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Good News
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We shall be sharing some of the Good News Stories from around Yorkshire
- so if you have any please contact the Synod Office
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Forthcoming Events
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For details of forthcoming events such as ordinations, inductions, commissionings, and any other event that we have been notified of click here
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First ever 'Cross Exhibition' at Denholme Shared Church
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"It was absolutely amazing the number of crosses we had displayed at the church, and the number of visitors we had over the period of Holy Week" writes Judith Drake, Secretary at Denholme Shared Church
- 247 crosses made by an estimated 180 people - including 80 children from local schools
- 270 visitors to the exhibition
"It certainly created a buzz in Denholme this Easter, we have to think and pray how we can build upon this for the future"
Click here to view a slide show from the exhibition
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Christ Church, Halton, Leeds is a . . . . . . Messy Church
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‘Let’s start small’ we said. Well, if that’s a small start I don’t know what we’ll do if it grows!
I soon gave up trying to count how many came in to the hall for the first Messy Church on 13 February but I’m told that there were about a hundred children and family members.
What is Messy Church? - exactly what it says: ‘Messy’? Oh, yes! Playdough, paint, bits of paper, scraps of material, dried pasta and shiny bits, soapy water, pizza, cakes and juice EVERYWHERE (but it was very soon back to normal, apart from Matt’s Mum’s towel which I doubt will ever be the same again!) ‘Church’! Definitely - the story of the Prodigal Son told by puppets, an action song and a prayer.
Who was there? Mainly pre-school or primary age children with a few older ones and one or two babies, along with their Mums, Dads and Grandparents. Some of them are ‘our’ children - the ones who come to Junior Church and some probably go to Junior Church elsewhere but I’m sure that there were a lot of children and adults who don’t go to ‘normal’ church at all. Will they start coming on a Sunday? More than likely not but does that really matter? They were there that Saturday afternoon (and hopefully will come on other Saturday afternoons), sharing fun, fellowship, food and worship with us and I’m sure that God is as pleased to see that happening on a Saturday as on any other day!
None of this could have happened without Matt, our Lay Worker, whose idea it was and a small army of helpers, including Rachel. Matt’s fiancée and Martin, his Dad. So, congratulations, Matt and keep up the good work! What will we do without you when you go?
The next Messy Church is Saturday 15th May - theme still to be decided
- contact Jenny Poulter for further details.
For a report on the March Messy Church click here
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Flowergate United Reformed Church looks to the future in Whitby!!
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On Saturday 20th March members and friends of the United Reformed Church at Whitby gathered to celebrate the completion of the refurbishment of their church building. Over the last 12 months more than £170,000 has been spent to repair roofs and improve the appearance and comfort of the interior.
Synod Trust & Property Secretary, Sheila Duncan, spoke of the commitment and friendliness of the church members before she and Office Manager, Colin Mundy, cut the ribbon to formally mark this new start for Flowergate URC.
At a time of worship, led by the minister, Rev Helen Drummond, the Synod Moderator, Revd Kevin Watson, encouraged the church to seek God's will for the future work of the church and their involvement in the community of Whitby.
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New Synod Clerk
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On 6 March 2010, Mr Chris Reed took over from Mrs Val Morrison as Yorkshire Synod Clerk.
At the recent Synod meeting in Huddersfield, Synod said their farewells to Val who had faithfully served as Clerk for the past 6 years - a time of great change in the life of the United Reformed Church.
Val becomes one of the General Assembly Co-Moderators in July of this year.
The new Clerk (pictured right) was inducted by the Synod Moderator, Kevin Watson, as part of the meeting's closing worship.
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Chris Reed
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Aug 09 Christ Church with Trinity URC, Kirk Ella, celebrate ministers 60th birthday
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David cutting the cake
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Christ Church with Trinity URC suprised its minister Revd. David Coote with a party for his 60th Birthday on Sunday 2nd August. They shared lunch after the
morning service and presented him with gifts and sang Happy Birthday. Much fun was had all round and it was amazing that they held it a secret till the bitter
end.
For more information contact Claire Hodgson clairelouisehodgson@yahoo.co.uk
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May 09 Stainbeck Church, Leeds celebrated 78 years of life and witness
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Stainbeck's community celebrate
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On Sunday 10th May Stainbeck Church, Leeds celebrated 78 years of life and witness in the local community.
After a joyful morning service a Community Songs of Praise was held in the afternoon. A local Councillor, the Head Teacher of the local High School, the director of an Urban Farm initiative and other local agency representatives and residents chose hymns and spoke about their role within our community. The church's role and place within the community was celebrated by over 90 people and hearts and spirits were lifted.
What isn't possible when we pray and work together?
'If you believe and I believe
and we together pray;
the Holy Spirit will come down
and set God's people free!'
So we prayed before we shared refreshments and conversation afterwards.
Stainbeck URC is a small congregation set between Meanwood and Chapel Allerton in North Leeds. We believe that our buildings, our money and our energies should be used to show God's love and grace within our community. The church has respect and a voice.
Our Community Service of Praise - informal and fun - both encouraged and affirmed our ministry. Good News indeed!
For more information contact Revd. Angela Hughes hughesa@ntlworld.com
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Jonathon Ward presented with Queen's Badge
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Jonathon with his award
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On Sunday May 3rd 2009 during the act of worship at Brackenhall United Reformed Church, Jonathon Ward was presented with the highest award in the Boys Brigade, the Queen's Badge. Mr Roy Barson, MBE attended the service and presented Jonathon with his award. Jonathon was supported by his fellow Officers at Brackenhall as well as friends from other Brigades in Yorkshire and his family and friends at the church.
For more information contact Francis Horton j.francis.horton@ntlworld.com
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THE BIG BIBLE READ!!
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Miss Nellis beginning the marathon "Big Bible Read"
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The Yorkshire Synod held its first marathon Bible Read starting at 4pm on Tuesday 3rd March at Flowergate United Reformed Church, in the historical Christian town of Whitby with Miss Grace Nellis (aged 100 years) beginning the reading. She read the first 2 chapters of Genesis before passing the baton to other members of Flowergate.
Approximately 50 churches took part in the marathon which ran day and night, finishing at the commencement of the Synod Meeting on Saturday 7th March at St Andrew's, Skipton United Church. Miss Mollie Duxbury (a young member at Skipton) ended the marathon by reading the last verses of Revelation, before saying Amen at 10.15am.
The marathon took 77 hours, 37 minutes. Each church taking part had a slot of an hour or two for reading and then contacted the next church on the list to handover, letting the next church know where in the Bible they should continue from. Some churches staged events like coffee mornings and lunch clubs during the reading and at Hornsea Church, their Pilots took part. During the nights several ministers shared the slots, reading not only in churches, but homes and even in bed. Thursday night was at Knaresborough where the Moderator (Revd Kevin Watson) was reading Lamentations in the small hours, over the snoring of someone taking a nap in a sleeping bag at the back of the church! Friday night took place at St Columba’s, York with students from York University reading, watching videos and having discussions.
The whole event was deemed to be a great success and it was also appreciated by many that it had been possible to catch some churches during their reading slots to thank and encourage them.
Here are some comments from church members:-
“We did our stint and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We were eight in number, including a URC Deacon (now inactive at age 91), and for a whole hour were burdened with Job's burdens which most of us had never studied in detail before. The telephone calls at the beginning and the end made us aware of being part of a much bigger whole.
Thank you for giving us this opportunity to be part of this event.”
“We read from Psalms, starting at Psalm 95 and ending at the end of Psalm 107. Then at 12.30pm we had sandwiches, tea and coffee, cake and biscuits! The general feeling was that it had been a great success and everyone had enjoyed taking part.”
“We covered Exodus 30 through Leviticus 4 and I now know more about building the Ark of the Covenant and about animal sacrifice than I ever wanted to know!”
“We got the climax of David and Goliath through to Saul's suicide in the latter chapters of 1 Samuel. Really exciting stuff!
Thank you to Synod for a memorable event.”
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Dec 2008 Gordon Brown recognises Hope08 in Doncaster
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Hope08 members outside no 10
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On Monday 15th December, local Hope08 volunteer Rod Morrison joined board members at 10 Downing Street. Gordon Brown and national church leaders honoured Hope08 and all the projects that have happened across the UK.
Hope08 is a national initiative that is encouraging churches to work together across denominations in serving their local communities. This year has been enormously successful, with 1500 locations delivering social action projects to those around them.
Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP, Prime Minister said that "People of faith have been at the heart of just about every social movement that has transformed society in this country, from the abolition of slavery through to Make Poverty History. I applaud all those involved in Hope08".
The Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP, the Vice President for Faith in the Labour Party, said that "there is no doubt that Hope08 has succeeded in offering hope to people".
He went on to say that this hope was "not the wishy washy maybe everything will get better kind of hope but the roll up your sleeves and actually do something about it kind of hope".
All the Hope08 champions who were invited to the reception are part of Hope08 projects that are carrying on into 2009.
Rod Morrison, from Hall Gate United Reformed Church in Doncaster, says "For the many homeless people in the town centre, hope is provided through the church's 'Bread of Life Breakfast Service'. Open every Sunday morning from 8.00 am to 9.30 am, the service provides breakfast in a warm and friendly atmosphere and the opportunity to sit and talk. A shower is available, as are fresh clothes, both new and second hand, and the opportunity to have dirty ones washed. We can supply bedding or sleeping bags, and with the support of other organisations in the town we can provide other equipment for anyone moving in to new accommodation. When people leave at the end of the morning we give them a pack of freshly made sandwiches, fruit and a biscuit to sustain them through the day. This is just one of a number of initiatives run by members of churches and other groups in the town which support homeless people".
Steve Clifford, Hope08 chairman, describes the event as "absolutely fantastic" I had no idea that Hope08 would have such a high profile as it did.
For information on Hope08 nationally, and to find out more about the Downing Street reception contact Fritha Wheeler on 01273 571939 / info@hope08.com or rodmorrison1946@btinternet.com
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St. Andrew's at 100
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David and the clock
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For one hundred years, the local community has seen the time and heard the bell strike over five million times from the familiar clock tower of St Andrew’s United Reformed Church in Shaftesbury Avenue in Roundhay in Leeds.
“This Sunday 5th October 2008 we’ll be having a special service when members of the St Andrew’s and Roundhay community are invited to renew their faith in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We’ll also be celebrating a century of worship in this church building. It was on Tuesday 6 October 1908 that the new church at St Andrew’s was dedicated to God’s service,” says Rev David Pickering, minister of St Andrew’s.
“As the church was being built with its landmark tower, F W Spruce, a neighbour who didn’t attend the church, offered the gift of a four-face clock for the tower. The church deacons debated long and hard before accepting as Mr Spruce had made his money from racehorses. But accept they did,,and reluctantly William Beevers, the architect who lived in Shaftesbury Avenue and attended the church, added ten feet to the tower to accommodate the clock,” explains David.
“It was made by local clock makers. They did their job well and the clock has reliably told local people the time throughout this past century, accompanied by its distinctive chimes to mark the hours. People tell me it’s reassuring, even when striking through the night,” David adds. “The only complaints are when the chimes stop for repairs and maintenance. And I expect the chimes were probably silent in the two World Wars, until they could return when peace was won,” he adds.
“But St Andrew’s - Roundhay Congregational Church, as it was called in 1908 - has never been silent in serving God through serving our local community. With God’s help we’ll go on serving local people for the next century - and the one beyond and so on,” concludes David Pickering.
For further information, please contact:
Rev David Pickering, minister at St Andrew’s URC Roundhay, Leeds, (0113) 269 7002
Andrea Varnavides, St Andrew’s Communications Elder (0113) 266 2132
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The first Holiday Club at Central URC Sheffield - Summer 2008
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Bob Heathcote writes: We tried running a children's holiday club at Central this year and were delighted with the response. This had never been tried before and, being a city centre church, we were apprehensive but we engaged the services of "Uncle Michael", a Christian clown, and he encouraged us to dip our toe in the water and have a go. We selected two mornings and advertised the event to all who come onto our premises or pass by. The first day we had eight children and though perhaps a little disappointed it at least gave us chance to get into the swing of the event but the second day we had twenty two children, which was truly amazing! Uncle Michael was superb and he told the story of Jesus from birth to resurrection, plus some miracles and parables, and he did this through his skills of clowning and magic. The children were captivated.
So our "toe-in-the-water" attempt has paid off and we are delighted with the result so with this experience under our belts we hope to have another go in due course.
For more information please contact Bob Heathcote 0114 258 8875
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MADAGASCAR TO DONCASTER FOR NEW MINISTER
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At age 29, Philip Baiden is one of the youngest Ministers to serve at Hall Gate in its 200 year history. He was ordained and inducted to the two Doncaster United Reformed Churches of Hall Gate and Intake at a special Church Service at Hall Gate on Saturday 26th July.
During his MA studies for the Ministry, at the Northern College of the United Reformed Church in Manchester, he spent two periods, lasting over a year, on the beautiful Indian Ocean island of Madagascar, where he worked as a short-term missionary in a church based placement providing education and welfare to many of the island's impoverished people.
Philip is no stranger to South Yorkshire, having stayed on after he completed his first degree at Sheffield University. With his wife Kerry he has now moved from Sheffield to live in Doncaster and to serve in the two churches. Kerry will teach modern languages at one of the town's secondary schools.
Philip said "Whenever I've been to Doncaster I've always felt at home. The people are really welcoming and it seems to be a town on the up. I'm really excited that God has called me to his work here."
A keen rugby league fan, Philip also has a strong interest in history and music. He replaces the Rev. Bob Jones who retired after 7 years in the pastorate.
For more information contact rodmorrison1946@btinternet.com
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Synod Clerk, Val Morrison, is elected as Assembly Co-moderator
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At the United Reformed Church General Assembly, held in Edinburgh in July 2008, Mrs Val Morrison, the Yorkshire Synod Clerk, was elected as Assembly Co-moderator. She will serve alongside the Revd Kirsty Thorpe for 2 years from July 2010. For further details please "click here"
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Dacre celebrates Pentecost 08
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On a beautifully warm Sunday afternoon a congregation of over 100 local Christians celebrated Pentecost 2008 and the first anniversary of the Church in the Dale. Representatives and clergy from Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic and United Reformed Churches came together on the Max Pullan Playing Fields, Dacre, near Harrogate. There was a real festive spirit about the occasion with the Summerbridge and Dacre Prize Silver Band providing the music.
Crossing denominational barriers as part of a unique Church in the Dale initiative, Martin Imeson, Lay Chairman of Upper Nidderdale Anglican Parochial Church Council was commissioned and officially welcomed as Lay Pastor of Dacre United Reformed Church. As a visiting preacher Martin already has close ties with Dacre URC and the appointment will be reviewed annually.
Another member of Dacre URC also featured prominently. The Rev. John Belderson, local artist and retired minister of Dacre presented of a cheque for £2,700 by way of a birthday present to the Church in the Dale. The donation was the profit made from the sale of the book published recently by John and Frank Dean (local author) called "Nidderdale Praise"
PARTICIPATING CLERGY: Rev. Peter Lamb Dunbar (Anglican) Rev. Matthew Evans (Anglican) Rev. Nigel Waterfield (Methodist) Rev. Canon Vincent O'Hara (RC) Rev Greg Warren (Chair Church in the Dale) Martin Imeson (Lay Pastor URC)
For more information contact Martin Imeson 01423 712231 martin.imeson@virgin.net
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Heckmondwike Visioning Day Mar 2008
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On the 8th March 2008 as part of the 150th anniversary of the present building 32 members and friends of Heckmondwike United Reformed Church met for a 'Visioning Day'. The idea for the day came out of a comment made by Rev Tebbet the minister of the church at the time of the 300th anniversary of the worshipping community in 1974. He said 'Our church has been in existence for three hundred years. It began with thirteen people in a cottage. It became a devout disciplined community contributing through its minister to the educational needs of the times. It developed into a large and prosperous congregation which, with other churches, exerted a great influence upon the community. Today, like all churches, it is seeking to hold its own in a world where religion seems at a discount. To survive needs strength and adaptability. We have also to consider what we exist to do and whether our present ways best serve that end. But we know that we are in the hands of God. We have a great strength like a tree that has weathered many storms, whose roots are deep and whose branches still bear needed fruit. We have surveyed the past not in a spirit of nostalgia or complacency but to draw inspiration for the future.'
The present minister, Rev John Mackerness and the elders felt that the church needed to work out what God was calling us to do thirty years on.
So the idea of a 'Visioning Day' took shape.
It was clear that we would need some outside help with our thinking so MEG (Mission Enabling Group) were approached to see if they could help and it was thanks to them that Rev Jim Coleman and Mrs Marguerite Sobol came to lead the day and we are very grateful for their help.
At the end of the day we still have many questions about our mission but at least now we know that there are answers if we are prepared to think and pray about them instead of just getting depressed about the future.
For more information about the day contact John at john.mackerness@ntlworld.com
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East meets West in Doncaster
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On January 6th 2008 Hall Gate United Reformed Church, Doncaster shared in a joint communion service with the Doncaster Chinese Christian Church. The service was jointly planned, and led, by Pastor Sabrina Tsang and Val Morrison, an elder at Hall Gate and a nationally accredited lay preacher. The service was conducted in English and Cantonese with translation where appropriate. However we sang the hymns and joined in saying together the Lord’s Prayer in our own language, and heard two passages of scripture, one in English and one in Cantonese, which we followed in our own translations of the bible.
The Doncaster Chinese Christian Church has worshiped in our lower church hall every Sunday now for over 11 years. This service was the second joint communion service. At the beginning of January 2007 we held a similar bi-lingual service following the ordination of their pastor, Sabrina Tsang towards the end of 2006. The ordination took place in our own church, and representatives of Hall Gate United Reformed Church were present to share in this joyous occasion.
The Doncaster Chinese Christian Church started as a Christian Fellowship with only a small number of members, but over the years it has grown. When requests were made for baptisms, the fellowship decided that it had to become a church. Now each Sunday not only do they use our hall, but they also use a number of smaller rooms for work with children and young people from the numerous Chinese families that have joined their church.
As we approached the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, it was good to celebrate together as members of one body in Christ on what was a happy and joyous occasion, with a very close feeling of fellowship. As Sabrina said, “We are not two churches of different languages. We are one church, the church of Jesus Christ”.
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Fagley's Church Related Community Worker wins Neighbourhood Renewal Award (Jan08)
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Simon receives his award from Linda Barker (Changing Rooms)
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Simon Loveitt, a URC Church and Community worker based at St.John's, Fagley has won the Neighbourhood Renewal Award. This award recognises a group or individual making an exceptional contribution to improving the lives of the people in their neighbourhood or the Bradford District as a whole. The other shortlisted groups were Denholme Environment Action Group and The Environmental Task Force.
The citation which went with the award says that Simon has been the Chair of the B-Moor Together group and subsequent BD3 Neighbourhood Partnership since February 2005. He has created an excellent range of partnership working arrangements (especially with the local police, Bradford Council, local high schools and the Environmental Task Force). Simon has single handedly brought in £100,000 of funding for a high quality new play area in Bradford Moor Park. This involved arranging consultations about the type of play area which children wanted by asking them for their preferred option out of three choices. Simon has been the lead organiser for the Extravaganza Summer Gala, which attracted around 7,000 people - a huge logistical task. Simon also has an ongoing commitment as Chair of both the Neighbourhood Partnership and the successful Bradford Moor and Thornbury Community Safety Group.
For more information contact Simon at simon@simonloveitt.co.uk
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Opening the doors for Advent 2007
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Mums, Elders and Toddlers with the Magi outside Flanshaw
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Churches and community organisations around Wakefield have joined forces in developing a "living Advent calendar" for December 2007 and each church and associated community organisation has been given a Bible verse from the Christmas story and provide one or more "real" doors decorated to depict the message of the Bible verse. On a given date during Advent, each church/associated community organisation has publicly opened their door with a simple ceremony consisting of an appropriate Bible reading, prayer and carol. People from the church, the community organisation and the local community have been encouraged to attend.
Flanshaw's first door was opened on 5th December and is sited at Flanshaw Junior and Infant School on Batley Road. The door was designed with ideas contributed from Flanshaw Carers and Toddlers Group and pupils from the school. Mrs Powell, Art Co-ordinator, was responsible for overseeing the painting by Adil Hussein and Ellie Squires. Their passage was "Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. " Matthew 1:19 to 20a The second door was erected by the Chair of Flanshaw First Tenants and Residents Association and is placed outside Flanshaw United Reformed Church on Flanshaw Lane. It was opened on 15th December. The picture shows elders from the church and mums as well as toddlers who attend from the group. Some of these people had given the ideas for the first door. Their passage was "Magi from the East came to Jerusalem." Matthew 2:1
For more information contact Rev Sue Macbeth Tel:01924 332075 email: susanmacbeth06@aol.com
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United Reformed Church signs covenant with Anglicans and Methodists
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The Covenant
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In 2003 the York Diocese and the York and Hull District and Darligton District of the Methodist Church entered into a Covenant for closer co-operation and working relationship. At that time the United Reformed Church could not get agreement for various reasons to join that Covenant. However work went ahead to resolve the issues and at a Service held in York Minster on All Hallows Eve 2007 a new Covenant was signed welcoming the URC into the Covenant.
The Covenant was signed on behalf of the Anglican Church by The Archbishop of York ,the Most Revd and Rt Hon Dr John Sentamu, For The Methodist Church by the Chairs of the York and Hull District and the Darlington District Rev's Stephen Burgess and Graham Carter, and for the United Reformed Church, the Moderator of the Yorkshire Synod Rev Arnold Harrison.
The signing was witnessed by members of all the churches involved and by the Lord Mayor of York. Special tribute was paid to the work of Rev Graham Maskery for his work in bringing the URC into the covenant.
Listen to some of the Highlights from the Service or the Full Service by clicking here. The order of service is also downloadable. For more information contact either clerk.yorkshire@dial.pipex.com or communications@yorkhullmethodist.org.uk
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