Christmas service collections, a church charity fund, as well as asking for donations instead of Christmas cards.
Mrs Hoggarth said: "The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is excellent. They arrived so quickly. Their service is invaluable.
"I would like to thank everyone who donated to the cause."
Mr Hoggarth, 36, was still conscious after the accident, but having suffered a broken back and leg and fractured and dislocated toe, he was trapped inside the car and unable to move.
His children, Layla, 3, and Alex, 1, remained conscious and strapped into their car seats in the back. They were uninjured.
After witnesses called the emergency services, two Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopters, from Leeds Bradford and Sheffield, dispatched and worked to get the family out through the boot.
They were then flown to Hull Royal Infirmary.
The lawyer, formerly from the village but now living in Hertfordshire, is still recovering and can now walk without crutches. He is hoping to return to work in the near future.
Speaking about the crash, which happened in September last year, he said: "We cannot thank the Yorkshire Air Ambulance teams enough.
"The car was on its side and none of us could move.
"The paramedics managed to get us out and fly us to the hospital quickly and comfortably. I can't imagine what we would have done without them."
Bob Smailes, regional fundraiser for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance visited members of the church after a service on Sunday, when he thanked them for their donation.
[Story © Hull Daily Mail February 2011]
Mind the Gap – Africa, Early 2011 Hi Everyone, Thanks so much to all of you who joined in the Christmas Challenge or sent gifts for our work. It has been fabulous and now we can buy chickens, feed and educate the children and a whole load more! Thank you for the incredible support, it is awesome. Home number 3 is due to open later this month and has been given the name ‘Ebenezer’. This name is so significant to us as a ministry as it means ’the Lord has seen us this far’. It’s on this basis of God’s incredible provision this far that we are going ahead with this next home. Thank you again to all of you who stand with us in giving so generously – you are part of God’s plan of provision for our children. We have found a housemother, which is something many of you were praying for. She is a widow in her late 40’s; a lovely lady who we know will show lots of love to the children. We also have 3 other ladies for the team so please do pray for them and the children who will be moving in. There is still no news on Primrose’s hoped trip to America, but Sherrie is working hard to try and get the necessary visas for her and Maggie to go as soon as possible. There is uncertainty as to whether elections are to be held this year which makes things difficult in arranging for visitors to come over as the authorities’ think those from the West are undercover journalists! Please keep praying for little Carol, who at 6 years old suffers with severe eczema which isn’t responding to any medication. Her skin is so affected that her school won’t allow her to attend. Please send me your news and any prayer requests as we want to pray for you as you pray for us. Take care and I hope 2011 is a very special year for you. With love Jenny Jenny Hensman, PO Box FM6, Famona, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Home 002639 242313 mobile 07930 366121 Bank: HSBC Name of account: Mind the Gap-Africa Sort code: 40 02 16 Account No: 11507508
Part of the 2011 Theatre Season The Word is God
Written in 1611, the King James Bible was the work of many hands, and has proved over the last four hundred years the undying power of the written and the spoken word. The Globe Theatre in London celebrates that achievement, and that long oral tradition, by reciting one of the great masterpieces of world literature from Palm Sunday to Easter Monday.
Singing the Faith news
Welcome to the February 2011 edition of Singing the Faith News
We previously announced the forthcoming publication of the music edition as June 2011. However, despite the Music Resources Group and our publishing partner Hymns Ancient & Modern working around the clock, more time is needed to ensure that the book meets the high standards we know you will be anticipating.
There will still be a launch for the collection at the Methodist Conference in July, but the music edition will now publish in September. (This does not affect the words editions which will also publish in September, as originally scheduled.)
We have started the process of informing everyone who needs to know about this change in publication date, including all those who have already ordered the music edition. If this includes you, you should have received a letter by the end of this week.
I hope this change in publication date does not cause too much inconvenience or disappointment for you. We are hugely encouraged by the eager interest for the hymn book that has already been shown by churches and individuals. Methodist Publishing is being kept very busy with enquiries and the Music Resources Group is heartened by the knowledge that the publication they have worked so hard on over the last seven years is almost complete. However, there is still a lot to be done between now and September, so please hold all those working on Singing the Faith in your prayers.
Sampler progress
The sampler is on its way! It is currently at the printers and due to be delivered to Methodist Publishing within the next week and orders despatched as soon as possible thereafter.
Some supporting worship resources are being prepared to accompany the sampler – suggested Bible readings, prayers and a pause for thought – all on the theme of „singing the faith‟. If you would like to prepare a service using the sampler then please do take a look at these resources and feel free to use some or all of them. And let me know how your service goes. You will find the resources http://www.singingthefaith.org.uk/lookinside.htm?dm_i=BVI,CZE8,35DNZB,10XUF,1 by early March.
Withernsea Circuit
Withernsea Methodist Church will be holding a Festival of Crosses on the weekend of 15th – 17th April 2011. We invite you to take part in this by exhibiting a cross.
The crosses can be any size- from small table to floor standing.
To give you a few ideas: - the cross is to represent some aspect of your life.
For example if you are a plumber it may be made of copper; or a cook, maybe one made of cake or bread; or postcards or photos; or a cola can? The possibilities are endless.
Alternatively your cross could represent the organisation with which you are involved.
If you can write a short prayer to go with your cross it would be appreciated too, though not essential.
The crosses will be displayed in the Church, which will be open for public viewing on Friday evening all day Saturday and Sunday afternoon. The admission price is £2.50 for all adults and free for children. Refreshments will be available during these times. Please see later in the letter for detailed arrangements regarding the crosses. We hope you will take this opportunity to join with the Churches, local businesses and organisations of Withernsea to make this an attractive event.
Detailed arrangements for displaying the crosses
Crosses are to be erected on Friday 15th April from 10.00 a.m.
If you wish please provide an A4 folded card on which is printed
1) the name of the organisation
2) your prayer, if you have one
3) the names of the contributors
Crosses are to be no more than 5’ tall
Electrical supplies can be provided if needed (please inform us)
Crosses will be removed by the displayer on Monday 18th April from 9.00 a.m. (alternative arrangements can be made if necessary)
Please return to Linda Beever, 35 Hollym Road, Withernsea, HU19 2PL
By Friday 18th March
Organisation
Contact Name & Telephone Number
Theme (if known)
Size of the cross (if known)
Electrical supply (if needed)

The DISTRICTThe Methodist Church: YORK & HULL DISTRICT
(Rev Isabel Stuart –– GuisboroughGuisborough)
On
Saturday, 19Saturday, 19thth March 2011March 2011
10:00am -10:30am Refreshments
10:30am -12:15pm Namibia Talk
1:15pm -2:15pm Questions & Reports
Venue
NORTHALLERTON CHURCHNORTHALLERTON METHODIST CHURCH
(Please bring a packed lunch)
HOLY ROOD HOUSE
CENTRE FOR HEALTH AND PASTORAL CARE
Thirsk, North Yorkshire
is looking for
NEW COMMUNITY MEMBERS
Are you wondering about the future? Thinking of ordained ministry? Want to take a year out and develop your thinking and
experience of pastoral care and the churches‟ ministry of healing?
We are looking for new members with an inclusive, open Christian commitment and flexible approach and interested in theology
and personal growth who would value the experience of living in community.
Skills may include administration, catering, housekeeping, gardening, arts
complementary therapies, counselling, pastoral care.
We have an excellent national reputation for professional counselling, psychotherapy and art therapies, and a holistic approach
to creative liturgy, spiritual accompaniment and retreat.
Good accommodation, full board and generous allowance. Opportunities to share in the learning programme of The Centre for
the Study of Theology and Health. Please send your CV and something of your spiritual journey to:
Rev Elizabeth Baxter
enquiries@holyroodhouse.org.uk
www.holyroodhouse.org.uk
Pocklington Methodist Church Coffee Morning
Friday 4th March 10am-11.30am
Pocklington Methodist Church, Chapmangate
Coffee, Cake Stall, Gifts, Soft Toys, Greetings Cards and more.
This is to raise funds for research into Progressive Supranuclear Palsy www.pspeur.org
Welsh Hymn Singing Festival
(Cymanfa Ganu, Yorkshire and the North East)
BLACKLEY BAPTIST CHURCH
PROSPECT VIEW, BLACKLEY
ELLAND
WEST YORKSHIRE HX5 0TD
Saturday 7th May 2011
at 2.00–3.30. and 4.45-6.30 p.m.
Conductor:
Revd. Philip Barnett
Organist:
Mr. Carey Williams
(Tea & coffee between services)
All Welcome
Further information:
Ring 01535 665829 or 0113 2694268
Stand-up comedy at Aroma Coffee Shop
Fancy a good laugh? Then don't miss an evening with stand-up comedian Andy Kind at Aroma Coffee Shop, The Village, Haxby on Tuesday 3rd March.
Andy Kind has been part of the comedy circuit since January 2005. In that time he has performed all over the country, winning awards and acclaim as he goes. Since winning „Anything for Laffs‟, he has gone on to be recognised as one of the warmest and most engaging comperes in British comedy. His love of life underpins all his comedy and he brings a joyous energy and enthusiasm to any stage – taking pleasure in everything and everyone! Described by the BBC as 'a star' and The Scotsman as 'terrific', Andy is sure to delight!
Tickets are £7 (and include tea/coffee and cake.) and are available from the shop or on 761141.
Doors open at 7.45 p.m.
BOWL OVER POVERTY
HOLD A SUPER SOUP LUNCH
Friday 25 March 2011
Register NOW to make your bowl count and receive your free fundraising pack.
To register, visit www.christianaid.org.uk/super-soup-lunch
or text "soup" to 88802*
*All texts are charged at standard network rates
Page 13
Taste & See
Saturday 19th March 9am - 4.15pm York St John University
Hosted by CoRE, the Diocese of York and York St John University Chaplaincy Team you are invited to engage with God through reflection on personal expressions of faith. Interactive workshops from Christians of different denominations will allow participants to discover and reflect on new ways of relating to God and to like-minded people.
Participants have the choice to join in three workshops from a choice of twenty three. Full details of the workshops can be downloaded FROM http://coreyork.org/wp-content/Workshops%20Jan%202011.pdf
The programme for the day is as follows:
09:00 – 10:00 Registration and coffee 10:00 – 10:30 Welcome and Opening Act of Worship by Margaret Sentamu 10:30 – 11:40 Workshop One 11:40 – 13:00 Workshop Two 13:00 – 14:00 Lunch with the opportunity to learn more about different ways of prayer and spiritual traditions at the Marketplace 14:00 – 15:20 Workshop Three 15:20 – 16:15 Rev Phillip Roderick for the Closing Act of Worship to be in the Contemplative Fire style of Worship
Tickets cost just £12 per person. Groups of 10 people cost £100, 20 people cost £150.
http://coreyork.org/Booking%20form.pdf to download a booking form for the event or call 01904 619489 or email info@coreyork.org
An invitation to join Taste & See - a day of bite sized prayer and spirituality on Saturday 19th March
SPONSORED EVENTS
A £60,000 climb in 2011
Keen walker Graham Hart is embarking on a special challenge to mark his 60th birthday. From March 2011 to October 2011, he will be climbing over 200 hills and mountains in the Lake District following the routes of writer Alfred Wainwright. Graham, a member of Bramford Road Methodist Church in Ipswich, hopes his challenge will raise over £60,000 for MRDF‟s work with some of the poorest communities around the world.
a fundraising challenge in 2011
in aid of:
Methodist Relief & Development Fund
help me raise £60,000 at 60
I start in April 2011 and need your support
Please visit my sponsorship pages http://www.mountains4money.co.uk/Sponsorship.htm
and sponsor a summit now
Calling the community of York - The Journey to York Mystery Plays, 2012
The Journey to York Mystery Plays 2012 will be an exciting one and to make sure as many people as possible from the local community are given the opportunity to be involved in all kinds of ways, a number of projects and events are being planned along the way.
So how can you get involved?
Two Planks and a Passion 1st – 16th July, 2011
Have you an interest in music, singing, acting, photography, costume making, set building, lighting or makeup?
Anthony Minghella‟s story Two Planks and a Passion tells the hilarious story of what happened in 1392 when King Richard II visited York to see the Mystery Plays. This touching comedy gives great insight into where the strong community feeling around York‟s Mystery Plays comes from. These traditions will be continued when a community cast and production join together with York Theatre Royal and Riding Lights Theatre Company to produce this hilarious production.
York Stories
Do you have a story about York? Have you worked, grown up or had a great day or night out in the city?
York Stories will get people talking, and listening to one another. Telling the stories of individuals, the strengths of businesses and the enjoyment gained through our social clubs it will allow people to listen to one another‟s stories and provide extra excitement for visitors to York.
York Stories will be launched on the 9th/10th and 16th/17th July around the city as part of the wider festival, York 800 which will celebrate in 2012, the 800 year anniversary of York gaining its City Charter.
York Mystery Plays 2012
Community Launch Nights will be held throughout the city in July allowing people to meet the team behind York Mystery Plays, explain the visions for the production and excite members of the public to get involved in the Mystery Plays.
To find out more information about York Mystery Plays and how you can get involved click here. To register your interest in please e-mail mysteryplays2012@yorktheatreroyal.co.uk or write to Community Producer Liam Evans–Ford at York Theatre Royal, St. Leonard's Place, York, YO1 7HD. An application form can be downloaded from http://core.createsend4.com/t/y/l/aulddt/olyjlydji/p
Yorsay is sent on behalf of the York & Hull Methodist District by the Communications Office
Bob Lawe 27 Ryde Avenue Hull Hu5 1QA 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 © 2011 York & Hull Methodist District – All rights reserved.
Publication deadline for next month Yorsay is 20th of the Month

February 2011 Yorsay Text Version

2011-01-26T07:37:00.001Z

Welcome to the February
Edition of Yorsay. A very full
one for this month which is
encouraging.

FEBRUARY 2011

YORSAY February 2011
From the Chair’s Desk
As I write, we are three weeks into this extraordinary year of
celebration – the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible. There is
much happening and planned to happen. Watch out for the
opportunity to take part in writing out the whole Bible – well, part of it
which has been allocated to the York & Hull District. Our passages
are from the Psalms, Isaiah and the letters to the Thessalonians and
Timothy. Also watch out for other opportunities to engage with
Scripture in new ways and to deepen your understanding. The District
Biblefresh Group is reporting separately and they deserve our thanks
and support.
Along with others who attended the Methodist Conference in
Portsmouth last year, I received a copy of The Bible in a year, which
is the New International Version set out for reading every day. I know
that I am committed alongside many others in the discipline of reading
the set passages, and continuing until the end of December. As of
21st January, when I am writing this, I am up to date! Well,
occasionally it has been past midnight but I‟m sure that still counts.
During January we have been challenged by a continuous reading of
Matthew‟s Gospel (fairly well known, but worth returning to again and
again), some Psalms and verses from Proverbs. But the real
challenge has been reading through the Book of Genesis So many
passages are well known, of course, but reading of multiple wives and
what we would now regard as unacceptable treatment of daughters,
etc. – well, it has certainly got me thinking and reflecting on the whole
history of God‟s relationship with us as human beings.
I intend to remain committed to my reading of the Bible during 2011,
whether I am sailing or on a bus, and if it provokes discussion to my
fellow travellers then so much the better.
Please give yourself time to take advantage of the opportunities this
year offers – personally or in groups or local churches. And, of
course, we must not make this just one year of celebration, but
ensure that what we learn from our engagement with God‟s Word
stimulates us way into the future.
I hope it changes you and challenges you to deeper discipleship, in
Jesus‟s name.
Every blessing
Stephen Burgess
District Chair

P a g e 2

Shops in churches could serve rural communities

NEW guidance for churches interested in hosting com-munity shops on their prem-ises has been published by a partnership of bodies that in-
cludes the Methodist Church.
The resource, "Guidelines and Best Practice for the Pro-vision of Community Shops in Churches and Chapels" builds on the knowledge and
experience gained by pio-neering examples of stores located in churches.
It has been produced by the Church of England's Cathedral and Church Build-ings Division (CCB) and the national rural officers for the Church
of England, the Methodist Church and the Uni-ted Reformed Church, who are based at the Arthur Rank Centre in Stoneleigh Park,
Warwickshire.
The denominations pro-duced the guidelines work-ing in partnership with the Plunkett Foundation, a char-ity that helps rural commu-
nities "take control of the is-sues affecting them" by means of community-ownership.
There are currently more than 250 community shops in England, Scotland and Wales, while 20 or more open for business each year. Some
of these commercial ven-tures, which include post offices, are finding premises within churches and chapels where facilities allow.
Isolated
Those behind the new guidelines believe that host-ing shops in church build-ings provides "a very impor-tant community service,
particularly for small or iso-lated rural communities'! As well as providing the venue, churches can also serve their neighbourhoods by provid-ing
volunteer support, they have said.
One example of such a church is St John's the Evangelist, at Moggenhanger in Bedfordshire, which opened a shop in its vestry in 2000,
part funded by a Millennium Award. The store is run en-tirely by volunteers on behalf of the village and is de-scribed as providing "a real
service in a village where there are no other amenities" The guidelines are avail-able from the ChurchCare website (www.churchcare.
co.uk/develop.php?FF) and the Arthur Rank Centre web-site (www.arthurrankcentre. org.uk). Further information c a n b e o b t a i n e d fr om
ChurchCare (tel: 020 7898 1886).
Methodist Historic Archive Catalogue now online

A detailed catalogue of the historic manuscript and archive collections of the Methodist Church of Great Britain
has been made available online by the John Rylands University Library (JRUL), The University of Manchester.
The catalogue contains details of over a thousand individual collections documenting the growth and development
of Methodism, one of the world's largest Protestant denominations, and includes material from the 17th century to
the present. The archive includes papers of the Methodist founder John Wesley (1703-91) and his brother the
hymn writer Charles Wesley (1707-88). The catalogue, which is searchable by name, place and subject, covers
the majority of archives and manuscripts in the collection and will be regularly updated with new additions.
Enquiries relating to the catalogue should be sent to Dr Gareth Lloyd, Assistant
Archivist, gareth.lloyd@manchester.ac.uk

http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/specialcollections/collections/methodist/?dm_i=BVI,C8PI,35DNZH,YOW0,1
Goole church trials homeless support scheme

THE appearance of some homeless people at a contemporary worship service at Trinity church in Goole, East Yorkshire,
has led to the founding of a new social care project, Mission Trinity.
It began on an experimental basis and on the first night three homeless men came to the drop-in and shared
food, warmth and fellowship in a safe environment. People from a large surrounding area and all walks of life
offered help and food. Other people arrived at the church at the mid-week coffee morning and left boxes of food.

Mission
More people arrived on mission night with more food and clothes. Local churches of all denominations sent food
and clothes and monetary donations. The last night of the trial pe-riod was on Christmas Eve and while a big carol
service was going on in the main church, the drop-in fed people and supplied Christmas boxes of hats, gloves,
toiletries and food.
When gifts have exceeded local requirements, food and clothing have been passed on to the local Salvation
Army, YMCA and two other local charities that provide assistance to people in need of help.

Inderjit Bhogal to become new leader of Corrymeela Community
by Brian Hutt Posted: Monday, January 10, 2011, 14:02 (GMT)

The Rev Dr Inderjit Bhogal (fourth from the right) with youths in Northern Ireland

The Rev Dr Inderjit Bhogal has been appointed the next leader of the Corrymeela Community in Northern Ireland.
He succeeds Dr David Stevens, who died last May, as leader of the internationally renowned community founded in 1965 to
foster dialogue and reconciliation.
The Nairobi-born Dr Bhogal is former President of the British Methodist Conference. For the last five years, he has been Chief
Executive of the Yorkshire and Humber Faiths Forum, and United Faiths, its interfaith youth council.
Dr Bhogal is also the Chair and founder of the much acclaimed City of Sanctuary, a national movement that was started in
Sheffield to build a culture of welcome and hospitality for people seeking sanctuary in the UK.
Looking to the future, Dr Bhogal said the Corrymeela Community would work together to address economic, ecumenical and
ecological issues, as well as political and religious extremism, sectarianism and racism.
"We will work with each other and with our partners to play our part to end hatred and hostility and to build harmonious and
hospitable communities that celebrate diversity and in which all are welcome, belong equally, have sanctuary and are safe," he
said.
"The Northern Ireland context has changed significantly. Diversity is much more complex now. Future peace in Northern Ireland
will grow from the ability of people from many different traditions to accommodate their differences and build on their
similarities. I am looking forward to life and ministry in Northern Ireland and being part of the future of Corrymeela.”
He also paid tribute to his predecessor, saying Dr Stevens had left a “great legacy”.
The Rev Dr Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the Methodist Church, said: “I‟m sure that the community in Corrymeela will
enjoy getting to know Inderjit who is a loved and respected Methodist minister. His commitment to racial justice, interfaith
relationships and „cities of sanctuary‟ across the country has been exceptional.
“As a former President of the Methodist Conference, and as a leader for many other groups, organisations and bodies, Inderjit
will bring a wealth of experience to his new role.
“I know that the Methodist people will support him, and the significant ministry of the Corrymeela community, in their prayers.”
Kate Pettis MBE, Interim Leader of the Corrymeela Community said: "Inderjit brings to us gifts in abundance.
“His life's work, informed by his Christian principles, has been centred on peace building, and is evidenced in his commitment to
the building of Inter-faith relationships and to working for the achievement of racial justice.
“We believe our vision for the future which inspired the creation of Corrymeela is safe in his hands and we look forward to his
leadership."
The Corrymeela Community was founded prior to the Troubles in 1965 by Rev Dr Ray Davey. He was inspired by his
experiences on the frontline in World War Two, where he learned the importance of accommodating differences.
His vision for Corrymeela was of a place where the process of healing and living together could begin. Today the community
continues to create safe spaces where people can engage in dialogue, learn from one another and build new relationships with
others.

Come and sing songs from around the world!

Iona Big Sing,
Tower Hill Church hall, Hessle

Sat Feb 5th;

2.30pm All age percussion and singing workshop
4pm Afternoon tea - bring and share sandwiches and cake
5.15- 7pm Big Sing - all ages welcome, (a film and crafts available in another room for children if they don't want to join in.)

Suggested donation £3 an adult.
Parents remain responsible for their own children at all times.

You are welcome to some or all of the day!
The songs we learn will be used in worship at Tower Hill on Sunday 6th.

Spurriergate Day Apart
Thursday 10th February 10am-4pm
Melbourne Terrace Methodist Church, Cemetery Road, York
Abraham a man of faith.
How much can be learnt from this great man!
Join with others in a time of quiet reflection. Everyone welcome. All you need to take is a packed lunch, Bible, note book, pen and
a willingness to be open and honest.
For more information contact Sister Pauline Wheeler on (01904) 422143 or email sisterpaulineyork@btinternet.com or Joan
Sargent on (01904) 629393 or email
joan@thespurriergatecentre.com

2011 sees the bicentenary of Saville Street Methodist Church in Malton and we have arranged a series of events
and special services throughout the year, which could be included in the district calendar:
Feb 6th 10-45am An ecumenical service arranged by Churches Together in Southern Ryedale to mark the Week of
Prayer for Christian Unity. The preacher is to be the Bishop of Selby, Right Rev Martin Wallace. This service is
usually supported by all the denominations in the CTSR area.

Digital Switchover comes to the Yorkshire TV region, which includes most of Yorkshire
and Lincolnshire, parts of North Nottinghamshire and North and East Derbyshire, in
August and September of 2011. Digital UK is the organisation set up by the public
service broadcasters to provide information and advice to viewers. The Switchover Help
Scheme provides practical help for older viewers and those who need extra help and
support. They are seeking assistance from clergy and congregations to help spread the
word, providing information about where to get more help and reassurance about what to
do when the switchover comes. John Askew, Digital UK‟s Regional Manager in Yorkshire
and Lincolnshire says: “The involvement of local communities is the key to making sure
we can provide information and advice to everyone who needs it. We know that older
viewers in particular may have questions and need more advice and help. Clergy and
church congregations can help us to reach out into the community, reassuring local
residents and signposting them to us for more help and advice. If your congregation
would like to get more information about the switchover, Digital UK can provide
information packs and more advice about answering technical questions or accessing the
Switchover Help Scheme. To get an advice pack, please e-mail
yorkshire@digitaluk.co.uk , write to Digital UK, 5 Carrwood Park, Selby Road, Leeds
LS15 4LG or call 0113 287 8471

Ebor Lectures 2010-11. The theme of this year‟s lectures is „Politics of Fear, Politics of Hope? – Terrorism in the 21st Century.
Acts of terrorism and the perceived threat of terrorism are changing our world. Some argue our freedoms are being eroded and
our liberty curtailed through the deliberate building up of a climate of fear. Where is hope in all this? This series of Ebor
Lectures will explore these issues of freedom and security, the politics of fear and the politics of hope. The third lecture is on
Wednesday 9th February. Professor the Baroness Haleh Afshar OBE „The Politics of Fear: What does it mean to those who are
otherised and feared?‟ at York St John University. Other lectures follow on 23rd March, 6th April and 25th May. Admission is free
but by ticket only. To book a ticket please visit the website: www.yorksj.ac.uk/eborlectures or write to Ebor Lecture, Facility of
Education and Theology, Yorkshire St John University, Lord Mayor‟s Walk. For further information contact the Ebor Lectures Co
-ordiator on 01904 876474 or email eborlectures@yorksj.ac.uk

Malton Circuit

Afternoon Around The Word (Bible Study) will be held at Bethel Methodist Church, Norton on Saturday 26th February
from 3pm - 6pm. The afternoon will be led by Mr David Marwood. Afternoon tea provided. All welcome.

Churches Together in
Britain and Ireland

News Release

CTBI's social network means
we are More Together, Less Apart

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) has today launched a new social networking site called CT Connect. Launched to
coincide with the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, it will offer a free website to local Churches Together groups with direct links to
CTBI‟s online resources.
CTBI General Secretary Revd Bob Fyffe said “This is about resourcing and developing a new space to work on our agenda for unity.
It‟s about building an on-line community. Significantly, it will allow Christians at a local level to engage directly with each other and
with the many organisations in the ecumenical family. It will also be an interactive space that will resource and strengthen the work
of local Churches Together groups. It‟s a good example of our being „More Together, Less Apart.‟”

CT Connect will also offer a quality space for Christians to seek and share information and best practice. It will facilitate groups
sharing resources for worship and spirituality, publicising events, and most importantly to engaging, interacting and discussing
current issues locally, nationally and internationally.

1. CT Connect can be found at www.churchestogetherconnect.org.

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Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5JR 020 7486 5501 (Help Desk) www.methodist.org.uk
Registered charity no. 1132208

A CHRISTMAS NEGA-TIVITY
For the first time in over 45 married years, my wife and I went away for the Christmas weekend, staying in a hotel close
to the centre of ******* as our daughter‟s home has no space for visiting ancients. Nor did we want to interrupt the
claims her in-laws had on her Christmas Day. It was a very happy time together, both sets of ancients get on well
together, family contacts were intact. The only black spot in the weekend was our visit to the Methodist church for
Christmas Eve midnight communion, to which we invited our daughter and her mother-in-law, not normally church
attendees but well-trained. The church‟s website suggested such promise....
The actual experience appalled us. A beautifully modernised church interior within a listed building, welcoming
stewards, all very inviting. Then the organist began....one should always practise before rather than during and
recognise the sequence of the notes! And there‟s no shortage of apt seasonal music. Our group of four visitors lifted the
congregation to 12, including organist and presbyter. The long service, ... five hymns, long children‟s story (none
present), use of the Worship Book but without page references for the times when responses were required. The
presbyter didn‟t connect with us and despite her clear personal spiritual certainties, the passion and integrity didn‟t
communicate to us. The communion was almost soulless.... the music a hindrance most of the time.
How often do visitors find that they are not refreshed or satisfied by what we offer? How often do we send
them – and perhaps our loyalist members – away empty? And not willing to return?

[Item from Lincoln & Grimsby District Newsletter ]

MILEAGE
25
28
12
24
31
43
44
37
53
21
16
69
34
40
50
51
44
49
58
68
58
TIME [APPROX]
46 MINS
36 MINS
25 MINS
37 MINS
51 MINS
1HR 12 MINS
1HR 06 MINS
1HR 02 MINS
1HR 24 MINS
36 MINS
28 MINS
1HR 43 MINS
40 MINS
59 MINS
1HR 18 MINS
1HR 28 MINS
1HR 13 MINS
1HR 12 MINS
1HR 04 MINS
1HR 16 MINS
1HR 05 MINS
P a g e 7

aSPRING SYNOD 7TH MAY 2011
AT
GOOLE HIGH SCHOOL

Centenary Road
Goole
East Yorkshire DN14 6AN
MILEAGE TO SYNOD [APPROX MILEAGE AND TIME BY QUICKEST RECOMMENDED ROUTE]

FROM

YORK
HULL
SELBY
BEVERLEY
DRIFFIELD
BRIDLINGTON
WITHERNSEA
HORNSEA
FILEY
POCKLINGTON
MKT WEIGHTON
WHITBY
TADCASTER
MALTON
HELMSLEY
SCARBOROUGH
SHERBURN
PICKERING
THIRSK
NORTHALLERTON
RIPON

Map available via Synod Page of District web site http://www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/index.php?cid=70&pid=23

In response to this exciting initiative, the District have set up a Biblefresh task group to help
us to celebrate the 400 anniversary of the King James Bible. The members are:
Rev Sue Pegg [Market Weighton] Rev Mary Jackman [Scarborough] Rev Barrie Morley
[Malton] Peter Hallsworth [Pickering]
Tricia Mitchell [District Development Enabler] Heather Shipman [Synod Secretary] Ivan Pegg
[York]
Please contact any one of this group to get more information, help or support.
There are lots of resources available on line and the best places to start are www.biblefresh.com and www.deepeningdiscipleship.org.uk
Bible champions
We want every church to appoint a Bible champion. Someone of any age, who will keep the aims of Biblefresh to the fore and make sure
that at meetings Biblefresh is always on the agenda.
The 4 pledges of Biblefresh are:
READ the Bible Be TRAINED in handling the Bible well Give to TRANSLATE the Bible in Burkina Faso Provide
opportunities to EXPERIENCE the Bible in new and creative ways
We have a small budget to HELP you in your activities, so please let us know what is being planned, or call us for ideas and
resources. Do visit the websites and sign up to the initiative. Look out for us at Synod!

Malton Methodist Circuit

Warmly invite you to a teaching course about Christian Healing.

A DVD based course with teaching by Rev John Ryeland of the Christian Healing Mission,
London
The course will be led by Rev Geoff Floyd at Bethel Methodist Church, Norton

On Tuesday evenings in February (1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd) at 7.30pm
Main topics covered in the four weeks:

•Being open to the love of God

•Experiencing Jesus

•Faith and Power in Prayer

•Creating a Ministry Time

•Inner Healing

•Barriers to Healing

There will be opportunity for discussion, questions and prayer
Refreshments will be served.
For Further information, please contact Rev Geoff Floyd
01653 692173

Christian Healing Mission website:
www.healingmission.org

Who Counts? – Poverty and Homelessness Action Week
2011

As the 2011 census takes places the action week asks who counts in society? And who does the
counting? And again who counts in God's eyes?

The week runs from run from 29 January to 6 February.

For more information and to download resources http://www.actionweek.org.uk/html/home.html
.

Connecting Disciples Conference – 14–17 February 2011

The conference features workshops alongside speakers including Alison Tomlin, the president of the
Conference; Eunice Attwood, the vice-president; Martyn Akins, the general secretary of the Methodist
Church.

Held at High Leigh Conference Centre, Hoddesdon it is open to lay employees, children and youth workers. You can book online on
the Methodist Church website.

Regional Vocations Days

Birdwell Methodist Church, Barnsley
Saturday_5th_February_2011
Haxby Methodist Church, York
Saturday_19th_March_2011
10.00am to 4.00pm

Booking_arrangements_
Please_return_the_booking_form__vailable_via_the_District_Web_site__htp_//www_yorkhullmethodist_org_uk/
index_php?cid=43&pid=26
to_Sean__dair__at_7_Haigh_Moor_Way_
Swallownest__Sheield__S26_4SW_
or_by_email__revsean@binternet_com
by_Tuesday 1st February (for the Birdwell Regional Vocaions Day)_
&_by Tuesday 15th March (for the Haxby Regional Vocaions Day)
Conirmaion of booking will be sent along with details of programme and venue.

Charity „Antiques Roadshow‟

At the Raven Hall Hotel, Ravenscar
in the George III Suite

Monday, 21st February, 2011
(half-term week)
1.00-4.00pm

Local Auctioneer, David Duggleby
will be on hand to value your items

There will be a charge of £3.00 per item valued

All proceeds to
St. Hilda’s Church Roof Appeal

Afternoon Teas can be purchased in the hotel.

Please support the event and enjoy a pleasant afternoon in beautiful surroundings.

Saville Street Methodist Church

A trip is being organised to Epworth Old Rectory, home of the
Wesley Family and now a museum and garden.

On Saturday 14th May 2011

Travel by Perry‟s coach, leaving Malton at 9am,
returning approx 6pm
Cost £25 (£21 for under16s) to include coach travel,
guided „walk with Wesley‟ tour around the village,
3 course lunch, tea and biscuits before leaving.
Would you like to join us?

Please complete the strip below to register
your interest and return to Rev Geoff Floyd
asap. (7 Pinfold Garth, Malton)
A small deposit will be required in early
spring.

Yes, we are interested in the Epworth Old Rectory Trip.

Name ………………………………………………………………………………………………

Address ………………………………………………………………………………………………
Telephone Number …………………………………………

Number of adults ………… Number of under 16s ………..

Event Booking:
Please book me ___ adult tickets at £5 each for the daytime Big Response event
Please book me ___ concessionary tickets at £3 each for the daytime event
Please book me ___ adult tickets at £3 each for the evening event
Please book me ___ concessionary tickets at £2 each for the evening event
For bookings before 15th January 2011
Please book me ___ joint day and evening tickets at £7 each
Please book me ___ concessionary joint tickets at £4 each
Car Parking Spaces:
I would like a parking pass for Calderdale College (first come first served)
________________________________________________________
___ Tuna Mayo
___Egg Mayo ___ Ham
___ Selection of Cakes
___Turkey
___
___

BIG RESPONSE Halifax Wednesday 23rd February 2011
Booking form and Information
Programme for the day:
The Big Seminar: A day seminar for local / regional church / Christian agency leaders exploring the new opportunities and challenges
presented by the Coalition Government’s policies for community building and social cohesion.
An approximate timetable:
10.30 – Arrivals & Coffee – resources available to purchase
11.00 - Session One: Finding Focus (A Christ-centred vision of safe and sustainable communities)
11.45 - Questions & Answers
12.30 - Lunch
1.15 - Session Two: Eyes Wide Open (Turning vision into reality)
2.00 - Questions & Answers
2.45 - Refreshments
3.00 - Session Three: Clear Sighted (Working in partnership with government)
3.30 - Questions & Answers
4.00 - Group Prayer
4.15 - Close
The Big Event: An evening of inspiration and information designed to help equip the church for the opportunity and challenge ahead. Outline
timetable:
7.30 – Welcome and Songs:
8.00 - Talk: The Big Invitation - Steve Chalke
8.35 - Q+A: Steve Chalke and others
9.10 - The Upside-down Society - Steve Chalke
9.15 - Closing song.
Parking:
Parking is limited during the day around The King’s Centre. Park Road is limited to 2 hours so please do not park there. Hopwood Lane (from
Park Road to Francis Street) is free with no time limit and as it is school / college holiday should have plenty of spaces available. There is
unlimited free parking on Westfield Street (off Swires Road on the opposite side of the A58) and a Pay and Display (at 40p per hour) off King
Cross Street coming away from Halifax town centre. We also have 20 spaces in Calderdale College car park – these will be allocated on a first
come basis and a voucher will need to be displayed – please indicate if you would like one on the booking form. The postcode for The King’s
Centre is HX1 2TS – if you www.google.co.uk (Maps) and enter the postcode you will be able to see where the parking is located.
Halifax train station is a 20 minute walk and several bus services (577, 578, 579, 575, 560, 561, 562, 566, 567, 528, 590, 591, 592, 593) from
the bus station or George Street go to the stop opposite The King’s Centre (it is the People’s Park stop after the Playhouse)
There are no time limits and ample parking in the evening.
Food:
The King’s Coffee Shop will be open from 9am – 3pm. A breakfast menu will be available to purchase early on with pre-book £3
packed lunch available (see booking form). There will be space upstairs in The King’s Centre for people wishing to eat their own
lunch. Tea and coffee will be available at the breaks and lunch for a donation with the Coffee Shop serving cappuccinos, hot
chocolate, cold drinks, etc.
For those wishing to stay in Halifax between the two sessions the King’s Coffee Shop will be serving a £5 two course meal (please
book on the booking form) there is a wide range of restaurants in the town centre.
Organised by:
The day is organised locally by Street Angels, Churches Together in Halifax and The King’s Centre in partnership with Faithworks and Premier
Radio. www.thebigresponse.org
Booking Form:
Name: ________________________________________________________
Address / E-Mail: ________________________________________________________
Church / Organisation:

____
Lunch (served at 12.15pm):
I would like to book ___ packed lunch deals at £3 each (sandwich, crisps, cake, juice drink)
Please select choice of sandwiches
Cheese
Dinner (served between 4.30pm and 5.30pm):
I would like to book ___ evening dinner meal deal at £5 each (main course and dessert)
Please select choice of meal
Cottage Pie ___ Giant Yorkshire Pudding with Beef ___ Mushroom Pasta Bake___
Apple Crumble and Custard

Send to “Big Response, Street Angels, Fairtrade Café, Crossley Street, Halifax, HX1 1UG” – please make cheques payable “Street
Angels” (please include food money as well). For information contact Paul – paul@streetangels.org.uk / 07725 501465.

Resources for The King's Speech for use in Churches

Hotly tipped as one of the films of the year, The King's Speech (Momentum, certificate 12A, in UK
cinemas now) follows King George VI (Colin Firth) as he reluctantly grows into his role as war-time
monarch and finds the voice he needs to lead his people.
To help you make the most of this inspiring film, we are producing free resources addressing some
of the film's moral, spiritual and philosophical themes - see below for details.
The following resources are available free at www.damaris.org/kingsspeech now:

Pollard on Film
A downloadable video episode of our popular series. Nick Pollard addresses the importance of
relationships. Bertie's relationships with his wife, Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter) and his
idiosyncratic speech therapist Lionel Logue (Jeffrey Rush), are paralleled in the biblical stories of Moses
and Gideon.

Movie Moments
A downloadable video episode of our popular series. Carol Pollardexplores how growth of character is
linked to the concept of hope, with reference to Bertie's journey in The King's Speech, drawing a
parallel with the Bible's teaching in Romans 5:3-4.

Tools for Talks
Downloadable clips from the film, complete with suggestions for how to use them or sermons and
suggestions of relevant Bible passages. Available from www.toolsfortalks.com.

Culturewatch Article and Discussion Guide
A Culturewatch discussion guide, ideal for individual or group use, and an article exploring the personal
struggle and sacrifice required for Bertie to become King George VI.
View and download all these resources at www.damaris.org/kingsspeech

Yorsay is sent on behalf of the York & Hull Methodist District by the Communications Office
Bob Lawe 27 Ryde Avenue Hull Hu5 1QA 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 © 2011 York & Hull Methodist District – All
rights reserved.
Publication deadline for next month Yorsay is 20th of the Month

HTML Version of January 2011 Yorsay

2010-12-21T20:33:00.004Z

Full Version available from the York & Hull Methodist Web Site January 2011 Yorsay

JANUARY 2011
From the Chair’s Desk – back from South Africa
Welcome to the January 2011
Edition of Yorsay.
Readers of my letter in December‟s YORSAY will have heard of the first part of my visit to
South Africa in November. The York & Hull District is in partnership with the Cape of Good
Hope District, and I was there as part our joint commitment to developing that relationship.
Although much of my time was spent with ministers, visiting circuits and seeing local churches
and projects, there were also opportunities for some sightseeing.
May I wish all our readers a
very happy and peaceful New
Year.
The Bishops of the Methodist Church in Southern Africa were present in Cape Town for their
meeting, and I was invited to accompany their wives on a sightseeing trip into town. We started
with a brief bit of retail therapy at the Waterfront and lunch at the Cape Town Fish Market. We
were then due for a boat trip out to Robben Island, but unfortunately high winds meant that all
trips were cancelled. My fellow sightseers voted instead for a visit to the Canal Walk Shopping
Mall, where we had a mere 2½ hours of shopping – not what I would have exactly chosen, but
an experience nevertheless. We were a few kilometres away from some of the poorest
housing I had ever seen, yet surrounded by all the trappings of wealthy consumerism, which
jarred a bit. Anyway, an hour or so in a bookshop, an ice-cream and some time sitting and
listening to jazz pianist, whilst chatting to young family, whiled away the time.
The weather was inclement, to say the least, and umbrellas were the order of the day. It meant
that a celebration meal for the Bishop-designate, the Revd Michel Hansrod, was moved
indoors that evening. It was a wonderful circuit event, and an opportunity for everyone to wish
him well in his new appointment even though he was not leaving the District, of course.
Michel‟s induction service on the Sunday morning was memorable. It lasted a mere 2½ hours
or so, but passed more quickly for me than the previous days shopping. We sang hymns and
songs which I knew, which was just as well as some were in Xhosa – including the Te Deum
which was entered into with much gusto. The Presiding Bishop preached, and many other
people (including the Chair of York & Hull!) had their opportunity to bring greetings. I have to
admit that the occasion felt more like an ordination service at times, and perhaps that says
something about how the notion of Bishops in the Church there has developed. Towards the
end of the service there were gifts presented to several of us. I received a lovely watercolour of
Table Mountain, which now graces the dining room in our manse.
Table Mountain was on the itinerary for the following day, and the weather was kind to us. The
cable car trip is pretty spectacular, and the view quite stunning – and I have my watercolour to
remind me of it. Michel Hansrod then took me on a relaxed drive round the peninsular, and we
had a good chance to chat informally together. He will bring much to his new ministry, and I
think we will have good colleagueship – personally and between the Districts.
My last day in South Africa was back to “work” – a visit to two Children‟s Homes. In one of
them, Marsh Memorial Home, there is space for a very fine District Office. Over lunch with the
Cape of Good Hope District Executive, we chatted about our own contexts for mission. Some
things are so similar, while others are so different – that is why our partnership can be so
rewarding. One question put to me has stuck in my mind: “How do we make our voice heard
as Methodist people?”. The background to the question was that it was felt that during the
apartheid era, Methodists knew what they had to say against it, alongside Christians and other
people of good will. But now, some feel that the Church has lost its voice. I responded by
suggesting that we were not in a dissimilar situation, and that we do find it hard to gain a public
hearing.
[Cont Page 2]

However, I went on to mention those ways in which the Christian voice has been heard in our society. For example, the way in
which the British Methodist Conference has taken a stand over Israel/Palestine has certainly been heard, even if not agreed with
by all who correspond with us. Commitment to Fair Trade has definitely made a difference to the lives of countless of our fellow
human beings – and I have just heard that Waitrose are stocking Fair Trade Baked Beans! Care for God‟s planet also is a
challenge not only to Christians of course, but the Church plays a part, and still has much to do.
So, for my New Year‟s Resolutions this January - amongst the usual ones about tidying the desk more frequently, I want to
commit myself to sharing more with our sisters and brothers in the Cape of Good Hope. And, reflecting on that question about
making the Christian voice heard more strongly, I want to play my part and encourage every one of us to do the same. When
thousands of Christians speak out, or act out their faith, then the world will notice, and hopefully will hear something of the Good
News of a God who is involved in the world – not least through the life of Jesus Christ whose birth we have so recently
celebrated.
New Year Blessings in His name
Stephen Burgess
District Chair

P a g e 3
NEWS RELEASE
23 November 2010
Sam Taylor elected Methodist Youth President
The Methodist Youth Assembly has elected Sam Taylor as the Church’s new Youth President for 2011-2012.
“I am delighted to have been elected as Youth President designate and I am greatly looking forward to starting the role in September,”
said Sam, following his election at the Youth Assembly last weekend.
Sam, aged 17, is currently studying for his A-Levels and lives in Wellingborough in Northamptonshire. He attends Great Park Street
Methodist Church in Nene Valley circuit in the Northampton District. This year he is working as a One Programme Participant (OPP) in a
youth project linked to the church, Infuse Youth Cafe. The One Programme gives young people the opportunity to work for a year in
their local churches and Districts in creative projects that help to show Jesus to others. “At Infuse, I am running a Cell Group which has
seen some amazing growth in young people’s faith over the last month or so,” said Sam. “I run an event called Worship@Infuse which
has been running for nearly two years and has developed enormously in that time. I also look after the Youth Committee, making sure
that they are the ones that drive the project forward.”
From September 2011, Sam will work part time for one year to serve the young people of the Methodist Church in Britain, making their
voices heard and helping them to get more involved in every aspect of Church life. The Youth President is a paid post as part of the
Children and Youth Team of the Methodist Church in Britain. Sam said, “I want to focus on empowering young people to be more
involved in church life - it has to come from young people if we are going to get more young people coming into the Church. Young
people need God in their lives and they need other young people to help them to find God. So the church needs young people at the
centre of this, to make sure it is happening, and that the people that need God most are being reached out to.”
Sam will succeed current Youth President Christy-Anna Errington. “I’m really pleased Sam will be taking over from me next September,”
said Christy-Anna. “So far in my year of office I have been focusing on building relationships within the Methodist Church and with
outside organisations to find ways of working together more effectively. The resolutions from this year’s Youth Assembly have also
been very useful in helping me to decide what to focus on for the rest of the year.”
This year’s Methodist Youth Assembly took place at the PGL Liddington Centre near Swindon from 19 to 21 November. Around 200
young Methodists gathered to make key decisions affecting the life of the Church, with education, sports ministry, and peace in Israel
and Palestine on the agenda.
You can find out more about the Youth Assembly at the Generous website ( http://methodist.generous.org.uk/ ) or on the Youth
President’s Blog ( http://www.methodistyouthpres.blogspot.com/ ).
ENDS
Sam Taylor &
Christy-Anna
Errington
© All rights reserved

The Methodist Church of Great Britain |
VAT on Listed Buildings
P a g e 4
IMPORTANT CHANGES TO THE LISTED PLACES OF WORSHIP GRANT SCHEME
For action: This is absolutely time-critical for those currently undertaking repairs covered by the Scheme: claims must be made
by 31st December 2010.
John Penrose, Minister for Tourism and Heritage has announced that the Listed Places of Worship grant scheme is to be amended.
Currently listed places of worship, of any faith or denomination, can claim a grant equal to the VAT paid on eligible maintenance and
building works. The new measures will see the scheme return to its original scope: works on clocks, pews, bells, organs and professional
services such as architects’ fees will be excluded for the rest of the current financial year.
The changes will come into effect from 4th January 2010 and will apply until the current end date of the scheme, 31st March 2011 . Today’s
announcement also applies to the Memorials Grant Scheme, under which professional fees will no longer be eligible from 4th January 2011.
An announcement will follow later in the month about the long term future of the scheme.
An e-mail from DCMS simultaneous with the press release states that the last day for receipt of LPW claims for professional fees
and repairs to clocks, pews, bells and organs is 31st December 2010. Any congregation currently undertaking repairs needs to be
sure to submit claims by that date or it will lose its grant.
The Grant Scheme:
• will continue until the end of March 2011.
• applies only to repairs and maintenance to listed buildings that are used principally as places of worship
• applies to listed places of worship throughout the UK which are included on the public registers of listed buildings kept for England,
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
• applies to places of worship owned by or vested in a number of specified organisations which look after redundant churches
• is non-discretionary
• covers work carried out on and after the 1st April 2001 and only accepts applications made in arrears
Full details of the scheme giving definitions of which buildings and type of work are eligible are available -
• by telephoning 0845 601 5945.
• by writing to the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, PO Box 609, Newport NP10 8QD.
from the Scheme Website - www.lpwscheme.org.uk.
In terms of procedure for obtaining listed building consent from the Methodist Property Office, it will be necessary for the local church to log a
project on the Property Consents website , because it is a grant from an external source. Where it is known that an application is to be made in the
future, we will also need to see a specification for the work which should be submitted before the work is commissioned.
Copyright ©2010 Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes.

Can you write a prayer for the Methodist Prayer Handbook?
The title of the 2011/12 Prayer Handbook is 'Run the Race', inspired by sporting metaphors in
Scripture and hymns.
In preparation for the Olympic Year in 2012, the handbook will draw on themes of spiritual training,
perseverance, endurance and self-discipline. It will also focus on our solidarity with our brothers
and sisters around the world.
If you would like to submit a prayer for handbook, either on this theme, or for a particular country or
district, click here f or more details.
Prayers should be sent to primi@quantrillmedia.com b y 31 January 2011.
New Safeguarding policies and procedures
The Methodist Church Safeguarding Policy aims to create Christian communities of love and
care, where good practice in this area becomes a way of life. To enable churches to achieve
this aim, and in light of new legislation and government guidance, the Methodist Church has
produced a new resource - the Methodist Safeguarding Handbook . Its policies and
procedures come into effect on 1 January 2011.
The Handbook is available as a free download . Alternatively, a printed version can be
purchased here f or £20 (plus postage and packing).
Download also available from the Policies page on the District Website http://www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/
index.php?cid=68&pid=26
The Missing Generation
The Missing Generation research project aims to discover what characteristics churches with a
strong representation of the 'missing generation' (25-40) have and then share this with the
Connexion. As part of this project, we are exploring the attitudes people aged 25-40
(approximately) have towards the Methodist Church and church generally.
We are looking for people in this age-range - who have been involved with a Methodist Church at
some point - to fill out a short survey (it should take no more than 15 minutes). Please pass this
link http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentoyou.content&cmid=3342
on to any you know who might fit into this category and encourage them to participate.

30.11.2010
The Friday Mailing – miss it, miss out!
The Friday Mailing is a comprehensive free weekly “What’s on” electronic newsletter compiled and distributed by CoRE, York City Centre
Churches Care and Development Trust.
In recent years it has become one of the most popular ways to let people know of news and events hosted by local church and religious
organisations. Photos, logos, text and posters are emailed to CoRE each week with no charge for inclusion.
Revd Canon Simon Stanley, Chair of CoRE York, the Care and Development Trust for the City Centre Churches said: “The Friday Mailing was
developed three years ago as a way to compile news and publicise events at York’s city centre churches. The number of subscribers has continued to
grow over the years and Churches Together in York have partnered with CoRE to use the Friday Mailing to distribute their news. This increase in
following and support from outside the city means we are now also including some news from further afield.”
One reader described the Friday mailing as “a great way to find out about lots of events taking place in the area that I may not have heard about any
other way.”
Another said “I look forward to the weekly briefing and have found a number of the items very useful, quite often I pass them on to the person
who does our news sheet at church, or to people I think might find them relevant.”
Subscribing to the Friday Mailing is quick and easy - contact the marketing and communications team for CoRE with your name and email address
at info@plugandtap.co.uk or call 01904 619489. CoRE only uses contact information for the Friday Mailing and does not pass this information to
any other person or organisation.
‘
MakingConnecions’ExploringContemporaryDiaconalMinistry
DVNCECONFERENCENOTICE&CLLFORCONTRIBUTIONS
TheWesleyStudyCentrewouldliketogiveadvancenoiceofaforthcomingconferenceondiaconalministryinthecontemporarychurch,
andinviteproposalsforcontribuions
Thisconferencewillbeheldon Thursday8 th –Friday9 th September2011atStJohn’sCollege, Durham
Itwillbeofinteresttodeacons,thoseinvolvedintrainingdeacons,churchleaders,academics,andanyoneinterestedincriicallyexploring
therenewedinterestinthisministryanditspotenialcontribuiontothewiderchurchandsociety
Theconferencewillcoverkeyissuesforunderstandingandfurtherdevelopingthisministry,suchas
Thediversityintheologyandpracicerelaingtothisministry,includingdiferent
understandingsofthenatureofitsroleandpurpose
Perspecivesonexperiencesofdiaconalministryindiferentcontexts
Everydaychallengesanddilemmasindeacons’pracice,andtheirimplicaionsforthewiderchurch
Therelaionshipbetweenthediaconateandotherformsofministry,bothordainedand lay,andhowtheiridenityafectstheirpracice
Howdeaconscanlearnmoreefecivelyfromeachother’sexperienceandpracice
Training,formaionandconinuinglearningfordeacons
Proposalsforcontribuionsonthese(orother)issuesrelatedtocontemporarydiaconalministryareinvitedThesemaybeintheformof
shortpresentaions,workshops,displaysofresearchorpracice,oranyothercreaiveformsofcontribuionthatyoumaywishtopropose
Individualcontribuionsshouldtypicallyaimtobe20minutesinlength,althoughasmallnumberoflonger40minuteworkshopsorsimilar
contribuionsmayalsobepossible
Theconferencewillalsoincludeapresentaionanddiscussionofemergingindingsfromamajortwo-yearresearchprojectexploring‘Good
praciceindiaconalministryintheMethodistChurchofGreatBritain’
nyqueriesorproposalsforcontribuionstothisconferenceshouldbeaddressedto
DrndrewOrton,TheWesleyStudyCentre,StJohn’sCollege,DurhamUniversity,
3SouthBailey,Durham,DH13RJTel01913343898orEmail a j orton@durham ac uk
The deadline for iniial proposals is 15 th January 2011 .

NORTHERN DEBUT FOR CHRISTIAN AID-SPONSORED SIXTH FORM FORUM
(1.12.10) -- THE Global Student Forum , where sixth formers explore contemporary development
issues and their role as global citizens, has made its debut in Liverpool and Hull.
Since its inception in 2005, some 4000 sixth formers have attended the annual London forum -
returning to their schools to inform an estimated 200,000 fellow students of key global issues raised
during the day.
Taking the Christian Aid-sponsored forum further north had long been an objective of the event's
founders, the Damaris Trust.
'We are delighted to have run GSF in the universities of Liverpool Hope and Hull (Nov 10 and 16),'
said national coordinator Richard Baker. 'In all, more than 250 students from 23 schools and colleges
attended the two events which took the theme "Education Beats Poverty" and featured multi-media
presentations, workshops and live music from former child soldier Ben Okafor .
Equipped with a DVD of special educational resources, students have been tasked to return to their
schools and become peer educators, leading assemblies and lessons on issues raised at the event.
'Each school has been set a target of peer-educating 1000 students,' said Baker. � GSF is young
people-driven. The students will inform, motivate and empower their peers about global issues that
concern them. '
Amelia Varley a year 13 student at Upton Hall Girls' School, Wirral who co-hosted the Liverpool
event, said: 'Ten years ago I was in primary school, and at that time world leaders signed up to the
Millennium Development Goals. They stated that by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike,
will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling.
'I discovered how I could play a significant part in achieving those goals - that young people
everywhere really can make a difference.'
Dan Lunness, from Huddersfield New College, said: � Ben Okafor helped us see how we could inspire
the current and next generation through creative methods such as song and poem writing.'
Twilight Taize
There will be Twilight Taize on Friday 17 February at 19.30 in Scarborough, as part of
Coastival 2011.
Twilight Taize is a candlelit invitation to contemplation, to inner peace. This experience
will awaken your senses as you absorb the gentle atmosphere of centuries of prayer on
this ancient site. Set in the beautifully gothic 12th century St Mary’s Church in
Scarborough.
Imagine the melodies of oboe and flute dancing through the air as voices combine and
transport you to limitless possibilities. Aromatic incense floats through the air and
infuses with prayer chants sung in Latin and English.
Email enquiries to Shena, Fresh Expressions team; s.woolridge123@btinternet.com
The first Ebor Lecture of 2011 will be held on Wednesday 9 February at 19.00 at York St John
University.
Professor the Baroness Haleh Afshar OBE, AcSS - Department of Politics, University of York, will
be speaking on 'The Politics of Fear: What does it mean to those who are otherised and feared'.
The theme for the 2010/11 lectures is 'Politics of Fear, Politics of Hope? Terrorism in the 21st
Century.' Acts of terrorism and the perceived threat of terrorism are changing our world.
Some argue our freedoms are being eroded and our liberty curtailed through the deliberate
building up of a climate of fear. Where is hope in all this? This series of Ebor Lectures will explore
these issues of freedom and security, the politics of fear and
the politics of hope.
Tickets are free but must be booked in advance. If you wish to book a ticket please call 01904
876474 or .email eborlectures@yorksj.ac.uk.

The Saint of Spurn Point
P h i l M a t h is o n fr o m Br ou g h ha s written a new book on "The Saint of Spurn Point" - Wilgils, father
of St. Willibr or d.
S pur n p enins u la ma y s eem fr a gile a nd ot h er wor l dl y, b u t few p r es ent da y
vis it or s r ea lis e t he sp ir itua l significance of this remote location.
In the early days of Christianity in northern Britain, many ascetic devot ees of
C hr ist wer e dra wn, lik e t he Des er t Fa t her s b efor e them, to inaccessible places
to commune with their God. Once s u c h h er mit wa s Wilg i ls , t he fa t her of Sa int
Will ib r or d, fa mou s in t h e L o wla n ds of E ur op e. L ike Sa int Cu t hb ert of
Lindisfarne, his 'desert place' of s o lit u d e wa s b ou nd b y t he s ea .
The time was the late 7th century, when the promontory was then the southern
extreme of the Kingdom of Northumbria, a region stretching from present da y
Yor ks hir e t o t he F irt h of Forth. Christianity had only been in the province for
less than half a cent ur y, a nd Wilgils wa s probably born within the first decade
of the establishment of a church at York, then the capital of the southern region
called Deira.
T his b ook wi ll dr a w you int o t he spiritual and political world of t h e Da r k Ag es ,
t h e er a in wh ic h Wil g ils left his s ecu lar life a nd founded his tiny community
on the very edges of Northumbrian ci vilis a t ion.
T o bu y a cop y of "T he Sa int of Spurn Head", contact Phil M a t his o n, 1 2 Wa lli n gf en L a n e, Newp ort, Br ou gh, Ea st
Yor ks hir e, HU15 2RF, for _6.99 post fr ee
U. K. ( IS BN 9 7 8 -0956-2994- 0 -6)
From the Methodist Church weekly Newsletter re activities for the week
Hi everyone
Thank you so much for all your feedback on the new look. I am pleased to announce that the three lucky winners of the Nativity!
DVD are Bob Lawe (DCO, York & Hull and Lincoln & Grimsby), Melanie Walsh (Asst Admin, W. Yorkshire) and Sylvia White
(DCO, Shetland) - your DVDs will be in the post next week.
Here's what the week ahead looks like…Anna
An early Christmas present...
The more observant of you may have noticed that the audio version of A Word in Time , our popular daily online
Bible study, has been missing from the Methodist website for a couple of months. This was because of the
departure of our Lead Editor & Writer Alison Pollard, who is now buried in books somewhere in Oxford pursuing her
PhD. Since she left we've appointed a few new voices to contribute to the studies and we're now back up and
running. You can listen online http://www.methodism.org.uk/index.cfm?
fuseaction=opentogod.bibleStudy&dm_i=BVI,BSUJ,35DNZH,XDUJ,1
(for studies from 12 Dec onwards, but available now), or download the studies through iTunes .
Proposed law changes for using commercial sound recordings
Christian Copyright Licensing International has confirmed that proposed changes to licensing laws regarding the
use of commercial sound recordings (CDs, cassettes etc) in churches are set to become law from 1st January
2011. The changes will occur provided that a further period of Government consultation does not prevent them
from coming into force. It is unlikely that the new laws, enforced by Phonographic Performance Ltd, will affect
churches until January 2012.
Any news regarding any additional licences for your church will be made available in the new year. Please contact
CCLI on info@ccli.co.uk or call +44 (0)1323 436100 should you require any further information at this time.

Come and Meet….. Jan Sutch Pickard
Does the name ring a bell? If so, perhaps it is because Jan is a past Vice President of the Methodist Conference (1996) and was also
editor of the former Methodist Magazine Contact. If you have associations with the Iona Community, you may have heard of her, or met
her, in that context. She is a member of the Community and was for 5 years the Warden for the Community’s work at the Abbey and the
McLeod centres on Iona. In recent years she has been a member of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Israel/Palestine.
And some of her faith, work and experience finds expression in her poetry and storytelling. She is coming for a weekend to
Northallerton Methodist Church and you will be very welcome to share in any of the events. If you would like to come, why not put a
note in your diary now?
Friday 25 th February, 7.30 p.m. – The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine/Israel (EAPPI)
It sounds innocent enough doesn’t it? If you are only vaguely aware of the confrontation between Israel and Palestinian in what we call
the Holy Land, come and hear something of the frightening reality. EAPPI members courageously stand at the crossing points b etween
Israel and Palestine as an international presence. This is a place which is anything but holy, where occupation and dispossession of
Palestinian homes and lands is a daily fact of life leading to terrible suffering. And the actions of the Israeli Government damage the
Israeli nation as well as Palestine, not to mention the effects on relationships with the global Islamic community. Jan will share
something of her experience of the EAPPI and the tragic situation in the birthplace of Christ. There will be a retiring collection for EAPPI
Saturday 26 th February 7.30 p.m. – Poems, Songs and Stories
And now for something quite different! An evening with Jan when she will tell some stories, share a poem or two ( or three), the
Northallerton Choir will lead a “wee sing” of a song or two ( or three) and we will enjoy a light supper together - provided you bring
something to share! An evening of faith and fellowship for everyone. £3 to help cover
expenses (tickets available). Copies of Jan’s booklets of poems will be available.
Sunday 27 th February 10.30 a.m. Morning Worship at Northallerton
To complete her weekend with us Jan will preach at Northallerton, no doubt sharing
something of her work for justice and peace as well as her lively and engaging Christian
faith.
Throughout the weekend a selection of Hadeel craftwork from Palestine will be on sale.
Jan Such-Pickard living in Palestine
Booking form can be downloaded from
http://www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/uploads/documents/sic_ef7fbf10d4_13122010105135.pdf

PRESS RELEASE
6 December 2010
TWELVEBASKETS ANNOUNCES MAJOR LINK UP WITH SPCK: 20,000 MORE SEARCHABLE PRAYERS AND
REFLECTIONS NOW BEING ADDED
New partnership deal with SPCK initiated
The new Twelvebaskets website ( www.twelvebaskets.co.uk ) , which offers churches an unparalleled array of worship and other
resources on line, today announced a major new link up with SPCK.
The deal means that 200 books and their contents, by over 50 of SPCK‟s leading Christian authors (including David Adams, N T
Wright and Jane Williams) have just started to be added to the site. All the contents in these books (prayers, meditations and
reflections, sermon ideas and more) will be individually searchable by topic, theme and Lectionary week as well as by Christian
Festivals. Up to 20,000 more resources will be „just a few clicks away‟ for subscribers, therefore
Wayne Grewcock said: “This highly significant new partnership will give our subscribers access to a huge range of additional
resources. As each new title is added it will be indexed and ready for immediate download and use. Our aim is also to visualise
many of the written pieces by creating PowerPoint and mini movies, thus enabling hard-pressed leaders of worship and small
groups to easily slot them into their act of worship, study, or personal devotions”.
Joanna Moriarty, Publishing Director of SPCK, said: “We are delighted to be working with Twelvebaskets, and this new
arrangement will make our material available to use in new and exciting ways”.
Twelvebaskets believe that this exciting new partnership will catapult them to be the largest and broadest church resource website
in the UK. All of which will be entirely legal for non-commercial use.
Annual subscription costs to the Twelvebaskets website have been kept deliberately low. And they have extended their special
offer by which subscriptions have been reduced by 25% for another month until the end of December. So individuals pay just
£44.06 a year (under £4 a month) and churches only £73.43 a year, which allows five church users access to the site.
click here for 25% off Subscription price
twelvebaskets.co.uk is a web portal of Twelvebaskets limited, Hope Centre, Hope Street East, Castleford, WF1

XLS Factor - you’ve got talent!
T he Dioces e of Yor k's a ma zing youth event XLS is back at York Minster with a
twist - this time, we’ll be featuring the talents of y ou n g p eo p l e fr o m a cr os s t h e
Dioc es e!
Sounds of Salvation will start off the evening, then we’ll have our va r iet y pa ck
of you ng p eop le performing, and after free refreshments in the café G ol dDig g er
wi ll fin is h t he evening with their
set. It’s going t o b e a wes o me ev eni ng !
S ou n ds of S a lva t io n a r e a hig h - octane, ten-piece, ska rock punk Christian
worship band with a horn section that will blow your fa c e of f. F or med i n
2 0 0 4 t hey travel the length and breadth of the country worshipping God
with a sound that has been likened to setting an elephant loose on
marching band. But it's n ot a ll a b ou t t he mu s i c; S oS lov e to celebrate
God's glory with a v ib ra nt ener g y t hat will get you off your feet and
dancing like your dad in no time.
GoldDigg er ar e a high -ener gy electro-pop-rock band fronted by Bet h
T a ylor a nd Ma ndy T oomb s who use music to communicate c ou nt er -
cu lt u r a l mes s a g es of hope through contemporary issue b as ed s ongs .
GoldDigg er ar e b r ing i ng t h eir fr es h ed g y s ou n d and gritty challenging
lyrics to XLS Factor. For med wit h t he a g en da to wr it e s o n gs wit h
something worth saying, Go l dD i gg er u s e mu s i c t o communicate counter-
cultural mes s a ges of hop e.
T ickets cost £6 each, and go on on sale from 4 January, from Yor k
Minster’s Box Office on 01904 557208, or www.dioces eofyork. org.
T ickets a ls o a va ilab le on t he door £1 0 each.
T his event is for you ng p eop le of S econdar y School a nd C olleg e a ge, co mi n g a s gr ou p s fr om churches , s chools,
colleges et c. Una cc o mp a n i ed a du lt s wi l l n ot b e a llo wed in.
Real Easter Egg campaign – ordering now open for churches and
individuals
Last September supermarkets rejected the idea of The Real Easter Egg which is the first
and only Easter egg to explain the Christian understanding of Easter on the box.
Church schools were asked to help join a campaign to help prove demand by placing
orders before Christmas. Thousands of eggs were ordered by schools in quantities
ranging from 12 to 400 eggs at a time.
Churches and individuals are invited to join the campaign and place orders for The
Real Easter Egg by 31 January 2011. Order forms, posters and flyers can be
downloaded from www.realeasteregg.co.uk Eggs will be dropped off to a single address
in early April 2011.
The direct sale price of The Real Easter Egg is _4.50 each which includes a charitable
donation, VAT, handling and delivery to a single drop off point. The 125g high
quality Fairtrade milk chocolate has to be ordered in multiples of 12.

Ecumenical Lent Course
Churches Together in Beverley are doing an Ecumenical Lent Course in 2011, based on Paula Gooder's Lentwise
course (CHP 2008). Paula is coming to Beverley Minster on Monday 7th March to introduce the course. If other
churches and groups would like to use the course and would value hearing Paula too, contact the Revd Jeremy
Fletcher 01482 868540 Vicar@beverleyminster.org.uk

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Yorsay is sent on behalf of the York & Hull Methodist District by the Communications Office
Bob Lawe 27 Ryde Avenue Hull Hu5 1QA 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 © 2010 York & Hull Methodist District – All
rights reserved.
Publication deadline for next month Yorsay is 20th of the Month

New Web Site

2010-10-13T08:54:00.001+01:00

In early October 2010 our old York & Hull Web site was removed and a new style web site put in place

There have and are some teething problems but with a little bit of luck and persistence we will get the new site right soon

Please visit the site as you would have with the old version www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk

News report

2010-07-09T14:38:00.000+01:00

The York and Hull District of the Methodist Church is investing in a new updated Web site.

This will hopefully go live in late August early September.

So at present the old web site will not have details updated in its Calendar Section and some others until we can upload all the relevant data to the new web site.

Please bare with us during this period.