22nd February 2022

Rev. Irene Writes:

I have just struggled against the wind to hang the washing outside for the first time in many weeks! Although Eunice and Franklin have passed through the country there is so much turmoil and damage left in their path. Rivers flooding the banks, trees that have stood for hundreds of years uprooted and many people seeing their lovely homes destroyed.

Yesterday in our service we heard about the storm that hit the disciples when they were out fishing on the Sea of Galilee. Despite the disciples feeling they had been abandoned by Jesus as he slept in the back of the boat, he was, as always, in control of the situation and it was events like this that led to Peter when asked by Jesus ‘who do you think I am’ that he replied, ‘You are the Christ, the living God’

We are reassured in yesterday’s psalm that God:

‘formed the mountains…..stilled the roaring of the waves and the turmoil of the nation’

With this in mind, we bring to God the turmoil in the world where peace is so delicate and ask for your power to rule and to lead to lasting peace.

 SISTER CATHERINE WRITES FOR US THIS WEEK:

I’m Sister Catherine CHN from the Community of the Holy Name, an Anglican Religious Order.  Our community moved to Hessle from Derby in June 2022, a much-delayed move, that from conception of the idea of moving to actually moving took the best part of five years! 

A little about CHN; The Community of the Holy Name originated in St Peter’s Church in Vauxhall in London in June 1865, when the first sister, Sister Eliza took her vows in St Peters. The little community was then known as St Peters Sisterhood and over the years it grow, especially under the guidance of the Parish priest Father George Herbert and Mother Frances Mary, who between them put the little community on a firm footing.

The community made its first move from London to Malvern in 1879 when it acquired its current title ‘The Community of the Mission Sisters of the Holy Name of Jesus’, usually shortened to Community of the Holy Name. After a hundred years in Malvern, diminishing numbers and buildings that were no longer fit for purpose brought on the next move; onwards to Derby where we stayed for 30 years. Finally, and for much the same reasons we moved again – heading ever in a northerly direction to Hessle.  Our next move will have us living in the Outer Hebrides!

I’m usually asked how I became a sister so here is the condensed version of the story – I became a Christian and was baptised in 1998 following the death of my mum and became involved in lovely St Peters, Radford in Nottingham. CHN had a branch house there at the time and I became acquainted with the sisters. A friend persuaded me to visit the Convent in Derby for a weekend retreat and I was hooked.  I loved going there just to be quiet and take a breather from day to day living. I never, ever thought about joining until I made the mistake of asking God if he had any work, I could do for him. Be incredibly careful what you say to God because He listens!

When at the convent one day, in the quiet of the prayer time before Compline a voice said, very quietly, in an almost conversational tone, “You should become a sister”.   My immediate reaction was, ‘What a stupid idea!’.  However, once lodged, the idea wouldn’t go away and after a couple of years avoiding the question and being continually nudged by God,  I had to try it, and the rest as they say…

The sisters’ prayer life is central to all the community does.  We say a 5-fold Office daily together as well as times of personal prayer and are extremely fortunate to be able to have a Eucharist daily.  Our life is a mixed life in which mission work as well as prayer is an important part of our lives.  Sisters have always worked out of parish churches, joining in with whatever was going on, with each sister finding the work that fits their skills and abilities.

Because I am one of the more active sisters, I looked around for a church community to join in order that the least active sisters could join in with the nearer churches. I always enjoyed being in the centre of cities and so I decided to give the Minster a try and found a place where I could exercise my calling. And here I am!  I will hopefully be able to join in with the work of the Minster and work alongside the wonderful people I have met already. 

We have already made lots of new friends and contacts in Hessle, the deanery and beyond and hope to make many more – thanks to the wonderful people of Hessle and Hull who have made us so welcome.

Community of the Holy Name : www.comholyname.org

For more information on the Religious Life in general : www.arlyb.org.uk

THE FOLLOWING SERVICES WILL RUN THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY/MARCH

SUNDAY       10:30 am Holy Communion in the Minster

WEDNESDAY HOLY COMMUNION 12:30 pm

SATURDAY    4 PM 1st and 3rd Evensong, 2nd Taize, 4 & 5TH Evening Prayer

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 THE END OF MARCH.

MINSTER PRAISE – 3rd Thursday of each month at 10:30 a.m.

OPENING TIMES FOR FEBRUARY/MARCH

Saturday 26th February

Friday and Saturday 4th and 5th March

Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10th, 11th, 12th March

Full opening Wednesday – Saturday from the 16th of March

GRIEF AWARENESS CAFÉ 9th MARCH (Second Wednesday of every month)

INTEGRATION COFFEE MORNING 10th March (Second Thursday of every month)

BIBLE STUDIES are held every Wednesday evening online. Two weeks study on Isaiah 40 and Isaiah 55, before launching the online Lent study ‘The Road to Calvary’.

Please see below the details for two exciting lent studies to be held in the church.

Lent 2022

Lent is the annual 40-day preparation for the great feast of easter marked by prayer, fasting, Bible study and penitence. The season begins on Ash Wednesday, this year the 2nd of March. There will be two services of Holy Communion with the optional traditional imposition of ashes at 12.30 and 7.30pm. During the day ‘ashing’ will be available for anyone visiting the Minster between 12 30 lunch time and 4pm. Ashes made from the previous year’s palm crosses are used to mark a cross with the words “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return, repent of your sins and be faithful to Christ.”

LENT COURSES

A way of marking Lent is to spend some extra time studying the scriptures and praying together. This year we are offering two in person Lent courses starting on the 9th of March at 1.30pm and 7.30pm The Room Where it Happened written by Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin based on the Musical Hamilton.

Click here to sign up to afternoon session
Click here to sign up to evening session.

The Zoom Bible Study during Lent on Wednesdays at 7.30 will be looking at The Road to Calvary. The Zoom link can be found at hullminster.org/teaching.

ELECTORAL ROLL

Forms are available in church.

PRAYER POINTS FOR FOURTH WEEK OF FEBRUARY

• v  We pray for Freya & Faye Marshall, their parents, and godparents, as Freya and Faye are baptised at the Minster on Sunday.

•   We pray for a peaceful solution to the rising tension between Russia/Ukraine.

• We pray for the families of those who have been killed by Storm Eunice and also that help will quickly be made available to those whose homes and businesses have been affected.

• We pray for the new Lent Studies that God will open our eyes to his word and bring a deeper understanding of the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf.

 RECORD FAIR Saturday 26th February 9:30 – 4 p.m.

COLLECT FOR SUNDAY 27TH FEBRUARY

Holy God,

you know the disorder of our sinful lives,

set straight our crooked hearts

and bend our wills to love your goodness

and your glory

in Jesus Christ our Lord

AMEN

READINGS FOR 27TH FEBRUARY, SUNDAY BEFORE LENT

Psalm   99

Exodus 34:29-end

2 Cor.   3:12 – 4:2

Luke     9:28-36 (37-43a)