Welcome to the Enews for August 8

The latest resources, news and more.

Click on headlines or pictures for more details.  

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

Bishop Nick chatted with patients and staff during a summer’s day visit to St Gemma’s Hospice in his role as one of its patrons. St Gemma’s Hospice is a Leeds-based charity that provides expert care and support for local people with life-limiting and terminal illnesses. Read more here

Ten Licensed Lay Ministers have been commissioned at a recent service at the Community of the Resurrection, Mirfield and which saw the Ven Bill Braviner, Archdeacon of Halifax and our Warden of Readers, commission the new LLMs, also known as Readers. Read more here

Children who went down to Settle Parish Church got a big surprise thanks to its very own Teddy sports day held recently.

The "Teddy's Olympic Family Fun Day" included the chance to send your toy down a zip wire from the church tower, plus a Teddys Graveyard Treasure Hunt. Read more here

Atheists, agnostics and religious believers from across the diocese are all invited to a series of lectures entitled the Puzzle of God to be held in a Dales church.

St Cuthbert’s, Pateley Bridge is the venue for five talks by Dr Peter Vardy that are spread between September and January 2025. Read more here

10 Downing Street announced in time for Yorkshire Day that His Majesty the King has approved the appointments in the Diocese of York of the Reverend Canon Doctor Flora Winfield as Suffragan Bishop of Selby, and of the Reverend Barry Hill as the Suffragan Bishop of Whitby. Read more here

A new scheme will deliver 28 “affordable and sustainable” homes in Leeds on a brownfield site previously owned by the diocese.

The properties will be built by 54North Homes on Wesley Road in Armley, using funding provided by Homes England and Leeds City Council. Read more here

Ripon Cathedral Choir has just returned from a triumphant tour of Bavaria, with standing ovations and acclaim by German media.

The choir sang services and concerts at venues including Munich Cathedral, Regensburg Cathedral and Nuremberg Frauenkirche. 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! Don’t miss out - sign up NOW for a September start.

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 link for further information and booking details:

• Autumn 2024: in-person at the Mirfield Centre

Booking Deadline extended to midnight on Sunday, September 1.

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

A ten-month course to develop advanced skill and leadership in those involved in providing pastoral care and support in their parishes in the Diocese of Leeds.

More details and booking information can be found here.

This ten-month course enables those who have successfully completed it to lead worship in their parish under the supervision of their incumbent.

More details and booking information can be found here.

A ten-week course for lay people who are unable to commit to becoming Licensed Lay Ministers but still feel called to a preaching ministry on an occasional basis.

More details and booking information can be found here.

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.

A workshop to explore the power of outdoor and intergenerational worship for our churches.

Join us as we gather at St Stephen’s, West Bowling to discover how all generations can worship and encounter God together, especially when we go outside and worship in God’s creation.

The workshop will be led by Engage Worship whose vision is ‘to resource the local church for creative, sustainable and world-changing worship’

The day will start at 10am, with refreshments from 9.30am.

Tickets are £10 which includes lunch and refreshments – please provide any dietary requirements when booking.

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.

A day of study, prayer and practise around the themes of spirituality, creation and reconnecting with nature.

This one will focus on 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.

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

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.

Find out more here

As our Chief Officer has moved on, we are looking to recruit to help take Wellsprings Together to the next level. We're looking for a new Chief Office Wellsprings Together is an established, growing, regional charity with a vision to see faith transforming communities. We work across the Anglican Diocese of Leeds in both urban and rural areas with a desire to see the flourishing of all who live there. The Chief Officer role is an exciting opportunity leading the dedicated Wellsprings Together team to implement this vision. Accountable to the Trustees of the charity, the Chief Officer is responsible for coordinating and supervising the work of the Team, delivering on the strategy and vision of the charity, managing stakeholder relationships, securing funding, and the effective management and leadership of the charity including budgetary responsibilities. 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 August 22. All news stories to communications@leeds.anglican.org. Many thanks!