Diocesan News August 2021 www.leeds.anglican.org Twenty new deacons Generosity ordained at Ripon Cathedral Week comes to the diocese Twenty men and women have The morning service saw begun ministry as deacons Bishop Nick and the three in parish churches across the deans welcome; Emily Tidball, this autumn diocese following two joyful Amanda Ogilvie-Berry, Simon ordination services at Ripon Walters, Emma Walters, Jo Generosity Week is coming Cathedral. Glenwright, Leah Thompson, to the Diocese of Leeds this Lottie Jones, autumn, helping us all to Joshua Peckett, celebrate the generous love Lindsey Fox and of God. Anna Lumb. During Diocesan Generosity The afternoon Week, running from service saw the September 26 through to ordinations of October 3, churches are invited Gemma Fleury, to hold services, run group Jonathan Fleury, Sam Fletcher, Nick Murray, The Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Linzi Blundell, Jenny Bradley, Revd Nick Baines carried out Michelle Lepine, Rosemary both services, which were held Mitchell, Claire Honess and on Saturday, July 3. Diane Komorowski. They include for- sessions, broadcast podcasts, mer teachers, an and distribute readings on the academic in the theme of generosity to their field of Italian communities. Studies, a Profes- sor of Victorian Becky Nicholson, Lead Studies, a social Stewardship Officer, said: worker and four “Generosity is a spiritual gift were ordained at and as Christians we learn the same time as about how to grow this gift as their husband or faithful disciples of God.” wife. I A summer of Former inspector refreshment takes the reins and renewal as a rector Bishop Toby Howarth A former police inspector has been made rector of One of the highlights of my recent Thornton-in-Craven, Marton sabbatical (I’m writing this on and Broughton. my first day back) was a retreat on the island of Iona off the Revd Robert Findlow was west coast of Scotland. It was on inducted by the Archdeacon Iona, she told us, is a place to be Iona that St Columba arrived on of Richmond and Craven, his journey from Ireland in the refreshed by its rugged beauty and peace, drenched in Celtic Jonathan Gough at a service year 563 to establish a monastic led by the Bishop of Leeds, centre from which the Christian spirituality. But after that time of refreshment, renewal and Nick Baines on the first day faith was, in turn, spread far and church congregations were wide. This year we celebrate the re-commitment to Jesus, it is a 1500th anniversary of Columba’s place from which to be sent back birth. to the situations, relationships, joys and challenges to which God In 1938, the visionary Church calls us in our everyday lives. For of Scotland minister George that reason, members of staff MacLeod re-established a and volunteers followed the Iona Christian community on the tradition of escorting us to the island from the Depression-hit ferry to help us with our bags and allowed to sing again after a docks of Glasgow. He did this wave us off with a prayer. year and a half. by bringing unemployed skilled craftsmen and trainee clergy to I very much hope that you will Members of his former Iona to rebuild the ruins of the have an opportunity to take parish in Rochdale, Greater ancient Abbey. some time for a break from your usual routines over the summer, Manchester, joined his wife and two sons and his mother The Iona Community, based even with the remaining Covid along with members of his in Glasgow and on Iona itself restrictions. new parish at the evening thrives to this day, with a strong service held at the church of voice for creative and inclusive But I also pray that at the end St Mary the Virgin, Thornton worship in liturgy and music of that time, whatever it looks on July 19. The congregation grounded in a fierce commitment like, you will know the Holy Spirit sang several hymns although to social justice. Songs of Praise calling you back, refreshed and was recently broadcast from the with a renewed commitment to the advice was for people to Abbey. worship, justice and to sharing continue wearing face masks the good news of Jesus as it was and to use hand sanitiser. The Iona community is deeply shared from and with these hospitable and welcoming. But islands all those centuries ago. Revd Findlow recently retired it is also good at, as the Warden from Greater Manchester told us with a smile, “kicking its Police after 30 years. He had guests off the island” at the end previously earned a degree of their stay. in agriculture from Edinburgh University. II Living in Love and Faith lifts off RSCM August in Huddersfield Deanery course for young singers Living in Love and Young singers are invited to Faith is about honest join a Summer Singing Course conversations within for eight to 18-year-olds the breadth of at Rishworth School, near Anglican opinions and Halifax. understanding, writes Deanery clergy team has Area Dean of Huddersfield, tried to follow its pattern This non-residential course Revd Rachel Firth. Here is an of kind engagement and runs from Monday, August extract from her reflections on mutual support. 23 to Thursday, August running the LLF course with 28, and is being organised her parish. As a Chapter we held two by the Royal School of of the sessions together as Church Music (RSCM). The Huddersfield is a small, but an ‘experiment’ to help us RSCM is an educational diverse Deanery with church all think through how we charity whose mission is communities from across the might use the materials in to ‘promote the study, spectrum of Anglicanism. our varied parishes. At the practice and improvement of end of the course we held an music in Christian worship.’ I’m fortunate to be Area Dean extra session at the request Applications are anticipated to here, and as someone with of the group to discuss how be open until the end of July. a passion for inclusion, I’ve we thought it had gone and what feedback we wished to offer to the process. The group’s recommendations include sending some direct feedback to all our bishops, plus feeding back to the Diocesan LLF Four days of rehearsals, advocates. There is also a worship and workshops led by recommendation that we enthusiastic and experienced looked forward to engaging try to run the course again choral directors have been with Living in Love and Faith. specifically inviting the under planned in order to enable 30s in our congregation to young people to lift their I have always believed that participate. voices together in song. the breadth of Anglicanism is a strength. For the full piece, visit www. More details and booking leeds.anglican.org/news/ can be found on the RSCM LLF engages honestly, kindly living-love-and-faith-lifts- website: www.rscm.org.uk/ and makes every attempt huddersfield-deanery courses/summer-course- to achieve balance across halifax/ that whole breadth and our III News......News.....News.....News.....News.....NewsDiocesan News - August 2021 Pontefract in Nominations bloom open for General Synod Revd Canon June Lawson, Pontefract election As a parish priest in Pontefract, sunflowers confidently tilt Elections for General Synod one of the many delights of their heads to always face the are taking place this year, and living in the town happens at sun. Once fully grown they still the diocese is asking: could the hands of faithful volunteers maintain an eastward facing you stand? who want to ensure that position. the town is beautified with colourful blooms throughout The Christian church is no the summer period. In spring stranger to the significance of the bare soil is planted up and facing eastward for prayer and over the ensuing months the worship. It is rooted in ancient dark soil is lost beneath the tradition -the Garden of Eden canopy of colour provided planted in the East and a belief by a rich variety of flowers that the messiah would approach The nomination period to planted in a variety of displays Jerusalem from the East. stand opened on July 30, 2021 in the town and parkland. and closes on September 8, This year the displays have Perhaps the sunflower models 2021. been especially lovely, maybe a deep truth for us, that because of the ‘dark’ times that growth into maturity comes General Synod is the Covid has presented us all with. through orientation towards legislative body of the Church the sun’s light and warmth. of England and, together with Our local flower shops make As Christians we are called to the Westminster Parliament, their own contribution with prayerfully orientate our lives is one of the only bodies in their window displays and in the direction of the Son of the land entitled to make none of us could have failed to God, whatever the weather. national law for England. raise a smile at the vast array Rowan Williams has written a of sunflowers that greeted the recent book entitled ‘Looking Bishop Nick said: “The shopper entering Marks and East in Winter.’ It’s an evocative General Synod needs people Spencers. Sunflowers have a title. The winter of covid is not who are committed to their lovely capacity to delight the yet past, our lives may have parish and diocese, constantly eye of adult and child alike. held other ‘wintry moments’ looking at national issues Better still when they are in recent times, but let the through that local lens as we growing still in a large field, sunflowers inspire us to keep seek to serve the church.