Penhill Benefice
Living and Sharing the Love of Jesus Christ in the Community
News
Prayer for Ukraine
The Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Revd Nick Baines, has asked for prayers for the people of Ukraine. He said:
"This long-planned invasion of Ukraine is to be condemned on all grounds without reservation. I ask you to pray for the people of Ukraine and join with Christians across Europe at 6pm on Tuesday to pray for peace and justice."
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell have also condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine as “an act of great evil”.
They are urging Christians to make this Sunday a special day of prayer for Ukraine, Russia and for peace. They are also supporting a global day of prayer and fasting for peace on Ash Wednesday.
In a joint statement they said:
“The horrific and unprovoked attack on Ukraine is an act of great evil.
“Placing our trust in Jesus Christ, the author of peace, we pray for an urgent ceasefire; a withdrawal of Russian forces; a resolute and public decision never to use force and an international conference to find long term agreements for stable peace.
“We call for Christians to make this Sunday [27th February ] a day for prayer for Ukraine, Russia and for peace.
“We also give our support to the call from Pope Francis for a global day of prayer and fasting for peace on Ash Wednesday, March 2.”
Bishop Nick has written with typical perspicacity in the Yorkshire Post – and you can read this on his ‘blog’, by clicking here:
https://nickbaines.wordpress.com/
To encourage prayer, listen to the nine minutes speech by Ukrainian President Zelensky to the Russian public yesterday – it’s dignified and deeply moving.
Rev Tom Ringland
click here information about the local Help for Ukraine
Community Aid Collection for Ukraine: Items [not beddding/clothing] can still be dropped off at Bainbridge, Askrigg or West Burton schools. They are also asking for medicines etc. and requesting money to go towards fuel and logistics. Yorkshire to Ukraine Aid Support is the just giving page https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/thirsk-ukraine-aid-support
Church Afternoon Tea
Wednesday 18th May
2-4pm at Redmire Village Hall
Living in Love & Faith: 7.15pm, St. Matthew’s Church, Leyburn. A five- week course on Tuesdays at 7.15pm at St Matthew's Church, Leyburn: - 26th April, Learning Together. 3rd May, Identity. 10th May, Relationships. 17th May, Sex. 24th May, Life Together. How do questions about identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage fit within the bigger picture of the good news of Jesus Christ? What does it mean to live in love and faith together as a Church? The course explores these issues and encourages deanery and church communities to be willing to do this even where they have different understandings and experiences. Please contact Rev’d Stephen Hanscombe for further details. 01969 622977 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
‘There is no fear in love, but perfect love cast out fear.’ 1 John 4:18
Prayer Fellowship: 7.30pm, Monday 23rd May, downstairs room at Aysgarth Institute.
Seven Decades: Celebrating the Reign of Queen Elizabeth II
St Andrew’s, Aysgarth, Flower Festival 2nd-6th June 2022:
Twenty talented flower arrangers will be demonstrating their creative skills in a fabulous festival of floristry at St Andrew’s Church, Aysgarth to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee.
Royal Recollection Exhibition/Display: 10.30am-4pm, Saturday 4th June,
at St. Bartholomew’s Church, West Witton. Refreshments on sale.
Supporting biodiversity: St. Mary’s Church, Redmire has recently undertaken the Roche ECO Survey with a view to improving the biodiversity of the Churchyard. As part of the action plan we are seeking sponsorship of bird boxes, wild flower seeds, particularly butterfly habitat plants, and bird feeding stations.
Should anyone be interested in supporting this initiative please contact Denise Houghton, tel. 622625 or 07800658083. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Donations will be directly linked to supporting this project and will qualify for Gift Aid.
Eco Events:
Diocesan Eco Book and Film Group meets online by Zoom.
Tuesday 17th May at 10-11.30am, 21st Century Nature Poetry from British poets such as Simon Armitage, Carol Ann Duffy, Rowan Williams, Ruth Padel and Malcolm Guite. The poems and a brief biography of the poets will be provided.
· Tuesday 14th June at 10-11.30am, Remarkable Creatures Tracey Chevalier traces the story of Mary Anning, as she shakes the scientific world of the early 19th century, and scours the beaches of the windswept Jurrasic coast near Lyme Regis finding fossils and other curiosities.
A film accompanies this Ammonite. Director Francis Lee 2020 starring Kate Winslett as Mary Anning. This is available on Amazon Prime Video (certificate 15) and elsewhere.To book a place please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. (leader) or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. (admin)
Castle Bolton Print For Sale
If you would like to buy a print of St. Oswald’s Church at Castle Bolton (shown above) priced at £20 which are mounted and cellophane wrapped please contact the office (01969 663097) for further information.
Our church buildings at Aysgarth, Castle Bolton, Preston under Scar, Redmire and Wensley are usually open daily.
We have now returned to services in our churches on a regular basis. Phone based services will continue.
Penhill Beacon - For the April to May edition click here.
Vicar's Letter April 2022
Dear Friends,
Easter Day this year falls on Sunday 17th April. It is traditional to open our Easter Sunday service with the Easter Acclamation “Alleluia, Christ is risen.” And the gathered congregation replies with gusto; “He is risen indeed. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.”
It is easy for us, today, to celebrate Easter Morning with all the joy that we can muster, but for those closest friends of Jesus, and his disciples, the day did not start well.
They had joined the crowds on Good Friday to watch their friend suffer the most horrific death possible. His broken body was then taken from the cross and placed in a tomb or cave to await the tradition of preparing his body for his burial.
His friends arrive early on that first day of the week to carry out this task, grieving and alone, only to find that the tomb was open and Jesus’ body missing – unable to explain where Jesus had gone.
Mary one of Jesus’ friends stood weeping in the garden, and was approached, by a person whom she assumed was the gardener; He asked her “why are you weeping?” Mary replied “they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him”.
The Man then said “Mary!” and in that moment at the sound of a familiar calling of her name she recognised the Man as, not the Gardener but as Jesus.
On the evening of that same day, two disciples were returning home, they too had witnessed the crucifixion, and were also at a loss as to where Jesus had gone, where he was in the midst of all this suffering and pain.
Whilst walking they were joined by a Man, whom they thought was a stranger travelling the same route. The two disciples shared their story with this travelling companion, all their feelings of grief and confusion and as they reached the village the disciples extended the hand of hospitality and asked the stranger to join them for a meal. As the stranger took the bread, blessed it and broke it, the disciples suddenly recognised that the companion who had walked alongside was indeed the risen Jesus!
Our world at the moment is suffering, whether in a worldwide, national or local context; we have lost people, loved ones, our freedom to a Pandemic, and just as we are recovering an act of war is declared in the Ukraine. We too, just like the disciples, are confused, grieving and often wonder where Jesus is in the midst of all this chaos.
Malcolm Guite wrote a poem at the beginning of the pandemic in which he asked the same question as the disciples “And where is Jesus, this Easter day?” He replies that he is found donning his apron with a nurse: he grips and lifts a stretcher, soothes with gentle hands the frail flesh of the dying, gives them hope, Breathes with the breathless, lends them strength to cope.
Where is Jesus for us? Do we recognise him in the hospitality of a stranger, or the familiar kind words of a friend, or the beauty of the nature that surrounds us or do we hear him call our name?
It may not be easy to see, but the risen Christ is amongst us and walking alongside us in all the chaos of human life. We may need to ask him to show us where he is, or ask that we can see him more clearly, but let us be assured just like the disciples were that he is not gone but that he is risen Indeed! Yours in Christ.
Rev Penny Yeadon
Welcome Canon Jan!
We are delighted that, after her retirement back to Carperby in 2021, Canon Jan Kearton has been given Permission to Officiate across the Diocese. Jan most recently was Canon Warden at Carlisle Cathedral, and before that, Vicar of Hipswell. It’s a pleasure to welcome Jan in leading and preaching across the benefice from time to time!
Baptism and Confirmation
A new year can be a time for new beginnings.
All our churches are open for Baptisms (Christenings) where we celebrate new life and bring people – babies or of any age – formally into the Christian faith and into the family of the church. Usually these take place within our Sunday worship, and can be arranged through Christine at the office, or directly with the Vicar, Tom.
Those baptised as infants have promises made on their behalf by their parents and Godparents. ‘Confirmation’ give us the opportunity to make those promises for ourselves. We thus confirm our Baptism promises, and the Bishop, who leads the service, lays hands on each candidate with the words, ‘ Confirm, O Lord, your servant with your Holy Spirit’.
Please speak directly with Tom for further information. The church does not charge a fee for either of these services.
Weddings
After the hiatus of the past couple of years we particularly look forward to welcoming brides and grooms on their wedding day. A church wedding is profoundly enriching, (and the cost is modest in the light of the other sums involved!) There is a wealth of information at www.yourchurchwedding.org, or please speak directly to Penny or Tom
Rev Tom Ringland
Aysgarth church -
The following are now available online -
War Memorials and Graves at Aysgarth church
The printed illustrated guide to War Memorials and Graves in the churchyard is available in the church.
Daily Hope offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England at the end of a telephone line.
The line is available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044. Callers will hear a special greeting from the Archbishop before being able to choose from a range of options, including hymns, prayers, reflections and advice on COVID-19. Please let your family and friends, who are not on internet, know about this. More information click here
Hear To Help
Part of North Yorkshire Hospice Care community response to Covid-19.
Just B is offering emotional wellbeing support to people in the Harrogate District, Hambleton and Richmondshire, with its new Hear to Help phoneline, available to anyone who may be dealing with anxiety at this time. The line is manned by trained staff and volunteers and is available seven days a week, 8am-8pm. For more information see Hear to Help.
Revd Tom Ringland