Newsletter February 2026

Following Jesus

A new acquaintance of mine recently asked: when did you find Jesus and decide to follow him? As I took time to consider, I realised that Jesus has always been a part of my life. I can’t remember a time when I ‘found’ Jesus or was not aware of him. He’s always been there. He was present in the stories we read and the prayers we prayed at home, at church and at school. And I learnt that following was about how those stories about Jesus gave us a really good example of how to treat each other, ourselves and our world.

In my teens, I remember that those stories became more difficult. I continued praying and reading the Bible. But there was disconnect with Jesus’ stories of loving people and being in a church where I didn’t feel truly accepted for me.

Later, I experienced Jesus’ love in a church community where I was seen and treated as someone made in the image of God. And this was transformational in reigniting my faith in a God we see in Jesus, who reaches out to all who are marginalised or demonised.

The more important question for me then is: why do I still follow Jesus? I follow Jesus because his encounters and interactions help guide me to listen to people’s stories, act and speak out against injustice and stand up for the most vulnerable in society.

Crucially I believe that like Jesus’ disciples then, we, too, are called to follow Jesus as part of a community. A community which tries to live out that calling collectively in supporting and being alongside our neighbours locally and globally.

So, I ask you the same question: what does following Jesus mean to you?

This year our Leeds URC Partnership course during Lent is called Journeys of Discipleship with Matthew’s Gospel. Over 5 weeks, the people we meet in Matthew’s Gospel respond to Jesus, and gradually bring us closer to him and to his passion, with opportunities to reflect on our own journeys of discipleship. The aim is to take up the challenge to understand and to follow for “then” and for “now”.

I’m going to take part in this time to share and explore together, it’s going to be really good, why don’t you come too?

Nicola

A NEW MEMBER OF THE LEEDS PARTNERSHIP MINISTRY TEAM

Most of you will know by now that, following a weekend of informal get-togethers over coffee and tea, and the leading of Café-style worship at Beeston Hill LPC and a more traditional style service at our own Church, Edward Lyne was invited to become a member of our Ministry Team. There was a resounding vote in favour of the invitation following worship at HStC, and we were pleased to hear that Ed was equally happy to accept the call.

Ed has to complete his studies and placement and his Ordination and Induction will take place in the autumn.

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN HEADINGLEY
 

Churches Together will again be holding lunches on Fridays during Lent.

Each church will host a lunch and, as in recent years, please bring your own lunch and, perhaps, something to be shared, and drinks will be provided. The suggested theme is ‘Welcome’. We shall meet at about 12.15 pm, when there will be a short talk of about 15mins followed by lunch. If you have not been able to attend in the past, do think about coming; it is an opportunity not only to hear an interesting speaker but to share friendship with our neighbouring churches.

Please make a note that will shall be hosting the final lunch on Friday, 27th March, and your support with refreshments on that day will be greatly appreciated.

In Memoriam: Rev Dr Elizabeth Brown 6th November 1934 – 13th December 2025

Many of us were able to attend the Thanksgiving Service for Liz Brown, at Stainbeck Church where, as part of that Service, we learnt about her faithful, varied and courageous life.

Rev Angela Hughes was a good friend to Liz for 35 years and, with access to Liz’s papers, she and Moira Gallagher compiled a tribute to an amazing woman.

Liz was brought up in Enfield, North London, an only child who found lifelong friendship with her cousin, Joan, after the families spent Christmases together. She attended Palmers Green Presbyterian Church, thoroughly enjoyed the experience of being a Girl Guide and after graduating from Girton College, Cambridge, with a degree in Mathematics and Geography and obtaining her teaching certificate, taught at Portsmouth High School. But Liz felt the need to put her faith into action and after attending Carey Hall Missionary College in Birmingham, she was called as a missionary to Taiwan.

Liz left for Taiwan in 1961 and spent 2 years learning Mandarin and Taiwanese in Taipei and then worked in the University Christian Service Centre in Tainan and taught English at Chen Kung University. In 1976, she was called to be acting Assistant Secretary to the General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan General Assembly and relocated to Taipei. An appointment which became permanent. The Church challenged the authoritarian government – putting forward statements concerning human rights and was constantly under threat with its offices regularly raided. It was during this time that former General Secretary (the late) Rev. Dr. C. M. Kao was imprisoned and Liz Brown proved to be invaluable, a wise, trusted and courageous coworker. Communication between the churches and abroad was difficult with letters opened and phones tapped and Liz inaugurated a system using the railways to keep the more than 1,000 churches aware of events. This harsh regime was in power during all her time serving in Taiwan.

But Liz’s calling to serve God through the ministry never left her and she returned to the UK in 1984 to pursue theological studies at the Westminster College, Cambridge and the Taiwan Theological College and Seminary. On her ordination in June 1985 she returned to Taiwan for what would be her last term of service. In 1989, she took up her final post, coming back to England, and making her home in Leeds serving as URC chaplain to the Institutes of Higher Education, which she held until her retirement in 2000.

During her time at the chaplaincy, where her life experience must have been invaluable to students, particularly from overseas, Liz held other posts within the URC, but she was able to give full rein to her other interests on retirement. In 2000, she had an 8 month holiday in Australia, sending a record of her travels via numerous postcards. She walked from Lands End to John O’Groats and completed the full Santiago de Compostela Pilgrimage (just two of her many ‘pilgrimages’). She was a member of the Iona Community and a member – and often secretary – of a number of societies.

It must have given her much joy to have been awarded a doctorate from Taiwan Theological College in 2005 and she was invited to return for a visit to Taiwan – a country which remained close to her heart all her life and with which she always retained connections and friends.

In 2008, she bought a camper van and toured Scotland with her cousin Joan. Sadly her eyesight deteriorated in recent years and eventually she had to give up her flat in Far Headingley and move to Headingley Hall where she received the care she needed. Her last years were not easy, but she joined us for worship when she was able and also for our monthly lunches – an inspiration to us all.

LENT PROJECT

It is our custom to support a home Charity and an overseas charity in alternate years. This year it was decided at Church Meeting to support the charity ‘Self–Help Africa’.

We are sure you will support this charity with your usual generosity

The Poet and Theologian, Malcolm Guite has written a series of sonnets about the Temptations of Christ. This is the first.

He is happy to have his work reproduced, copyright free, with attribution.

STONES INTO BREAD

The Fountain thirsts, the Bread is hungry here,
The Light is dark, the Word without a voice.
When darkness speaks it seems so light and clear.
Now he must dare, with us, to make a choice.
In a distended belly’s cruel curve
He feels the famine of the ones who lose,
He starves for those whom we have forced to starve
He chooses now for those who cannot choose.
He is the staff and sustenance of life,
He lives for all from one sustaining Word,
His love still breaks and pierces like a knife
The stony ground of hearts that never shared,
God gives through him what Satan never could;
The broken bread that is our only food.

GUILD LUNCH

Our Guild Lunch will be held on Tuesday 10th February, meeting, as usual, at about 12.30pm for lunch at 1 o’clock. This year our lunch does not fall on Shrove Tuesday as it often does, but we shall still be having pancakes, so perhaps this gives you the opportunity to enjoy a second helping the following week. All are welcome – just let us know you would like to come

OUR PARTNERSHIP LENT COURSE

This year, we’re very pleased that our material has been written by Rev Dr Rosalind Selby and is called: Journeys of Discipleship with Matthew’s Gospel. It’s based on Matthew as the lectionary Gospel for 2025-2026. The people we meet respond to Jesus, and gradually bring us closer to him and to his passion, with opportunities to reflect on our own journeys of discipleship. The aim is to take up the challenge to understand and to follow for “then” and for “now”.

When you move into a new house with a garden, you may have little idea of what previous owners have planted and which plants will find it their ‘happy place’. We moved into our Leeds home from the suburbs of London in late Autumn and the following February were greeted with swathes of snowdrops. We soon learnt that they were undaunted by the bitter winters of the early 1980’s. Of course, we had snowdrops in the south but somehow nothing like the profusion found in northern gardens, woodlands and along country lanes. Over the years, Aleck has added to our collection, split them and nurtured them and I like to think that some of the original ones are still poking their heads through during the coldest days. They bring us great joy every year.

Flowering at a time when there is little else, the snowdrop must be one of the most recognisable of flowers, so perhaps that is why there are several legends and superstitions attached to this delicate plant. Here is a favourite.

There are other darker superstitions about the snowdrop, but let us stay with this one of hope. The Scottish poet George Wilson concludes his poem ‘The Origin of the snowdrop’ with the lines;

“And thus the snowdrop, like the bow
That spans the cloudy sky,
Becomes a symbol whence we know
That brighter days are nigh. ”