The Gate, Monthly Newsletter of Allhallowgate Methodist Church Ripon UK

THE GATE

No one can paint like God can‌.

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Church Magazine Volume 6 Edition 2 March 2019 Allhallowgate Methodist Church, Ripon.

North Yorkshire.

Minister: Rev’d Helen Bell: Tel. 01765 698288 1

The Gate March 2019

The Gate March 2019

CONTENTS Page 3 4,5 6,7 8,9 10,11 12 13 14,15 16,17 18,19 20,21 22,23 24,25 26 27 28

CHURCH COUNCIL 2018 Editor’s Letter Minister’s Letter Hope at Easter Church News Job Vacancy The Greatest Showman and Lent “Pancakes” Judson Homes Lent Study Group 2019 March Diary Puzzle Page Film Review: The Kingdom through Mary’s Eyes Talking Point Margaret Rizza Poets Page: - our own poet Gordon Currie.

A Beginners Prayer Church Council 2019 No one can paint like God can…!

The final date for the submission of articles for the April issue will be Sunday 21st April 2019 Contact details: Roger Le Duc-Barnett (Editor) mailto:thegateripon@zoho.eu Tel (home) 01765601672 (mobile) 07852618154 My Personal email address mailto:roglbarnett@talktalk.net

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Minister

Rev Helen Bell

Secretary

Diane Gaskill

Stewards

Bryan George Phil Harris John Williams Daphne Smith Val Smith Andrea Scott Marion Bailey

Treasurer

John Ensoll

(2012) (2008) (2018) (2010) (2017) (2013) (2016)

FWO Secretary Katherine Jennings/Substitute Diane Gaskill Gift Aid Secretary Diane Gaskill Property/Finance Robin Jennings Kings Club Ruth Foster Pastoral Committee Jenny George (Secretary) Missions Elisabeth Hogerzeil Organist Andrew Roberts Bookings/Lettings Robbie Scott Congregational Reps David Mortimer (3 years +) Pauline Spensley (3 years +) June Dawson (3 years +) Roger Le Duc-Barnett (2012) Lynda Blackburn (2014) Audrey Barnett (2014) Gordon Smith (2016) Worship Leader Circuit Steward Dr.Karen Emms Editor of The Gate Roger Le Duc-Barnett

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Prayer – A Beginner’s

Editor’s Letter

The good thing about prayer is that there’s only one way to go wrong, and that’s not to do it. The best way to do it is to just get on and do it. If prayer at its simplest level is listening to God and talking to Him you don’t need long books to tell you how to do it, you just need a conviction that prayer is a good thing to do, that you’re someone God wants to hear from and that He’s worth talking to.

Is prayer a good thing to do? Never mind for the moment about whether prayer ‘works’ or not: Jesus prayed and encouraged his disciples to pray too, so if we’re following him, we need to be praying. Full stop.

Are you someone God wants to hear from? The message of the Bible is that however unworthy, sinful and useless we may feel as human beings, God can’t wait to hear from us and is sitting on the edge of His seat like a lovestruck teenager, hand poised ready to pick up the phone the second it rings.

Is He worth talking to? He’s the one person who knows us inside out, the one person with infinite power at His fingertips, the one who has the true perspective on an entire worlds’ story. Not a slot machine to pay into in the hope of one day getting ‘an answer to prayer’, but a person. Who likes us.

How might you begin to pray? What sort of person are you? Do you like a good gossip? Then gossip to God. Are you the strong silent type? The be still in His presence. Say hello… say the Lord’s Prayer … say ‘O God’ and mean it …deliberately be silent and still for one minute…read a story from a Gospel and imagine what you would say to Jesus if you were there…tell Him about what is worrying you or thrilling you…copy the great pray-ers of the Bible and of the Church…write a letter to Him…listen and look for a few moments in a place you consider holy.. You can’t go wrong. Prayer is good. God longs to hear from you.

He’s worth it!

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Dear Friends, May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13;) What a lovely text. On opening the Hope Magazine handbook which had been sent to me along with the magazines, this text jumped out at me.

We are entering now into the period of Lent soon, and we will be reflecting on the chosen path which Jesus trod toward Calvary. Although Lent is a rather sombre time of year, where we can fast, spend time in prayer and reflection following the journey of Christ to the cross,. It also marks the season of spring and rebirth within nature.

In this area of the world we see a delightful display of snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils and then tulips, and our countryside becomes a blaze of spring colours and new birth. Such a beautiful time to be out and about in the country side.

Although Lent has its significant time of reflection and following the path of Jesus; Easter day reflects the glory of the resurrection and of course re-birth, so much so that that text comes into its own, heralding that we can live with the overflowing of hope by the power of the Holy spirit in our lives.

May you experience Hope that fills you with all Joy and Peace.

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Heaven In The Heart

Minister’s Letter Dear Friends, How swiftly the weeks go by as Lent is fast approaching! In my letter this month then, I would like to draw your attention to worship opportunities and Lent activities which might appeal to you during the Lenten season. Firstly, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday when there will be a service at St John’s Parish Church in Bishop Monkton at 11am. I know that several of you would welcome the opportunity to begin Lent in this way and if you need transport please let me know. Throughout the six weeks of Lent, Bishop Monkton is also hosting a Lent Reflection and Bible Study session every Monday from 11th March until April 15th at 2pm in the school room.

The resources we are using come from the Bible Society and are based on Jesus’ last words from the cross as recorded by our four Gospel writers. Each week there is an invitation offered to us through our reflections. I do hope we will be joined by friends from the other churches in the focus group and ecumenical friends too. Again, transport can be arranged. Lent is such a special time in the church calendar and so it is good to have opportunity to meet together outside of Sunday worship.

In my last letter I wrote about the urgent need to find someone to take on the role of Lettings Secretary when Robbie Scott steps down at the end of April.

There is an advert giving more information about the role in the Gate and around the site. At the time of writing no-one has expressed an interest in taking on this vital role. The situation will soon be critical if we do not get any volunteers. We all owe it to Robbie to honour his request to step down, but if no-one comes forward we will have to turn away bookings, such an important part of our involvement with the community and, of course, source of income for the church. Please pray that the right person is found and if you need any more details please contact me and/or speak to Robbie.

There’s a little piece of Heaven In every human heart To give us understanding And to play an honest part, In making joy for others Beleaguered by ill fate So they may see the glory Of the future golden Gate; There’s many fruitful boughs to grasp Upon the tree of life, Tho’ pick your way, do not entwine Misfortune, sin or strife.

Loving thought and kindness Builds the soul with robust feeling Giving new and great dimension To prayers when you’re kneeling – In seeking God’s compassion You break fresh and promised ground With happiness eternal And lifetime so profound, Hold the strings of confidence Have faith in every goal And you see your destiny Succeed with heart and soul; In finding skills to listen You remove each stony boulder From someone’s river of misfortune And provide a broader shoulder – While others claim their riches With possessions seldom part, They’ll never know the greatest wealth Of Heaven in the heart.

Gordon Currie

Also in this edition of the Gate is a request for new Pastoral Visitors.

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God’s Presence

Minister’s Letter; cont’d

Search to find that silver rift Within a cloudy sky, Always wear a cheery smile And look for reasons why Other people’s fortunes Are not as good as yours – Adopt a Christian outlook To help them with their cause.

Instead of sitting back And counting blessings for yourself Be prepared, out-stretch your hand And give a little help; In sharing thoughts give confidence And show that you’re a friend Who finds a way thro’ thick and thin With resolutions in the end.

Just giving time to listen Or the curious skill of seeing – These things make up our worthwhile world And capture life’s well being; Bestowing help and comfort Makes joyful effervescence – Tho’ great may be these blessed things The finest is – God’s presence.

Gordon Currie

We have a debt of gratitude to all our Pastoral Visitors as they extend care and prayers for those on their list. We thank June Dawson and Enid Bickerstaffe for their faithfulness in this work for many years as they recently retired, and hope others will feel that this is a role they can take on.

We live in such a beautiful part of the world and there are signs of early spring all around us. As we move into the Lenten season once more I ask God’s blessings for you all.

Yours in Christ, Helen

HOPE at EASTER Another free copy of Hope at Easter Magazine will be available for you nearer to Easter. These magazines are meant to be given away and contain excellent articles and stories of Christian Faith and of people being brought to faith. Please take some and distribute to neighbours and friends. Inside the copy will be an Easter card and invitation to our Easter Services.

We will also be giving them away in our coffee morning nearer to Easter. Please could you also make this intuitive a matter of prayer and believe that through this ministry someone will come along to our Easter Services.

Thank you. Editor.

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Margaret Rizza; cont’d I think it is a good idea to ask people to give their news to the Gate, so we can learn about our church family.

Joyce Baslington Requests

Born in 1929, Margaret Rizza only began to compose in 1997.

Since then she has become a major personality in the world of Christian choral music, with substantial sales of both her printed and recorded music, which includes chart topping Taise Chants.

Is there anyone who would like to add their name to the list of people willing to read at services?

Over the past ten years she has made many recordings and seven collections of her music have been recorded and published by Kevin Mayhew.

If you know of anyone who would appreciate the church flowers please speak to Daphne Smith

Adapted from the Church Times, first two paragraphs written by the Editor.

Kings Club are looking for people to help on Sunday morning Thank -You I want to say a huge thank you to everyone at Allhallowgate. Your kindness and support since Philip died has been overwhelming and very much appreciated.

Audrey Ramsden Valerie Smith says thank you to all her church friends who have helped in so many ways when she broke her wrist.

Thank you for the kind donation that enabled us to have two blinds fitted in the church balcony.

Thank you to our young people for taking part in our services, we do enjoy seeing you ‘in your corner’ Advance Notice There will be a Lent Bible Study Course. Details to follow

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God who dwells in temple and heart, When we are rushing around anxiously without you, When we forget to seek you in the obvious place, Still us; sit us down in your presence, Amaze us with your wisdom And show us where our true focus should really be— On Jesus Christ your son, our Lord. Amen.

Lord, open my spiritual lungs to breathe your Spirit-breathed grace.

Give me the willingness to breathe out unforgiveness, arrogance and pride.

Give me the openness to breathe in forgiveness, humility and grace.

Give me life that in all my dealings I may offer life to others.

Give me forgiveness that I may offer forgiveness to all.

Give me the grace to breathe Your grace, The breath to breathe your breath.

Amen The Rev’s Dr. Peter Phillips 23

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Margaret Rizza We recently sang a hymn composed

by Margaret Rizza as our introit to our morning service. She is one of my favourite modern composers who writes inspirational music with beautiful harmonics and moving words. The hymn I refer to was 567 in singing the faith, and reads:-

Finally We wish Helen peace, inspiration and refreshment as she begins her sabbatical after Easter.

You are the centre, you are my life, You are the centre, O Lord, of my life.

Come Lord and heal me, Lord of my life, come Lord and teach me, Lord of my life.

You are the centre, Lord, of my life.

There are just two verses to this lovely hymn, but the melody and harmonics lead you into a reflective moment of deep worship.

Margaret Rizza studied at the Royal College of Music, London and at the National School of Opera, London and continued her training in Siena and Rome, Italy.

She sang professionally for 25 years under the name of Margaret Lensky. She has sung at many of the leading concert and operatic venues and under such conductors as Benjamin Britten, Igor Stravinsky and Leonard Bernstein.

Thank you again for your generosity towards those suffering from leprosy. During 2018 we sent over £2400 for this cause, and as it costs just £24 to cure a patient we helped more than 100 people to a new life of health and opportunity. If you have a leprosy box that has not been opened for some time – or if you were thinking of making a donation this year – now would be a good time as until 27th April, the U.K. government will match every pound the mission receives. So, even more patients are helped. That can’t be bad can it?

Elisabeth Hozerzeil New Pastoral Visitors needed The role of the Pastoral Visitor, (also sometimes referred to as Class Leaders) is an important one in the life of the church.

Pastoral Visitors are appointed by the Church Council and must be full members of the Methodist Church.

Their role is to care for those on their pastoral list, making regular visits or keeping in contact by phone or card.

The Pastoral Visitor also prays for those in his/her care and informs the minister of any special need or change of address.

From 1977 to 1994 she went on to teach singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. During her years at Guildhall she worked on many outreach projects taking groups of students to share their music with people in prison, hospitals, hospices, inner city schools, MS centres, schools for the blind and working with people with physical and learning difficulties.

Of course the more Pastoral Visitors we have the fewer folk are on their lists.

This is a really rewarding role in Church life and is vital to our fellowship and the compassionate care we should have for one another.

Please contact Revd Helen on; Tel. 01765 698288 (helenbell136@btinternet.com)

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JOB VACANCY

Talking Point; cont’d

Job Description: The invaluable position of Church Hall Booking Secretary enables our premises to be used extensively on a daily basis throughout the week, providing a much needed community service and outreach to those outside of the church and a wonderful facility for many our own Church groups and activities. The role is varied and is listed in detail below. You will see that the role may be split into 2 very distinct halves. Ideally we would like one person, or a couple perhaps, to take on the full duties, however, if you do not feel you are able to take on the full role then the job may be split between 2 or more people with the requisite skills.

Admin Duties: Maintaining and updating the hall website.

Taking telephone queries and bookings.

Dealing with email bookings and queries.

Controlling and updating the booking calendar.

Preparing the weekly events list for display in the porch.

Preparing the weekly heating schedule for the programmers.

Liaising with Church Treasurer and preparing monthly letting invoices from accurately kept records.

Issuing booking forms to new hirers.

Periodically updating the booking form as needed.

Premises Duties: Ensuring premises are open for bookings, either in person or by liaising with the other regular willing volunteers.

Setting up the microphones and sound system prior to bookings when required. (Full training will be given on this – it is not difficult) Ensuring premises are secure after the last booking of the day where the hirer is not a key holder.

Opening and closing the partition wall between the main and corner halls when required. (Full training will be given).

The case raised “challenging moral, ethical and legal questions” she said. “What we cannot do, however is abandon our values: our commitment to equality, human rights and diversity. Our fundamental freedoms and the rule of law are the very principles that extremists seek to erode.”

Checking the overall condition of the premises, including periodic checks of the toilets, dishwasher, fans and boiler.

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An ethics tutors’s view: “For Christians, at least, it should be considered a front-line victory in the war on terror to provide (rather than refuse) help and care….

Carried out prudently, this would seem a wise approach to international relations and for Christians fuelled by the ethic of, say 1 John 4: 18 and Romans 8:15 , it would provide a testament to that love which overcomes fear.”

Précised from the Church Times

Smilies How do groups of angels greet each other?

Halo, halo, halo!

Who was the greatest male financier in the Bible?

Noah. He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation!

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JOB VACANCY cont’d

Talking Point The Government’s decision to seek to remove the British citizenship of Shamima Begum, the 19-year-old mother who left Britain to join Islamic State (IS) four years ago, is “morally reprehensible”, the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell has said….

“If, as it is believed to be the case, Ms Begum’s mother was a Bangladeshi national, under Bangladeshi law Ms Begum would be too.

“Moving a problem somewhere else does not solve it,” Bishop Cottrill said, “Shamima was brought up un this country. She was somehow groomed and indoctrinated into the hideous and corrupt ways of IS when she was a child. She was, in all likelihood, pressed into a marriage while she was still only 15. If she has taken any active part in the crimes of IS then she needs to be brought to justice. But that should happen in this country, the country where she was raised.

“We also need to think of her child and its future. By exercising compaasion as well as justice Shamima can be enabled to face up to the consequences of her actions and be enabled to build a better future for herself and her son. At the same time we can learn from her about how IS and other terrorist groups groom and indoctrinate vulnerable and impressionable young people online. But we are responsible for dealing with the aftermath. What IS stand for and their actions in the world have cause havoc, horror and misery. It is an affront to all that is decent and true. But we do not help the situation by failing to act with decency ourselves”

Ensuring the water supply to the water boiler is turned off after use, where applicable.

Meet and greet new hirers and ensure they know their way around the building etc. and that they are aware, and comply, with our safeguarding policy.

Ensuring new hirers sign the booking form and, where events have vulnerable people or children, obtaining proof from the hirer that they have a DBS clearance.

The expected time for the whole role varies from week to week but it is expected that it will take on average between 10 and 15 hours.

The successful applicant will be invited to take up a seat on the Property and Finance Committee which meets 3-4 times per year.

The position is dependent upon a clean DBS check.

If you are interested in the whole role or any part of it please let Rev Helen Bell, Robbie Scott or Diane Gaskill know. If you would like to discuss the role in more depth, please speak to Robbie.

Start Date: The post will begin on 1 May 2019.

Writing in The Times, the Government’s counter-extremism commissioner, Sara Khan, said that Ms Begum … “had been groomed and exploited by extremists in the unregulated and arguably irresponsible world of social media, the same companies that had to be dragged, kicking and screaming, into removing illegal Isis propaganda.”….

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The Greatest Showman & Lent

The Kingdom through Mary’s eyes; cont’d

Rachel Mann looks at lessons for the Church during Lent from an unlikely source – the hit Hollywood movie The Greatest Showman, telling the story of PT Barnum's circus ...

helps her see the truth: that Jesus’s real message is one of sacrificial love.

Lent – along with Advent – is one of two great Christian fasts. It provides an opportunity for people of faith to prepare for Easter through prayer, self-denial and spiritual discipline. Lent offers us an opportunity to step back and reflect on our Christian calling before receiving joy on Easter Day, writes Rachel Mann.

Though a variety of rabbis, priests, Jewish historians, biblical scholars and archeologists consulted on Mary Magdalene, the filmmakers are clear that what they’ve made is intended as art, not a theological or historical text. Christians will find plenty in the film to debate over - but it’s unquestionably a powerful portrayal of how it might have felt for one woman to walk alongside God himself.

By contrast, the musical smash-hit movie, The Greatest Showman, which tells the tale of P.T. Barnum’s Circus, might appear to be everything Lent is not: brash, loud, and mindless entertainment. I certainly think it’s extraordinarily entertaining and it deserved to become the most successful film in the UK of 2018. However, for all that it is perfect ‘singalong party’ fodder, I also believe that Hugh Jackman and Co’s big-top musical supplies unexpected connections with the Lenten desire to re-examine the shape and nature of faith and hope.

One of the key questions asked by The Greatest Showman is, ‘What does hope and love look like in a world which so readily tramples on our dreams?’ It frames its answer through the lens of Barnum’s circus performers. In short, those whom our society consider outsiders, either because of poverty, class, disability, ethnicity or visual stereotyping. If the film’s historical veracity is open to question, the way it tells the stories of Colonel Tom Thumb and the so-called ‘bearded lady’ Lettie Lutz – and even Barnum himself – is not.

The film shows how, in a prejudiced world, Barnum’s Circus provides a home for ‘misfits’ and outsiders. The circus provides them with a new community of hope and love. It offers an echo of Jesus’ ministry in the gospels. For arguably, Jesus shows how those society considers ‘outsiders’ and questionable are ‘centre-stage’ in God’s love. Jesus lives as one on the edges of respectable society and dies .

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Smilies Why couldn't Jonah trust the ocean?

Because he knew there was something fishy about it!

Who is the greatest babysitter mentioned in the Bible?

David, because he rocked Goliath to a very deep sleep!

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The Kingdom through Mary’s eyes.

The Greatest Showman & Lent; cont’d

A portrait of Mary Magdalene, one of the most enigmatic and misunderstood spiritual figures in history, hits UK cinemas this March

a criminal’s death. As God’s Son among us, it is as powerful a sign of God’s priorities as we can imagine.

There are some people in the Bible whose stories we only glimpse.

Their names get forgotten by history - or tradition fills in the gaps, eventually turning creative interpretation into accepted fact. Few figures in scripture, argue the makers of a new film, have been neglected and misunderstood like Mary Magdalene.

In The Greatest Showman, Barnum is no simple ‘Jesus figure’. He is deeply flawed and in his betrayals and denials is more like Peter, or even Judas, than Jesus. As the film unfolds, we discover that it is the members of the circus who hold the power to transform the world, rather than Barnum.

In 591, Pope Gregory claimed that Mary of Magdala was a prostitute - a misconception which has been widespread ever since.

The Greatest Showman, then, opens vistas for people of faith and none to reflect on the nature of faith, hope and love. Of course, the differences between the film and the themes of Lent can seem enormous. Its show tunes like This Is Me are quite overwhelming!

However, it supplies rich pickings for Christians wanting to explore the meeting-points between popular culture and faith, dreams and the desire to be loved.

‘I've always been very interested in the story of Jesus and felt that what happened to Mary Magdalene and her identity over the centuries was a travesty,’ says screenwriter Philippa Goslett, who co-wrote the script for Mary Magdalene. ‘Here was an opportunity to give a voice to someone who had been silenced for so long.’

The film imagines Mary (Rooney Mara) as a spiritual searcher out of step with her traditional community. Her family want her to make a good marriage - the only path open to a woman - but she knows this isn’t right for her. When a travelling preacher called Jesus of Nazareth (Joaquin Phoenix) comes to town, she decides to follow him, whatever the cost.

Whatever else is true, The Greatest Showman has certainly chimed with the mood of a world in need of joy, celebration and hope. In a scary and uncertain world, it has supplied fun and delight. Unexpectedly, in the midst of fear, it challenges and enriches our calling to be, as followers of Jesus Christ, people of faith, hope and love.

‘Most other films about Jesus are solely about him,’ reflects actress Rooney Mara. ‘In Mary Magdalene we still see all of the things that we're used to seeing in biblical films, but we see it through her eyes.

And so we get to see it in a very different light.’

Through Mary’s eyes, the kingdom Jesus preaches looks truly surprising and radical. While his other disciples, including Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Judas (Tahar Rahim), assume that the ‘kingdom of God’ is about political power, Mary’s position on the margins of society 18

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PUZZLE PAGE

Pancakes to be served on Thurs Morn 7th March

On Thursday Morning the 7th March between 9.30am—11.30am pancakes will be served at the Coffee Morning. The money raised from the sale of the pancake’s will go to the charity Noreen Kids for which Harold and Linda Blackburn raise money through-out the church year. The pancakes will cost £1.

I trust many of you will come along to support this worthwhile entitative.

Noreen’s Kids is a disability Children’s Home in Romania. Harold and Lynda have visited it a number of times and report that the situation is dire, and that Noreen is doing a wonderful job with very little support. I understand Noreen is a friend of Harold and Lynda from their previous church in London, and has set up this Children’s home after seeing the need when she visited some years ago. If you require more information Lynda and Harold would be pleased to talk to you about the charity.

Editor

Judson Homes A bungalow has become vacant in the Judson Homes Complex of Lister House.

Some work is being done on the bungalow, a new kitchen to be installed and a re-paint where it needs attention.

Application forms can be obtained from Hutchinson Buchanan Solicitors North St. To obtain more information please contact Enid Bickerstaff Tel: 01765 605167 12

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