Father Michael Heckingbottom 1933 - 2005 RIP
Father Michael Heckingbottom, a member of St Luke's since the mid-1990s, died suddenly in Spain on Friday 27th May at the age of 72.
Michael and Jean came to St Luke's after Michael retired as a Vicar in Diocese of Ripon. In him we found a friend and more - a born pastor in our midst, and an ever-cheerful advocate for the Gospel. Michael's ministry at St Luke's was sometimes from the front - especially during two spells without a Vicar - but more usually from within the body of the church's members.
He will be remembered for his faith and warmth, his laughter, his universal concern for others, and (by some) for his love of trains large and small.
Thanks be to God for Michael - our thoughts and prayers are with Jean, their daughter Elaine and son Peter, and their grandchildren. His funeral will be in Spain, with a service of thanksgiving for his life in the UK at a later date.
27 May 2005
Christian Aid Week;
Sunday 15th May to Saturday 21st May
MAKINGPOVERTYHISTORY: the trade justice campaign
The UK government is committed to making 2005 a year when poverty is on the international agenda. To tackle poverty it must address the injustices in world trade. Christian Aid Week this year asks churches to call for trade justice.
'There are many women working at the sugar plantation. Before the sugar factory opened, we were very poor... Now things are better, we can all earn money and buy food from the markets.’
Louisa Mahahele
Louisa Elias Mahahele works on a sugar plantation in Mozambique, earning enough to feed her family. Her job is one of thousands that have been created since the Mozambique government helped its sugar industry by attracting investment to it. It set the price for imported sugar, most of which comes from rich countries where it is subsidised. This set price means that the locally produced sugar is able to compete with imports.
But Mozambique is an exception. Other poor countries are prevented from helping vulnerable industries and farmers. Rich countries and international institutions that lend poor countries money force governments to accept free-trade policies.
For example, in Ghana, thousands of farmers have been forced to give up farming because they are no longer able to make a living selling their produce. Kofi Eliasa used to be a tomato farmer. He now works 12 hours a day in a quarry, breaking rocks to make gravel. He struggles to earn enough to feed his family and send his children to school.
In exchange for loans, Ghana was forced to open up its markets to international trade and take away the government help given to farmers such as Kofi. This is the same for other poor countries across the world. The result is that millions of people now face an uncertain future as they lose the means to make a living.
Free trade means that governments may not interfere in the market place, and all traders – from rich and poor countries alike – must face each other in open competition. This gives the poorest no chance. To begin to make a decent living for their families they need some help from their government to support their industries – that is they need trade justice, not free trade.
This is why Christian Aid is campaigning for trade justice, not free trade. The campaign is informed by the biblical vision of a just world where the needs of the poorest people are met. To compete in today’s global marketplace poor farmers and traders need special help from their governments until they are strong enough to manage without it.
To find out more go to www.caweek.org.15 May 2005
St Luke's Mothers' Union annual Quiz Night
The Tyler family and friends wiped the floor with the rest of us at this year's MU quiz night.
Gillian and Michael, son James and hangers on Owain and James (again) swept to victory with 29 points out of a possible 42.
They won a bag full of goodies that would either feed them for a week or make them very poorly overnight.
Hearty congratulations to the winners, and to the losers... TRY HARDER IN FUTURE!
Thanks to Liz Davies and Wendy Sculthorp for all the work that went into the questions and answers, and as ever to the catering crew.
9 May 2005
The Wedding of Helen Smith and Peter Warry;
Saturday 16th April 2005
St Luke's was the setting for the marriage of two of our own members on Saturday 16th April 2005.
Click the link below to go the Wedding Special page - there are links at the top and bottom of that page to bring you back here.
Any wedding is special, but none more so than one of two St Luke's members, so that nearly the whole church family turned out to wish them well and affirm their marriage as two Christians seeking God's will for their lives.
18 April 2005
St Luke's Easter Monday Walk;
Swinsty Reservoir
The day after celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, forty St Luke's members, family and friends donned their boots to tramp around Swinsty Reservoir near Harrogate.
Ian Turner masterminded the break-out from York, planning two different circuits - one for energetic hikers and a longer one for the hyper-active among us!
The Leeds Corporation reservoir was circumnavigated, and St Lukes' boots tramped up hill and down dale. The mud! Strangely, the younger the walker, the more mud they collected - in fact, a Leeds Corporation lorry is coming to Burton Stone Lane next week to scoop it up and take it back.
One of the party was asked who we were - on being told we were from a church the questioner replied, "I thought so..."
Make of that what you will!
Many thanks Ian - can we do it again some time?
28 March 2005
Dancing the Easter story
St Luke's Good Friday Family Service this year featured a dance devised by the girls of the Pathfinders, telling the story of Jesus' death and resurrection, and of how we are saved and forgiven through those events.
Backed by the congregation singing Graham Kendrick's 'Amazing Love', the girls danced through Christ's suffering and sacrifice to His rising and our gratitude to God for taking our sins on Himself.
Everyone was so moved by the dance that it was decided to repeat it during the Easter Sunday morning service two days later.
Well done girls - and well done Trevor and Helen for overseeing all the practices, and Alison who - as always - provided the music and made sure people remembered to sing.
28 March 2005
Is it right to fight? Can war be just?
The Revd John Hetherington, Chaplain to the nearby Royal Air Force base at Linton-on-Ouse, came on the 15th March to speak at the last of St Luke's 2005 Lent series of meetings, 'Behind the Headlines'.
He took us on a flying visit to the main arguments for and against Christians being involved in military service, and looked at the idea of the 'Just War' and some of the dilemmas it can pose in particular conflicts and circumstances.
With him was Squadron Leader Alan Dolding, a committed Christian who has flown bombing missions in Bosnia and Iraq, and who spoke with simple clarity about the questions he faces, and his approach to answering them.
Our group work included hard questions about how we would determine the rightness or wrongness of an actual or planned military action by our country - and asked us to make that judgment about a list of 20th and indeed 21st century conflicts involving the United Kingdom.
Once again, we were left with more questions than answers, but also with a little more insight into compicated issues that can easily become over-simplified when we don't look behind the headlines.
Grateful thanks are due to all our speakers and those involved in organising and running this year's Lent meetings - including the catering crew who looked after St Luke's and visiting people so well in the church hall after each meeting.
17 March 2005
A Near Miss (we was robbed!)
The latest York Churches' Under 13s Five-a-Side football tournament on the 13th March at Heslington saw St Luke's lose the trophy won at the last two sessions - but only just.
St Luke's came second out of the nine teams present and gave the opposition a run for their money.
The competition, organised by John Eckersley, husband of Heslington Vicar the Revd Nancy Eckersley, has previously resulted in injury to a St Luke's player who broke an arm during a tackle by a mole hole in the pitch! Fortunately no damage was done this time.
Our pictures show (top) St Luke's (in green and black stripes) pretty much in control of the ball, with the goalkeeper looking relaxed and fair play being supervised by Referee Dom Benford of... um... well, of St Luke's. Ahem. And below we see an opposing goalkeeper just failing to stop a St Luke's shot hitting the back of his net.
Well done all - who wants a trophy anyway? - Just get it back next time!
17 March 2005
Lock 'em up and throw away the key: is justice really done?
Peter Collier QC, a leading Barrister who is also Lay Chair of York Deanery Synod, a Reader at York St Michael-le-Belfrey, a Lay Canon of York Minster, a member of the Archbishop's Council and Chancellor of the Dioceses of Lincoln and Wakefield, somehow found time to speak on Tuesday 8th March as part of St Luke's Lent Course, 'Behind the Headlines'.
The United Kingdom imprisons more people per head of population than most of Europe, but many fewer than the USA, Russia, China and other major countries worldwide. Peter Collier spoke briefly about the evidence for and against the view of Michael Howard as Home Secretary that "Prison works".
In our discussion groups, we suddenly found ourselves confronted with five scenarios of fairly petty crime, and asked to consider firstly what sentence a court might actually hand down, and secondly what we might do if it was up to us! In the short time available, we learned just a little of the complexity involved: how far is someone to blame for a particular action - is it clear whether or not they intended to do what they did? How do we balance the competing needs of punishment, deterrence to others, justice for victims, and the needs of the offender for help to change their behaviour? How far should we consider the effect of a sentence on innocent parties, such as an offender's family?
Add to this our Christian concern for mercy, compassion and forgiveness, and we saw just how challenging and onerous is the responsibility put upon the judicial system by society as a whole. Small wonder we ended with Peter Collier leading us in prayer for all those who have to make these critically difficult judgements on behalf of us all.
For details of next week's final subject and speaker click 'What's On' on the menu on the left of your screen.
9 March 2005
Designer Babies: are we playing God?
Lord John Habgood, who was Archbishop of York from 1984 to 1995, returned to St Luke's on the 1st March to speak about issues of genetics and medical research as part of St Luke's Lent Course, 'Behind the Headlines'.
He talked us through the main heads of debate about the present and future of human reproductive science. People's acceptance of new ideas comes about by gradual stages, he said, and what may be regulated or considered unacceptable today might become 'normal' in a few years' time.
Current debates about cloning, abortion and selection of babies began with 'in vitro' fertilisation: the so-called 'test-tube baby' Louise Brown who was born 27 years ago. Fertilising human eggs and creating a foetus outside the body has enabled more and more scientific work to be done with the unborn: for their own good and for the good of others.
But is this work always for 'good'? Are there dangers for the individuals (27 years is less than half an average lifespan) involved or for society at large? If there are dangers, are they moral, medical or both? Is it 'good' that parents might expect to be able to 'select' not just the physical chracteristics of their children, but perhaps some personality traits too? And can those expectations be met? What should our attitude be to 'therapeutic cloning'?
In the midst of all this, where do we find the soul, and how should this question guide the rest of our thinking on these issues as Christians? For Lord Habgood, the soul is a dimension of the personality and person-hood that arises from relationship between a human being and those around her or him, and with God. Describing the human foetus as "this little bundle of possibilities", he left us with just a glimpse of the complexity of the issues facing those who are pushing back the frontiers of knowledge in this complex field.
For details of forthcoming subjects and speakers click 'What's On' on the menu on the left of your screen.
4 March 2005
Cancelling 3rd World Debt: is it Fair?
The Revd Lyndsey Pearson, North East Area Secretary for Christian Aid, challenged us last night to look carefully at the fairness of the economic relationship between the 1st and 3rd worlds.
She set out the story of how world economic trends and domestic political problems over the last forty years have locked many poor countries into an inescapable cycle of debt.
She told a subdued gathering that one measurement of the seriousness of the world debt situation is that it is believed to cause half a million premature deaths every week.
The question of whether debt cancellation is 'Fair' is not just about whether or not it should be done, but about how it is done. Too often, she explained, debt relief is coupled with a condition that a poor county's markets should be opened up to subsidised western goods, so undermining the local economy further in the interest of 'Free' trade.
In short discussions, small groups grappled with the dilemma of 'Fairness' versus 'Freedom' in trade and economics; with how we as individuals should respond to the scale of these huge problems; and with what the distinctive Christian voice can add to the debate.
For details of forthcoming subjects and speakers click 'What's On' on the menu on the left of your screen.
23 February 2005
Tsunami Disaster: Act of God?
Canon John Cockerton, a former Principal of St John's College, Durham (one of the Church of England's training colleges for priests and others), spoke to over 100 people last night at the first of St Luke's 2005 Lent Course meetings.
He gave us a framework to think about the hard questions thrown up by natural disasters both large and small. Does God 'make it happen' or 'let it happen'? Is the disaster part of God's purpose? What might be a 'correct' Christian response?
Groups considered these questions and more, but came up with few tidy answers. We are grateful to Canon Cockerton though, for getting us thinking and praying about one of the great mysteries - the mystery of suffering in a world created by a loving God.
Our faith gives us just one answer to that mystery: that of His own will and as He showed in the death of Jesus, God suffers alongside and with those who are stricken, and this is His great example to us.
For details of forthcoming subjects and speakers click 'What's On' on the menu on the left of your screen.
16 February 2005
A Song of Two Cities: Sunnydene Players back on the boards at St Luke's!
The Sunnydene Players, St Luke's home-grown musical drama troupe, present this year's extravaganza - A Song of Two Cities (that would be London and Paris).
Don't expect to bump into President Chirac or Ken Livingstone - and you won't be travelling by Eurostar either - this is the London of Charles Dickens, My Fair Lady and Noel Coward, and the Paris of Maurice Chevalier, Chez Maxime and Edith Piaf.
Be whisked from Capital to Capital on a torrent of song and dance that will have you tapping your feet and maybe singing along with The Lambeth Walk or Je ne Regrette Rien!
There may still be one or two tickets available on the door for performances at 7.30pm on Thursday 10th, Friday 11th and Saturday 12th February in St Luke's Church Hall (behind the church on Shipton Street). £4 full price, £3 concessions.
Be There - or Be Square!
See Groups from the menu on the left for more about the Sunnydene Players and more pictures of 'A Song of Two Cities'.
10 February 2005
Habgood Behind the Headlines: former Archbishop in the line-up for St Luke's Lent Course in 2005
BEHIND THE HEADLINES: Exploring current ethical issues from a Christian persective.
Covering issues such as TSUNAMI DISASTER: Act of God? and IS IT RIGHT TO FIGHT? Can war be just?, this year's Lent Course at St Luke's offers five sessions of input by guest speakers followed by discussion and prayer, in St Luke's Church Hall (behind the church on Shipton Street).
Each session runs from 7.30pm to 9.00pm on a Tuesday evening, beginning on the 15th February with the first of five meetings.
For more details of subjects and speakers click 'What's On' on the menu on the left of your screen.
See you there!
20 January 2005
St Luke's in York Minster Farewell for
Archbishop David Hope
Musicians and singers from St Luke's played a part in an historic occasion in York Minster on the 15th January 2005.
Dr David Hope, Archbishop of York since 1995, announced last August that he would step down to return to the life of a parish priest this year, becoming Vicar of St Margaret's, Ilkley. In planning his formal farewell to the Diocese of York, he wrote to St Luke's Musical Director Alison Morse, inviting St Luke's to lead singing before the service and during communion, taking its place alongside the Minster Choir and local Christian rock group Overtone.
Three thousand people filled York Minster for a happy service of thanksgiving for Archbishop David's ministry. There were poignant moments towards the end: when the Bishop of Hull presented Archbishop David with a cheque for nearly £6,000 collected from around the Diocese,the Archbishop was visibly moved but gathered himself quickly for the formal handover of the Diocese to the Bishop's care until a new Archbishop arrives.
St Luke's music group filled the great Minster with song, leading the congregation in "How Deep the Father's Love for Us"; "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"; "The Lord's My Shepherd" and "There is a Redeemer".
But the other contribution from St Luke's is known only to a few: the beautiful colour-illustrated souvenir Order of Service booklet was designed by none other than our own Mark Comer (who was also one of the singers) at The MaxDP on Clifton Moor!
We assure Archbishop David - or "Father David", as he wants to be known in Ilkley - of our continued prayers as he takes up his new post.
17 January 2005
Send us the Bill!
Welcome home to the Vicar of Norton
St Luke's will welcome home one of its own when the Revd Bill Ankers leads the 9.30am Parish Communion Service on Sunday 16th January 2005.
Bill Ankers, Vicar of Norton (Malton) for the last six years, grew up in St Luke's parish and church. He worked for many years in the motor industry, eventually becoming Managing Director of Haws Garage, the former Citroen dealership on Huntington Road. He is a Fellow of the Institute of the Motor Industry, a passionate angler, and a seriously tall guy.
Living opposite St Luke's on Burton Stone Lane, Bill's faith and involvement with the church led him to be ordained a Deacon in 1993, and a Priest in 1995, when he left St Luke's to spend three years as Chaplain of Full Sutton Prison before moving to Norton in 1998.
Invited back on the 16th January by St Luke's Vicar Steve Benford, Bill and his wife Celia are assured of a warm welcome home.
12 January 2005
The Asian Tsunami:
St Luke's fundraising for Christian Aid
The annual Christmas envelope collection for Christian Aid, which this year covered the York City Carol Service as well as our Midnight Mass/Christmas morning services, raised £325.
Of course, neither we at St Luke's nor anyone else was aware of the catastrophe about to be unleashed in south-east Asia the next day. Christian Aid is the official relief agency of the Church of England, and is part of the Disasters emergency Committee co-ordinating the British voluntary sector's response to the tsunami, and so St Luke's is taking steps to increase its support for Christian Aid at this crucial time.
The collections taken over the first two Sundays of 2005 for the Tsunami Asia Disaster appeal has now reached over £980. This doesn't take into account that fact that many at St Luke's had already sent money directly to the DEC appeal before the appeal letter came from Christian Aid.Four St Luke's members representing Christian Aid (including Steve the Vicar) and some from the Red Cross stood in the cold with buckets outside York City Football Club before the match against Scarborough on 2nd January. £1,850.14 was taken - a record for the amount taken in an hour for the Red Cross.
The good folk at York City were feeling particularly generous that day, gifting Scarborough with three points as well!
We continue to pray and to raise money for all those whose lives have been devastated, or touched in any way, by the disaster, and for those whose lives have been lost in this or any other tragedy.
www.christian-aid.org/give/appeals/seasia1.htm .
10 January 2005
Prayers for the Asian tsunami disaster from the Christian Aid web site
O Lord,
no words can ease
the pain of the bereaved,
the fear of the survivors,
the shock of the nations.
But let our words
bring the promise
of shelter to the homeless,
food to the hungry,
healing to the sick
for all in Asia this day.
Amen
From the comfort of my home
my heart goes out
to those who have lost everything they own.
From the warmth of my circle of friends
my heart goes out
to those who grieve the loss of people they love.
From the celebrations for a year's end
my heart goes out
to those who face the future with great fear.
Lord God,
take my heart, my prayers, my money,
and use them to bring hope
to the people of the Indian Ocean.
Amen
God who in creation formed wave and wind,
oceans, land and all human life,
we hold before you the pain of all whose lives are shattered by the
terrifying power of this tsunami – be for them a refuge and strength in their trouble.
Awaken and encourage in us actions and words to support the suffering
and all who seek to bring relief.
In the midst of trouble we praise you for the help which is being brought
through Christian Aid’s partners and so many others in Sri Lanka.
Each deed and word of care proclaims your love which no waters can quench and no floods drown.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, who gave everything for the sake of all human kind.
Amen
Ramani Leathard, regional communications manager for Asia, was on sabbatical in Sri Lanka when the tsunami struck. She is now working with Christian Aid partners in the country but she has found time to send the final prayer to Christian Aid supporters.
1 January 2005
The Late Wise Man: St Luke's young people's Nativity Performance 2004
Wednesday 23rd December saw an evening of colour and song as St Luke's young people romped through a Musical called The Late Wise Man.
Caspar, Melchior, Balthasar and Artaban were four wise men sent by the King of Persia to find the new King whose star he saw in the east... but hang on, we've heard of the first three, but who's this Artaban?
Well, he's the kind of 'wise man' who's late for eveything. Late to the King's Palace, and then late setting out to follow that star. And he gets held up along the way, helping all sorts of needy people, so that by the time he gets to that stable in Bethlehem, Mary, Joseph and Jesus have already fled from Herod's murderous soldiers. So Artaban never sees the new-born King - or does he?
Well, he's helped the needy and given to the poor, so it turns out that Artaban, like the rest of us, has met the Saviour, in the people around him who he's helped. It all turns out right in the end!
Congratulations to all the performers, to Lynn who headed up the indefatigable team of leaders (who all aged ten years in the week leading up to the performance), and Alison for her huge musical efforts.
23 December 2004
Carols by candlelight
St Luke's was nearly full for the annual Parish Carol Service on Sunday 19th December.
The young people's and adult 4-part choirs led by Alison Morse and organist Peter Fletcher made a superb contribution to a warm and happy evening of celebration and expectation.
Nine lessons read by St Luke's members told the age-old but amazing story of God's promise to a troubled world that He would send a saviour - and of how that saviour was born, the child of an unmarried mother away from home and with nowhere decent to stay... one of us, but truly God as well.
The wait is nearly over. God becomes human and lives among us - and we shall see His glory.
20 December 2004
Home fixture: York City Football Club Carol Service at St Luke's
Over 100 people came to York City Football Club's Carol Service at St Luke's on the 14th December (York City are our next-door neighbours).
The service of readings and carols was organised by Sophie McGill, communications and community director at York City, and St Luke's Church. Most of the readings were done by people from City with some of the choir solos by City supporters who are also St Luke's members. City's Chaplain, the Revd Chris Cullwick, gave a Christmas Reflection and the service was led by St Luke's 'home team' of the Revd Steve Benford and Lynn Comer.
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All went well until the prayers at the end of the service. Vicar Steve was just about to start praying when the Christmas tree keeled over sending some of the decorations flying.
All in all it was a very special evening enjoyed by all. Many of the congregation (those who weren't driving)then moved on to the York City Social Club for a mince pie and a pint.
We look forward to welcoming City back next year. A Carol Service is a time to thank God for His most amazing gift to us all - and let's hope that next year the Minstermen have their own gifts to give thanks for!
18 December 2004