Diocese of York Newsletter
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News from the Church of Diocese of York England between the Humber and Newsletter the Tees April 2011 Church campaign puts Real Easter Egg in UK supermarkets A church backed campaign has succeeded in convincing retailers to stock The Real Easter Egg, the UK’s first and only Fairtrade charity egg to mention Jesus on the box. Morrison’s, Waitrose, Co-op and Booths are to stock a limited ‘trial listing’ of the Real Easter Egg and sell it in their biggest stores. A number of independent shops and a selection of cathedrals are also stocking The Real received national and international Easter Egg. Hundreds of Traidcraft attention and was backed by the supporters have also ordered Archbishop of York and other church thousands of eggs on behalf of their leaders. communities. David Marshall, speaking for the Despite selling over 80 million Easter Meaningful Chocolate Company, eggs a year, supermarkets initially said; “We are delighted that our turned down The Real Easter Egg, customers have made The Real unsure if there was a place for a Easter Egg such a success. I think we charity-faith egg in their Easter have proven that people are not range. afraid to buy The Real Easter Egg and we hope we have changed the face of In September 2010 a campaign to Easter forever.” prove demand for The Real Easter Egg was launched by the Church of Visit www.realeasteregg.co.ukfor England’s Bishop of Manchester. It more details. 1 We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song I love watching football when I can. We have some great football teams in the region, and whoever you support, on match days there is often a real buzz around our local grounds. The sound of fans singing can be heard in the surrounding streets – and depending on the result, the singing at the end of the match may be more or less subdued! As we look towards our celebrations of Easter, we are reminded that we are a people who have been given the greatest song of all: ‘Alleluia! Christ is never promised an easy journey, risen!’ but He did promise His presence every step of the way. But this is a hard won and costly song to sing. As we observe this And His promise is that the season of Lent we are reminded destination is sure. that our discipleship follows the way of the cross. Following Jesus For the road that leads to the is a demanding journey. If we are cross is also the road that leads to thrive on the journey it is to new life. The resurrection of important that we spend time in Jesus reminds us that nothing is personal prayer and reading the beyond the power of God to bring Bible. Lent gives us the transformation, not even death. opportunity to let go of whatever This Easter may you know that may be holding us back on our power of God that raised Jesus journey, as well as helping us to from the dead at work in your make sure that we are spending life. May you be enabled to join time on things that will renew in with the greatest song of all: our faith and vision. Think of ‘Alleluia! Christ is risen!’. Lent as singing practice! We are an Easter people and Where we find life tough, we are Alleluia is our song. reminded that we travel with Jesus. We are not alone. Jesus +Sentamu Ebor 2 1811 - 2011 and beyond! The Bicentenary Celebrations of The Revd Paul the National Society (200 years Mothersdale in of Church Schools) were Thornton Dale officially launched on Education (pictured) had been Sunday, Feb 20th, on the theme more forward of ‘Firm Foundations’. Here’s thinking and how two parishes marked the planned the service event. for Sunday 13th February! It was In West Buckrose we realised held in the CE rather too late that this primary school particular Sunday - always the (which some church members 9th Sunday after Christmas - was had never visited) to cement the the start of half term! This special relationship between somewhat hampered the Church and school, with involvement of schools, other representatives from both groups than in the beautiful artwork working together to plan and displayed in the church. The deliver the service. Each class youngest church members wrote a prayer on the theme competed with building blocks to ‘Firm Foundations’, read by the illustrate the well-known story of children during the service. the wise and foolish builders. Children and staff shared the The older members reflected on school values, and the their own schooling and shared congregation created a ‘prayer what it gave them on paper wall’ of thoughts and prayers for ‘bricks’ which were made into a school, church and community. ‘prayer wall’. The importance of Church members who regularly those early foundations emerged contribute to school life talked clearly in a lovely variety of ways, about what they do in school and from particular subjects and the benefits for both parties. special teachers, to ‘love of music’, ‘getting on with others’, An agape was shared and ‘forgiveness’. refreshments were served after the service, with tours of school led by some of the children. Church and school enjoyed worshipping together as one and benefited from greater mutual understanding and sense of community. Viv Todd, Assistant Director of Education 3 Big Environment Celebration at York Minster As part of the Year of the Environment, we’re having a Big Environment Celebration event at York Minster on Saturday 28th May at 10am. It will be opened by Archbishop Sentamu, there will be drama sketches performed by the Riding Lights Theatre Company, and on the theme of ‘God’s Creation’ - exhibitions outlining what we can do showing your art. To enter, create an to care for our environment and how artwork in whatever medium you we can become better stewards. York like, take a photo (or several photos Minster visitor guides will also offer if it’s a sculpture) and send it to tours to explore the Minster's hidden Eleanor Course at green secrets. [email protected] or by post to Diocesan House by 26 April. Churches in the Diocese of York can enter the Minster free of charge - all The competition will be judged by the you need to do is bring along a copy Dean of York, the Very Revd Keith of this article with you. Jones; art lecturer, Viola Jones; and the Minster's Collections Manager, There will also be an art exhibition Vicky Harrison. More Than Gold As part of their planning towards the Olympics in 2012, One Voice York Since the 1996 Atlanta Games, the has invited Jon Burns, UK Director of Christian community’s involvement ‘More than Gold’ to speak on how with the world’s major sporting churhes can use the Olympics as a events has been under the banner of mission opportunity. “More than Gold”, established in the UK as a charitable trust in 2008 and You are invited to attend his supported by all the main presentation on Wednesday 27 April denominations as well as over 60 at St. Columba’s United Reformed Christian organisations and mission Church, York at 9.15am. Tickets agencies. must be booked: contact Juliet You can find out more at Wright on 07811 496602 or www.morethangold.org.uk. [email protected]. 4 Great is the Mystery of Faith Paul Ferguson said, “In ’Great is the Mystery of Faith’ I have tried to explore the words we use in everyday worship, and to unlock some of the background and meaning behind them. We can become so familiar with the words of prayers that we don’t always think about them, and I wanted to look at them afresh and suggest ways they can help our growth and understanding.” ‘Great is the Mystery of Faith’ is The Ven. Paul Ferguson, Archdeacon printed by Canterbury Press, price of Cleveland and Warden of Readers £12.99, ISBN 978 1 84825 055 0. has a book published - ‘Great is the Mystery of Faith: Exploring Faith Through the Words of Worship’. Fashion Show at Holy Trinity Church, Hull Holy Trinity Church, Hull, will host a fashion show on 30th April as the highlight of Hull's Fashion Week, organised by Hull BID. The Fashion Week runs from 25-30 April, is intended to promote local fashion retailers and associated businesses in the city and to boost trade for the city’s leisure sector. The Revd Neal Barnes, Vicar of Holy Trinity Church said, “We're delighted to be hosting the Hull BID fashion show. A fashion show is about creativity and colour and music and I think it's important that the church celebrates local creativity and supports the local economy.” 5 Jesus and all that jazz hundred, set up the lights and sound and waited. In the event nearly ninety people, churchgoers and non- churchgoers, came from our own and surrounding villages and the atmosphere was excellent. Drinks were drunk, nibbles nibbled and everyone seemed happy as the band played and sang to the highest standards. I thought back to the We in the Waggoners Benefice had wedding party that Jesus attended been seeking new ways to share the and wondered if it would have been good news of Jesus Christ with our something like this. local community for some time when a jazz group called Deep Roots, We are praying that it will have made based at St.John Newland in Hull, more people think positively about offered to put on a Jazz Cafe with a following God and would like to gospel talk in Wetwang village hall.