Guest User

14 April 2021

Minster Lifeline #15

Guest User

14 April 2021

Rev. Irene writes:

I have just read an article in the Yorkshire Post about a conversation between Dr John Sentamu and Prince Philip. A warm and encouraging article in which Dr Sentamu says about Prince Philip:

“There was this unbelievable depth of his rootedness, because he was so rooted in Christ, he didn’t have any problem in relating to people about their faith or people who didn’t believe at all,”

Prince Philip, like all of us, did not live in a perfect world, with a perfect family. Being part of the Royal family did not exclude him or them from the traumas of life. He did however show a determination and devotion in his loyalty to support the Queen and selflessly put others before himself, all this rooted in Jesus Christ. We pray for his family at this sad time.

I want to say ‘thank you’ to Jack for sharing with us below a little of his journey, particularly his time at Hull Minster. A very honest account of his initial intentions and how he feels things have changed. We, as a church family, must work hard at making sure that all who are involved whether singing, welcoming, ringing bells etc. feel a welcome that makes them want to stay with us, get to know us and maybe get to know Jesus.

“I have been a member of the choir of Hull Minster for roughly four years, and during that time I have seen the church go through a lot of change. In particular, the Covid-19 pandemic has proved to be a significant challenge for the Minster to overcome, but over the past 12 months the clergy and leaders of the church have admirably risen to that challenge.

Easter this year has shown just how much the Minster is doing for its congregation, with the Passion, sung services and the Easter Eve vigil, and as a choral scholar I have been fortunate to be involved in a lot of those services. The main reason for my initial involvement in church (both here at Hull Minster and back home when I was younger) was an academic pursuit of music and singing, and I saw myself more as supporting worship for others, not actively partaking myself. I have never had any strong religious beliefs, but it has become clear to me during my time at the Minster, and particularly in recent months, that the community here is open and welcoming to all.

I think Hull Minster is a wonderful place, both the building itself, and the community that it supports. Despite the difficulties that this year of Covid has brought, the church has continued to provide support and space for worship and has even provided new things which previous Holy Weeks have not featured. I’m exceptionally proud to be a member of the Hull Minster family, and I’m looking forward to the future.”

Jack Bridges

Irene concludes with:

SUNDAYS 10am Recorded Service

10:30am Holy Communion in the Minster - Please click here to book in.

Church@4 will take place in the Minster from 18th April, please note the new time of 4pm. All are welcome. Please click here to book.

The Minster will continue to be open for Wednesday 12:30pm Holy Communion

EVENING PRAYER will commence again from the 17th of April. Further details to follow as we hopefully find out more information on singing etc.

PLEASE NOTE The Minster will be open for personal prayer each Saturday 12-3pm.

If you are coming in to the Minster for services we want to encourage you to consider the environment and walk or cycle or use public transport if possible. If you are coming by car please do not park on Trinity Square the only people who should be parking there are contractors working on the building. There are plenty of parking places around the Minster including the recently opened Fruit Market just across the A63. https://www.fruitmarkethull.co.uk/fruit-market-hull-l-multi-storey-car-park-l-regeneration-l/

This Sunday the Revd Anne Richards will be speaking on BBC Radio 4 Sunday Worship at 8:10am in a Service led by Archbishop Stephen about praying when prayer seems impossible, reflecting on her experience of prayer in grief. The following Sunday she will again be joining Archbishop Stephen for the C of E online service.

DO YOU WANT TO HELP? 10:30 am SUNDAY Holy Communion

We are looking for people to volunteer, on a rota, to work the sound desk during this service. The desk is pre-set, so it is very straightforward. If you think you can help, please speak to one of the wardens for more information. Thank you.

GOOD NEWS

At present Dominic is Priest-in-Charge of the parish of Holy Trinity. On 6th June, the position will change when the Bishop of Hull will institute Dominic as vicar. To enable this to happen the Bishop has agreed to allow the patrons (CPAS) to bring Dominic forward as their nomination as Vicar, this is a position supported by the PCC.

APCM (Annual Parochial Church Meeting) The meeting this year will be held on TUESDAY 27th APRIL via zoom at 7pm. Further details to follow.

Ecclesiastical Insurance have provided cover for the Minster and the clergy houses for a long time and have a special interest in helping churches undertake maintenance through their grant scheme. We have benefitted from these generous grants in the past. In this, their 130th year they are offering donations of £130 to our church for every person who takes out home insurance cover with them - at any point during the year. Some of the staff team have been using their home insurance for several years and it is very comprehensive and reasonably priced. So, if you are thinking of renewing with your provider please take a look at Ecclesiastical. The post below shows what you have to do. Just name the church and they will find it for you. Click the button below for full details.

Ten Trust130 Donations

READINGS: FOR THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

COLLECT FOR THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

Almighty God, who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples

with the sight of the risen Lord;

Give us such knowledge of his presence with us,

that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life

and serve you continually in righteousness and truth,

Through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

Daily prayer points throughout the current month can be found here.

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6 April 2021

Minster Lifeline #14

Guest User

6 April 2021

7 April 2021

Rev. Irene writes:

I do hope that you had a happy and peaceful Easter. We are now in Eastertide which lasts for 40 days from Easter Sunday until the celebration of the Ascension of our Lord, this year on 13th May.

As you will see a little further in this letter we are beginning to extend our services to include Saturday Evening Prayer/Evensong or Taize and our Sunday at 4 service will begin in the Minster.

I have got over the nervousness of being in church again by preaching on Easter Day but understand that some will still be feeling unsure about mixing again. Take your time we will look forward to seeing you when it is right for you.

To be in the Minster again for worship and look at the stained glass windows and hear the wonderful sound of Mark on the organ and the choir (very limited in number) was just transcending and made me realise just how much I feel at home in that wonderful place with God’s family around me. It will be great when we can open up to the public and share God’s love through all that the Minster offers.

IT IS GREAT TO HEAR FROM LAUREN THIS WEEK:

My husband and I first came to Hull Minster after we had become engaged in 2010, and he said that he wanted to get married in a ‘pretty’ church. I told him that we could only get married in a pretty church if we attended. Luckily, when we both turned up at this amazing church, the congregation and Ministry Team were so friendly and welcoming that we continued to attend.

In 2014 Mark and I were married in a day I will never forget. It was amazing to be married in such a splendid place that celebrated our love, faith and friendliness. We love being part of the Hull Minster family as it is a great place to learn more about our faith with likeminded people.

In 2019, a lady was talking about what we could do for God during the sermon, how we could serve him. I started to think how Girls Brigade through its Christ centred approach would benefit the central Hull community. I have been involved with Girls Brigade since the age of 8 and I’m now a leader. We are always striving towards our motto ‘Seek, Serve, and follow Christ’.

I choose to volunteer because it is joy to get to know girls and their families, to share in their lives and the good news of God. Being involved in Girls Brigade has got me through difficult times, especially with my mental health. It gave me a purpose and focus for my week and it helped me knowing that I was able to help someone else, even though I was finding things difficult.

On a typical evening we play games, have devotional time, complete crafts and badgework. Our badgework includes important topics such as caring for others, friendship, bullying and drugs. We also undertake lots of life skills such as cooking which the girls really enjoy. As girls get older, they can undertake a leadership program and undertake different awards including the ‘Queens Award.’

Our District also has a band (Northern Lights Girls Brigade Band) where girls aged 8 and over can learn to play a brass instrument, drum, or glockenspiel. We also teach marching and perform in concerts, parades and marching displays. This helps girls learn about self-discipline and practicing a new skill, appreciating and sharing talents with each other and the wider community.

My hope with starting a group at Hull Minster is to enrich the lives of our young people to explore and grow their faith, to be a part of the Minster and wider Girls Brigade community. To be able share Girls Brigade with my church family at Hull Minster is so important because I feel that I am undertaking what God has directed me to do. Lauren Jeffries.

Irene concludes with:

April services and opening times:

The Minster will continue to be open for Wednesday 12:30pm Holy Communion and Sunday 10:30am Holy Communion. Please click here to book in.

EVENSONG/EVENING PRAYER will commence again from the 17th of April. Further details to follow as we hopefully find out more information on singing etc.

Church@4 will take place in the Minster from 18th April, please note the new time of 4pm, All are welcome.

All other public services are cancelled at the present time. However, changes could take place in the coming weeks so please keep checking in Lifeline or on the Hull Minster website.

PLEASE NOTE The Minster will be open for personal prayer each Saturday 12-3pm.

ELECTORAL ROLL If you have been attending Hull Minster for at least six months you are eligible to be put on the Electoral Roll. This allows you to vote at the annual meeting. If you are interested, please see Val Fotherby before 13th April. Please note, if you are already on the electoral role you do not need to fill out another form.

DO YOU WANT TO HELP? 10:30 am SUNDAY SERVICE

GOOD NEWS

DO YOU WANT TO HELP?
10:30 am SUNDAY SERVICE

The Heritage Volunteering group have been meeting via Zoom Coffee Mornings to have a chat and carry out some research about the Minster's history. As part of this, our Heritage Project Manager, Jane Owen, has organised several talks and would like to open these up to the wider church to join in. These will take place via zoom on a Wednesday or Friday morning at 10.00am, with a 15-minute chat before the talk starts. The dates and topics are below. Please send Jane and email if you would like to join in any of them - or if you would like to give a talk in future - and she will send you the links. They are very informal and can be accessed by computer, telephone, tablet or even by telephone to listen in.

We are also looking for any volunteers who would like to join our team to do some computer-based research at home about the church, the community surrounding it, the graveyard at the east end and the burial ground at Castle Street. Again, if you would like to be involved, please contact Jane at jane@hullminster.org Click here for full details.

APCM (Annual Parochial Church Meeting) The meeting this year will be held on TUESDAY 27th APRIL via zoom at 7pm. Further details to follow.

Ten Trust130 Donations

READINGS: FOR SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

Psalm 133

Exodus 14: 10-31, 15: 20-21

Acts 4: 23-25

John 20: 19-31

COLLECT FORSECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

Risen Christ, for whom no door is locked, no entrance barred;

open the doors of our hearts,

that we may seek the good of others

and walk the joyful road of sacrifice and peace,

to the praise of God the Father. AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

Daily prayer points throughout the current month can be found here.

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31 March 2021

Minster Lifeline #13

Guest User

31 March 2021

Rev. Irene writes:

More changes, we have welcomed the lighter nights and at last we can meet up with friends in outdoor places. For myself it is strange to journey through Holy Week yet not be in the Minster each day of that journey. However, this is a great improvement on last year when we were all in the shock of the first lockdown and Easter took place behind closed church doors!

There is something reassuring that amidst all the unknown and the changes we are facing, we can walk with Jesus through this Holy Week knowing that new life is what he promises us. His journey to the cross and resurrection from the dead give a guarantee that we can experience new life. It will never change. No-one can take away the Easter promise, so enjoy and have a Happy Easter.

Talking of meeting up outdoors: Yesterday our toddler group, Little Fishes, met up for a socially distanced picnic at a local park and Mandy reports that a great time was had by all:

It was so amazing to meet face to face for the first time in quite a few months, to see how big some of our little people have grown over the past year, and also to meet some new members who we’ve previously only seen via the computer screens on zoom!

We had some snacks sat on the grass where me and Hannah took turns to lead us in a few songs then we went for a walk together to see the ducks and we finished with a play in the play park and some of us had an ice cream to finish our morning.

All children received a takeaway craft bag and I also delivered some to children who were isolating and therefore could not make it. It was so lovely for the mums and dads to chat freely and just enjoy the moment that even I did not think to take any photos but luckily some mums did and so we have a few to share above.

One little boy (aged 2) had such a great time that during his bath time last night he prayed ‘Thank you God for playing in the park with our friends today’, Melts my heart, and I cannot wait until we can resume Little Fishes each week either in the Minster, or outside if nice weather. 😊 Mandy Richardson

Rev. Dominic writes for us today:

Alleluia Christ is Risen!

If my boys really want to wind me up, of the many ways they have learnt over the years, is to use the ‘A’ word during lent. Since they were tiny our family life has been built round the patterns of the practice of the Christian Church. They have grown up surrounded by people who have shared the same annual and weekly rhythms of celebration, the same framework of beliefs and values. They have heard repeatedly the stories of the Bible, sung the songs of the faith as we have celebrated year after year Christ’s birth, death, resurrection, and the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. But as they have grown up there has been an increasing cultural dissonance from the wider society that no longer has a common story and few common values. It is predicted that for the first time ever it is likely that less than 50% of people when asked their religion in the census will answer ‘Christian’. This is partly to do with immigration and the growth particularly of the British Muslim community, but it is mostly due to rapid growth in the ‘nones’, people who say they have no religion. The rate of decline since the mid 1960’s has been staggering. The younger you are the more likely you are to describe yourself as having ‘no religion.’ For the vast majority of these people, the research suggests, it is not that have not become atheists, most would still describe themselves and spiritual but not religious.

This week Guardian journalist John Harris, one of those who ticked ‘no religion’, reflected on the cultural loss that represents. As believers we have all struggled over this last year to keep strong and see meaning at times, but without the framework of faith and supportive community that we as believers have, what sense does it all make? As John Harris laments ‘how do faithless people like me make sense of this past year of Covid? Many of us yearn for meaning. But in our individualistic, secular society we lack even the flimsiest of narratives to guide us.’ He continues, ‘For many of us, life without God has turned out to be life without fellowship and shared meaning.’ It is unlikely that the vast cultural shift of the last 50+ years is suddenly reversed. However, there will be many people who are searching for meaning and community and as St Paul saw in Athens (Acts 17:23). There will be many people who are ‘spiritual but not religious’ who are worshiping an unknown God who will be open to be led towards the one true God not made by human hands. There is a hunger, there is a restlessness that can only truly be satisfied by Christ alone. As we tell again the greatest story ever told this Holy Week let us proclaim loudly and boldly once again the story of the one who came to share our humanity that we might share in his divinity. The one who died and rose again for the salvation of the whole world. Alleluia, Christ is risen! Rev Dominic.

Irene concludes with:

April services and opening times:

The Minster will continue to be open for Wednesday 12:30pm Holy Communion and Sunday 10:30am Holy Communion. Please click here to book in.

EVENSONG/EVENING PRAYER will commence again from the 17th of April. Further details to follow as we hopefully find out more information on singing etc.

Church@4 will take place in the Minster from 18th April, please note the new time of 4pm, All are welcome.

A full list of our Easter services can be found by clicking here:

Easter Services

All other public services are cancelled at the present time. However, changes could take place in the coming weeks so please keep checking in Lifeline or on the Hull Minster website.

PLEASE NOTE The Minster will be open for personal prayer each Saturday 12-3pm.

DO YOU WANT TO HELP? 10:30 am SUNDAY SERVICE

GOOD NEWS

Last week of Lent 2021

APCM (Annual Parochial Church Meeting) The meeting this year will be held on TUESDAY 27th APRIL via zoom at 7pm. Further details to follow.

Ten Trust130 Donations

READINGS: FOR EASTER DAY

COLLECT FOR EASTER DAY

God of glory, by the raising of your Son

you have broken the chains of death and hell;

fill you Church with faith and hope;

for a new day has dawned and the way to life stands open

in our Saviour Jesus Christ.

AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

Daily prayer points throughout the current month can be found here.

Guest User

24 March 2021

Minster Lifeline #12

Guest User

24 March 2021

Rev. Irene writes:

My favourite walk during the restrictions is along Ferriby Foreshore. Yesterday as the sun shone on the water with the Humber Bridge sparkling in the background, I noticed not only the daffodils and snowdrops around me but the pussy willow (species of the genus Salix) standing firmly in bud waiting to burst out in the spring sunshine. This scene was a real joy to me yet, in the field behind me, were two beautiful donkeys, well maybe not beautiful but I am sure you know what I mean!

My mind went immediately to the scriptures where we read in Matthew 21 about the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Jesus had instructed two of his disciples to go into the nearby village where they would find a donkey tied there with her colt, they were to untie them and bring them to Jesus.

This fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet:

“Say to the Daughter of Zion,

see your king comes to you,

gentle and riding on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a donkey”

On Sunday we will once more celebrate Palm Sunday and that triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem the beginning of Holy Week and the lead up to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This week Nick Gledhill writes for us, Nick is a Lay Reader at the Minster:

It is almost a decade since I first came to Holy Trinity, as then was. I had moved up from London due to my wife’s (Yvonne’s) work. So much has happened between then and now. Of course, as we all know, the church itself has been through significant change. Like many of you, I recall the day that Archbishop Sentamu announced that we were to become a minster; this plus Hull as UK City of Culture made for exciting times, culminating arguably in the visit of Prince Charles.

Today the parish, the city, the nation, and indeed the global scene all look different. For many of us, our personal lives, family lives, financial and business fortunes, and job prospects have been adversely affected. The primary way that I have been touched is that my mum died early in the pandemic due to Covid 19. Fortunately, my children and their families have weathered the storm comparatively well; but I know many have been severely impacted.

So, the past year has been completely different from ‘normal’ life. Is there anything that has supplied continuity for me in this period? I have been incredibly grateful for the online services from the Minster, and the Zoom meetings. I know these are very much ‘second best’ but they have made the past year much less troubling than it would otherwise have been. Another much valued Internet resource has been my ongoing attendance at the York School of Ministry (YSOM) which has kept me grounded in a routine. Study, initially at Beverley and then at York was a basic part of Reader training. By the time that was finished I had completed two thirds of a degree, so it made sense to continue for a couple more years and gain the BA. That is what several of my cohort are currently doing. Of course, in present circumstances YSOM is operating entirely online.

The materials that are sent out via email from the church are much valued points of contact but obviously I look forward to the time when this sorry episode is behind us all and a new ‘normal’ emerges with face-to-face fellowship. Our dog (Lucy) has been limping from an injured paw, which the vet is treating but the problem is taking its time to fully resolve. (The phrase ‘looking for a needle in a haystack’ sometimes comes to mind). Otherwise, life goes on. In fact, as I write, Yvonne and I have just reached our 40th wedding anniversary.

Best wishes to all, Nick

Irene concludes with:

March services and opening times:

The Minster will continue to be open for Wednesday 12:30pm Holy Communion and Sunday 10:30am Holy Communion. Please click here to book in.

THERE WILL BE NO 3:30 SUNDAY PRAISE UNTIL IT IS RELAUNCHED IN THE MINSTER HOPEFULLY IN THE MIDDLE OF APRIL

A full list of our Easter services can be found by clicking here:

Easter Services

All other public services are cancelled at the present time. However, changes could take place in the coming weeks so please keep checking in Lifeline or on the Hull Minster website.

PLEASE NOTE The Minster will be open for personal prayer each Saturday 12-3pm.

GOOD NEWS

An Invitation to Lent 2021

During Lent there will be a zoom bible study on Wednesday evenings 7:30-8:30pm beginning 24th February. Do join Rev. Irene and Val in study and discussion around Gladness and Generosity, in the Holy Habits series. You can join here. You should now have received a booklet of daily reflections based on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent book for 2021, Living His Story by Hannah Steel. These notes include a short passage of scripture, a reflection, and a prayer for each day of Lent. If you have a smart phone or tablet these notes are accompanied by the free #LiveLent App on iOS and Android where you can listen along to the reflections. [suggested donation £2.50 to cover booklet and postage].. Click here for full details.

APCM (Annual Parochial Church Meeting) The meeting this year will be held on TUESDAY 27th APRIL via zoom at 7pm. Further details to follow.

Ten Trust130 Donations

READINGS: FOR PALM SUNDAY

COLLECT FOR PALM SUNDAY

True and humble King,

hailed by the crowd as Messiah;

grant us the faith to know you and love you

that we may be found beside you

on the way of the cross,

which is the path of glory.

AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

Daily prayer points throughout the current month can be found here.

Guest User

17 March 2021

Minster Lifeline #11

Guest User

17 March 2021

Rev. Irene writes:

It only seems five minutes ago that I wrote in one of our early Lifelines about welcoming the first day of spring 2020! Yet 12 months later we, once again, welcome the season of spring starting on Sunday 21st March.

I came across the quote below which is from the Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, – a long-time favourite of mine since first seeing on the TV when I was about 10 years old.

Colin, the little boy that has been shut away for years, says to Mary his only friend

“Is the spring coming, what is it like...?”

Mary answers him, “it is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine.”

What a fabulous description!

Well in Spring 1951, Hull Minster welcomed a young man into the church, his name David Stipetic….and the rest is history!

Please read below the fabulous words the bell ringers have put together on this great gentleman.

Congratulations David

Many of you will know David Stipetic, but for those of you who do not he has been associated with our church for a long time.

He was taught to ring church bells in 1951 at St. Mary's Lowgate, and first rang at Holy Trinity seventy years ago, on Sunday 10th March 1951. This was the start of a life-long interest in bells and bellringing.

In 1957 he was appointed steeple-keeper here at Holy Trinity.

David worked hard but has always been prepared to put his own money into things that interest him and benefit others.

In 1959 David purchased the bells from St. James Parish Church, Myton (off Hessle Road) in Hull which was demolished in that year. The metal from the 7th and Tenor (i.e., the two heaviest) bells was used to make two new bells to augment from 10 to 12 the ring at Holy Trinity and the cost of the recasting was met by the City Council to celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of William Wilberforce.

In 1960 David had a bell cast and donated it for our new daughter church of Holy Apostles.

As well as bells David has also had a great interest in, and love of, timepieces. David has been clock custodian to the city Council from 1962 to date.

In 1968, after some over-exuberant over-winding by council staff, the weights of the guildhall clock had crashed down through the ceiling into the guildhall and the council proposed to replace the works with an electric clock mechanism. David offered to refurbish the heritage clock for them, and then wound it every other day for the next 44 years. He had help on occasions, of course, but the effort was mostly his.

David purchased the calling bells from St. Barnabas (Hessle Road) and Transfiguration (Albert Avenue) churches in Hull and the metal from these was used to cast the ‘flat sixth’ bell for Holy Trinity in 1975.

David also gave Holy Trinity the Top Treble bell which he had cast in 1979, and the Sharp Second bell, cast in 1983.

In 2004/5 to mark the 100th anniversary of the signing of a contract with Quibells to construct the ‘new’ Guildhall, David gave 11 bells which, with 1 more bell given by Quibells and three of the Guildhall’s existing clock bells, formed a ‘Chime’ of bells in the Guildhall tower that could play tunes.

In 2010 David gave to the council 8 further bells to turn their 15-bell chime into a 23 bell Carillon.

In 2013 David gave a Chime of 15 bells, 14 new plus the bell now removed from Holy Apostles to Holy Trinity.

In 2014 David gave 8 additional bells, and in 2017 2 more, that were installed to form Holy Trinity’s present 25 bell carillon, dedicated as The Wilberforce Carillon.

David is an accomplished bell ringer and taught many of the ringers that we have now at Hull Minster as well as many more that have been through our doors and now ring elsewhere.

He is a member of The Ancient Society of College Youths, London’s (and therefore England’s, and therefore the World’s) premier bell-ringing society. It was established in 1637.

The person that David most recently taught to ring was Annie Turpin who is now away at University.

David has not been able to climb the tower stairs for a couple of years due to some joint problems, but he is awaiting an operation, after recuperation from which he hopes to climb them again.

I suspect David has never knowingly smiled in a photograph!

David loves Hull Minster, both the building and the church (i.e., the people), and has presented his gifts to us for the greater glory of God.

Robin Alden, March 2021

Irene concludes with:

March services and opening times:

The Minster will continue to be open for Wednesday 12:30pm Holy Communion and Sunday 10:30am Holy Communion. Please click here to book in.

The 3:30 Sunday Praise Service this week will be via zoom so if you would like to join please click here for the link.

Sunday Praise Zoom

All other public services are cancelled at the present time. However, changes could take place in the coming weeks so please keep checking in Lifeline or on the Hull Minster website.

PLEASE NOTE The Minster will be open for personal prayer each Saturday 12-3pm.

GOOD NEWS

An Invitation to Lent 2021

APCM (Annual Parochial Church Meeting) The meeting this year will be held on TUESDAY 27th APRIL via zoom at 7pm. Further details to follow.

Ten Trust130 Donations

READINGS: FOR THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

COLLECT FOR FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

Gracious Father, you gave up your Son

out of love for the world;

lead us to ponder the mysteries of his passion,

that we may know eternal peace

through the shedding of our Saviour’s blood,

Jesus Christ our Lord

AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

Daily prayer points throughout the current month can be found here.

Guest User

10 March 2021

Minster Lifeline #10

Guest User

10 March 2021

Rev. Irene writes:

As I write these words thousands of children and young people will be journeying to school, for many the first time in several weeks. At the same time, I expect thousands of parents will be breathing a sigh of relief at no longer having to be a ‘stand-in’ teacher! Despite the frustrations and difficulties, I believe that most parents will have shared a few special moments from a time that has been like no other we have known. In our prayers let us remember all the children and their families praying for their safety and ability to adjust to an ever-changing situation.

This weekend we celebrate Mothering Sunday remembering that in days gone by this was often the only day off work for those working in service. A time to visit their family and the family to visit their ‘mother’ church.

Today it is more about giving a gift or card to someone special, mother or someone who cares for us and a time to say, ‘thank you’. Many of these this year will be at a distance however we can still show our gratitude with kind words and look forward to a ‘hug’ in the not-too-distant future.

SOME GREAT MEMORIES FROM CHRIS FENWICK

My first experience of church was the Sunday School in my village church. As soon as I could read the Vicar asked me to join the exceedingly small choir. The audition consisted of him giving me a book of Common Prayer and getting me to read the Lord’s Prayer – I then was in the choir (no singing required in the audition – I think he was desperate)

Soon I was promoted to crucifer originally a wooden cross but later a large brass cross was donated in memory of a local man, this was very heavy, but I managed – just.

In 1954 when I was 11, we moved to Hull and I went to the Grammar School where during the first week of term Peter Goodman, the organist at Holy Trinity came to get his new intake of boys (no girls) for the year so I became a ‘black’ boy, probationers wore black cassocks and no surplices. My voice broke so early I never got out of the black, indeed I hold the record as the only person to be singing bass in short trousers. There was no going out during the sermon (comics were hidden in music). Discipline was easy to maintain as the head boy was often 16 or 17.

At this time, we had three services on a Sunday, 8am BCP Holy Communion, 10:30am Sung Matins, and 6:30 Evensong: this latter being the service with the bigger congregation. On a Sunday evening after the service there was social time in the Old Grammar School which along with the premises now owned by Kal Kwik were owned by the church.

The choir at this time was large with a total over 50 equally split between boys and adults. Choir practice for boys was Wednesday evening and Saturday morning, with the full choir on Friday. The boys had an evening club before the Friday practice and a weekly youth club was held.

This club led me through an organisation which eventually became Youth Clubs UK, and I had the privilege of being its national Vice Chairman having previously being chairman of its National Members Council.

The church at this time was different from today in that there were no candles, the clergy wore black cassock and surplice with a black preaching scarf, no coloured stoles and liturgical colours were never mentioned. Sermons were always preached from the large pulpit and lessons read from the lectern. We never turned east for the creed.

Of course, there were pews in the church, and it had to be noted that the pulpit was arranged so that the preacher was facing the good and great in the council pews.

I have now been involved with Holy Trinity for over 60 years and it has become a rock in my life, when I get too old to sing in the choir (which may not be long off) I shall still be there grumbling that ‘it was not like this in the old days’. Chris Fenwick.

A message from Dan Broom: Thank you so much to those who contributed towards my leaving gift, I received it a couple of weeks ago and I am grateful for your generosity. I hope you are all doing well, you are in my thoughts and prayers. Keep in touch!

Irene concludes with:

March services and opening times:

The Minster will continue to be open for Wednesday 12:30pm Holy Communion and Sunday 10:30am Holy Communion. Please click here to book in.

The 3:30 Sunday Praise Service this week will be via zoom so if you would like to join please click here for the link.

Sunday Praise Zoom

All other public services are cancelled at the present time. However, changes could take place in the coming weeks so please keep checking in Lifeline or on the Hull Minster website.

If you are coming in to the Minster for services we want to encourage you to consider the environment and walk or cycle or use public transport if possible. If you are coming by car please do not park on Trinity Square the only people who should be parking there are contractors working on the building. There are plenty of parking places around the Minster including the recently opened Fruit Market just across the A63. https://www.fruitmarkethull.co.uk/fruit-market-hull-l-multi-storey-car-park-l-regeneration-l/

PLEASE NOTE The Minster will be open for personal prayer each Saturday 12-3pm.

GOOD NEWS

An Invitation to Lent 2021

APCM (Annual Parochial Church Meeting) The meeting this year will be held on TUESDAY 27th APRIL via zoom at 7pm. Further details to follow.

Ten Trust130 Donations

READINGS: FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT (MOTHERING SUNDAY)

COLLECT FOR FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT (MOTHERING SUNDAY)

God of compassion, whose Son Jesus Christ, the child of Mary,

shared the life of a home in Nazareth, and on the cross

drew the whole human family to himself;

strengthen us in our daily living that in joy and in sorrow

we may know the power of your presence to bind together and to heal;

through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.

AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

Daily prayer points throughout the current month can be found here.

Guest User

3 March 2021

Minster Lifeline #9

Guest User

3 March 2021

Rev. Irene writes:

I made my first journey into the Minster last week to record for the Sunday service.

It was a great feeling to be back in the building and I look forward to when we can all congregate again in relative freedom!

What surprised me was the changes as I came into Hull. The new bridge that links the City Centre with the Marina is now open, I believe it is called the ‘Burnsey’ bridge, not sure whether that is the official name or just one that Radio Humberside has given it.

Then as I passed the junction where Ferensway meets the A63 the changes were enormous, new markings in all directions, trees down and of course numerous signs to help (or hinder) a free run through the road words. It all looked promising and I hope it keeps progressing, so we end up with a much better flow of traffic in that area.

It is, of course, thanks to Highways England that the building work is happening at the Minster, so I have invited Iain Ogilvie one of our churchwardens to give us an update on that and other developments at Hull Minster.

As 2021 dawned the Southside of the Minster was wrapped in scaffolding and we heard an odd bit of banging in some of the online services. I am delighted to report that the South Aisle Nave roof work is now complete, and we should be watertight. Work has moved onto the Broadley Chapel, vestries, and kitchens down the Southside. More scaffolding has been erected to cover this area while roofs are repaired, drains are dug, and the problems of damp are tackled. It is hoped that by Easter we will have contracted and begun the extension works and that all the works will be completed in Spring 2022.

At the Annual Meeting last year, in the PCC, and in wider discussions, the issue of funding has been raised. How can we do all this work to the building and continuously be told that we have no money left, and that the staff need to be reduced? One of the questions regularly raised is:

“Does my money go into supporting the building and the extension; I want my contribution to support mission and outreach?”

As a community we do have a responsibility to maintain the Grade 1 listed building and over the last 5 years or so we have worked tirelessly to ensure that works undertaken are supported by Grants and not taking PCC resources. Through the Development Trust, the works currently underway are being paid for by Highways England and the National Churches Trust; we are indebted to them for their support. The funding they have offered is only available for buildings and cannot be used to meet running costs or salaries. Without the support of external funds, we would not be doing the building works; we have not chosen them over people or outreach. We are using this money to build facilities to allow us to meet people on their faith journeys and to allow the PCC to spend its limited resources on mission, outreach, and music, not on the amazing building where we gather to worship. The message can be confusing, but we are fortunate to have significant funds to do building works and people think:

“Oh, the Minister must be doing ok, look at all the work being done to that building!”

We are not financially OK. We have generous supporters who can help by removing the challenges of our historic church building, but even if they wanted to, the restrictions tied to their money means that they cannot pay for staff. Our funds are limited, and we have taken decisions to try and control our spending with significantly reduced income. As you are aware, we took the difficult decision last summer to reduce our staffing and we have also given up the Parish Centre, soon to be replaced by a Portakabin office on the car park. All these decisions have implications, many of which the PCC did not want to take or did not like the impact of, but we have controlled the spending.

During Lent we are looking at Giving and working with the Diocese to enhance the levels of giving to the Minster. The works to the building are only part of the story providing new facilities to encourage others to find a faith and to get to know Jesus; but without people the buildings will not deliver our mission. As we emerge from the pandemic and look at new ways to connect with our community and the wider city, we want to continue our city centre ministry. One area is to open opportunities on the Great Thornton Street Estate and to continue to offer pastoral support from the Minster. All these activities require our support through prayer, through time and through finance. We have to support ourselves through our giving as no one else will pay for our missional activity. Please pray and talk to your loved ones about the Minster and how you can support us and review your giving. We all have many demands on our financial resources and what we can offer is very personal, but it is through giving that we receive; God knows and values what we have given to bring people to him in faith.

And in answer to the opening question, everything you give is used to the Glory of God and to support our mission and not on the programme of works currently underway.

If you have any questions on the programme of building works, I would be happy to answer them.

Please think about your giving and how you can help us to fulfil our mission across the City from our amazing building a Beacon of Hope to so many.

Iain Ogilvie, Church Warden

Irene concludes with:

March services and opening times:

The Minster will continue to be open for Wednesday 12:30pm Holy Communion and Sunday 10:30am Holy Communion. Please click here to book in.

The 3:30 Sunday Praise Service this week will be via zoom so if you would like to join please click here for the link.

Sunday Praise Zoom

All other public services are cancelled at the present time. However, changes could take place in the coming weeks so please keep checking in Lifeline or on the Hull Minster website.

PLEASE NOTE The Minster will be open for personal prayer each Saturday 12-3pm.

It is looking likely that the government is going ahead with the May local council elections. Given the current situation you may want to apply for a postal ballot. Here is the link on the Hull Council website. http://www.hull.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/elections-and-voting/voting-post

An Invitation to Lent 2021

APCM (Annual Parochial Church Meeting) The meeting this year will be held on TUESDAY 27th APRIL via zoom at 7pm. Further details to follow.

Ten Trust130 Donations

READINGS: FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

Psalm 19:7-end

Exodus 20:1-17

1 Corinthians 1:18-25

John 2:13-22

COLLECT FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy,

but first he suffered pain,

and entered not into glory before he was crucified:

mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross,

may find it no other than the way of life and peace;

through Jesus Christ, your Son our Lord.

AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

Daily prayer points throughout the current month can be found here.

Guest User

25 February 2021

Minster Lifeline #8

Guest User

25 February 2021

Rev Irene writes:

The Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally has said in response to the government’s announcement:

“When the first lockdown was introduced last year, we were –as we are now- in the midst of Lent, a time of preparation and self reflection for Christians as we look forward with hope to Easter and its new life in Jesus Christ…..”

There are clear signs of hope that in the coming months as we see much more freedom in our lives with facilities opening again and mixing and travelling taking tentative steps forward. There is hope! However that hope is fragile, unfortunately the coronavirus has not gone away and we must learn to live with the restrictions as necessary.

As we look towards Easter we see another hope, the hope we have in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Not a hope that is fragile but a definite hope in all that Jesus offers to us, forgiveness of sin, new life and the promise of eternal life. So let us ‘Live Lent’ each day and prepare and refresh ourselves to share again in the promise that Easter brings.

It is good to hear from Jon Major, our verger, as he writes for us this week:

People often ask me about my role as verger, I jokingly reply it’s to walk in front of the vicar’s procession and beat the crowds out the way with a stick. In reality, in the Middle Ages, that wouldn’t be too far from the truth, thankfully these days things have moved on and it’s mainly a ceremonial role that people see. Behind the scenes it is helping organise and set up the silver for our weekly services as well as to set up for baptisms, weddings and funerals. Another big part is to help organise any civic services and play host to visiting dignitaries.

How did I get here? My path of faith is long and varied. As a child I was always taken to St. Mark’s, Bellfield by my mum & dad (probably because no one was willing to look after me at home,) where my dad was churchwarden. I shall always have fond memories of that time. Also, I acted as altar boy to the vicar Rev. Malcolm Exley. I was confirmed at St. James, Sutton at the age of 13, a church which I still love visiting.

At 16 I joined the Royal Navy. On Sundays all trainees were made to attend church, although this was great for me as I could keep up my faith, but it is also something I am really against as I believe no one should be forced to church, I think it could be a sure way of turning you against it.

Once out of training I still tried to keep attending church, but it slowly grew to be less and less as my social life with my new friends took over. I convinced myself it didn’t matter about going to church as long as I kept my prayers up, which also grew less and less.

In 1982 whilst I was on HMS Ardent, we were sent to the Falklands to help retake them from invading forces. On the 21st May as the troops landed there was a huge air raid and we was in the firing line. We were hit by 14 x 500lb bombs, as the first one hit and as the ship shook my very first instinct was to kneel and pray, at that point I realised although I had put God to the back of my mind he had never left my side. I lost 22 good friends that day and they are never far from my mind.

On the way home I realised I could still have a great social life and also keep my faith and vowed to attend church regularly no matter where I was. At sea we always held church on Sundays and if we didn’t have a padre on board the captain would lead the service.

On leaving the Navy I went into managing pubs and although it proved difficult at times, I still tried to attend church whenever I could.

My big interest is genealogy and I have learnt that my dad’s side was from St. Ives in Cornwall, something he never knew, and several ancestors are mentioned in civic and church records. My 4x great uncle was churchwarden there and his name is inscribed in the church bell dated 23rd July 1830. A few years ago, I was lucky enough to visit that beautiful church.

I was honoured when Dominic asked me to be verger and I am really looking forward to the end of this pandemic when we can welcome visitors back to the church and organise and host civic services again, something we do incredibly well at the Minster. Jon Major.

Irene concludes with:

March services and opening times:

The Minster will continue to be open for Wednesday 12:30pm Holy Communion and Sunday 10:30am Holy Communion. Please click here to book in.

The 3:30 Sunday Praise Service this week will be via zoom so if you would like to join please click here for the link.

All other public services are cancelled at the present time. However, changes could take place in the coming weeks so please keep checking in Lifeline or on the Hull Minster website.

PLEASE NOTE The Minster will be open for personal prayer each Saturday 12-3pm.

An Invitation to Lent 2021

READINGS: FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

Psalm 22:23-31

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

Romans 4:13-end

Mark 8:31-end

COLLECT FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

Almighty God, by the prayer and discipline of Lent may we enter into the mystery of Christ’s sufferings,

and by following in his Way may we come to share in his glory;

through Jesus Christ our Lord

AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

Daily prayer points throughout the current month can be found here.

Guest User

25 February 2021

Minster Lifeline #7

Guest User

25 February 2021

17 February 2021

Rev. Irene writes:

I wanted to share one or two pictures with you that I received from Adelaide Primary School. Adelaide school is on Great Thornton Street and is part of Hull Minster parish. As the school broke up for half term and a well earned rest we, as a Minster, were able to send daffodils and chocolate in for every member on the staff team (90 in all) as a ‘thank you’ for all the hard work during the past 12, very difficult months. The school attached a tag to each bunch of flowers saying:

“Thank you to everyone for all your hard work over the past year.
We hope you have a restful and happy half term.
With love from all at Hull Minster””

Rev. Irene continues:

Dominic Black, our priest in charge, has shared some of his experiences.

“This last year has been difficult for everyone but behind the scenes at the Minster good things have been happening. Although our financial position is still fairly dire, thanks to the very tough decision the PCC made to make most of the staff redundant, and government Covid recovery grants, we ended 2020 in a much better financial situation than we were expecting and are some way on the road towards moving to sustainability. This has been a very painful but necessary readjustment and an added burden has often fallen to the remaining staff and core volunteers.

Some great work has been going on in our PCC working parties including a thorough look at our policies and procedures, planning new initiatives on the great Thornton Estate, and beginning to think about how we move forward beyond the pandemic. One of the most exciting developments after many years has been the permission and the money, thanks to Highways England, to move forward with the planning of the Trinity Rooms and the final phase three of the major improvement works that began with the opening up of the square and the restoration of the Nave to its former glory. Tremendous gratitude is due to the present and former staff and churchwardens and not least to the Development Board who have committed their time, talents and money to the work. In the next 18 months we should finally see the fruit of all this many years of labour in the renewal of our ancient building for a new century.

There will of course always be work to do to maintain a building of the scale and age of the Minster but the completion of Phase three will allow us to focus more clearly on our primary work, the worship of God and the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed throughout the city. Over the next few years, we need to discover what God is calling us to do and to be, and what it means to have this new name of ‘Minster?’ Its root comes from the bases from which the Anglo-Saxon missionary monks first evangelised this country. The pandemic has brought us back to basics and it is from these basics of prayer, discipleship and mission, on which we need to focus, as we re-build. Christianity in this country may be going out of fashion, but there remains one name under heaven given for salvation and the people of this city need to hear that message (Acts 4.12).”

Rev Irene concludes with:

FEBRUARY OPENING

Book a seat

The Minster will continue to be open for Wednesday 12:30pm Holy Communion and Sunday 10:30am Holy Communion.

Join the service

The 3:30 Sunday Praise Service this week will be via zoom so if you would like to join please click the button.

ASH WEDNESDAY There will be two services held in the church where ‘ashing’ will take place. The regular time of 12.30 with an additional service at 7 p.m.

All other public services are cancelled at the present time.

PLEASE NOTE The Minster will be open for personal prayer each Saturday 12-3pm.

An Invitation to Lent 2021

join the study

During Lent there will be a zoom bible study Wednesday evenings, 7:30-8:30pm, beginning 24th February. Do join Rev. Irene and Val in study and discussion around ‘Gladness & Generosity’.

Also to encourage each of us to go deeper in prayer we will be sending out a booklet of daily reflections based on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent book for 2021, Living His Story by Hannah Steel. These notes include a short passage of scripture, a reflection, and a prayer for each day of Lent. If you have a smart phone or tablet these notes are accompanied by the free #LiveLent App on iOS and Android where you can listen along to the reflections. [suggested donation £2.50 to cover booklet and postage].

Find out more

READINGS: FOR THE SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE LENT

COLLECT FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

Heavenly Father, your Son battled with the powers of darkness

and grew closer to you in the desert;

Help us to use these days to grow in wisdom and prayer, that we may witness to your saving love in Jesus Christ our Lord

AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

Daily prayer points throughout the current month can be found here.

Guest User

3 February 2021

Minster Lifeline #5

Guest User

3 February 2021

LIFELINE 5, 2021

Rev. Irene writes:

I stand to be corrected. Last weeks picture aconites, not celandines! I cannot argue with Jean, guide leader for many years and expert in flower names.

No chance of getting it wrong this week, British daffodils, a sure sign of spring.

Now I wonder are you one of the 10 million that have received their vaccination recently. Having received mine only a couple of days ago I was so impressed with the efficiency of such a mass vaccination programme.

There is hope, but for the 100,000 plus families that have lost their loved ones the vaccine must come as a bitter, sweet pill, let us make sure we remember all those who have been bereaved in our prayers.

It also is a stark reminder that there are 7.8 billion adults in the world (53 million in the UK) and the pressure is on that we not only vaccinate our own country but that we support in whatever way we can the need for poorer countries to be given vaccine. In morning prayer today, I read this prayer at the end of the psalm which said

Tender God,
gentle protector in time of trouble,
pierce the gloom of despair
and give us, with all your people,
the song of freedom and the shout of praise;
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

The time to celebrate will be when ALL God’s people are equal, and we see the vaccination programme reaching to all corners of the earth.

Delighted to have Rev. Ian Walker write for us this week:

My name is Ian Walker; I was once described by an Archdeacon as a ‘cradle clergyman’ as I was ordained in the Diocese of York at the age of 25 and never really had a ‘proper job’ before that. I have spent more than forty years in parish ministry the greater part in what was once called ‘Humberside’ on both sides of the river. Part of that was eleven years living in Keyingham looking after three parishes where I also had a spell as Rural Dean when I found Canon John Waller a good friend and support. I then moved ten miles as the crow flies and forty-five miles by road to be Rector of Scartho, a village on the edge of Grimsby where I discovered a love of Grimsby Town FC to go with my birth right of Leicester City. After ten years I moved to Epworth in North Lincs, famous as the birthplace of John and Charles Wesley retiring from there in 2017.

I then moved back over the river to live in Thorngumbald where my wife Susan was vicar of six parishes (how times have changed) after serving for more than twenty years as chaplain of the FE colleges, first in Hull and then in Scunthorpe. In the mid 1970’s we were one of the first ‘clergy couples’ and this year we shall complete ninety years ministry between us.

For three years I was quite happy helping in South Holderness filling in for weddings, funerals, and Sunday services. Then I heard that the Archdeacon was looking for a part time interim priest for St Mary’s Lowgate and I thought I might have something to offer there and I was licensed there on 1st November just before the second lockdown. Part of the brief at St Mary’s is to foster links with Hull Minster so I have also been licenced as honorary curate of the Minster. As such I am playing my part in the Wednesday lunchtime Eucharist and when we are able to, worship in church more often, I hope to be able to swap with Dominic on the occasional Sunday.

St Mary’s is currently working on a project to replace the floor and renew the lighting and the heating which currently does not work. We have almost all the money for the first phase and hope to start this work very soon. Without this work St Mary’s future is bleak indeed. You can find details of our project at http://www.stmaryslowgate.org.uk/

As well as worship, St Mary’s provides a home for Hull Homeless Outreach which offers soup kitchens twice a week. Sadly, this has ceased temporarily due to the current lockdown. Once we have a more useable space in the church this work can become more effective.

Historically, St Mary’s and Holy Trinity have had quite different traditions although that may date back only to the late Nineteenth Century. We need to respect these traditions but in the twenty first century they are becoming less binding as the Church strives to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. The future of St Mary’s is increasingly likely to be bound up with Hull Minster and that needs goodwill and understanding on both sides. It is natural to look back at the past with fondness but, to adapt a contemporary poet, rather than marching back to what was, we should aim to move to what shall be.

I look forward to getting to know Hull Minster and its people in the next few months, hopefully when lockdown restrictions are behind us.

Ian Walker

Irene concludes with:

FEBRUARY OPENING

As everyone will be aware, we are now in a third lockdown. The guidance does allow public worship to continue, therefore there will continue to be open for Wednesday 12:30pm Holy Communion and Sunday 10:30am Holy Communion. Please click here to book in.

The 3:30 Sunday Praise Service this week will be via zoom so if you would like to join please click here for the link.

Also this Sunday we have our ‘Family Focus’ conversation via zoom at 2pm. A space for families with children to connect with a short session, hosted by Mandy. Click here to join or find the link on our website front page under Hull Minster conversations.

All other public services are cancelled at the present time.

PRAYER REQUEST

Please pray for Rev. Gemma Turner and her family. Gemma has COVID and pneumonia and rather unwell at the moment.

PLEASE NOTE The Minster will be open for personal prayer each Saturday 12-3pm.

Confirmation Preparation New course beginning Wednesday 3rd February via zoom at 7pm. Please email Rev Dominic if you would like to sign up, or for more information, dominic.black@hullminster.org

An Invitation to Lent 2021

This Lent, to encourage each of us to go deeper in prayer we will be sending out a booklet of daily reflections based on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent book for 2021, Living His Story by Hannah Steel. These notes include a short passage of scripture, a reflection, and a prayer for each day of Lent. If you have a smart phone or tablet these notes are accompanied by the free #LiveLent App on iOS and Android where you can listen along to the reflections. [suggested donation £2.50 to cover booklet and postage]. Click here for full details.

READINGS: SECOND SUNDAY BEFORE LENT

COLLECT FOR SECOND SUNDAY BEFORE LENT

Almighty God

you have created the heavens and the earth

and made us in your own image;

teach us to discern your hand in all your works

and your likeness in all your children;

Through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord