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8 December 2020

Minster Lifeline #38

Guest User

8 December 2020

Rev. Irene writes:

Last Sunday saw the doors of the church open again for worship, not only at 10:30am but also for the launch of the new 3:30pm service, Sunday Praise. Although I was not able to be at either of those services, I understand that both were well attended, and people felt a joy at being able to come together again. It is not easy to launch a new service when the rules are ‘no lingering to chat’ as fellowship plays such an important part in our lives.

I was reading 1 Thessalonians 1 this morning, Paul writing to the people in Thessalonica. He had a short time face to face with them, but he shared the good news of Jesus during that time and they went on to establish a church and grow in faith. It also struck me that when he was not with them face to face, he continued in fellowship with them through his letters. In his letter he shares his pastoral concern, offers prayerful support for their steadfastness, and develops the teaching he was unable to complete while with them.

A great lesson to take from Paul, yes face to face in church is what we strive for but if that is not possible, we still have the opportunity, particularly today, with the use of social media, letter writing and telephones to keep in contact and share fellowship with many others.

I am delighted this week that Sarah Magaharan has written for us, updating us on life after university:

I am part of the “boomerang” generation. I was told this by my career mentor, just before the first lockdown in March.

“You go off to university, live independently for a while, and then return back to your parents’ home,” He said, “And there’s no shame in it.”

I did not feel shame in it - in fact, I had told him about my intention to return home, back to Hull, so I can have some time to make big choices. So, I could feel a bit more in control over my life. Nine months later, I could laugh a little, at the fact that this year, all of us have had to surrender complete control over our lives.

So, I came back to Hull, earlier than expected, and time somehow equally sped by and snailed by. Over the spring into summer lockdown, I sometimes sang along with my mum for the virtual hymns broadcast in Hull Minster’s online service. I do like a singsong, after all. September then popped around the corner, and with-it Hull Minster Choir returned, with shiny new socially distanced bells and whistles. My mum, as mums do, asked if I wanted to join in again. I had been a member of the choir since I was ten, and during my time at university, I returned to church at Christmas for my favourite service, Midnight Mass. So, I thought, sure, might as well add another year to the grand total.

Organised schedules had been sent out, designating us all into teams to tackle the Sunday service. I checked for my name, and oddly enough, I had been put onto the new Worship Band list, too. At first, I thought it was a mistake, but Mark, the Music Director, had purposefully put me on there. And I was happy to do it - I love contemporary worship music, ever since I went to the Christian festival Soul Survivor through Dan Broom’s Minster Youth group, back when I was sixteen and seventeen. The music there had an ability to fill people with the spirit and connect a congregation in a way I had never experienced before.

First rehearsal for the Worship Band came round, and upon arriving, I was elated to discover that an old friend of mine, Becky, was also part of the Worship Band. The two times I went to Soul Survivor, Becky was there with me. We shared, with other best friends from Church, moments with God’s Spirit that we will never forget, and discovered songs performed by Beth Croft and Tom Field that made us feel closer to God than ever before. Life rolled on and sadly we drifted, as I went to university and she began her career and “adult” life. I personally drifted from the spiritual high I experienced at Soul Survivor, too.

So then to be able to return home and end up singing again, alongside a reconnected friend who I love and trust, is a blessing. And with the start of the 3.30pm Sunday Praise service, it feels like I could be part of something that rekindles my faith and connection with the spirit. I honestly believe that God knew that I was coming home, and through the Worship Band, through mine and Becky’s friendship, God was giving me a chance to wander back home spiritually. Boomerang back to something spiritual, something special, which I can share with others through song. Whether it is all a happy coincidence or part of a bigger plan, I am glad that I am a boomerang-Sarah Magaharan.

Irene concludes with:

Thanks to an anonymous donation we have been able to purchase two Christmas trees for inside the Minster this year and they look stunning and really add to the Christmas cheer so many thanks to our gracious and generous donor.

Calling all Scientists! A working group has been created to submit a bid for a Scientists in Congregations grant. This would fund a project within both the Minster and the wider community relating to aspects of science and faith. We would really like to engage with the scientists in our congregation to make this project a success. If you are a scientist of any variety, or have links to the scientific world, we would love to hear from you! Please contact the bid team through the office on 01482-224460.

Other news this week:

Friday 11th-10 am-Little Fishes meets on Zoom. Join with Mandy and Rachel for songs and chat.

Sunday 13th-10 am- ADEVENT SUNDAY 3 Church at home- You can access this by going onto hullminster.org and follow ‘Worship’ or alternatively via You Tube or Face Book.

Sunday 13th-10:30am-ADVENT 3 Holy Communion in the Minster-click here to book a seat.

Sunday 13th-11 am-Coffee & Chat- For access click here.

Sunday 13th-3:30pm-Sunday Praise, Advent All age service in the Minster- click here to book a seat. Book a seat for every family member and we will sit households together. Craft Activities will be provided for any children.

The Minster continues to be open for personal prayer between 12noon and 3pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

For a full list of Christmas services view the Christmas section of our website or click here for a printable list.

Readings:

Psalm 126

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-end

John 1:6-8, 19-28

The Collect for this week

God for whom we watch and wait,

you sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of your Son;

give us courage to speak the truth

to hunger for justice,

and to suffer for the cause of right,

with Jesus Christ our Lord.

AMEN

December Prayer Diary

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

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2 December 2020

Minster Lifeline #37

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2 December 2020

HHappy Golden Wedding Anniversary Terry and Linda

Rev. Irene writes:

It is hard to believe that we are now into December, however going outside this morning (1st December), there is a definite drop in temperature!

Last Saturday I had the privilege to pray with a lovely couple, Terry and Linda, in the Minster. They were celebrating their golden wedding anniversary that day and each year since they were married, they have visited the Minster on their anniversary. It was extra special this year, not only because it was 50 years but also because Terry is suffering with some serious health problems, so to pray with them was incredibly special. You will see from the photograph the choir boys of 50 years ago, we are challenged now to see if anyone remembers their names?

There is a lot of work taking place behind the scenes to put together services for Christmas and we are aware that things change on week to week basis. We hope that the outline of Christmas and Advent services will be helpful to you as you choose whether to watch from home or join us in the Minster.

Any updates or changes that take place we will include in Lifeline each week.

It is good that Dan has written for us this week as it is his last week of employment at the Minster. I am sure we all want to say ‘thank you’ to Dan for being part of an exciting adventure in the life of Hull Minster. We hope that he and Becky have a great future ahead of them and that God uses them to help share his kingdom message here in Hull.

Dan writes:

“We all look at the same world but see it in different ways” a quote from the latest Audi car advert. It would be quite fitting to adapt it and say, “We all look at the same Hull Minster but see it in different ways!” I have had the joy of grappling with what it means to hold a shared vision of mission, community, and outreach among so many different people who see Hull Minster in so many ways. Crucially though, this has happened at the same time as knowing we are called to encourage one another in unity, towards the one, most captivating source of love and purpose that we find in Jesus.

No doubt there are many dusty folders in church offices across the land with great plans drawn up to “reach new people” and “get them into the church”. Embracing and acting on these plans is another challenge. And yet as a church we have genuinely seen this happen and continue to make deep relationships with people who did not otherwise belong to the community of faith. Through sharing stories of how God is working in our lives and transforming our hearts, we have had the privilege of seeing our community grow at the Minster. If you are reading this, I imagine you regularly engage in part of the rich, diverse life of Hull Minster. Much to celebrate and give thanks for. And of course, there are many who may not engage in the core life of the Minster but are just as valued as the rest of us. As I say goodbye to the Minster family, I am encouraged to know that many of you share with me a heart for those remarkable encounters, often through the most unlikely of events and activities.

It has been amazing to see the way that Hull Minster has developed and now holds a trusted reputation in the city as a springboard to bring together and engage with thousands. Festivals, Royalty, Holiday clubs, Curry nights, Car shows, Concerts, Tours, Pub carols, START & Alpha. The list could go on and on. An amazing responsibility, to share life and faith with searching people, longing for answers. It is hard to predict the future, especially considering the pandemic, though one thing is certain, people will continue to seek purpose, meaning and community.

Whatever Hull Minster means to you, I hope it stirs up as much joy, hope and togetherness as Becky and I have experienced over the past six years. We have valued every conversation, every laugh, and every tear. From the ‘Fun Day at the Farm’ to the weekends away, the ‘Community Days’ to the ‘Minster Pod’, always be looking beyond the event itself, to the people that are gathering, and the Holy Spirit that is ministering through you.

You may have never thought about it, but when you next sit in the Minster for a service, remember that others sitting near you are probably from a different part of the city or surrounding village – a gathered church. Whether or not those sitting alongside you have walked a similar path in life, take a moment to ask something of their story, or if that seems too much, simply thank God for them, that they’ve come to be at Hull Minster. I know that many of you either come to worship alone, or as a family you do not know others beyond the church who have Christian faith. Take encouragement that others are in the same boat of exploring faith and growing in confidence.

As I leave this week through redundancy, I invite you to hold us both in prayer. We are ever so thankful for the warm welcome we received and the friendships we have made. We have irreplaceable memories of time with you all, and we are gutted that the pandemic restricts the affection we can show to each of you. Keep in touch!

With love, Dan and Becky Broom (Dan is serving as Community Minister until the 10th December).

Irene concludes with:

Other news this week:

Friday 4th-10 am-Little Fishes meets on Zoom. Join with Mandy and Rachel for songs and chat.

Sunday 6th-10 am- ADEVENT SUNDAY 2 Church at home- You can access this by going onto hullminster.org and follow ‘Worship’ or alternatively via You Tube or Face Book.

Sunday 6th-10:30am-ADVENT 2 Holy Communion in the Minster-click here to book a seat.

Sunday 6th-11 am-Coffee & Chat- For access click here.

Sunday 6th-3:30pm-Sunday Praise, Advent All age service in the Minster- click here to book a seat. Book a seat for every family member and we will sit households together. Craft Activities will be provided for any children.

The Minster continues to be open for personal prayer between 12noon and 3pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

For a full list of Christmas services view the Christmas section of our website or click here for a printable list.

Readings:

Psalm 85:1-2, 8-end

Isaiah 40:1-11

Mark 1:1-8

The Collect for this week

Almighty God, purify our heart and minds,

that when your Son Jesus Christ comes again

as judge and saviour

we may be ready to receive him,

who is our Lord and our God.

AMEN

December Prayer Diary

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

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25 November 2020

Minster Lifeline #36

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25 November 2020

Rev. Irene writes:

Happy New liturgical year! You may be excused if you had not realised Advent begins this Sunday, with the inability to shop freely in the High Street you may have missed the usual abundance of Advent Calendars on the shelves. There is no escaping we will be celebrating Advent throughout December in preparation for the ‘coming of Christ’. So, does or should Advent make a difference in our lives? Our scripture readings keep telling us to ‘watch and be ready’, ready for Christ’s second coming but also to be ready and prepared to make way for Jesus. Advent is a time to clear out, strip back to basics. To reconnect with God again, to revisit that first love that we felt in knowing Him as our Saviour and Lord. As mentioned last week do read the Advent reflections that Val has prepared, they are a great way of connecting with God’s Word during this season.

I hope you will enjoy what Dot has written for us this week. I so enjoyed reading it as there were so many similarities to my early life and Sunday School days. It always surprises me just how many people first encountered Jesus in their early Sunday School days. I was on a course where we were grouped by when we first learnt about Jesus - Sunday school, University, through work, or later in life. I was amazed that two thirds of the people there had learnt about Jesus in Sunday School. Very encouraging for our children’s workers today! One thing that strikes me is that most of our Sunday school teachers would have no idea how many of the children they taught had turned to Christ at some point in their lives. What great disciples of Jesus they were!

So, read and enjoy!

My first memory of church was being sent with my sister to Sunday School at the Village chapel, sitting on a hard wooden bench and being told not to speak or move apart from when it came to singing “Dropping pennies, dropping pennies hear those pennies fall, everyone for Jesus He shall have them all”

Sorry to say He didn’t get them every week because sometimes my sister and I hid in the trees on the bridge we had to go over to get to the village and saved the money to buy sweets! My first feeling that Jesus was real came from a teacher called Mr. Hubbard, we had an RE test, after he called me to his desk and said he knew I knew the answers but I had spelt them all wrong. He then asked me all the questions again and I told him the right answers. Then he told me that Jesus loved me no matter what which made me feel good.

My next encounter with God was in 1962 being confirmed along with my cousin. We were sent by her mum and had to go every week to Brough Church Big Service at St. Mary’s Elloughton with George Hullen Bishop of Hull. In those days, all the girls had to wear white and have a veil on which was a piece of net curtain. I remember feeling very silly dressed like that and sorry to say not much more to say about it.

When I got married and had a family we lived in Goole and went to the Methodist church which was very lively. In fact, almost seven days a week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday clubs for the kids and coffee morning on Saturday then service on Sunday. It was always full, it was there that we all sang the hymn “And can it be that I should gain…died He for me who caused His pain… Amazing love how can it be that thou my God should’st die for me. My chains fell off my heart was free; I rose went forth and followed thee.” It was singing those lines that I then knew that my Redeemer lives and no matter what, He is always there for me.

All our lives are extremely hard at the moment with lockdown, but we will get through it. I go out each day with the dog and up to the Country Park, the ground is a carpet of leaves, wonderful colours of autumn, brown, gold, and yellow. I stand under the amazing structure of the Humber Bridge and look down at the railway, the road and the river thanking God that life is carrying on. Stay strong and well in the love of God. Dot Fullerton

Irene concludes with:

Other news this week:

Friday 27th-10 am-Little Fishes meets on Zoom. Join with Mandy and Rachel for songs and chat.

Sunday 29th-10 am- ADEVENT SUNDAY Church at home- You can access this by going onto hullminster.org and follow ‘Worship’ or alternatively via You Tube or Face Book.

Sunday 29th-11 am-Coffee & Chat- For access click here.

Monday 30th-Funeral service for Elizabeth Armitage (invitation only due to covid restrictions) Please pray for her family.

The Minster continues to be open for personal prayer between 12noon and 3pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Sunday 6th December- We will resume the 10:30am in person service at the Minster. We will also Launch our new 3:30pm Contemporary service this day too.

Dan Broom: As most people know Dan will be leaving the Minster team early December. If anyone would like to give towards a leaving gift for Dan the church office is happy to facilitate this. Please make donations through ‘Donate’ page on the website. Please then send an email to office@hullminster.org to notify us of the donation, alternatively, send a donation by cheque to the office in an envelope again labelled clearly for Dan. The office address is: Hull Minster Parish Office, 10a King Street, HU1 2JJ. Please make cheques payable to ‘The PCC of Holy Trinity, Hull’.

Readings:

Psalm 80:1-8, 18-20

Isaiah 64:1-9

Mark 13:24-end

The Collect for this week.

Almighty God,

as your kingdom dawns,

turn us from the darkness of sin to the light of holiness,

that we may be ready to meet you,

in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

AMEN

November Prayer Diary

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

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18 November 2020

Minster Lifeline #35

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18 November 2020

Rev. Irene writes:

Sunday saw the first of our Coffee and Chat Zoom meeting following the morning ‘church at home’ service. More than a dozen people joined on screen to catch up on how people are doing during this second lockdown.

For me it was good to see people on screen rather than just at the other end of the telephone. We will keep this chat going for the foreseeable future so if you can join in, we would love to see you. You can just listen if you wish to, rather than having to speak.

There is, of course, nothing better than seeing each other face to face but this is second best and hopefully will not need to continue for too long into the future.

This Sunday is the last Sunday in the church year so it is time for us to consider how we will put time aside during Advent as we prepare for the new church year and the celebration of the coming of Christ. It may be that we do have a little extra time on our hands, if that is you then can I suggest the Bible reflections that Val has prepared for Advent. These are made up of four reflections to see us through Advent and are well worth participating in. From next week they will be available on our web page and other social media platforms and those that receive Lifeline by post will be sent a summarised version each week with their Lifeline. Please do let others know about this resource so we can be prepared through study and prayer for the celebration of Christ.

Many of you will have known Elizabeth Armitage, a wonderful lady who so loved the Lord and was ready to be with him. She died peacefully this week so please pray for her family as they struggle with not being able to honour Elizabeth’s grand plans for her funeral. At the end of the restrictions there will be time for us all to get together to celebrate the lives of those that have passed during this difficult time!

We are delighted that Sarah Glenton is back at work after being furloughed and has reconnected with many families on Great Thornton Street Estate. She has written a few words for us below, please pray for Sarah’s health and strength in the coming months.

Sarah writes:

I have worked as Pastoral Carer for Hull Minster for some years now, and God has guided me to help those that have needed it. Nothing has prepared me for these past few months dealing with the Pandemic and seeing how much it has affected people on Great Thornton Estate, including me… At the beginning of the pandemic, not only did I have to deal with being furloughed, but I was also diagnosed with Cervical Cancer. It hit me hard and my faith was shaken, but with the power of prayer and a lot of time listening to God I am now recovering.

I have been given the insight by God that people don’t always speak of the issues they are dealing with, so I decided that I needed to keep in touch with people on the estate and give them someone to keep chatting with. It has been positive and encouraging to hear from so many people on the estate and how God showed me a way to stay in touch (of course social media has helped too). I want to continue this work.

Now finally coming back from Furlough, I have been given a new focus. The people on Great Thornton Estate need more of God’s presence and we are the Church to do it. I am looking forward to new projects on the estate and working with the team to bring God’s presence alive on the estate again. We have all faced so many issues and worries over this past year and I believe that in 2021 that God will give us the power to make it a beautiful and more positive time. With the power of prayer and positive vibes we can heal and overcome.

Irene concludes with:

Other news this week:

Jon Major has been appointed Head Verger by Priest in Charge, Dominic Black, and our PCC.

Dave Allum has been awarded Verger Emeritus in recognition of his tremendous contribution to the life of the Minster over many years.

Friday 20th-10 am-Little Fishes meets on Zoom. Join with Mandy and Rachel for songs and chat.

Sunday 22nd-10 am-Church at home- You can access this by going onto hullminster.org and follow ‘Worship’ or alternatively via You Tube or Face Book.

Sunday 22nd-11 am-Coffee & Chat- For access click here.

The Minster continues to be open for private prayer between 12noon and 3pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Readings:

Psalm 95:1-7

Ephesians 1:15-end

Matthew 25:31-end

The Collect for this week.

God the Father,

Help us to hear the call of Christ the King

And to follow in his service,

Whose kingdom has no end;

For He reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

One God, one glory.

AMEN

November Prayer Diary

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

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11 November 2020

Minster Lifeline #34

Guest User

11 November 2020

Rev. Irene writes:

Another week of change as our country enters its second lockdown and way over the Atlantic America voted in its new president. I hope today that everyone is feeling optimistic about the good news on the possible vaccination against the Corona virus. We are not there yet but the possibility is so encouraging. In the meantime, we must show patience and be persistent in prayer.

I thought the wisdom of this verse from Ecclesiastes 7 was quite apt for today!

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

It is amazing just how busy people are being within the church family. I have just heard from Jon Major who has spent the afternoon moving pews in the church and making the most of the opportunity to clean and tidy the building on the days we are closed to the public. Jon is not on his own, we are thankful to all those that go into the church to help and of course to Al who coordinates all this work at the present time.

I was delighted to hear from people who read about the church opening last week and have rung me to offer their services. Bishop Frank has written in a bit more detail about the opportunities we have when the church is open for private prayer.

As for myself it is lots of time on the telephone and on Zoom meetings, both for church and family. I spent the afternoon today Christmas shopping with my two daughters via Zoom – stressful to say the least compared to the day we would normally spend in Leeds shopping interspersed by coffee and a lovely lunch!

Yes, I did mention Christmas! With our Nine Lessons and Carols service already pre-recorded and plans for some of our usual December services still on track we hope that we can come out of this four week lockdown in a much better place and look forward to getting our church family together again for Advent and Christmas services. Watch this space!

In the meantime, do read what Bishop Frank has to say:

Supporting Personal Prayer - A Vital Minster Activity

Did you know that for the last 5 months Hull Minster has been open three days a week to support members of the public who want to pray - however clear or confused they may feel about that? The pandemic has triggered countless questions, concerns, troubles and heartbreaks and the Minster community have been there alongside those who want to relate to God in the turmoil of these days. Mostly it is by quiet presence and friendly welcome that people feel invited into this place of prayer. Occasionally deeper conversation is wanted, sometimes with shared prayer; and all done keeping to the current Covid regulations.

The Minster community are taking this responsibility - volunteering to be a healing presence in the heart of the City as people find themselves in real need. In a wonderful way we are finding a new expression of our calling. Since 2017 the Minster has welcomed tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of visitors as countless events have taken place within our walls and on Trinity Square. This is now a different time, but it is the same calling; to be here for God's sake welcoming whoever comes, longing that we may all experience his touch on our lives.

And we have the opportunity to support one another - we especially need welcoming people who can give 1-3 hours on Thursdays, Fridays, or Saturdays to be present in the Minster, to be alongside the people who have been offering this ministry these last months. Each day we have a chaplain who listens to those who have specific concerns, we have a doorkeeper who attends to the track and trace system and explains the hygiene and distancing rules and we have welcomers in the Nave receiving whoever comes into the church.

I am going to be in the Minster on Wednesday 18th November between 12.30 and 2pm to share more of the story and talk about welcoming. If you would like to come for a few minutes during that time, the north door (Trinity Market side opposite the Hideaway Hotel) will be open; please do ring Al on 01482 224460 to register your interest and come and join me. If you cannot come but would like to explore further, please leave a message with your name and contact details on the church phone - 01482 224460 and we will get back to you.

Thank you and please pray each week as the Minster is open for personal prayer.

+ Frank White.

Irene concludes with:

There will be no face to face services in the Minster until December however the streamed service will continue at 10am on a Sunday morning. You can access this by going onto hullminster.org and follow ‘Worship’ or alternatively via You Tube.

After the service, at 11am, there will be a chance to socialise and catch up with Minster family via zoom on our new weekly ‘Coffee and Chat’ conversation so grab yourselves a drink and join us by clicking on our ‘Church at home’ tab, ‘Resources’ then ‘Conversations’ or simply click here.

The Minster continues to be open for private prayer between 12noon and 3pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Readings:

Psalm 90:1-8, 12

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Matthew 25:14-30

The Collect for this week.

Heavenly Lord,

you long for the world’s salvation;

stir up from apathy,

restrain us from excess

and revive in us new hope

that all creation one day will be healed

In Jesus Christ our Lord.

AMEN

November Prayer Diary

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

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5 November 2020

Minster Lifeline #33

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5 November 2020

Hero image - Prayer for the nation hands.jpg

Rev. Irene writes:

How things can change in one week! I am writing this Lifeline the day before we go into second lockdown which is due to begin today, Thursday. We are all saddened by this; however, we cannot fail to be concerned for our hospital workers, the sheer demand put upon them as they fight to save as many lives as possible.

A letter received from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and the Bishop of London suggests ‘that the Church of England make this month of lockdown a ‘month of prayer’. The letter continues ‘more than anything else, whatever the nation thinks, we know that we are in the faithful hands of the risen Christ who knows our weaknesses, tiredness and struggles and whose steadfast love endures for ever.’

It is our intention that the Minster will stay open for personal prayer on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday each week between 12 noon and 3pm. However, for this to happen it does require several volunteers. We are grateful for all those who have been able to help so far and understand that some may now feel they need to stay at home to keep safe. If you feel you are able to offer any time at all and would be willing to be on a rota to welcome at the door, or see visitors through the church to the area of prayer, please let myself 07711996519 or Al 07708178420 know.

We have had to take the decision to move our toddler group, Little Fishes, back online via zoom. Click here to find the link, this will be weekly on a Friday at 10am from next week, 13th November. (No group this week as Mandy is on annual leave).

There will be no face to face services in the Minster until December however the streamed service will continue at 10am on a Sunday morning. This Sunday our service will include a short act of remembrance. You can access this by clicking here or alternatively watch via our Facebook page or YouTube channel.

We are still awaiting more details around streaming services from the Minster, as soon as we know more we will put information on the website and inform you in the Lifeline if you receive it by post.

REMEMBRANCE 11th November 2020 (Wednesday)

We are going to be open 10:30am to 2pm to allow anyone who wants to find a place a solace and quiet, to come and reflect. Candles will be available to light in memory of loved ones.
It is important that social distancing and other covid-19 precautions are undertaken so if we are too busy, we may ask you to come back at another time. Click here for more details.

The 3:30 pm service which was due to start on Advent Sunday has also been put on hold due to the lockdown so we will keep you informed on progress regarding this service.

This week Al Hutson, our Director of Operations, is writing about how he has ‘kept the plates spinning’ during the hectic, everchanging situation we find ourselves in:

When Rev. Irene asked me to write a piece for this week’s lifeline, she said it would be good for people to hear about how I manage to keep the plates spinning particularly during this time of Covid-19 and all that it brings with it.

I have reflected that I could explain at great lengths about all the various aspects of my role, the long hours, the late nights, the endless meetings, and the constant moving of furniture. But, in reality, that is just the stuff that needs to be done to make Hull Minster happen.

In my working career I have always aimed to work for something I can believe in. My time at M&S was one that I will look back fondly on but with a bitterness that, in the end, I lost the belief in what the brand was turning into.

When the opportunity arose to interview and accept the role here at the Minster, I truly felt God calling me to this place. If I am honest, I have not always thanked God for this move. The work is often hard, frustrating, back breaking, long, and tedious, but more often it is rewarding, fun, different and satisfying.

In one of my first weeks being at the Minster, I was questioning whether I had done the right thing after having discovered the true extent of the job that needed undertaking. As a somewhat non-conformist when it comes to churchmanship I was also questioning why I was here in one of the largest Church of England Parish churches.

Then God did what God does best, which is flattens our perspective, our thoughts and our beliefs and swept the carpet from underneath me.

A young person, late teens, early twenties, came in through the main doors, she was clearly upset and as she came closer towards me, she just dropped to her knees in tears. Not knowing what the exact procedure was, it quickly became apparent that, with no clergy or chaplain around at the time, it was down to me to sort this.

I helped the person up and we ended up praying in the Broadley chapel. She had recently lost her closest friend to suicide, she had problems with drink and drug abuse and she just had “nowhere else to go”

“Nowhere else to go”! that was the thunderbolt moment that I then realised what my job is all about. It is not about spreadsheets, monthly accounts, building works, cleaning schedules or HR policies. My job is to keep the doors open to allow those with ‘nowhere else to go’ to have a place to go to.

The classic Ephesians 12 passage about the church being one body but many parts has always resonated with me. The idea that we all have a part to play and if one part fails it weakens the rest.

I am in a very privileged position to see almost all of what goes on both behind the scenes and on show. We have so many dedicated and hardworking individuals who do so much to keep the body going, I take this opportunity to thank all those that do, all those that pray and all those that give to keep Hull Minster being Hull Minster and to carry on fighting the good fight of faith.

God’s work will never stop, and neither will that of the Minster, thankfully God has given me something to make sure I leave work on time….

P.A. to the Vicar:

A new grant funded position is being recruited to help with capacity over the next 5 months. Click here for more detail

Readings:

Psalm 70

1 Thessalonians 4:13-end

Matthew 25:1-13

The Collect for this week.

God, our refuge, and strength,

bring near the day when wars shall cease

and poverty and pain shall end,

that earth may know the peace of heaven

through Jesus Christ our Lord

AMEN

November Prayer Diary

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

Guest User

28 October 2020

Minster Lifeline #32

Guest User

28 October 2020

Rev. Irene writes:

I had a very pleasant surprise just a couple of days ago when the postman delivered me a parcel. Inside was the first copy of Matt Woodcock’s second book ‘Being Reverend’. I had read the draft, just so I could check there was nothing too outrageous about our time together in it but seeing it in finished form was so good.

Zoe Ball (Radio 2 Breakfast presenter) says on the front cover ‘Matt’s honesty, wild humour and huge love of humans shine like gold in this book…. I loved it, Read it now!’

Many of you will remember Matt, if you did not know him Matt and I were ordained together at York Minster and both served our curacy at Holy Trinity as it was known then. He is a larger than life character who was called to Ministry by God as he road along the A19 Selby, York road some years ago. He tells his early journey to Ministry in his first book ‘Becoming Reverend’, worth reading.

The important thing about Matt is he speaks to the ‘ordinary’ people and they love him. As Ian my husband has flicked through this new book he has laughed and cried because he feels Matt shows him he is just as important to Jesus as those who dedicate their lives to Him through the church they attend. Please pray for Matt and his family and that this book will touch the hearts of thousands of people who read it.

Being Reverend will make a fabulous Christmas present and is available now online or in book shops. Hopefully, it will be on sale in the Minster Shop soon along with this year’s Christmas Card designed and painted by Julia Allum. Julia will be taking orders and is happy to deliver/collect orders if required. Please contact her on 01482 854030.

Robin Alden one of our churchwardens has offered to update us this week on Bellringing in times of Covid:

Hull Minster has a fine ring of bells in the tower and I hope you enjoy hearing them when they call you to church on Sundays.

Church bells need people to ring them. We are fortunate to have a band of 15 or so ringers that means we can gather 10 or so for every Sunday morning. We had a steady trickle of new recruits who want to learn to ring and we had been improving the standard of ringing month by month.

Then along came Covid-19. As you will recall, when the initial lockdown happened churches were closed entirely and so no ringing could take place. The last time we rang before lockdown was Sunday 15th March.

When the lockdown started to ease, churches were not the first thing to open, and as churches opened first for private prayer and then later for public worship bell towers could not reopen straight away.

As time progressed, the government set its regulations. The Church of England took the government’s regulations and issued guidance to churches. The Central Council of Church Bell ringers (CCCBR) published and disseminated the latest guidance to ringers everywhere. The CCCBR realized that, to the amazement of bell ringers everywhere, the government did not see the resumption of the ringing of church bells as a priority for their efforts to reopen the country. The CCCBR presented experts to join the governments advisory committees and eventually we were able to resume ringing, with a number of restrictions, on 19thJuly.

We cannot yet restart our Monday night practices and we can only ring for services. We are limited to ringing for 15 minutes at a time. We have a rota for ringing so that we have only the exact number of ringers in the tower as we have bells to ring on that day, to help ensure that a ringer only needs to touch one bell rope.

Because of the Covid regulations, ringers must ring bells whose ropes are 2m or more separated from each other. Where bell ropes fall in a straight line, as several of ours do because of the large ringing circle in our very large ringing chamber, that distance can be reduced to 1.5m and where ringers are in the same ‘bubble’, such as is often the case with ringers from the same family, that distance can be further reduced.

We set out with a tape measure to work out who could ring what, from where, and when, and we produced this simple and easy to read(!) chart: https://towerandbells.hullminster.org/HMRings.html

Our assistant ringing master, the aptly named Harold Bell, uses that chart along with his wit, charm, intelligence, latest weather forecast, and a steam car, to work out the rota for who is ringing each week.

We were pleased to ring for Tom and Amber’s wedding recently, and we have another wedding to ring for this Sunday.

We say a prayer together before we ring each Sunday, so when you come to church and hear the bells please think kindly of us ringers up in the tower pealing out God’s praise and summoning the faithful in English style. Robin Alden, Ringing Master.

Rev Irene concludes:

OPENING TIMES FOR PERSONAL PRAYER AND VISITORS

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 12-3pm.

WEDNESDAY Holy Communion at 12:30pm. Entry through the north church side door.

SATURDAY 31st October – 4 p.m. Evening Prayer

This Sunday there will be an online service at 10am and a live service in the Minster at 10:30am. If you would like to be in the Minster for the service at 10:30am please book a place on-line here or by telephoning the office on 01482 224460.

ADVENT SUNDAY: Our 3:30 pm service will launch on 29th November. A service for all ages with contemporary style music from our worship band.

Also you have a chance to help raise funds for Christian Aid by completing a Humber Bridge Crossing. For full Information click here.

Readings:

The Collect for this week.

God of holiness,

your glory is proclaimed in every age;

as we rejoice in the faith of your saints,

inspire us to follow their example,

with boldness and joy;

through Jesus Christ our Lord

AMEN

November Prayer Diary

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

Guest User

21 October 2020

Minster Lifeline #31

Guest User

21 October 2020

Rev. Irene writes:

This weekend with the turning back of the clocks by one hour we will see the days shortening and the nights getting longer. Not good for those who are already struggling with being indoors so much but it does mean we are coming to the time when the winter bulbs start to push through the earth ready to give us that wonderful display of snowdrops and other winter favourites. I noticed whilst in the garden today that our holly bush which is quite extensive in size is already full of red berries. Looking at it reminded me of the Christmas carol we sing each year ‘the Holly and the Ivy’.

Unfortunately no singing this year in church by the congregation, however I have heard that our fabulous choir and music group are meeting to record everything ‘Christmassy’ in half term week so that we are prepared just in case we move into stricter regulations.

We are delighted that there is still so much happening in the Minster albeit on a smaller scale. I happened to go in to record the Sunday service last week and was met by several mums and children all spread out in the Nave having a fabulous time together, that was the first time they have been able to come together since lockdown in March. Mandy had worked extremely hard to make everywhere covid safe and each child brought their own toys to play with.

Evensong on Saturday was well supported and the singing by the choir was extraordinary.

In psalm 96 v 1 it says

‘Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.’

Even with the restrictions there is still joy to behold! We hope that there is something in our services that brings joy to you and from Advent Sunday we will be launching the 3.30 p.m. Sunday Praise, the team is working hard behind the scenes to get everything in place for this which will be more contemporary in style and will have facilities for our young people also.

Val Fotherby was out and about last week and so she has written about one of her visits:

I recently had occasion to visit a church in a deprived area of the city which runs a busy foodbank. On that that morning, local councillors had dropped in to see how things were going. It was a hive of activity, noisy and extremely cold. What struck me was the passion to get things right and meet the needs of as many people as possible. There was a wide range of ages among the volunteers, but everyone was working at an intense level and on talking to some of them I began to understand the compassion they had for the people in the community which they served. If folks were unable to come themselves, they arranged for delivery to their home, appreciating that sometimes life gets complicated.

For many of us who live in warm houses, have more than sufficient food and a car to get us around or the money for bus fares, we must learn to have a grateful heart. I think we need to consider the way we spend our money and perhaps donate to, or help, in one of the local food banks.

You will doubtless remember Zane Powles, assistant head at a primary school in Grimsby. He walked over five miles every day to bring school meals to scores of children during lockdown. When asked why he did it in this way, he explained that it gave him the opportunity to check on vulnerable children. You could see the character of the man shine through as he wore funny costumes and brought gifts for the children; the perfect example of going the extra mile. He was surprised to be awarded an MBE for his services to the community!

In Luke 12:48, Jesus tells us: “To whom much has been given, much will be required.” This was famously quoted by President John F. Kennedy in 1967 when criticising members of his family for their actions.

A recent example of giving was an incredibly generous tip that was given just recently, right before the COVID-19 virus forced the shutdown of a popular Houston restaurant. Knowing that the staff would be laid off and in dire straits, a couple (who wished to remain anonymous) left the entire staff a tip of $9400.00!

My late husband David often would say that grateful people were happy people. Some of the volunteers at the food bank were themselves struggling but they chose to look out into the community and give help, rather than complaining about their own situation.

For me, that morning was a stark reminder of the wide divisions in our society, but also how important it is for us as Christians to give in whatever way we can. After all Jesus said in Matthew 25, in giving to those in need, we are giving to Him.

Rev Irene concludes:

OPENING TIMES FOR PERSONAL PRAYER AND VISITORS

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 12-3pm.

WEDNESDAY Holy Communion at 12:30pm. Entry through the north church side door.

SATURDAY 24th October-4 p.m. Evening Prayer.

We are now also open for morning and evening prayer as follows:

Morning Prayer:

Monday to Friday 08:00-08:30

Saturday and Sunday 09:00-09:30

Evening Prayer:

Monday to Friday 17:00-17:30

Access to both services is through the North Door, which is opposite BE Coffee Shop.

On Thursday 22nd October at 7:30pm there is an opportunity to join CHURCH MISSION SOCIETY’S AGM via zoom. Full details can be found here.

Also you have a chance to help raise funds for Christian Aid by completing a Humber Bridge Crossing. For full Information click here.

Readings:

The Collect for this week.

Blessed Lord,

who caused all holy scriptures

to be written for our learning;

help us so to hear them,

to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them

that, through patience,

and the comfort of your holy word,

we may embrace and forever hold fast

the hope of everlasting life,

which you have given us

in our Saviour Jesus Christ

AMEN

October Prayer Diary

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

Guest User

15 October 2020

Minster Lifeline #30

Guest User

15 October 2020

Rev. Irene writes:

What is impossible with man is possible with God.

Luke 18:27

We celebrate Luke the Evangelist this Sunday in the church calendar. Not only did Luke write the words of Luke’s gospel but also Acts of the Apostles, the story of how the first church developed after the death and resurrection of Jesus.

So why was Luke called the Evangelist?’ Luke was a friend of Paul and lived during the first century. Their purpose in life was to spread the gospel message of Jesus to Gentiles as well as Jews.

Today we too are encouraged, as we read God’s word, the Bible, to be evangelists. It was interesting meeting with other clergy from in and around our city at the Chapter meeting today and hearing how they are trying to evangelise during such difficult times.

We are all limited in what we can achieve now but when we feel frustrated, we need to remember the above verse, ‘what is impossible with man is possible with God.’ Just last night I watched the film ‘Amazing Grace’ on the TV and saw how William Wilberforce struggled for most of his life to bring about the abolition of slavery. He had many moments of despondency yet in the end he achieved, through Parliament, his aim of seeing the abolition of slavery in the British Empire. His trust in God was always there and it won through in the end. We may all be tired of the restrictions brought about by Covid but we must adhere to them so we can once again have freedom and share our love of Jesus through friendship and fellowship – what’s better than a ‘hug’.

Mandy is updating us this week on the children and families work in the Minster:

Mandy writes:

Two Sunday’s ago, we started our Minster Kids group back up following strict Covid guidelines. After a long 28 weeks it was amazing to welcome children back into the Minster in a way that is safe yet still fun. One of the benefits of having such a huge church is that we can use the whole of the East end allowing for every child/sibling group to have their own table and resources.

Before the first session I was a little nervous as to how the children would cope with having to stay socially distanced and keep to their own tables but I was so proud when they all followed along sensibly and kept to the new rules perfectly. All the children were extremely excited to be back with their friends and after a much needed catch up they were eager to get on and engaged beautifully with the session.

It does take a little more time to prepare and set up sessions at this current time so one way that parents can help me is to ensure their children are booked into the service here by Friday 5pm at the latest so that I know exactly how many children to plan for and how many stations to set up.

I am continuing to upload family resources to our website for those families not able to join us in person and would encourage anyone wanting to know more about how we are working to keep children safe during these sessions, or wanting help for at home sessions, to email me at: mandy@hullminster.org and I will be happy to give you a call.

After the success of our Summer Craft session we are also hosting another ‘Family Craft and Story session’ on Friday 30th October at 10am. I still have a few spaces left for this so if you would like to book in please do email me or grab me after a service to find out more.

Mandy Richardson- Children, Youth, and Families Minister

Rev Irene concludes:

OPENING TIMES FOR PERSONAL PRAYER AND VISITORS

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 12:3pm.

WEDNESDAY Holy Communion at 12:30pm. Entry through the north church side door.

SATURDAY 17th October-4pm. Choral evensong from the Book of Common Prayer 1662 led by the Hull Minster Choir using a pattern of worship passed down through the centuries.

We are now also open for morning and evening prayer as follows:

Morning Prayer:

Monday to Friday 08:00-08:30

Saturday and Sunday 09:00-09:30

Evening Prayer:

Monday to Friday 17:00-17:30

Access to both services is through the North Door, which is opposite BE Coffee Shop.

Lastly: On Thursday 22nd October at 7:30pm there is an opportunity to join CHURCH MISSION SOCIETY’S AGM via zoom. Full details can be found here.

Readings:

The Collect for this week.

Almighty God,

you called Luke the physician,

whose praise is in the gospel,

to be an evangelist and physician of the soul:

by the grace of the Spirit

and through the wholesome medicine of the gospel,

give your church the same love and power to heal;

through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord.

AMEN

September Prayer Diary

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

Guest User

7 October 2020

Minster Lifeline #29

Guest User

7 October 2020

07 October 2020

Rev. Irene writes:

I was fortunate enough to spend last week on a canal boat sauntering along the Leeds/Liverpool canal. A canal boat is one way of really noticing the wildlife and countryside in all its glory especially as the leaves were just beginning to turn to those wonderful orange and reds of autumn. Life moves at such a slow pace and you feel you are miles from anywhere, when in fact, the canal runs alongside many busy roads and through towns and villages.

Back in Hull life continues to grow at pace. It was great to have our first Evensong since the beginning of the year on Saturday and on Sunday we welcomed our young choristers for the first time since the reopening of the Minster. Please pray for our young people and for baby Sebastian who was baptised on Saturday last week.

Rebecca Barber and Sarah Magaharan led our contemporary contribution to the Sunday service, and I remembered how they too had been part of the junior choir not so many years ago. Since then they have done university and are back in Hull and back to worship with us at the Minster. How encouraging! Perhaps I can get them to contribute to Lifeline in the next few weeks to update us on their journeys of life!

This week Katie Ogilvie has offered to update us on life in the Ogilvie home and family which includes rather a larger number of alpacas!

Katie writes:

At the beginning March, I was busy working two days a week at South Hunsley High School and two days at Withernsea High School, but as lockdown happened, the shielding instructions arrived, and very quickly I was instructed to work from home. I have always tried not to let my health issues get in the way of living a full, useful life – but the last six months have made that exceedingly difficult!

I have an auto immune eye condition that requires a strong dose of immune suppressants to keep it in remission, but that also means that my immune system is compromised. To complicate matters, I have lymphoedema in my right arm, a complication from a breast cancer diagnosis 12 years ago. Any infection I get may lead to cellulitis and septicaemia – so I need to be careful! As anyone who has any chronic conditions knows, you don’t appreciate your good health until you lose it – and then it becomes very frustrating when it means you can’t do everything you want to do.

Taking on the organisation and editing of the hymns for our online services gave me a purpose, and a sense of being some use. And I really enjoy doing it: collating voices, blending sounds, and encouraging people to sing, even when they did not like the sound of their own voice. I love seeing people working together to produce something special, something that they would not necessarily be able to produce on their own. It also meant that the choir could unite during lockdown and give support to one another, and I believe, as we are now meeting together again, that we are stronger for it.

Having to shield meant that I was even supposed to avoid the people I lived with – but we managed to find ways round that! I recognise that I am extremely fortunate to live where I do, and to be surrounded by fields and open space. I have 12 alpacas, who are good company – and at least I did not have to shield from them! (ADVERT CLAXON – wool is available! www.highfield-farm.com)

Lockdown also brought extra stresses – Ruth missed out on taking her GCSEs and partying at her prom but coped well with the disappointment. Alex had an abrupt return from Glasgow in March, and then had to go to Southampton in the middle of June to board her ship. She is studying marine engineering and has a degree apprenticeship with Carnival. She was meant to be cruising round Alaska, but instead she is bobbing off the Isle of Wight. The first two weeks of her trip were spent in quarantine in a cabin – a stressful and lonely period for any 19-year-old. She disembarks in early November, having served her sea time on the Queen Victoria – and will need collecting from the south coast. It is a worrying time for all our young people as they begin careers or move to study new courses. We want them to take advantage of all the opportunities life provides, but currently those opportunities are severely curtailed. I hope that this pandemic teaches them important lessons about their own resilience and capabilities, and that in years to come, generation ‘Covid’ can reminisce about how they pulled together, showed empathy and learnt to value their health and freedom.

Getting back to some form of ‘normal’ in terms of attending the Minster for services has been a welcome tonic for us all. Restarting choir practice was nerve wracking, but it has worked well, and the airy space of the Nave has been a blessing. A recording that we made at our first rehearsal back reached 5,000 viewers, and as a result we have grown the choir with 6 new members in the last two weeks – an amazing result at a time when so much is restricted and experiences appear to be shrinking. It is awesome to consider the growth in our numbers, and the support and fellowship a group like the choir can offer its members. I was privileged to be part of the choir that sang for Sunday worship for the first time – and the spontaneous round of applause (thank you Dot!) was wonderful, and moved members of the choir and congregation to tears. Music is so vital to our experience of worship, whether we are part of creating it, or able to listen and reflect as others sing and play to us. Producing music well is an emotional journey and requires hard work. To know that it is appreciated, and enhances the worship, makes it worthwhile. Please do join us for choral evensong if you are able to – the first and third Saturday of every month, at 4pm!