Minster Lifeline #14

25 June 2020

I am not a great watcher of the TV, except to see the news and enjoy the sports programmes, oh, and a small confession – The Repair Shop has become a must during the lockdown.  However, last weekend we decided to watch the programmes about the Salisbury Poisonings on BBC iplayer – it is the story of the Novochock poisoning of the Scripals and the drama-documentary had received positive reviews.  We were not disappointed as the three programmes, though harrowing, were powerful in the story they told and of the people who were portrayed.  I was struck by how those terrible events in Salisbury in 2018 have a remarkable similarity to the experience of the Coronavirus pandemic today.

The programmes showed the slow realisation that something quite out of the ordinary was happening in that English city and the terrifically demanding task for the authorities to get up to speed about something for which they were not prepared.  The crisis took far longer to resolve and the city was in virtual lockdown, the community alternately fearful and angry, the health services doing amazing work, profound acts of kindness and compassion, and unlikely characters emerging into public prominence. Salisbury Cathedral in all its magnificence watched over the city as the story was being played out, its role not obvious or particularly in view, but the steady and persistent faith and prayer of its community spreading quietly and healingly into the city and its people.

Here, one of the many wonderful, quiet and largely unseen aspects of the last few months has been the prayer which has been going on in homes and households, over Zoom conferences and telephone calls as people have steadily upheld our city before God.  And many people who may not be regular worshippers at any of the churches in Hull have joined in the online services or social media conversations, investigated the offerings on church websites and taking the time to explore what faith might mean for them for the future.

As we engage in the gradual process of the re-opening of the city’s life and the part the Minster plays in this we are offering an invitation to join in a focussed week of prayer which will coincide with the arrival of our new Priest-in-Charge, Rev Dominic Black on the 8th July.  We will be praying for the family as they move into the Vicarage on Victoria Dock, and for the relationship which begins to develop between the church community and Dominic in these early days.  This and the prayer for our city and community that the many painful stories of these last months might find the soothing balm of God’s love and the many flowerings of creativity and generosity might find fuller and wider expression as we emerge into a new future.

Stage one of this is the July prayer diary which is available with this edition of Lifeline whether you receive it online or by post.  Stage two is a week of meditations on some of the Psalms, aiding us as we enter into a period of dedicated prayer.  As we did around Ascension to Pentecost different members of our church family will contribute a reflection and there will be headlines for our intercessions.  The link is on the website from Monday June 29th and will go out on social media platforms from July 1st.  Copies of the daily prayers will be posted to those who have been joining in through weekly envelopes on their front doormat.  All of this of course will still be happening at home or wherever we turn to God in our daily personal prayers.

We are beginning to digest the latest news that it will be permitted for churches to open further as from July 4th.  There will be detailed guidance coming out in the next few days and we will keep our readers up-to-date with our plans here at the Minster.  At the time of going to press we are finalising our plans for very limited opening for personal prayer starting on Friday 26th at 12 o’clock.  The Minster will not be open for general visitors or tourists but only for those who have come to pray.  I want to offer heartfelt thanks to those who have been trained and deployed as Hull Minster Guides and those who have re-organised and cleaned the church for this particular purpose; it has been a big but worthwhile task as we look to welcome people again.

While the Parish Centre isn’t yet open, and those staff who are not furloughed are working from home, we are still monitoring the telephone messages coming in to the Minster office, so please leave a message on 01482 224460 and one of us will get back to you as soon as we can.

Warmest best wishes,

Frank White

Interim Priest-in-Charge.

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The Readings for the 3rd Sunday after Trinity:

Jeremiah 28 verses 5 – 9

Psalm 13

Romans 6 verses 12 – 23

Matthew 10 verses 40 – 42

The Additional Collect for this week.

God our Saviour,

look on this wounded world

in pity and in power;

hold us fast to your promises of peace

won for us by your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ.  Amen.

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July Prayer Diary

Daily prayer points throughout the month of July can be found here.

Minster Lifeline #13

18 June 2020

CCredit: REUTERS

The Revd.Irene Wilson writes:

Another week goes by as we gently lift some of the lockdown restrictions. I went out on my bike for the first time since March yesterday and enjoyed a lovely 15 mile ride in the sunshine around Brantingham and Broomfleet. We all pray for an end to the pandemic so that we can begin to live lives freely again.

We continue to receive both encouraging and discouraging reports on our TV’s. Amidst the demonstrations following the terrible death in America of George Floyd our hearts went out to those peaceful demonstrators of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Unfortunately, at the weekend we saw clashes between two groups of people but the picture that sticks in my mind amongst all this was that of the Black Lives Matter activist Patrick Hutchinson, carrying on his shoulder a white middle aged man, one of those from the opposing demonstration. This man had been separated from his group and had been pushed to the ground where he was being trampled on and his life was in danger. It was at this point that Patrick hoisted him onto his shoulders and surrounded by other Black Lives Matter activists they carried him to safety.

Two biblical pictures came into my mind, firstly that wonderful image of Jesus carrying the lost lamb on his shoulders back to safety (Matthew 18). Secondly the story of the Good Samaritan where the man travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho fell into the hands of robbers who beat him and stripped him of his clothes. Both the priest and the Levite passed by him on the other side leaving him there to die, yet the Samaritan (one of the “despised”) was the one that not only stopped but laid him on his own donkey, took him to safety, and left money with the innkeeper to look after him.

CClick the image to read in full size!

It is so important that lessons can be learnt from this incident and that of George Floyd’s death. I have read that the man now wants to personally thank Patrick Hutchinson. I really hope this happens and that once back to safety his kindness is not forgotten.

Last week in Lifeline it was mentioned that Rev. Matt had been on Radio 2’s Pause for  Thought where he had mentioned my letter from the Queen. I just wanted to explain that the letter was requesting me to attend Windsor Castle to receive the Royal Maundy purse from the Queen. I was delighted to receive the gift yet at the same time disappointed because of the Covid 19 restrictions not to be able to be at the presentation and to have refreshments with the Queen at Windsor. If you are wondering what the Maundy Service is all about here is a very brief explanation:

The origin of the Maundy is in the Bible and the actions of our Lord on the night before he was betrayed recorded in it. John chapter 13 records Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. Later that night when Judas had disappeared Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment ‘Love one another. As I have loved you, so you are to love one another.’ It is with these words, said by the Lord High Almoner from the altar, that the Royal Maundy Service begins. The word Maundy comes from the Latin word “mandatum” commandment, hence the connection to Jesus’ words.

The Maundy ceremony has taken place in the British Isles since at least the 6th century. This year the Maundy gift was presented to 94 men and women throughout the country, 94 representing the Queen’s age. The Lord High Almoner said “At the heart of this service is an act of humility on the part of The Queen in which she honours a representative number of people from across the British Isles who have lived a life of service to their church and community, just as she has done to Commonwealth and nation. Most especially, she gives honour to the Lord Jesus who on the day that He was betrayed gave His disciples that new commandment, “Love one another as I have loved you”.

Having just written about the Maundy Service I realise my first paragraphs on the kindness of one man to another during the demonstrations is a perfect example of fulfilling Jesus’ commandment to love our neighbours and that All Lives Matter.

MMaundy Purses

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Bishop Frank writes:  After careful consultation and planning we are intending to open Hull Minster on Friday 26th June for the specific and particular purpose of providing a place for individual prayer in the light of the Coronavirus lockdown.  By then we will have been closed for 93 days. We are inviting and training three groups of people who will act as Hull Minster Guides; each group will have responsibility for a particular day and for the period between 12 and 3pm when the building will be open. Numbers who can attend will have to be strictly limited and much of the building will be cordoned-off inside to ensure public safety; all appropriate measures for hygiene and distancing will be in place.  There will be no toilet facilities or any refreshments; we are not allowed to provide any prayer books or bibles so people will need to bring their own.  The Government Regulations specify only individuals or households can avail themselves of the opportunity at this stage.  We aim to be open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 12 until 3pm, and will be keeping all of these arrangements under constant review.  The first weekend the Minster plans to be open will therefore be 26-28th June.  As ever more information is available on www.hullminster.org

And then we will be able to look forward to the arrival of our new Priest-in-Charge, The Revd. Dominic Black who will be licensed to begin ministry here in the parish on Wednesday 8th July.  Because of the current restrictions the legal ceremony involving only the Bishop, Archdeacon and Churchwardens will take place later in the day after Dominic and his son Ben have arrived in Trinity Square on their bikes from Middlesbrough.  They are obviously taking a leaf out of Irene’s book, though the cycling distance, via our Cathedral Church in York is rather longer!  More news on this epic ride is circulating on social media and will be available here in due course; we are also looking forward greatly to the arrival of Heather and Leo more conventionally in the back, as it were, of a removal van!

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The Readings for the Second Sunday after Trinity.

Jeremiah 20 verses 7 – 13

Psalm 69 verses 8 - 20

Romans 6 verses 1 – 11

Matthew 10 verses 24 – 39.

The Collect:

Lord, you have taught us

that all of our doings without love are nothing worth;

send your Holy Spirit

and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love,

the true bond of peace and of all virtues,

without which whoever lives is counted dead before you.

Grant this for your only Son Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

Please join us, where you can for our on-line Sunday and weekly events and activities.

 With love, 

Revd. Irene: Associate Vicar.

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June Prayer Diary

Daily prayer points throughout the month of June can be found here.

Minster Lifeline #12

11 June 2020

I am writing this on June 11th, the day when the church celebrates Barnabas, one of the great encouragers of the faith and the faithful in the early church.  It was through him that the ministry to the Gentiles took a huge leap forward; he was a person who was steeped in God’s Spirit and could see the possibilities rather than immediately concentrate on the problems.  It is no wonder that breakthroughs occurred when Barnabas was around!

And it is on the subject of breakthroughs that I want to concentrate in this edition of Minster Lifeline.  I well remember the day when those who dug the Channel Tunnel met in the middle as the French team from one side and the English from the other broke through that last thin layer of rock; what cheering, and relief and celebration there was.  Breakthroughs have that sudden release of joy as what may have been worked on for years finally emerges.

How we have seen examples of that during the Coronavirus pandemic.  The moment when all the work in support of a Covid sufferer in a Care Home or Hospital is fulfilled when breathing starts without aid of a ventilator or those first small steps herald the breakthrough to recovery.  What joy we anticipate if there comes a time when a vaccine or treatment is revealed and the Covid 19 virus becomes a memory we share rather than a threat we dread.

Many of us will have been moved by the outpouring of despair and anger around the terrible public killing of George Floyd, even though the events took place a continent away. We pray that the energy that has been released in the protests will lead to the genuine respect and valuing of all people and especially those who have experienced racial prejudice.  My memory goes back to the inspiring and courageous life and service of The Revd. Dr Martin Luther King Jnr, my hero as I grew through my teenage years. He famously “had a dream”, that “one day my four little children will be judged not by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character; I have a dream today”.  In these words he distilled for me the effect of the Gospel on human society.  That in the name of the Creator, Redeemer and Lifegiver, all of us are made in the image of God and all of us deserve the respect that such dignity establishes. What a breakthrough it will be when we manage to experience that in the everyday and everyplace life of the world.

We have had a breakthrough of our own this week. I am delighted to be able to report that our new Priest-in-Charge, Dominic Black, will indeed be able to join us on July 8th when he will be licensed by the Bishop of Hull.  A breakthrough behind the scenes also will allow the Black family to move into the  Corinthian Way Vicarage on Victoria Dock.  We are delighted and thankful that all of the work to overcome one of the invisible aspects of lockdown has been successful.

I am not, however, able to offer news of a breakthrough in the opening of the Minster building, but there is an important glimmer of hope. We will be able to open our doors, when it is safe to do so, to solitary visitors and households who want to come for “individual prayer”.  A number of people are now working hard to enable this to happen but that will not be on the earliest date the Government offers, which is June 15th.  For now the message remains Hull Minster is open – ONLINE. This is the message we have shared this last three months; the Church has not gone away, and we will offer what we can within the restricted Government permission, but please continue in the goodwill, good humour and with the good sense which has been so wonderfully characteristic of these last weeks.  The apostle Paul writes to the Romans in a passage set for this coming Sunday, “we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”  When we have a date for opening, even for the restricted access we are able to offer, we will publicise that widely.

LListen Here

Dan Broom, our Community Minister writes: In a recent ‘Pause for Thought’ on BBC Radio 2, our former Pioneer Minister Rev Matt Woodcock carried the theme of his esteemed former colleague, our Associate Vicar, Rev Irene! Remarking on the amazing work she leads, he made reference to her recent ‘Maundy Money’ honour granted by Her Majesty the Queen. Rev Irene was ‘honoured for her invaluable contribution to the community’, and she says this; “There are many areas of Ministry that I have to work hard at but helping those that are marginalised or have additional needs is where my heart lies. There is always a story behind the situations people find themselves in and as a Christian we are to copy Jesus’ example which was to never walk away from those in need. In Matthew’s gospel Peter asks Jesus ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother, up to seven times?’ Jesus replies ‘not seven times but seventy times’ Love and support goes a long way in changing lives.” In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Irene thought she’d got away lightly with little attention drawn to this recognition. Yet, it seems even from York, Woodcock continues to impact our lives! Click on the photo of them both to listen to his ‘Pause for Thought’.

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As we give thanks for the musicians and readers, the prayers and techno wizards and the people who coordinate our Sunday worship and many other on-line activities and events, we rejoice that the Minster is indeed open – ONLINE – and we pray for the blessing of all who are drawn into worship and service with us.

Frank White // Dan Broom

Interim Minister // Community Minister

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The Readings for the First Sunday after Trinity

Exodus 19 verses 2 – 8a

Psalm 100

Romans 5 verses 1 – 8

Matthew 9 verse 35 – 10 verse 8.

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The Collect for Trinity 1

God of truth,

help us to keep your law of love

and to walk in ways of wisdom,

that we may find true life

in Jesus Christ your Son.  Amen

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June Prayer Diary

Daily prayer points throughout the month of June can be found here.

Minster Lifeline #11

4 June 2020

There is an interesting definition used for the days following the end of the Easter to Pentecost season in the Church year.  They are called “Ordinary Time”.  It made me smile on Monday when I read in the lectionary – the daily list of bible readings – “Ordinary Time resumes today”.

We may feel that our times are still “out of the ordinary” with continuing Coronavirus Restrictions, deep unrest resurfacing here and elsewhere in the world over the ways people of different skin colour or ethnic origin are treated, even the way a Spring heat wave has turned into a Summer cold draught.  People talk about “returning to normal” with a sense of nostalgia, and in some cases a determination to make it happen.  Unusual days indeed.

So, what do “ordinary” and “normal” mean when it comes to living out our lives?  For me, the words convey the sense of regularity and rhythm, and about finding a good anchor for the soul.  About what might be described as being “steady” without the unhelpful implication of being “boring”.

What are our life-patterns like and where do they come from?  Do they bring a sense of wellbeing or do they tip us over towards instability or even chaos?  I was deeply helped as a young and inexperienced Christian by the impressive lives of people I respected for their following of Christ.  One of them pointed me in the direction of a book called “The Celebration of Discipline” by an author called Richard J. Foster, and despite it having such an unlikely title, it is still in print more than 40  years later (and available on Amazon and at all good bookshops as they say).  Foster outlines 12 disciplines, some of which will be familiar and a few may seem rather strange.  Meditation, prayer, fasting and study are the first four and these are what he calls the Inward Disciplines.  Then simplicity, solitude, submission and service follow as the Outward Disciplines.  Finally, there are the Corporate Disciplines, confession, worship, guidance and celebration.

The outcome of living our lives with these disciplines in place can be a greater steadiness and sense of peace even where the world around us is still in such an unsteady, out of the ordinary, place.  And we are reminded that these disciplines or self-controls are not to make us feel self-satisfied; they are a way for us to be more available to others and helpful to those around us.

BBook of Acts Bible study click here

I hope we can find help with some of this through our current Minster offerings which include Val Fotherby’s bible series on Themes in the Book of Acts, our regular weekly service of worship, our Sunday evening “Conversations” and the special on-line gathering on Friday mornings for parents and children in “Little Fishes”. We still have our Prayer Diary for June available on the website plus all the hymns and songs that we have been offering in our worship over these lockdown weeks.  And there is plenty more beside, including our Family Resources from Mandy Richardson and information about the phone line initiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury which brings us daily worship even where we don’t have a computer.

One highlight on this coming Sunday at 9am on the Church of England Website will be Archbishop Sentamu’s last public service before he retires (www.churchofengland.org/Churchonline). As a thanksgiving for his ministry we have sent a contribution to his leaving gift from the Minster and the following brief tribute, made up of themes and stories contributed by Minster Lifeline readers.

Hull Minster owes a debt of great gratitude to Archbishop Sentamu, the man full of surprises. No-one expected his speech at the launch dinner for the Development Project to end with the promise to make Holy Trinity into Hull Minster. He has kept on surprising us in small and big ways, spotting the shy Confirmation candidate, jostled out from the photo at the end, and establishing her in pride of place alongside him; appearing out of a swimming pool very early in his time here and recognised by one of our older members, also there for a dip, by his unique smile; inspiring our volunteers as a living example of what happens if we become wholly receiving of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.  Archbishop, you have walked and talked with us, challenged us and motivated us, helping us follow the true Light. God bless and keep you and know our gratitude for you and Margaret as he, the Light of the World, leads you onwards.

The whole Minster team send their greetings to all of our readers, whether on line or through the posted copy of Lifeline which goes out to an increasing number of those we discover don’t have access to the internet.  Don’t forget to let us know if anyone would like a posted copy – contact details at the end of the edition.

In these “ordinary days”, warmest good wishes in the name of the Extraordinary Jesus Christ.

Frank White

Interim Minister.

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June Prayer Diary

Daily prayer points throughout the month of June can be found here.

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The Readings for this Trinity Sunday are:

Isaiah 40 verses 12 – 17 and 27 to the end

Psalm 8

2 Corinthians 13 verses 11 to the end

Matthew 28 verses 16 – 20.

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And the Prayer for the Week from the Additional Collects:

Holy God,

faithful and unchanging:

enlarge our minds with the knowledge of your truth,

and draw us more deeply into the mystery of your love,

that we may truly worship you,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. AMEN.

Minster Lifeline #10

28 May 2020

The Revd. Irene Wilson says; Hello everyone!

PPentecost Service Click here

We are now at week 10 of Lifeline and at last can see a glimmer of hope for future changes. This weekend we are celebrating a huge change that took place in the lives of many people just over two thousand years ago. On the Feast of Pentecost, a Jewish festival when thousands would have gathered in Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit came upon the people and it tells us in the book of Acts in the Bible that 3000 people came to Christ that day. We celebrate that day as the birth of the church so this week it is the church’s turn to celebrate a birthday.

That same Spirit that came down on the people at Pentecost lives in our lives today and it is through the Spirit that we all share gifts. Chapter 5 of Galatians says “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

I want to spend a few moments thinking about the gift of kindness. In Romans chapter 12 v 8 it says “And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” Some people have an extraordinary ability from God to show mercy, compassion and kindness to those who are in need.

I am amazed at how many acts of kindness have been taking place during these difficult lockdown days. Here are some I have heard of just this week; dog walking, cake baking, cake icing, grass cutting, listening, shopping, letter writing – and these are but a few that have brought comfort and joy to many people during the difficult times.

We all have different gifts so can I encourage everyone to make use of those gifts. Someone who understands how to show compassion and empathy can make a huge difference to someone who is lonely or hurting. The Bible says, “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other” Romans 12:4.

It has been a difficult few months yet the Ministry Team have been amazed by how caring and close many have become from our church family. There are going to be difficulties ahead, not least when we take those first tentative steps to open the church doors again but we must have faith and trust that God will lead us to make the right decisions at the right time.

Last week Frank mentioned we will soon be losing our supporter & friend Archbishop Sentamu. Don’t forget if you have a digital photograph and/or can write a few words about when the Archbishop visited us in Hull please do so & email frank@hullminster.org I remember visiting Bishopthorpe Palace many times as Margaret, Archbishop Sentamu’s wife, was my Training Director when I was preparing for selection to ordained ministry.

As June is almost upon us please look on the website for our Prayer Diary for June. Also starting this week will be the Bible Studies that Val Fotherby prepares, this time they will be a study in the Acts of the Apostles which is so appropriate as we come to Pentecost and learn about the early days of the church which was not without its challenges – they were just different to today!

I hope you have enjoyed following our ‘Finding Firm Ground’ reflections. Look out for prayer meetings taking place in June.  These will be prayer meetings on Zoom.  There will be another set of reflections in early July with emphasis on prayer for Reverend Dominic Black, as we prepare to welcome him as our Priest in Charge, his wife Heather and two boys Ben & Leo.

We have no excuse not to be connected, as well as our Hull Minster material the Archbishop of Canterbury’s free national phoneline offers worship and prayer in your home at any time of the day or night.

Finally, Maisie sends her thanks to everyone who helped make her 99th birthday special despite the ‘distancing’ and we say Happy Birthday to Bishop Frank who is still, by comparison, just a youngster!

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June Prayer Diary

Daily prayer points throughout the month of June can be found here.

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Collect Prayer for this week;

Holy Spirit, sent by the Father,

Ignite in us your Holy fire.

Strengthen your children with the gift of faith

Revive your Church with the breath of love

And renew the face of the earth

Through Jesus Christ our Lord

AMEN

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The Readings we are following for Pentecost Sunday are:

Psalm 104. 26-36

Acts 2. 1-21

John 7: 37-39

Love, Irene Wilson, Associate Vicar.