February 20 Ministry Team Reflection

When I was a curate my wise senior colleague said that he had learned an important lesson about February.  He said, “don’t discuss anything controversial at meetings this month”.  “Why?”, I asked.  “It is the dingiest time of the year and people tend to be more grumpy than usual” was his reply.  40 years later people think of this as the effect of a lack of sunshine.  We are all affected by the weather!

We are probably more conscious of the importance of the natural world than at any time in recent history.  We have been horrified by the wildfires sweeping through Australia and the American West Coast, and by floods and landslides elsewhere.  While for some the cause of these changes is still contested, the broad scientific consensus seems to be that human beings are largely responsible for the destabilising of the natural environment.  How are we to think about these matters as Christian people?  I am drawn to consider the significance of Psalm 24 “the earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it”.  If I am to honour God as the Lord then I want to recognise that the things God treasures are to be important to me also.  That includes the people of the world, in all our marvellous variety, and the physical environment and its amazing wild abundance.

It is easy to be demoralised by the predictions of the future and to feel that we are too small and insignificant to be able to make any difference.  That would fly in the face of the evidence we have that individuals do change the way other people think and act.  If I were to mention the name of Greta Thunberg, many of us reading this would know immediately who she is and what she is known for.  I put her first name into my computer and this 17-year-old Swedish schoolgirl came out top of the list of “famous Greta’s” along with a reminder that she is Time magazine’s Person of the Year.  It is possible to make a difference.

We will have quite a few opportunities in the coming year to consider as Christians our engagement with the natural world.  It would be good to begin conversations with one another and to consider what it is possible for us to do.  How do we read the Scriptures – like Psalm 24 which I quoted above, or the passages in the Book of Genesis which outline our human responsibilities?  What insights do we have from the life and teaching of Jesus; was the early church concerned about these things?  Let’s have the conversation.

Frank White
Interim Minister

December Ministry Team Reflection

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” These words were spoken to the people of Israel around 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. For generation after generation people rebelled and turned away from God. Israel failed to accept God as a peacemaker, a peace-bringer, they were in a desperate way, longing for political peace under Roman rule. They were looking for peace down the wrong Roman roads. Perhaps we too look for peace down the wrong ten-foots. Empowered by God’s Holy Spirit, Jesus came to bring peace, ‘Peace on Earth’ for any who believe in His name.

2700 years on, those words from Isaiah chapter 9 remain relevant for us today. Our world is desperate to know, to discover, to realise, true peace.

I’ll assume you’re not living in Israel as you read this, unless you’re reading online over there! Perhaps you’re also not at peace, with God, with others, or with yourself. This December peace may feel like a distant concept for you. Maybe you feel despair at the political landscape. Perhaps your family are at loggerheads. Or maybe you are just consumed by the demands of life. Over the coming weeks we’ve got a packed programme of services and events, and perhaps even these can seem overwhelming. I hope it’s encouraging for you to know, you’re not alone! That we as a church family have a great opportunity to use the ‘Peace on Earth’ Christmas programme to journey together, to invite others to encounter the Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. This month offers an opportunity to spend time with the Christchild and experience the peace He offers. Peace that our world needs, and if we’re honest, peace that many of us, and those in our parish and city, are searching for.

During the Advent season, we look to the Second Coming of Jesus, and in our waiting, in our expectation, we’re reminded of another prophecy in the book of Isaiah in chapter 53, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace ultimately gave His life in place of ours and because of His death, we have a way to His peace, both on earth, and into eternal life.

I pray you can find comfort and hope in that promise.

With love, Dan, Community Minister

Tens of thousands flock to see the wonders of the Sistine Chapel at Hull Minster

The Sistine Chapel exhibition attracted 35,000 visitors to Hull Minster, including these guests at the opening event staged by Marketing Humber. Picture: Neil Holmes Photography

An exhibition showcasing the wonders of the Sistine Chapel has been hailed as a major success, attracting 35,000 people to Hull Minster.

 The “Michelangelo – A Different View” exhibition drew visitors from far and wide during its 42-day run at the magnificent, 700-year-old church and gained valuable media profile for the Minster and Hull in several national newspapers and on BBC Radio 1 and Radio 4.

The exhibition gave visitors the chance to admire more than 50 superbly-detailed reproductions of Renaissance master Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel works, including the famous “Creation of Adam” and “The Last Judgement”.

The event offered an up-close-and-personal experience, with visitors learning how Michelangelo created the stunning frescoes and the meaning behind them.

The exhibition also inspired an extensive programme of arts activities and courses, supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, and delivered by North East Lincolnshire-based arts organisation Our Big Picture.

Bishop Frank White, Interim Minister at Hull Minster, said: “The Sistine Chapel exhibition has been a major success and illustrated how the Minster can serve the city as a unique venue for cultural exhibitions and events of the highest quality.

Some of the superbly-detailed reproductions of Renaissance master Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel works which formed part of a stunning exhibition at Hull Minster. Picture: Neil Holmes Photography

“We’ve been delighted with the numbers who have attended and the very positive feedback we have received both on the exhibition and how it has been staged and managed by our team.

“The extensive programme of events and arts activities around the exhibition have also been well supported and have made this event one that truly reached out to and embraced a very broad range of people, groups and interests.”

More than 130 group bookings were made to see the exhibition while over 250 children took part in education workshops.

Budding artists of all ages have also taken part in an art competition with the theme of “Creation”, inspired by the “Creation of Adam” fresco and supported by Exhibition Painting Partner Hull Trains.

Artists of all ages and abilities have been encouraged to submit their artistic responses to the exhibition in any art material or medium. Entries are open until December 6th, with work to be exhibited in a special exhibition at the Minster in February and March 2020 and the winning entries taking centre stage. To find out more or to submit entries go to www.hullminster.org/art-competition

The Sistine Chapel exhibition was supported by more than 250 City of Culture volunteers as well as Hull Minster’s own volunteer welcomers, demonstrating the event’s popularity and how it has contributed to the legacy of Hull’s year in 2017 as the UK’s cultural capital.

The exhibition was supported by Hull-based partner businesses that enabled the Minster to make it free to enter and accessible to the widest possible range of people and community groups.

The “Michelangelo – A Different View” exhibition drew visitors from far and wide during its 42-day run at 700-year-old Hull Minster. Picture: Neil Holmes Photography.

They were led by Exhibition Patrons Arco, the UK’s leading safety company, and Wykeland Group, which is at the forefront of development and regeneration in Hull and the wider region.

Arco Managing Director David Evison said: “Supporting the communities in which we work is important to Arco and, as Exhibition Patron of the Sistine Chapel exhibition, we wanted to share this prestigious cultural event with our local community.

“We are delighted that so many local people took the opportunity to experience this magnificent artwork and engage with the supporting arts programme.”

Wykeland Managing Director Dominic Gibbons said: “The Sistine Chapel exhibition has showcased the Minster as a stunning exhibition space, worthy of staging events of the highest quality.

“It has gained valuable exposure for the city from far and wide and attracted tens of thousands of people, supporting the economy of the city centre and regeneration of the Old Town and the Fruit Market.

“The success of the exhibition has marked another important milestone in the re-establishing the Minster as a vital hub for community and cultural events.”

Ministry Team Reflection Nov 19

To be or not to be: that is the question

We are all very good and proficient at being busy: busy at home, busy at work, in our communities, helping others; generally busy in body, heart and mind. The church is no exception to the rule: the church as a whole gets incredibly busy, especially in the changing seasons.

Holy scripture, however, reminds us that we are also called in our daily lives to be still. In Psalm 46 verse 10 says ‘be still and know that I am God’.

What a challenge for us all—but equally what an opportunity too. The invitation to be still is to know of our true worth before God. We are more important than what we do or don’t do, or how busy we are. God truly understands the danger that when we become too busy in life, we forget that life is a gift, life is precious and so often it is too easy to become distracted and forget who we are and importantly who we are before God.

The invitation to ‘be still and know that I am God’ is to stop, to take a breath and pause for moments across the day. It means, as we would with a friend, to sit with God, to quietly wait upon Him and listen to God speak with us. There, in stillness, is a real opportunity to re-connect with who we are as individuals, in belonging to a community and in having our place in the wider world. Moments to align ourselves and our wills with the Will of God, knowing we are truly precious, loved and valued by God, as created beings and God wants us to know this our true worth.

In the month of November we think a lot about the value and worth of human life as we approach Remembrance Day. It is the time we do stop and count the cost of those precious lives lost in the two world wars and from recent and current conflicts. Remembrance Day is a day we stand still in silence together, in remembrance, in love and respect for the self-giving and sacrifice of so many in winning the freedom we so enjoy today.

The invitation from scripture to be still is to know of God’s presence with us every day, in busy or in quiet, in turbulence or in peace, in grief and in joy. For God so loves the world that he would never abandon nor forsake us, but willingly chooses to come to us in his Son Jesus Christ, that we might know him and live our lives through him.

Rev. Gemma Turner
Visiting Priest

Ministry Team Reflection Oct 19

Looking out of my kitchen window, after early sunshine, the rain once more covers the paths and waters the plants. There has definitely been an abundance of change in our weather this year, from overpowering heat to wet dull days. This is of course nothing new: one of the benefits of living in the UK is the changing seasons.

These changes remind me of the words from Ecclesiastes 3, ‘there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.’ Some of you may remember the hit song of the 70’s ‘Turn! Turn! Turn!’ sung by the Byrds, based on the first 8 verses of this chapter, where we are reminded that there is an order to things, an order established by God.

God is the planner and maker, and often we don’t understand our changing circumstances, but we are to trust in the balance that God brings in our life.

Thinking of change, it’s not just our weather that’s full of change; we find life at the Minster has also undergone several changes. Having seen Neal leave for Liverpool, and having said goodbye to Eve to her new role in Leeds in September, we also said goodbye to Charlotte.

As the diminished ministry team takes stock, we thank God for all that Neal, Eve and Charlotte have brought to the Minster in previous years and we look ahead to plan and pray for the future.

There are, of course exciting times ahead as our phase 3 development progresses and we welcome the great Sistine Chapel exhibition, but first and foremost we must reflect on our ability to connect with people and make sure that spreading the gospel message is at the heart of all that we do.

These changes that have taken place allow others to come forward to offer their support in the fulfilling of the Minster’s ministry. Many, for example, have offered to welcome on a Sunday afternoon to avoid our having to close the doors of the Minster during that time. Others have come forward to help with the admin, allowing myself and others to spend more time with the people we come into contact with. Dan was delighted when so many people volunteered to help on the Minster Fun Day and we have been thrilled by the number who have come forward to support the Sistine Chapel exhibition. Thank you to everyone, no matter what it is you do: we need to share the load.

We see another change as we move into autumn, so can I encourage you to look and see what is on offer to help you with your spiritual growth? We have several study groups where you can develop in spiritual depth and join with others in friendship and fellowship. Please don’t miss out: look on the web site or ask any of the team in the Minster - we would love you to come along and join us and see the change it can make when we have regular fellowship and study in God’s word.

Amidst all this change, which is exciting and challenging, there is one verse that comes to mind: this is Hebrews ch 13 v 8

‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.’

There is no change there!

Blessings, Rev. Irene

September 2019 Ministry Team Reflection

All Things New

We are moving into a new season as the final third of the year dawns at the beginning of September. Holidays have been enjoyed by many, the beginning of the school year heralds new opportunities and challenges, and the rhythm of life begins to return. Echoing in my ears as I write this is a line from the end of the Book of Revelation: “See, I am making all things new.” Words of Jesus which have inspired generations of Christians to see the world we live in and the age we inhabit with different eyes.

In the Minster in the coming weeks we will be welcoming many visitors from near and far. They will be coming to see ‘A Different View’ - the magnificent paintings of Michelangelo displayed for the first time in a church in this country. There will be opportunities to explore his extraordinary talent as an artist, seeing in close-up the paintings which can only be seen at a distance in their original Sistine Chapel setting. We will be privileged in this time to see the stories which the paintings portray—they are nearly all biblical scenes—with the eyes of faith. Throughout the six weeks of the exhibition we will be exploring what the paintings tell us about who God is and what impact faith in Him has in the 21st century. We trust that the promise of Jesus will be fulfilled among us, and that for many of us, worshippers and visitors alike, we will see “all things new”.

At the heart of this is a call to prayer. No great endeavour is accomplished without a renewal of this practice which is our privilege as Christians. The exhibition is one aspect of our life together, and as a new season starts in the Minster there is much to invite us to renewed prayer. This monthly prayer bulletin demonstrates this.

Finally, the churchwardens and the Parochial Church Council will be working hard through the autumn, ensuring that the Minster is ready for the appointment of a new Vicar. Do keep the whole church in your prayers daily as challenges come our way and we explore what it means to belong to God and with one another. “See, I am making all things new,” is a promise to us all and for us all and for the city we are called to serve.

Frank White
Interim Minister, Hull Minster