From the Clergy
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
2 FROM THE CLERGY The last few weeks have been community. In the Cathedral we had overshadowed by tragedy and political two vigils for the London and surprise. Manchester attacks with people from The recent terrorist attacks in all backgrounds gathering to pray and London and Manchester as well as the stand together. They were powerful fire in Kensington have shocked the moments expressing solidarity, nation. In the political sphere compassion and peaceful intent. Is it unpredictability appears to have possible that these horrors are become the norm and we now find helping us to rediscover who we are ourselves with a hung parliament and and what really matters? Is it possible a government apparently having to that barriers between people are negotiate Brexit without the mandate being crossed in new ways and we are it wanted. Every time you look at the discovering God at work in all this news you expect another breaking suffering? We should not be surprised story. if that is the case. An appropriate prayer for these times is Psalm 46. In all this turmoil and sadness we have May I encourage you to inhabit it and seen some fantastic examples of draw strength from it. human beings at their best. The incredible bravery of fire fighters, Update on Fundraising police and passers by, the Last September we took on an 8- commitment of medics, the generosity hours per week fundraiser financed by of people providing open doors, food, a legacy. This was part of Chapter’s clothing and pastoral care to the decision to go for financial growth. injured and the shocked and the Helen Thurston has been working resilience that will not give in to very hard for the Cathedral, with terror. Amanda Anderson, and to date has raised over £26,000 for us. This is new Through these tragedies we are money that will enable us to develop rediscovering a real sense of some of our strategic priorities and Dean Jerry Canon Paul Canon Mandy Director of Operations Amanda 3 MISSION continue to pay staff and to make at Bradford Literature Festival least one extra appointment in the This city of ours, nestled in the Education and Visitor department. In heart of Yorkshire, is defined by its addition to this the Music literature, architecture and Department have received an extra landscape; its role as a meeting grant of £6000 towards Choral place for cultures from around the Scholars from the Friends of world; and the stories and Cathedral Music. This is terrific news mythologies around it. Please pick for the Cathedral. up a brochure for details of all the Summer Reading events but if we could draw your Now that the festival seasons are attention to just four: behind us you may be wondering what Can There Be a British Islam? to read during 'Ordinary Time’ as it is Sunday 2 July at 4pm known. Can I recommend to you Bradford College Paula Gooder’s wonderful little book, Bishop Nick joins panellists Myriam Everyday God: The Spirit of the Ordinary. Francois and Ziauddin Sardar as they Paula is a serious Bible scholar who discuss integration within the UK. writes in a very accessible, down to Jerusalem: The Anthem earth way. I have just finished it and Saturday 8 July at 10.30am found it not only informative but also Bradford College spiritually refreshing. It is 33 biblical Dean Jerry joins Ben Okri, Jason passages - one for every week in Whittaker and Boyd Tonkin to Ordinary Time - focusing on the discuss he origins and evolution of profound significance of our everyday this much loved poem which will lives and the way that God is engaged be sung by the Cathedral Choir. with us. The cover invites us to discover Gone: the extraordinary in the most everyday A Girl, a Violin, a Life Unstrung things: in the lives of ordinary people; in a Thursday 6 July at 7.30pm God who defies our best attempts to put Bradford Cathedral him in a gilded palace; in a Kingdom that World-renowned violinist Min Kym is best likened to seeds, yeast and fishing reflects on the highs and lows of nets, and in everyday decisions which, her career - including the theft of lived out with God, have extraordinary her rare beloved Stradivarius. consequences. During the choir break Sunday 9 July at 6.00pm in July and August we shall be reading Bradford Cathedral parts of this book at Evening Prayer An evening of sacred poetry and on Sundays at 4pm. music hosted by Bishop Toby. Jerry Lepine See the brochure for ticket Dean of Bradford prices and how to purchase. 4 MISSION Wellsprings Together Places of Welcome There is a great will and desire within We are working in partnership with churches across England to see their Bradford Council to grow a network communities transformed. so that each neighbourhood has Wellsprings Together Bradford is part places where all people feel safe to of the Church Urban Fund’s national belong, connect and contribute. By the Together Network which is designed summer the network will have at least to extend the reach and impact of 20 Places of Welcome which are open that work by providing a unique each week at the same time. support system for churches and others to change lives and communities together across the country. Wellsprings is a partnership between CUF and a Church of England diocese and was established in 2013. Our Trustee Board is made up of local church activists and leaders including Bishop Toby Howarth as Chair. The They open their doors and ensure Wellsprings team brings expertise and that anyone who enters is given a support to churches and others to warm welcome, free hot drinks and a bring about positive change in their friendly listening ear. The network communities. started with Churches but is also At the moment our key areas of work growing amongst other places of which have emerged as priorities for worship and community buildings. Join local Churches and those within our us at our launch on 6 July. network are: Feeding Bradford We have been working with those who are responding to increasing levels of hunger in our communities by providing crisis food support. We 5 MISSION publish a list of where free food is We work with other partners to served each day across the City (we support their work. One of our key partner with the work in Keighley) partnerships is with WRIB (Welfare and bring together the various Reform Impact Bradford). We hold providers in regular network meetings regular events throughout the year (food banks, hot meal providers, soup to inform faith leaders and activists on kitchens, pay as you feel cafes). issues relevant to the area of We have been invited to be part of Welfare Reform. the Feeding Britain network and will We have a fortnightly newsletter soon be recruiting our first worker so which provides useful updates and is we can expand our work and offer easy to register for via our website. more support in identifying and As ever we remain grateful for the tackling the root causes of food ongoing support and prayers of the poverty. Cathedral for our work. Financial Inclusion Liz Firth We are developing resources in Development Worker partnership with the Bradford District Credit Union and others to be offered to local Churches and others who are working with those who need more support in understanding and preparing for the full roll out of Universal Credit in 2018. Relationships and Communication We recognise the importance of working alongside people and working relationally. We provide one-to-one support where possible for those Churches who are exploring new One bishop ways of working or who want to know Three schools where else good practice is taking Thirty-five children place. A new diocesan initiative saw Bishop We bring together those working or Toby welcome young people to the volunteering for Churches for Cathedral last month. They made occasional lunches to offer some mitres and learnt how to process … support for their work and a chance even sitting in the Cathedra … to reflect theologically on what they before have tea & juice with the are doing, which is often taking place Bishop. A great time was had by all as in a non-Christian context. you can see! 6 MISSION flows from a desire to deepen our understanding of community, enabling all to flourish. The Companion Scheme seeks to create a network where every member of the Cathedral will have someone nearby who looks out for them; noticing when they have not been able to get to church for a awhile and making that friendly phone Cathedral Companions call to see how things are. Scheme - update Who is it for? In April this year the Community The Cathedral Companion Scheme is Committee was pleased to launch the open to anyone who is a regular Cathedral Companion Scheme. To worshipping member of one of the date several members of the congregations. congregation have signed up to be Companions. Training for the How do I sign up for a companion? Companions will begin in September. To become part of the scheme, simply But it’s not too late to join the team fill in the form and hand it to one of of Companions or to be part of the the clergy team. scheme and have a companion. Here’s Who will have my details? a reminder of what it’s all about… Your details will be held securely by Aim the Canon for Mission and Pastoral In the heart of the city, Bradford Development and only shared with Cathedral’s community of faith seeks your assigned Companion and the to live out its core values of faith, Cathedral clergy team.