TheWay The FREE newspaper of the Church in Cumbria – Summer 2019 Broadcaster’s long Angels fly in to help road to ordination festival-goers PAGE 3 PAGE 7 Matt Martinson: ‘I made some enemies inside, simply for being a Christian but, you know what, ARMED I really thank God for my time in prison!’ DAVE ROBERTS ROBBER TURNED VICAR n Matt’s new role after serving time “PRISON wasn’t easy, By Dave Roberts summer, having previously York. After serving nearly four to be a Christian and to follow especially being in there served as vicar in Hull. years - during which time he God. The day before I was “I made some enemies But things could have been drew alongside a prison freed I sent myself a card as a new Christian. There chaplain and came to faith - saying, ‘Don’t forget Jesus were people in there who inside, simply for being a so different; his is a life Christian but, you know what, transformed by faith. he was released and was because he is the one who has wanted to test me all the eventually ordained. got you through all of this’.” I really thank God for my time Matt grew up in a troubled time. Was I this angry in prison!” family and began to truant Matt explains: “I remember Now he, his wife Haley and guy who would always The Rev Matt Martinson from school at the age of 12. being in prison and hearing son Seth have been called to fight back? talks about his amazing He turned to drink and drugs God say to me, ‘One day you Cumbria where he will serve as personal journey of faith as he as his life spiralled into one of will be a vicar’. I burst out Priest in Charge of Carlisle “They constantly wanted to Holy Trinity and St Barnabas trip me up, to prove that I was sits in one of four churches in crime; petty offences escalated laughing saying, ‘Didn’t you Carlisle for which he has just to drug dealing, burglary and just hear what the judge has Team Ministry and Priest in bluffing and that I’d not really Charge of St Luke’s Morton. turned to God. If they pushed been appointed the Priest in ultimately armed robbery. sentenced me to?’ Charge. my buttons, they wanted to see In 1995 he was jailed for 11 “But it was amazing to grow n if I would just simply revert to The 44-year-old begins a years, having committed an as a disciple while in prison. I Turn to page six to the old me. new ministry in the city this armed raid on a post office in left there knowing what it was read Matt’s full story 2 The Way, Summer 2019 www.carlislediocese.org.uk INSIDE EVENTS AT Seeking God’s lead CARLISLE THIS CATHEDRAL EDITION for refreshed vision JULY Thu 18 to Sun 21 – 5.45pm (Thu and Fri), 3pm (Sat and Sun), Choral Evensong. TRANQUILITY Guest choir, Lynwood Singers Sat 20 - 10am to 4pm, Bell Tower Open Day. Book on the day from 10am (£2.50 A quiet adults, children free) place to Tue 23 to Thu 25 - 5.45pm, Choral Evensong. Guest choir, Lay Clerks and reflect Scholars from Isle of Man Cathedral Sat 27 and Sun 28 – 3pm, Choral PAGE 5 Evensong. Guest choir, Melbourne Parish Choir (Derbyshire, not Australia) By Dave Roberts Sun 28 - 6.30pm, Kammerphilharmonie RELIEF Koln Concert by the Cologne Philharmonia. Tickets £16 (concessions Lorraine’s CHRISTIANS are being available) from Carlisle Tourist Information Centre, Old Town Hall journey from encouraged to continue in Tue 30 - 12.45pm, Alexander Ffinch; a debt to faith 100 Days of Prayer as we free, lunchtime organ recital. Alexander seek God’s lead for a was due to play at Notre Dame this refreshed vision to grow summer but due to the fire this is no PAGE 10 longer possible. We have offered him an his kingdom in Cumbria. extra slot on his summer tour to launch Over the last five years, the his latest album. INFOGRAPHICS God for All strategy has seen a AUGUST concerted push towards evange- Bishop Emma: ‘Open our hearts and our ears’ Fri 2 - 5.45pm, Choral Evensong, Unique lism and mission, with dozens of JENNY WOOLGAR PHOTOGRAPHY Morland Choristers Fresh Expressions of churches Sat 3 - 3pm, Choral Evensong, Morland approach created and the formation of more one who was drawn to ministry 100 Days of Prayer page. Choristers to Bible than 30 mission communities. in Cumbria by the God for All The call to prayer is being Mon 5 to Sun 11 - 5.45pm weekdays and The vision continues to be vision, I firmly believe it pro- welcomed by all four denomina- 3pm Sat and Sun, Choral Evensong. PAGE 14 rolled out ecumenically between vides a sound bedrock on which tional leaders. The Rev Richard Guest choir, University of Bristol Church the four partner denominations – to build and refresh. But it is Teal, outgoing Chair of the Choir the Methodist Church, United vital that we open our hearts and Cumbria Methodist District, Sat 17 to Mon 26 – Exhibition by Cum- CONTACT US our ears to God’s calling about said: “We have journeyed a long brian artist Christine Hurford, south aisle Reformed Church, Diocese of Sat 17 and Sun 18 - 3pm, Choral Carlisle and the Salvation Army what should be the next steps. So way together and now we need we’re turning to him in prayer to to saturate the future in prayer Evensong. Guest choir, the Heritage EDITOR & – alongside companion churches. Singers from Leeds ADVERTISING: The current strategy runs to ask for his guidance.” and listening so that we hear Sun 25 to Sat 31 – 3pm Sat and Sun, and Dave Roberts the end of 2020 so work is now The 100 days of prayer began what God is saying to us.” 5.45pm weekdays, Choral Evensong. on Pentecost Sunday and will The Salvation Army’s Tel: 01768 807764 underway to begin looking be- Guest choir, Choir of St Mary’s Maldon yond that date. An important first finish on September 17. It will Divisional Commander, Major (Essex) Mobile: 07469 153658 step has seen the Bishop of Pen- be followed by a further 100 Roger Batt, said: “Someone once OCTOBER Email: communications@ rith, the Rt Rev Dr Emma Ine- days of listening, running up to said, ‘Seven days without prayer Sat 5 – 5pm, Royal School of Church carlislediocese.org.uk son, call for Christians across Christmas Day. makes one weak’! For me, 100 Music Festival Cumbria to come together in Suggested daily prayers are days of prayer invites us as a Sat 26 – 7pm, Salvation Army Interna- The Way is the newspaper of the Church in prayer for 100 days. available for download on the people, as a church together, to tional Staff Band Concert (tickets TBC Cumbria. It is produced in partnership from Salvation Army between the Church of England Diocese of Bishop Emma said: “As some- God for All website’s associated be of immense power.” Carlisle, the Methodist District of Cumbria, the United Reformed Church in Cumbria and Churches Together in Cumbria. Through Churches Together in PRAYER WALL Cumbria, we ensure coverage of and distribution to the Roman Catholic, Salvation Army, Quakers and independent Here are some of the prayers churches. The editorial team is made up of the received so far as we seek God’s We pray that of representatives from across the you for reminding us aware of C guidance about a refreshed vision. Help us be hristians in Cum denominations. Dear Lord, Thanking for our local schools. We may work togetherbri a who took part in You can send in your own reflections your presence with The purpose of The Way is to reflect the importance of pray Year 6 children for Church in Cumbria to itself and to our pray for the six via [email protected] us each day. Show the Kingdom. communities more widely. our Mothers’ Union meeting at Westnewton on us how to love and d for the We do not seek to promote any Thursday. May they read the Scriptureen Union care for particular theological viewpoint, but rather were given ‘Jesus = A fri th you ulnerable in our aim to stimulate debate by featuring writers tracts they asting friendship wi Creator God, v s from a variety of church traditions and from ever’ and discover l We give you thanks for all your society. Show u Lord Jesus. Jesus we society more widely. blessings, how to share We pray that While we are happy to consider with others. unsolicited submissions, we operate that you are truly for all, might put prayer first and that all is for you. ll our lives and largely on a system of commissions and do in a of not guarantee to publish any materials Lord Jesus, know the value received. T for those We give you thanks that you call us silence. The views and opinions of contributors hat people Can we pray in Cumbria to be your disciples That we might help and advertisers do not necessarily reflect who are ‘hidden’ in ourthe May we divisions the views and opinions of the partners. may find in ed, and to live as witnesses of your recognise your to heal the county: the isolat good news. communities. 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