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YORSAY October 2015

From the Chair’s Desk

It was a good synod! (See the Synod Secretary’s report elsewhere in this edition of

YORSAY.)

For me, one of the most important discussions was undoubtedly when we addressed the

challenge to us of the current refugee crisis. We spent some time together as a synod, and

some time in circuit groups reflecting on how we feel called to respond to our sisters and

brothers who have been displaced and whose plight is so desperately moving. We

undertook to produce responses on post-it notes which would be drawn together to

encourage action.

Here is the list:

Synod Migrant/Refugee Discussion – how can we as Methodists help in the current crisis?

Long term needs should be thought through alongside emergency aid

Major cities of York and Hull have a particular role to play

Education for us in understanding the needs of refugees – preach and teach

Education on the causes of the current crisis and looking at long term solutions

Lobby MPs, MEPs, local councillors to do more

Government must be persuaded to accept more refugees, 20000 is a small number

Let local and national government know that the Methodist Church wants to offer its

resources

There are lessons to be learned from previous experience with Bosnian or Ugandan

refugees

Network/communication system to coordinate individual contributions

Use existing organisations – food banks, Open Doors, Hull International House, charities

Support agencies in getting people into education and work as soon as possible

Church and community should offer a joint response

Importance of different denominations acting together

Church banner specifically welcoming refugees

Offer use of premises as welcome/advice centres

Host a day where all those with help to offer can meet and plan

Offer space for refugees to meet together

Provide orientation sessions in local communities, give out bus passes

Offer empty churches and manses as short/medium term accommodation

Lobby local councils to offer empty accommodation – Churches Together might be a way in

Help with form filling, benefit applications etc

Offer friendship to individuals

Support language classes

Support for people seeking separated family members

Fundraising – retiring collection, coffee morning, cream tea, cash appeal

Make personal financial commitment

Small communities will need to ensure that incoming families are not culturally isolated

Rural communities can contribute by providing supplies of clothing, bedding, toys, nappies

etc

Caravan parks could provide emergency shelter

Pray

So, over to each one of us, as individual disciples, as local churches, as circuits, as a

district to respond to Our Calling as Methodist Christians, remembering that The Church

exists to be a good neighbour to people in need and to challenge injustice.

May God strengthen us in all we do. Stephen Burgess

O c t o b e r 2 0 1 5 C h a r i t y N o 1 1 3 6 1 3 3

Welcome to the October Edi-

tion of Yorsay.

P2 Synod Roundup

P3 World Methodist Ex-

change/WI 100

P4 Prom Praise/ School

Chaplain

P5 Mystery Plays

P6 Racing Chaplains

P7 Circuit Welcome

P8 World Methodist Confer-

ence

P9 Silent Movies

P10/11 MWiB

P12 Filey Fishermen

Please Note that due to cir-

cumstances the Deadline for

the November issue of

Yorsay is noon on Friday 16th

October—The Communica-

tions Office will be closed for

several days from 18th Octo-

ber

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YORK & HULL METHODIST DISTRICT

Autumn Synod 2015 – Thirsk School & Sixth Form Academy

MY FIRST SYNOD AS OFFICIAL SYNOD SECRETARY

The York and Hull District Autumn Synod 2015 was hosted by the York, Tadcaster, Ripon and Lower Dales, and Thirsk and

Northallerton Circuits, held at Thirsk School & Sixth Form Academy on Saturday 12 September. I think this is the first

Synod I have attended in such poor weather, the rain fell most of the day, so it felt good to be inside for once.

The Autumn Synod brought together representatives from all areas of the District and ran in parallel with a Youth Synod

(Step Up). Step Up had their own Agenda, some dressed as Superman/Superwomen with capes and others in Sumo wres-

tling gear. The Superintendents were invited to join Step Up for conversation (I don’t think they were expected to wear

capes etc.), and the Rev Ruth Parry reported back to main Synod and said they had felt inspired and uplifted by the ses-

sion.

Main Synod began with a small act of Worship led by the Rev Kathie Heathcoat and David Godfrey welcomed Synod Rep-

resentatives by reading words of Wesley.

Although the morning mainly included the general Synod business, the Rev Stephen Burgess explained that throughout

the day, conversations and reports would be given around the Migrant / Refugee crisis. Synod broke into groups to dis-

cuss the challenges and suggestions as to how Methodists/everyone may be able to help in this situation. Stephen

agreed to work on the feedback from the groups and also write to local MP’s. He encouraged everyone to write to their

MP too.

Appointments to Conference 2016 were made and reports were presented including, feedback from Conference via a

video, report on Marriage & Relationships, priorities of the Discipleship & Ministries Learning Network, Deacon Cedric

May reported on the ‘Laudato Si’ (Pope Francis’s encyclical on the environment), World Methodist Council, Holy Rood

House (a retreat centre in Thirsk), Action for Children and “All We Can” (previously known as the MRDF). Further details

about all the above can be found on the Methodist website.

The Afternoon Session heard a report from the Methodist Tax Justice Network Co-ordinator, Matthew Jones, and Synod

closed with Holy Communion led by the Rev Stephen Burgess.

Autumn Synod was a full day and mainly a sharing of information and a lot of listening, but I hope that most Representa-

tives took away something from the many reports, but most importantly from the Migrant/Refugee conversations which

filtered through the day.

On behalf of Synod, we would like to sincerely thank the York, Tadcaster, Ripon and Lower Dales, and Thirsk and Northal-

lerton Circuits for hosting our Autumn Meeting, and doing a fantastic job. I would also like to add a huge thank you to

Heather Shipman who has given me excellent guidance over the last year and I would like to wish Heather special bless-

ings as she continues her work with the District.

Blessings

Jackie Gaitley

Synod Secretary

17 Sept 2015

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WORLD METHODIST CHURCH EXCHANGE PROGRAMME

This summer through the exchange programme Beverley Circuit and Camp Hill United Methodist Church [CHUM]

swapped pastors for six weeks. Associate Pastor Jake Waybright, his wife, Susan, and their daughter, Naomi aged

five came to Yorkshire while I, Rev'd Stephen Caddy, and my wife, Christine, went to Pennsylvania. While we ex-

changed, work, homes [manse or parsonage] and cars we kept our own families! The experience was a success not

only for the two families but also for the churches involved. On both sides of the Pond the warmth of welcome and

generosity of hospitality was outstanding. It was good to see that many of our concerns and focus lay around the

same issues. It was helpful to learn new approaches as well as encouraging to see what we did better! Jake and I

worked five day weeks which left plenty of time to explore widely. We also both had other family members come

and stay with us. At the end of the working Exchange Jake's family took holiday in Austria where he had been a stu-

dent while we went and spent time with a retired Pastor and his wife who had worked with us for a year in our last

Circuit and have a home on the Finger Lakes. In church we enjoyed a raft of experiences from Mission Central that

does charity work on an industrial scale to meeting with a Sunday School Class that had been together for 50 years.

Outside Church we enjoyed everything from fireflies to hummingbirds, baseball to motor racing, Harrisburg State

Capitol to Iroquois Long Houses, Niagara Falls to Chesapeake Bay, Gettysburg to the Flight 93 memorial and I have-

n't even told you the best bit!

Unfortunately the number of exchanges each year is declining for a variety of reasons not least publicity and this

year there were only two in the whole Connexion. I recommend that you look into the possibilities because when it

works as well as this everyone both in the churches and in the families involved benefit. Why not exchange your

minister for a better one if only for six weeks? If it doesn't work that way you'll be glad to have the old one back.

Seriously it's worth looking into.

Stephen Caddy

WI 100

When folk at Howden Methodist Church heard that many in their local Womens Institute had been disappointed that they were una-

ble to attend the Queens Garden Party this year on the 100 Anniversary of their organisation they decided to offer a special service of

Celebration followed by brunch in the church. We decorated the building with bunting and flags, heard the history of the WI through words and pictures on big screen, sang Jerusalem and then enjoyed cucumber sandwiches, jam scones and other goodies with our

WI friends. Many of us were surprised to hear of the good work done by WI throughout their 100 years especially of their many social

campaigns which still bring about change for the better in our society and we found there was much to give thanks for. It was good

too, to welcome many visitors into the church and to serve the town in this way.

Revd Sue Pegg

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Prom Praise, on Saturday 3rd October at 7.30pm at York Barbican , is a wonderful mix of sacred and concert

music, a unique and joyful fusion of performance with worship, combining the spirit of “Songs of Praise” with the enthusi-

asm of the world-famous “Last Night of the Proms”.

Co-hosted by Archbishop Sentamu, York’s Prom Praise is a feast of orchestral, solo and choral items, with great opportuni-

ties for the audience to join in to sing some favourite hymns and worship songs.

Artists taking part include: All Souls Orchestra Famous worldwide for a unique voice in music, the orchestra returns to York

Barbican with their flagship event.

Noël Tredinnick

The energetic principal conductor and artistic director of the All Souls Orchestra.

Beverley Trotman

After many years as lead singer in gospel choirs, dynamic gospel artist Beverley rose to fame when she reached the finals of

The X-Factor, thrilling viewers with her rendition of Nina Simone’s ‘Feeling Good’.

Giles Fowler

Trumpeter Giles is an exceptional artist who has joined the Orchestra as soloist on many occasions and has been featured

on several recordings. For this concert, Giles will be playing the lively virtuoso showpiece, Arban’s Carnival of Venice.

Prom Praise York Choir

Singers from all around the area will lead the PromPraise audience in song.

Ticket prices: £22.50, £19 & £17, including souvenir programme. To book your tickets call 0844 854 2727 visit

www.yorkbarbican.co.uk or in person at York Barbican.

Forest of Galtres Anglican/ Methodist Primary School,

Station Lane,

Shipton-by-Beningbrough,

York,

YO30 1AG

NOR 174

Headteacher: Mrs Allyson Buckton

School Chaplain (Advanced Teaching Assistant)

6 hours per week, term time only. Start date: 2nd November 2015

We are seeking to appoint a part-time Chaplain, lay or ordained, to support and work alongside children, staff, par-

ents and carers in this Anglican Methodist primary school. This is building on the first year of a 3-year project funded

by the York Methodist Circuit, the York and Hull Methodist District and the Diocese of York, and will be a fixed-term

appointment. It is an exciting opportunity to work within our friendly and supportive school community to enhance the

spiritual development of pupils through the school’s core Christian values. We would welcome applications from

people who have experience of working with children and/ or young people in a voluntary role: experience of working

in a school setting is not essential.

Strengths would include an ability to communicate effectively on all levels; willingness to share in leading collective

worship; and ability to organise own workload working both on own initiative and under the direction of the school.

Closing date for applications: Monday 12th October 2015. Interviews will be held in the week beginning Monday 19th

October 2015. Visits to the school are very welcome: for more information please contact the school office on 01904

470272 or admin@forestgaltres.n-yorks.sch.uk.

Forest of Galtres School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and

expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be required to undertake an

enhanced DBS check.

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Mystery Plays return to York Minster

York Minster is a treasure house of Christian faith expressed through the arts and craft. The 15th entury great East

window is currently being conserved and by March 2016 the stonework and much of the glass

conservation will be complete. The window tells the story of the history and destiny of humanity, and in May2016

we are bringing the York Mystery Plays back into York Minster.

The plays were created shortly before the East window and, like the work of the glaziers, tell the biblical story from

creation to the last judgement. Both glass and art were treasured teaching aids in the century before the availabil-

ity of the Bible in English or in a printed form. The plays were originally staged by the city’s craft guilds, with each

taking responsibility to stage a play whose narrative best reflected their own specialism or mystery. So the Ship-

wrights staged The Flood, the Butchers took on The Crucifixion.

The plays were banned at the Reformation but re-emerged 400 years later with a staging in 1951 as York’s contribu-

tion to the Festival of Britain re-establishing the York tradition. The plays are still assumed to belong to the people of

York and they have contributed their time, energy and skill to a range and variety of productions. Many of you will

have experienced the wagon plays, or the Theatre Royal/Riding Lights production in Museum Gardens in 2012 or

indeed the Minster Millennium production in 2000.

Our plans for the 2016 production are ambitious. Mike Poulton, returning from Broadway, has updated the script he edit-

ed for 2000, the Minster’s own Richard Shephard reprises his role as music director, and we have recruited Phillip Breen as

Artistic Director and Max Jones as Designer who have collaborated at Theatr Clwyd, and the RSC and are in global demand.

Nicola Corp who has long experience of managing complex major events for TV has already joined us as Producer. There will

be just one professional. The rest is over to you.

So can you help to make this production? The question comes with a warning. If you want to take part the commitment will

be considerable. We open, as was traditional, on the feast of Corpus Christi: Thursday 26th May. We close on Thursday

30th June. We will welcome an audience of over 40,000, many of whom will have little understanding of Christianity. This is

our chance to work with world class artists and to be part of a community committed to telling our story of faith.

If you are able to make that commitment York Minster is now recruiting:

• Actors (of all ages) and

• Mystery Makers (to work back

stage and front of house)

But there are also opportunities for:

• Sponsors (to top up the funding… we are nearly there but not quite)

And we will soon be recruiting:

• An audience (the Box Office opens in January).

If you would like to know more do email mysteryplays@yorkminster.org

or phone 01904 557200, or visit www.yorkminster.org/mysteryplays2016.

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Taken from the Racing Post dated 20th August 2015 this article is copyright The Racing Post & Tom Kerr Used with permis-

sion of the Racing Post [CRM0011896]

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A Circuit Welcome

The North Yorkshire Coast Circuit welcomed their new

Ministers Graham and Emma Morgan with All the Fun of

the Fair at the Scarborough Fair Collection in the “Flowers

of May “ Holiday complex.

Photos Courtesy of John Staton and Elizabeth

Stanford -Sharpe

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Silent Movie Night and Organ Recital

With Ashley Valentine

Friday 9 October 2015, 6.30 – 8pm

Haxby & Wigginton Methodist Church

Free entry, donations to Christian Aid

Refreshments provided More information from Rob Cooper on 01904 761605

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YORK and HULL DISTRICT

Please book during October for the

ANNUAL CONFERENCE AT

COBER HILL, CLOUGHTON

SCARBOROUGH FRIDAY 26TH FEBRUARY to SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28TH, 2016

Leader: MRS. ANNE BROWSE CONNEXIONAL MWiB PRESIDENT

DETAILS AND BOOKING FORMS

from

Mrs. Elaine Turner 01482 867573

jeturnerbev@hotmail.com

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Yorsay is sent on behalf of the York & Hull Methodist District by the Communications Office

Bob Lawe 27 Ryde Avenue Hull Hu5 1QA yhdistrictcommunications@msn.com

Please note that some of you may receive this and other mailings from a Karoo or other yhdistrict e mail addresses–

Please do not reply or use these addresses as they are for mail delivery only The views expressed in this newsletter

are not necessarily the official views of the Methodist Church or of the York & Hull Methodist District and no in-

ferred support for any of the items or organisations should be taken as granted. Yorsay Newsletter © 2015 York &

Hull Methodist District – All rights reserved.

Publication deadline for next month Yorsay is noon on 19th of the previous month unless otherwise stated

Camblesforth Church

presents

AN EVENING OF SONG with

THE FILEY FISHERMEN’S CHOIR “Continuing a tradition dating from 1823 when the fishermen of Filey became active

Christians and went out in small bands throughout the North of England spreading

the Gospel.”

AT PORTHOLME CHURCH, SELBY

Saturday, 31st October

At 6:30pm.

Followed by a buffet supper.

Ticket price: £6:00. Please ring Fiona (01757 618446) for tickets. Also available at

the door

In aid of Camblesforth Church new building project.

ALL WELCOME