Dear friends,
Welcome
I wonder, what does the word ‘Welcome’ mean for you? For me, it’s about being accepted for who I am, offering and receiving generous hospitality and experiencing a sense of belonging.
“All are welcome” is something all churches say, and we are no exception. We pride ourselves on having greeters on the door. making sure we chat to people who may be new and providing spaces to be alongside our wider community.
For the last several months, England flags have been appearing on flag posts and roundabouts. Now let’s be clear, there’s nothing wrong with being proud of your country. I’m very proud to be Scottish! Yet when the flags popped up a few months ago there was a deep undercurrent of hostility rather than welcome to those from overseas seeking sanctuary or a home in the UK.
By contrast, welcome is one of the foundations of our faith, and following Jesus’ Way today is about exemplifying the holy habit of hospitality. Time and time again, we see in Jesus’s encounters, hospitality is not to be directed only towards those who may share the same faith, ethnicity or culture.
Jesus’ words: ‘Whoever welcomes you welcomes me’ and teaching reminds us that each person is made in the image of God. And when we welcome another, we welcome God in whose image we are all made.
Jesus’ followers were likely rather uncomfortable hearing him talk about this kind of welcome. In the Judea of the first century everyone was defined and identified by the groups they belonged to: family, tribe, religion, region, social status, profession. And who you welcomed in your home or place of worship, mattered.
Clear religious and cultural boundaries delineated who belonged, and who was part of the community. One of the main criticisms levelled at Jesus during His ministry was that he kept breaking these rules. He kept welcoming, and allowing himself to be welcomed by, all sorts of people. Jesus was constantly extending and expanding his welcome.
What if we did the same? What might that look like? How might we begin to offer others this kind of radical welcome? Because when we welcome others, we don’t just welcome them, we welcome those communities they belong to, and we welcome Christ in whose image we are all made.
In our churches, communities and world today, walking the way of Jesus today needs to be guided by actively welcoming and being hospitable.
Nicola
| CALENDAR | |||
| JULY | |||
| 5th | SUNDAY | 10.45am | Morning Worship led by Rev Phil Chilvers |
| 12th | SUNDAY | 10.45am | Morning Worship including the Sacrament of Holy Communion led by Rev Karl Hanton, Chaplain to the Leeds Universities |
| 14th | Tuesday | 12.30pm | Guild Lunch |
| 15th | Wednesday | 9.30am | Elders’ Meeting |
| 19th | SUNDAY | 10.45am | Morning Worship led by Rev Phil Chilvers |
| 26th | SUNDAY | 9.30am | Morning Worship at Headingley Methodist Church. No service at Headingley St Columba |
| 29th | Wednesday | 2pm-4pm | Church Summer Tea Party |
CHURCH SUMMER TEA PARTY
We shall be holding a Summer Afternoon Tea Party on Wednesday, 29th July starting at 2 o’clock.
All are welcome to join us although it would be helpful if you could add your name to the list in the Small Hall at coffee time to help with the catering.
(No last minute reminder as we shall be at HMC on 26th July!)
MEET THE TEAM – ALEX WALKER
Earlier this year it was agreed that we, the Ministry Team, would write short introductions of ourselves in an attempt for the Leeds Partnership congregations to get to know us and what makes us tick. This month it’s my turn.
My faith journey is unremarkable. I was taken to Foley Park Methodist church in Kidderminster, where my mother was on the council, as a child and stayed. I committed my life to Christ at 14 after an odd Vancouver Blessing service where I saw nothing of God in the histrionics and rather in the places I found myself. If God isn’t in the normal places, where is he after all?! This thinking has shaped my ministry to this day.
Most of you have probably heard me preach before but perhaps haven’t heard what inspires or touches me. My favourite Old Testament verses are Judges 3:12-20, the story of the King Eglon of Moab and Ehud. My favourite Psalm is Psalm 121; I lift my eyes to the hills. My help comes from the Lord. Some days I need more than I’d care to admit. There is a beautifully sung version of the Psalm sung by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. My favourite New Testament passage is Matthew 17:1-21. The transfiguration and Jesus healing a boy.
All of this is well and good, but who is Alex? I’m going to share with you six factoids that I hope explain more about the person under the hair.
1) I am named after Alex Higgins, the snooker player, who won the world championship just before I was born. I have neither his cue skills nor his drinking habits!
2) I grew up on what was, at the time, the fourth poorest housing estate in England. We lived there until my parents had worked and saved enough to buy a house. I have seen, and survived, the effects of poverty.
3) I was diagnosed with dyslexia three weeks after passing my joint honours B(Ed) degree at Worcester University. I passed my music degree not being able to sight read music. Still can’t.
4) I met Kate (Mrs Walker) when I was 15 when we were put together in a group for a GCSE music project. My mother thought she was better than that. Most days she was right!
5) Michael, my 13-year-old son, is named after both of his grandfathers. Neither of whom lived to meet him. Conversely, my own grandfather is 99 and turns 100 in December.
6) I trained as a Maths teacher but was so bad I got put in the music block where I found my calling in life.
I hope this paints a picture of who I am and helps you to understand why I was led into my role as Elder in Local Leadership. I enjoy visiting all our churches and I hope this leads to us all sharing a deeper connection and sense of togetherness.
With Blessings, Alex Walker.
A few years ago, while it was celebrating its year as the UK City of Culture, we spent a couple of full days in Hull visiting some of its most memorable buildings. We were most fortunate in our guides, David and Susan Neave, who had edited the latest edition of the Pevsner guide and their knowledge of the history of the city as well as of its architecture made for a fascinating visit.
The importance and wealth of Hull as a major trading port were obvious everywhere, but our eyes were opened to the influence of their commerce with the Baltic states and with Amsterdam in the architecture and the materials used. Sadly, however, as we walked through the city in the morning it now lacked the hustle and bustle that we were used to in Leeds. Container shipping has taken world trade elsewhere.
We spent a morning at the Wilberforce House museum, the birthplace of William Wilberforce where the degree of inhumanity shown by one human being to another is hard to comprehend. His battle to stop this horrendous trade and free the enslaved, fought alongside his fellow campaigners, waged for 30 years. It met strong resistance and it is appalling to think that it is still a battle being fought as campaigners struggle to show that many still exist under different forms of slavery.
But despite all the conflict and inequalities we are see about us or are told about in the news, it is positive to see nations and peoples coming together in this summer of sport whether it be football, cricket, tennis or, at the end of the month, The Commonwealth Games.
Within its Calendar, the Church of England remembers William Wilberforce and the anti-slavery campaigners, Olaudah Equiano and Thomas Clarkson, on 30th July.
Our Guild Lunch will be on Tuesday, 14th July. Do join us if you like a change of venue for one lunch this month and the company of some good friends. It does not matter if you cannot make a regular commitment – to continue the theme – you are welcome! Venue- the Small Hall: time – about 12.30pm – cost- £4.
Lorand is also pictured with his godparents, Borislava and Aimon. We all shared in the celebration over coffee and delicious cake.
Nicola attended the URC Youth Executive weekend meeting in June where she supports them as their chaplain. Her photo was taken with their mascot Jeremy.
The rose celebrating our 60th Anniversary is now in full bloom and joins the roses celebrating the lives of members and friends in our church garden.
