8th March 2022

Rev. Irene Writes:

It was great to see our doors open once again and meet up with many of the volunteers during this past week. The shop is well stocked and there are some great Easter gifts and cards available. Baptisms are happening most Sundays now and for the foreseeable future and our first wedding takes place at the beginning of April.

I understand that the boiler room is near completion and hopefully by the end of March we will see the heating switches all turn to ‘ON’ once again!

These are all positive signs and when we look outside the spring bulbs are waking up once more and the flowers are about to bloom.

YET we cannot get away from the scenes we see and hear on our radios and TV’s. Day after day the Ukrainian people are suffering unimaginable conditions. We light candles and we pray. To remind us once again here are the words of the prayer written by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York:

A Prayer for Ukraine:

God of peace and justice,

We pray for the people of Ukraine today/

We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons.

We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow,

That your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them.

We pray for those with power over war or peace,

For wisdom, discernment and compassion

to guide their decisions.

Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in

fear, that you would hold and protect them.

We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen

Archbishop Justin Welby

Archbishop Stephen Cottrell

We have mentioned some of the positives that are happening in and around the Minster and now to add to that our Verger Jon Major has written a piece for us telling us about the great Tower Tours that he leads from the Minster. Jon’s role is that of a volunteer. He prepares the Minster for acts of worship and is there to support the clergy and ministers. If you visit the Minster, you will see that Jon does much more than this and he always has a friendly smile for those around him.

He definitely doesn’t need ‘gym membership’ as he regularly is up and down the tower stairs carrying out the fabulous tours that show Hull in all its glory from such a height! If you haven’t already done so, book now it is well worth it.

JON WRITES:

Now we are heading to that beautiful part of the year called Spring we are once again starting the Tower Tours.

For the last year or so myself and Don Kitchman, one of our bellringers have been taking organised guided tours up the tower and these have proved extremely popular.  These were brought about from the tours that were only open during Heritage Week.

 The tours will take place every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday ,and Saturday at 2pm and are bookable online with a maximum of 15 people per tour.

We start off under the tower with a brief history of the church and how the tower almost collapsed.  We then include a safety brief before climbing the 83 steps to the ringing chamber, this is where Don comes into his own and gives a talk on the bells and his years as a campanologist.  From there we climb another 87 steps to the tower roof to take in the beautiful surroundings of our great City from 150 feet up.  Whilst we are on the roof I run through some interesting facts about Hull and some of the people who carved its history, we then head down to the clock room where Don describes the workings of the largest four-face clock in a church in the country.  We then head back down to ground level.

The tour takes on average 1 hour and 15 minutes and costs £6 per person.

Recently we have been getting 5-star reviews on trip advisor with some wonderful comments on this informative, historical, and sometimes humorous look at this beautiful building and great city that is Kingston-Upon-Hull.

We will also try to accommodate any group bookings outside of the normal tour times.

THE FOLLOWING SERVICES WILL RUN THROUGHOUT 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

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

OPENING TIMES FOR MARCH

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

Full opening Wednesday – Saturday from the 16th March

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

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

MINSTER KNITTERS AND CRAFTERS

This group will run every Wednesday until further notice. The Minster Crafters will restart Wednesday 14th March at 1:30 pm and will run on the second Monday of each month.

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.

BIBLE STUDIES are held every Wednesday evening online.

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

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.

BBC Radio 4's Any Questions? is coming to Hull Minster

On 1st April 2022 you can be part of the audience and even ask a question to the panel as the programme is broadcast live from church.

Tickets are free but must be booked as spaces are limited’

Go to: https://hm.churchsuite.com/events/iw2lvyhc to book your ticket

Sailors’ Service

This will be held on Sunday 13th March 2 p.m.

PRAYER POINTS FOR SECOND WEEK OF MARCH

• Please pray for Dominic as he takes the service at St. Paul’s this Sunday.

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

• We pray for all our volunteers at the Minster, particularly those who are willing to serve as welcomers and on our shop during this cold March weather.

• 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.

• We pray for those who are preparing the launch of the new 9 30 service. May they be Spirit-filled and ready to share the Good News of your Kingdom

• As we begin our wedding season, we pray for all couples preparing for their special day. May the love they share now be long lasting
  
  COLLECT FOR SUNDAY 13TH MARCH, 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

READINGS FOR 13th MARCH, SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

Psalm 27

Genesis  15:1-12, 17-18

Philippians 3:17-4:1

Luke 13:31 to end