4th January 2022
We have come to worship Him
REV. IRENE WRITES
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE
Despite what seem like never-ending restrictions, I hope that you were able to celebrate Christmas in whatever way was best for you. I certainly missed the freedom of being at all the Christmas services but was thankful that there was no largescale lockdown again.
As the new year begins it is with a heavy heart that we remember all those who are struggling to keep businesses afloat, those whose families are affected, and trust that there will be help on hand to support them both financially and emotionally in the coming months.
I received a gift from a friend which had verse 14 of psalm 48 written in the front and I think it is a great reminder that each day:
‘God is our God for ever and ever;
he will be our guide even to the end.’
As we move into the new year at the Minster, we have much to celebrate but also frustrations as the temporary heating system is removed. This, of course, will put many things on hold until the spring arrives. I have to keep reminding myself of the above verse and trust God in all things.
One thing we can do, whether the Minster doors are open or closed, is pray. Maybe we can set aside a few minutes each day to pray for God’s work in the Minster as we look forward to seeing everyone in action again welcoming the people from Hull and much further afield to share God’s love in many different ways.
THIS WEEK REV. DOMINIC WRITES:
Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141.3
Every decision we make has consequences. Those we can foresee are for the most part short-term. In the long term, even small actions may have long term consequences. The Pandemic has shown us all too clearly how we are all connected. Small decisions each of us make can have consequences, intended or not, for other people. It has been hard for us these last two years to live under restrictions to our individual freedoms. In a society which has exalted the individual ‘I’ so highly over the ‘we’ our interconnectedness and mutual vulnerability has come as a shock. We have had to learn to consider our actions more carefully than we have been used to in a hedonistic, me first, society. In his final book, Morality, published posthumously after his death in November 2020 the former Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks re-tells and old Jewish joke.
An old Jewish man and a young Jewish man are travelling on the train. The young man asks: ‘Excuse me, what time is it?’ The old man says nothing. ‘Excuse me Sir what time is it?’ Again, the old man stays silent. ‘Sir I'm asking what time it is why don't you answer?’ The old man says: ‘young man the next stop is the last on this route, I don't know you so you must be a stranger if. I answer you now there will be a relationship between us. I will have to invite you to my home. You are handsome, and I have a beautiful daughter. You will both fall in love, and you will want to get married. So, tell me, why should I want a son in law who can't even afford a watch?’
We are in a period of history globally, nationally and as a church when we are in a state of flux, a Kairos moment where what we do for good or ill will have long term consequences. This coming year we will need to pay attention to our moral compass and the winds of the Spirit more than ever to know when to be bold and when to exercise restraint. When people are tired and worn down it becomes harder to make good balanced decisions, we need to keep our bearings all the more.
JANUARY SERVICES AND OPENING TIMES
THE FOLLOWING SERVICES WILL RUN THROUGHOUT JANUARY AND FEBRUARY REGARDLESS OF ANY DECISION ON OTHER OPENING TIMES
SUNDAY 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion in the Minster
WEDNESDAYS HOLY COMMUNION 12:30pm
THE PCC HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO HAVE THE TEMPORARY BOILER REMOVED AT THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY. THIS WILL MEAN, OF COURSE, THAT THERE IS NO HEATING IN THE CHURCH UNTIL MARCH.
SATURDAYS 4 P.M. 1st and 3rd Evensong, 2nd Taize, 4 & 5TH Evening Prayer
Please check on the website as to whether Saturday services are taking place throughout January.
MINSTER PRAISE – 3rd Thursday of each month at 10:30am.
There will be no Minster Praise in January however, we look forward to seeing everyone at the February service (17th February @ 10:30 a.m.)
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
At the moment services will be taking place as advertised HOWEVER please check on social media and the website if government changes take place. Face coverings are now mandatory unless you have an exemption card.
BIBLE STUDIES
These will continue in online on 12th January 2022. You can join this group by going on the hullminster.org, and clicking on Believe and Belong, and then, on Teaching. This new series looks at the second book of Timothy.
MINSTER CRAFTERS
A plea from Becky Dexter the small group of crafters would love others to join them. An opportunity not only to be creative but to make new friends. If you don’t know who Becky is, please ask in the Minster and one of us will put you in touch with her.
PRAYER POINTS FOR JANUARY
As we begin a New Year, we pray for all those who have worked so hard throughout the pandemic, scientists, medical and care staff. May 2022 bring relief from the virus and a time to rebuild broken lives.
For children, students and all staff working in schools that the new term will bring renewed enthusiasm and hope for all.
God, who by the leading of a star manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: help us to know you and follow you now in faith
As we are not able to open the Minster doors as much as we would like to during January and February, we pray for all the work that will be happening behind the scenes. We particularly pray for Rev. Rob, Hannah, and Rueben as they move to Hull and Rob begins his work amongst the people of the city
We remember the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 18th to the 25th of January
January - you can get daily prayers from:
https://dioceseofyork.org.uk/uploads/attachment/5536/prayer-diary-jan-2022-a5-booklet.pdf
COLLECT FOR SUNDAY 9TH JANUARY
Heavenly Father at the Jordan you revealed Jesus as your Son;
May we recognise him as our Lord
And know ourselves to be your beloved children;
Through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
AMEN
COLLECT FOR SUNDAY 16TH JANUARY
Eternal Lord, our beginning and our end;
Bring us with the whole creation to your glory,
Hidden through past ages and made known
In Jesus Christ our Lord.
AMEN
COLLECT FOR SUNDAY 23RD JANUARY
God of all mercy
your Son proclaimed good news to the poor,
release to the captives and freedom to the oppressed;
anoint us with your Holy Spirit
and set all your people free to praise you in Christ our Lord
AMEN
COLLECT FOR SUNDAY 30th JANUARY
God of heaven,
you send the gospel to the ends of the earth
and your messengers to every nation;
Send your Holy Spirit to transform us
by the good news of everlasting life
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
AMEN
READINGS FOR 9TH JANUARY, FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
Baptism of Christ
Isaiah 43. 1-7
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
READINGS FOR 16TH JANUARY, SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
Isaiah 62:1-5
John 2:1-11
READINGS FOR 23RD JANUARY, THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6,8-10
Luke 4: 21-30
READINGS FOR 30TH JANUARY, FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Luke 4:21-30
This Month’s Prayer Diary
Daily prayer points throughout the current month can be found here.