THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK - From Alan – 19th September 2025Courses for Horses: Meeting Jesus in our messy (complex) lives.Last week, Vicar Geoff wrote the thought for the week focussing on our different preferences, and our need to provide for multiple congregations consisting of a diverse community of worshippers. I want to continue that theme this week and consider how and where we meet Jesus in different ways in or lives which are often filled to the brim.I often reflect back on simpler times. I was not brought up in a church family, and so for most of my youth Sunday was on the whole a day of boredom. Not much happened on a Sunday. We had three, then four and then five TV channels, although the morning was generally religious programmes or documentary based, the afternoon filled with westerns, with the odd relief of the occasional (very occasional) live football match. Shops were closed. In essence Sunday for many like me was a lazy day, sat around the house.I returned from University, a Christian, and started attending my local church. The people I had played football with pre-University on a Saturday afternoon, had moved to a Sunday afternoon due to many working on a Saturday. Suddenly my Sundays were full. Most weeks were the same routine 10.30am service at Church, 2pm playing footie, 6pm service at Church. It was busy but a simple routine. As we move forward during the next 30 years: marriage; children; increased responsibilities in work; career advancement; church meetings; church warden; lay ministry training, life becomes messy and complex. Suddenly we are faced with difficulties getting to and from activities and events, especially where the children are concerned. Both my children played football for local sides which meant chunks of Saturday and Sunday mornings were taken up travelling to some of the weird and wonderful places that are York and North Yorkshire. This became Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons and then just Sunday afternoons, but as the age groups rose so it seemed did the travelling with many a Sunday afternoon spent in Teesside. Coupled with that are jobs required the need to often undertake preparation work at weekends for the week ahead. It was messy and complex, and often required the balancing skills of the greatest trapeze artist.Therefore we need to think about this as we consider our engagement with Jesus. For many Sunday at 10.30 is still the time most associated with Church services. But many of our group of churches hold a 9am service. It suits. Messy Church on a Sunday afternoon suits many families and we see this in the depth and breadth of the congregation. This Sunday I have the pleasure of preaching at St John’s, Acaster Selby at a 3pm Evensong service, something new for me, but something I am really looking forward to. But Church is not just about Sunday Services, during the week we have Deepening Connections, Little Apples and Little Fish, we have house groups, Wednesday Communion, all the courses (eg Alpha, Encounters etc) that we run, and many other activities that we deliver. Of course, that is not to forget all our personal 1:1 engagements we have with Jesus in our personal lives.Personally, I would like to thank every single person who contributes their time and effort to make these things happen (or have helped them to happen in the past). We want to be a church that supports our multiple congregations and helps us to me Jesus at times which suit us in ways that suit us. We are a broad church because we are a diverse people, joined by one Lord and Saviour. Let us build this together.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK - From Vicar GeoffReaching our village communitiesMany of us are used to traditional worship from the Book of Common Prayer that we have known most of our lives: Holy Communion, Mattins (Morning Prayer); Evensong. They are nourishing and encouraging, and we enjoy what we have known for many years. Indeed, we may have grown up with that kind of worship from an early age. It is wonderful. It is rich. Surprisingly, it does not appeal to everyone. You may be aware that for 4 years we have had something called Messy Church. You may think that it is not proper church, because it doesn’t include communion or there are no traditional hymns. But did you know Messy Church has grown to have the largest attendance of any service across all seven of our villages? It regularly attracts around 50 - 60 adults and children, many of whom attend no other worship opportunity. That’s why we have been holding it Askham Bryan College Main Conference Hall, because none of our churches have a hall big enough.During August we followed a theme ‘Encountering the Divine’ as we explored together accounts from the Acts of the Apostles where folk had encounters with God. At our 5th Sunday in August, ABC Communion Together, Emma Peers, who will be licenced as a Lay Minister on 27th September 2025, preached a sermon which I encourage you to listen to the audio recording here: Encountering the Divine God in the Mess Emma Peers Sermon 31st August 2025.Emma has been leading Messy Church for the past 4 years, for which I am very grateful. In that time, I estimate that around 300 people have benefitted from this wonderful ministry. People often say children and young families are the future of the church. They are the church of today, even if the kind of church is out of our own personal comfort zone. The church must be for everyone and not everyone likes the same kind of thing. Over the years I have endeavoured to offer a range of various styles of worship across the churches. That may mean that ‘your’ kind of worship on any given Sunday may be found in a church which you don’t consider to be your own, and may involve travel, but you may find you have the opportunity to encounter the divine. Do ask around for a lift if you can’t get there yourself.The ABC Churches Leadership Team, myself and our PCCs believe we need to invest in this congregation and so we are praying about employing a Children and Families Worker to ensure that this vital and important ministry not only continues, but thrives to ensure the continuation of the church we all know and love. We are one church, made of people of all ages, traditions and preferences, so please pray that we find a way forward for Messy Church (and out pre school playgroups) which currently all rely on a limited pool of volunteers. Messy may not be where you ‘Encounter the Divine’, but it is a place where many people of all ages do.So, if you missed the final sermon of our August ‘Encountering the Divine’ sermon series, I encourage you to listen to it, it lasts just 17 minutes. Please pray about how we continue to serve these important congregations and how you might be able to help. That doesn’t mean you have to do crafts if that isn’t your bag. There are plenty of ways you can serve, including through prayer, which I believe is vital for any endeavour we undertake.Geoff
Back to School, Back to God: facing a new season with faithAs September arrives and the summer holidays come to a close, we find ourselves returning to familiar routines—early mornings, packed lunches, school runs, and the flurry of schedules. For many families, this season marks the beginning of a new school year: a time of anticipation, opportunity, and understandably, anxiety.Whether you're a student stepping into a new classroom, a parent watching your child grow up too fast, a teacher preparing lesson plans, or a grandparent praying from the sidelines, the start of the school year stirs many emotions—hope, fear, excitement, and uncertainty.In these moments, it’s good to be reminded that our God is not distant from our daily rhythms. He is present in classrooms, corridors, playgrounds, and homes. The Scriptures assure us: “The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” — Psalm 121:8Whatever our age or role, transitions can be daunting. Children may worry about making friends or keeping up in class. Parents may feel anxious about letting go or meeting new demands. Teachers may feel overwhelmed by the weight of their responsibilities. And yet, we are not alone in any of this.Jesus, who welcomed children and blessed them (Mark 10:14–16), reminds us that God values even the smallest among us. The same Jesus who calmed storms and fed multitudes walks with us into school playgrounds and staff rooms.Let us also remember Paul's words to the Philippians: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” — Philippians 4:6This is a season for prayer—not just for good school results and healthy lunches, but for peace, patience, kindness, and wisdom. Let us pray for our children: that they may learn and grow in confidence. Let us pray for our educators: that they may teach with joy and compassion. Let us pray for families: that homes may be places of support and understanding.And as a parish, let us recommit ourselves to being a community that supports our young people and their families—not only in word, but in presence and action. Could we offer a silent prayer during Sunday worship for teachers and students? Could we visit that single parent we know to offer support?This new school year offers each of us a chance to grow in faith and service. May we face it with courage, knowing that: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” — Proverbs 9:10May the love and peace of Jesus go with every student, teacher, and parent this year, and may our parish continue to be a place where all are formed in faith, grounded in love, and guided by hope.Daniel Khan
