Rev. Dominic writes:

Gifts and Giving
This coming Sunday is Advent Sunday. Advent means coming or arriving. It is a time when we remember the prophesies and events that led up to the incarnation on Christmas Day when Jesus came to share our human life, but also a time when we remember that he will come again in glory. In the last few weeks from All Saints and Remembrance Sunday we have been remembering those who have gone before us marked with the sign of the cross. A time to reflect ’to use aright the time left to us here on earth’ and what our legacy will be.

For Christians life is a gift, not something to get through, although there are times for all of us it can feel like that. Those of us who have been parents have had the privilege of bringing new life into the world and nurturing that gift within the wider community of family, church, school, and youth organisations. Sadly, since the 1980’s the number of children and young people involved in the life and worship of the Church of England has declined markedly. The reasons for this are complex, but one of the factors has been the lack of people willing to commit their time and efforts on a regular basis to run youth groups, choirs, Sunday Schools. Because of this decline over the decades, a major aim for the church nationally and one of our key priorities is to grow younger and more diverse.

Giving our time and gifts

One of the many joys we are seeing at the minster today is the growth in the number of choristers. All of us have our part to play to help one another flourish and grow in the faith. There are so many ways you could be involved. Maybe you could offer to do a craft at our next messy church or be part of the Minster team with Rev Louise listening to children read at Adelaide Primary School or be part of an Open the Book team. You could help with the refreshments at Little Fishes, be a supporter at Junior Church or at the Saturday Song School. All of us can commit to pray for young people and for our ministry among them.
The photograph is of 97 year old Elsie sharing the peace with seven year old Ella at her first Holy Communion at the Church of the Ascension, Middlesbrough. One of the poorest estates in the UK. I got to know them when I was Area Dean. Elsie died early 2020, and gave half her estate for Children and Youth Work in the Parish. Beautiful things are now happening because of her generosity.

Giving financially
As well as our time, as part of our gratitude to God we have the privilege to be able to give financially. Sadly we have again set a deficit budget for 2024 of -£65,000. We are moving in the right direction this is less than pre-covid but can only go on a few more years before we run out of savings and are in serious financial trouble. It sounds like a lot of money but there are some simple things that could begin to make a real difference. The first thing is gift-aid envelopes. We are losing considerable amounts of money each week because people are giving in cash and not using the gift aid envelopes. If you are a UK tax payer the church can add 25% to your donation from the government from any taxes you have paid. If 50 people gave £5 more a week that is £13,000 more a year or £15,600 when gift aided. Ideally we would like people to be giving directly through the Parish Giving System which saves hours of counting cash and automatically claims the gift aid.

One of the things we are encouraging people to think about in this season is leaving a financial legacy in your will. To consider leaving a gift to your church family. The PCC ask that you do not restrict this too tightly as priorities change over the years, but there may be aspects of the church's life that you have deeply valued that you would like your gift used for.

As we prepare to celebrate the greatest gift, our Saviour, Emmanuel, let us receive afresh the gift of God’s love and reflect on how we can express our love for God through the giving of our time, our gifts and talents and the resources that God has entrusted to us. Thank you.

Easy Fundraising through Christmas Shopping
A very simple way in which you can raise money for Hull Minster is to register with www.easyfundraising.org.uk and give as you shop. The app covers over 4,500 shops and websites, all of which give a percentage of your spending to the Minster. When you first sign up, Hull Minster receives a free £5 donation! So far, we have 5 people signed up and shopping, which has raised over £250 for Hull Minster, let’s see if we can grow this simple way of giving as you choose your gifts for family and friends this Christmas. Happy Shopping!

THE MINSTER SHOP

Minster Christmas Card 2023

This year’s Christmas card is from an original oil painting by local artist Tony Denison. The cards are now on sale from the Minster Shop. Packs of 5 are £6 and single cards are £1.50. There are nativity advent calendars for £3.50 and a stand-up advent card for £2. Advent candles will be in stock soon.

Sue McGaw, Buying Team.

CHRISTMAS CARDS 2023

If you would like to wish all your friends at church a Happy Christmas but do not want to buy individual cards there will be a board for Christmas cards in the church throughout Advent. This is an opportunity to send one card only and maybe the saving can be given to your choice of charity.

Alpha and the Bible courses will all commence again in January. If you would like to take part, please speak to one of the clergy team.

THIS WEEK’S VOLUNTEERS

Meet Don & Mary Kitchman. Together they have worked in the church for many years.

Don has been a bell ringer for over fifty years and loves taking groups on the very popular tower tours as well as helping with other duties around the church.

Mary is a very active volunteer around the church and is a great member of our multi award winning team in the Trinity Room. She is always to be found serving refreshments after both services on a Sunday and is very guilty of secretly hiding a piece of chocolate cake after the 11 o’clock service for the Verger in case he doesn’t finish before it all goes!

Thank you both for the many years of devoted service to Hull Minster. Jon Major

VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS MARKET

A packed Hull Minster was entertained on Saturday at the Victorian Christmas Market by the AFO choir and the Humberside Police Band. It was so full at one time we had to stagger admittance on the door.

Hopefully everyone left with Christmas joy in their heart.
Jon Major

BACK BY POPULAR REQUEST!

Hi all,
I've had a few people ask me if we're doing another ceilidh, well we are! Sat 16th December - 6.30pm. Free entry, for family and friends of the Minster. There will be donation boxes to cover the costs of heating and lighting. (And hopefully a bar) Bring your own supper.
This time we're asking people to sign up through the link below, so we can gauge numbers.
Thank you!
Katie
https://hm.churchsuite.com/events/8arngifx

NEW CHOIR MEMBERS RECEIVING THEIR SURPLICES (watched by their families)

CHANGES TO SEW FOR THE SOUL AND MINSTER CRAFTERS MEETING

Both will now take place on Thursday mornings during the Welcome Cafe, and all are welcome to join in.

MINSTER CRAFTERS WILL BE THE FIRST THURSDAY MORNING OF THE MONTH.

SEW FOR THE SOUL WILL BE THE THIRD THURSDAY MORNING OF THE MONTH.

Currently both Crafters and Sewing is solely attended by Glenis and me, so more members or people would be gratefully appreciated. Let me know if you are interested.

Many thanks. Becky.

REQUEST FOR HELP

Our dear Ukrainian friend, Olga, came to the welcome cafe today, she asked if we could reach out for volunteers for Welcome House, she said they just need people to chat with the refugees. Thank you! Gill Alden

HEART FOR HULL

An evening together to explore the question, “Lord, what do you want of our church for your work in the city of Hull and this Deanery?"

https://vimeo.com/dioceseofyork/heart4hullinvite

WELCOME CAFÉ (from strangers to friends) & LISTENING SPACE

Welcome Café is held every Thursday morning 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Please do visit and support whenever you can.

From 12:30 soup will be served and drinks throughout the afternoon until 3 p.m.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

It is great to have ReNew and Hull City Council present during our Welcome Café held every Thursday in the Minster. These groups are there to help anyone with concerns or queries.

WHAT A GOOD MAN!

Now isn’t that what we like to see? A man who is happy in his work! Mike helping out by washing up.

A BIT OF FUN!
As we like to sing at the beginning of breakfast church ‘God welcomes all’ even these cute furry animals. Welcome to Hull Minster all you ‘furries’. Jon Major

‘Come and join the Celebrations’

As a treasured volunteer of Hull Minster you are cordially invited to attend this years Christmas Volunteer Celebration on Monday 11th December from 1pm – 3.30pm.

If you would like to attend please let Shirley know in person or: email shirley@hullminster.org along with any dietary requirements by Friday 1st December 2023.

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THURSDAY MORNING IN THE MINSTER

The friends who regularly join us on Thursday mornings, created these beautifully coloured flowers as well as enthusiastically joining in the singing of All Things Bright and Beautiful.

CELTIC CHRISTIANITY

Prior to “lockdown” we found that our faith had become somewhat habitual and dry, we had become ‘Sunday Christians’, and were looking for something else that we could not really name or articulate.

Sharon googled retreats and came across the community of Aidan and Hilda which is a contemporary Celtic Christian community, it’s both international and interdenominational and draws inspiration from Celtic Christian spirituality as lived out by Saint Aidan, Hilda, and others, and aims to rediscover Celtic spirituality and seek to apply these insights and way of living in today’s world.

The community is about seeking to live a holistic Christian spirituality which enables people to connect more deeply with God and the connect with the whole of life. Being open to the leading of the Holy Spirit and bringing healing to individuals, communities, and creation.

Central to being part of the community is developing a rhythm of prayer, work and recreation which seeks to bring prayer and discipleship into the real world and is lived out every day of the week.

We feel that one of the main ways that we live out our faith and discipleship is through our jobs, we both work in drug and alcohol services. I am a “interventions worker” at HMP Humber and I deliver programs and interventions to prisoners whose drug and alcohol use has been a factor in their offending and want to address their problematic use and live a life free from addictive behaviour.

Sharon works for a national charity called the Forward Trust and manages a residential drug and alcohol treatment centre in Hull. She leads a team to deliver a 12-step treatment programme to support people to recovery from drug and alcohol addictions.

Currently we are explorers in the community which means we are considering making a long-term commitment to the community, and we are praying and exploring if becoming a “voyager” is the right step for us to take. This means making a long-term commitment to become part of the community and will involve making a public commitment to follow the “way of life”.

However, we will remain in our church, jobs, and community unless God has other plans!

Sharon and Terry Igoe

WELCOME CAFÉ (from strangers to friends) & LISTENING SPACE

Welcome Café is held every Thursday morning 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Please do visit and support whenever you can.

From 12:30 soup will be served and drinks throughout the afternoon until 3 p.m.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

It is great to have ReNew and Hull City Council present during our Welcome Café held every Thursday in the Minster. These groups are there to help anyone with concerns or queries

PLEA FOR UKRAINE

It is sad that we must keep asking for help for Ukraine however the situation is not improving, and winter is upon them. Many are living in gymnasiums as their homes have been destroyed. Our Ukrainian friends are asking for any underwear for men and women please, also children from age 7 upwards.

Thank you from Olga!