Guest User

20 October 2021

Minster Lifeline #42

Guest User

20 October 2021

20 OCTOBER 2021

REV. IRENE WRITES:

We are delighted that part of the money from the sale of the sports clothing at Adelaide school has bought plants for each of the classrooms, and other areas in the school. The Deputy Head has sent the following words and pictures of the distribution around the school. “We gave out twenty-six plants in assembly last Friday. The children were very excited and thought of lots of people and places in school that should receive one. Consequently, we now have plants in all classrooms, most of the offices, the staff room, the dinner hall; and the caretaker was given one to take to his room.

We talked to the children about responsibility and the importance of taking care of something. They knew that to keep the plant healthy it needed light and water, but we also spoke about them giving it a name and even singing it a song!

Thank you very much for providing us with these plants. I hope you will be in to see them soon.”

Plants are a real source of well-being, and the children are being encouraged to look after and nurture these plants so that they bring brightness to the classrooms.

Becky Dexter has written for Lifeline this week. Although Becky finishes her piece with ‘the rest is history’ I would like to point out that Becky is a valuable member of Hull Minster family, she heads up the crafters, knitters, prayer shawl ministry and is part of the pastoral team. Thank you, Becky……

Hello, I’m Becky, I moved to Yorkshire about 35 years ago and now call it home. After a few traumatic events I suddenly found myself alone with a sick baby and a toddler, with no family and a few friends. After struggling for some years and getting deeper into confusion and loss I decided I had to do something to improve my well-being. I retrained for a new career and started my own business, and I went to my local church. The church was cold, damp, and uninviting, but I persevered, I was about to give up one day when a lovely new vicar arrived Rev. Kate Goulder, I met Rev. Irene, who wasn’t a reverend at the time! I joined an enquirers group and knew I was in the right place. I suddenly felt like my life made sense and through God found strength I did not know I had. For many years, with the Lord and their support I raised my boys.

Both Rev. Kate and Rev. Irene left my local church after a few years, and that church started going in a direction I wasn’t happy about, despite my love of the Lord I had to find somewhere else to worship him, at the same time as looking after two teenage boys, one of whom was still unwell. I home schooled my youngest son for a year and with God’s help he caught up academically. However, after missing church for so long my well-being began to fail particularly after being diagnosed with a debilitating illness. I clearly needed to lean on the Lord again and find good fellowship. This is when I walked into Hull Minster... and the rest as they say is history. I am now very content living alone with my black lab as a companion and both of my boys are happy and employed and we are very close. I am still very much a heart Christian (rather than head, or both), and enjoy prayer a great deal.

Children and Families…

**GGirls Brigade is now at the Minster, every Tuesday 6:30-8pm. Click photo for more information.**

**LLittle Fishes baby & toddler group, 10am in the Minster Nave on Fridays, email mandy@hullminster.org or just show up**

OCTOBER SERVICES AND OPENING TIMES

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

SUNDAY 10:30am Holy Communion in the Minster

RECORDED SUNDAY WORSHIP

We continue to explore different ways of producing a recorded service for a Sunday morning online. Still experiencing a few issues but we will keep trying!

CHURCH @ 4 Every Sunday afternoon at 4pm there will be a café style service.

WELCOMERS REQUIRED if you think meeting and greeting people in the Minster may be something that you would enjoy doing before and/or after our Sunday services please let a team member know. We will arrange to meet with all who are interested to discuss what is required. This is a very important part of our ministry at the Minster! Thank you

WEDNESDAYS HOLY COMMUNION 12:30pm

MINSTER PRAISE IS BACK – 3rd Thursday of each month at 10:30am.

PLEASE NOTE: The Minster will be open each day WEDNESDAY to SATURDAY 10am-4pm. MINSTER SHOP will be open during these times.

MINSTER SHOP AND CHRISTMAS!

The Christmas stock will be out for sale from Wednesday 20th October. Some orders are taking a while to arrive, but this means that new things will keep appearing over the next few weeks. We have some lovely children’s books coming from Lion Publishing that we’re very excited about. Lots of new jewellery & Fair-Trade items, tree decorations and Advent calendars. We are working hard to bring you a new Minster Christmas card, taken this year from the Nativity Window in the North Transept. At soon as we have a copy, I will put it in the Lifeline so that orders can be taken. We are also planning to stock some nice Christian Christmas cards. I will be in church for the morning service on Sunday 24 October to open for just 15 minutes after if anyone would like anything from the Shop. Please feel free to contact me anytime relating to the Shop on email shop@hullminster.org

Sue McGaw, Buying Team Co-ordinator

MAISIE WEIGHTMAN MEMORIAL SERVICE

There will be a celebration of Maisie’s life in the Minster on Friday 13th November at 2 p.m. The family hope this will be an opportunity for them and friends to come together and give thanks for her long life.

If you have any stories or anecdotes about Maisie, please contact Rev Irene or Maisie’s daughter Anne.

Hull Art Circle exhibition is on display in the northeast side of the Minster

The Heritage Volunteering group

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

Exploring Hull Minsters medieval stained-glass FREE, 2-hour Family workshop At Hull Minster Saturday Oct 23rd, 2021 Sessions: 10am to 12pm, 1pm to 3pm Aged 8yrs+, Limited places.

Click link to book:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hull-minster-exploring-medieval-stained-glass-tickets-186552552707

Click photo for full details:

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

On Remembrance Sunday 14th November we will be reading out, in the Minster, all the names from within the Golden Book. This will begin at 12:30pm and if you are willing to read a section of names, please contact Dave Allum 07856 942067

BIBLE STUDIES The Minster Bible Study has begun a new series for the Autumn on Jacob. This is on zoom so do join in if you are able. 7:30pm every Wednesday evening.

Bible Study Zoom

RAISE MONEY FOR HULL MINSTER FOR FREE!

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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

READINGS: LAST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Psalms 34:1-8, 19-end

Jeremiah 31:7-9

Hebrews 7:23-end

Mark 10:46-end

COLLECT FOR LAST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy scriptures

to be written for our learning;

help us so to hear them,

to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them,

that, through patience, and the comfort of your holy word,

we may embrace and for ever hold fast

the hope of everlasting life,

which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ

AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

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

Guest User

20 October 2021

Minster Lifeline #41

Guest User

20 October 2021

13 OCTOBER 2021

REV. IRENE WRITES:

BAPTISM BOOM – since the lifting of lockdown it has been great to have so many families bringing their toddlers and babies for baptism at the Minster. Katie Ogilvie and I have been inundated with enquiries and we are now booking well into next year.

As our baptism services take place at 1pm on a Sunday we miss the church family being there, however it is important to make sure everyone is aware of the children we welcome into God’s family hence we have started to include the names in Lifeline so that we all can pray for the child and their parents and godparents.

Baptism is a time when the child begins his or her journey with Jesus – a very important role for godparents who make promises to share with their godchild the Christian faith. It is hoped that later in life the child will have enough knowledge of Jesus and his love for us that they will come to confirmation to make decisions themselves and continue in the faith.

If you are interested in being confirmed there is a confirmation service to be held in December in the Minster. Please see Rev. Dominic or me for further details.

This week Jett Harvatt is being baptised please hold him and his family in your prayers.

Rev. Dominic writes:

There are not many programmes my wife and I watch together on the TV these days, she likes Strictly Come Dancing and gruesome medical dramas and, when I don’t have evening meetings, I prefer historical drama and documentaries. But there is one series that we never miss, Call the midwife. Call the Midwife captures the struggles and the joys of the drama of the beginning of human life tracing the great social changes of the mid-20th century. Until you have had a child you have no idea how your life is going to change! There is something wonderful and terrifying about a new life coming into the world. Who is this new person and what will they become? Dread and fear, hope and joy, but mostly an overwhelming love. I remember the weight of responsibility of coming out of Hull Royal Infirmary with this tiny child in a car seat. The car came with a maintenance and repair manual, but the baby didn’t! Well somehow our parenting was good enough and nearly 18 years on our eldest is testing his wings and getting ready to fly the nest. Both my parents died before I met my wife, my mum just a year before. She wasn’t there at the wedding, she wasn’t around to see my children, something she talked about when she was dying of cancer. But to her dying day she carried a greater loss, a loss more painful even than the sudden death of her husband 15 years before, a loss that was seldom talked about and many had probably forgotten about, the death of her first baby, Christopher who died a few weeks old, the brother I never met. People were full of good advice, move on, try for another, that was me, my name means gift of the Lord. But that loss never went away, it was a pain she took to her death bed.

This week is Baby Loss Awareness Week (9-15 Oct) now in its 19th year. Some things cannot be fixed; they can only be carried but it can help when you can be with other parents who have been through similar trauma. On Sunday 12th December 2-3pm there will be a special Candle Lighting service for all those who have lost babies and children at Hull Minster.

Grief is the price we pay for love. We never truly ‘get over’ a loss, there is always a part of us that is broken, life will never be the same again. We bereaved are not alone. We belong to the largest company in all the world — the company of those who have known suffering. For a parent, losing a child is the most devastating and painful experience. As Christians we know that Jesus came to be with us in life and through death, through his love we are always connected with those we have loved.

Children and Families…

OCTOBER SERVICES AND OPENING TIMES

THANK YOU to everyone who supported our harvest food collection. All those gifts have now been taken to the food bank to help many who are struggling financially at this time.

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

SUNDAY 10:30am Holy Communion in the Minster

PLEASE PRAY FOR CHRISTOPHER JOHN & NICOLA JACKSON AS THEY ARE MARRIED IN THE MINSTER ON SATURDAY

RECORDED SUNDAY WORSHIP

We continue to explore different ways of producing a recorded service for a Sunday morning online. Still experiencing a few issues but we will keep trying!

CHURCH @ 4 Every Sunday afternoon at 4pm there will be a café style service.

WEDNESDAYS HOLY COMMUNION 12:30pm

MINSTER PRAISE IS BACK – 3rd Thursday of each month at 10:30am.

PLEASE NOTE: The Minster will be open each day WEDNESDAY to SATURDAY 10am-4pm. MINSTER SHOP will be open during these times.

MINSTER SHOP AND CHRISTMAS!

Sue McGaw, Buying Team Co-ordinator

MAISIE WEIGHTMAN MEMORIAL SERVICE

If you have any stories or anecdotes about Maisie, please contact Rev Irene or Maisie’s daughter Anne.

Hull Art Circle exhibition is on display in the northeast side of the Minster

The Heritage Volunteering group

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

Exploring Hull Minsters medieval stained-glass FREE, 2-hour Family workshop At Hull Minster Saturday Oct 23rd, 2021 Sessions: 10am to 12pm, 1pm to 3pm Aged 8yrs+, Limited places.

Click link to book:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hull-minster-exploring-medieval-stained-glass-tickets-186552552707

Click photo for full details:

BIBLE STUDIES The Minster Bible Study has begun a new series for the Autumn on Jacob. This is on zoom so do join in if you are able. 7:30pm every Wednesday evening.

Bible Study Zoom

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

READINGS: TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

COLLECT FOR TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

God, our light and our salvation;

illuminate our lives

that we may see your goodness in the land of the living;

and looking on your beauty

may be changed into the likeness of

Jesus Christ our Lord

AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

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

Guest User

7 October 2021

Minster Lifeline #40

Guest User

7 October 2021

7 OCTOBER 2021

REV. IRENE WRITES:

‘All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above, then thank the

Lord, O thank the Lord for all his love’

Many will have sung these words at a harvest celebration over the past few weeks. No doubt if you have travelled on our country roads and lanes recently you will have been following a tractor, often absolutely ladened with hay. Farmers struggling to get the harvest in during dry weather and hopefully avoiding the cost of drying the grain. We do right to give thanks for the harvest and for all farming families who often struggle with loneliness and isolation. It never fails to surprise me that as soon as the fields are harvested the farmer is out ploughing and sowing for the following year’s produce. It is extremely easy to pick our fruit and vegetables at our supermarkets or local shops but how often do we stop to think of how these goods arrived there and are ready for us to purchase.

This year, with Brexit and covid we are more aware of the process that takes place, the number of people involved in picking fruit and sowing seeds forever in short supply. When we bring climate change into the equation, we really do have a delicately balanced process. Both rain and sunshine in excess can destroy the crops and we know this is what is happening with climate change.

We will, hopefully, appreciate the harvest this year more than usual and will do whatever we can to support our farmers. If we can, buying local produce would be a good start.

We heard from Carol Spamer last week and today her close friend Kim Jenkinson is telling us about her journey so far and about the exciting things yet to come.

Hello everyone, my name is Kim.

Four years ago, my life was amazing. I worked for the NHS and had a beautiful daughter, Sophie, who was the centre of my world until one day we were given the most horrific news. My 18-year-old daughter had Leukaemia (Acute Myeloid Leukaemia), one of the worst types of cancer. Sophie battled for eight months and fought with every fibre of her being, but one 10th January 2017, she lost her battle. My whole world ended that day. How could my 19-year-old beautiful, energetic, caring, and loving Sophie, be gone forever? I did not want to be here anymore, I just wanted to be with my daughter. I had never felt pain like it before. It was mental and physical pain, as if someone had reached inside and pulled out my heart.

As the months passed mine, and Sophie’s amazing friends were always there for me, but I felt I did not have a purpose to my life anymore. The person I lived for had gone, taken away when her adult life was just beginning. I felt it was so cruel that this should happen.

Then in November 2017 I felt drawn to the church as I somehow knew I would get comfort from going. My friend Carole and I went to a couple of local churches but did not feel at home. We decided to go to Hull Minster and from that first time we attended everyone was so welcoming and friendly. We met Reverend Irene and spoke to her after the service. I just wanted to talk about Sophie, and she listened and prayed with me. I felt so comfortable being there. Reverend Irene mentioned a Candle Lighting Service taking place the following month for anyone who had lost a child. Carole and I came to the service, and it was beautiful. It made me feel at peace, something I had not experienced for a long time. I knew then that I wanted to be part of this congregation. We both became involved with many of the activities: raising funds, welcoming, being a reader in the Wednesday service, and serving tea and coffee after the Sunday service, and more. All these have become very important to me because we are now a part of this church community.

In 2019 I started a Grief coffee morning in Hull Minster where people could come and meet others who had lost loved ones, they could sit and talk together over a coffee because that helps, you do not feel so alone as they are probably going through the same emotions. We had an amazing response and they wanted to know when the next one was going to be held. Unfortunately, at the beginning of 2020, Covid made it impossible to arrange anything. Shortly we are going to restart them and hope that we can bring comfort to those grieving by listening when they want to speak about their loved ones.

Well, that is my journey to Hull Minster, and I am so grateful to have become a member of this wonderful family.

Children and Families…

OCTOBER SERVICES AND OPENING TIMES

THANK YOU to everyone who supported our harvest food collection. All those gifts have now been taken to the food bank to help many who are struggling financially at this time.

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

SUNDAY 10:30am Holy Communion in the Minster

PLEASE PRAY FOR GARY WOODS AND AMANDA O’CONNOR AS THEY ARE MARRIED IN THE MINSTER ON SATURDAY

PLEASE PRAY FOR BRODIE BAKER AS HE IS TO BE BAPTISED ON SUNDAY IN THE MINSTER

RECORDED SUNDAY WORSHIP

We continue to explore different ways of producing a recorded service for a Sunday morning online. Still experiencing a few issues but we will keep trying!

CHURCH @ 4 Every Sunday afternoon at 4pm there will be a café style service.

WEDNESDAYS HOLY COMMUNION 12:30pm

MINSTER PRAISE IS BACK – 3rd Thursday of each month at 10:30am.

PLEASE NOTE: The Minster will be open each day WEDNESDAY to SATURDAY 10am-4pm. MINSTER SHOP will be open during these times.

The Heritage Volunteering group

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

Exploring Hull Minsters medieval stained-glass FREE, 2-hour Family workshop At Hull Minster Saturday Oct 23rd, 2021 Sessions: 10am to 12pm, 1pm to 3pm Aged 8yrs+, Limited places.

Click link to book:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hull-minster-exploring-medieval-stained-glass-tickets-186552552707

Click photo for full details:

PLEASE NOTE: there is a job vacancy at SEARCH. Click the Logo for further details. Closing date is 18th October.

BIBLE STUDIES The Minster Bible Study has begun a new series for the Autumn on Jacob. This is on zoom so do join in if you are able. 7:30pm every Wednesday evening.

Bible Study Zoom

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

READINGS: NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

COLLECT FOR NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Faithful Lord, whose steadfast love never ceases

and whose mercies never come to an end;

grant us the grace to trust you

and to receive the gifts of your love,

new every morning,

in Jesus Christ, our Lord

AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

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

Guest User

29 September 2021

Minster Lifeline #39

Guest User

29 September 2021

REV. IRENE WRITES:

I am delighted that the PCC have agreed for me to continue in my ministry at Hull Minster for another two years. Bishop Alison will be licensing me at Hullen House in November. Thanks to everyone for their prayers and support over the past 11 years.

--------------

I was chatting to a member of our congregation last week and she asked me if we would be willing to put something in Lifeline about the struggles with mental health in our society today. It is important that people are aware that, when struggling, they are not alone so below are a few words that she has written. I hope they are encouraging to anyone who may be reading this and struggling themselves:

On the 10th of October it's World Mental Health Day. Many of us will have experiences of mental health issues be that our own mental health issues or those close to us. I am relieved to say it is becoming a more socially acceptable subject. I have been very passionate about mental health awareness since experiencing anxiety and depression myself. No two individuals will have the same experience with their mental health. If you’re struggling with your mental health, I would suggest the following:

· Try and tell someone you trust how you are feeling

· Take one day at a time Don't be too hard on yourself

· There is light in the darkness, and

· Don't lose Hope.

· Finally, I would like to share a quote given to me by a family friend: "Don't ever, ever forget God is in your corner and he's never let me down yet"

Thank you for being strong enough to bring your personal thoughts to us and hope that your words encourage many to pray for those who suffer with mental health problem.

Three years ago, two lovely ladies came to the Minster to a Christmas service of Remembrance for those who have lost children and siblings. Since that time, they have become regular worshippers and lots more, so over the next two weeks they tell you their stories:

Carole Spamer writes:

Hi everyone. My name is Carole Spamer, and I’m proud to be part of Hull Minster.

I am pleased to share with you my journey to finding my place in Hull Minster. I am one of eleven siblings and I had heard my sister saying many a time, how much she enjoyed going to church on a Sunday with her family. I always listened to her and in a way envied her a little as we both used to go to Sunday School together from the age of about six years and we loved it. It was a day out and a treat for us as children. We weren’t well off, but we had a home, food on the table and lots of love and a few rules and regulations. Kathleen and Sarah were already part of the congregation at Hull Minster, and they used to tell me about all the things in which they took part. Sarah worked with the children, and her niece Chelsea sang in the choir and volunteered with my sister to help with the children when needed.

This stirred a feeling inside me of wishing I could join them. I was working as a healthcare assistant in a GP practice something I was very proud of achieving as in my younger days I had always wanted to be a nurse in the Army. This didn’t happen because we lost our father at the age of 47 years in a road traffic accident. This meant my education finished and I had stepped up to help my mother as she was unable to work due to ill health. She needed the financial support and of course support in being a widow but she also needed the care from me as my elder sisters were all married.

I was so busy helping people because my mother taught me always to care for others. She never complained and lived a simple life and was a big influence teaching me to look, care and listen to people in need.

I had worked with a GP practice and one day a new receptionist arrived her name was Kim. She was lovely and had a beautiful daughter Sophie and a fabulous dog called Hollie. We became friends and looked out for each other. Sadly, as Sophie was growing into a beautiful teenager she was diagnosed with a rare cancer. My dear friend was devastated but we went through this journey together, she looked after her daughter, and I hung around to be there when she needed me. I looked after her as best I could. Sophie passed and we both needed help and comfort. I then had the thought “let’s go to church and see if we can take comfort from them”. I needed to talk. Kim needed to talk.

We walked into Hull Minster and were welcomed with open arms by the people on the doors. Kim was emotional so I approached Reverend Neal and asked if someone would have a chat with my friend who was lost in pain from losing her daughter. He was so kind and spoke gently to her and then arranged a meeting with Revd. Irene. Everyone was so comforting and listened intently to us both because I too, had suffered a number of bereavements along the way.

Their friendship brought us on leaps and bounds and everyone in that church was one big family into which we were welcomed, and in no time had lots of friends. We volunteer and try to raise money for things the church may need or for other charities. Also, we serve coffee and tea and on occasions have welcomed on the doors. On a few occasions we have even cleaned, and we love it. Both of us are thankful for the journey we are still on and intend to stay on it forever as we don’t want it to end.

Our next venture is a Bereavement Coffee morning where people can come along have a chat, light a candle, and have a coffee and biscuit or if we’re lucky maybe a slice of cake, ha, ha! It is so easy going in the church and the atmosphere is so calming and relaxing. We are just there with no pressure. We laugh, we pray, and we have our say, and love it! Personally, I would be lost without it.

Children and Families…

OCTOBER SERVICES AND OPENING TIMES

HARVEST GIFTS this year we will be collecting non-perishable food etc. to help those who maybe experiencing difficult times. We will celebrate harvest this Sunday at 10:30am.

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

PLEASE NOTE: APOLOGIES THAT THERE WILL BE NO SERVICE OF EVENSONG 2nd OCTOBER due to Staff Planning Day.

SUNDAY 10:30am Holy Communion in the Minster

PLEASE PRAY FOR EDEN HARRISON AS HE IS TO BE BAPTISED ON SUNDAY IN THE MINSTER

RECORDED SUNDAY WORSHIP

We continue to explore different ways of producing a recorded service for a Sunday morning online. Still experiencing a few issues but we will keep trying!

CHURCH @ 4 Every Sunday afternoon at 4pm there will be a café style service.

WEDNESDAYS HOLY COMMUNION 12:30pm

MINSTER PRAISE IS BACK – 3rd Thursday of each month at 10:30am.

PLEASE NOTE: The Minster will be open each day WEDNESDAY to SATURDAY 10am-4pm. MINSTER SHOP will be open during these times.

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? 10:30am 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.

BIBLE STUDIES The Minster Bible Study has begun a new series for the Autumn on Jacob. This is on zoom so do join in if you are able. 7:30pm every Wednesday evening.

Bible Study Zoom

CORONA VIRUS UPDATE

As you may be aware the numbers of cases in the area are still very high and not disappearing. Although restrictions have been lifted, we ask that wherever possible would people please wear masks inside the church and maintain a safe distance to respect and protect others. Communion will continue in one kind only and chairs will be socially distanced.

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

READINGS: EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Psalms 26

Genesis 2:18-24

Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12

Mark 10:2-16

COLLECT FOR EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

God our judge and saviour,

teach us to be open to your truth

and to trust in your love,

that we may live each day

in confidence in the salvation which is given,

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 September 2021

Minster Lifeline #38

Guest User

23 September 2021

REV. IRENE WRITES:

Have you seen any of the Chelsea Flower Show on the TV? It was drawn to my attention that the Bible Society have a garden based on the 23rd psalm. This inspired me to write the opening to the October Prayer Diary on this psalm but also delighted me to see how plants and gardens can really encourage and bring colour and happiness into lives. What great inspirations these gardens are to help us through the dark days of Covid which we have all had to endure over the past eighteen months.

This week more encouragement around our music project which Mark Keith is heading within the local schools.

MARK WRITES:

A quick update about our new Choral Outreach project!

We have had a busy couple of weeks setting up the practicalities of our project and have now started singing with the children. Our schools cover the compass points of the city: Adelaide Primary, Highlands Primary, Maybury Primary, St George’s Primary, Wold Primary, and Archbishop Sentamu Academy.

This means that we are working with more than 450 children every week!

The children have made a very positive start, with bright, curious attitudes and keen participation. They excited to learn about how to sing well, and eager to develop skilful use of their voices.

We have four members of staff as part of our team: Jack Bridges (HM choir), Ben Newton (HM choir), Stephanie Miller (Hull Music Service) and Yours Truly.

The basics of our approach can be summed-up by the following invitation (as sent to the pupils at Archbishop Sentamu Academy):

“Calling all Year 7 pupils! @Choral-Hull (Mark and Jack) very much enjoyed introducing our new singing strategy to you during Collective Worship on Friday. They have a message for you!

We are keen for your school to be the best singing school in the city...maybe even beyond that (can we be the best singers in Yorkshire or GB?).

Many schools around the country have excellent choirs and enjoy LOADS of success and positive attention. Their students get to enjoy trips to other places for performances and they gain a large and loyal fan base. So...we need you to get involved!

If you enjoy singing: sign up.

If you are afraid of singing: sign up.

If you want to build something fantastic: sign up.

If you think it will be hard work (it will): sign up.

If you think singing is for other people: sign up.

If you like to be hidden within a team: sign up.

If you like to be noticed: sign up. If you're a quiet person: sign up.

If you're a noisy person: sign up.

If you have no idea why singing can make a BIG difference to your life (and for others around you): sign up!

Community matters.

Get involved, help your friends to get involved, support those who might be scared of doing this by encouraging them to get involved.

We can do this!”

We’re looking forward to writing more news in the coming weeks.

Children and Families…

SEPTEMBER SERVICES AND OPENING TIMES

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

SUNDAYS

RECORDED SUNDAY WORSHIP

Apologies for the poor quality of recording last Sunday, Robin did a great job in recording however the nave does not lend itself to recording with our present equipment. We will continue to explore possibilities and this week will record from the chancel which is a big improvement.

10:30am Holy Communion in the Minster

CHURCH @ 4 Every Sunday afternoon at 4pm there will be a café style service.

WEDNESDAYS HOLY COMMUNION 12:30pm

MINSTER PRAISE IS BACK

We are delighted that Minster Praise will return on the third Thursday of each month at 10:30am. Join us for a time of worship followed by coffee, cake, and fellowship. Why not invite a neighbour or friend to join you. All are welcome.

21st October 18th November 16th December

PLEASE NOTE: The Minster will be open each day WEDNESDAY to SATURDAY 10am-4pm. MINSTER SHOP will be open during these times.

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

BIBLE STUDIES The Minster Bible Study has begun a new series for the Autumn on Jacob. This is on zoom so do join in if you are able. 7:30pm every Wednesday evening.

Bible Study Zoom

SATURDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER Record Fair in the Minster 9:30am-3pm.

Through the Window Exhibition in the Minster until the 25th of September

CORONA VIRUS UPDATE

Thank you

RAISE MONEY FOR HULL MINSTER FOR FREE!

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READINGS: SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Psalms 124

Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29

James 5:13-end

Mark 9:38-end

COLLECT FOR SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Almighty God, you have made us for yourself

and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you;

pour your love into our hearts and draw us to yourself

and so bring us at last to your heavenly city

where we shall see you face to face;

through Jesus Christ our Lord

AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

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

Guest User

14 September 2021

Minster Lifeline #37

Guest User

14 September 2021

REV. IRENE WRITES:

‘Comings and goings’ springs to mind as the way to describe this week’s news. We are delighted to announce the coming of our new Associate Vicar Rob Suekarran to our team and sad to lose our wonderful Bishop of Hull (Bishop Alison) and of course Bishop Frank. We are however delighted that retirement for Bishop Alison will mean that her and Frank will be able to have quality time together in their new venture north. Between now and February please keep both Bishop Alison and Bishop Frank in your prayers as I am sure the next few months will be particularly busy and often stressful.

Hopefully before Christmas we will be able to welcome Rob to the team at the Minster. I am delighted that he has written something for us to share below:

Revd Rob Suekarran writes:

My name is Rob Suekarran, and I am absolutely delighted to be joining Hull Minster as Associate Vicar at this very exciting time in the Minster’s life. I’m really looking forward to working with the staff, volunteers, and Hull Minster community as it lives out its vocation to be a community of prayer and mission that proclaims the Gospel in word and deed. I can’t wait to get to know the city, meet the people of Hull, and join in with God’s work there.

I am married to Hannah, and we will be coming to Hull with our nearly three-year old son Reuben. We are very much looking forward to making our home in such a wonderful city.

I was born just outside of London but spent most of my formative childhood years in York. When I was seventeen, I became a Christian, and at this time I also sensed that God was calling me into ordained ministry in the Church of England. I went on to study Clinical Sciences at Bradford University before going on to teach Science at Easingwold School. After finally succumbing to God’s call, I trained for ordained ministry at Cranmer Hall in Durham.

Following ordination, I served my curacy in Strensall before taking up the role of Multiply Minister in the Benefice of Brayton, where I have been exploring ways of forming and growing new worshipping communities amongst those in their 20s-40s. I am passionate about discipleship, enabling others to grow in faith, and sharing the Good News of Jesus in word and deed. As such I am very much interested in the areas of evangelism, mission, and church growth. I have reflected a lot about these things throughout my ministry as I have sought to share the Gospel in different ways and lead others in this ministry as well. I can honestly say I haven’t got any of these things nailed down, but I believe I’m learning to ask the right questions!

In my spare time I like to cycle, run, and play badminton. I am also a keen follower of England Rugby and Cricket, which has been a joyful pursuit recently! I also enjoy reading theology (though I am branching out into fiction), cooking when I can, and spending quality time with my family and friends.

RRobin and Gill Alden collecting the Scientists in Congregation 2021-2022 Award for the Minster project “Why should we care for our earth?”. A lot of the online content is still live on the Hull Minster Website so if anyone missed the week, they cou… — **RRobin and Gill Alden** collecting the Scientists in Congregation 2021-2022 Award for the Minster project “Why should we care for our earth?”. A lot of the online content is still live on the Hull Minster Website so if anyone missed the week, they could always take a look!!

Starting tonight, Tuesday, 6:30-8pm…

**GGirls brigade starts at the Minster next Tuesday, 14th September. Click photo for more information.**

**TThis Friday sees the return of our Little Fishes baby & toddler group, 10am in the Minster Nave**

SEPTEMBER SERVICES AND OPENING TIMES

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

SUNDAYS

*Over the coming weeks we will be exploring different ways of offering an online service on a Sunday morning. This week we will be offering a Minster Praise service, this will be available from 10am on Sunday 19th.

10:30am Holy Communion in the Minster

CHURCH @ 4 Every Sunday afternoon at 4pm there will be a café style service.

WEDNESDAYS HOLY COMMUNION 12:30pm

MINSTER PRAISE IS BACK

16th September 21st October 18th November 16th December

PLEASE NOTE: The Minster will be open each day WEDNESDAY to SATURDAY 10am-4pm. MINSTER SHOP will be open during these time will be more training events in the future.

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

RAISE MONEY FOR HULL MINSTER FOR FREE!

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READINGS: SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

COLLECT FOR SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Lord of creation,

whose glory is around and within us;

open our eyes to your wonders,

that we may serve you with reverence

and know your peace at our lives’ end

through Jesus Christ our Lord

AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

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

Guest User

8 September 2021

Minster Lifeline #36

Guest User

8 September 2021

REV. IRENE WRITES:

I couldn’t resist putting this picture in Lifeline this week. This beautiful sunflower has been peeping over our garden wall for a couple of weeks now and every morning it makes me smile.

The Minster is back into routine again after a very successful two weeks of the earth installation. There are many stories to tell. However, one that I really liked was from Alasdair, the Director of Operations, he told how he had a conversation with a young boy, probably about ten years old, who asked Alasdair if he could see a Bible as he had not seen one before. Alasdair showed him one of the large bibles we have in church and the young man was delighted. Quick thinking Alasdair then produced a bible for the young man to take with him and he proudly left the church with his family.

These are the golden opportunities that arise when the Minster is open to the public. Thousands came to see the ‘Gaia’, yet many enjoyed more such as being in the Minster for the first time and realising the wonderful building is on their doorstep. People realised you can write a prayer card and light a candle without feeling embarrassed. Thanks to so many people the Minster was, and is, a friendly place to come in both grief and happiness.

We look forward to many more events in the coming weeks and months so we can welcome even more into God’s house where they can truly feel ‘at home’.

There are lots of things taking place at the moment with our choir and music group, so Rachel Miller has given us a resume to help bring everyone up to date:

PPhoto credit: Ellie Hardy & Mandy Richardson

RACHEL WRITES:

Back together again!

Last week saw the Minster’s musicians doing what they do best – leading worship through music and song.

Thursday saw the Worship Band playing as part of Archbishop Stephen’s visit to the Minster, where he was talking about his latest book, “Dear England”. Acting as bookends for the main speaker, the band led the congregation in three worship songs, as well as an encore at the end! As always, the use of amplification adds its technical challenges and Al had a busy time making sure that we could all hear what we were doing but that those listening weren’t deafened in the process. I’m only an occasional Worship Band member, usually filling in when Mark and Sarah aren’t available, but it was great to be part of the performance on this occasion. Hearing the voices of Anne, Rebecca and Ruth soaring over our accompaniment and leading the congregation in song sent shivers down my spine, and possibly the highlight of the night for everyone was Archbishop Stephen coming over as soon as he could to say how much he’d enjoyed the music, followed very closely by Bishop Alison’s huge smile at the end of our last piece.

Saturday (and of course, the Friday night rehearsal) saw the Minster Choir reunited after our summer break, starting the new term with Choral Evensong and the launch of Choral-Hull, a new choral foundation led by our esteemed Director of Music, Mark Keith in conjunction with the Hull Music Service.

Rehearsing in a church full of visitors has its challenges – not only in terms of listening to each other but also staying focussed and not being distracted by people stopping to watch (or, more frequently, wondering what the resident pigeon is up to and whether it’s likely to flap over your head!). Following an afternoon rehearsal in the Chancel (where the service was to take place), we then gave the Gaia visitors something extra as part of their experience – a rehearsal of the Introit (Rejoice in The Lord Always) under the Earth! People stopped and listened, took photos and videos, and I hope took away an impression of the strength of the musical tradition in the building.

The service itself began under Gaia with the formal launch of the choral foundation, followed by a challenge I haven’t had to deal with in over 18 months – processing while singing. As a brass band player in a past life I’ve had to march and play many times (and been utterly useless every time!) and trying to remember how to walk and sing came as a shock to the system, especially when I misjudged the width of the ramp to the Chancel and nearly fell off the side!

It was particularly apt that Sam McGaw preached on Saturday. It is over 60 years since he joined the choir as a treble and the love he has for the choir and the Minster shone through his sermon. As Sam said, joining this choir can change your life, and we saw an example of that the following day when we said a temporary farewell to Simon. Described as “an entire tenor section in once person”, Simon will be en route to London as you read this, starting his postgraduate studies at Trinity Laban Conservatoire along with Dom, who we said farewell to earlier in the summer.

Simon would be the first person to say that the Minster (and Mark) has a huge part to play in his future career. Mark, as his piano teacher, encouraged him to come along to the choir and, as they say, the rest is history. Over the last 18 months, he has been ever-present, running the tech desk, reading and even being the solo voice singing hymns in services during the last lockdown when ensemble singing was not allowed to take place. Despite the uncertainties of lockdowns, the consistency of his singing was the catalyst for his decision to apply to study at one of the London Conservatoires – music colleges who train the artistes of the future. I’ve been reliably informed that it’s my fault for encouraging him to apply, but I refuse to take the blame for what is likely to be a springboard to a bright future!

Saying farewell to members of our choir family is never easy (especially not when it’s one of your best friends that’s leaving), but we will be seeing Simon regularly when he comes up to the area to spend time with his children. He’s promised us he’s going to try and come up on an Evensong weekend so he can sing with us, and he’ll be kept well in practice as he starts his choral scholarship at the Old Royal Naval College Chapel on Sunday. It’s a rather nice-looking “new office”, but I’ve been reliably informed that it doesn’t have the acoustic of the Minster!

So, goodbye for now, Simon (and Dom and Nia who have also recently left us). You’ll always be part of the ‘river of life’ that is the choir family (to quote Mark), and we look forward to welcoming you back. Now we look forward to the new University term starting and the return of our student choral scholars (including some new scholars) and our new Organ Scholar, Niamh.

If you want to find out more about Choral-Hull, its aims, and future plans, visit www.choral-hull.org or speak to our Director of Music, Mark.

Starting next Tuesday, 6:30-8pm…

SEPTEMBER SERVICES AND OPENING TIMES

SATURDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER

There is a lot happening in the Minster this Saturday, everyone is welcome to come along.

Farmers’ Market in the Minster Square 10am-4pm

Heritage Open Day 10am-4pm

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

SUNDAYS

*PLEASE NOTE that due to the unavailability to pre-record at the present time there will be a break in our Recorded Service output. We hope to be able to offer an online alternative very soon. Watch this space for further details. Apologies to all those have found this service very helpful over the past 18 months. Meanwhile, you may wish to access the following:

National Church of England service: https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/church-online/weekly-online-services

York Diocese: https://www.facebook.com/DioceseOfYork

10:30am Holy Communion in the Minster

CHURCH @ 4 Every Sunday afternoon at 4pm there will be a café style service.

WEDNESDAYS HOLY COMMUNION 12:30pm

MINSTER PRAISE IS BACK

16th September 21st October 18th November 16th December

PLEASE NOTE: The Minster will be open each day WEDNESDAY to SATURDAY 10am-3:30pm. MINSTER SHOP will be open during these time will be more training events in the future.

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

READINGS: FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

COLLECT FOR FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Lord God,

defend your church from all false teaching

and give to your people knowledge of your truth,

that we may enjoy eternal life

in Jesus Christ our Lord

AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

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

Guest User

2 September 2021

Minster Lifeline #35

Guest User

2 September 2021

REV. IRENE WRITES:

After completing this Lifeline, I will be setting off for the North Yorkshire Dales for a couple of nights. One of my favourite destinations in this country.

We are hoping to visit Amanda Owen at Ravenseat Farm whist we are away. This won’t be our first visit. Initially, Matt Woodcock recommended Amanda’s tea and scones after he had visited with Anna and the girls. You may have watched ‘Our Yorkshire Farm’ on the TV. The Owens have nine children and a huge number of sheep. It is a great setting and wonderful to see the children playing in the river or some other exciting adventure on their farmland. I always think of the Secret Seven, or Famous Five when I visit, I am not sure that health and safety exists but somehow, they all keep safe by looking after each other.

As I listened to one of our speakers last week talking about the environment, he drew to our attention our need to have more and more and how difficult it is to change this lifestyle. Our cars have got larger (great for those of you that have gone electric!), we want more clothes, more food, to do more journeys, more choices and one of my weaknesses having take-away coffee! The speaker pointed out that whilst this is how we live we will never balance the emissions with sustaining our wonderful earth.

I loved seeing the Owens at the end of the summer holidays emptying a trunk full of old school uniforms to re-use as each of the children grew, or their holiday which was to take a tent to the field on their land and barbeque together.

There is a talk on Friday this week at 12:30pm in the Chancel so if you have the chance do come along. You can book via the freedom website or just turn up!

Val Fotherby writes:

The scenes in Afghanistan we have witnessed on our TV screens these last few weeks have been, to say the least, harrowing. A Taliban army wanting to impose their rule and ideas on a population that would change their way of life yet again. It reminded me of a conversation I had a few years ago in South Africa. My late husband David had been on ministry trips a number of times, but this was my first visit. I knew a little of the history of South Africa and the second Boer war but was somewhat taken aback when the man I was sitting next to asked me a question. Was I prepared, when I went home to the UK, to get up a petition asking for retribution to be made to the families of those Boers who had been put into concentration camps by the British army at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. I tried to explain that very few people in the UK would know what he was talking about. What came next from this man, a Boer of Dutch origin, was a tirade about the black people having power over the white population. Such racism is ugly, but sadly it is a feature of many of the present-day struggles.

I contrasted this blatant bigotry with a very different experience. The people who had organised the ministry trip asked if I would be prepared to go into one of the townships just outside Port Elizabeth, to speak to the ladies of a church there. On the day we were to go, our host took us in his car, and we waited on the forecourt of a petrol station. He explained that it was too dangerous for us just to drive in, we had to be escorted. We had a long wait and were beginning to doubt if this visit would happen. However, eventually they came, and we set off for the township. It was hard for us to comprehend the poverty but as we drove in further, we heard the most wonderful singing. The church was surrounded by very high walls, with many rows of barbed wire. In contrast to the attitude of the Boer descendant, these people welcomed us with open arms, no racial or colour barrier here.

It would be an understatement to say that I felt honoured. The service was so joyful and uplifting that you didn’t want it to end. Afterwards we prayed with and talked to many people and their love of Jesus was evident in everything they said and did. I felt that I had received far more than I had given, and that it was an enormous privilege to be able to share with such generous people. They wanted to give me some money and as I was about to refuse, David whispered in my ear to accept but to give it back as a gift into their ministry. When I contrasted what they had and what I had, I felt truly humbled.

In Afghanistan and many parts of the world, racial and religious conflict have led to barbaric actions against helpless people, particularly women and children. Men wanting to impose their will regardless of the consequences.

We should constantly keep these many areas of conflict in our prayers and when possible, give practical help and friendship to those who may find their way to our part of the country.

EEllie-Mae 12 from #YKK Martial Arts on Wednesday of this week visiting the Gaia exhibition at the Minster, photographed by her mum.

SEPTEMBER SERVICES AND OPENING TIMES

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

SUNDAYS

National Church of England service: https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/church-online/weekly-online-services

York Diocese: https://www.facebook.com/DioceseOfYork

10:30am Holy Communion in the Minster

CHURCH @ 4 Every Sunday afternoon at 4pm there will be a café style service.

WEDNESDAYS HOLY COMMUNION 12:30pm

MINSTER PRAISE IS BACK

16th September 21st October 18th November 16th December

PLEASE NOTE: The Minster will be open each day WEDNESDAY to SATURDAY 10am-3:30pm. MINSTER SHOP will be open during these time will be more training events in the future.

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

READINGS: FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Psalms 125; 146

Isaiah 35:4-7a

James 2:1-10 (11-13), 14-17

Mark 7:24-37

COLLECT FOR FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Merciful God,

your Son came to save us

and bore our sins on the cross;

may we trust in your mercy and know your love,

rejoicing in the righteousness that is ours

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 August 2021

Minster Lifeline #34

Guest User

25 August 2021

REV. IRENE WRITES:

Hope you have had the opportunity to visit the Minster this week, the Gaia exhibition is quite amazing! If not, there is still time, click online to book (no charge).

As we think of our world and the many beautiful countries there are I feel we must also remember there are some very troubled places in the world, not least Afghanistan. I believe the distressing scenes we see daily on our TV screens make us very grateful to live in a peaceful country where there is freedom for all people. I ask myself what can we do to help and the only positive I have is for us to pray for the terrified families and a change of heart by the Taliban.

There are no easy answers, but we also remember the many that serve and have served in the armed forces to bring relief. The difficult questions on the way forward, right decisions, wrong decisions knowing that people’s lives depend on the decisions taken.

As my thoughts turned to the Bible, I recalled the exodus of the Jewish people in the Old Testament scriptures where the people fled from Egypt, Exodus 14, with no way of knowing what lay ahead. We read in the Bible of so many occasions where people had to flee for their lives. In Acts 27, Paul and the prisoners were being taken by ship heading to Rome. They experienced a tremendous hurricane and despite Paul telling them that God would save everyone, many of the men attempted to escape by jumping overboard.

We pray that over the coming weeks the situation in Afghanistan will become more stable and promises made by the Taliban will not be broken.

Back home I am delighted that Barbara Dodds has written for us this week:

My journey to God, with Jesus by my side

During the last eighteen months or so, we have all had to cope with the difficulties of living with the Covid virus. One thing that has kept me going, is the LIFELINE that John and I receive, through the post, each week. I find it very interesting reading about how people, who are involved with Hull Minster, have arrived at the point that they are at now, on their journey to God, with Jesus by their side. It made me think about my own journey,

I was born in East Hull, roughly a stone’s throw from where I am now living. My mum became a widow when her first husband died of pneumonia in his early thirties, and mum a little younger, was left with a young daughter Margaret. Mum and her first husband John were members of Queen’s Hall Methodist Church, the site roughly where the Crown Court is now situated. My mum met my dad, who was an Anglican and worshipped at St. John’s Newington. Dad had been a choir boy and carried the cross at the beginning and end of the service.

I was baptised at Queen’s Hall, and we worshipped there each Sunday. As a little girl, I remember going to the service on Sunday mornings, and when the preacher got up, mum would open her handbag and take out a notebook and pencil for me with a warning to be quiet. When the sermon was over, they went back into mum’s handbag.

My dad worked at the Blackburn aircraft factory and believing war was coming, moved us to Hessle. I started to go to the Sunday School at Hessle Wesleyan Methodist Church and for the evening, we went to the service at All Saints church of England, Hessle. Eventually, I became a Sunday School teacher for the Beginners and then later, the Juniors. I joined the Methodist Church choir and the Youth Club.

I remember a service at Hessle Methodist Church where we had a special preacher. He was the chaplain at a large factory in the West Riding. His sermon moved some of us so much that he called us to give ourselves to Jesus, and that is when I felt God was with me.

My senior school days were spent at Beverley High School for Girls where, after an audition, I was given a place in the school choir. At Christmas all the schools in Beverley took part in a special service to celebrate the birth of Jesus. This was held in Beverley Minster and as a choir, we were given the privilege of sitting and singing in the choir stalls. After my school days I eventually moved into Hull to live and work there.

It was at this point when I became unsure about my faith in God, feeing that I had somehow been abandoned by him. For roughly five years, I ceased worshipping at church, but I was still searching.

It was when I saw an advert for a talk by Valerie Wood, about her latest book, at Holy Trinity one Thursday morning that I went along with my friend Sheila. After the talk followed by tea, coffee, and cake, I saw the lady vicar (Irene), and I went over and told her my story. She invited me to the Thursday worship. I had a feeling that this was it, God was calling me. I attended the service, and the rest is history. Hull Minster is my place where I feel I belong. John said to me on Sunday morning, “It is good to feel you belong.”

Since joining Hull Minster and worshipping here, I have found it easy to become involved, particularly through volunteering. I started helping in the shop, then became a welcomer on Friday afternoons. I love talking to people and making them feel welcome. I would sometimes help with refreshments on Sunday mornings.

John and I renewed our marriage vows on my eightieth birthday. When the alterations to the inside of the building were begun, I abseiled down the inside of the bell tower to raise money for the project. Four of us who volunteered on Friday afternoons ran a ‘Beetle Drive’ plus refreshments. Prizes were donated by Sainsbury’s in Jameson Street. It was a big success. I love the Bible Study groups and the craft and knitting groups. All I can say is, “Get involved and you will feel closer to God”, Amen.

Interesting recollection from Val Fotherby: In 1957 (or 58), Pastor Neimöller, the German Lutheran Pastor who had openly opposed Adolf Hitler, came and spoke to hundreds of school children in Queen’s Hall, and I was privileged to be one of them.

His famous quotation is:

First, they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Socialist,

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a trade unionist,

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Jew,

Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me.

Perhaps very pertinent at this time?

BIBLE STUDY:

Our Wednesday evening Bible study will be taking a break for the month of August.

MINSTER KIDS:

Our Minster Kids 10:30am group will also take a break for the month of August but there will be resources available for children to use during the service.

AUGUST 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

Minster doors will also be open 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

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

READINGS: THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Song of Solomon 2:8-13

Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18

Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

COLLECT FOR THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Creator God,

you made the goodness of the land

the riches of the sea and the rhythm of the seasons;

as we thank you for the harvest we cherish and respect

this planet and its peoples

through our Saviour Jesus Christ

AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

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

Guest User

17 August 2021

Minster Lifeline #33

Guest User

17 August 2021

REV. IRENE WRITES:

You would be right in thinking we have been concentrating a great deal on creation, science, the earth and how we look after the gift we have been made custodians of by God. This is, of course, partly due to the Gaia being in the Minster from Friday this week.

In our Church@4, a couple of weeks ago, whilst I spoke on bible verses relating to creation and maintaining our world, the young people made grass heads! Having put together grass seed and soil in a ‘pop sock’ we talked about what was required to make the seed grow, the aim being to show that we need to care for and look after the world in which we live.

I was delighted that just seven days later two people brought me pictures of their grass heads sprouting nicely. In fact, one looks like it is ready for a ‘haircut’ already. Hope you like the pictures!

As you will see later, we continue on the theme of the earth, again Bishop Frank updating us on all that is happening during the coming few weeks.

OVER TO BISHOP FRANK FOR THE LATEST INSTALMENT ON GAIA

“The Earth is full of your creatures” says the writer in a great hymn of praise at the end of Psalm 104. It was the conviction of generations before ours that the earth was bountiful in its riches and so it proved to be. Those wise and observant ancestors also knew a thing or two about human nature and our capacity to abuse the good things we have been given. As this decade of the 21st century is unfolding we are seeing more and more the loss of species, the destruction of natural habitats and the spiralling problems of climate change and we detect that much of this is caused by human activity. In our generation could it be seen that restoring the bountiful riches of creation would be one important way of offering praise to God?

As Christian believers we are not offered the luxury of pointing the finger of blame or simply of expecting someone else to do something about the problem. The principle that Jesus taught and lived out is that taking the action lies in our power is the first step – “proving to be a neighbour” as the Samaritan did in that famous story in Luke chapter 10. It is with that in mind that we have offered a range of opportunities during the exhibiting of the Gaia (or Earth) Exhibition to look at local, national, and international forms of action to help re-balance human activity towards making the earth a better home for all.

By clicking on the Living with Hope – A Future for the Earth? button at the end of this edition of Lifeline you will see the full programme of activities that are accompanying the exhibit between August 19th and September 5th. You will also see from that programme how you can book into the events we are running (and just to note the Freedom Festival concerts are the only events which are not free to access). Alongside many of the events will be visual displays in and around the Minster to help us to find the practical actions we can take; there will be lots to see and plenty to do as we take time to enjoy this stunning exhibition of Luke Jerram’s famous artwork. We are so grateful for so many people who are contributing their imagination, energy, and time to help us become signs of hope rather than people who sink into despair.

We know some of us still find looking and booking on-line to be difficult – so if this is you, please use the Minster phone number 01482 224460 – and leave a message about how we can help – and one of us will get back to you as soon as we can. We don’t want anyone to miss the opportunities these next few weeks will bring us.

In that same Psalm 104 we read these words: “when you send forth your Spirit…you renew the face of the ground”. May we be inspired to trust in the goodness and faithfulness of God as we follow and serve Him in our time and for the sake of future generations.

+Frank White

Gaia Informaton

BIBLE STUDY:

Our Wednesday evening Bible study will be taking a break for the month of August.

MINSTER KIDS:

Our Minster Kids 10:30am group will also take a break for the month of August but there will be resources available for children to use during the service.

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

READINGS: TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Psalm 84; 34: 15-end
Joshua 24: 1-2a, 14-18
Ephesians 6: 10-20
John 6:56-69

COLLECT FOR ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

God of constant mercy,
who sent your Son to save us;
remind us of your goodness,
increase your grace within us
through our Saviour Jesus Christ

AMEN

This Month’s Prayer Diary

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

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