AUGUST YORSAY

FULL VERSION AVAILABLE AS A DOWNLOAD FROM www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/news.php?id=165


Dear Friends
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•


A U G U S T 2 0 0 9


Methodist Church elects
new President and Vice
President Designate

The Revd Alison Tomlin has been
elected President Designate of
the Methodist Conference for
2010-2011, and Deacon Eunice
Attwood has been elected Vice
President Designate. The elec-
tions were announced at the an-
nual Methodist Conference in
Wolverhampton.

Alison Tomlin is currently Chair of the Northampton Methodist District, having previously
chaired the Oxford and Leicester District. In September she will become co-
Superintendent of the Thames Valley Methodist Circuit with her husband Dave. She has
served the Church as a minister for 25 years, having originally been ordained in Wolver-
hampton in 1984.

Alison said; 'It is a great privilege to be elected as President Designate and I am humbled
to be trusted with this role by the Conference. In my year of Presidency I will seek to help
the Church be more receptive to go where God is inviting us. The Church has not always
been very good at risk-taking but it's easier to take risks when we are confident in God's
love and listening for God's voice.'

Central to Alison's ministry has been the imaginative use of the Bible in prayer. She said;
'The Church has designated 2011 as the Year of the Bible and this will be very important
and exciting for me in my year of office.'

Eunice Attwood works as part of a team of lay and ordained ministers in a busy city centre
church in Newcastle. She has been instrumental in establishing the Newcastle Street Pas-
tors Project and supports work with asylum seekers, street workers and teenage runaways.
Eunice spent 12 years working as an Intensive Care Unit nurse and brings experience of
hospital chaplaincy and 10 years of serving the Church as a member of the Diaconal Or-
der. She is a Methodist Local Preacher and a part-time diaconal tutor at the Wesley Study
Centre in Durham.

Eunice said; 'As a member of the Methodist Diaconal Order it's a real honour to be elected
Vice President Designate. I am passionate about enabling the people of God to reach out
to and better engage with their communities. In my year as Vice President, I hope to in-
spire God's people to reconnect with the servant ministry to which we are all called and
celebrate the rich contribution of the Diaconal Order to the life and work of the Church.'

Eunice Attwood Alison Tomlin

Chair’s Sabbatical Reflections
Ministers are known to have an ambivalent relationship to our Standing Orders in CPD (Constitutional Practice and
Discipline of the Methodist Church), except perhaps that Standing Order which requires them to take a three month
sabbatical after ten years from first being stationed, and then at seven year intervals. Sabbaticals are a much appreci-
ated gift from the Church to us as ministers, and I trust that we repay that gift in our refreshed ministry after them.
My previous sabbatical was while I was Superintendent Minister in Cambridge. I spent most of those three months
studying for two modules of an MA course in Pastoral Theology, as well as some reading of novels. The aim was to
read one per week, but rather good weather meant that the vegetable patch received more attention than the book
pile for some of the weeks.
For my recent sabbatical, I took the opportunity of a major sailing trip with the Rona Sailing Project. I have taken
young people sail training for nearly forty years now, and last summer I skippered a girls’ crew to second place in
class in a race from Bergen to Den Helder. That fitted into a normal holiday slot, but this year a five week trip marvel-
lously coincided with the sabbatical opportunity.
The Transatlantic Tall Ships Race series is still underway as I write, and the fleet is due in Belfast during August after
four legs taking in Vigo, Tenerife, Bermuda, Charleston, Boston and Halifax (Nova Scotia). I sailed as Mate (or second
skipper, which we require for long distance races) on the race
from Vigo to Tenerife. We were on board Rona II, a 68ft ketch
(i.e. yacht with two masts) with 23 of us in the ship’s company
– skipper, mate, 3 watch officers, 3 watch leaders, 15 crew
between 15 and 25 years old.
We left our base on the River Hamble in April and set sail for
northern Spain as the race was due to start in Vigo, where the
fleet was to gather. My previous voyage across the Bay of Bis-
cay in 2000 was breezy to put it mildly – it took us eight days
of gale force winds and more. This year we managed it in just
over three days with the large spinnaker set for most of the
time – it was a fast and smooth passage.
Our landfall was La Coruña where we spent a couple of nights
before a gentle cruise down the rias of northern Spain. We
spent time race training – spinnakers up and down, changing
headsails, reefing the mainsail, etc. We anchored and swam,
and had a barbecue on a beach, and focussed ourselves on the
task ahead of us. Three nights were spent in Vigo with the rest
of the international fleet, with partying, a formal dinner for
captains and first officers and much singing and getting to
know the other crews.
A parade of sail led us out of the Ria de Vigo and down to the start line. The large, traditional tall ships start first;
Rona II is in the last class to start. We were thrilled to be first over the line after our gun, with spinnaker flying and we
were off to six days of exhilarating racing. For nearly all the time we had a following wind and our large headsails or
spinnakers were well-used. So well-used in fact that there was some gear failure for us and our competitors. That is
all part of the challenge, of course. Rona II’s crew quickly settled into the routine of a long sail – on watch; off watch;
mother watch, who cook and clean and generally take care of those doing the actual sailing. We are required to report
our positions regularly by radio to Race Control, who then report back with race positions.
“A Birthday on Board”

We knew that we were doing well, although a German yacht Peter von Danzig was much fast than us but with a stiffer
handicap. We had calm periods and windy periods; we had some fantastic cooking and some meals which were a bit
less appetising; we had some hilarious moments, and just a bit of seasickness.
The final stretch to the finish line off the northeast corner of Tenerife was nail-biting, with Peter von Danzig only
about three miles ahead of us for the last few hours. They just took line honours and we were second, reassured by
their handicap which meant that on corrected time we had made it! There was a spontaneous party on board Rona II,
before a night sail to Gran Canaria for a few
days cruising.
The fleet gathered in Tenerife in due course –
much partying again and resuming those in-
ternational friendships which are integral to
Tall Ships Races. Another crew parade through
the harbour area before the prize giving, and
then handing over to the girls’ crew who had
flown out to take Rona II on leg two to Ber-
muda. We had achieved our goal – to be first
in our class – but it’s really more than the
sailing. It’s actually about living together in a
fairly confined space; cooking for each other;
going to bed and getting up when told to do
so; washing up and cleaning (yes, and the
heads, i.e. toilets); not being able to give up
even if you’re tired or seasick or fed up. One of the younger members of crew said to me on the flight home that he’d
remember it for the rest of his life – and I think I will too.
And the rest of my sabbatical? Well, there was some reading, of novels again, and theology. I attended a day’s confer-
ence on Paul, and the Northern Church Leaders’ Retreat. I cleared large piles of paper from my study, and did those
jobs around the house which somehow don’t get done in the normal busyness of life. And yes, I was looking forward
to getting back to work, honestly!
My thanks are especially due to Richard Andrew (Deputy Chair), Heather Shipman (Synod Secretary) and Siân Hender-
son (District Administrator) who held the fort so competently for those three months, and for the Methodist Church
for providing sabbatical opportunities.
And thanks be to God for a wonderful creation (especially including the sea!) for us to enjoy, and for young people
who maybe just help to keep us a little younger than we would otherwise be.
Stephen Burgess
(Chair of District)

A photo sequence of Stephen’s trip in the tall Ships Race is now on line on http://www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/
news.php?id=197
“The Old Men on board”

P a g e 2 P a g e 4


Holgate Methodist In the York South Circuit is celebrating it’s
Centenary in 2010 and is planning a year of celebration commenc-
ing October 2009 [Which commemorates the laying of the Founda-
tion Stone] The Celebrations will end 12th September 2010 com-
memorating the opening of the Church. They would welcome
memories , Photographs and memorabilia from past members and
friends.

Copies of the programme of events available from Angela Skilbeck
28 Manor Drive South York YO26 5SA [tel 01904 792301]

„Taste and See‟ – a second slice
On Saturday 13th June seventy-three Christians of different denominations participated in a variety of workshops trying new ways of relating to
God and to one another. Taste and See 2009, a day of Bite-Size Spirituality in York City Centre Churches provided a wonderful way to experience
different types of prayer and worship in a friendly atmosphere across ten of the Churches in the City Centre.
The day was endorsed by many church leaders including Rt Rev Terence Drainey (Bishop of Middlesbrough, Roman Catholic), Rt Re v Martin
Wallace (Bishop of Selby, Anglican), Rev Kevin Watson (Moderator of the United Reform Church, Yorkshire Synod), Rev Ernie Wha lley
(Yorkshire Baptist Association) and Rev Richard M. Andrew (York Institute for Community Theology, Methodist).
Taste and See was organised by CoRE York and representatives from several Christian organisations. CoRE‟s Chairman Rev Canon Simon
Stanley said “Taste and See provided a fun and informative way of exploring different types of prayer in an ecumenical context. The event was
open to everyone with individuals travelling from as far-a-field as Lytham St Anne‟s. Trying a new experience of worship allows those participat-
ing to discover more about themselves and their spiritual tastes. This may lead to a better understanding of their fellow Chr istians who pray in
ways different to them, and deepen their relationship with God.”
The event, which began at York Minster with a welcome from the Minster Precentor, Revd Canon Jeremy Fletcher and an opening a ct of worship
from Revd Graham Maskery then gave participants the chance to join two of sixteen workshops in the churches across the city. Choices included
Carmelite Prayer, Taize, Ignation Prayer and Making a Poustinia.
Individuals who participated in the day reflected that the event gave them time to explore other ways of becoming rooted in G od. One partici-
pant said “Both workshops taught me something I will be able to keep with me and use in my everyday life. Thank you for a wonderful opportu-
nity that has made a marked difference for my journey in Christ.”
P a g e 5

P a g e 6

SYNOD SEPT 2009
Synod Hosted by the
York South Circuit will
be held at Askham Bryan
Agricultural College on
Saturday 6th September
at 10.00am
Maps and approx travel-
ling times are available
from the District Web
site http://
www.yorkhullmethodist.
org.uk/synod.php
The mileages and times
are approximate but will
give a good indication.


Revival Night! with Rodney Howard Browne, New Life Church, Hull -
Monday 27th July 7.30pm

It's with great excitement I invite you to join us for a Revival Night with Dr
Rodney Howard Browne. Rodney is one of the worlds leading revivalists,
being key to the move of God in 1994, and is still seeing the fire of God sweep
through cities throughout the world, with hundreds of thousands of salvations,
powerful moves of God's Spirit and signs & wonders. This is an awesome
opportunity for Hull to have a minister of such caliber.

Why not fill a few cars up, and join us at New Life Church in Hull for what I
believe will be a powerful step forward as we seek God for revival in our
region and nation?

If you can help us get the word out at this late notice, that would be awesome!
As seating is limited booking your free seat is essential by emailing
office@newlifehull.org with your name and party size.

I believe these are significant days. In 1910 the leader of the Azusa Street
Revival stated that in 100 years time a great move of God, eclipsing the one
they were experiencing, would commence. That's next year. In a
recent leaders meeting with Jean Darnell, God spoke to me quite miraculously
about the fire of God sweeping from the Humber up through East Yorkshire.
Quite separately, other national leaders have been drawn from around the
nation to pray along the banks of the Humber for a wave of revival. Something
is going on. Join us as we seek our King for More in our region and nation.

For our King.

Jarrod Cooper

Days of Wonder TV Show: SKY 587 Sundays and Tuesdays @ 10am, Mondays @ 7pm
Days of Wonder Radio Show: Sundays 10am UCB on DAB radio across the UK and SKY
0125

P a g e 7
Dearne Valley Big Band Concert 15 August
Filey Methodist Church welcomes the return of the Dearne Big Band and
Singers for another Concert on 15th August.
The Barnsley based act who have regularly performed in Filey for more
than 20 years play music by the likes of Glenn Miller and Frank Sinatra.
The show starts at 7.30pm. Admission on the door £5.
Filey Fishermens Choir
As seen on BBC TV‟s „Last Choir Standing‟. Also to feature in a forth-
coming new BBC series. in Concert 29 August
Filey Fishermens Choir in Concert in Filey Methodist Church on Saturday 29th
August 2009 at 7.00pm.
‘Harvest of the Sea’ 30 August
The Choir will be leading our Worship at 6.00pm on 30th August.

A plea for sponsorship and prayer
Over the weekend of the 29 - 31 August the Revd Steve
Barlow and one or two members of Wetherby Methodist
Church are walking The Minster Way, a walk of 50 miles
between the Minster‟s of Beverley and York. This is a spon-
sored walk and the money will go towards the Wetherby
Methodist Church re-development appeal which is a
£360,000 project.
On the Sunday, the walkers will be joined by our District
Chair, Revd Stephen Burgess, for a leg of 17.5 miles and on
the Monday I have agreed to walk the 15.75 miles of the last
leg.
If you feel you would like to sponsor Steve or Stephen then
please let them or me know. They would be delighted to
hear from you. I am too nervous to ask for personal spon-
sorship.
This initiative has certainly challenged me. Why did I agree
to take part I ask myself? I once walked 13 miles around
Buttermere and Crummock Water in the Lake District but
that was 10 years ago. A month ago I walked from Tad-
caster to Wetherby but that was only 10 miles and my legs
ached at the end of it and this sponsored walk is half as
much again. I am now, however, locked into this. Pride
wont let me back out (though I am mindful that pride
comes before a fall and it's not exactly recommended as a
Christian principle is it?) I also wonder if I am physically
capable of walking 15 miles in one go and have decided that
the only way to find out is to try. Do many people I won-
der, embark on sponsorship events that they are doubtful
about? Anyway, instead of sponsorship I ask for your
prayers for the success of the walk and the safe keeping of
those taking part .Thank you for reading this and if you can
For booking form http:// www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/
HateCrimebookingform.doc
please sponsor Steve or Stephen
Heather Shipman ;Synod Secretary and Lay Pastor for
Wetherby Methodist Church

P a g e 8

BEFORE the bicentenary of Charles Darwin's birth is over, I recommend that you see an absorbing new
film, and a range of accompanying resources to help churches in their teaching and out-
reach (see www.damaris.org/creationmovie).

Creation (UK cinematic release 25 Sep) dramatically portrays Darwin's struggle with traditional belief
and his world-changing theories published in 'On the Origin of Species'.

As the official film information says: "Creation is the powerful story of Charles Darwin as a young, vi-
brant father, husband and friend. His mental and physical health gradually buckles under the weight
of guilt and grief for a lost child. Told in a dazzling collage of scenes from the past and present, laced
with stories of exotic animals and the dark dreams of a troubled mind, Creation is a film that will pro-
voke and entertain...'

Nick Spencer, author of Darwin and God (SPCK, 2009), comments: 'A well-made and beautifully shot
film, Creation uses appropriate artistic licence to simplify and dramatise the specific details of the
story of Darwin's writing of The Origin of Species - and, in doing so, raises many important and chal-
lenging issues around the question of evolution and belief in God.'

I am delighted to let you know that the Damaris Trust will publish a range of helpful resources for
churches and groups to use when the film is released - to include downloadable film clips, video dis-
cussions, house group material, special outreach events and themed church service plans.

Angles/ themes under discussion:

* Did Darwin kill God? The clash between science and religion
* Conflicts within families and couples. How to deal healthily with these and resolve them
* Suffering in God's world. Is it part of the plan?
* Reasons for believing and changing your beliefs
The film goes on general release on 25 Sep, so please consider this superior production for news, feature and review purposes. Also check out the web-
sites:
Official movie website: http://creationthemovie.com/
Damaris’ site for resources: www.damaris.org/creationmovie

Stephen Goddard Associates
PR Consultants
1 & 2 Ellison's Cottages, Crank Rd,
St Helens, Merseyside WA11 7RQ
Tel: +44 (0)1744 733898
Mob: +44 (0)7930 198209
Email: steve@shipoffools.com
CHARLES DARWIN

P a g e 9

Lydia Barlow
Lydia Barlow the District Youth Enabler comes to the end of her period of office on 31st August. So if any
Youth Group wants her to visit You had better be quick. lydia@lyd.me.uk
The Racial Justice Sunday materials provide resources,
suggestions and stories for worship and other activities to
be used for the Racial Justice Sunday (September 13th
2009) or any Sunday.
This year the materials are all online and downloadable
for use. This will be accessible on the CTBI webpage
(www.ctbi.org.uk) and webpages of various denomina-
tions and national ecumenical instruments.
The 2009 Racial Justice Sunday resource will include the
following:
A4 Poster• Biblical passages (based on the Lectionary
readings) and reflections • homilies • Personal sto-
ries • Suggested hymns and prayers • Resources for
work with young people• A children's activity • A
prayer leaflet • References to further material on the
Website
Congregations that may prefer a Racial Justice-
Pack will need to contact their respective
Church Headquarters Office, Racial Justice/
Equalities Office or
National Ecumenical Office.


RITES OF PASSAGE
Songs for the Journey
Elstronwick Methodist/St Lawrence’s Church
Paul Field and Dan Wheeler thought the village of
Elsternwick was deserted as they arrived in June!
But by 6.30pm the intimate space of St Lawrence‟s
Church became standing room only with local people
gathering to hear them perform „Rites of passage‟.
Each song took us further through life, exploring the
joy and pain that happens along the way. „Joel‟s song‟
was written when Paul‟s first son was born, „Still For-
give‟ was
inspired by the London bombings, and the poem
‟There will be stars‟ was written for the funeral of Rev
Rob Frost. Tears were shed, there were many smiles,
and a great rendition of new words to ‟Love Divine‟.
What began as a simple invitation for them to do a
concert by the young people of the Methodist Church,
grew into a real community event. Wedding dresses
and Christening robes, many of which had been worn
in the church, adorned the chancel and the font, and
the windows were filled with flowers representing
seven Sacraments.
The Methodist Chapel held the celebration buffet after
the concert, and also displays of photographs and
other memorabilia connected with life‟s journey.

A Personal View of Conference by Heather Shipman

What is it like at Conference? Would I want to go?
Those are just two of the questions I am frequently asked. I have to
admit that after Conference in Blackpool and Scarborough, Wolver-
hampton didn't have quite the same appeal but, I was pleasantly sur-
prised. Our hotels are booked by the Connexion and the York and
Hull District stayed, along with several other Districts, in the Brittania
Hotel, a 3 star hotel in the centre of town within 10 minutes of the
Civic Hall, which was where Conference was held. As a group we
would meet up for breakfast at 7.30am and then leave for the Civic
Hall where we would sit together in designated seats for the duration
of Conference. You are not allowed to vote unless sitting in your seat.
We would often meet up at lunchtime or go with other members of the
group to fringe events or visit the stalls which are always a big part of
Conference. At the end of the day we would head off at 7.00pm when
Conference finished to find a place where we could have dinner before
returning to our hotel. We ate in Thai restaurants, English restaurants,
Italian restaurants and had a buffet Chinese meal with over 100 members of Conference. As a District we work closely togethe r,
supporting one another, looking at the effect of issues on our District and contributing to the debate. We get to know one a nother
better and we have fun especially dining together at the end of a long day.
Conference is good for networking, meeting the people from other parts of our Connexion and being a part of the policy making
body of our Church. I won‟t go into the detail of the debates - you can read all about those on the various websites, but it is excit-
ing. Conference is not about rubber stamping policies and issues already decided upon. The standard of the debates is high and
the chairing very good. David Gamble and Richard Vautrey, as President and Vice President shared the chairing of the meeting s
and they were excellent. If there were any mumblings of discontent it was that the leadership of our church has been male do mi-
nated for a few years now but this is about to change with the election of Alison Tomlin and Eunice Attwood to the posts of Presi-
dent and Vice President for 2009-2010.
It is of course Conference which ordains, and this year it was especially good to be supporting Rachel Wood as she was received
into full connexion in worship on the Sunday morning and to go to her ordination at Swan Bank Methodist Church, Burslem in
the afternoon. Both these services are ticketed events because of their popularity and owing to their special significance i n the life
of our church.
So, have I nothing bad to say about Conference? Well, just occasionally you get bored with some of the debates especially if there
really is no debate worth having. When speaker after speaker speaks for a motion and no-one is against it, it can be very frustrat-
ing and you wish the chair would move to a vote. As there are over 300 people in the Conference Hall it can be pretty hot an d
airless. Ask the members of our group who were present at the Ministerial Session of Conference on a very hot Thursday after-
noon.
Conference representatives are elected at the Autumn Synod and this year we will be seeking to elect one minister and three lay
people to go to Conference in Portsmouth in 2010. If you are interested in standing and want to give me a ring please do so.
I would just add one further point, which is very important for us all, and that is please use your Conference representative s. Tell
them what issues are important to you and what view you hold and this will enable them to come to Conference from an in-
formed position. Also, ask them what happened at Conference and perhaps to speak to your circuit or church on Conference
matters. We would be more than willing to do so.
Just to remind you, your representatives at Conference this year were;
Chris Kirkman, Linda Day, Sue Sowden, Stephen Leah, Andy Lindley, Steve Barlow, Kate Woolley, Heather Shipman and
Stephen Burgess.
The Full Conference Newsletter is available on the District web site http://www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/conf.php

Yorsay is sent on behalf of the York & Hull Methodist District by the Communications Office
Bob Lawe 27 Ryde Avenue Hull Hu5 1QA communications@yorkhullmethodist.org.uk or yhcommunications@msn.com
Please note that some of you may receive this and other mailings from a Karoo e mail address – Please do not
reply or use this address as it is for mail delivery only The views expressed in this newsletter are not
necessarily the official views of the Methodist Church or of the York & Hull Methodist District and no
inferred support for any of the items or organisations should be taken as granted.
Yorsay Newsletter © 2009 York & Hull Methodist District – All rights reserved.