Guest User

7 July 2021

Minster Lifeline #27

Guest User

7 July 2021

REV. IRENE WRITES:

I begin with an urgent plea. Our recorded service has gone out on social media every Sunday morning at 10am for the past 15 months and we are aware that many people have found this to be a real Lifeline for them. I have had messages and cards from people, not only in Hull but from much further afield appreciating the offering we give to join in worship.

We have also heard that several care and residential homes in the city ‘tune in’ on a regular basis and enjoy the opportunity.

Unfortunately, Katie who has been responsible for the recording and editing of these services is no longer able to do this. Katie volunteers in many ways in the Minster but due to other voluntary commitments feels she can no longer be committed to the role of recording and editing. We DO NOT want these services to come to an end so please, if you, or someone you know, could give an hour each week to recording and time to edit each week this would be amazing. If you do not know anyone, please pray that a volunteer comes forward, so this invaluable service does not have to end! If you can help, please contact Rev. Irene at Hull Minster on 01482 224460.

We give a big thank you to Katie for all the months that she has kept this broadcast going!

I mentioned last week that three members of our choir would be leaving us this summer. This week Simon Ashmead is sharing with us what lies ahead for him:

Hull Minster – A Curious Mixture of Familiarity and Change

When I set off in the cold pre-dawn of a 2018 winter morning to sing for the BBC Radio 4 Sunday Service at Hull Mister, there were two things I could not have known. The first was how this decision, encouraged by my university piano tutor Mark Keith, would go on to change the direction of my studies and my life. The second was just how quickly and easily I would begin to feel I was, as the Artful Dodger would have it, part of the furniture (in the best way). This is due almost entirely to the incredible warmth, kindness, generosity, and encouragement I have encountered, which have caused me to see the Minster as a spiritual and musical home and the crucible of some of my closest friendships, as well as an amazing space I have the privilege to sing in. It means that my excitement over my upcoming move to London, to continue my studies at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, is also tinged with some sadness.

This move is, however, in keeping with the sense of change I have experienced at Hull Minster. Although I am known here almost exclusively as a singer, the piano was initially my primary instrument. This changed in 2018, thanks in no small part to the enjoyment I got from regularly singing in the Minster choir. Furthermore, the encouragement I received from my new-found friends here led to a variety of lifestyle changes which ultimately gave me the confidence to believe that a career in singing might be possible, and to apply for further studies to make this possible. More recent events have, of course, led to some of the more constricting and unwelcome changes we have now become accustomed to, although sometimes even these have opened my eyes to what a wonderfully welcoming and nurturing environment Hull Minster is.

So, what is next for me? As many of you are aware, I will be leaving for London at the beginning of September. In addition to a choral scholarship at the Old Royal Naval College Chapel in King Charles Court, Greenwich, I will be undertaking intensive training that will hopefully lead to a career as a professional soloist and chorister, singing on opera house and concert hall stages, in oratorios and recital series, and with various professional secular and church choirs. As you can probably tell, I like to keep my options fairly broad, working on the general principle that “So long as I get to sing and get paid enough to live for doing so, I’m happy”.

It is not the end of the relationship with Hull Minster though (you do not get rid of me that easily). I will be back every few weeks and will aim for this to coincide with the Evensong service, possibly dragging a few fellow students along with me if I can, and I will of course be back during Christmas, Easter, and the summer. As wonderful as it will be to sing once again in this special space on these occasions, what I am looking forward to most is being back amongst the amazing people who ultimately are the church, and continuing to be, in some small way, part of the Minster’s continually unfolding story. Simon Ashmead

Update from Rev Dominic:

We are beginning a major period of thinking about our life and ministry as Hull Minster moving forward. To help the PCC understand our priorities moving forward we are wanting to understand the spiritual life of our congregations and how best we can support people in their faith. The links below are to the national Church of England survey tool for our parish. All data is anonymised so is not traceable to individuals. If you are not able to fill this form in online paper versions will be available on Sunday.

Adult Survey (14+ years)

Junior Survey (6-13 years)

Early Years Survey (0-5 years)

Irene concludes with:

Click here to see exciting details of ‘The Wild and the Natural’ Art exhibition
1st - 24th July 2021 http://www.hullminster.org/exhibitions

As St. Mary’s Lowgate continues with extensive building works we are delighted to welcome Revd. Ian Walker and his congregation to host their Eucharist Service in the Minster. We are looking forward to developing our relationship and friendship with all at St. Mary’s over the coming months as lockdown eases.

BIBLE STUDY:

We are delighted that Val is recovering well from her knee operation and keen to commence the bible study zoom meetings:

Our Wednesday evening, 7:30pm, Bible study continues with a study on the book of James on Zoom. Everyone is welcome for this one-hour study and fellowship.

Bible Study zoom

SERVICES AND OPENING TIMES:

SATURDAYS 4 PM 1st and 3rd Evensong, 2nd Taize, 4 & 5th Evening Prayer.

SUNDAYS 10am Online Recorded Service.

10:30am Holy Communion in the Minster

Church@4 Every Sunday afternoon at 4pm there will be a café style service. Refreshments now available.

Please click here to book for either service.

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

JULY SERVICES AND OPENING TIMES

From the 1st of July we see the Minster doors opening Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday each week between 10am and 3:30pm. This will be both for personal prayer and for general visiting, taking in the wonderful 700 years of heritage.

Of course, this means that we need lots of volunteers. I was delighted that over a hundred people came along to the volunteer training held two mornings last week. These sessions were so informative and helpful that many went away and have signed up for helping in the weeks ahead. We can never have too many so if this interest you please do let us know as there will be more training events in the future.

DO YOU WANT TO HELP? 10:30am and 4pm SUNDAY SERVICES

We are looking for people to volunteer, on a rota, to work the sound desk during these service. The desk is pre-set, so it is very straightforward. We also need strong individuals to help with setting up the Minster in between services, and booking people in on the doors. If you think you can help with any of these tasks, please speak to one of the wardens for more information. Thank you.

RAISE MONEY FOR HULL MINSTER FOR FREE!

Shop online with Give as you Live Online and raise a money for PCC of The Most Holy and Undivided Trinity, Hull the simple way.

Give as you live link

www.giveasyoulive.com

The Heritage Volunteering group

If you would like to be involved, please contact Jane at jane@hullminster.org and if you haven't completed our survey about heritage, we would be very grateful to hear your views. It will help us shape the future of heritage at Hull Minster and helps us justify our needs and ambitions to grant providers. It takes only 6 minutes to complete.

CLICK Microsoft Forms to fill in the survey

It would be great to hear from you if you would like to find out more about volunteering with Girls Brigade at the Minster or if your child is interested in joining. Please email with any questions to mandy@hullminster.org and she will forward your queries on to Lauren.

READINGS: SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

COLLECT FOR SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Creator God,

you made us all in your image;

may we discern you in all that we see,

and serve you in all that we do;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

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

Guest User

30 June 2021

Minster Lifeline #26

Guest User

30 June 2021

REV. IRENE WRITES:

Over the coming months we will see changes in our choir as three dedicated musicians are leaving Hull to pursue interesting and possibly challenging adventures.

All have agreed to update us on their adventures in the coming weeks so today I am delighted that Nia has written for us:

At the end of July, I will be leaving the Hull Minster community and going to teach Maths at a British International School in Hanoi, Vietnam. I am looking forward to experiencing a new culture, different food and interesting landscapes and living in South-East Asia will give me the opportunity to travel to other countries in the region too once international travel is reopened. It is a two-year contract, and I am going alone, so it will be a huge adventure, but I have always wanted to live abroad and thought I would take my chance now while I am still young-ish! I have been reassured there are choirs there to join so I can continue my singing, but I will always remember and cherish my time spent at Hull Minster.

I joined the choir back in November 2016, shortly after moving to Hull to train as a Maths teacher. The choir, and the wider Hull Minster community, has been a constant throughout my time in Hull and I feel incredibly lucky to have been a part of this group. When the choir was allowed to meet more regularly, it was always good to know I could end my week, however busy and/or stressful, with a good old sing at choir practice on a Friday night and Sunday morning. When I first arrived, we were Holy Trinity Church, the work on the nave was taking place and we were confined to the quire.

Being a part of the choir has meant I have had a great group of people around me that I can count on for not only fantastic singing together, but also camaraderie and community while I am away from my family who live in Wiltshire. Choir socials, whether it is a quick trip to the pub after Friday practice or a big party at Katie and Iain’s farm in Ottringham, mean we have always gelled well as a team – and I think this really boosts our singing too. I have relished the opportunity to sing a wide range of exciting and challenging repertoire which has always kept choir fun and interesting for me. I have loved being a part of this choir and I will really miss the people, the singing, and our repertoire.

Some of my most memorable moments in the choir have been our trips to sing Evensong at Liverpool and Coventry Cathedrals, as well as singing at the Saint Lucia Day service for Hull’s Danish and Swedish community, and of course the Minster Making weekend. It has also been a huge privilege to be able to sing at a variety of civic services with the city’s top brass in attendance, in addition to Dignity Services and Carol Services around Christmas. More recently I was part of the small group of singers who sang on the roof of the church for Ascension Day – it is safe to say Mark and the rest of the team at Hull Minster have afforded the choir so many fantastic opportunities. I was particularly heartened and pleased to hear of the new Hull Minster Choral Strategy for schoolchildren across the city which should continue to build and develop the music-making in Hull.

In addition to singing in the choir, I have helped Mandy with the children’s activities on a Sunday morning, and read from scripture at a few services more recently too. Beyond the choir it has been lovely to get to know the wider congregation too, who have always been so supportive of us a choir and myself individually as well – this has been particularly appreciated after I shared the news I was leaving and have had so many well-wishes from a variety of people across the whole church community. Thank you everyone for your continued support and prayers as I embark on my next chapter. I hope the church continues to go from strength to strength in its ministry and I wish you and Hull Minster all the best for the future. Nia Cooper.

Update from Rev Dominic:

Adult Survey (14+ years)

Junior Survey (6-13 years)

Early Years Survey (0-5 years)

Irene concludes with:

Click here to see exciting details of ‘The Wild and the Natural’ Art exhibition
1st - 24th July 2021 http://www.hullminster.org/exhibitions

BIBLE STUDY:

We are delighted that Val is recovering well from her knee operation and keen to commence the bible study zoom meetings:

Our Wednesday evening 23rd June (7:30) Bible study will begin a new study on the book of James on Zoom. Everyone is welcome for this one-hour study and fellowship.

Bible Study zoom

SERVICES AND OPENING TIMES:

SATURDAYS 4 PM 1st and 3rd Evensong, 2nd Taize, 4 & 5th Evening Prayer.

SUNDAYS 10am Online Recorded Service.

10:30am Holy Communion in the Minster

Church@4 Every Sunday afternoon at 4pm there will be a café style service. Refreshments now available.

Please click here to book for either service.

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

PLEASE NOTE: The Minster will be open Friday and Saturday 12-3:30pm. MINSTER SHOP will be open during these times.

DO YOU WANT TO HELP? 10:30am and 4pm SUNDAY SERVICES

RAISE MONEY FOR HULL MINSTER FOR FREE!

Shop online with Give as you Live Online and raise a money for PCC of The Most Holy and Undivided Trinity, Hull the simple way.

Give as you live link

www.giveasyoulive.com

The Heritage Volunteering group

CLICK Microsoft Forms to fill in the survey

READINGS: FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Psalm 48

Ezekiel 2:1-5

2 Corinthians 12:2-10

Mark 6:1-13

COLLECT FOR FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Almighty God, send down upon your Church

the riches of your Spirit,

and kindle in all who minister the gospel

your countless gifts of grace;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

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

Guest User

23 June 2021

Minster Lifeline #25

Guest User

23 June 2021

REV. IRENE WRITES:

It is good to hear that this weekend 15 people, from the York Diocese, are being ordained Deacons by Archbishop Stephen. To be called by God to serve in this way is a great privilege. Here is an extract from the Diocese News:

The fifteen are aged from their twenties to retirement and will continue their training in service alongside an experienced priest; some will be ordained priest themselves in the future.

Archbishop Stephen said, “I’m looking forward to ordaining this great group of missionary disciples as deacons in God’s church - people with different stories and gifts but united by Christ and by his call to serve. As deacons they will be servants and heralds of the gospel: they will rejoice with those who rejoice; they will mourn with those who mourn; they will hold out hope and teach the church to do the same. I pray that they will be filled with joy as they prepare for this new ministry.”

It is, of course, important that not all who want to serve God are called to ordination. The church would not survive without the enormous input from so many gifted lay people. It never fails to surprise me that when there is a job to be done, someone always appear at the right moment – God is at work no matter how small the task.

If you would like to be more involved in the fellowship and family of the Minster do chat to Rev. Dominic, myself, or others that you see around on a regular basis to help you discern God’s plan for you! One such person who is an active part of the Minster is Sue McGaw, she has very kindly written for us this week:

When Irene asked me to write about my time at Holy Trinity, all 52 years of it, I could not decide where to start. Then I started to think back through my childhood in Northumberland & how those early years have affected the way I see God & where my faith is at now.

Church has always been a major part of my life, and when I was young, I was taken each week even though I hated going. My Dad was church treasurer, his sister was married to a vicar, so my cousins were vicarage kids. I was too young to understand why bells rang and people moved about in particular ways. And the incense made me sneeze!

When I was eight, we moved to a village in West Yorkshire, and I joined the church choir and the Brownies. I found the church practises there were not as threatening as I had experienced when I was younger, and I started to enjoy all that church life presented.

We moved to Hull when I was 13 and I have fond memories of attending St Peter’s Anlaby with school friends. The curate there ran a great youth club and I realised that worship and a good Christian social life went together and as a growing Christian how important it was to develop that feeling of being part of a church family. The turning point came when I was in the 6th form and a friend suggested we go to Holy Trinity. She lasted three weeks and I, well, even with a short break in recent years, am still here.

I have been involved with so many aspects of the life of Holy Trinity. I met Sam here and fell in love and we based our family life around the worship and life of this incredible place. I have lived through five vicars, many changes, and experienced the roller coaster of my faith, taking me from being very spirit led into almost applying for ministry to the dive that my faith has taken over the last 20 years. The biggest influence on my faith journey came from John & Mary Waller, who arrived as the new incumbent in 1988 retiring about 13 years later. It was during their ministry years that I grew the most as a Christian. I was privileged to work for John as his PA for eight years until his retirement.

Out of all the many things I have been involved with or organised at Holy Trinity, being one of the embroiderers as part of the kneeler project from the age of 19 has meant the most. I designed my own when I was a student with the help of Marjorie Brown the project organiser. It is 50 years this year since the kneeler project started and I always knew that we might have to get rid of some when the pews were removed (a project I have always supported). I must admit though, that I am finding it really hard to have to choose which ones we do not keep.

We will be selling a small number and if you want to know more, please have a word with me anytime. The specially designed kneelers, seat cushions and stools dedicated to companies, organisations and memorials will remain, fortunately.

I have been privileged to have been part of the welcoming team, developed originally by John Waller. Throughout most of the 1990s, being enthusiastic about tourism, I looked after the welcomers’ rota, and we opened everyday Monday to Saturday most days for six hours. For a lot of the team, it was an invaluable time. The midweek life of a city centre church is quite different from a Sunday one. Many visitors are not just tourists.

Regulars, mostly local, came for a chat, some support and somewhere to be quiet. I looked after our small church shop for about 18 years, it being extremely different from what we have now. Our visitor numbers for a year during the 1990s can easily equal a couple of months in recent years. So, I cannot believe that after a break of a decade, I am now involved again with the church shop. Since early last year, I have been co-ordinator of a team of three to do the purchasing. The pandemic of course has slowed any plans to a snail’s pace and cash flow is a challenge. The shop volunteers are a great bunch and eager to help open our wonderful building.

So, the one thing I have learned throughout my life is that God has a plan for each of us. We just need to give him the chance to guide us in the direction where He thinks we should go. He is always there even when we do not know it. I know the path of faith I am on with all its curves and pitfalls has been chosen for me. Sue McGaw.

Update from Rev Dominic:

Adult Survey (14+ years)

Junior Survey (6-13 years)

Early Years Survey (0-5 years)

Irene concludes with:

BIBLE STUDY:

We are delighted that Val is recovering well from her knee operation and keen to commence the bible study zoom meetings:

Our Wednesday evening 23rd June (7:30) Bible study will begin a new study on the book of James on Zoom. Everyone is welcome for this one-hour study and fellowship.

Bible Study zoom

SERVICES AND OPENING TIMES:

SATURDAYS 4 PM 1st and 3rd Evensong, 2nd Taize, 4 & 5th Evening Prayer.

SUNDAYS 10am Online Recorded Service.

10:30am Holy Communion in the Minster

Church@4 Every Sunday afternoon at 4pm there will be a café style service. Refreshments now available.

Please click here to book for either service.

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

PLEASE NOTE: The Minster will be open Friday and Saturday 12-3:30pm. MINSTER SHOP will be open during these times.

DO YOU WANT TO HELP? 10:30am and 4pm SUNDAY SERVICES

RAISE MONEY FOR HULL MINSTER FOR FREE!

Shop online with Give as you Live Online and raise a money for PCC of The Most Holy and Undivided Trinity, Hull the simple way.

Give as you live link

www.giveasyoulive.com

The Heritage Volunteering group

CLICK Microsoft Forms to fill in the survey

NOTE:

David Stipetic, Steeple Keeper at Hull Minster, wanted to inform everyone that on this day; 28th June 1661, Holy Trinity Church was made a separate parish church by an Act of Parliament – the King becoming the Patron.

READINGS: FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Lamentations 3:23-33

Psalm 130

2 Corinthians 8:7-end

Mark 5:21-end

COLLECT FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Gracious Father,

by the obedience of Jesus

you brought salvation to our wayward world:

draw us into harmony with your will,

that we may find all things restored in him,

our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

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

Guest User

16 June 2021

Minster Lifeline #24

Guest User

16 June 2021

JJon Major welcomed into the Guild of Vergers.

Rev. Irene writes:

I am delighted that there are two special celebrations taking place this week. Firstly, this morning I went to Holy Trinity Micklegate, York where our verger Jon Major was welcomed into the Guild of Vergers. It was a great service of welcome with Holy Communion and some heartfelt words from the Chaplain of Vergers.

Secondly a lovely lady, Marion Lawson, who was part of our congregation for many, many years celebrates her 100th birthday on the 17th! When Marion was not able to come along on a Sunday, I used to take communion to her home in Willerby and she would tell me frequently how her husband and three sons were active members of Holy Trinity Choir. Robin tells me, she, not wanting to be left out, took on the role of stand in ‘mum’ and would look after the boys’ robes, starched their ruffs to they were extremely rigid and combed their hair, making sure they were ready and presentable for the start of services!

Marion came to the Minster lunch every month and enjoyed being with people. Marion now lives in Kirkella Mansions with one of her sons Barry living locally. She has an extensive family from all around the country. We will be sending Marion a card from all her friends at the Minster. (See Photo below of Marion and Bob Lawson)

This week we have a contribution from Sue Bagshawe, I am always humbled by her prayer life and was equally touched by her words below:

Prayer A Way of Life: -

Prayer has always had an incredibly special place in my heart since I gave my life to Christ when I was fifteen years of age. At that time, I lived in Bridlington with Mum and Dad, Granny and my four siblings.

Granny had the Attic room in the house as her bedroom and I had one of the small box rooms next to it. I had a small bed, wardrobe, and a little box which I made into an altar where I kept my prayer book, my bible, and a small cross in the middle. This little room became my place of sanctuary where I began my journey of exploring prayer and having my quiet times with Jesus. It was special to me because this is where, after coming home from being at the Youth Group one Sunday evening, I knelt and asked Jesus to come into my heart. I remember it was thundering and lightning at the time, but that night changed my life quite significantly.

I remember going to prayer meetings and scared stiff to pray out loud in case the words did not come out right or being in a meeting where if you did not want to pray out loud you passed a baton on to the next person. Well thankfully I have progressed better since those days! Prayer does not always need words anyway. Just knowing that we are in our Heavenly Father's presence is a beautiful thing, and He is the one who teaches us how to pray. Lighting a Candle can be another way to help us pray or listening to some beautiful music.

Sometimes when we cannot pray or find any words to say, His gracious Holy Spirit will pray through us. Our prayers are not always answered in the way we would like, but we have a beautiful Heavenly Father who knows what is right and best for us, and we can rest assured He will always answer our prayers accordingly.

Some years ago I came across a beautiful way of prayer as taught by Father John Main who was a Benedictine Monk in our time. He taught us to pray from the heart, and he took a very sacred prayer word "Maranatha" (which means Come Lord, come Lord Jesus). You will be familiar with this word during the season of Advent.

He recommended the word to be broken down into four syllables: -
Ma-ra-na-tha, and to repeat the word repeatedly until it becomes rooted in the heart.

To listen to the word as you say it from the beginning to the end, and if distractions come (as they will), just gently go back to saying the word.
It is a word that brings us into the silence and stillness of God's presence, and I find it deeply enriching in my own journey with God. My journey like all journeys has had its good times and extremely hard times but knowing that my life is hidden with Christ in God sustains me every step of the way. Prayer has many dimensions. Sometimes we need structure and other times we just need to be quiet in God's presence and allow Him to guide us and teach us.

I use the Daily Office (Celebrating Common Prayer) each day which I find extremely helpful and Prayers from the Cloister which is a beautiful little book of prayers and meditations. I also spend quite a lot of time in silent prayer too.

Quote from St. Teresa of Avila: -
“We are so far from esteeming highly enough our soul in which God so delights. Each of us possesses a soul, but we do not realize its value as made in the image of God - therefore we fail to understand the great secret it contains. If we reflect, we shall see that our soul is a paradise in which God takes delight.
If indeed my soul is a paradise in which you take your delight, let me find delight in your presence.
For if I have you God, I will want for nothing, You alone suffice.”

During lockdown I have been looking back at my life and journey and spent much time in quiet reflection as to where God is leading me now. I have given many years in active service one way or another, and now I believe God is wanting to fulfil the call He has on my life: to dedicate the rest of my life to Him in prayer and contemplation of the Scriptures.

‘Take my life, and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour, At thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be, ever, only, all for Thee’.

God Bless-Sue Bagshawe

Update from Rev Dominic:

Adult Survey (14+ years)

Junior Survey (6-13 years)

Early Years Survey (0-5 years)

Irene concludes with:

BIBLE STUDY:

We are delighted that Val is recovering well from her knee operation and keen to commence the bible study zoom meetings:

Our Wednesday evening 23rd June (7:30) Bible study will begin a new study on the book of James on Zoom. Everyone is welcome for this one-hour study and fellowship.

You can access through the hullminster.org page following instructions for bible studies.

SERVICES AND OPENING TIMES:

SATURDAYS 4 PM 1st and 3rd Evensong, 2nd Taize, 4 & 5th Evening Prayer.

SUNDAYS 10am Online Recorded Service.

10:30am Holy Communion in the Minster

Church@4 Every Sunday afternoon at 4pm there will be a café style service. Refreshments now available.

Please click here to book for either service.

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

PLEASE NOTE: The Minster will be open Friday and Saturday 12-3:30pm. MINSTER SHOP will be open during these times.

DO YOU WANT TO HELP? 10:30am and 4pm SUNDAY SERVICES

RAISE MONEY FOR HULL MINSTER FOR FREE!

Shop online with Give as you Live Online and raise a money for PCC of The Most Holy and Undivided Trinity, Hull the simple way.

Give as you live link

www.giveasyoulive.com

The Heritage Volunteering group

CLICK Microsoft Forms to fill in the survey

READINGS: THIRD SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

COLLECT FOR THIRD SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

God our Saviour,

look on this wounded world in pity and in power;

and help us to hold fast to your promises of peace

won for us by your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ.

AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

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

Guest User

8 June 2021

Minster Lifeline #23

Guest User

8 June 2021

Rev. Dominic writes:

Thank you so much to everyone who came to the induction service on Sunday afternoon or were praying from home. It has been lovely getting to know many of you, in a socially distanced way, over the last 11 challenging months. In many ways little changes, I continue as your parish priest, but yesterday marked an important arrival in the life of the wider city and it was good to welcome so many representatives from so many different spheres of our city. Special thanks are due to Katie Ogilvie and Jon Major for their organisation, Alasdair and the maintenance team for much shifting and Mark and our fabulous musicians. Also a big thank you to Ellie Hardy for the wonderful photographs of the day.

Rev. Irene writes:

It was a lovely service on Sunday afternoon to welcome Rev. Dominic as Vicar of Hull Minster. The Bishop of Hull and Archdeacon were joined by other clergy and many dignitaries from the city along with many others through different connections, including friends from the Northeast. There were also several people from our congregation. It was great that the children from the choir gave Dominic the customary gifts of Bible, Prayer Book, water, bread & wine.

Dominic had chosen music from both choir and music group and the prayers included a chorus from Taizé – a good example of all we offer at the Minster.

We were of course still under covid restrictions however managed to seat over a hundred all socially distanced. We are so looking forward to the end of restrictions to enable us to open the Minster doors much more often and welcome the people of the City and far beyond into the wonderful building.

Behind the scenes we now have two portacabins on the north side of the church. Alasdair, our operations manager, will now have a more permanent office and at last we will have somewhere to store all the ‘bits and pieces’ that came out of the parish centre.

I am delighted that Margaret Nicholson is writing for us today. She is a remarkably interesting lady that has been at the Minster many years. When I first arrived, Margaret was an active member of Holy Trinity choir:

CChildren present Rev Dominic with gifts

My Christian life by Margaret Nicholson

My first memory of church is of going to Sunday school when I was a small child in the church next door to the house where I was born. My father was head of a small village school in Northumberland, but when I was eight, we moved to his hometown of Bedlington, where he had a larger school. At least one of the teachers under him had taught him when he was a boy! It was a church school, and I had quite a lot of Christian teaching there, as well as at Sunday school. At both these schools all the pupils began Ash Wednesday and Ascension Thursday by going to a church service. Of course, every school day began with assembly then. I was confirmed at the age of about 15, but I did not attend church as regularly when I was in my teens, and then it was usually to 8am Communion, so I did not get a lot of Christian teaching. However, when I went to university, at Bristol, I began to attend church more regularly, partly through having lodgings with a Christian couple. I joined the university’s Church of England Society and went with them to study groups as well as worshipping with them. It was at a service at St. Mary Redcliffe that I heard a sermon recommending starting the day by asking for the presence of the Holy Spirit, using a verse of a hymn such as “Come down O Love Divine”. That appealed to me, and I have done it ever since.

After a year’s library school training, when I lived at home, I worked for a year in Leeds and then came to Hull, working at first for the City Libraries and then at the University. I tried a few churches here, but I soon decided on Holy Trinity. Canon Iliff was the vicar then, and I found both his sermons and the music inspiring. He was quite austere, but his wife was a lively Irishwoman, and I became friendly with Frances, one of his daughters, whom I still have contact with. As I got to know people, I enjoyed the meetings of young people that took place after Evensong. I joined a Bible study group which later became a house group, and I ended up hosting it for a few years. Eventually I was elected on to the PCC and continued to be a member until comparatively recently. I have been a member of the choir (something impossible for a woman when I first came to Holy Trinity), and of the Sanctuary Guild (aka the Holy Dusters). I have enjoyed being a welcomer - except on cold winter days when we had no heating, and a flower arranger. One year some of us put on a music hall in Holy Apostles hall, and that was successful enough for us to do another the following year which was shorter but combined with a short play on Maria Martin and the Murder in the Red Barn – I played the mother of the murderer who, I think, was older than I was! I liked to take part in the sponsored walks that supported the boys’ camp that was held every summer, and the carol singing around the parish at Christmas, especially the time we went singing across the Humber on the ferry (the only trouble was that we were almost the only passengers, but I hope the crew enjoyed our singing!). The most exciting thing I have done must have been representing our church on a visit to Sierra Leone in 2007, mostly to schools there. It was not long after there had been a civil war, and the poverty was terrible, but the children all went to school immaculately dressed in their uniforms and were keen to learn. Lately I have joined Jane’s heritage zoom group, and I am hoping to start welcoming again when the pandemic is over.

I have been reading the Bible ever since I was a student, at first just a chapter a day, but then I was introduced to Bible notes to help with my reading. For several years I have been getting copies for a few other people from our church, and if anyone is interested, I could get them for them too. I think most people nowadays prefer to get them from the Internet, but if anyone would like printed copies, I would be incredibly happy to order some for you.

Irene concludes with:

SERVICES AND OPENING TIMES:

SATURDAYS 4 PM 1st and 3rd Evensong, 2nd Taize, 4 & 5th Evening Prayer.

SUNDAYS 10am Online Recorded Service.

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

Church@4 Every Sunday afternoon at 4pm there will be a café style service. Due to Covid, please bring own refreshments.

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

PLEASE NOTE: The Minster will be open Friday and Saturday 12-3:30pm. MINSTER SHOP will be open during these times.

“Hull Minster’s doors will be back open to visitors this week. What a wonderful prospect it is to be welcoming visitors into the church once more.
Whatever the reason people want to come in, we want to make sure they receive a proper welcome, and that is where you come in.
Are you able to volunteer once a week/fortnight/month to welcome all those wanting to come and explore the church as a pace of worship and an historic treasure?

We will be carrying out training sessions on 15th and 17th June 2021 at 10am until 12pm. You will be able to learn more information about what the role entails and what part of the body of the church you will fulfil.

If you are only able to volunteer on weekends, please email al@hullminster.org and we will organise a Saturday session.

I look forward to welcoming you soon.

Alasdair Hutson, Director of Operations”

DO YOU WANT TO HELP? 10:30am and 4pm SUNDAY SERVICES

RAISE MONEY FOR HULL MINSTER FOR FREE!

Want to help us raise even more for FREE? Well, now you can just by shopping via Give as you Live Online! When you shop at over 4,500 top stores including John Lewis & Partners, Expedia and Marks & Spencer via Give as you Live Online, they will turn a percentage of your spend into free funds for us! Simply sign up, search for the retailer, and start shopping. It is that simple! Get started today! https://www.giveasyoulive.com/join/parochial-church-council-of-the-ecclesiastical-parish-of-the-most-holy-and-undivided-trinity-hull/1130772/0?utm_source=charitytoolkit&utm_content=149649&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=CTJoinLink

Shop online with Give as you Live Online and raise a money for PCC of The Most Holy and Undivided Trinity, Hull the simple way.

www.giveasyoulive.com

The Heritage Volunteering group

CLICK Microsoft Forms to fill in the survey

READINGS: SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Ezekiel 17:22-end

Psalm 20

2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17

Mark 4:26-34

COLLECT FOR SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Faithful Creator, whose mercy never fails;

deepen our faithfulness to you and to your living Word,

Jesus Christ our Lord.

AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

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

Guest User

2 June 2021

Minster Lifeline #22

Guest User

2 June 2021

Rev. Irene writes:

I hope everyone is managing to enjoy the sunshine as we move into summer on the 1st day of June. Slowly but surely the restrictions are lifting slightly, and we are now offering tower tours in the Minster and another day to our opening times.

As I have said before, during lockdown many things have been happening behind the scenes. There was a request for ‘twiddle muffs’ from one of our care homes and within weeks I have received a great number of colourful muffs to help residents with dementia.

Our latest request has come from Cathy Westoby, I have included it here as I am sure we have many competent knitters/crotcheters who could set to work on the requested squares which eventually will be made into dressing gowns!
Click here for the pattern.

If you want to help stitch the squares together there are details pf who to contact with the pattern.

John Heywood born in 1497 was the English writer that first said

‘many hands make light work’

So, let’s see what we can do.

This week Bishop Frank shares with us:

How are your plans going for the summer? Perhaps a dip in the North Sea or a few days away in the Lakes? Fewer of us will be packing our sun cream and sombreros and heading off to the beaches of the Mediterranean. But this year – in Hull Minster – the Mediterranean is coming to you, as is South America, Japan, and the Pacific Ocean. How so? In our own wonderful space, we are welcoming a fabulous and awe-inspiring installation called GAIA or The Earth. A seven-metre diameter globe made of NASA images of the earth from space. You may remember the Moon installation we had in 2018 – as we welcome the “Blue Planet” to the Nave this is on the same scale.

With our partners, Hull Freedom Festival, we are hosting this stunning exhibition between August 20th and September 4th this year. So, no need to pack your bucket and spade, just come to Trinity Square and find the whole of the Earth on your very doorstep. The artwork itself is from the inspiring imagination of Luke Jerram and alongside it there will be a series of locally arranged events exploring our relationship with and responsibility for the Earth. Expect to be inspired, challenged, and informed about the environment and our impact on it. Look forward to our regular worship which will draw on the presence of the Earth as it is suspended above us. Take the chance – the first for most of us – to see and meet the new Archbishop of York who will be joining us for an event towards the end of the second week.

Of course, things have changed beyond recognition since we hosted our last big events. As church members we will share in the great task of staffing the exhibition and providing a warm welcome to the many visitors who will come to the Minster. Without the paid staff we had until 2020 we will need all the more the help of volunteers to make this event a success. So please listen and look-out for news of opportunities to prepare for supporting the exhibition. And don’t forget to book those exhibition dates in your diary.

GAIA will be a free though ticketed event; there will be concerts and music of many kinds, public events on Trinity Square and not a few surprises to enjoy too. We are looking forward to enjoying a great atmosphere in the City. As we take the opportunity to open up again, exploring what it means to have living faith in a modern city, can I ask you to pray that in the multitude of practical arrangements, God will bless this endeavour. For as the Psalmist says in that great cycle of life-songs in the Bible, “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and all those who live in it; for he has founded it on the seas and established it on the rivers”.

JUNE SERVICES AND OPENING TIMES

SATURDAYS 4 P.M. 1st and 3rd Evensong, 2nd Taize, 4 & 5TH Evening Prayer

SUNDAYS 10 a.m. Recorded Service

10.30 a.m. Holy Communion in the Minster. Please click here to book in.

CHURCH @ 4 Every Sunday afternoon at 4pm there will be a café style service. Due to Covid, please bring own refreshments.

WEDNESDAYS Holy Communion 12:30pm

PLEASE NOTE: The Minster will be open Friday and Saturday 12-330pm and the MINSTER SHOP will be open during these times.

“Hull Minster’s doors will be back open to visitors this week. What a wonderful prospect it is to be welcoming visitors into the church once more. Whatever the reason people want to come in, we want to make sure they receive a proper welcome, and that’s where you come in. Are you able to volunteer once a week/fortnight/month to welcome all those wanting to come and explore the church as a place of worship and an historic treasure?

If you are only able to volunteer on weekends, please email al@hullminster.org and we will organise a Saturday session.

I look forward to welcoming you soon.

Alasdair Hutson, Director of Operations”

Induction service

The induction of the Revd. Canon Dominic Black as Vicar and Lecturer of Hull Minster will take place on Sunday 4 p.m. If you would like to attend this service, please book online as places are limited due to social distancing regulations.

As St. Mary’s Lowgate, continues with extensive building works we are delighted to welcome Revd. Ian Walker and his congregation to host their Eucharist Service in the Minster. We are looking forward to developing our relationship and friendship with all at St. Mary’s over the coming months as lockdown eases.

Revd. Irene

The Heritage Volunteering group

If you would like to be involved, please contact Jane at jane@hullminster.org Click here for full details.

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

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.

CRAFTERS

The crafting group will meet on the first Thursday of every month 10am-12 noon. Everyone is welcome.

READINGS TRINITY SUNDAY

Genesis 3: 8-15

Psalm 130

2 Corinthians 4: 13 - 5: 1

Mark 3: 20-35

COLLECT FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

O GOD, the strength of all them that put their trust in thee, mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without thee, grant us the help of thy grace, that in keeping of thy commandments we may please thee, both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This Month’s Prayer Diary

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

Guest User

26 May 2021

Minster Lifeline #21

Guest User

26 May 2021

Rev. Dominic writes:

Building back better

Appropriately, the fourth anniversary of Minster making on the 13th of May, fell this year on Ascension Day. We are still in the early days of discovering what it means to be the Minster Church of our great city. Next Sunday marks a new chapter in the life and times of Hull Minster now that all the very antiquated legalities have been completed I will next Sunday afternoon at 4pm officially become the first Vicar appointed to Hull Minster, or to be long winded about it the Vicar and Lecturer of the Minster church of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity, (also known as Holy Trinity) Kingston-Upon-Hull.

It seems an age now since we rocked up at the parish centre in January 2020. It is astonishing to think how much has changed in the world and the parish! We have left the parish profile in the documents for applicants for the Associate Vicar to see but so much has changed in a short space of time.

Many of those changes, especially the redundancies and saying goodbye to the parish centre, will have been bewildering and come as a shock to many but not to those how had a grasp on our financial situation. The Covid crisis accelerated tough decisions that would have taken much longer in normal circumstances. Due to the furlough scheme and recovery grant we have ended up in a ‘less bad’ situation than we would have had even after paying redundancies.

In the autumn we will begin to move out of crisis mode to looking together at our longer-term plans. The next few years promise to be challenging but not dull!

There are already some great signs of hope with plenty of new people, some who followed us for the first time entirely online, coming to faith. I would also like to really encourage you to come along to our café style Church@4. Last week it was great to be able to serve coffee for the first time since we began.

The music group are sounding fab, and it has been lovely to see some new young families and others come along. It has also been a great time for the choral life of the Minster, and it has been a pleasure for me to get to know the choir. Despite the ever-changing restrictions the choir are stronger as a team and feel closer to the life of the wider church including some new faces on the PCC. A grant from the Ann Watson Trust will allow Mark Keith to move to full time as our director of music from September to launch a choral scheme in local schools, see his update below, and we are also looking forward to welcoming a new organ scholar.

Each year at our Annual Parochial Church meeting members step down and new people are elected. In the following PCC meeting we elect the officers and establish the membership of the sub-committees. This year marks a major change when after many years as PCC secretary, Chris Fenwick has handed on the mantle to immensely able Rachel Miller. I knew Chris and Jean from when I was a curate in Orchard Park when John Waller was vicar here. Over the years they have been incredibly faithful servants in the life of the parish and deanery.

In March 2020 Chris and his fellow members of the standing committee stepped up rapidly from routine parish life into crisis management mode which included the online ‘onboarding’ of a new Priest in Charge. I have valued so many things about Chris in the last nearly 11 months. Chris has been like the ‘House of Lord’s’ of the Hull Minster PCC, someone able to offer the long view from his encyclopaedic knowledge of the place. He has brought a thorough knowledge of Church Law and has been a sharp reasoned voice in our debates. Nor has not been afraid to express his views and at the times when we have not agreed he has stated his opinion with evidence, reason, and pragmatism.

Too many churches, and other organisations, fail because they have not thought about future leadership. What has also impressed me this year was the exemplary way he has modelled the responsible transition of leadership. From when Rachel joined the standing committee last year, she has been shadowing Chris and to use a naval phrase, gradually learning the ropes. This coming year Chris will be stepping back into the role of deputy secretary supporting Rachel in her role for a year before his term on the PCC ends next year. Spotting and nurturing new leaders and having the grace to hand things on is going to be a key part of move to sustainability in the next phase of our life.

Mark Keith Director of Music at Hull Minster has some exciting news to update us:

It is time to share some good news in print!

The Ann Watson Trust have awarded Hull Minster a significant grant to enable our choral outreach project.

This is a project we have been dreaming of for quite some time. Holy Trinity was once a thriving place for the development of young musicians (on a scale that is hard to imagine today). Our city boasted a choral tradition via a range of church choirs/choral societies that were equal to any in the country. Today: there is only one substantial SATB church choir in Hull (ours)!

The project will enable us to work with a range of primary and secondary schools (in partnership with Hull Music Service).

Our objective is very straightforward: to develop an enthusiastic culture of well-trained singing for as many young people as possible. In practical terms this means that we will be working with whole year/class groups of children AND identifying/developing the voices of those young people that have a natural aptitude for music.

Why does this matter? Music is often seen as a luxury or simply as something that can be enjoyed by listening to recordings. The numbers of people able to read music and sing/play from a printed score has dwindled to an alarmingly small percentage of our population. Alexa has replaced the musical instrument.

And yet…Hull MUST have as many talented children as any other place in our nation. After all, talent is not created by wealth. However, the opportunity to realise those talents is now highly dependent on wealth.

In ages past music was referred to as a scientific art. It is theoretical, mathematical, athletic, and disciplined. It requires thousands of hours of practice to bring to full fruition. It is life-long learning. It is literacy. Our hope is to enable the talents of young people in our city, to open new worlds of stimulation and possibilities via musicianship.

How will this benefit Hull Minster? At the centre of most major towns and cities there are usually great churches (Minsters, Cathedrals et al). If you visit them, you are likely to see and hear thriving choir of children and adults singing a range of music, often spanning 500 years of sacred repertoire. Their sound is pure, effortless, assured, and beautiful. The children have a role that is every bit as demanding as that of the adults. They are highly capable because they benefit from investment and the dedication of expert musicians.

Our hope is that Hull Minster can join the ranks of these great choral traditions, simultaneously reconnecting with our own history whilst forging new opportunities for a fresh generation. Further, we hope to grow a thriving Youth Choir for Hull (again, once great but currently small and fragile).

Music is akin to life itself. It requires feeding and exercise to grow. It requires ambition, determination, and continuing efforts to succeed. It takes our living breath and transforms the air around us into something miraculous in that moment. And then it is gone, residing purely in memory.

It is difficult for me to summarise how thrilled I am that we have been given this opportunity to bring a new generation into the magical realms of musicianship. It will not be a journey without significant challenges, but it will be a journey worth fighting for! Mark Keith

It would be great to hear from you if you would like to find out more about volunteering with Girls Brigade at the Minster or if your child is interested joining. Please email with any questions to mandy@hullminster.org and she will forward your queries on to Lauren.

Heritage blog page - 25th May 2021

Last week we had a good discussion at the heritage group about the huge painting hanging in the north choir aisle which many of you will have passed by. Entitled ' The Lord's Supper' it was painted by James Parmentier in 1712. It has an interesting history, has "moved house' a few times, and isn't exactly what it seems. Click here to find out more about its journey.

www.hullminster.org/heritage-blog-25th-may-2021

If you haven't completed our survey about heritage, we would be very grateful to hear your views. It will help us shape the future of heritage at Hull Minster and helps us justify our needs and ambitions to grant providers. It takes only 6 minutes to complete.

CLICK Microsoft Forms to fill in the survey

Irene concludes with:

SERVICES AND OPENING TIMES:

SATURDAYS 4 PM 1st and 3rd Evensong, 2nd Taize, 4 & 5th Evening Prayer.

SUNDAYS 10am Online Recorded Service.

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

Church@4 Every Sunday afternoon at 4pm there will be a café style service. Due to Covid, please bring own refreshments.

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

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

We will be carrying out training sessions on 8th and 10th June 2021 at 10am until 12pm. You will be able to learn more information about what the role entails and what part of the body of the church you will fulfil.

If you are only able to volunteer on weekends, please email al@hullminster.org and we will organise a Saturday session.

I look forward to welcoming you soon.

Alasdair Hutson, Director of Operations”

Sunday June 6th at 4pm

Induction Service for Rev Canon Dominic Black

Seats are extremely limited due to invited civic guests and social distancing.

If you would like to attend, please sign up here …

https://hm.churchsuite.co.uk/events/zc2ohs2n

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/

DO YOU WANT TO HELP? 10:30am and 4pm SUNDAY SERVICES

ART EXHIBITION

The Minster’s Artist in Residence, Julia Allum, will be holding an Exhibition in the Minster over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, from Friday May 28th until Monday May 31st, during Minster opening hours. There will be paintings for sale at very reasonable prices, so this will be an opportunity to buy a unique gift for a loved one (or for yourself!) and help to raise funds for the Minster at the same time. Julia will be in church painting and is happy to chat to visitors.

READINGS TRINITY SUNDAY

COLLECT FOR TRINITY SUNDAY

Holy God, faithful and unchanging;

enlarge our minds with the knowledge of your truth,

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

that we may truly worship you,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

One God, now and forever. AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

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

Guest User

19 May 2021

Minster Lifeline #20

Guest User

19 May 2021

Rev. Irene writes:

Ascension morning began with Holy Communion at 6:30am in the Minster building ending with the final hymn being sung from the roof of Hull Minster! What a great way to call attention to the risen and ascended Lord.

By 10am gazebos were erected outside the Minster West Doors, and tables and chairs were all in place, awaiting the start of the Christian Aid Coffee morning. The sky was cloudless, and the sun shone as very soon all tables and chairs were full and many more were being brought out. It was such a joy to see so many familiar faces again and the smiles and chatter that was taking place. Our wonderful group of volunteers have not lost their touch as they produced endless coffee, tea, and served great home-made cakes to everyone there. Kim and Carole had produced a great raffle which raised almost £100!

A big THANK YOU to everyone for your help and generosity. We were delighted to have raised £465.09 for this great cause that brings relief to so many in desperate situations.

The morning ended by Holy Communion in the Minster, led by Rev. Dominic a great opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to a Lord that has promised to be with us always, to the end of our days (Matthew 28:20)

A few weeks ago, we heard from Lauren, today we have Lauren’s second instalment as we hear about her venture in running a Girls’ Brigade from the Minster building:

“I hope you enjoyed my last piece for Hull Minster Lifeline at the beginning of April. As a follow on from that piece I wanted to update you on the news that we have been given the go ahead to bring Girls Brigade to Hull Minster, starting hopefully, this coming September.

To be involved in Girls Brigade is amazing, it strengthens me (I think people would say if you broke into me like a stick of rock you would just see Girls Brigade through and through) it gives me hope, it challenges me, I learn from it and most of all I can serve God through enabling families to become a part of the Girls Brigade and church community. I would love to share Girls Brigade with you. I would love you to become involved in Girls Brigade. It would be great to get to know you, to work together to enrich the lives of girls and their families through Christ.

We have a great time, (sometimes we get a bit messy but all in aid of learning and fun!) the girls will tell you I am all about glitter! We play silly games, make beautiful crafts, and displays, take part in challenges, and get to know each other. Throughout lockdown, my current group (in Cottingham) has been online, and it has been essential that we have been there for girls providing some ‘normality’ throughout this pandemic, providing a safe space where girls can talk freely, a chance to complete their badgework and raise hope. I know it has done wonders for my mental health and having spoken with lots of families over this time, they have all appreciated how we have been there for their family and supported them. I will be sad to leave 1st Cottingham, however I am looking forward to bringing the Girls Brigade family to join Hull Minster, and the adventure that will bring. Girls and leaders have opportunities to meet with others from across the district, region and nationally. This is a great outlet, girls can meet at band with other girls across Hull, take part in events, from camps, parties, and days out. Leaders can take part in training programs, go on retreats, and enjoy meals out. We can all learn from each other both in sharing our skills and Christian faith.” Lauren Jeffries.

Hull Minster Heritage Project Update May 2021

During the lockdown, members of our church family who enjoy history and heritage have been meeting each week on Zoom to find out more about the Minster, its people, and its treasures. Over coffee, and a chat, we have been able to keep in touch, keep our spirits up and carry out research into Holy Trinity and Hull Minster’s history. We have found out about some of the characters celebrated here in memorials and windows, and some of the important architectural features which tell us how people of Hull worshipped and what they believed in the past. Dr Marianne Gilchrist’s research expertise has led us to find out about the medieval vestry glass. If you did not know we had medieval vestry glass, please read her article by clicking the link below.

https://hullminster.org/new-page-96

At the same time, much of our ‘moveable’ heritage has been relocated to safe storage and is either being stored locally in an appropriate way, archived at the Treasure House, or stabilised and conserved with specialist conservators.

We have ideas about the heritage should be shared with the wider public in the future and would love input from the congregation and wider church family, visitors, and volunteers. We would like to engage people in our religious history when they visit and would like your input about how we might do this. Please take a few minutes to respond to our questionnaire and help shape how we present our heritage to visitors.

CLICK Microsoft Forms to fill in the survey

Coming up the heritage group have two talks scheduled:

The first is this Friday, 21st, by Eve Johannson of All Saints Church, Hessle, about the early medieval links between the two churches - All Saints and Holy Trinity. The second is next Wednesday, 26th, by our very own churchwarden, Robin Alden, about the bells and tower of Holy Trinity. To join either talk use the following zoom link at 10.00am. Talks last approximately an hour, are very informal, and are open to anyone.

Friday 21st May-10am-Hessle All Saints and Holy Trinity-Eve Johannson.

Wednesday 26th May-10am-Hull Minster tower and bells-Robin Alden

Join Zoom Meeting here:

Heritage Talks

Meeting ID: 450 348 5643 Passcode: 099670

If you would like to find out more about the heritage project at Hull Minster, join in some of the zoom coffee mornings and talks, or ask about the survey please contact Jane Owen at jane@hullminster.org

Here are some of the things we have found:

Irene concludes with:

SERVICES AND OPENING TIMES:

SATURDAYS 4 PM 1st and 3rd Evensong, 2nd Taize, 4 & 5th Evening Prayer.

SUNDAYS 10am Recorded Service.

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

Church@4 Every Sunday afternoon at 4pm there will be a café style service. Due to Covid, please bring own refreshments.

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

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

DO YOU WANT TO HELP? 10:30am and 4pm SUNDAY SERVICES

ART EXHIBITION

READINGS FOR PENTECOST SUNDAY

Psalm 104:26-end

Romans 8:22-27

Acts 2:1-21

John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15

COLLECT FOR PENTECOST SUNDAY

Holy Spirit, sent by the Father, ignite in us your holy fire;

strengthen your children with the gift of faith,

revive your Church with the breath of love,

and renew the face of the earth,

through Jesus Christ our Lord

AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

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

Guest User

12 May 2021

Minster Lifeline #19

Guest User

12 May 2021

Rev. Irene writes:

Slowly but surely things are beginning to open up, we have even begun to discuss the possibility of refreshments after the services. It is so difficult building up a ‘church family’ when no loitering after services is allowed!

I love this verse from Hebrews

Hebrews 13:2, NIV: "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."

I wonder how many times we, or others, have offered hospitality to an angel and not known it!

We are busy reading wedding banns at the moment and will be holding our first baptism on Sunday this week, it is so long since we were able to baptise inside the Minster. Imani’s baptism will be the first of many that are booked for the next few months. It is so good that families still feel it is important to bring their baby/child for baptism and have waited patiently for the opportunity to do this. Please pray for Imani and all the other babies that are to be baptised in the near future.

Last week we heard about the journeys of Lisa and Connor, how they came to be confirmed at Easter, today we hear from the third candidate Ellie, so encouraging to see God working in lives:

‘How do I really share with you my faith journey in just a few minutes, when I would never have believed I would be standing here today. I left the church many years ago, but I now know God never left me, he was always there waiting for me to take that step forward again.

It started with two buttons at the Battered and Berthed exhibition in Princes Quay in 2017. I stepped into the exhibition and was warmly welcomed by Liane & Fiona (the start of lovely friendships). It invited visitors to see the artwork from the perspective of being battered by the elements at sea and finding a home in a safe place.

So, my battered button was placed under the painting: Storm over the lake, I was looking at this as an outsider so to speak, and could only see the pain, fear in people’s eyes trying to keep their heads above water, trying to survive just like so many people do each day.

I also believe one evening when I knelt under another painting while taking photographs, I experienced something quite profound. I kept quiet, not really knowing at the time what had happened to me. The painting was called ‘The healing of the lunatic boy’ and the boy had epilepsy; I also have epilepsy.

My 2nd button went under the painting ‘Rest on the Flight of Egypt’ for me the tree represented peace, love, fruit, strength, roots-grounding, shade, nature.

The exhibition had quite an impact on me which led to all the wonderful people and things I have become involved with since. Liane, Anna, Fiona, Liz, Joy & Susie Re ORTS, which is such a special place. I am so grateful to every one of you for being part of my journey and your friendships, also Cathy and Anne who I met later in my faith journey.

My next experience was at a ‘You Event’ at St John’s Rosmead Street, the theme that evening was love. I still have the slip of paper with Love Is: and I wrote all around us. I found myself quietly asking God to come into my life that evening.

During my welcoming volunteer roll at Hull Minster last year, I met Anne and we got chatting about things and she suggested I may enjoy Taizé service. So, I went along to the next one, Anne was right I really connected to the music in a spiritual way, I loved it.

Then on Christmas Eve after one of my walks I kept fighting in my head do I go to church or not? Church won and I booked my seat at last minute and went down to Hull Minster and received Holy Communion for the 1st time, another amazing experience difficult to put into words. I will just say my life has been on quite a roller coaster since, not even knowing who I was any more as I was changing so much.

And this week as been so special joining Anne some days on her Urban Pilgrimage walks around Hull, spending time with the wonderful people at ORTS and special services being held at Hull Minster.

It is strange and wonderful how God gently holds us and guides us to certain people, places, and things he knows will help us and guild us on our path. I have so much to be thankful for in my life. I am now looking forward to being involved with Mustard Seed - Stepping Up, which will be another part of my journey with God.

I would just like to say a massive thank you to everyone, and to Connor, Lisa, and Dominic, for all your lovely support and prayers. Thank you, Liane & Anne, for agreeing to be my sponsors.’ Ellie Hardy.

Irene concludes with:

MAY SERVICES AND OPENING TIMES:

SATURDAYS 4 PM 1st and 3rd Evensong, 2nd Taize, 4 & 5th Evening Prayer.

SUNDAYS 10am Recorded Service.

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

Church@4 Every Sunday afternoon at 4pm there will be a café style service. Due to Covid, please bring own refreshments.

Ascension Day-Thursday 13th May:

Ascension Day is one of the key moments in the story of salvation. After his resurrection Jesus appeared in physical form for 40 days to his disciples Jesus ascended to his heavenly Father as they awaited the out pouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1.1-11).

We will be marking Ascension with two celebrations of Holy Communion.

The first will be at 6.30am at the end of which the choir will ascend to the tower roof for the final hymn after which we will grab some breakfast!

The second celebration will be at lunchtime following the Christian Aid Coffee Morning at 12.30pm in the Nave.

From Ascension to Pentecost we will be encouraging people to spend some time in prayer as part of the Archbishops' Thy Kingdom Come Initiative. You can find the prayer app and online resources at www.thykingdomcome.global . We will be giving out resources for this on Sunday. In particular you may want to think about five people you want to commit to pray for during the season who you would like to come to know Christ.

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

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

DO YOU WANT TO HELP? 10:30am and 4pm SUNDAY SERVICES

**CCoffee morning, 13th May, 10am-12noon.** **This event is to raise funds for the excellent work that Christian Aid does around the world. Hopefully, there will be tables and chairs in the market square. Everyone is welcome.**

ART EXHIBITION

READINGS: SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

COLLECT FOR SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Risen ascended Lord,

as we rejoice at your triumph

fill your church on earth with power and compassion,

that all who are estranged by sin

may find forgiveness and know your peace,

to the glory of God the Father.

AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

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

Guest User

5 May 2021

Minster Lifeline #18

Guest User

5 May 2021

Rev. Irene writes:

Christian Aid motto:

We stand together. For dignity. For equality. ... We work in 37 countries, with people of all faiths and none, to stand up for dignity, equality, and justice. Together we can create a world where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty.

As our Christian Aid coffee morning grows closer (13th May, see below for details), please spread the word to your friends and neighbours. If you are able to bake a cake etc. it would be much appreciated.

'Let us love, not in word or speech but in truth and action' (1 John 3:18).

I am delighted that this week we hear the story of two of the congregation that were recently confirmed by Bishop Alison during our Easter Vigil Service. They were not part of Hull Minster last year when they joined the Alpha course being run by Dan Broom and supported by Mandy. Great things have happened in such a short time so I hope you enjoy reading and please pray for them on their Christian journey.

'When I look back at my past, I can see that the seeds for my future with God were already being sown. It is clear to me that God has always been with me. When I prayed, he answered. When I cried out in times of need, he was there. He has never ceased to call me within the depths of my heart and mind.

But there has been an ebb and a flow to my faith. Over the years, my answer has been sometimes yes, and sometimes no. The problem, I believe, was my desire to reduce all to reason.

For a while, I became convinced that where reason ended, for all intents and purposes, the world ended too. I could think God, but I could not feel Him. I had a heart of stone. But for the first time now, I have learnt not only to think God, but to feel His presence too. And as I feel His presence, my mind drifts away and unanswered questions no longer matter.

I am at peace because I know within my heart, my new heart of flesh, that God is real and that He is with me.

But not only do I have God, but I have also been blessed with many people - those who have welcomed me here, those who have helped me mature in faith, and those that walk this path with me. I thank you, and I thank God that you are with me.

I truly look forward to my new mission in Christ, to spread the word of the one I have come to accept as Lord, as Saviour, and as a friend to whom I can always turn. I do not ask for confirmation lightly but do so with the conviction of living the rest of my life in faith, in love, and with forgiveness.' Connor Reaney

‘My journey into faith all began with the Alpha course last year. At first, I had so many questions, and there was so much that I did not understand, but as the days and weeks and months have gone on, I now feel like I understand the depth of belief.

Whilst being on this journey I have felt love like I have never felt before. Love from my friends and family who have supported me, love that has surrounded me in the Minster every Sunday, and most of all, I feel a tremendous amount of love from God.

Furthermore, I now feel a sense of purpose and belonging in my life- which is something that I struggled with before I started this journey. I now know that my purpose is to become a disciple of Jesus Christ and I am willing to make the commitment to live as a practicing Christian for the rest of my life.

I find it extremely liberating to know that I am forgiven for all my sins, which has left me with a feeling of a fresh start, a new life- one where God is by my side and is guiding me through every step.

Therefore, my confirmation will allow for my relationship with God to be heightened further, and it will also allow for God to be the light that guides me through the rest of my life and beyond.’ Lisa Bird

LLisa Bird, Bishop Alison, and Connor Reaney

Irene concludes with:

MAY SERVICES AND OPENING TIMES:

SATURDAYS 4 PM 1st and 3rd Evensong, 2nd Taize, 4 & 5th Evening Prayer.

SUNDAYS 10am Recorded Service.

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

Church@4 Every Sunday afternoon at 4pm there will be a café style service. Due to Covid, please bring own refreshments.

Ascension Day-Thursday 13th May:

We will be marking Ascension with two celebrations of Holy Communion.

The first will be at 6.30am at the end of which the choir will ascend to the tower roof for the final hymn after which we will grab some breakfast!

The second celebration will be at lunchtime following the Christian Aid Coffee Morning at 12.30pm in the Nave.