Welcome to the Enews for June 13

The latest resources, news and more.

Click on headlines or pictures for more details.  

Contact enews@leeds.anglican.org with your news. 

Bats came out of belfries and broom cupboards for a great day of friendly cricket, reports Revd Phil Arnold, one of the organisers of the Northern Clergy 20/20 event held recently. Here is Revd Phil’s full match report, which contains some strong cricketing language and perhaps a bit of spin: “On a sultry day in Leeds, three teams played out a thrilling 2020 competition, at Pudsey Congs Ground in Leeds." Read more here

A lawyer, a former combat medic and a TV production assistant are just some of the people being ordained as new deacons in the Diocese of Leeds this month. The ordinations are taking place at Ripon Cathedral on Saturday, June 29, where eleven new deacons will begin their ministry in churches in all areas across the diocese. Read more here

Bradford Cathedral folk need our help to be a part of a new online gallery from Heritage Open Days. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Heritage Open Days, which the Cathedral has participated since 2018, a new online gallery is being created, to remain on the Heritage Open Days site for the foreseeable future as an important record of their history. Read more here

One of our schools has gone from “broken to brilliant” and been praised in a recent Ofsted report for being Good in every area. Bishop Young Church of England Academy, in Seacroft, Leeds, was rated as Inadequate in 2017 when the school first joined the Abbey Multi Academy Trust – with the then National Schools Commissioner ranking Bishop Young as one of the schools causing the most concerns in the country. Read more here

Ever wondered what theology means and how to study it? Need some guidance on how to dig a bit deeper? Don’t know where to start? This free and updated course is for you!

A 12-session journey looking at the Christian faith, thinking about your own faith journey and developing theological skills. This is a great place to start when considering where God is calling you. Attending this course is a pre-requirement for Licensed Lay Ministry training in the diocese of Leeds and is also useful for those considering any of our other Lay Ministry pathways.

Three courses for 2024-25 are advertised on the DLP. Follow the links for further information and booking details:

• Autumn 2024: in-person at the Mirfield Centre
• Winter (Jan –Mar) 2025: online
• Spring (Mar – Jun) 2025: in-person @The Trinity Centre, Bingley

If you require any specific help or information, please contact the School of Ministry administrator at shuna.hartley@leeds.anglican.org.

We are delighted to invite all children, young people and families workers, leaders and volunteers to attend one of our TEND events this year.

This year’s theme is Encouraging Confidence and the days will include workshops, speakers, worship, reflection and the opportunity to meet others involved in ministry with and to children, young people and families. The dates and venues are:

• Saturday, September 7 at St Matt's Leeds

Please click here for more details and to book.

Join the Stewardship Team as they explore different opportunities to increase income for your church. Find out how to make the most of what you already have, through communication and promotion, as well as exploring new ideas for income generation.

Tuesday, June 18 at 1pm (register here) and 6pm (register here).

This session offers an opportunity to reflect and pray with the help of Scripture and other resources and to practice christian meditation. Please email charlie.scott@leeds.anglican.org to book your place. Click here to find out more.

What does the Great Commission mean for us in the light of other faith traditions? As we live out our Christian lives in a multi-faith context, this is a vital question.

This session will offer opportunities to explore theological issues and practical ideas for sharing our Christian faith with those who are followers of other faiths. John Bavington grew up in Pakistan and his first experience of interfaith evangelism was when his school friends tried to convert him to Islam!

To book a place and receive the Zoom link, please email jenny.ramsden@leeds.anglican.org. Find out more here.

A fantastic opportunity to take time out to think more deeply about God’s call on your life, with time and space in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside. Is Vocation just something for ministers, monks and missionaries? How do we discover God’s purpose for our lives? What does the Bible have to say? Can we take the stories of the great Bible characters and apply them to our situation? Over the weekend, we’ll try to get some answers to these vital questions.

We’ll be led by Derek Walmsley, who is the Director of Ordinands and Vocations for the Diocese of Leeds.

Find out more here.

How do faith and reason go together? If you're interested in some of life's big questions, come to watch some videos led by experts in their field and discuss their ideas with Revd James and others in our community. We'd love to have you along!

Sessions will run on Mondays from 7pm at Kirklington Village Hall on the following dates:

• April 22: Why am I still a Christian?
• May 6: Do I have to bypass my brain to believe in God?
• May 20: Does the Christian faith make sense of science?
• June 10: Why does God allow suffering?
• June 24: What's the evidence for Jesus? Can we trust the Gospels?
• July 8: Did Jesus really rise again?

Two days of study, prayer and practise around the themes of spirituality, creation and reconnecting with nature.

• Day one: 'Earthing our spirituality': drawing inspiration from the mystics
• Day two: Living an 'earthed spirituality': moving into engaged action for our planet

Bring your own lunch, and suitable clothing for outdoor worship. Suggested donation £10 per day.

To book either or both days please email Steve Parkin at sparkin1955@gmail.com.

Bishop Nick Baines and his wife Linda are opening their beautiful garden to raise funds for St Gemma’s Hospice. Tea, coffee and home baked cakes will be available to buy and enjoy.

A new festival of faith and hope for rural mission in the north. Salt and Light aims to be an opportunity for those leading and working in the church to gather and explore the opportunities and joys of northern rural contexts.

Partnering with dioceses including Leeds, Carlisle, Durham, Newcastle and York, Salt and Light will be the beginning of a pattern of sharing and learning for the church in the rural north.

Click here to find out more and to book.

We hope that this year’s festival will be the first of many, and be embraced by people from across the North of England. We look forward to welcoming you over the weekend.

Saturday, June 29

12noon - Conference on Church Music: Tradition, Innovation, and Experience

Admission: free

5pm - Choral Evensong

Sung by the St Peter’s Consort, conducted by Mr James Bowstead, Director of Music, Wakefield Cathedral. Enjoy a friendly gathering at the local pub after the service

Sunday, June 30

10.30am - Sung Mass and Te Deum

Join us for the parish’s patronal festival mass when we welcome Fr Peter Anthony, Vicar of All Saints, Margaret Street as our guest preacher. Mass is followed by drinks and nibbles

3pm - Come-and-Sing Rehearsal of New Church Music

With Prof Leonard Sanderman, Director of Music

5pm - Evensong and Benediction

Followed by Pimm’s Royale on the lawn

This is an extra session in the ‘Follow Me’ series of talks founded by Bishop Tony Robinson. We often hear that faith and politics should be kept separate from each other, and that religion should be kept out of political processes in modern democracies. Many Christians may not think their faith hasanything to do with their politics. Ahead of the General Election, this talk by Canon Philip Hobday will help us think through why ‘secular’ politics might gain from listening the insights of faith, and how Christians in particular can draw on their faith to as they consider what, and who, to vote for.

Session Running Order:

(Optional) Choral Evensong:

5.30pm - 6.15pm

Tea and coffee available:

6.15pm - 7pm

Talk and time for questions:

7pm - 8.15pm

An exhibition of historic parish records from the Record Office collections in Northallerton, featuring items spanning a period of over 500 years.

They include images and information about all the material on display, and much more to provide further detail and context, and to demonstrate the wide range of records to be found in Anglican parish church archives.

Click here to find out more.

We are living in turbulent times. In so many ways it seems that as a species we have forgotten how to live in well with each other and the rest of creation. And yet, in the depths of who we are, there is a wellspring of love that is always calling us to an original harmony, to replace competition with collaboration, rivalry with friendship.

1,500 years ago, St. Benedict wrote a Rule for monastic life which has been one of the most influential texts in the history of Western Europe. In a world facing so many challenges, Benedict’s simple guide for a school of love in community offers us a wealth of transformative wisdom.

With help from Benedictine teachers across the centuries, we will explore key aspects of this timeless wisdom tradition which are of huge importance for our time, including:

• Listening: as key to spiritual growth in community
• Humility: the path of self-knowledge, equality and peace
• Attention and Awareness: the path of balance, harmony, wholeness
• The Monastic Vision for today: a priceless gift for a suffering world.

Find out more here.

A taster retreat day led by Revd Dr. Linda Robinson and Revd Shena Moray. An immersive, holistic day including reflective spaces, worship and adventure into the living word of God. Please email lindarobinson@talk21.com to book. Cost is £25 including lunch and refreshments.

The Rt Revd Smitha Prasadam, Bishop of Huddersfield, will be leading a pilgrimage to Taizé this summer.

The pilgrimage for young people and adults is taking place from Saturday, August 17 to Monday, August 26, and the Most Revd Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, will join pilgrims for part of their journey.

Click here to download the brochure.

Sign up for a fun exploration of the Old Testament.

Tickets cost £14 per person. Do bring a packed lunch. Tea and coffee provided.

Tickets available here.

People will be invited to make a donation on the day towards Church hire costs.

For more information, please contact: Revd Mark Watson, 01924 822184. 07838 441568, lordsmyshepherd@yahoo.co.uk

To help us mark our diocesan 10th anniversary, the Archbishop of York visited our diocese from Friday, April 19 to Sunday, April 21, and saw people and places all across the diocese.

Watch a video of what he got up to here.

We are looking for someone with a passion for Anglican Choral Music who will inspire children and adults to sing to a high standard. The Minster Choir is ready to reach new heights and is ambitious in its hopes and dreams. Find out more about this role here

Please contact the Communications Team with your news for future editions. The Enews is published twice a month. The next edition will be sent out on June 27. All news stories to communications@leeds.anglican.org. Many thanks!