YORSAY FEBRUARY 2010

[This is a text only version the full Graphic version is available via http://www.yorkhullmethodist.org.uk/news.php?id=165


Welcome to the February Edi-
tion of Yorsay.
Please make sure that a copy
of this magazine is available
in your Church.

Items for Yorsay are very
welcome Please send them by
20th of each month for pub-
lication in the following
months edition.


FEBRUARY 2010

From the Chair‟s Desk
Back in November I was away from York at the first meeting of the Stationing
Matching Group. It is good to look back on that process now, as thus far in the
District we have successfully matched ministers to all of the circuits seeking new
ministers for September, and seen all ministers in the District, who are on the move,
successfully matched with new appointments. That is always a cause for thankfulness
– and in due course we will say our farewells, and look forward to Welcome Services in
early September.
But at that November meeting, I was reading a copy of Christianity Magazine which
was in my room at King‟s Park Conference Centre in Northampton. The “Last Word”
article in that issue is by Jeff Lucas – teaching pastor at Timberline Church, Colorado
and an international speaker, author and broadcaster.
Jeff Lucas wrote about what he has gained from various denominations – likening
himself to a bee who has sipped nectar from a variety of buds. Anglican friends
taught him about the beauty of liturgy, not least in Common Worship; Baptists taught
him of the significance of the baptismal vow; the Salvation Army “have wonderfully
unsettled [him] with their blood-and-fire passion for the poor”; Pentecostal friends
“have a healthy disdain for religion taken mild”; and Mennonites “carried a sense of
peace that was tangible”.
I read with bated breath to see whether, and perhaps what, Lucas was to say about
Methodists, and I felt relieved and just a little proud! He writes about a group of
happy Methodists in Northern Ireland who challenged him in his discipleship. He
finishes his article with a mention of Methodists‟ participation in the annual Covenant
Service, with its sobering liturgy and the renewal of vows. The Covenant Service will
be well known to many of you, but if not, then do ask to see a copy – any minister, or
member, should be able to provide you with one to read. It talks of our no longer
being our own, but God‟s – of offering to do whatever God wants of us, wherever that
might be, and however we feel about it.
By the time you read this, it will be nearly a month ago that you might have made
those promises. How does it feel, now that February is here? Are you as committed –
as prepared to let God lead you in ways that you might not yet be aware of? It is a big
call, and one which to which we must respond together as well as individually. I pray
that each one of us, me included, can make that response.
In a sense, Jeff Lucas was promoting discipleship which is theme to which we will
return, time and time again – just as we return to the Covenant Service year by year.
May God bless you in your discipleship, and may it be an exciting adventure.
Stephen Burgess
(Chair of District)
PS Jeff Lucas‟s article is in Christianity Magazine, (November 2009) – I am sure I
could photocopy it for you if you let me know you would like it, and the Covenant
Service is in the Methodist Worship Book (1999). So get reading!

Appeal launched to help thousands struck by devastating Haiti earthquake
The Methodist Church in Britain has launched an emergency appeal and granted £20,000 in immediate aid to Haiti after a catast rophic
earthquake rocked the Caribbean nation yesterday.
Reports revealed that the 7.0-magnitude quake, the worst to hit the country in two centuries, tore down the HQ of the UN Mission, the
presidential palace and thousands of homes in the space of a minute at 16.53 Haitian time and 21.53 GMT. Survivors used the m icro-
blogging site Twitter to report on the unfolding tragedy.
Revd Marcus Torchon, a Haitian Methodist minister serving in the Liverpool District on an exchange programme, said: “I am still waiting
for news from family members who are missing. I managed to speak to my nephew after the quake happened, but since that phone call
there were more than 10 after-shocks. Now the line is dead because the major phone networks are down.
“It is really destabilising emotionally. Practically, I would like to be of service to them. I feel that at some point I may have to go there
when the airport is open. At the end of the day, we have nothing but our faith in God.”
Revd Tom Quenet, Partnership Coordinator for the Americas and Caribbean, established contact with the President of the Method ist
Church in the Caribbean and the Americas at 3am GMT today. Tom said: “Following the damage caused by four successive hurricanes
that hit the island in 2008, I fear that the people of Haiti will wake up to scenes of devastation, fear and loss of life.”
Haiti‟s Methodist church is the largest membership district of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean & the Americas with 12,000 mem-
bers.
Tom Osbeck from aviation ministry Air Calvary said: “The buildings, homes, businesses and hospitals of Port-au-Prince are flattened. We
stand outside and weep as we hear thousands of crying people. Thousands have died – many, many around our house.”
David Carwell of Mission Aviation Fellowship said: “All kinds of things in our house shook and slid and came tumbling to the floor. There
have been many aftershocks and tremors. They seem to be weakening, but I doubt if it‟s over yet.”
The Methodist Church in Britain is appealing to people to make their response through the World Mission Fund while internatio nal relief
agencies and governments work to bring relief to Haitians.
Donations can be made through the Just Giving webpage here: www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?
fuseaction=opentoworld.content&cmid=1492 or by sending a cheque payable to the World Mission Fund and posting it to Dave Bennett,
Fundraising Coordinator, at Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5JR. Postal donations should be labelled „Haiti
Appeal‟.
A special prayer for the people of Haiti is available online here: www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?
fuseaction=opentogod.content&cmid=2890.

The Methodist Church of Great Britain | Holocaust Memorial Day
27 January 2010
In 2002 the United Kingdom government set up an annual Holocaust Memorial Day. This Day remembers the suffering of the Holo-
caust/Shoah and other Holocausts such as those in Cambodia and Rwanda.
One of the most painful realities for European Christians to deal with is the past complicity of many Christians and churches in the Nazis'
attempt to exterminate the Jewish people. A long history of Christian anti-Semitism that fed into numerous persecutions of the Jews, up
to and including the Holocaust/Shoah, has also been acknowledged.
Resources for Holocaust Memorial Day
The Council for Christians and Jews (CCJ), in consultation with Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) of which the Methodist
Church is a member, have developed resources for Holocaust Day 2010 including a study pack for churches, a power point presentation
and guidelines for preachers. These are available on download free of charge from both the CCJ website: www.ccj.org.uk and the CTBI
website: www.ctbi.org.uk.
The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (www.hmd.org.uk) also provides resources both for the day itself and more general material.

Work with young people.
Projects that demonstrate a Christian approach to the practical, educational and spiritual needs of people.

P a g e 4

Expanding the work of the Joseph Rank Trust
From 1 January 2010 grant funding by the Joseph Rank Trust will be expended on 'Methodism' and not just on prop-
erty schemes and MAYC projects as has been the case in the recent past. The aim of the trustees is to embrace most
areas of home mission. All appeals would be linked to the development of mission, as determined by the Trust. De-
tails of how to apply can be obtained from your synod secretaries from this month onwards.
What the Trust will & won't support

The Trustees have identified three main areas of interest, as follows:

1. The modernisation of Methodist Church properties in order to provide improved facilities for use both by the
church itself and the local community; and funding of other areas of home mission (for further details on how to ap-
ply see the first paragraph below).
2.

3.

In the case of Methodist Church applications, the aim of the Trustees is to embrace most areas of home mission (i.e.
capital for property schemes, revenue funding for youth workers but not delayed church maintenance) and all appeals
will be linked to the development of the Mission as determined by the Trust. The Trustees invite applications from
local Methodist churches or circuits via the District Secretary and will consider them at their quarterly meetings. Full
information on the application process can be obtained from your District Secretary (quoting JRT email of 27th Octo-
ber 2009). The Trustees will not consider applications put forward by individual ministers. A „site‟ visit to the project
may be made by the Trust prior to a quarterly meeting. For the avoidance of doubt, the Trust is an independent grant
-making charity and is not part of the Connexion.

In the case of Work with young people, the Trustees work mainly with the Children and Youth Department of the
Methodist Church and with The Rank Foundation, a charity established by J. Arthur (Lord) Rank, a son of the Founder.
That being the case, it is seldom possible to offer support to unsolicited appeals received for that area of work.

In considering all other appeals, the Trustees take into account the primary objective of the Trust, which is to advance
the Christian faith. After earmarking funds to support the first two areas of interest the Trustees are prepared to con-
sider other unsolicited appeals, although resources remaining to support such appeals are limited. Unsolicited ap-
peals are selected for consideration by the Trustees that demonstrate, in their view, a Christian approach to the prac-
tical, educational and spiritual needs of people.

The Trust does not consider appeals for overseas projects, from individuals or from registered charities for the bene-
fit of named individuals.
(updated 1st December 2009)


P a g e 5

Christian magazine Magnet reaches out to broader church
January 12, 2010 - Magnet magazine, which until now has been published by the Methodist Church,
is to be published by its own independent charity, Magnet Resources, with the aim of reaching a wider
ecumenical audience. It has a committed readership of 13,000 each quarter and is produced by a team
of volunteer editors.
The current Winter issue includes an exclusive article by the author of The Shack, Wm Paul Young. He
writes: „This issue of Magnet deals, in my opinion, with the two most fundamental spiritual questions
that occupy the mind and heart of every human being: of God…‟Who is this God, really?‟ and of the human creation:
„Who is this human being, really?‟
Magnet is known for colourful and thoughtful meditation pages, its seasonal worship resources, insightful and stimu-
lating features, Bible study and prayer focus. It is of value both to individuals in their personal spiritual journeys and
to leaders of worship, Bible study and house groups.
The magazine started in 1987 as the magazine of the Women‟s Network of the Methodist Church and the initiative
has taken place with the full support and blessing of the church. Independence will allow the new charity to market
the magazine to members of other denominations and those with an interest in spiritual matters but no formal
church allegiance. There are also plans to develop and sell other resources such as poster sets, resource packs,
booklets and cards through the new website www.ourmagnet.co.uk
Lynne Ling, Business Manager, says: „This move gives Magnet editorial independence and makes the magazine far
more accessible to readers outside the Methodist Church. We remain committed, however, to providing the informa-
tive, challenging and inspirational material valued by our present readership.‟
The Revd Dr Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the Methodist Church, says; “This is an exciting time for Magnet, and
a fantastic opportunity to bring their high-quality material to an even broader audience. We wish them well and look
forward to enjoying the magazine as it grows and develops.”
Readers can phone 0844 736 2524 or email felicity@ourmagnet.co.uk for a free copy and can subscribe online at http://
www.ourmagnet.co.uk

Happy New Year to you all. I hope you are refreshed and full of creativity in this new year. I am writing to you, be-
cause, as part of the connexional project of encouraging Youth Participation, the York and Hull District is aiming to
define a project for a young person to undertake in the church year beginning September 2010. The project is con-
nexionally funded for 9hrs per week, and a participant will be selected, prior to this date, aged between 16 and 23
years of age. Of these 9 hours 6 will be available to the District for the project to be undertaken. We are aiming to
select a project and begin to work on its finer details by February, in order that we might produce a job description by
the end of March. To that end I am inviting you to submit ideas for projects to me in the next couple of weeks so that
a small team ( including young people) from the district can select a suitable project from among them. Any projects
not chosen will be considered for future years. The project should either be in one locality, or fairly strictly defined,
to enable the young person to work from home within the time constraints available. In all cases the goal of the pro-
ject should be to enthuse and equip others within the district. A suitable project may already exist. The role could
be a standalone one, although support will need to be identified in all cases, or it could involve joining an existing
team. It could be an entirely new venture just waiting for the right person. Despite its name, the project does not
specifically have to serve or focus upon young people. The key is that it draws upon the skills of a young person we
employ with the goal of being a positive experience for them. Clearly whatever type of project, a clear vision of how
it will work and its goals is essential. I would therefore welcome any suggestions, her fully worked out and devel-
oped, or at this early stage mere germs of an idea, to discuss and develop further.
Many thanks
Rev Andy Lindley
Methodists‟ New Year‟s Resolution - to cut carbon emissions by 10 per cent within a year
Call to be „earth keepers‟ rather than „earth eaters‟
Revd Dr Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the Methodist Church, signed up to the 10:10 campaign yesterday on
behalf of over 100 staff at Methodist Church House in London. Throughout 2010, staff will work to cut 10 per cent off
the building‟s energy use.
Martyn said: „We begin to change the world when we change our lives and lifestyles. It is absolutely right, then, that
as Christian disciples heeding God‟s command to be good stewards of the planet, and increasingly „earth keepers‟
rather than „earth eaters‟, we commit ourselves to joining the 10:10 campaign. Together we can make a small but
significant change and express hope in God‟s future.‟
Using the principle of „small actions, big difference,‟ office staff will be encouraged to switch off lights and computers
when they are not in use. There will also be a travel survey, initiating a year-long challenge to look at travel patterns
for work engagements in Britain and with partner churches worldwide.
Energy saving actions at Methodist Church House have already begun. Desk printers have been replaced by more effi-
cient shared printers. All office staff have their own recycling bin with non-recyclable material now deposited in sepa-
rate communal bins. Following the results of an independent audit by the Carbon Trust, there will be an investment in
a suitable building management system and exploration of PIR (passive infrared sensors) lighting.
Tamsin Omond, Faith Coordinator for the 10:10 campaign,
said: “It is great to have the Methodist Church joining the ini-
tiative. Faith groups have recently had a strong voice on this
issue and turning words into action is essential to tackle the
global problem of climate change. All our personal actions
reinforce the message to our governments regarding the scale
of ambition that we expect from international agreements.”
The wider Church is encouraged to join the campaign via
http://www.1010uk.org


Mind the Gap - Africa

Jenny Hensman, Youth for Christ, PO Box FM34, Famona, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Home 002639 242313 mobile 07930 366121 jennyhensman@gmail.com
January 2010
Hi everyone,
Can you believe that chicken and chips could give so much pleasure to children? I wouldn‟t have
unless I‟d seen for myself the sheer delight on the children‟s faces at our Kids club Christmas
party in a local Township. Many were overheard to say that they had never eaten chicken and
chips before. That was followed by cherry ripple ice cream which again was such a special treat
for them. All this because of the generosity shown by you – THANK YOU!


Primrose
I have been overwhelmed by the generosity towards this little 4 year old. Every penny has come in
for her treatment so far and we know she is firmly in God‟s hands and will walk again. THANK
YOU so much for all the gifts for her. She was discharged from hospital four weeks ago after a 4
week stay and came to stay with us. Her sister left her as she wanted to get back to her rural
home which caused Primrose distress and its taken a while before she‟d speak or smile. Thank-
fully we have turned a corner and she is much happier now. We have begun physiotherapy and
hope and pray that she will learn to walk again. She still battles with some nasty infections and
gets quite sick. Please keep praying for Primrose as it‟s not easy for a 4 year old to go through so much.
Christmas Day
We had a lovely day in the sweltering heat when both the children‟s homes and my family spent the day together.
There were 23 children and a number of adults and we had lots of fun during the day. Some of us
actually got two Christmas lunches when the church we attended announced they had prepared
lunch for everyone so not wanting to offend we ate our first one then tried to eat the second one
at the home!
Dancing on Christmas Day!

Ordination
It has been 14 years since I began my ministerial training at Spurgeon‟s College, and now I'm finally being ordained
into pastoral ministry. After discussion with Pat Took, the regional minister of the London Baptist Association, it was
decided that I would be ordained by the local church rather than by the Baptist Union of Great Britain. The latter
would be to pastoral ministry in Britain, whereas the local church route provides more flexibility. My present sphere
of ministry is here, in Zimbabwe, and my ordination would recognise and affirm that
As many of you know a head injury severely disrupted my original intention, but I know that God‟s ways are not our
ways and that his ways are much better. You would be very welcome to come along to the service which will be fol-
lowed by lunch. It will be on Sunday 31st January 2010 at Peckham Park Road Baptist Church at 11.00am. If you need
directions please get in touch.
Family news
Thomas has just been given a place at Petra school, which is our local Christian school, for January. I had been told
that it would take a miracle to get him in as it is so over subscribed, so I‟m thanking God for that miracle.
I‟ll be seeing social welfare soon seeking to foster Thomas – please pray for another miracle.
Mary had the pin taken out of her leg last week and all is well. She continues to be full of fun and mischief and isn‟t
quite so naughty anymore! Grace is doing well and growing so quickly. She is a very happy little girl and loves to be
with her brother and sister.
My mum continues to enjoy her stay here though does struggle with the heat at times. She has to sit in front of the
fan in the hottest times though this only when we have electricity!
Have a good 2010 as we live in the HOPE that Jesus‟ birth brings to the world.

With much love, Jenny
Any gifts can be sent to Ann Luther, 121 Peckham Park Road, Peckham, London, SE15 6SX. Cheques payable to „Mind the Gap-Africa‟. Or gifts can be
put directly into our bank account: Bank: HSBC Name of account: Mind the Gap-Africa Sort code: 40 02 16 Account No: 11507508


Malton Circuit.

Norton Bethel Methodist Church.

Afternoon Around The Word (Bible Study)
Saturday 27th February 3.00pm - 6.00pm
led by Rev Elisabeth Jordan
Assistant Pastor at New Life Baptist Church, Northallerton.
Afternoon tea will be served.
31 January 2010 EDUCATION SUNDAY
Material for Education Sunday is produced ecumenically and can now found
on the Churches Together in England website
See:

www.churches-together.net


A RARE AND SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY!
One of our supernumerary ministers is downsizing (again) and would like to find a good home for some highly col-
lectable Methodist plates. This is a wonderful, and possibly rare, opportunity to purchase (at a discount) some valu-
able, historical and interesting Methodist plates.
If you are interested in any of these plates, please contact:
Tony Service on 01757 707530 or email: serviceap1@googlemail.com.
The plates being offered are as follows:
1. Limited edition, gold-rimmed Methodist plate with pictures of John Wesley and ten
historical Methodist locations (four of which are in Yorkshire and Humberside). The back
of the plate has brief notes on the ten places mentioned. The plate was produced in
1984 (Christian Heritage Year) by Edward Underhill of Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire in a
limited edition of 1984 plates, this plate being number 126.
A really superb plate which would grace any wall - even if you were not interested in
Methodist history.
2. Produced in 1995 by the same company as Plate 1, this is another limited edition,
gold-rimmed plate (number 10) detailing historical locations relating to Francis As-
bury, the pioneer of American Methodism. Three of the locations are in the West Mid-
lands and the others are in the eastern states of the USA. The back of the plate has
brief notes on Asbury and the places mentioned. Another superb plate.

3. A gold-rimmed, fine bone china plate commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Con-
version of John and Charles Wesley (1738 - 1988).

4. A John Wesley - Hartley Victoria College plate.

5. A Wedgwood plate depicting John Wesley teaching the American Indians. Around the
edge of the plate are small pictures of historical locations in America. The rear of the plate
has the inscription "John Wesley teaching the Indians. 'Made in England for the Transylvania
Club of Sandersville, Georgia' ".

6. This plate is the real gem of the six. The plate commemorates the Centenary of the Primitive Methodist Church
(1807 - 1907) and depicts the two founders of Primitive Methodism (Hugh Bourne and William Clowes), Mow Cop and
three historical chapels. The rear of the plate has statistics relating to Primitive Methodism.
What makes this plate special is the gold and blue decoration (other similar plates lacked the gold decoration) and (so
I'm told) a word fault (though I'm not sure what this is). This really is a fantastic plate
- for Methodists, especially those who came from the real ethos of Methodism (there
was nowt like the Prims!), for historians or for those who would simply like a very
beautiful plate to adorn their wall or window ledge.

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
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cial views of the Methodist Church or of the York & Hull Methodist District and no inferred support for any of the
items or organisations should be taken as granted.
Yorsay Newsletter © 2009 York & Hull Methodist District – All rights reserved.