N Church Leaders and Members Come Together for Hundreds of Special Events
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TheWay The FREE newspaper of the Church in Cumbria – Special edition, spring 2018 MOVING MOUNTAINS n Church leaders and members come together for hundreds of special events MORE than 500 events across the county, an estimated 25,000 people, 33 senior church leaders and their teams from four denominations, tired but excited and hugely encour- aged church members – all this was and is Moving Mountains: God loves you more than you will ever know. Moving Mountains was launched at Penrith Auction Mart with a short ser- vice attended by five national church leaders: the Archbishop of York (the Most Rev John Sentamu), the President of the Methodist Conference (the Rev Loraine Mellor), the Moderator of the United Reformed Church General As- sembly (Alan Yates), the Vice Presi- dent of the Methodist Conference (Jill Baker) and the North West Divisional Commander of the Salvation Army (Major Drew McCombe). Then the 33 teams set off with their hosts to local churches. Each evening there were events rang- ing from talks given by people such as Warren Furman (formerly Ace of Glad- iators) and Christian illusionist Todd Alexander to pub quizzes, ceilidhs and youth events. On the Friday, many teams went into schools – about 90 in total – for collec- tive worship, Open the Book (dramatic presentations of Bible stories) and question and answer sessions. Saturday saw breakfast events, and then the teams in town and village cen- tres handing out gifts for Mothering Sunday, face painting, Christian yoga sessions, prayer couches, litter picks and guided walks. There were services for Mothering Sunday, and then there was Cumbria’s biggest ever Messy Church at Rheged, attended by more than 2,000 people. One event typified Moving Moun- tains. In Orton, ‘Lost and Found’ involved 50 clay figures being hidden all over the village. The children searched for and found all of them and brought them to church on the Sunday morning, where they were told the parable of the lost sheep. Fran Parkin- We ‘heart’ church in Cumbria: son, who helped organise the event, Attendees at the said: “It proves people are not discon- Moving Mountain launch at Penrith Auction Mart nected from God, and the weekend JORDAN SUMMERS, [email protected] opened new opportunities for the Church to meet them where they are.” 2 The Way, Special edition – spring 2018 www.carlislediocese.org.uk www.carlislediocese.org.uk The Way, Special edition – spring 2018 3 INSIDE THIS EDITION OUTDOORS Young and old join in the fun PAGES 6&7 MESSY CHURCH Biggest Around the ring: Clergy and church-goers gather for the launch of Moving Mountains at Penrith Auction Mart... ALL PICTURES (UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED): JENNY WOOLGAR PHOTOGRAPHY ever event at Rheged PAGES 8&9 LET’S DANCE! Teams gather for very special mission Music and motion n Church leaders send message of thanks to all involved PAGE 11 MOVING Mountains has to have had the impact that it did. Each one of them worked hard to CONTACT US provided us with a kaleidoscope of memories and encourage- ensure that everything came to- gether ready for the start, and we EDITOR: ments. From the opening event in Pen- are very grateful for that. Dave Roberts One minister commented that Tel: 07469 153658 rith Auction Mart on the Thursday, as visiting teams gathered to wor- none of the events that were hap- Email: communications@ ship God, to set what was about to pening in their area needed Moving carlislediocese.org.uk Mountains for them to take place – happen in the context of the out- but that, without the impetus of the AD MANAGER: reach that was already taking place mission, they probably wouldn’t across Cumbria, and to be commis- have happened. That sums up the Steven Bowditch sioned to share the good news; Tel: 01228 530159 purpose of the mission very effec- across the 500 or so events spread tively – acting as a catalyst to en- around the county, reaching about able us to engage in outreach in an The Way is the newspaper of the Church in 25,000 people; to Cumbria’s largest Cumbria. It is produced in partnership be- intentional way. tween the Church of England Diocese of ever Messy Church at Rheged on Moving Mountains is not an Carlisle, the Methodist District of Cumbria, the Sunday, we saw God at work in event that will fade into history – the United Reformed Church in Cumbria a myriad different ways. and Churches Together in Cumbria. Say cheese! Participants pose for the drone photograph nor the beginning of a new empha- Through Churches Together in Cumbria, Conversations in pubs and on sis – but part of the ongoing work we ensure coverage of and distribution to park benches, at Messy Church shown on the front page of this edition of The Way the Roman Catholic, Salvation Army, and life of the church in Cumbria. Quakers and independent churches. The events, tea parties, men’s breakfasts It picks up on the many ways in editorial team is made up of representa- and school visits, on walks and which we have already been seek- tives from across the denominations. rambles; all offered opportunities The purpose of The Way is to reflect the ing to fulfil the vision that shapes Church in Cumbria to itself and to our for people to discover more of God what we seek to do and encourages communities more widely. We do not seek and his purpose for their lives, and us to go on helping others to dis- to promote any particular theological viewpoint, but rather aim to stimulate so discover more of Jesus. And cover more of Jesus and so become debate by featuring writers from a variety of across the pages of this special his followers within a Christian church traditions and from society more edition of The Way you can see community. What might that look widely. While we are happy to consider unsolicited submissions, we operate pictures of many of the events that like in your local area? largely on a system of commissions and do happened during Moving With many thanks for all that you not guarantee to publish any materials Mountains. received. are doing to serve Christ in this The views and opinions of contributors It has been amazing to see the Service: From left, John Preparations: The URC’s wonderful county. and advertisers do not necessarily reflect committed, creative way in which Sentamu, Loraine Mellor, Sarah Moore with Moving the views and opinions of the partners. so many people were willing to Rt Rev James Newcome, The publisher takes no responsibility Alan Yates and Drew Mountains co-ordinator Mike for losses arising from information in step out and take the risk of having Bishop of Carlisle; advertisements in The Way. a go at sharing their faith story and McCombe Talbot RICHARD PRATT Rev Richard Teal, inviting others to discover a faith Methodist District Chair; story of their own. so hard to build on that and ensure pick out any one group, we are Rev Sarah Moore, Rooted as it was in prayer (with that Moving Mountains had the im- very conscious that without the Area President, URC; The Way some 17,000 prayer bookmarks in pact it did both in the churches and work of the local champions in Major Drew McCombe, use across the county), we are very also in the communities they serve. each church grouping, it would not Divisional Commander, Newspaper of grateful to everyone who worked While it is always dangerous to have been possible for the mission Salvation Army There are centres of energy and spirituality and this energy rippled across the the Church United: From left, Loraine Mellor, President of the Methodist Conference; Jill Baker, Vice President of the Methodist in Cumbria Conference; John Sentamu, Archbishop of York; James Newcome, Bishop of Carlisle; and Alan Yates, Moderator of community over the weekend. Some good conversations were held, some the United Reformed Church General Assembly ‘ important encounters took place and church members were encouraged ’ 4 The Way, Special edition – spring 2018 www.cumbriamethodistdistrict.org.uk www.cumbriamethodistdistrict.org.uk The Way, Special edition – spring 2018 5 Young gain inspiration n Children and teenagers join dozens of Moving Mountains events in county Battle of the bulge: Left, Kofi Robson-Peart, 13, playing ‘Quiz a bishop’: Students at Brampton’s William Howard at sumo wrestling with Josh Bailey, 12, at Big Night In at School meet Bishop of Blackburn Julian Henderson Penrith Methodist Church ‘Open the book’: Pam Priestley reads the story of the Chilling: Prodigal Son Left, Olivia (played by Pam Brass, 15, Woo) who looks and Adele on enviously at Taylor, 14, the pigs (played in the quiet by children from area at Big Coniston Night In at School) eating Penrith while he is Methodist starving Church Building blocks: Children taking part in after-school activities as part of the Moving Mountains mission at St Nicholas Church, Lazonby A highlight of the weekend for me was the Informal: The Derwent Deanery Youth Network meet the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu Sitting comfortably: Children listening to a story during Ignite Youth Group. after-school activities at St Nicholas Church, Lazonby They were quite a small group Pretty in pink... that ranged in ages from and yellow: Amanda ‘ Keenan paints Evie 11 to 16, and from Walker’s face at St non-believers to committed John’s in the Hall, Christians, but were all really Cleator Moor. Her friend Reagan Lewis Around the county: Clockwise, from above close and I got a real (behind) has just had left, Bishop of Whitby Paul Ferguson at sense that each person was his face painted too Netherhall School, Maryport; pupils at comfortable and supported Storth C of