Chester Diocesan News October 2016 News, features, jobs... chester.anglican.org Growing stronger parishes Church Wardens support asylum seekers The Archdeacons would like to thank everyone who contributed to the collections taken at the visitation services in aid of The Boaz Trust, the final total was an amazing 5,588.66. The Visitations are a series of church services, led by our Archdeacons, when Church Wardens and others are sworn in and take office. The Boaz Trust supports destitute asylum seekers. Sarah Beaney, from the Trust, said: We re so grateful for your support. Over the last year we have been able to provide accommodation and holistic support for 47 men and 53 women through our housing scheme with local families and our 14 shared houses. We also accommodated over 100 men through our night shelter. Hanna, an Ethiopian client, said: Boaz helped me a lot. Boaz is like someone who gives hope when you have none. I was so very scared to be homeless, and as a woman it is very bad. But Boaz saved me. School hall dedication Whitegate Church of England Primary School recently celebrated the official opening of their new school hall. Bishop Peter officially opened and dedicated the hall. The service was very well attended by parents, grandparents and supporters, along with Weaver Vale MP Graham Evans. More than 50,000 was raised by the school and the local community. Caroline Mackenzie became the school s new head teacher in September. Picture curtesy of Boaz Trust Picture by Northwich Guardian
Shaped by what we read - by Bishop Libby One of the things I miss most, now I am a bishop, is having people to share the Daily Office with. I was much blessed in parish ministry by colleagues and other members of the church who would gather early each morning to say Morning Prayer together. The same people could not always come, but almost always there was someone else with me. I especially miss responding and reflecting on the Bible readings set for the day with others. Sometimes the readings would make us laugh out loud, sometimes we would interrupt to question or comment in thankfulness or wonder or anger or confusion. Always something would spark the interest of at least one of us and the rest of us would engage. Often that engagement would continue through the day, and prompt new conversations. We were shaped by what we read. We were able to explore not only, what does this mean?, but also, what does this mean for me, for us, today, whatever the day may bring?. Earlier this year, as I read through the Bible passages set by the lectionary, I was struggling to answer those questions on my own. So, I emailed my thoughts to the colleagues I have now, and asked for help. They responded with honesty and challenge, with encouragement and humour. It turns out, there are still ways to be blessed by Common Prayer. The Bible doesn t only make me think, it makes me feel and act and be. It shapes who I am and how I behave. Often my engagement with the Bible comes in words, but it has also come in drama, in dance, in art, in music. The Bible engages all of me, and so all of me engages with it. It has been argued that Christianity is being decoupled in everyday life from the [Bible]. What a loss that is, if it is true, for there are the words of eternal life, words that bring life in all its fullness. If you want encouragement and ideas, I commend YBible, the Diocesan initiative launched last month to resource all of us to engage with the Bible more more often, more deeply, more widely. Join in, be bold, be creative, be excited and be transformed. Bible It is still not too late to join YBible. YBible is designed to help you discover a new enthusiasm for regular use of the Bible. Hundreds of other Christians have started the journey. For more information see chester.anglican.org/ybible 2
Remembering the Duke of Westminster On 9 th August it was announced that Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor KG CB CVO OBE TD CD DL, the Duke of Westminster had died. The Duke played a significant role both nationally and in many aspects of diocesan life. Paying tribute the Bishop Peter Forster said; The Duke was very well regarded in Cheshire, and much further afield, for his charitable work and very evident sense of duty. The Duke made very significant contributions across a wide range of aspects of public life. This included taking a close interest in appointments of clergy to the parishes of which the Duke is Patron. He will be hugely missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, and we wish his son Hugh every blessing as he becomes the new Duke, with all the responsibilities that he will now assume. Duke of Westminster 1951-2016 Pastoral Worker, Anne Stirling gives an insight into her training I slithered across Cheshire one slippery Saturday morning in January 2013 to an event I was no longer sure I wanted to attend. I was nervous. It had snowed overnight. Easy enough to send my apologies, to bat away again those nudges and promptings I had managed to ignore for years. Cold feet? You bet! What on earth had I let myself in for? A morning of warmth, welcome and encouragement! Information, inspiration, laughter! Each engaging speaker opened up new possibilities a monk in a proper monk s outfit, a Church Army officer, an ordinand, a Reader, a Pastoral Worker and then smaller workshops allowed us to delve deeper. A chance but thoughtful comment made that morning concerning the key difference between the work of Readers and Pastoral Workers started a thought process in me which led to my decision to pursue Pastoral Worker training. The comment? Essentially, Readers work at the front of the church while Pastoral Workers work at the back. Yes, the back of church is where God is calling me to be, though there are plenty of front bits to tackle too! And when we went back outside the snow had melted... I have completed three years of training and will be licensed as a Lay Pastoral Worker at the Cathedral on Saturday, 24 September. Anne Stirling 3
A transforming pilgrimage A pilgrimage to the Holy Land changes you forever. Standing on the shores of Lake Galilee you cannot help but be moved knowing that the hills across the still lake are the same hills Jesus saw when he was growing up. Stopping near the spot where Jesus was crucified you experience a rush of emotions. Looking out across to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives is a moment of peace and reflection. The 2017 Chester Diocesan Pilgrimage to the Holy Land is designed to be spiritually refreshing and stimulating. The pilgrimage will be led by the three Bishops, assisted by the Revd Professor Walter Moberly, who led the Bible expositions at the last two residential Clergy Conferences at Swanwick. One of the key purposes of the pilgrimage is to help us better to understand the Bible, in its original context, and Walter is perfectly placed to do this. Typically Israel is a very safe country, away from certain border areas (which the pilgrimage will avoid). The visit to Bethlehem will engage with the contemporary situation for Christians in the Holy Land to a degree. However, the main purpose of the pilgrimage is to make a spiritual journey in the land of the Holy One, and to engage with the Jewish and historical roots of our Faith. Key sites The pilgrimage includes planned visits to many sites including: Mount of Olives, old Jerusalem, Temple Mount, Bethlehem, Via Dolorosa, Garden Tomb, Dead Sea and Masada, Bethany, Tiberius, Sea of Galilee, plus optional tours to Megiddo or Caesarea Philippi. Chester Diocesan pilgrimage Dates The Pilgrimage runs from Tuesday 28 March to Thursday 6 April 2017. Accommodation and support The plan is to charter a dedicated plane from Manchester to Tel Aviv, which makes the travel arrangements easier. The hotels are all 4* with private dining rooms which assist with evening fellowship, talks and activities. Canon Diane Cookson will handle the administration and she is available to offer advice as may be needed. An experienced GP will accompany to provide medical advice and support. Costs The cost of the pilgrimage is 2141 per person in a shared room. Payments can be received in stages, if desired. There are also 20 bursaries of 500 to help those who might not otherwise be able to come. Exceptionally, a double bursary of 1000 might be offered. How to book Contact Canon Diane Cookson on 0161 483 2633 or email her via st.saviours@virgin.net You can also download details from chester. anglican.org/news.asp?page=847 4
Picture credits: Israeli Ministry of Tourism www.goisrael.com Weekend with Shakespeare at the Cathedral The Cathedral is to host four events to mark 400 years since the death of Shakespeare. The first event is Shakespeare at 400: why? a talk by Dr Paul Edmondson from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. It takes place on Saturday 15 October at 6.30pm. Also on Saturday 15 October but at 8.30pm is Shakespeare in love: life and music a concert with Chester Cathedral Nave Choir. Tickets: 6 each or 10 combined ticket. To book call: (01244) 500959. On Sunday at 10.30am you can attend Shakespeare and spirituality service with sermon by Dr Paul Edmondson. At 11.30am on the same day there is a Shakespeare poetry mass a service with readings of Shakespeare s poetry. No ticket required for services. All are welcome. Paul Edmondson is Head of Research and Knowledge and Director of the Stratford-upon-Avon Poetry Festival for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. 5
New team shapes Foxhill s 50 th year vision With Foxhill heading towards its 50th anniversary, work has begun on developing a renewed vision for our Diocesan Retreat and Conference Centre. The work has started with the appointment of a new warden, assistant warden and a Foxhill Development Group led by Bishop Libby. The new warden is the Revd Jonathon Green. Jonathon is married to Anne and they have three grown-up children. Jonathon has been General Manager at Rydal Hall since 2007. After initially training at a catering college on the Isle of Man, where he was born, Jonathon later trained in hotel management at Blackpool Catering College. He was ordained Deacon in 2013, was priested the following year, and served as a curate at Rydal and Grasmere. Rydal Hall is the 30 bedroom Diocese of Carlisle Conference, Retreat and Holiday Centre and home to the Rydal Hall Community. While there Jonathon and his wife Anne oversaw its growth and development in line with the Diocese of Carlisle s vision of mission and outreach. This summer Rydal Hall was recognised by the wider community when it reached the finals of the Cumbria Tourism Awards. Speaking about his move to Foxhill Jonathon said; I m very excited and privileged to be at Foxhill at this time in the centre s life and look forward with the team to building on all that has been Revd Jonathon Green (left) and Chris Wood. 6 achieved in the past. In my short time since being here I feel that Foxhill has a very welcoming atmosphere which I hope to be able to extend to everyone across the diocese and beyond. The assistant warden is Chris Wood. Chris has recently returned from Malawi where he was coordinating volunteers with a charitable education and health programme. He did his degree at the University of Chester, and subsequently worked in the hospitality sector. He is excited about joining the team at Foxhill. Bishop Libby, who chairs the Foxhill Development Group, said; We are delighted to welcome Jonathon and Chris to Foxhill. Their experience and enthusiasm will be invaluable. Building on the work of those who have gone before, together with all the staff, the Friends and other volunteers and supporters, they are committed to ensuring Foxhill is a vital resource for the whole diocese and beyond, as a place of Christian hospitality, prayer, mission and training.
About Foxhill Foxhill was a large family home bequeathed to the Diocese of Chester in 1969 by Dr Lawrence Pilkington, a descendant of the glass-making family. 70 acres of woodland, surrounding the house, were also transferred to the Diocese giving Foxhill its own arboretum, featuring walks with panoramic views. Over the decades, the Diocese has made sure Foxhill has served the Christian community well. The original house has been extended, modernised and refurbished. It can now sleep up to 28, has lift and wheelchair access, ample parking, free broadband internet and can welcome groups ranging from two or three people to 80 conference guests in well-equipped meeting rooms. Called to Serve Are you ready to take the first step to find your best way of deepening your service to God? If so, then Called to Serve could be for you. Called to Serve is the annual event for those who want to explore the various licensed ministries of Pastoral Worker, Reader and ordained ministry. It will take place on Saturday, 4 February 2017, 10am to 2pm at Foxhill Retreat and Conference Centre, Tarvin Road, Frodsham WA4 4GE. It also has input from the Church Army and a Franciscan brother, and we are offering a free lunch. There will be plenty of opportunities for asking questions about the various forms of ministry. If you would like to come email ddo@ chester.anglican.org or phone 01928 718834 ext 237 and you ll be sent information and directions. Booking is essential. Closing date for bookings is Friday, 20 January 2017 To book Foxhill or for more information please telephone 01928 733777 or e-mail foxhill@chester.anglican.org The Foxhill website can found at foxhillconferences.co.uk Talks on Judaism offered Gertie Kallin (pictured) offers talks on Jewish faith and culture to various organisations, including parishes, and they have proved to be rather popular. There is no charge for Gertie s presentations, but a donation to a charity is encouraged. Anyone who would like to book her to give a parish talk should phone her on 0151 733 0436 but please not dusk to dusk Friday to Saturday when the Jewish Sabbath is being observed. 7
Why gardener Alan digs the Real Advent Calendar Alan Titchmarsh has welcomed the launch of the 2016 Real Advent Calendar, describing it as a great idea. Each Real Advent Calendar comes with a free 28 page copy of the Christmas story in the box, 24 Fairtrade chocolates and sales of the calendar support charitable causes. Phil Haley, from The Meaningful Chocolate Company which makes the calendars, said: Three years ago we saw survey research which showed that knowledge of the Christmas story was fading. Among 5-7 year olds, 36% didn t know whose birthday was celebrated at Christmas. Among adults, less than 12% knew the full nativity story and 51% said that the birth of Jesus was irrelevant to their Christmas. As a result of this survey we launched The Real Advent Calendar hoping to help adults and children engage with the Christmas story for the full 24 days of Advent. More than half a million Real Advent Calendars have been sold which means over a million people have read the Real Advent Calendar Christmas story, many for the first time. This year the story is illustrated by award winning artist Alida Massari and includes activities and challenges. From the charitable donations, the calendar has helped equip a baby clinic in Kenya and supported charities such as Traidcraft Exchange and The Children s Society. Alan Titchmarsh said: The Real Advent Calendar is a great idea. Not only does it raise money for good causes and is made from Fairtrade Chocolate but it also tells the Christmas story. Delivery is free on orders of at least one case of 18 calendars if made by 1st November. Schools receive a 10% discount for each case ordered in October. Free resources for schools and churches are also available online. Visit www.realadvent.co.uk Chester Diocesan News EDITOR: Stephen Regan, tel 01928 718834 ext 233. Email stories and pictures for the December issue by 18 October, to: stephen.regan@chester.anglican.org DISTRIBUTION: phone Inprint Colour on 01270 251589 and ask for Mark Heywood. Chester Diocesan Board of Finance is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England (no. 7826) and a registered charity (no. 248968) 8