Church news

Around the Benefice

31 October 2021

Dear friends,

I wonder what you think about all the fuss around COP26? For many of us the sight of protestors blocking roads and gluing themselves to road surfaces is a step too far and just turns us off the subject. Perhaps we’re content to recycle and cut down on waste and we think this is enough. Perhaps, like me, you wonder about the legacy we will be leaving our children and grandchildren - what will they think about how we have cared for the world we pass onto them?

In the Anglican church we subscribe to the ‘5 Marks of Mission’, which are:

1. To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom 
2. To teach, baptise and nurture new believers 
3. To respond to human need by loving service
4. To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation
5. To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth

This 5th mark of mission is as much our calling as the other four, so perhaps you might join me this week in praying for COP26 and for the futute of our planet.

Tomorrow is our first Benefice Service at 10.30am at St Michael’s Church, Kirkby Malham and we are really looking forward to it. However, please be mindful of the increasing Covid rates - we are asking people to please wear a mask on entering church and when moving around. With increased numbers there is potentially a greater risk for transmission, but we can easily prevent this by sensible precautions. We are very grateful to the people of St Michael’s for hosting this first joint-service.

Tomorrow afternoon there are also two All Souls services in the Benefice to which all are invited:

• 3pm at St Andrew’s
• 5pm at St Michael’s

These will be beautiful, reflective services where people can give thanks and remember their loved ones.

Finally, and most importantly, thank you for all that you do to keep our churches thriving, whether your calling is buildings, fabric, cleaning, finance, making tea, Church Warden, music, or simply attending and supporting church. Your contributions are valued and essential to us being a Christian presence in our communities. Churches are often difficult and demanding organisations to manage (I’m sure first century churches didn’t have all this admin and red tape!) not to mention the buildings and churchyards, but with your willingness to serve, we have three wonderful churches and a Benefice we can be very proud of.

With our thanks and prayers,

Andrew and Sue