Thought for the Week – From Rachel Reid, LLM – 20th May 2026Pentecost Don’t you just love a festival? Pentecost concludes the season of Easter, fifty days after Easter Day. It’s been a wild ride for the disciples. First, their leader is crucified, and with his death, all their hopes died. Three days later he is risen! From misery and despair to joy, celebration and hope in just three days! Then follows forty days of encounters with the risen Christ – the Road to Emmaus, appearing in a locked room to a bunch of scared (and sceptical) disciples, and my favourite, a barbecue on the beach. Finally, many of them witness his ascension – he disappears in a cloud – awesome, scary and kind of shocking. A couple of angels casually mention that it’s all fine, he’ll be coming back some day, and will they just stop gawping. I wonder how they felt after that? What were they supposed to do? Yes, they prayed, but they also kept themselves busy selecting and then casting lots (from which we get the word Lottery) to replace Judas. It was the feast of Shavuot, the celebration of the wheat harvest and commemoration of the giving of the Law to Moses, and Jerusalem would have been packed out with pilgrims from many nations. The Apostles and Jesus’s other followers, men and women, and I imagine children as well, were gathered in a house when something amazing happened. Once more the foundations of the world shift, and the promised Holy Spirit arrives like rushing wind and flames of fire. The house can’t contain them, and they spill out on to the streets, and the pilgrims are astounded to hear in their own languages the glorious praise of Almighty God. Three thousand became believers on that day, and it was catching! They ate together, shared everything, devoured the teachings of the apostles and gossiped the gospel. There were miraculous healings and people flocked to the Apostles just like they had to Jesus, bringing their sick and suffering loved ones to be restored. It must have been a bit like heaven on earth, for a while. Even the persecution, which followed, could not destroy the Church, because it doesn’t run on fossil fuels or even solar power, but on the power of the Holy Spirit, a deep well, a burning flame, a mighty wind, a still small voice, a white dove, the spirit that hovered over the waters of Chaos at the dawn of Creation. Friends, it is this Spirit that is still at work today, empowering the Church, teaching us what to say when we share our faith, changing hearts and turning people towards Jesus. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to come! Let’s sing out with that great Salvationist, William Booth, Send the Fire!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kNXZzPX1rw&list=RD6kNXZzPX1rw&start_radio=1 Rachel
The Victory ParadeLast week we experienced a moment of joy and delight as York City FC paraded the National League trophy through the streets of the City of York. Thousands filled the route to celebrate the homecoming of the promised land of the Football League. Individuals of all ages wearing the club colours: shirts, scarves, hats. After 10 years the Minstermen are back. Life for a football fan, for any sports fan, is incredibly difficult built on hope but fraught with fear. Every season you are desperate to see your team succeed and achieve a trophy victory.How different that is within the Christian faith, when we may still be involved in the ‘game’ but we know the victory is already won. 1 Corinthians 15:57 – “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”. This verse underscores our Christian belief that ultimate victory is attained through faith in Jesus Christ, particularly through His death and resurrection, triumphing over sin and death.We can therefore celebrate, continuously in the Victory of ‘our side’ and treat every day and every event as our own Victory Parade. Treat each Church service, each Christian event and every Faith engagement as a celebration of that victory. How proud we should be to wear our faith (our colours) for all to see. To have that outward display reflecting Christ’s story.In summary, the Bible teaches that true and lasting victory is ultimately found in God and through faith in Jesus Christ. It encourages believers to trust in God's power, acknowledging that victory results from divine intervention and reliance on the love and strength provided by the Lord. I call for us all therefore to learn to be active in our faith, to both proclaim the good news and to demonstrate that faith through our actions and deeds.Pray for …A growing closeness of the wider ABC Churches (Acaster Malbis, Appleton Roebuck, Acaster Selby, Askham Bryan, Bolton Percy, Colton, Copmanthorpe) and all that God has in store for us, moving forward together.Christians in our communities and around the world engaged in continuing the work of Jesus, however big or small the deed.That each of us be open to following God’s will and move forward in faith.Give thanks for …The commitment of our brothers and sisters in ChristThe opportunities we have to meet across our parishes throughout the week, to engage in worship and share our Christian lives.The Reverand Geoff Mumford, for his faith, commitment and tireless efforts to support the demands of our individual churches and communities
Thought for the week – Daniel Khan 8th May 2026Why Tradition Still Matters: Holding the Past to Shape the FutureLast weekend was the May bank holiday, and in many parts of the country traditional May Day activities took place. Marking the return of spring and the beginning of summer, traditional dancing around a maypole, and the crowning of May Queens, was reported locally in newspapers and on television channels; races and tug-of-war competitions were held; large round cheeses were chased down hills; and many a cup of tea and slice of cake was enjoyed at May Day fetes across the land. These activities are part of the traditional fabric of our life and community, not only providing fun and entertainment, but also serving to strengthen the cohesiveness of living together. In a world that often celebrates the new and the next traditions can sometimes feel like an anchor slowing us down, however. But within the life of the Church, tradition is not a burden, it is a gift. It is the thread that weaves generations of faith together, grounding us in something far deeper than personal preference or cultural trend. The word “tradition” simply means “that which is handed down.” In the Church, it is the passing on of faith, practices, and wisdom from one generation to the next. This is not about preserving habits for their own sake, but about safeguarding the truth of the Gospel and nurturing a shared identity as the people of God.Scripture itself affirms the value of tradition. St Paul writes: “So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.” (2 Thessalonians 2:15)Here, tradition is not opposed to Scripture, it is intertwined with it. The early Church relied on both written letters and lived teaching, showing us that faith is not just something we read, but something we embody. Traditions help us remember who we are. Through the rhythms of the Church year, the familiar words of liturgy, and the sacraments we share, we are continually drawn back into the story of God’s saving work. When we gather for Holy Communion, for example, we are not simply recalling a past event, we are participating in a living tradition that stretches back to Christ himself: “Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19). This remembrance is not passive; it is active, shaping our hearts and lives week by week.At their best, traditions also form us spiritually. They teach us how to pray when words fail, how to worship when emotions fluctuate, and how to remain faithful in seasons of doubt. The Psalms, so often woven into Anglican worship, remind us of this enduring practice: “One generation shall praise your works to another and shall declare your mighty acts.” (Psalm 145:4). Tradition is how one generation speaks faith into the next. However, tradition must never become static or lifeless. Jesus himself challenged traditions that had lost their purpose: “You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.” (Mark 7:8). This serves as an important reminder: traditions are meant to serve the Gospel, not replace it. They must always point us back to Christ, helping us grow in love, grace, and truth. In the Anglican tradition, we hold Scripture, tradition, and reason together in a careful balance. Tradition provides continuity, connecting us to the historic Church, while also inviting us to reflect, discern, and respond faithfully in our own time.So, as we take part in the familiar patterns of worship, the prayers we know by heart, the seasons we observe, the hymns we sing, we can do so with renewed appreciation. These are not empty routines, but living practices that shape us, sustain us, and send us out into the world as witnesses of God’s love.Tradition, then, is not about clinging to the past. It is about carrying forward a living faith, rooted in Christ, nourished by the Church, and alive in us today.Daniel Khan, Licenced Lay Minister
