This week Val writes:
In the UK today, we are no longer a Christian nation, generally paying only token gestures to the faith. Yes, in some of our Royal ceremonies and in Parliament where sittings in both Houses begin with prayers which follow the Christian faith but there is currently no multi-faith element. Attendance is voluntary. We also have a State church, the Church of England. I say this to contrast with the following story, known by many, but probably not everyone.
This last week saw the beginning of the thirty-third Olympiad, hosted by France. The venue in which the hockey will be played, is the Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir and is famous for a remarkable race in 1924. You may well have seen the film Chariots of Fire which recounts the story of Eric Liddell (and Harold Abrahams). Eric, from Scotland was a devout Christian and when he learned that his races, the 100-metre sprint, which he was expected to win, and the 4 x 100 metre, and 4 x 400 metre relays would be run on a Sunday, he refused to take part. For him Sunday was for God, so it would be breaking the Sabbath day, and at the last minute he switched to the 400 metres, run on another day. The press gave him a hard time, but he believed it would not be honouring to God to run on a Sunday. He won the 400 metres in record time! Having no time for the media’s hero worship, he soon returned to China (where he had been born to Christian missionaries) and continued his family’s missionary work. He died there in 1945 in a Japanese internment camp.
A final touch: Harold Abrahams won the 100-metre sprint so at least it still came back to the UK.
We rarely hear today, in this country, of people standing so firmly for their Christian beliefs. However, in countries around the world, many Christians are persecuted and put to death for their faith. (See the organisation Open Doors online for further information.) Here is a very worrying statistic: Of the 16% of people who define as belonging to the Church of England, 51.9% never attend services and in fact only 10.7% of people who identify with the Church of England report attending church at least weekly.
I ask myself, and you, what would make us publicly stand and support our faith in the face of opposition?
CHRISTIAN AID
We were able to send £355 to Christian Aid this week. Thank you to those who sponsored Michael and Jess for their walk across the Humber Bridge. Thank you too, to Michael and Jess for their efforts.
MESSY CHURCH
Many thanks to all those who helped in any way to make it a fun time for the children.
MEET DAVE
Dave works as the Manager of Hancocks Cash & Carry in Hull. For the last 2 years Dave has supported Hull Minster by donating sweets for the Teddy Bear's picnic and Easter bunny trails. He was kind enough to donate 300 bags of sweets, which will be distributed to the children who attend this year’s Teddy Bear's picnic on the 24th of August. See you there!
LOUISE’S FAREWELL
Don’t forget Louise’s farewell BBQ in the vicarage grounds (St. John’s Newland) on 17th August at 6 p.m.
HULL MINSTER TOWER POST BOX
We have now got a great selection of postcards for sale for those on a tower tour. Here are the first two people posting theirs in the post box on the top of the tower. The two couples, both originally from Hull and visit Hull regularly. One now lives in Newcastle and the other in Wiltshire.
If you are booked on a tower tour and would also like to use this post-box you can obtain your cards from the shop, they already have postage stamps on them and will be franked ‘posted from the top of Hull Minster tower’.
APOLOGIES FOR THERE BEING NO ‘LIFELINE’ LAST WEEK
COLLECT FOR THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
God of glory, the end of our searching,
help us to lay aside all that prevents us from seeking your kingdom,
and to give all that we have to gain the pearl beyond all price,
through our Saviour Jesus Christ.
AMEN
READINGS FOR THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
Psalm 130
Ephesians 4:25-5.2
John 6:35,41-51
PRAYER POINTS FOR THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
· We pray for the many areas of the world where there is conflict. We ask for peace and reconciliation, where dialogue can replace weapons.
· For food supplies and aid to reach the desperate.
· We pray especially for a peaceful settlement in Israel and Gaza.
· For all those who have been recently bereaved. Comfort them in their sorrow.
· For children and their families during the school break, asking that none may go hungry and help us to do our part in supporting them and the food banks around the city.
· For the newly elected government as they grapple with major issues, that they may work for the good of the country.
· For all those awaiting exam results, that they may find the right path in life regardless of the outcome.
DIARY FOR THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS
