Minster Lifeline #16

9 July 2020

I am delighted that by the time you receive this Lifeline Rev. Dominic Black will have been licenced as the new Priest in Charge of Hull Minster and on Sunday at 10am via
social media Dominic will be speaking to us as he opens up God’s word.

At the time of writing this (Tuesday) Dominic and his son Ben hopefully will have covered a
good number of miles on their journey from Middlesbrough to Hull, via York. It is so good that the winds of the previous days have now died down and although there’s an occasional shower this will do nothing to stop these intrepid cyclists finishing the task in hand.

If you haven’t already seen on our web site Dominic and Ben are being sponsored with all funds
raised being for the work of Hull Minster. There are many ways of donating to them with all the details on the website or if you do not have the technology please send to the Parish Centre, clearly marked for Rev. Dominic, sponsored cycle.

This really is a time of celebration but also a time to say ‘thank you’ to Bishop Frank for
joining the team and holding the fort over the past months. I’m not sure 12 months ago whether Frank expected to be tasked with such a huge amount of work but I, for one, can say it has been much appreciated. Bishop Frank will not be disappearing, he will be part of our congregation and will also be helping Rev. Dominic and the team in whatever ways he is able to.

Rev. Dominic is starting during very uncertain times. We have at least managed to open the church for private prayer and we are hoping once Dominic is licenced that not only will we offer some form of worship in the building but also that we will be able to live stream the Sunday morning service from the Minster. There will be further details once Dominic’s feet have touched the ground and he has had the opportunity to meet with the technicians etc. in order for this happen.

Other changes happening this week: we are delighted to welcome Mandy our Children, Youth and Families Minister back from furlough. Mandy had only been with us a couple of months before Covid 19 caused the lockdown so not an easy position for her to be in. Mandy has taken this opportunity to write about her experiences over the past few months.

Mandy adds: I wonder if you created a time capsule to commemorate your life during this pandemic what you would include? Will you look back and remember a time of despair or a time of blessing? I suspect most people’s capsules would be filled with a mixture of happy and sad moments. Mine certainly would be. This last four months have been a myriad of events that seem to all mash into one, and a rollercoaster of emotions that I am sure you can all relate with.

Like many, the first six weeks of lockdown for me, was a time of learning new skills; juggling working from home as well as home schooling two energetic children. We were just getting used to this new normal when the news came that I would be furloughed from my work at the Minster and this news, although completely necessary and understood, was quite a blow to me
because at the time I felt that all the relationships I had started to build since my start in January, would be lost and forgotten. I also felt guilty for not ‘doing’ enough, for not witnessing enough, but during my quiet time I really felt God saying, ‘being with me is enough’ and ‘minister at ‘home’.

So, whilst I did not fill a time capsule, I did fill many other things; many pages in my journal with prayers, thoughts and meditations; many pages in my scripture colouring book during the times that my mind was overthinking; my tummy with delicious snacks probably more times than I should have; and many pages of our foster children’s scrapbooks with photos of nature walks, craft activities, water fights, beach trips, and church at home sessions. Happy memories to last a lifetime. We have laughed, cried, danced, and worshipped together and we have all grown closer to each other but most importantly to our loving Father during this time, something that would not have been possible without the last nine weeks of furlough.

2020 will therefore be forever memorable and I will be eternally thankful for the time I got to spend at home, enjoying a simpler life, and just ‘being’. I have learned a lot more about ministering with children and families and am now more than ready to return to my work at the Minster, excited to see what the future holds with our new priest in charge, Dominic, at the helm. Blessings, Mandy x

Irene concludes, I hope that you have been able to join in the meditations on the psalms that have been put together by various people to help us focus on this new adventure for Hull Minster. If you haven’t done this yet they are still available on the website and well worth using as a focus for prayer.

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Readings:

Psalm 119.105-112

Isaiah 55.10-13

Romans. 8.1-11

Matthew. 13.1-9, 18-23

The Collect for this week.

Almighty God,

send down upon your church

the riches of your Spirit,

and kindle in all who minister the gospel

your countless gift of grace;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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July Prayer Diary

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

Minster Lifeline #15

2 July 2020

Hello everyone,

As we begin to see glimmers of hope in life returning to some form of ‘normal’, we also assess the past fourteen weeks with its advantages and many disadvantages. I was talking to my eighteen-year old grandson last week and he was sharing how he and his friends felt about the lockdown.  After being with many mates in school, some for 13 years suddenly one Thursday afternoon in March they were told ‘that was it – no more school’. There was no swapping of names on school shirts, or proms and celebrations, just an end to school education with a simple ‘cheerio’ and into lockdown. They do, of course, realise that’s how it had to be, but I did feel a little sorry for them all the same. There were bonuses from this.  He no longer had to sit ‘A’ levels and he was offered an unconditional place at University, but many would be leaving school and hoping for apprenticeships or jobs and the current economic situation has made that very difficult for this group.

I often say I wouldn’t like to be a teenager today – that’s probably because the thought of living life on social media would be a real challenge! But truthfully social media does open up so many opportunities but also allows for all types of bullying and exploitation by those who can hide behind anonymity. Having stepped off my soapbox about social media, it has been a wonderful tool during the lockdown days and has enabled children to carry on their education and adults to continue working in a safe environment. In fact, it is developing so quickly that I just need to ask grandchildren ‘how to’ and they have the answer. So many from church have been working at home over the past 14 weeks including myself. I was chatting to Terry Igoe who works in a local prison and asking him how he has coped during lockdown. Terry kindly offered this reflection on how things have been:

“As I begin this reflection, let me quote Dickens “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” I imagine that, like me, you can identify with that quote as we have all had to adjust to life in a global pandemic. So, what’s been good? I have enjoyed the opportunity to live my life at a slower pace, to be involved in leisure activities, to go for walks, spending time in my garden. While I haven’t been “furloughed” as a key worker my work has involved some working from home, and that has been a welcome change of pace. I feel very blessed that my income has been secure and, so far, I have not become ill due to the virus. Perhaps most importantly, I have had the opportunity to reflect on what is important to me.

“On the other hand. I have missed many of the things I have previously taken for granted. As a musician, I have missed performing. I have missed face to face contact with friends and family, particularly my grandchildren. We have, of course, been able to make contact through video chat, but it’s not the same. I have missed going to the cinema and to restaurants. I have missed being part of a worshiping community at Hull Minster. Although I have found the online services very helpful and have also benefited immensely from our online Bible study with our home group, again it’s not been the same as being part of a gathered congregation. At times I have felt spiritually dry and stagnant and have struggled to maintain my walk with God.

“Some of you may know that I work in a local prison and I have struggled with the limited contact available to me as I try to help the men under my care. I worry about the long-term impact that lock down, with much longer time being spent locked up, will have on their mental health and general well-being. I also, at times, struggle with my own anxiety around what the “new normal” might look like as we slowly emerge from lockdown. However, God is good, and God continues to sustain me, as I move forward and put my faith in Him. I am confident that God will sustain and nourish us all as we trust Him for the future. God Bless, Terry Igoe”

Dan adds a request for your contributions to a welcome video:

“We are delighted to be welcoming Revd. Dominic Black as our new Priest-in-Charge, his wife Heather and their sons Leo and Ben. Sadly, we cannot gather in person, instead we're making a welcome video for them! We would love you / your household to submit a 5 second video. Please record in landscape and include a message of welcome, introducing yourself by name. They'll be shown during ‘Church at Home’, 10am 12th of July.

Can't record a video? If you are in the Minster on the 3rd/4th/5th for Personal Prayer, ask for Dan/Al while you’re with us, they will record your video greeting. Please submit your video on wetransfer.com sending to dan@hullminster.org, or via Facebook. any questions? - contact Dan. Do pass this message on! Thank you.”

We are very much looking forward to Rev. Dominic and family joining us next week. You may have already heard that he and his son Ben will be riding bicycles from Middlesbrough to Hull (via York). This is a sponsored ride so if you wish to give to Hull Minster through this event please follow the directions on the web site. Being a cyclist myself all I can say is I hope they have got padded shorts! Please keep all the family in your private prayers as they arrive at a very challenging time in our country.

As well as asking for private prayers for the Black family can I recommend that you join in the week of meditations on the psalms, ‘Living Stones: Building for the Future’, aiding us as we enter into a period of dedicated prayer.  As we did around Ascension to Pentecost different members of our church family have contributed a reflection and there will be headlines for our intercessions, daily, through to the 8th of July.

We are delighted that our church has been cleaned and transformed into a safe place for prayer. There was a steady stream of people through the doors last weekend, some well-known and some new faces. The times are strictly Friday, Saturday and Sunday 12 – 3pm and only for the use of personal prayer. When we have further information from the Diocese, we will update you on steps forward towards worshipping again. In the meantime, please continue to log on to our Sunday worship at 10 am each week and other activities that you will find on our website and social media platforms.

It is good to be in contact with so many of you again through this Lifeline. Take care and keep safe.

Blessings, Irene

Associate Vicar

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The Readings for the 4th Sunday after Trinity:

Psalm 45. 10-end

Zech. 9. 9-12

Romans 7. 15-25a

Matthew 11. 16-19,25-end

The Collect for this week.

Gracious Father,

by the obedience of Jesus

you brought salvation to our wayward world:

draw us into harmony with your will,

that we may find all things restored in him,

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 #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.