THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – From Daniel Khan – 9th October 2025Called to Be One: Racial and Religious Tolerance in a Fractured WorldThis past week, we have all been deeply shaken by the tragic attack outside Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester, which took place on the evening of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Two people were killed, and several more injured. The authorities have confirmed it was a terrorist incident, and the Jewish community is once again facing profound grief and fear.In moments like this, we are called to respond not just with words, but with the deep truths of our faith. We are called to mourn, to pray, and to act as Christians, as neighbours, and as citizens of God’s Kingdom: "Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:18).The Church of England has long stood for the dignity of all people, regardless of faith, race or background. This is not merely a social principle, it is rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ who taught us to see every person as a neighbour, a bearer of God’s image. Our tradition has long held space for difference within unity, a church that values Scripture, tradition, and reason, a people committed to thoughtful engagement rather than division. Within our parishes we welcome people of many races, nationalities, and backgrounds. We seek to honour our neighbours of other faiths, believing, as the Lambeth Conference reaffirmed, that dialogue and mutual respect are Christian duties in a pluralistic society.Tolerance is not about watering down our convictions however, rather it’s about holding them with humility and love, and recognising the dignity of others who believe differently. In today’s terms let us honour the humanity of others, even those with whom we profoundly disagree, and as the Apostle Peter wrote:“Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honour the emperor” (1 Peter 2:17).In a world still marred by division, suspicion, and fear, the call to be a people of tolerance, justice and compassion is as urgent as ever. From race-related prejudice to religious persecution, both subtle and overt, the brokenness of our shared humanity confronts us daily. When Jesus walked the earth, he constantly crossed boundaries that others avoided, speaking to Samaritans, healing Gentiles, honouring the faith of outsiders. He upended expectations and taught us that God's love was wider than any tribal or national boundary.So, What Can We Do? Here are a few small steps each of us can take: Listen to others’ stories, especially those whose backgrounds or beliefs differ from our own. Challenge stereotypes, both in ourselves and in our communities. Speak out, when we witness racism or religious hatred. Pray for those persecuted for their race or faith, and for our own hearts to be open and wise. Engage with interfaith events, justice initiatives, and efforts to make our communities truly welcoming spaces.The book of Revelation offers us a vision of God's future, and it's not monochrome or monocultural:“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9).This is the future we are working toward, a reconciled humanity, a gathered community, no longer divided by fear or pride. Until that day, may we be faithful in the small acts of love that bring heaven closer to earth.God bless, Daniel Khan
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK - From AlanChange and the only constantSo as we move into the month of October, the weather is changing. The temperature has dropped, and the darker nights are starting to draw in. In particular, we notice getting up of a morning in the dark. It won’t be long until for many of us we will be going to work in the dark and coming home again in the dark. Life is full of change, and the seasons highlight that more than anything. The warmth and brightness of the summer months are increasingly becoming a distant memory. Change is constant.However, as Christians we have a one true constant Which forever remains the same. That constant is Lord Jesus Christ and the promise of salvation. As John 3: 16-17 tells us“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”This coming month in the Oasis services we will begin to explore the concept of the New Covenant and what that means in our current age. This new covenant which centres on the transformative relationship we each have with Jesus as the one true means of salvation. It is not something we need to earn by good deeds or rule keeping, but through acknowledging Jesus as Lord and Saviour, and accepting the grace of God through faith and trust.Last weekend myself, Daniel, Rachel and Emma, took another step in our journey as we were licenced as Lay Ministers at York Minster by the Archbishop. It was an absolutely fantastic service, but one thing that struck me was the number of people who processed into the Minster. It was a real show of faith, with so many standing up to be recognised as having that special relationship with our Lord.As we look towards the weeks ahead let us pray that our understanding of Jesus and our relationship with Him, grows ever stronger.Alan
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK - From RachelWAITINGWe spend a lot of our lives waiting. Waiting for a bus, waiting for a friend to turn up, waiting for the holidays, waiting for a diagnosis, waiting for an answer… As Christians we are waiting for Jesus to return and for his Kingdom to come, for wrongs to be put right, hunger and war to be no more. It’s our great hope.A few days ago the Rapture was all over social media. This is an event hinted at in the Bible (although never actually named “the Rapture”). In 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18 St. Paul writes 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.A South African pastor had predicted that the Rapture would happen on either the 23rd or 24th of September 2025, leading to hundreds of thousands of posts about it on Tik Tok and a lot of excitement and no doubt anxiety too. They forgot about Matthew 24:36, when Jesus tells his disciples that no-one knows the day or the hour of Christ’s return, but only God the Father. And we are all still here. Funny, that. We are still waiting.As I write, Philip and I are waiting with our daughter for the birth of her baby. We wait with faith, even certainty, but nevertheless we wait. We don’t know the exact day or the hour, and yet we long to hold the new little one in our arms and welcome them to the family. We don’t know what the personality of this little human will be, what they will look like or what they will become. All these things will be revealed in time.In Hebrews 11 we are told that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Let’s continue to encourage one another, and let the Word of God light our path as we walk through each day, hoping, praying and working for his Kingdom to come.RachelPray for: All who wait anxiously All who wait in joyful anticipation All who work for the Kingdom of God in our villages For a heart for children and families on our parishes For God to guide us and encourage us as we seek to work together in the wider ABCs.Give thanks for … Our Licenced Lay Ministers as they approach their licencing on 27th September – Emma, Daniel, Rachel and Alan All those who serve (and have served) to bring the Kingdom of Heaven closer. The certainty of SalvationWe pray for all who live and work in the following streets in our communities:In Copmanthorpe - Barbers Drive, Bowyers Close, Coopers Drive, Drapers CroftIn Bolton Percy & Colton - WoodlandsIn Askham Bryan - North Field LaneIn Acaster Malbis - Darling Lane, Acaster Lane, Pleasant Avenue - Mount PleasantIn Appleton Roebuck - Briar Court, Briar DriveIn the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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.
