25 February 2021
Rev Irene writes:
The Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally has said in response to the government’s announcement:
“When the first lockdown was introduced last year, we were –as we are now- in the midst of Lent, a time of preparation and self reflection for Christians as we look forward with hope to Easter and its new life in Jesus Christ…..”
There are clear signs of hope that in the coming months as we see much more freedom in our lives with facilities opening again and mixing and travelling taking tentative steps forward. There is hope! However that hope is fragile, unfortunately the coronavirus has not gone away and we must learn to live with the restrictions as necessary.
As we look towards Easter we see another hope, the hope we have in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Not a hope that is fragile but a definite hope in all that Jesus offers to us, forgiveness of sin, new life and the promise of eternal life. So let us ‘Live Lent’ each day and prepare and refresh ourselves to share again in the promise that Easter brings.
It is good to hear from Jon Major, our verger, as he writes for us this week:
People often ask me about my role as verger, I jokingly reply it’s to walk in front of the vicar’s procession and beat the crowds out the way with a stick. In reality, in the Middle Ages, that wouldn’t be too far from the truth, thankfully these days things have moved on and it’s mainly a ceremonial role that people see. Behind the scenes it is helping organise and set up the silver for our weekly services as well as to set up for baptisms, weddings and funerals. Another big part is to help organise any civic services and play host to visiting dignitaries.
How did I get here? My path of faith is long and varied. As a child I was always taken to St. Mark’s, Bellfield by my mum & dad (probably because no one was willing to look after me at home,) where my dad was churchwarden. I shall always have fond memories of that time. Also, I acted as altar boy to the vicar Rev. Malcolm Exley. I was confirmed at St. James, Sutton at the age of 13, a church which I still love visiting.
At 16 I joined the Royal Navy. On Sundays all trainees were made to attend church, although this was great for me as I could keep up my faith, but it is also something I am really against as I believe no one should be forced to church, I think it could be a sure way of turning you against it.
Once out of training I still tried to keep attending church, but it slowly grew to be less and less as my social life with my new friends took over. I convinced myself it didn’t matter about going to church as long as I kept my prayers up, which also grew less and less.
In 1982 whilst I was on HMS Ardent, we were sent to the Falklands to help retake them from invading forces. On the 21st May as the troops landed there was a huge air raid and we was in the firing line. We were hit by 14 x 500lb bombs, as the first one hit and as the ship shook my very first instinct was to kneel and pray, at that point I realised although I had put God to the back of my mind he had never left my side. I lost 22 good friends that day and they are never far from my mind.
On the way home I realised I could still have a great social life and also keep my faith and vowed to attend church regularly no matter where I was. At sea we always held church on Sundays and if we didn’t have a padre on board the captain would lead the service.
On leaving the Navy I went into managing pubs and although it proved difficult at times, I still tried to attend church whenever I could.
My big interest is genealogy and I have learnt that my dad’s side was from St. Ives in Cornwall, something he never knew, and several ancestors are mentioned in civic and church records. My 4x great uncle was churchwarden there and his name is inscribed in the church bell dated 23rd July 1830. A few years ago, I was lucky enough to visit that beautiful church.
I was honoured when Dominic asked me to be verger and I am really looking forward to the end of this pandemic when we can welcome visitors back to the church and organise and host civic services again, something we do incredibly well at the Minster. Jon Major.
Irene concludes with:
March services and opening times:
The Minster will continue to be open for Wednesday 12:30pm Holy Communion and Sunday 10:30am Holy Communion. Please click here to book in.
The 3:30 Sunday Praise Service this week will be via zoom so if you would like to join please click here for the link.
All other public services are cancelled at the present time. However, changes could take place in the coming weeks so please keep checking in Lifeline or on the Hull Minster website.
PLEASE NOTE The Minster will be open for personal prayer each Saturday 12-3pm.
It is looking likely that the government is going ahead with the May local council elections. Given the current situation you may want to apply for a postal ballot. Here is the link on the Hull Council website. http://www.hull.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/elections-and-voting/voting-post
An Invitation to Lent 2021
During Lent there will be a zoom bible study on Wednesday evenings 7:30-8:30pm beginning 24th February. Do join Rev. Irene and Val in study and discussion around Gladness and Generosity, in the Holy Habits series. You can join here. You should now have received a booklet of daily reflections based on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent book for 2021, Living His Story by Hannah Steel. These notes include a short passage of scripture, a reflection, and a prayer for each day of Lent. If you have a smart phone or tablet these notes are accompanied by the free #LiveLent App on iOS and Android where you can listen along to the reflections. [suggested donation £2.50 to cover booklet and postage].. Click here for full details.
The Heritage Volunteering group have been meeting via Zoom Coffee Mornings to have a chat and carry out some research about the Minster's history. As part of this, our Heritage Project Manager, Jane Owen, has organised several talks and would like to open these up to the wider church to join in. These will take place via zoom on a Wednesday or Friday morning at 10.00am, with a 15-minute chat before the talk starts. The dates and topics are below. Please send Jane and email if you would like to join in any of them - or if you would like to give a talk in future - and she will send you the links. They are very informal and can be accessed by computer, telephone, tablet or even by telephone to listen in.
We are also looking for any volunteers who would like to join our team to do some computer-based research at home about the church, the community surrounding it, the graveyard at the east end and the burial ground at Castle Street. Again, if you would like to be involved, please contact Jane at jane@hullminster.org Click here for full details
READINGS: FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
COLLECT FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
Almighty God, by the prayer and discipline of Lent may we enter into the mystery of Christ’s sufferings,
and by following in his Way may we come to share in his glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord
AMEN
This Month’s Prayer Diary
Daily prayer points throughout the current month can be found here.