Diocesan News Advent 2020 www.leeds.anglican.org Building our home together Where every- Bishop Nick Baines one knows Every Christmas we your name hear afresh those defiant words from Revd Canon John’s Gospel: “The Rachel Firth light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not I’ve always thought parish overcome it.” This communities are like the last year, with the signature tune to the old sitcom pandemic and its Cheers. “You want to go where consequences, has people know people are all the put us all on the same. You want to go where spot: is that text simply a bit of So, where is the light that everybody knows your name.” religious comfort stuff, or does cannot be overcome by the Moving jobs at the start of this it stand the test of reality? darkness? pandemic my name was one of the few things my new parish Well, there has certainly This question pushes us back knew about me. Despite the been plenty of darkness. Last to that first Christmas. Jesus pandemic we have been able Christmas we were beginning was born into a world in which to get to know one another to hear of a strange disease life was cheap and power better – both in online events and in China; within a couple of everything. Mortality was worship, and just picking up the months we were facing a less an inconvenient fact and phone too. We found ourselves complete lockdown of ‘normal’ more a daily confrontation. free from many preconceived life across Europe and much The darkness of military ideas about what was ‘normal’ of the world. Hundreds of occupation and imperial - because nothing was – and thousands of people have died oppression coloured the whole we have felt our way together across the globe, and in this of life for everyone. Light was as community through the country we have seen people a distant hope. strangeness. dying alone or in isolation, the NHS almost overwhelmed, But, this is the point. The I’d say we’re cautiously hopeful and no element of society radical challenge to this right now. We’ve got better left unscathed. Businesses world (and world view) was at moving things on a little – have suffered, the economy precisely this: God is present not being defeated by 3 steps is stricken, and the end is still far off. (Continued on page 2) (Continued on page 2) I Building our home together Where every- one knows (Continued from page 1) I believe that it is the same your name light of Jesus Christ that in the midst of this darkness, will illuminate our path as and not simply waiting for we move towards a new (Continued from page 1) better times before intruding. year like no other we have People looked for God in the experienced since the Second forward, 2 steps back. To offer resolution of their plight; World War. Uncertain? Yes. a Yorkshire-sounding Beatles Jesus speaks of being the light Fearful? Maybe. Demanding? reference - “Got to admit it’s even where the darkness and Definitely. And most people getting better, a little better all suffering persist. across our globe live like the time (it couldn’t get much this every day. We have an worse.)” Despite the restrictions opportunity to discover afresh imposed on us in the last the radical, light-shedding, year, the prayer and worship shocking surprise that life of the Christian Church Christmas represents, and to has continued. It has looked live it out in the year to come. different for many people, but it has been creatively pursued. When Jesus grew up and Christians have prayed for began his public ministry he their communities; clergy set out his manifesto in the have conducted funerals words of Isaiah - it had to do and weddings, holding open with turning the world’s values space for celebration and upside down and opting into Revd Canon Rachel Firth rites of passage; pastoral the uncertainties. We might care has gone beyond our not be in control of events, It’s been tough not being able to congregations and across but we can serve Christ and label the mid-point – the place parishes; chaplaincies his people whatever the world and time after which the only have witnessed sacrificial throws our way. way is up. Despite this as we’ve commitment; teachers and hung on in together amazing schools, NHS frontline work, So, Christmas is coming things have happened. People and those who have stepped whether or not the goose is have joined our worshipping in to support business, retail getting fat. The world and our community, relationships have and other essential areas of circumstances - including the changed and grown with key our common life; food banks resources at our disposal - will organisations in our town as we and wider service of people keep changing. God will not. have been able to say “We’re faced by unprecedented need; And the Jesus who brought praying for you…. and we can help engagement of churches his light into this world will be with that.” in local authority strategic walking with us every step. and reactive responses to I’m happy to have come to serve immense challenge. This is not Bishop Nick Baines a community who may not know an exhaustive list, but merely Bishop of Leeds your name yet – but they are illustrative. In the name of certainly always glad you came. Christ there is much light being It’s getting so much better all the shed in the darkness. time. 2 3 Adapting to change by the grace of God Revd Canon Angela Dick “What a year we’ve had!” I am always encouraged by That’s an expression we often God’s Word and I particularly hear but this year, so much love Paul’s words here in 2 more than most, everyone will Corinthians 4:8-9: be able to use that expression because we’ve all been on “We are pressed on every side a roller coaster of a journey by troubles, but we are not together in our country and crushed. We are perplexed, throughout the world. A but not driven to despair. We pandemic; political uncertainty; are hunted down, but never • I will not allow you to be mental health decline on the abandoned by God. We get crushed. rise; the death of George knocked down, but we are not • I will never abandon you. Floyd and Black Lives – do they destroyed.” • I will give you the strength Matter or not? and the courage to keep These words have rung true for going. We have seen tremendous loss me time after time when I have of life, traditions, togetherness faced difficulties in my life. May the Wonderful, and yet, for those of us who Counsellor, Mighty God, choose to follow Jesus there When God walks with us everlasting Father and Prince is hope. The Church has had We are not crushed. of Peace meet with each and to adapt to so much change We are not driven to despair. every one of us through Advent - how we worship, how we We are never abandoned by and the Christmas season and care for one another and how God and... bring us his joy to carry us into we can continue to serve our We are not destroyed. a new year with hope. communities in the midst of a pandemic. And many in our I love that! During this Advent Diocese have found ways to be season of hope though it church, by the Grace of God, might not seem so at time, though we are a scattered Emmanuel, ‘God with us’ is community. present. We can’t pretend that life has As a new year approaches been great this year but maybe with all its unknowns and we can recognise the moments uncertainties, as Children of of time when it has been good God we can be certain that because God is present no God’s promises to you and me matter what we have faced and are: will face and God is good. 2 3 Bishop Jonathan appointed CofE Leeds Minster safeguarding lead receives £327k for vital roof HUDDERSFIELD The Bishop of Bishop Jonathan and Bishop Huddersfield, Jonathan Gibbs Debbie will work closely repairs has been announced as the with the national director of Church of England’s new lead safeguarding Melissa Caslake, LEEDS Leeds Minster has safeguarding bishop, taking over who took up the role six months received a much-needed from Bishop Peter Hancock, the ago, along with the all members grant of £326,237 from the Bishop of Bath and Wells, who of the National Safeguarding Government’s £1.57billion leaves the role at the end of Team as they continue Culture Recovery Fund to pay February. to develop the Church’s for vital roof restoration. safeguarding practice. Bishop Jonathan, a member The Minster is one of 445 of the House of Bishops, will Bishop Jonathan will chair the heritage organisations across be supported by the Bishop of National Safeguarding Steering the country set to receive a Southampton, Debbie Sellin, Group, the delegated House of welcome financial boost from Bishops body responsible for the emergency fund help making national safeguarding decisions. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby said: “We are truly grateful to Bishop Peter who as lead safeguarding bishop, represented the Church at its three IICSA hearings over the past two years as well as leading on the response both to the recommendations and the important calls for change from survivors.