Easter 2018 Bishop Toby’s Easter Greetings “Christos anesti!” my hairy Greek college for just a few minutes, some for much us in ways that we could not express roommate used to shout loudly and longer. ourselves. embarrassingly on Easter morning, We came away encouraged by the May the risen Christ be powerfully “Christ is risen!” And he taught me to desire for prayer that we found in one present in all of our lives and our shake off my English reserve and shout another, and the opportunity to be churches this Easter, and may the Spirit back, “Alethos anesti! – He is risen silent together, as well as to bring our lead us also to where God is at work in indeed!” different needs, and those of the our families, our friends, our schools That joyful Easter greeting which began communities and the world around us, and colleges, our places of work and when the disciples shared their to God. leisure. “Go ahead,” says Jesus, “and I’ll encounters with their risen Lord still meet you there!” I would love to do more praying with echoes around the world, especially so people around the Episcopal Area, after the weeks of Lent that we have maybe in deaneries or parishes. If walked through together. others would like to take this further, This year, each of the bishops in our please get in touch! diocese spent a day in one or more of My experience, sitting in Bradford our cathedrals or churches for prayer Cathedral that Saturday, was that the and, where appropriate, fasting. Many risen Christ was with us, by his Spirit, people from parishes, chaplaincies and teaching us to pray and even praying in sister churches came to join us – some The Easter BEAN by Tamar Howarth IN THIS EDITION… Baildon Choir… Holy Week in the Area Diocesan Youth Service… BRADFORD Katherine Grasham, Youth and Children’s worker writes… Following on from our local event Ignite, where our team partnered with Church Growth, I have been working with local clergy, youth workers, and ecumenical partners to see how we can connect young people from different churches in our area. We are currently looking at replicating the model of a group called Unite, who meet monthly around BAILDON CHOIR ON SONG churches in northern Bradford and take it in turns to host their young people to eat, worship and have fun together. I visited The Revd Sandra Benham, vicar of achieved in such a short amount of the current Unite group back in Baildon writes… time. September, as well as getting the low- In October 2015, the choir of St Two of the original adults, Judith and down at one of their planning meetings, John's, Baildon, consisted of just seven Ian Ibbotson, commented that, 'The and I was so impressed with how well they dedicated adults. Two and a half years children have really enhanced the all work together. We are really looking later, on Saturday February 3rd 2018, leading of weekly worship with their forward to developing more Unite-style at 4.00pm, we held a service of enthusiasm, exuberance and meetings across the Bradford area. celebration and thanksgiving at St commitment; they are a joy and a If you’re interested in getting involved John’s for the musical life of the blessing.' Along with her husband with something like this, or if our team parish. This service was led by the Chris, Joan Dearnley (another can help you with anything in your choir (which at the last count had longstanding member of the choir), ministry to children, youth or families, reached twenty-three members - has been a founder member of the such as Messy Church, confirmation or including thirteen talented and Worship Band. Joan feels that, ‘with good practice, please get in touch. enthusiastic children), the massed piano, saxophone, clarinet, harp, chorus of St John's Voices (members violin, guitar, flute, cornet and drums Katherine Grasham 0113 3530 235 of the local community) and the - played by musicians ranging from [email protected] younger children's St John's Little nine years old to retirement – this Voices. With the addition of the must be one of the most varied bands parish's four highly skilled organists in the diocese!’. and pianists, along with the newly- formed Worship Band, the service was a true celebration through worship, prayer and music of what has been 3 Thy Kingdom Come - BDCSA – Who we are and what we do? 10 to 20 May 2018 The Bradford Diocesan Council for Social Aid (BDCSA) is a small local Charitable From Canon Paul Maybury. Trust, originally managed by the Diocese of Bradford, and now by the Diocese of Leeds, and made up of Trustees who are appointed by the Bishop’s Council. The 10 days, from Ascension Day to Pentecost, have been increasingly It exists to enable the Church of England in the Bradford Episcopal Area to meet the recognised, around the world and needs of people. It is therefore keen to receive grant applications from churches and across the denominations, as a time church-based organisations that are looking for the resources that they need to do this. for Christians to pray for others to The Charity supports any charitable activity connected with the Church of England in find faith in Jesus. To this end many the Bradford Episcopal Area and with particular emphasis on the following: - resources are available on the website: a) To assist in the promotion of youth work and work amongst the elderly. www.thykingdomcome.global b) To support churches who are seeking to support work with the needy or To encourage churches, during the destitute within their parishes. ten days of Thy Kingdom Come, c) To support work in helping the integration of different ethnic groups there will be a Diocesan Celebration d) The provision of support to those with addictions particularly in the areas of on Sunday 13 May from 3pm - drugs, alcohol and gambling 6pm at Bradford Cathedral. There will be worship led by the There are two types of grant: Voices in Praise Gospel Choir from Small Grants: Up to £500 to encourage the planning of a new project, or to meet the New Testament Church of God the costs of starting a project. in Leeds; Joe King and band. There will be prayer spaces and creative Large Grants: Grants can be for up to £3,000 in any one year ways of engaging with the priorities Grant funding is available for this year. of Thy Kingdom Come; Information stalls from various organisations; a For more information about the fund or to request and application form please contact talk from Bishop Nick; Refreshments Mr. Peter Capel-Cure, by email to [email protected] or phone 01423 and resources. 771179 The event is suitable for all ages. A programme with more detail will be available nearer the time. In the meantime, please plan to come by booking here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/thy -kingdom-come-diocesan- celebration-tickets-43503186201 Contact Canon Paul Maybury for more information BRADFORD Lay Training Opportunities. Diocesan group visit Sudan Please find details below of various training Canon Paul Maybury was one of eight people from across the diocese who recently visited opportunities for lay people in the coming our link dioceses in the Province of Sudan: months. If you have any queries or any ideas for It was only last year future training please feel free to contact Sharon that the 5 dioceses in Bavington, the Lay Training Officer for the Sudan became the Bradford Area, newest Province in the [email protected] Anglican Communion and Ezekiel made ‘Bible in a Day’, Exploring the Big Story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Archbishop. He sends April 14th 9.30am-3.45pm. St. John’s his greetings to us and Great Horton. Saint Street. BD7 4AB. Bring your own lunch, drinks particularly to those provided. Book with Carol Stenner who have prayed for him over many years. The visit was designed to strengthen [email protected] the meaningful and supportive links between our dioceses. We travelled Disciples Making Disciples with Matt extensively across the country visiting churches and schools and engaging in Summerfield from Urban Saints. ‘Grow Your Faith and Help Others to do the many wide-ranging conversations. Sometimes offering observations and advice Same’. Thursday 26th April 7.30pm. St. and other times simply rejoicing in our common humanity and shared faith. John’s Bowling. Neville Road, Bradford. BD4 8QS. Tickets £4 booked in advance, or £5 on the door. Under 21’s The Anglican church in Sudan is alive and well despite being a small minority in FREE. Please book by email: a Muslim context. The members of the church are often those who are poorest [email protected] or see Urban Saints in the community and many are internally displaced people. These people have endured much hardship in their lives. Many are widows as their husbands were ‘Help Me To Pray for Others’ With killed in the fighting. workshops including; ‘starting a healing prayer team’, ‘praying for forgiveness’ Like other parts of the church in Africa the Christians often declare, "God is and ‘when prayer is not answered’. June 30th 9.30am – 3pm. St. Peter’s Shipley, good, all the time. All the time, God is good.". Whilst there we were blessed Moorhead Lane. BD18 4JN. Bring your by their joy, their generosity and their hope. We saw toilets and classrooms own lunch, drinks provided. Book with Carol Stenner which had been funded by the generosity of churches in this diocese and could [email protected] see, at first hand, the very real difference that these, relatively small things, had Lay Conference ‘Together in Faith’.