Richard Seed to Retire the Archdeacon of York, the Venerable Richard Seed, Is to Retire in October This Year
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News from the Church of England between the Humber and the Tees June 2012 Richard Seed to retire The Archdeacon of York, the Venerable Richard Seed, is to retire in October this year. He will not only retire from his role as Archdeacon of York, but also as Rector of Holy Trinity Church, Micklegate. Richard will remain as a Residentiary Canon at York Minster and a member of the Minster’s Chapter. The Archbishop of York, Dr John The Ven. Richard Seed said, “This Sentamu said, “This is a great summer I shall have been loss to the Diocese of York. ordained for 40 years. It has been Richard has given so much to the a great privilege and huge mission of God in his role as responsibility being Archdeacon Archdeacon of York. It is, of York since 1999, when however, as a faithful Parish Archbishop David Hope Priest that Richard has been a appointed me after George Austin real gift to all those who have retired. I have enjoyed the role known him. He is a man with an greatly and tried to fulfil its enormous pastoral heart, not demands to the best of my ability. least demonstrated in his It has been a joy to work with involvement with Martin House two Archbishops, two Bishops of Hospice. I have personally Selby who have been and are appreciated his support and colleagues and friends, as well as service to the Church in this a great staff team within the Diocese, and pray that he and Archbishop’s staff and diocesan Jane will thoroughly enjoy being office.” able to spend time with one another and with God.” 1 Preach the Gospel 'Preach the gospel at all times and use words if you must' is a phrase often attributed to St Francis of Assisi. Actually there is no evidence that it originated from St Francis, although it is the kind of thing he would have said. It was a phrase that came into my mind when I looked at some readings recently before writing a sermon and it’s one that can be used and misused to make various points. I've heard people use this to suggest that we shouldn't talk a lot about our faith, but for me this isn't about not using words at all, its about using words with care and ensuring that our actions reflect One of the courses offered in the what we say – so that when we do 'Equipping God's People' series, is speak it is not with empty words but called 'Learning to share our faith'. with words that have meaning. This has had a lower uptake than Indeed a few words spoken from the other EGP courses and yet it is heart can have far more impact than central to our mission. Sometimes a lot of chatter. we underestimate the impact simply telling our story can have. A long That said, one of the most important time ago I told a friend about a time things we can do is talk about our I had spent on retreat. I didn't think faith. We live in a time when anything more of it and soon after Christians can feel persecuted for that we lost touch for a while. Ten their faith, Criticised for wearing a years later she contacted me to say cross at work or for offering to pray she was being confirmed that day. with someone, many retreat into the She went on to say that when I told safety of saying nothing. But if we her about the retreat it had made her don't speak out, how will others hear think and so started her own journey of the joy of faith. Last year, at St of faith. Even when we don't think Helen's Welton, we started a series we've done very much, God can use called 'Journeys in Faith'. We meet even the smallest contribution. So five times a year, with a speaker who when someone says 'What did you is asked to talk about their life and do at the weekend?’... their faith and we have had some excellent speakers who have inspired The Revd Canon Elaine Bielby, Dean people on their own journey. of Women’s Ministry 2 Ordination of Priests Twelve people from the Diocese of Tom Putt: Kirk Ella and Willerby York will be Ordained to the Simon Smale: Bempton with Priesthood on 3 June at York Flamborough, Reighton with Minster: Speeton Jacqueline Tonkin: Langtoft with Patricia Anslow: Boston Spa Foxholes, Butterwick, Cottam and Andrew Bigg: Cottingham Thwing Andrew Grant: Boston Spa Irene Wilson: Hull, Holy Trinity Rebecca Haughty: Pocklington Wold Matthew Woodcock: Hull, Holy Andrew Moreland: Bridlington Trinity. (known as Bridlington Priory) Martin Otter: Sherburn in Elmet Please keep them all in your prayers with Saxton as they begin their priestly ministry Richard Phillips: Hull, St Aidan, among us. Southcoates Got any spare brass? Have you got any old brass instruments, and Bishop Cranmer instruments? St Paul’s Church, has asked us if we could help provide Holgate, York, is collecting old them with second hand brass trumpets, bugles and trombones for instruments. a primary school in Africa. “Our family are returning to Kisoro David Rhodes from St Paul’s, this August, and we’d love to provide explains why they need brass the school with their brass instruments. He says, “St Paul's has instruments. If anyone has an old links with the village of Kisoro, in trumpet or other brass instrument the south western corner of Uganda they no longer use, I’d be grateful if near the border with Rwanda and the you could contact me on Congo, and my family and I went to [email protected] or 07814 Kisoro in 2009 for three weeks to 971389.” help out. “The church in Kisoro, led by Bishop Cranmer Mugisha, wants to start a brass band in the village primary school, to use music as a way of broadening the opportunities the children are given. However, they are desperately short of musical 3 The XLchildren Games Forget the Olympics - the accompanied by an adult but they XLchildren Games are the major are welcome to bring more than event of the summer! one, as well as friends and siblings. Everyone attending will The Diocesan Children and Youth need a ticket to enter (except Team are inviting children aged 5 children who are too young to to 11 (and their families and join in the activities). Please friends) to the XLchildren Games remember, adults are responsible at Bishopthorpe Palace on 30 for the children they bring at all June from 2pm to 5pm. times. The Olympics will see atheletes Bring a picnic with you and from all different countries everyone will stop and eat gathering in London, and we’ll be together at 4pm. There may be capturing that multi-national rain and some activities WILL be spirit at the XLchildren Games messy so please dress with games, activities and appropriately! challenges from around the world. For more information, contact Jon Steel on 07711 880042 or All children must be [email protected]. 4 Parishes and Schools – research project The Diocesan Education team is Viv Todd, lead officer from the delighted to have teamed up with DBE on this project, added, “The York St John University this term mission of the Diocesan to research how schools, clergy Education Team is to resource all and parishes are working together those who are working to provide across the diocese. a Christian input to education and to encourage partnership Headteachers, Governors, between schools and parishes. incumbents and PCCs are being asked to complete a survey, either “If we are to do this effectively, it on paper or online, which aims is important that we understand to gain factual information about what is actually happening on the who in parishes is interacting ground and how church-school with schools, how often and in links are perceived by different what contexts. Other questions parties. We hope that as many have been designed to provide an people as possible will take part indication of prevailing attitudes in this research so that we can and perceptions about the gain as clear and full a picture as involvement of the Church in possible of the church-school Education today. relationships across the widely differing contexts of the diocese.” Peter Warry, Diocesan Secretary, said, “One of the stated To keep the project manageable, outcomes of our diocesan focus not all parishes will receive paper on Growth and Mutual copies of the survey but an online Resourcing is that we should see version is also available. Please each church and school visit the diocesan website and community seeking to be at the follow the link to the appropriate heart of what God is doing in version: each parish and deanery that they www.dioceseofyork.org.uk/your- serve.” schools/news/. 5 Could you join Diocesan Synod? We’ve got elections for Diocesan year, usually on a Saturday morning Synod coming up – it’s a chance for at Manor School on the outskirts of you to influence the mission and York. ministry of the Diocese. We want people who: Diocesan Synod is the place where • Have a passion for the mission and decisions are made that affect the life ministry of the church of all our 607 churches and 128 • Will prayerfully consider the issues church schools and academies. This put to Synod is where representatives from every • Will listen to others attentively corner of the Diocese and all • Are able to make decisions for the different traditions of good of the Diocese as a whole churchmanship meet to discuss and • Will report back to their Deanery decide the future direction of our Synods and PCCs.