Remembering, Giving Thanks and Holding on to Hope
Dear Friends,
November is a month in the Church’s year that invites us to pause and reflect. As the leaves fall and the days grow shorter, we are reminded of the passing of time, our own mortality, and the preciousness of life. It is a time for remembering, giving thanks, and looking with hope towards the future.
As we look around our troubled world, with wars continuing to devastate lives and communities, it can be difficult to know where to turn. So much suffering can leave us feeling helpless. Yet, as Christians, we are called to be people of faith and hope, trusting that even in the darkest moments, God's love remains steadfast. We may not understand all that is happening, but we can hold on to the assurance that ‘Christ has got this.’ Not because everything will always go as we wish, but because our lives and our world ultimately remain in his loving hands.
A season of remembrance
The coming weeks bring us through some of the most significant moments in the Church's year.
On All Saints' Day, we celebrate the faithful witness of those who have gone before us. On All Souls' Day, we remember those we have loved and lost, giving thanks for their lives and entrusting them to God's eternal mercy. At Hull Minster, we are surrounded by the prayers, stories and memories of generations who have worshipped here. We inherit a precious legacy and have a responsibility to care for it.
On Remembrance Sunday, we honour those who have sacrificed their lives in war and remember all who continue to suffer in the many conflicts of our time. Our remembrance is not simply about looking backwards; it calls us to pray and work for peace, justice and reconciliation in our own time.
Then, as the Church's year draws to a close, we celebrate Christ the King. We proclaim Jesus as King of all creation and the eternal judge, before whom all things will ultimately be brought into the light of God's truth and justice. Yet our judge is also the Saviour who loved us enough to give his life for us. Our hope rests not in our own achievements, but in his grace and mercy.
We do not know what the future holds, but we know the one in whom we trust. Christ is King, Christ is our hope, and Christ holds the future.
Looking ahead: Hull Minster's heritage
There is also much exciting work taking place behind the scenes at Hull Minster as we prepare a major bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
This is a significant undertaking, involving detailed research, careful planning, specialist advice and conversations about how best to care for our historic building and share its stories with future generations. A major part of this will be the rebuilding of the Grand Organ. Much of this work may not be immediately visible, but it is essential as we develop our vision for the Minster's future.
This is about more than bricks and mortar. Hull Minster is a place of worship, welcome, history and belonging. We want to ensure that its heritage is protected, its stories are shared, and it continues to serve the people of Hull for generations to come.
Please keep James Cameron, our Heritage Manger an others involved in this work in your prayers as we seek wisdom, develop our plans and explore the opportunities ahead.
Thank you
Finally, I want to offer a heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributes to the life of Hull Minster.
Thank you for your time, your prayers, your practical help and your financial generosity. Whether you welcome visitors, support our worship, care for the building, volunteer behind the scenes or give regularly towards our ministry, you are helping to make Hull Minster a place where people can encounter the love of God.
Every contribution matters. The faithfulness of generations before us has given us the Minster we cherish today, and our faithfulness will help shape the Minster that future generations inherit.
As we journey towards the end of the year, may we remember with gratitude, serve with generosity and face the future with confidence. The world may be uncertain, the seasons may change, and our own lives may be fleeting, but God's love endures.
May we continue to be a community of faith, hope and love, trusting in Christ, our King, who holds us and our future in his hands.
With every blessing,
Canon Dominic Black, Vicar
💚Volunteer Christmas Tree
This year, our volunteers are entering a tree in the Lord Mayor's Christmas Tree Festival, hosted in Hull Minster. The theme for our tree reflects the wide range of places visitors come from, as written in our Visitors' Book. Visitors have come from places including São Paulo, Brazil; Mexico; Hong Kong; Arizona; Johannesburg; and every area of the United Kingdom. In other words: Hull Minster Welcomes the World.
We need help from volunteers and anyone else interested in making decorations for the tree. In November, so that people can come and help make decorations, a number of times are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays (see times below). There are also decorations that can be made at home. The most important thing is to get as many people as possible involved in decorating the tree. It needs to be ready by the end of November.
Decoration workshop times are: Thursday, 5th November, 10-12; Tuesday, 10th November, 1-2.30; Tuesday, 17th November, 1-2.30; Thursday, 19th, 10-12; Tuesday, 24th November, 1-2.30; Thursday, 26th November, 10-12.30.
If you need more information, please contact
Charlotte.Dent@hullminster.org or John Lawson, who will be running the decoration workshops.
💚Poppy Display
We've started getting them on the netting! Still need more poppies, but it's all coming together 😊
💚Alphabet of Hull
We are part of “Alphabet of Hull” and our beautiful M is live.
Thank you team crafters.
💚Local Sponsors
We're absolutely delighted to announce that our wonderful neighbours at Trinity Tavern and Dexters Bar have come on board as sponsors of Hull Minster!
Support from fantastic local businesses like these means so much to us. Their generosity helps us continue to keep the doors of Hull Minster open, welcoming the people of Hull and visitors to our beautiful city every single day.
And you can show your support too!
💚Windows
Goodbye, windows!
We'll see you again in January!
💚Christmas webpage is live
Christmas — Hull Minster events and services
Calendar — Hull Minster our usual what’s on page
Please take a look and let Becky know of any errors.
💚Cappuccino
We always knew we had great coffee and now TikTok agrees.
Sea Field and Factory Service
We had an excellent turn out at our Harvest Festival Civil Service - Sea Field and Factory Service Thank you to everyone who came and made it happen.
A big thank you to our sponsors Qwikflowers whose excellent blooms made a smashing display and thank you too, to our volunteer flower team. Photo credit Ellie Hardy
💚The Freetown Society
Dear Rob
On behalf of Cecil Jones, Chair of The Freetown Society, and members of the community, I would like to express my sincere thanks for inviting me to be part of the Black History Month service at Hull Minster, as part of the Diocese of York.
Aware this was a historic and significant occasion for the the Diocese of York, Hull Minster and a first time for The Freetown Society being part of this special service. It was an honour to participate in an occasion that celebrated, commemorated and recognised Black history, heritage and contributions within our communities.
We are grateful to have been included in this important moment and look forward to building on this opportunity by working collaboratively with Hull Minster, the Diocese of York and the wider community in the future.
Once again, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Rob, the Reverend Dr Dominic of Hull Minster, Bishop Eleanor Sanderson, the Diocese of York, the clergy and everyone involved in organising and delivering the service. Your collective efforts helped make this a meaningful and memorable occasion.
Thank you for welcoming the Freetown Society and giving us the opportunity to be part of this important moment in our shared history.
With sincere thanks and best wishes,
Karen Okra
On behalf of Cecil Jones, Chair of the Freetown Society, and members of the community
💚Pasco's meal voucher prize draw
OCTOBER WINNER - YVONNE TURNER
Articles for Lifeline by 24th to becky.howes@hullminster.org - many thanks