This week Revd. Irene writes:
In a few days time we will, once more, celebrate Palm Sunday. Have we walked with Jesus on his journey into Jerusalem where the crowds are loud and joyful? Are we celebrating as Jesus rides not on a conqueror’s stallion but on a humble peacemaker’s donkey?
As followers of Jesus we celebrate this triumphal entry, however we know the heaviness of the weight that Jesus is carrying on his shoulders. Today we have the choice we can hang back at the edge of the crowd, we can be undecided in the middle or we can be a strong support and follower of Jesus.
Jesus wants us to support his work on earth. Everyone has something to offer. It may be a few words of kindness or a smile to make someone welcome. A tissue for someone with a broken heart or the offer of a prayer. Never feel that God can’t use you remember ‘he has the whole world in his hands’ and that means you and me.
There are lots of services over the Easter season in and outside the Minster. Take a look on the website for more details.
EASTER FLOWERS
It is still a little way off Easter Sunday but Fiona our flower lady is planning the flowers for the Easter festival.
“I would like the church full of colourful spring flowers this Easter but like everything else the cost of flowers has risen a lot, although they are never cheap at Easter, but the prices of foliage has really gone up. So I’m asking if anyone wo has a garden with greenery that is suitable for flower arranging if they could spare a bit and bring it into church on the morning of Wednesday 9th April. This would give me a chance to sort through and then see what else I would need.
I’m looking for Forsythia, Leyland conifer, Choisya, privet, Eucalyptus and Phormium. The long the stems the better. Thank you.”
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PRESS RELEASE
Hull Minster is seeking to share the stories of Hull’s families and communities in their VE Day display and are asking for submissions from the public to accomplish this.
A milestone will be marked on 8th May 2025, celebration of VE day in the UK, when we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the ending of the Second World War in Europe. In a city particularly affected as Hull was during the Blitz, this is a key celebration. Hull Minster is looking to share its community’s stories through a display at the church. Hull Minster has a unique wartime history compared to many churches in the UK and across Europe. Though the city of Hull suffered greatly in both the First and Second World Wars, Hull Minster sustained very little damage. The Luftwaffe often entered British airspace via England’s east coast and used the tower of Hull Minster as a sort of bearing point with which to situate themselves. For this reason, Hull Minster was left standing, though the communities it served suffered from the devastation of the German Blitz, with Hull being one of the worst affected British cities.
The 80th Anniversary of VE day provides a unique celebratory opportunity. It will be among the last decennial celebrations of VE Day where survivors of the Second World War will be able to directly tell us their stories. It also coincidentally, lines up with our own 600th anniversary celebrations through the HT600 Project and aligns with our project’s themes of fostering civic pride, the exploration and reflection of the past, and recognizing those who have made our lives today a possibility.
We are seeking to hear the community’s stories and give them a voice as part of our VE Day exhibit at the Minster. We are looking for public submissions of wartime photos of family members, neighbourhoods and communities, and for stories related to these same things. Whether you had a member of your family who experienced the War or witnessed the effects that the war’s aftermath had on your neighbourhood or community, or even recall the VE Day celebrations of the past, we would love to hear your stories and make them part of our project. Our submission point is a Google Form, which you can find here. (online)
Canon Dominic Black, Vicar of Hull Minster: This VE Day celebration is a special one to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the War. Nowadays, there are very few people alive that remember it firsthand, though its aftermath was felt for decades. It is the celebration of the end of a war that was felt as much at home as it was on the battlefield, and is especially important to Hull, one of the heaviest bombed cities in Britain.
The display will run from 6th to the 19th of May in the North Choir aisle, save for between the days of May 8-10 while the Beer Festival is on, when it will be moved into the nave, near the west doors.
James Cameron - newly appointed Heritage Project Manager in charge of the 600th anniversary of the Minster
Submit your photos and stories in the google form provided: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Xz67eGelJGw4sViDJqYTiVqO8KH76R8wb7DltdmyKzg/edit?ts=67e69f49
From Inclusion to Belonging
Over one hundred people came to the launch of an exhibition called ‘From Inclusion to Belonging’ this week, organised by Ann Wilkinson, our advocate for people with different learning abilities
Ann has used her own lived experience of autism, and her years of experience of working with people with different learning abilities to serve God. Ann’s vision is for the church to be a safe, loving and welcoming community where people with different learning abilities and/or neurodiversity can find a place to belong.
Work Experience and Volunteering
Over the past year, we have been working with students on placement from Northcott 6th Form College, to give them work experience. It is very difficult for young adults with additional needs to be given these opportunities, and we have proven that with just a few reasonable adjustments they flourish, grow, and mature in a supportive and loving environment. We now have a growing number of people with different learning abilities and/or neurodiversity within the volunteer team.
Welcome Café
In our Thursday Welcome Café, we have made lots of new friends from Active Day Care, CASE and Same Difference. We’ve set up a Sensory Tent to enable people to go somewhere quieter when they need to be away from the busyness of the cafe. We lay out a table with sensory fidget toys, which are always well used, and ear defenders are always available for any of our visitors that are sensitive to noise.
Our friends from Active Day Care entertained us at Christmas with songs from ‘The Greatest Showman’ and our friends from CASE often visit and entertain us with singing and dancing. They are full of joy and happiness and it's wonderful to see it spreading over everyone who watches them.
Ann reflects:
We often say everyone is welcome in our churches, yet to enable people to feel that they truly belong in a supportive and loving community takes time, commitment and sometimes thinking ‘outside the box.’ We have seen the people that come into our church as individuals, with their own unique needs, strengths, and gifts and we have put in place things in a way that responds to each person.
We are all ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ (Psalm 139:13-14). We all have a place in church, no matter how we see or feel the world. Sometimes we need to see or feel church differently, and that's what makes this world the colourful and wonderful place that God made it.
ELECTORAL ROLL
If you wish to be able to take part and vote in the Annual Meeting, or the PCC, you need to be on the Electoral Roll. This must be done before the Annual Meeting. Forms are in the back of the Church, near the welcome desk. Please, if you have not already, consider signing up and becoming a more active member of the church.
GIRLS BRIGADE
We had an eggciting night for our last night of the term before the easter break. We had an Easter themed games evening sprinkled with devotions led by our wonderful young leader Imy on how many times we should forgive someone. This gave us a wonderful reflection time and how Jesus manged to forgive and how we can all strive to try our best to forgive others and what we can do different in the future. Gill also provided the girls with the wonderful HT 600 knitted/crocheted angels. Some the girls wrote wonderful prayers, and they were really looking forward to taking them home and sharing them with friends and family.
We played various games from 'hop, hop bunnies' (I will ache in the morning,) 'bunny, bunny egg' the same as the classic duck, duck goose, scrambled eggs where the girls had to race to match the coloured eggs, egg roll (rolling eggs with your nose) and of course the egg and spoon race!
It was great to welcome back Emmeline after having Porche-Louise. We have missed you. A lovely evening was had by all as we celebrated being together and full of hope for the upcoming Easter celebration
Thank you to everyone that makes Girls Brigade happen, it is so great to see the girls flourish and be a small part of their journey.
1st Hull Girls Brigade hope you all have a blessed Easter. Lauren, Gill, Jill, Viktoria and Emmeline.
ITEMS FOR LIFELINE
If you have something written or photographs that you think should be in Lifeline, please send them to Val: valfotherby@gmail.com preferably by Friday. Pictures in jpg format please.
REQUEST
We have had a young lady at the Welcome Café who is looking for the ‘Rooted’ magazine (Bible Society). She would love any old copies but particularly the one on Daniel.
If you have old copies of Rooted, please contact Irene at the Minster. Thank you.
AND NOW FOR SOME OF THE PICTURES FROM BRICK CHURCH
(More next week)
Katie, whose brainwave this was, told the story of the Thursday meal, Good Friday and Easter Day. Wonderful participation by everyone. Next Lego Church 7th June.
Rev. Irene
READINGS FOR PALM SUNDAY
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Philippians 2:5-11
Luke 22:14-end
COLLECT FOR PALM SUNDAY
True and humble King, hailed by the crowd as Messiah; grant us the faith to know you and love you, that we may be found beside you on the way of the cross, which is the path of glory AMEN
PRAYERS FOR PALM SUNDAY
· We pray for all those suffering in Myanmar, and surrounding areas, that nations will respond with help and aid.
· We pray for our world and all the turmoil that seems to be everywhere – Lord, send your peace.
· For the children throughout the world who are suffering physically, mentally and emotionally.
· We pray that we might keep in mind what this weekend is all about – your journey into Jerusalem and all that followed.
· Pray for all those who have received the knitted angels that they will be blessed by the prayers that go with them.
· Pray that we will have a Godly attitude to those around us, that we will be filled with love and compassion.
DIARY FOR THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS
