I imagine like me you have been shocked by the devastation in Pakistan. One third of the country under water; 500,000 people in relief camps and more than 700,000 livestock killed. The scale is unimaginable. The UN has launched an appeal and having discussed the situation with our Wardens and Treasurers I am inviting you to be involved. There will be a donation point in church in addition to our usual Sunday collection, there will also be forms to allow you to send money directly which will mean that gift aid can be claimed back and you can also give on line to the British Red Cross who are working with the Red Crescent who already have feet on the ground in Pakistan and also the Disasters Emergency Committee. I know times are challenging just now but if everyone can give just a little that really does amount to a lot. (Photograph opposite :People wait for relief in Sukkur, Sindh province, Photograph: Waqar Hussain/EPA)
Here are the dates for your diary. Our Harvest Services are important occasions in all the villages. The one at Bishop Wilton will mark the launch of a new monthly family service on the fourth Sunday at 10.15 replacing the usual 11.15 Holy Communion:
Remembrance Sunday 13th November
This is always a very special day in our villages. Do feel welcome at either of our services where those who have given their lives across all five villages are remembered.
09.15 Bugthorpe – Eucharist in Church followed by Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial outside the Institute and refreshments in the Hall
10.55 Bishop Wilton – please be in church before the 11.00 silence and we will then share in our Remembrance Service
St Edith’s Christmas Fayre
Saturday 26th November 10.00 in the Village Hall
Don’t forget to come, enjoy seeing friends and doing some Christmas shopping whilst enjoying a cuppa.
Archbishop of York to Visit: 27th November
11.15 Kirby Underdale followed by reception in Bishop Wilton Village Hall
And on Saturday 26th November 4.00pm “From Darkness to Light: Advent Music and Reflections”
We are delighted that Stephen Cottrell, the 98th Archbishop of York, will be visiting the Benefice on the 27th November, Advent Sunday at 11.15 in Kirby Underdale. Part of the reason for the visit is to see the Malines Window and discover the place of Garrowby in developing ecumenical relations with the RC Church. Some of you will remember the service that I led for the Malines delegation some years ago which was very special. Our worship will be enriched by the Garrowby Singers. On the evening before Saturday November 26th at 4.00pm in St Edith’s Bishop Wilton the Garrowby Singers will lead us in a time of reflection as Advent begins and we look forward to Christmas “From Darkness to Light”. This is always a very special evening and all are welcome.
The Garrowby Churches are set in the Yorkshire Wolds, and consists of 5 parishes. As worshipping communities we aim to grow ourselves in our faith and discipleship, support and engage with our local communities and bring new people to Christ.
We are blessed with beautiful buildings and faithful commitment from our congregations. As we continue to grow together, we are being enabled to offer a variety of worship and outreach. Lay ministry and leadership is key to all we offer, and encouraged as we endeavour to open the Kingdom and its values to all.
The Christian faith is focused on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. We also believe his death achieved something very special: the opportunity to reconnect with the God that we might believe in but might sometimes feel remote from.
We believe that Jesus was not just a human being but, in some way that we cannot fully understand, God as well. We believe in God the Father, the creator of the entire universe, and the Holy Spirit, who is the way we can experience Jesus today. Not three gods but one, who together are described as the ‘Trinity’ – a description not so much of philosophy but of the relationship at the heart of God.
In the most famous Christian prayer we pray ‘Our Father…’ This creator God wants a relationship with us, for us to be his children and to give us, as Jesus says, ‘life in all its fulness’ (John 10.10).
