Mark Carey writes,
A group of us from across the network had a fantastic time camping at New Wine last week. You can see some of the stories from a few of the people who went if you go to our YouTube channel. The weather was glorious and to be in an atmosphere of passionate worship, excellent and challenging teaching and prayer ministry – sharing deeply with each other - was a great joy. I found myself drawn to seeking even deeper relationship with Jesus, hungry for more of his way, works and word.
One of the things I love about being among you all is that there is great passion for Jesus – yes, some people simply go through the motions, but many here recognize that a life lived with Jesus at the centre is best – whatever our circumstances. Around the network we are seeing many encouragements – things aren’t easy and yet people are encountering Jesus – we are adapting and responding and seeing some growth that we didn’t plan for or expect. Last Wednesday evening over 40 people gathered for worship and prayer in Christ Church – people from across the network. Yes there is still disruption and uncertainty, yes there is war and economic crisis. Yes there are really difficult personal circumstances and health problems. However, Jesus is Lord and he continues to bring his rule and reign to bear on human existence and invites us to join him with what he is doing. I’m reminded of the words of someone called Margaret Mead who said “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world, indeed, it is the only thing that ever has”. That is a great way of describing what we are about as a network of churches
Mark Carey writes
As we head into the second part of 2022 I’m struck by the way in which worship & prayer has featured so strongly. We have given ourselves to worship and prayer every Wednesday evening since the new year. Our weekday commit to prayer continues. This blog from Matthew Porter is a helpful encouragement in prayer especially thinking about praying for other people and circumstances https://matthewporter.blog/2022/07/13/maybe-theyre-onto-something/
I find that I have the need to establish a regular pattern of daily and weekly prayer in my life. Bringing to God circumstances and issues in a holy routine of drawing close to the God who draws close to me. And then - further to that - there is what I call ‘kairos’ prayer - that is the kind of praying we sense God calling us to give more time to. I’ve done that in response to Covid, the Ukraine war, the national crisis we have found ourselves in and especially in regard to some specific family circumstances. When the disciples found they couldn’t help a young man be delivered from the demons besetting him Jesus told them that there are times when things only change by prayer and fasting. I think there are times we are to increase our prayer focus, raise the level of our daily disciplines, give ourselves to the task of cooperating with God in his work of transformation. As we enter the second half of the year I am praying that the Lord will not find us busy but rather praying and worshipping and listening.
Remember the verse we have in mind for 2022? Psalm 16:11 -
You make known to me the path of life;you will fill me with joy in your presence,with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Mark Carey writes
Last Sunday evening Alan Botterill brought an excellent challenge that he has shared recently with the part of our network that he serves – Martongate Community Church. He sensed the Lord impressing the word “POPPYSEED” upon him. Alan has an agricultural background and was able to talk about one poppy producing thousands of seeds but less than 1% germinate the following year. The vast majority of seeds are washed underground and remain dormant, some for more than 100 years. The seed has to come into contact with light to germinate and so when ground disturbance happens – think of the first world war poppies on Flanders fields emerging because of the artillery. This also made me think of when we began to dig in certain places in our garden and the poppies that emerged a year later. It also made me think of the disturbance we are experiencing as a result of Covid and other factors in the world around us.
Alan pointed out that God’s word is ‘seed’. It is scattered and has been scattered liberally through many initiatives and practices over the years such as Christmas and weddings, school assemblies and other occasions. The seed is there – waiting for the light. And WE are the light of the world – this is what Jesus said. Alan brought the challenge to us all to be light-bearers and seed-sowers.
What God has done in your life, the light he has brought to your life is there for a reason – to bring light to others – germinating the seed of God’s word. And let’s also remember to sow seeds in people’s lives – listening to them, sharing the reason why we have peace and praying for them.
Sow for yourselves righteousness;
Reap in mercy;
Break up your fallow ground,
For it is time to seek the Lord,
Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.
Hosea 10:12
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One of the many things I love about being part of this network of churches is that we have such a variety of people who are hearing and responding to Jesus, being obedient, sharing faith across church gatherings and in workplaces and homes. We are running a series of interviews for the Christ Church 10.30am Gathering about being gathered and scattered – do watch them week by week as we make them available on our YouTube channel.
It was great to commission Donna Brooks as a Community Minister – she has gained much from being part of the Mustard Seed ‘Stepping Up’ training and will be serving and leading amongst those who are seeking to recover from addiction as well as being a lay member of the Restore team.
Mark Carey writes
Last Sunday evening someone came to faith in Jesus – they’ve got a long journey ahead of them – but they took the next step. That’s what it feels like for me all these years after coming to faith – I continue to keep taking the next step. I’m sure many of you can relate to this.
I met a man on Wednesday morning who has hit rock bottom. As he has found support in Restore Hope Hub his hope is being restored and he is beginning to contemplate a future life free from addiction. Through prayerful kindness and compassion people are finding restoration. I note especially, that those who have got alongside him are really ‘real’ – I love this – we can’t pretend that problems are solved overnight, or that the circumstances that we find ourselves in aren’t extremely challenging. But we do believe that, in Jesus’s words, “the kingdom is near” and that Jesus breaks into the reality with his way, truth and life. We just keep taking the next steps and being real.
There are many ways in which we are engaging in the reality of life with the love of Jesus across this network church of churches – keep going!
This week St Mark’s, Westhill has been one of the places that hosted the new Bishop of Hull on the day her appointment was made public. She met up with people from across our network and especially those involved in Mustard Seed which focuses on growing disciples in places where life is tough and Multiply with its focus on reaching those in the 20’s-40’s generations. We look forward to working with Bishop Ellie in the years to come.
Click on this link for more information about Bishop Ellie https://dioceseofyork.org.uk/news-events/news/next-suffragan-bishop-of-hull-the-rt-revd-dr-eleanor-sanderson/
Rev. Mark Carey. Christ Church Bridlington Network.
Miriam Thurlow writes
Part of living the Jesus way is about developing our sense of defined belonging, and on Sunday I shared a bit about how an important part of belonging is knowing your story. Not just growing in self-awareness (although this is good too) but knowing the bigger story of God’s great love. And knowing that it isn’t just the story of some people, but that we can all say ‘this is my story’ because we each have a role to play in it.
Knowing this bigger story we are a part of as God’s children is a part of belonging because we know who we are and whose we are. This shared sense of belonging in God’s family is our starting point for building relationships. It’s not about trading or comparing stories to see how different we are, or even how similar we are, but delighting in being a part of the same big story of being loved by God.
God’s great love story with His people is our story, our shared story, which helps us know we belong to God’s family and belong to each other. And knowing we belong is only the start, we are called to show others they can belong too, that it can be their story as well, not just ours.
Let’s be confident in knowing God’s story is our story. Let’s be bold in sharing our story with others. Let’s be generous in how we welcome people and show them God’s great love story could also be their story
Miriam
Oli Preston writes
Next Tuesday is Midsummers Day - the longest day in the year. We have had a week of beautiful weather, what a wonderful gift! This is a great time to enjoy being outside - to drink in the beauty and splendour of God’s good creation - our shared home - to admire the wonder and find joy in the goodness of God in the world around us.
As we approach midsummer we are just past mid-way between COP26 (in Glasgow last November) and COP27, which will be in Sharm el Sheik (on the Red Sea coast of Egypt) later this year. These big gatherings of world leaders to discuss global agreements on how to respond to the climate and ecological crisis feel very far distant from day to day life in our lovely seaside town… But the conversations and agreements that happen there effect our whole world - including us here, and our brothers and sisters around the world. Sea level rises threatening coastal life, instability in food production as weather patterns change, increased migration as some parts of the world move towards being uninhabitable - all of these things are coming soon, and are already happening for many people. We need urgent change in how our world works - to move away from fossil fuels and wastefulness, and towards a sustainable future of living in better connection and care for the world. The scale of the problem and challenge can be quite intimidating!
“What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
As followers of Jesus, we don’t respond to trouble and challenging times with anxiety or by putting our heads in the sand, but with prayerful engagement. We are not alone! The Spirit of God is already at work in the world, hearing and responding to the ‘groaning’ of creation. In prayer we bring the needs of our world before God - treasuring His good gift to us, asking for His help as we seek to safeguard, restore and renew, and listening for where God is calling us to be agents of His coming Kingdom. This is at the heart of the ‘Pilgrimage to COP27’. Pilgrimage is a prayerful and purposeful journey - often moving towards a particular destination or travelling with a specific purpose. As Christ Church Network (and friends and wider community) we would like to try and cover the distance from Glasgow to Sharm el Sheik (3,327 miles) with prayerful, purposeful journeying. This could be walking, riding bikes, rolling a wheelchair, running - whatever kind of active transport you like, on your own or with others. You can pick up a prayer card to help you with this if you like, or find everything you need here: https://forms.gle/uuicVUWGsG1BbTKUA
forms.gle
The Lord bless your coming and your going.
Rev. Oli Preston
Multiply Minister (Bridlington) and 'Green Dean' for Bridlington Deanery
Christ Church Bridlington Network
Re-Store Appeal
Can you help us support those in need in our community with this weeks appeal? Please donate and/or share.
THANK YOU
Mark Carey writes
We are in an era of limits, less and loss. Even amongst celebrations like the Platinum Jubilee we are all too aware of the challenges of these times. As a Network of 9 expressions of church of many different areas of service and mission, we keep seeking to serve the health and well-being of our communities with the good news that even though there are limits, less and loss – Jesus is Lord.
Last Sunday evening at the 6pm Gathering – you can watch it on https://youtu.be/lcvGNdDeX5I - I shared a couple of things as words of ‘counsel’ for the church at this time. The verse I used is Romans 8:11 “if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you”.
Firstly, if you are feeling limited, less than you once were, the Holy Spirit – the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, dwells in you. Find your voice, recover your voice, use your voice. You are empowered.
Secondly, take hold of the divine commission, the consecration that you have, to be an empowered witness. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead brings life to your mortal body – you are sent as a witness to his great work. Tell your story from the place of your calling – as the Queen was set aside and took her solemn consecration seriously – so must we.
Finally, a word of thanks. Thank you to all you volunteers across the network. There are times when I am simply in awe of the acts of kindness, sacrificial service and love that I witness. This, of course, is as it should be – Jesus came not to be served but to serve. That’s what we do – wherever we sense we are called to serve, and I am aware that service isn’t limited to and exclusive around church settings. I am also praying for the numbers of people who are still searching for how best to serve their call from God. Keep serving the health and well-being of your community.
Rev Mark Carey, Christ Church Bridlington Network
Mark Carey writes
June is going to be a month of events. The national celebrations of the Platinum Jubilee, and more locally the ordinations of Miriam Thurlow, Darius Traves and Steve Cox.
What do these occasions have in common? They are all about a public dedication to a higher purpose. In a sense, all of us are consecrated in baptism but we recognise that there is a benefit, for all of us, in setting aside certain people for certain tasks and responsibilities. I found myself thinking about the decision the disciples made to replace Judas with someone else. Two people were proposed but only one, Matthias, was chosen to become one of the 12 apostles. Does this mean that Barsabbas was not as important as Matthias? No. It simply means that Matthias was the one set aside for that particular role. Some of us are set aside, consecrated publicly, like the Queen, and Miriam and Darius and Steve. But all are, in Jesus’s words, “chosen and appointed to bear fruit, fruit that will last”. My hope and prayer is that each one of us will live our lives as consecrated people – set aside for the high purpose of serving the health and well-being of our communities.
Dates for your diaries
Thursday 2nd June 2.00pm – 5.00pm Free Family Fun-day at Christ Church
Sunday 5th June 6.00pm Gathering. Network commissioning and prayer for Steve Cox and Darius Traves.
Saturday 11th June at 4.00pm. Miriam Thurlow Ordination as Priest. Hull Minster.
Sunday 12th June Miriam Thurlow celebration lunch at Christ Church
Saturday 25th June at 4.30pm. Darius Traves and Steve Cox Ordination as Deacons. York Minster.
Rev. Mark Carey. Christ Church Bridlington Network.
NEW WINE 2022
To be able to run this summer, New Wine need team!
Almost all teams involved in the conference need additional applicants –
There are many ways to serve:
Children’s work or youth work
Café serving, stewarding, site services
Supporting children with additional needs (Our Place) or adults with learning disabilities (Access)
If you have special skills, medical or technical teams
And many more
To apply, go to www.new-wine.org/teams Team places are free of charge, but you can also make a small contribution if you want to receive team catering. New Wine have also just launched “part time team places” (for some teams) which may suit many – perhaps you’d not want to or be able to work a full day but would love to attend, or work your service around your childcare, etc. Part-time team details are here: https://www.new-wine.org/united-pt-team/
And do please pray that God will raise up people to answer the call so that thousands are able to have a lifechanging encounter with God at a time when it is most needed! Thank you.
Oli Preston writes
Last Saturday morning, while the Hear and Encounter day was starting in the main Christ Church building, we had our third ‘Multiply Greenhouse’ gathering in the Key Centre. Greenhouse is a learning community, where we gather as teams who are hearing and responding to God’s call to explore new things - looking and listening for where God is calling us to love and serve, building community, sharing Jesus and seeing church happen. We now have 5 teams who are part of this - all very different, and at different stages. We come together to reflect back on where God has been at work, to be encouraged and equipped, and to prayerfully plan ahead for next steps. It was so exciting on Saturday to share stories of where God has been at work, where we have tried things and it hasn’t worked but we’ve learned and grown, and what God is leading us into now.
When we first started Greenhouse I shared a simple cartoon of a person with a backpack on - the caption is “I’ve no idea where I’m going. Anyone care to join me?”. This is a bit of a jokey way of capturing a really key element of what we are doing - setting off on an adventure together and letting God lead the way. As Mark put it in morning prayer on Tuesday: “Calling will come as we serve. Worry less about the mess than the blessing.”
God is at work. Not just in the Greenhouse teams or the things that already are, but calling all of us to live for Him in every place we are. As Jesus called His first disciples saying simply, “Come, follow Me”, today He invites us too to follow Him in new depth of encounter, belonging and purposeful service. We don’t have to know the destination - we have a very trustworthy Guide.
Rev. Oli Preston
Multiply Minister (Bridlington) and 'Green Dean' for Bridlington Deanery
Mark Carey writes
We read Psalm 46:1-7 during prayers this morning – do remember you can join in at 8.30-9am every Monday to Friday via Zoom or in-person at the Key Centre.
Words from this Psalm were displayed outside Christ Church throughout the most part of the lockdowns and restrictions of 2020/21. They were reminder words that God is our refuge and strength – a very present help in times of trouble. They remain good words for us still – the uproar amongst the nations eg Ukraine, the trouble close to us as we feel the effect of cost of living crisis and many individual experiences of trouble and difficulties. God is in the midst – he is within – God will help. So often we look for external things to help us – when actually it is the external where all the trouble and turmoil is. The Psalm reminds us that God is within us, his help is as close as close could be – in him is all we need. When we see the limits, less and loss of these times we are reminded to see that God is refuge, helper and He lifts his voice. Let’s listen.
Some specific areas for prayer:
Giving: please give in a planned way to the mission and ministry of Christ Church and all our Network Churches. Thank you for your generosity, however, we are finding it very difficult to fund our ministry and pay our utility bills etc at present. Please pray for a release of financial resources and consider raising your giving or starting to give.
Restore: for an increase in donations and funding.
Leaders: many of our key leaders are feeling the strain and effects of having led through some very difficult times.
Miriam Thurlow and Darius Traves: as they head towards ordination in June.
Oli Preston: as a new network church begins, under his leadership, called ‘Branches’.
Morning Prayer 8.30am-9am
Monday-Thursday in the Key Centre
Monday to Friday on Zoom
https://zoom.us/j/96391898886?pwd=NTlHcm12eGl2TXBMODA5eDJacmpVUT09
Meeting ID: 963 9189 8886
Passcode: 1234
Wednesday Evening Worship & Prayer continues - 7pm Christ Church
Mark Carey writes
Thanks for everyone who joined in with the annual meetings we held for our two parishes. Many people, understandably, just think of the one place they belong and have a vague sense of there being more groups, churches and areas of ministry. We choose to see ourselves as a network that allows many people to belong in different ways and we keep ourselves accountable through things like annual meetings and church councils.
I like the idea of being able to belong at different levels and in different ways. It is impossible for us to be able to engage with everything everywhere – so we need to be able to identify where and with whom we most find that sense of belonging in relation to Jesus and others. This is where we get the idea of PeaPods from – people and places of discipleship. We are a network of spaces and places of belonging and there is room for more! Let’s pray for more!
On Saturday 14th we are hosting a ‘Hear and Encounter Day’ – an opportunity to hear the voice of God afresh. Do book in. Details below.
"The times we are in are much more to do with what’s new than what’s next. There are new challenges, opportunities and events that we are having to engage with. Hearing God afresh in this new era and encountering him in a new way is crucial for us to see the kingdom come.
Maybe you’ve never heard God speak or encountered his presence. Perhaps you feel like you're at square one in this, or even you have long-term experience in hearing God and encountering him – wherever you're at we can guarantee that there will be something new for you on this day. Come and join in".
Speakers
Bishop Enrique R. Aguilar // Andy Hall // Steve Weatherill // Tracey Mundie
Hosted by
Mark Carey and Rob Parker
Worship
Julie Cameron-Hall & Nigel Cameron (Celtish). Richard & Chloe Fuller
Registration for “Hear & Encounter” is free.
A collection will be taken to cover costs
(suggested donation £10 per adult)
To register go to
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hear-and-encounter-tickets-310474586847
or email
office@ccbn.org.uk
Annual Parochial Church Meeting 2020/21 Vicar’s Report
Dear Christ Church Network.
It is annual meeting time – after two years of online meetings we can return to doing such things in-person.
I want to highlight some key things. However, let me first thank those who have served on our two Church Councils – Bessingby and Christ Church. Thanks also to our Wardens, Emma Miles and Chaz Walker for Bessingby, and Keith Gibbons and Penny Clarke for Christ Church. Chaz is stepping down this year to focus on a new role as ‘Prayer Champion’ – calling us all to the ministry of prayer and intercession. Thank you, Chaz, for serving so faithfully.
Ken and Maureen Reynard stepped down from their leadership role in Martongate Community Church and a team has taken over to continue to develop this part of the Network. Thank you, Ken and Maureen. St Mark’s Westhill has begun to explore what next as Val Taylor steps down from her Network Leader role shortly. Thank you Val. Overall across the network churches there is an encouraging sense of faith-development in a continued time of uncertainty.
The last year has been shaped by continued response to the Covid-19 Pandemic. It has been a year of returning to corporate in-person worship and adjusting through the lifting of restrictions. It has been a year of gradual adaptation to a context that is continually affected by limits, less and loss. This will be ongoing, because the pandemic is not over yet. The cost- of living crisis, now worsened through war in Ukraine, will continue to mean we have to work out new ways of responding to the challenge of how to ‘live the gospel’ in times like this.
I can’t possibly thank everyone by name. We are blessed across our network to have many leaders and volunteer teams. But special thanks to our network church leaders and teams, and to our paid and volunteer staff. To those who occupy senior leadership roles around me. For the teams who focus in on particular areas – Café, Restore, Restore Hope Hub, CCB Site, Administration and Key Centre, Worship and preaching, Morning Prayer, Families and Children, Tech and hospitality, Discipleship and Alpha.
We have added a Café Manager role, Suzanne Martin, and also clarified the role of Toni Miles as Restore Team Leader. Both are part-time and the plan is that they would be self-sustaining roles – though for Restore we recognize this will be a significant challenge given the demands. Emma Miles has continued to serve across both Bessingby and Christ Church in a planting and community development role.
Miriam Thurlow has joined us as Curate, and Darius Traves on a contextual ordination training placement. Oli Preston has continued to develop the Multiply role of planting church with 20s-40s in mind. During the course of the year Rev Ray Yates and Rev David Phillips have joined our clergy team to serve alongside Revs Margaret and Steve Dye, Rev Michael Chaffey and Rev Dave Chislett.
The PCCs have contributed to the York Diocese Living Christ’s Story initiative to enable local C of E churches in their Deaneries to plan for a future that is defined by being missionary disciples of Christ. Both PCCs have also given the go-ahead for formal discussions and planning regarding becoming a Joint Council across the two parishes and the various churches. As Vicar I am taking a full part in the Deanery Leadership team, serving on the Diocesan Synod and am currently on the advisory panel for the appointment of the new Bishop of Hull. I have also accepted the invitation to serve on the council of reference for the St Hild College of Church Planting. I try to balance these external responsibilities with being around the Christ Church site regularly and supporting the ‘senior’ leadership team in their areas of leadership.
You may be asking ‘what next?’ You will have heard me reframing that to the question ‘what’s new?’ There is no going back. Look at the world around us – it seems familiar and yet there is so much change and uncertainty. I’m seeking to take on the discipline of asking ‘what’s new?’
We are called to be people who ‘live the gospel’ – that is, being good news people in a culture that is very different to the one many of us have grown up in. We have a fantastic opportunity to serve the health and well-being of our communities – but we do it with the humility of acknowledging the reality of less, limits and loss.
We worship and serve with a Lord who is limitless, generous and gracious and who calls us to trust him and his provision. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of developing leaders, gathering disciples and adapting our organization and structure to meet the challenges of this time. Please don’t underestimate how important your faithful and disciplined giving is: both financially and in time and energy.
I find being your Vicar a great privilege and responsibility – thank you for the ongoing support and encouragement. I don’t always find it easy to know how to lead, especially in these uncertain times, and I know I don’t get everything right – thanks for your forgiveness and patience!
Mark Carey writes
Keep an eye on wisdom
We’ve been having problems with the broadband connection on the Christ Church site this week. It is frustrating when this happens and makes you appreciate having a staff member who can work on such things, Thank you, Paul Crabtree. There seem to be a lot of things to be frustrated about. Covid is still very disruptive and frustrating causing the production of From Pharoah to Freedom to be postponed. Those of you suffering from Covid will be feeling frustrated as well as unwell.
Someone once encouraged me to “receive frustration as a gift”. My interpretation of this is that when I am feeling frustrated, I must ask and answer the two discipleship questions: What is God saying? What am I going to do about it? Otherwise, what I do is respond in ways that aren’t healthy. As those who were able to be in-person on Sunday evening I briefly shared about my visit to the dentist - they pointed out that hidden in the gum at the back of my jaw is a wisdom tooth - she said “we are going to keep an eye on that”. What struck me is what she said: “We are going to keep any eye on that”. Let’s keep an eye on ‘wisdom’ especially at this time - God has all the wisdom we need.
To help you activate faith in relation to wisdom I suggest you read, meditate on and pray through Solomon's dream in 1 Kings 3:6-15.
Do remember that Michael Hart's funeral is being held on Tuesday 5th April 1pm in Christ Church. It will not be live-streamed.
On Easter Sunday morning the 10.30 gathering will have an opportunity for baptism and recommitment to Jesus. Some people are already preparing for this - if you want to join in then please get in touch with the network office
Mark Carey writes
Housekeeping. Part of human life is housekeeping. I have a brother and two sisters – in our family home we had our roles and responsibilities- things we did that helped us all live well together. Things that meant the guest was always welcome and that the responsibility to do practical things didn't fall on one person. Things that meant our living environment served a way of life that honoured God’s call to serve him, sharing faith with others. I say this now with the benefit of hindsight because as a teenager I hated the housekeeping things! Looking back – I learned some disciplines that have served me well in adult life and taught me much about living as a disciple. Just look at the amount of times the disciples ended up doing housekeeping tasks! I’m reminded of Jesus’s words ‘the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve….”
What has this got to do with anything? Well – I guess I want to remind us that this is the way we seek to live across this Network. We are a number of different households, and one household – together we get to be able to ensure that our life, together, is safe, healthy, welcoming and faith sharing whichever part of the network we identify with.
We take on the disciplines of this – serving each other but as family, household. You will see below some information about giving – households can’t run well without financial resources. We have continued to experience God’s financial care and provision through the generosity of many of you. But not all are contributing on this level – please think and pray on this – even a little helps to serve our shared mission.
Soon you will be hearing about annual meetings and roles that help our shared life together. Please consider your part in this and whether you can offer support. You might be able to serve as one of our Trustees on our church councils, or in some other capacity. I’m currently looking for someone to take on a secretarial role for one of our church councils – involving minute-taking and helping with communication. Can you help?
Update
Chaz Walker has accepted my invitation to take a lead role in championing prayer – the way God has been working in his life points towards serving in this way alongside his role with St Andrew’s, Ulrome with Margaret.
Darius Traves has been with us training for ordination and his training will continue as Assistant Curate licensed to this network and also serving during the week as one of the chaplains to the University of York, St John. He will be especially involved at St Mark’s, Westhill – not as Vicar but rather serving as a member of clergy to help the congregation grow and develop.
Rev. Mark Carey. Christ Church Bridlington Network.
Giving
Thank you for your generosity. Your giving really does make a difference, it funds everything that we do, from supporting Re-store & our work in the community to children & families work & keeping the buildings warm & welcoming.
Important notice for all –
Weekly giving envelopes – although we are not supplying new dated envelopes, we do have previous years envelopes spare, if you still wish to use this means of giving. Please contact Tracey Matravers or Keith Gibbons (email: finance@ccbn.org.uk)
Gift Aid - If any of your details have changed in the last 2 years, please could you complete a new Gift Aid Declaration Form (to comply with HMRC regulations). These are available at the back of church or from the finance office. If your tax status has changed & you no longer pay income tax, please let the finance office know, so we can amend our records.
Other ways of giving
· Standing Order – Forms are available at the back of church, from finance office or on the website.
· QR Code – Posted around church (scan & donate from your phone)
· Donate button on the website.
· Cash in collection plate/bucket
· Cheque: Please make payable to - Christ Church Bridlington PCC
· Soon to come….Contactless card payment point.
If you are eligible to Gift Aid your donation, that really does make a difference. For every £10 you give we can claim back £2.50 from the Government.
Sad news to share.
After a long illness Michael Hart died peacefully on Saturday 19th March.
Michael has been a key leader in Christ Church for many years - a man of prayer, great integrity - his faith influenced many others.
There is no further information yet - please do not to call round or ring Polly for the time being so she and the family can have some space. Let us all hold Polly and the family in our prayers.
“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”
Mark Carey writes
Be like Habakkuk
There once was a man with a strange name - Habakkuk. Next to nothing is known about him - the book of the Bible bearing his name only reveals his interaction with God way back around 612 BC. His words, however, have great resonance for us right now.
Because he asked ‘Why?’ Why did this powerful Babylonian empire seem to get away with terrible things even against God's own people? How could God allow such suffering? He protested at profound injustice - and he didn't much like the responses he received. Yet he held the strong belief that God would go about His sovereign work… that God would save.
Near the end of the book he says the following
"I heard and my heart pounded,
my lips quivered at the sound;
decay crept into my bones,
and my legs trembled.
Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity
to come on the nation invading us."
The message of Habakkuk is that God knows what He is doing - He can be trusted - even when great catastrophe is being visited upon innocents. Despite his whole body showed the symptoms of trauma, anxiety and fear Habakkuk could still say "Yet I will wait patiently..." - he focusses his attention on trusting his Lord because he knows God is…. a God who acts.
With our awareness of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the great threat to global security - let us wait upon God - for the day of calamity to come upon the invading nation. Let us repent of our complacency that has led the nations into such a terrible time and let's pray for our national leaders, international diplomacy, and the people of Ukraine as they fight and flee the aggressor.
Habakkuk goes on to say, "yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour."
So, what do we do at this time?
Wait patiently and rejoice!
This is simple, yet at the same time hard to do. But if Habakkuk could do it….. so can we!
Rev. Mark Carey. Christ Church Bridlington Network.