9th January 2012
A Plough Service at Ripon Cathedral
 Over 100 people gathered together on Sunday 8th January to celebrate Plough Sunday at Ripon Cathedral. As the congregation entered the cathedral they had to pass a large modern tractor and plough lent by Ripon Farm Services. The roots of this service go back at least to medieval times when the village would gather together to ask God’s blessing on the plough, the land and those who worked on it. In those days people were only too well aware of how they depended on the land and on God for their food, an awareness that is lost to many today. As the preacher Mr Howard Petch said in his sermon this awareness is something we need to rediscover as we grapple with the challenge of feeding the world in the not too distant future.
As is traditional a symbol of modern ploughing was blessed by the Bishop of Knaresborough the Rt Rev James Bell, as a reminder to pray for the land and all those who work on it. As well as celebrating and praying for our own farmers we remembered those who farm in other parts of the world and Rev Dr Liz Smith blessed, in faith, a gift for Farm Africa to buy a traditional plough and team of oxen which will revolutionise farming for those who receive it.
A retiring collection at the end of the service raised enough money to send at least two ploughs to Ethiopia so thank you to those who contributed so generously.
Click on a picture to enlarge it
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3rd January 2012
Cafe Opens Up Opportunity to Support Homeless
 A partnership between Oxford Place Methodist Church and St George’s Crypt was celebrated with the official opening of the St George’s Crypt Nurture café by the Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn.
Nurture is a Community Interest Company set up earlier this year to provide former clients and residents of St George’s Crypt with the opportunity to learn employability skills and to undertake "on the job" training and experience in horticulture and catering. It’s a natural follow on to developing a “places of change” concept for Crypt clients which is now fundamental to the way the Crypt works.
Martin Patterson, Director of Fundraising, said today: “We are delighted to be able to partner with Oxford Place Methodist Church in reviving their café and allowing it to branch out in such an exciting partnership.”
Dr Adrian Burdon, Superintendent Minister of The Methodist Church at Oxford Place, said: “St George’s Crypt and Leeds Methodist Mission share a common concern for the vulnerable people of this city. It is phenomenal that we can work together on this project which brings our resources together to make a difference.”
The Crypt is hopeful that local businesses will use the café as a meeting and networking place and, in so doing, support its work and those who will be working in the café.
From 'The Buzz'
14th December 2011
New Ecumenical Canon
 On Sunday 11th December Rev Dr Liz Smith, Chair of the Leeds District, was installed as an Ecumenical Canon of Wakefield Cathedral along with Domprost Anders Alberius, Dean of Skara in Sweden. The service also included the collation and installation of Revd Dr Anne Dawtry as the new Archdeacon of Halifax. The occasion offered a feast of Advent music, including a hymn sung in Swedish and concluded with Charles Wesley’s Advent hymn, Lo! He comes with clouds descending. The congregational singing was swelled by a good number of Methodists in attendance.
Liz writes:
I found it a very moving and joyous occasion. I count it a great privilege to be invited to become an Ecumenical Canon of Wakefield Cathedral, in this act of generous ecumenical hospitality. It is a mark of recognition of the increasingly close working relationships developing between Methodists and Anglicans in many communities in Leeds and West Yorkshire, as they engage in mission and service. It is a particular encouragement for the recently formed Aire & Calder Methodist circuit as it seeks to develop good ecumenical relationships with the Wakefield Diocese, and with other Christian traditions. I am deeply grateful for the large number of Methodists from across the Leeds District, and beyond, who came along to offer their personal support. It was a very memorable occasion. |
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Leeds East Methodist Circuit
MISSION WEEKEND
CIRCUIT CELEBRATORY
CONCERT
at
Christ Church Halton
on
Sat, 17 March
at 7.30pm
in aid of Mission funds
-------------------------CIRCUIT SERVICE
with Revd Elaine Joseph
Sun, 18 March, 6pm at Cross Gates
with Concordia singing from 5.30 pm |
