Every Good and Perfect Gift Is from Above, Coming Down from the Father of the Heavenly Lights, Who Does Not Change Like Shifting Shadows
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The Parish Magazine is available Electronically, please contact the Parish Office or speak to your distributor to get your copy via email Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 St Helen’s, Bilton-in-Ainsty St John the Baptist, Healaugh St John the Baptist, Hessay All Saints, Moor Monkton All Saints, Wighill READINGS AND PSALMS FOR JULY AND AUGUST YEAR C These are the readings taken from the Church Lectionary and are suggested as read on the following Sundays. They may be changed depending on the theme of the service. Sunday 7th July 2 Kings 5:1-14 and Psalm 30 • Isaiah 66:10-14 and Psalm 66:1-9 • Galatians 6:(1-6), 7- 16 • Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 Sunday 14th July Amos 7:7-17 and Psalm 82 • Deuteronomy 30:9-14 and Psalm 25:1-10 • Colossians 1:1-14 • Luke 10:25-37 Sunday 21st July Amos 8:1-12 and Psalm 52 • Genesis 18:1-10a and Psalm 15 • Colossians 1:15-28 • Luke 10:38-42 Sunday 28th July Hosea 1:2-10 and Psalm 85 • Genesis 18:20-32 and Psalm 138 • Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19) • Luke 11:1-13 Sunday 4th August Hosea 11:1-11 and Psalm 107:1-9, 43 • Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23 and Psalm 49:1-12 • Colossians 3:1-11 • Luke 12:13-21 Sunday 11th August Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 and Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23 • Genesis 15:1-6 and Psalm 33:12-22 • Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 • Luke 12:32-40 Sunday 18th August Isaiah 5:1-7 and Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19 • Jeremiah 23:23-29 and Psalm 82 • Hebrews 11:29-12:2 • Luke 12:49-56 Sunday 25th August Jeremiah 1:4-10 and Psalm 71:1-6 • Isaiah 58:9b-14 and Psalm 103:1-8 • Hebrews 12:18-29 • Luke 13:10-17 1 CONTENTS Parish Letter 3 Acting Archdeacon of York 6 Holiday Club 7 Calling all Mums and Toddlers 8 Sozo Ministry 9 Community Events in the Parish 11 RAYC 12 From the Registers 12 Magazine News 13 Community News 13 York Minster Parish Pass 22 Military Wives Choir 23 Baby Basics 24 A Church Near You 25 Supporting the Bishops Mission Order 25 Kids Corner 26 St Mary’s Church of England Primary School 27 Marston Moor Probus Club 28 Rainbows 29 Brownies 30 Classified 30 Parish Contacts 36 Church Rotas 37 2 PARISH LETTER God Calling – It’s for you! I love the hymn with the line in “Here I am Lord …. I have heard you calling in the night” Planned, or otherwise we perform different roles in our society; cleaners, accountants, farmers, dentists, architects, administrators, mothers, children, fathers, … the list goes on. Sometimes we are fortunate to have a calling to a particular ‘profession’. Sometimes it just seems that we have ended up doing what we do. I think our real calling goes deeper than that, I know that we are all called to be people of love and we show that love in the way we treat and serve others. We are fundamentally also called to love God, the source of love and to model our lives following the example of Jesus, the Godly embodiment of unconditional, sacrificial love. A few years ago, I visited an elderly woman in hospital, Barbara. Barbara was close to death. After spending time with her and before leaving, I asked if I could pray for her. I was incredibly humbled when she said, “Now I will pray for you!”. Barbara followed her calling and was using her last final breaths serving and loving others. I am blessed to see so much love at times like this. During June we have witnessed two people fulfilling an important stage in their calling. Reverend Lucy has been ordained Priest and Kath became ‘Reverend’ as she was ordained Deacon. Many people have asked me in the last few months “What’s the difference between a Deacon and Priest?” The meaning can be found in the titles. The title ‘Deacon’ is from the Greek word “Diakonos” which means ‘servant’. When Rev Lucy, Rev Kath and myself were ordained ‘Deacon’ we gave our lives over to ‘service’ to God and God’s people (the whole of humankind, not just Christians). This means that whatever we do after our ordination we are changed and become people of service. We will always be ‘Servants’ regardless 3 of any subsequent label or role given to us. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York are still ‘Deacons’. The title ‘Priest’ comes from the Greek Word “Presbyteros” which means elder. Usually after a year of being “Deacon” those called into Holy Orders become a Priest. Amongst other things, this means that we can lead activities in Church assigned to the ‘Elder’ or ‘Leader’ of the Church (leading Communion, Officiating at Weddings … etc). There is also another word that usually sits alongside these words. Rev Lucy is known as a “Curate” and Rev Kath will also be known as a “Curate” at St Mary’s, Strensall. Actually, those who work in a Parish, as Priests or Deacons, are all “Curates”. I am a “Curate” in that we are given the task of ‘curing’ or ‘caring’ for people. Priests are called to serve, lead and care for people. However, the grandeur of ordination services, at York Minster and other Cathedrals, can give the impression that Priests are set above or apart from everybody else. I don’t agree with this, actually I think we are set below everyone else, to serve and care. Jesus (God with us) humbled himself on the Cross, we are called to do likewise in the service of others. But what about the role a priest has as a leader? Leadership in a Christian context takes on a different meaning to the way we look on leadership in the world today. We live in a world where a leader is often characterised as a charismatic monarch, more about top down ‘you do what I say’ leadership. Opposing this concept is true Christian leadership that is all about serving, caring and supporting from below. This doesn’t mean that a Priest is a doormat. At times difficult or unpopular decisions have to be made for the good of people and God’s Church. Jesus did a lot of this. Fundamentally though a Priest, in serving and caring, acts as a signpost to God and, as God is love, we do that by showing unconditional sacrificial love to others. We serve people in many different ways encouraging others, in deeds and words, to create a wider Christian culture of service and caring, a ‘Priesthood of all Believers’. In some ways our ‘profession’ is actually about making ourselves redundant! 4 The world is always in need of Christian leaders, a Priesthood of all believers. People who are discontent with the lack of love in the world. People who have a Christ initiated vision of love and the courage to speak, act and lead others to that love. What we do in our daily lives, whatever our professional calling may be, our universal calling from God is to show sacrificial, unconditional love in a beautiful myriad of different ways. AMEN Richard 5 ACTING ARCHDEACON OF YORK The Archbishop of York has appointed the Revd Canon John Weetman as the Acting Archdeacon of York with effect from the 1st July. John will continue to serve as Vicar at Selby Abbey. His contact details will be email: [email protected] and mobile 07432 289895. The appointment follows the nomination of The Venerable Sarah Bullock as Bishop Suffragan of Shrewsbury. Sarah will be consecrated on 3 July 2019. The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu said: “I am delighted that John has accepted this invitation to serve as the acting Archdeacon of York. He brings a wealth of experience in the Diocese and has a thoughtful and prayerful approach which will be warmly welcomed.” Canon John Weetman said: “I am grateful to my colleagues at Selby Abbey for their willingness to help me in the work here in what is a very important year for the Abbey as we celebrate the 950th anniversary of its foundation, so that I will also be able to serve in this wider role in the Archdeaconry of York until the appointment of Sarah's successor.” The Bishop of Selby, Dr John Thomson, added: “I look forward to working with Canon Weetman. Having seen his ministry in Selby Abbey I know that he will exercise this role with wisdom and pastoral care.” 6 7 Calling all mums and toddlers! Come and join us for 2 summer parish events: Thursday 15th August - 12 noon - Teddy bear's picnic in Moor Monkton Thursday 22nd August - 10.30am - Visit to The Milk Churn, LS14 3HQ A teddy bears picnic at a 'secret location' in Moor Monkton. On Thursday 15th August let's meet at the school room at 12 noon. After a very short 'explorer's walk' we will go and find some teddies, all ready for a picnic and some games! Bring your own packed lunch. Teas and coffees and cakes for adults available! 8 SOZO MINISTRY Art Sozo provides a way to connect your emotions with the heart of God and allow His healing to take place. In creative mode breakthrough can take place on an emotional level, uninhibited by logic and reasoning.