Thought for the Week: New Beginnings - 14th August 2026Two weeks ago, when I wrote the thought for the week, I focused on the visibility of God and our role in it. This week I ask you to look to the future as a new community of churches, as we prepare for a new pattern of services to meet the needs of our differing communities. It is important as we do this that we look outwardly as a church into the communities we serve, and I open with a passage from Philippians 3:13-14: “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” As I reflected on this passage, I noticed how this encourages letting go of the past and moving forward with purpose and this for me was very much the message I want to convey in this letter.I remember very early on in my managerial career using the phrase ‘at … we did it like this’ and often hearing at other times (and probably saying it myself) ‘we’ve always done it this way’. Where would we be in the world if this was the status quo? No motor cars; no electricity; no internet. But more importantly, where would we be if that had been the approach Jesus had taken? Jesus was sent by God to change the world, Jesus came to change the world and Jesus changed the world. Why then do we resist change so much? I am as guilty as you, the reader. I want things to be as they always were. I like consistency, I like predictability, I like to know where I am. However, I know God wants me to do different, and so I face that difference head on. I may not like it, I may not want it and at times there may be fear and dread in my mind, but I truly believe that Jesus is with me on that road and is my ‘rod and staff’.From the beginning of September, we have a new pattern of worship for our community of churches (I am no longer referring to us as a group) aimed at ensuring that there is a service for everyone somewhere in one of our Communities. Each Sunday there will be at least one Holy Communion Service at 9am and 10.30am in one of our Churches, and Oasis will continue to rotate around the Churches as previously. There will also be a new communion service at St Paul’s, Colton on a monthly basis. St John’s, Acaster Selby will continue to host Evensong on the 3rd Sunday of the month. Holy Trinity, Acaster Malbis and All Saints, Appleton Roebuck will continue their shared lay-lead service on the second Sunday. And, of course, we must not forget our wonderful Messy Church which will continue as usual. I therefore commend you as our Church Family and our Church Community to support these services and build the Kingdom. AmenAlan (LLM)
Thought for the Week 7th August 2026ChangeI have written about this dirty word before … and probably will do again. I think we all struggle with change (me included – just ask my wife), but change is a natural part of life, which we often only notice when it is something which we hold dearly. Change takes place all around us all the time, our environment changes whether human-made or natural. There are constant cycles, yet we never return to exactly the same place. A very British example would be the weather – a major talking point! Are we ever happy with the weather? In church life though, we don’t like change. Most of us want everything to remain just as we are familiar with it being, but like our natural environment, that is simply can’t happen. Just in the last few months, all our churches have experienced some big changes. People we have known, and love have gone to glory. We find ourselves having to make changes because they are no longer about, but surprisingly we just accept such changes. Others have become ill or found other pressing commitments. Church communities rally round to meet those new needs. Change is inevitable and constant reality in life. Since integrating the AAAs into the ABCs in more formal way, although in a very loose way to allow for future flexibility, the ABC Churches Leadership Team (CLT) has had to make some changes to the pattern of worship. Sadly, these are necessary changes as we have less resources to enable us to maintain the pattern of worship in every church in the way that we have perhaps come to expect. It has been a long and costly process for the CLT, as we have wrestled in prayer and argued (in a very Christian way), over some of the proposals. Not everyone has agreed with every proposed change, mainly because it is painful to accept change especially to the churches with which we are most closely connected. Personally, I would have liked to maintain the existing patterns in each church, but that is simply not possible. It is important for all of us to remember that no change is ever permanent and, on that basis, your CLT will continue to listen, pray and even make further changes. God never changes in who he is; he only changes what he does in response to changed human circumstances - precisely because his justice and mercy are perfectly steady. The “change” is in our relation to him, not in his being. The Bible invites us to embrace change not as a threat, but as part of God’s loving, purposeful work - rooted in His unchanging faithfulness. We trust that God knows what he is doing - it would be a sorry state of affairs if we didn’t. So let us all trust God as we head into the future, following Jesus together.Blessings,Geoff
Afternoon Tea Saturday 15th August 2026 3-5pm in aide of Breast Cancer Now at St Giles Copmanthorpe.Please can you help?We need lots of bakes – savoury & sweet – to sell. Also, people to help on the day.Please sign up on the sheet on the notices board at St Giles.Thank you!
The visibility of GodImmortal, invisible, God only wise is the opening line of Walter Smith’s 2003 hymn, and one many of us sing often. However, this week I would like us to reflect on the visibility of God rather than the invisibility the world associates, and what that means for us as Christians.I was recently at an education leadership conference and one of the speakers talking about being visible as a leader made a poignant point and it started me thinking about God. To simplify the comment, being visible is not about being seen, it is about your presence, confidence, reassurance and direction. To this end, I question whether our God is invisible or visible. A simple read through the bible addresses all these points quite distinctly and demonstrates a visible God, however we need not be just son entrenched in believing the bible is the only visible incarnation of God. Look at the world around us, look at the flowers, animals and the seasons, and think about how this world provides for us. Look at the kindness that people show and good that people do for each other. Yes there is evil in the world too, but that does not detract from the good in the world. The basis of our laws are drawn from the same laws set down by God in the Ten Commandments and developed through Jesus’ teaching. Look at the way lives have been changed, the miracles that occur and the commitment of Christian all around the world.So what does that mean for me, as a Christian in 2026. The visibility of God makes me secure in the knowledge that I am loved by our eternal Lord and Saviour who has a plan for me. At the same time, I recognise that I am bound in that commitment to be Christlike (to the best of my ability) and am part of God’s visibility on Earth whether I am preaching, praying or just living life, I need to exude God in all that I do. As we enter the August period for our Churches and we move to a weekly ABC Communion service, it gives us all chance to come together in five of the seven churches, with one service taking place in each of the five parishes to build our church community. I hope and pray that we are increasingly demonstrating God’s visibility in our lives. Although I will be away for three of the Sunday’s in August I hope to meet up with as many of you on the services I can attend. To finish, I remind you of the two lines of the first verse of the hymn I started with: most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.As Christians we serve a mighty God, let us remember who is at the centre of our lives and what is important.God Bless Alan (LLM)Pray for …A growing closeness of our Churches and the villages we serve (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.Those who will struggle with caring responsibilities (particularly for those with Children) over the school holiday periodGive thanks for …The Reverand Geoff Mumford, who returns from his holiday. We hope he is refreshed and restedA time of holiday for many, time to spend with loved ones and opportunity rest and relaxationThe continued commitment of our church communities
