Dear friends
Beloved
This month, we continue to journey through the Season of Lent. A season in which we journey towards Easter. A season when we are encouraged to stop and notice what matters most in life. Stop and notice God.
It feels important we remember that before Jesus entered the wilderness, as he does at the start of Lent, he did not go without a blessing. He did not venture into that challenging terrain, without hearing himself named by God: Beloved.
In our own lives, there are times we can experience our own wildernesses.
The wilderness of long-term physical and/or mental illness. The wilderness of grieving for a loved one. The wilderness of feeling unsafe and afraid to come out. The wilderness of losing our job/independence/security.
Yet in this wilderness, as we recognised at Christmas – Emmanuel – God with us. God with us in the pain. God with us in our loss and sickness. God with us in our fear. God with us in the moments of joy. God with us in looking forward to a hopeful future.
As we journey through Lent, we, too, should not begin this journey without a blessing. We should not miss hearing: “Beloved” sounding in our ear. The message that each and every person, each and every life and part of this Earth is beloved.
Because God’s abundant love in and for everything impacts on absolutely everything in our lives and world, including: the way we treat our earth, the way we treat our local and global neighbours, the way we treat ourselves.
At times we may feel small, old, broken, useless, a failure . . . but looked at in God’s eyes, there is so much more to every being and every life. It is true of every person and each part of Creation; all are Beloved. This belovedness cannot be changed or taken away.
In the words of Rev Sarah Speed from “The Bravest Thing We Can Do”:
Trust your belovedness.
Let it be a protest,
an act of resistance,
a song of celebration.
Trust your belovedness in a world
that is rarely satisfied.
Wear it like a badge of honor.
Speak it as confidently as your last name.
Tattoo it to your heart.
When outside forces
chip away at your sense of self,
when life asks you
to hand over the keys,
remember.
Remember creation.
Remember how it was good,
so very good.
Let that truth hum through your veins.
Sing it so loud
that it drowns out the weariness of the world,
for the bravest thing we can ever do
is trust that we belong here.
Nicola
| CALENDAR | |||
| 1st | SUNDAY | 10.45am | Morning Worship led by Rev Phil Chilvers |
| 8th | SUNDAY | 10.45am | Morning Worship led by Alex Walker, Leeds Partnership Ministry Team and South Leeds URC |
| 10th | Tuesday | 12.30pm | Guild Lunch |
| 11th | Wednesday | 9.30am | Elders’ Meeting |
| 15th | SUNDAY | 10.45am | Morning Worship led by Rev Phil Chilvers |
| 22nd | SUNDAY | 10.45am | Morning Worship, including the Sacrament of Holy Communion, led by our Minister, Rev Dr Nicola Robinson We shall be joined by our friends from West Park URC and Headingley Methodist Church |
| 29th | SUNDAY | 10.45am | Palm Sunday. Morning Worship led by Rev Karl Hanton, Chaplain to the Leeds Universities |
– – 0 – –
The Partnership Lent Course, ‘Journeys of Discipleship with Matthew’s Gospel’, continues through March on Mondays at 11am at Beeston Hill Free Church on Tuesdays at 7.30pm at St Andrew’s URC, Roundhay, and on Wednesdays at 7.30pm on Zoom.
Full details in last month’s newsletter and Aleck’s weekly news sheet.
CHURCHES TOGETHER IN HEADINGLEY
LENT LUNCHES 2026
6th March – Headingley Methodist Church
Otley Road, LS6 3HZ
Speaker: Revd Jo Lightowler
******
13th March – St Urban’s Roman Catholic Church
Grove Road, LS6 2AQ
Speaker: Father Christopher Butler
******
20th March – Cornerstone Baptist Church
Kirkstall Lane, LS6 3LF
Speaker: Laura Ime, Transformations Leeds
******
27th March – Headingley St Columba United Reform Church
70 Headingley Lane, LS6 2DH
Speaker: Revd Karl Hanton, University Chaplain
The lunches will begin at 12.15pm. Please bring food for yourself and, if you wish, some food to share with others. Tea/coffee will be provided.
The theme for the short talk is ‘Welcome’
– – 0 – –
EASTER COFFEE MORNING
Saturday 4th April, 2026
10.30am – 12 noon
You are warmly invited to our Easter Coffee Morning. For those of you who are creative, do bring along a decorated egg, hat, garden, anything Easterish! Hopefully we shall be joined by our friends from the Partnership and Churches Together in Headingley.
– – 0 – –
GUILD LUNCH
Our March lunch will be held on Tuesday, 10th, gathering together as usual at about 12.30pm for a drink and a chat before lunch at 1 o’clock. There is always room for another guest – though it’s best to let us know you are coming – and the cost is £4. If you are free this month, then why not give us a try?
Rev Karl Hanton
The Rev’d Karl Hanton has been appointed to the Chaplaincy of the Leeds Universities to complete the research of the Rev’d Samantha Sheehan and to continue her work supporting the students. The work of the Chaplaincy has long been part of the outreach of this church and Karl has sent us his profile so that we may know a little of his background before he visits us in March to lead us in worship on Palm Sunday.
Previous Pastorates: Bolton Villas Family Church, Wrose (2018-2025)
Emerge (Bradford Christian Youthwork Charity 2015-2018)
Ozzy Road Baptist Church, Derby (2011-2015)
Robert Hall Memorial Baptist Church, Leicester (1991-2010) Ordained 2012
Priorities in Ministry: Young adults, young people and children – I have a strong passion to work with young adults, young people & children in discovering & developing faith to assist them in finding a place and voice releasing their skills and gifts into God’s service, in church, communities and the world. Discipleship & Evangelism I take seriously the charge given to us by Jesus in Matt 28, both in sharing our faith with actions & words and exploring God’s word to learn to walk in the way of God.
Prayer & worship to educate, facilitate and model a devotion to prayer & worship as source for living. Being creative, expressive and “down to earth” to encourage and unlock a tangible sense of the presence of God with us in all things and a ready sense of help available at all times in any and all circumstances. Justice, Peace & Hospitality – Justice is at the heart of God’sinteractions with us and we need to be voices for justice, peace, forgiveness and inclusion through hospitality, welcome and warmth.
Skills & Experience: I’ve been working with Children, young people, and young adults for close to 40 years. During that time, I’ve worked in a number of varying different contexts, churches, schools, & youth projects.
Previous experience in university and school chaplaincy in Leicester and Derby. Offering Pastoral Care, drop in surgery cover, ethics committee, alternative worship and discipleship, large university seasonal events, Fresher’s presence and inter faith forum, school’s celebration events, campus presence, link person with UCCF & local churches, local church Student group and a student Café. Significant experience working with young adults in a variety of contexts, University, Churches, Schools Charity, Sports teams & street work. Growing leaders course, internships, apprenticeships, volunteering, youth councils, young leaders, leisure outreach, discipleship courses, student meals, sports coaching, life coaching, back to work project, youth work training. A heart & passion to see young adults released in their giftings.
I’ve ran and created a lot of bespoke provision over the years seeking to befriend, engage then journey alongside folk discipling in the way of Jesus and bringing opportunities to worship. The range, shape, size and look of these have varied massively from big events for 100s to 1 to1s. Always seeking to signpost and equip people towards a life of faith in Jesus.
At Emerge (a Christian youth work charity) I led and managed a project delivering children’s and youth work across 10 different communities with churches, schools and community organisations across Bradford. I also led & delivered multiple sessions myself in West Bowling. Lots of the work was outreach on the streets doing detached work or using local Parks & MUGA’s to deliver fun sessions on a weekly basis. This also included planning larger scale events again in parks, schools and churches as our base.
Over the years I’ve had the great privilege of working with a lot of children & young people and young adults. From a wide variety and backgrounds, cultures, world views, abilities and needs. God has given me a heart for journeying with young adults, young people & children. I love hearing their stories and learning about them, developing positive lasting relationships helping them explore their passions and discover what makes them tick. Encouraging them to thrive and discover the wonders God has in store in this big wide world. Sometimes creativity and outside of the box thinking are required when considering the folks needs, often patience and acceptance are wonderful tools to rely on.
Worship Preferences: I often utilise a more informal worship style using creative engaging activities, Scripture forming a central part of the ministry but explored and declared in interactive ways. Music – modern and vibrant with lyrics directed towards God rather than singing about God as a general leaning. Prayer integral encouraging personal and corporate acts again done in creative and interactive engaging ways. Sermon/Reflection often done in ways to promote discussion unlocking folks imaginations as they revisit familiar texts and topics.
I by no means believe I have all the answers and enjoy and cherish learning and fresh perspectives.
Relevant Education: CMD & Training NAM Studies and reading, various essays around church youth work.
2015-2018 Northern Baptist College
Bright Coaching Award Fluent Coaching
Diversity Training BUGB
Mental Health First Aid MHFA England
Bereavement Training
Behaviour Management Training (Team Teach)
Applied Theology & Youth and Community Work BA, CYM St. John’s Nottingham
Youth & Community work JNC2, CYM St. John’s Nottingham
Personal Interests: I enjoy reading Christian books like How to Hear From God – Pete Grieg, Practicing the Way – John Mark Comer, The Anxious Generation – Johnathan Haidt, Mary’s Voice – Amy Orr Ewing.
Listening to Worship Music KXC Band, Rend Collective & Housefires. I have a wide taste in music from Classical to heavy rock.
Enjoy fantasy novels and have a deep love of movies of that genre but also movies or good stories in general.
I enjoy the cinema I play computer games from driving games, role play games and 3rd person adventures.
I paint abstract-ish art and enjoy exploring shape and contrast most of my art is Christian centric.
I love eating out and walking with my wife Kim and going on adventures with our little mischievous terrier Bernard.
- Whether you have a faith (Christian, Jewish, Muslim etc.) or have no religious beliefs.
- when you need someone independent and confidential to talk to.
- If you’re finding life difficult or you have a tricky decision to make.
- If you have lost someone close to you.
- If you want to explore spirituality.
- For personal private prayer.
- To join in with worship services.
We are here to support you pastorally, or in faith. (From the Chaplaincy website)
Headingley St Columba 60th Anniversary
Sunday 26th April, 2026
As part of our Anniversary celebrations there will be a buffet lunch immediately after the service. Please add your name to the list in the small hall if you are able to come. Alternatively let Susan Bollon know at susan.bollon52@gmail.com The cut off date for numbers is Wednesday 8th April.
In his sonnet, ‘On the Pinnacle’ Malcolm Guite imagines Satan tempting Christ in the wilderness to show his spiritual superiority and God’s special love for him – as He will surely save His beloved son should he choose to leap from the Temple. But he chose to be as one of us with all our vulnerabilities
ON THE PINNACLE
‘Temples and spires are good for looking down from;
You stand above the world on holy heights,
Here on the pinnacle, above the maelstrom,
Among the few, the true, unearthly lights.
Here you can breathe the thin air of perfection,
And feel your kinship with the lonely star,
Above the shadow and the pale reflection,
Here you can know for certain who you are.
The world is stalled below, but you could move it
If they could know you as you are up here,
Of course they’ll doubt, but here’s your chance to prove it
Angels will bear you up, so have no fear….’
‘I was not sent to look down from above
It’s fear that sets these tests and proofs, not Love.’
Malcolm Guite
