Newsletter May 2026

Dear friends,
On 24 May, we celebrate with churches across the world – the day of Pentecost. The scene of Pentecost is vividly depicted in the Bible. Roughly one hundred and twenty people are assembled in a room, feeling rather lost and despondent and unsure about what to do without Jesus. Then suddenly they experience an extraordinary storm. A violent wind, sparks, flames. And they are ‘bewildered’, ‘amazed’, ‘astonished.’

The people, both in this room as well as in the growing crowd outside, breaks out in wild chatter. Chatter in dozens of languages from across the globe. In the Book of Acts from the Bible, the writer, Luke uses the verb ‘hear’ three times in his narrative. A better translation would be ‘to listen’. It is important to capture the active, purposeful nature of the verb. The emphasis of the passage is on listening rather than speaking. Listening to where the Holy Spirit is leading by listening to one another.

Similarly, in Jesus’ encounters with people have you ever noticed how He listens deeply to their story. In listening to their stories, He gives people His full attention which shows their story, their lives matter and are worthy and important. THAT is God’s love in action.
And we can do the same. We can embody and share God’s love when we take the time to listen to another person’s story. Giving someone our time and full attention shows them that their life matters and is important.

In our current context, where people’s views on many issues are so entrenched, where the rhetoric is angry and violent, listening is key. In our city of Leeds, listening has been key at the protests and counter-protests where asylum seekers have been housed. For the last few months there has been gatherings at Seacroft. On one side of the road are the group of anti-migrant protestors. On the other side of the road, are a group of counter-protestors. Both sides, liberally equipped with flags, megaphones, and chants. Both sides trying its hardest to drown the other side out.

I’ve been part of a third group, made up of all faiths and none, who come together, with one aim. Our group is there to listen. Listen to each side. Listening to new ideas and experiences. Because listening is transformational. Listening changes both listener and listened to. It helps us see our lives and world differently. It helps us to see beyond our own perspective or worldview.

There’s a beautiful quote by Epictetus:

“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”

I wonder, where are the opportunities for us to take time to listen?

You could listen to someone of a different race/culture/sexuality.
You could listen to someone from a different generation.
You could listen to the groaning of Creation.

So, this month I invite us to embody the spirit of Pentecost by opening our ears and hearts to each other in our churches, communities and world.

Nicola

CALENDAR
MAY
3rd	SUNDAY	10.45am	Morning Worship led by Rev Phil Chilvers
CHRISTIAN AID WEEK
10th	SUNDAY	10.30am	Morning Worship at West Park URC (Leeds Marathon)
12th	Tuesday	12.30pm	Guild Lunch
17th	SUNDAY	10.45am	Morning Worship led by Rev Phil Chilvers
24th	SUNDAY	10.45am	PENTECOST. Morning Worship, including the Sacrament of Holy Communion, led by Rev Angela Huges, LURC Partnership Ministry Team
31st	SUNDAY	10.45am	Morning Worship led by our Minister, Rev Dr Nicola Robinson We shall be joined by our friends from Headingley Methodist Church

LENT PROJECT

A huge thank you to all who supported our Lent Project – Self Help Africa. A fantastic total of £1,465 was raised of which £805 was Gift Aided. Their vision is for sustainable livelihoods and healthy lives for all in a changing climate and I’m sure our contribution will be most welcome.
Susan Bollon

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK 10th to 16th May 2026.
 
“FAITHFUL ACTION”

Where hardship means hunger…urban farmers can grow hope.
In the crowded and bustling settlements of Nairobi, most parents wake every single day knowing that they must go and earn money, otherwise their children won’t eat that evening.
It’s a precarious and frightening daily struggle that no family should have to face.

Christian Aid says “with tools and training from our partner, Beacon of Hope, parents are farming vegetables in a small city plot to feed their families and earn an income.”

In the “daily devotional” which is produced for Christian Aid Week they tell about families helped by our donations. I know that you all generously support ‘CHRISTIAN AID’.

After discussion we have decided just to collect at Church again this year as I have found it
difficult to fill slots at the garage in the past.

Unfortunately, road closures mean we are unable to hold a service start of Christian Aid Week and as I am away on 3rd May I am leaving the Daily Devotionals and Collection envelopes ready for distribution in the vestibule. Please return envelopes on 17th May. Thank you.

Joan McShane

Meet the Team: Rev Angela Hughes:

My first memory of Church was when I was allowed to join the Girls Life Brigade as a cadet at Stanmore Baptist Church, North London. I must have been 7 or 8. I loved it. The new friends, games, competitions, gymnastics and of course Jesus! A whole new world full of opportunity was opened up. Alongside this, my education at a Roman Catholic Convent widened my perspective and piqued my curiosity.

At 18 I was baptised as a believer in the Baptist Church and it was soon after this, that I met Donald (a Baptist from Wales) on a Youth Club trip to Austria and a few years later we were married in the Baptist Church with a Guard of Honour from the Girls Life Brigade. And that was 66 years ago.

Moving up to Leeds where Donald, a Medical Physicist, had a new job, we became members at Harehills Lane Baptist Church where Donald played the organ and I taught in the Sunday School. When we moved onto the High Ashes in North Leeds we became founder members at Wigton Moor Congregational Church – soon to become United Reformed. In due course we had 3 children Karen, Mark and Jonathan.

Establishing this new church on this new estate was challenging and I remember the sterling work done by Revd Constance Clark who became an extra Grandmother for our children. What a role model! I also remember the strong support for Wigton Moor from St Andrew’s Elders at this time.

In the late 1980s I became an Elder and Church Secretary (Moira’s predecessor), one of the first representatives on Mission Council and active on other national committees. A great overview of ‘how the United Reformed Church works’ – no hierarchy – consiliar at every level. Meanwhile at home, following a very brief career with the Medical Research Council in Mill Hill, I oversaw the running of a small publishing company which specialised in scientific publications – a hobby for Donald, and a job for me.

And then I had what I often call an ‘aha’ moment. In spite of my involvement in church life, I was conflicted. Faith and action – personal salvation and social justice. How did I reconcile the two?

It was a time of reading, thought and prayer. Encouraged by Revd Andrew Francis, our Minister, I went with him to the Leeds Anabaptist Group and shortly after this I committed, similar to Geoff, to the WORKSHOP Christian Discipleship Course. This was life-changing. Faith to be real involved action – personal salvation surely led to social justice. ‘Just as I have loved you,’ says Jesus, ‘you also should love one another.’ (John 13:34). Ecumenically, theologically, spiritually I felt I had come home. It was this peace – shalom – that I felt called to share with others.

Following four years at Northern College, I was ordained in 1997 as a Non-Stipendiary Minister and inducted into the Leeds District Council. I spent time at St Paul’s Harrogate setting up a Team for their Youth work, I moved to The Church in Cottingley where I discovered the joy of community ministry and estate mission. And then I moved to Stainbeck where I was charged with establishing an ecumenical community project now InterACT. But that is all another story!

Following the establishment of the project, Stainbeck called me to pastoral ministry and I was inducted as their Minister in 2005. I was Synod Pastoral Elder before Sheana and tasked with the job of forming a partnership of the Leeds churches.

Then in 2022 it was all change. At last! I moved on to become part of the current Ministry Team for the evolving Leeds Partnership

Although sadly we lost our son Jonathan in the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, our family has grown over the years – we have three grandsons and two greatgrandchildren. Nine years ago we down-sized to a retirement flat in Roundhay – not an easy move but in retrospect one for which we are thankful.

We look back over great family holidays; seaside, mostly wet until we discovered camping in France. Donald’s work took us over the pond to Minnesota in the United States where we managed some holiday to travel down to Los Alamos and New Mexico – taking an over-active two year old daughter. We spent time in Iran and Hong Kong – good memories but so long ago. We went to Thailand and out to the little island of Phi Phi Dom to see where our son had been on that Boxing Day morning in 2004

Why am I still ‘working’? I can only say because I enjoy what I do and still feel that call. I still feel passionate about community, ecumenism and the ongoing possibilities of new beginnings and change and if there is a useful role for me at enabling this to evolve – count me in! Alongside this I know that I must be very aware of the right time to step back and that I must listen to the words of others and to that inner voice which is of God.

I have also discovered that age brings perspective and a degree of peace about the future. And that is new. Confirming my trust that I will know what to lay down and when to do it. Angela

EASTER COFFE MORNING

An enjoyable morning was had on Easter Saturday when we shared time with our friends across the Partnership, eating hot cross buns and sharing news. One or two people brought their Easter creations; a flower, car, garden, tree. We also raised £57 for our Lent Project. Thank you to all those who took time to join us.

Easter eggs were also delivered to the Women’s Refuge where they were very gratefully received and we were thanked for our continued support.

Susan Bollon

GUILD LUNCH

Our May lunch will be held on Tuesday 12th May, meeting as usual at about 12.30pm for lunch at 1 o’clock. Please put the date in your diary as there will not be a reminder the previous Sunday when the Leeds Marathon and Half Marathon close the Otley Road to traffic. All welcome, but we are grateful to know if you can join us – so please let Elissa Grant or Margaret Brownjohn know.

April was a special month for us when we celebrated our 60th Anniversary. And a special month for the country as we remembered the late Queen and her long life of service, on the centenary of her birth.

But each month is now full of ‘special days’. Many promote health issues, encourage change of life-style, animal welfare or cultural matters.

The month of May is no exception and here are a few that may interest you:

A Screen-free week, a Walk to School week, a Sun awareness week, Christian Aid Week, World Asthma Day, National Children’s Day, Nurses Day.

International Gilbert & Sullivan Day, Museum Week, Dracula Day, Eurovision, and, of course, May the 4th be with you on Star Wars Day!

 
World Bee Day, World Tea Day, Biodiversity Day, Turtle Day and Africa Day.

But personally, I am thinking of celebrating ‘National Biscuit Day’ on 29th May, National Doughnut Week 16th – 24th May (this supports the Children’s Trust for brain injury) and World Laughter Day on the 3rd.

A HAPPY CELEBRATION

On Sunday, 26th April we celebrated the 60th Anniversary of the commencement of the building of a new church for Cavendish Road Presbyterian Church on this site. Now, St Columba’s, the building would soon see the change from a Presbyterian Church to a United Reformed Church and would then join with what had been Headingley Hill Congregational Church to become Headingley St Columba URC.

Quite a few people who witnessed that beginning, both as members and friends, worshipped with us and enjoyed lunch at our celebration. Happy memories of old friends were shared, past celebrations and fund – raising activities remembered and some ‘shock’ as we considered the way we took youngsters on outings, hosted large children’s parties and ran Sports Days, without a nod to ‘Health and Safety’.

We were joined by friends from local churches and our partnership churches in Leeds. We shared a delicious Buffet lunch and, just as the Church had been full with praise and song, so the hall was full of laughter and chatter. A cake was cut by our Minister, Nicola, and a longstanding member, Beth, and shared by all.

Memories were evoked by old photographs, pictures and documents and ‘Leeds Stitch & Textile Group’ displayed some of their beautiful work – just one of the many groups who use our buildings.

 

Our thanks to everyone who helped to make this such a happy celebration and to all our guests who helped us to enjoy it!