13 January 2021

Rev. Irene writes:

After a long, very cold, and frosty week, it was good this morning to see the sun shining and the ice melting. Day after day looking onto a very still garden gave me an idea, so in true MasterChef style I gathered together the jam pan, a block of lard then scoured my cupboards for all sorts of tasty bits and pieces. With crushed walnuts, prunes, cereals, suet and a host of other ‘goodies’ I set about a deluxe bird cake.

Once set and cut into pieces I proceeded to hang this tasty treat on a small tree not too far from the window. Every morning since doing this, instead of looking out on stillness I now see a queue of blue tits, robins and blackbirds all waiting their turn to tuck in! These new visitors have brought me great delight, problem being I now need to continue to serve up these treats – but a task that is well rewarded.

Thinking about the birds, I remembered what it says in Matthew 6 about not worrying and realised these verses are very important to us in the present situation.

‘Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life… Look at the birds of the air.

They do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father

Feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life.’

Maybe a lesson for us all, these birds are totally dependent on there being enough food to survive. Maybe we should pray this week that we have enough trust in God that we don’t spend our days worrying about things we cannot change – we say, ‘Over to you Lord’.

Take care and keep safe. One of our Readers, Peter Oakes, writes for us today:

“Everyone is searching for you!”

In this morning’s reading from the 1st chapter of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus had got up early to find a quiet place to pray and his disciples were out looking everywhere for him. This was their greeting – “Everyone is searching for you!” In many ways my work as a psychologist for the charity Crisis and over the rest of my career has shown me countless people searching for the peace, healing, justice and mercy that came into the world with Jesus and is being revealed here in the beginning of Mark’s gospel.

Crisis works alongside other organisations in support of people who are facing homelessness in 11 “Skylight” centres across the UK. Over the last year Crisis has recognised that more than three quarters of people experiencing homelessness have serious mental health, drug and/or alcohol related difficulties. To respond to this need, a psychologist has been appointed to each of the centres and my job is to lead that team across the country and work into the South Yorkshire service based over in Rotherham. Much of the work is home-based now, talking to people on the phone or the computer. Sometimes we can go for a walk and talk, but even that is tricky now.

The pandemic has seen something of a positive government response to people facing homelessness. The “Everybody in” campaign has meant that councils have been supported to step up and offer accommodation that reduces the risk of transmission. We were delighted last week when we learned that this has been extended using hotels and other accommodation across the country through this period of cold weather and beyond. It shows what can be done and perhaps as a church community, we can pray for it to continue: especially for refugees, asylum seekers, EU nationals and others who do not have access to support.

Having professionals available for people either in mental health services or through various charities is only a small part of the way we can respond to this search for peace, belonging, justice and healing across our communities. One of the special things about Hull Minster is that everyone is welcome, whatever their story. Through the Minster community we offer sanctuary and the hope that everyone is searching for in the person of Jesus Christ. I am looking forward to the time when our doors can be fully open, but in the meantime, I rest assured that our hearts and our prayers are already open for everyone.

Peter Oakes

Irene concludes with:

JANUARY OPENING

As everyone will be aware, we are now in a third lockdown. The guidance does allow public worship to continue, therefore there 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 including personal prayer at the present time.

READINGS: SECOND SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY

COLLECT FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY

Almighty God,

in Christ you make all things new;

transform the poverty of our nature

by the riches of your grace,