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
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK - From Rachel – 1st May 2026Being part of Christ’s StoryIt’s the 5th Sunday of Easter this weekend, and one of the Lectionary readings is from Acts 7, about the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Just like the crucifixion of Jesus, this all sounds pretty grim. And it would be grim, if it had ended there. But we know that the death of Jesus wasn’t the end, we celebrate his resurrection at Easter and he’s alive today, working through his church by the Holy Spirit to transform our lives so that we can be salt and light in society. And the death of Stephen is part of this story. Stephen made the (unconverted) Apostle Paul, then known as Saul, very angry, and a huge persecution followed. But this only led to more flourishing in the early church. Believers scattered, leaving the dangers of Jerusalem, and taking the precious message of the unstoppable Gospel with them. The next few chapters of Acts see the followers of The Way, as they were known then, preaching boldly, healing people and baptising new believers.Many of us were at St Giles on Sunday 26th, to witness a baptism and four confirmations. It’s amazing that the message of the Good News about Jesus coming to seek and save the lost and show us what God is like, offering a way back to Him, is still the same today. God is still in the business of transforming lives and drawing people to himself. Let’s get excited to be part of Christ’s story, a story that is still being written on our hearts and that will never end.It was a very moving moment when Bishop Flora laid her hands on the heads of each of the confirmation candidates, praying for them to be anointed by the Holy Spirit. In the silence, did you feel the weight of glory? I’m sure that for each person being confirmed, for Chris, Lisa, Chloe and Joanna, this was a mountaintop experience, and one to be cherished and treasured in memory.Let’s be encouraged that we have a powerful Gospel to proclaim, that brings living water into parched lives, forming and moulding us, imperfect vessels, into people that God can use for his divine purposes.Rachel
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK - From Vicar Geoff – Seven Churches – 24th April 2026SevenOn 13th April 2026 I was licenced as Assistant Curate to Acaster Malbis, and Appleton Roebuck with Acaster Selby. It was an unusual development in a process of bringing together these two parishes with the ABCs, to which I already serve as Vicar. Unfortunately, this is a very slow process, because of the historic relationships between the parishes (Bishopthorpe was historically linked to Acaster Malbis and the separation that needs to happen before Acaster Malbis can be brought into the ABCs is a laborious process which involves the Church Commissioners). However, I am now at least licenced in some way to the five parishes containing seven churches, which will make up the new Mission and Ministry Unit (MMU) at some point in the future. The licence will mean that I can work with all of the PCCs and we can begin to work more closely together in order to build God's Kingdom and proclaim the Gospel clearly across this part of the world. That is ultimately the aim of the Church and we invite Holy Sprit to lead us on this exciting journey. Who knows what God will do?As I was reflecting on this task, which while I will be leading, is a task that belongs to us all, the number seven kept jumping out at me. The number seven appears frequently throughout Scripture, woven into narratives, laws, prophecies, and teachings. It often symbolises divine completion, fullness, and perfection. Whether in the Creation account, covenant promises, the framework of feasts, or the imagery in prophetic writings, seven stands out as a marker of God’s design and involvement with humanity. But what about the seven churches that Jesus writes to in the book of Revelation? I believe there is much to learn from those letters as we face significant challenges over the coming years. In these letters to the Churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea we read messages from Jesus specifically written to address the spiritual condition of those churches. These were seven churches in what is now Turkey which all faced challenges and were by no means perfect. Churches are not perfect because they are made up of imperfect people. Our seven churches are not perfect, but I believe God has a plan and purpose for each one. Each is unique, as was each of the Churches that are mentioned in these early chapters of Revelation. That uniqueness is to be celebrated and the strengths played to. Weaknesses must be addressed and supported, so that we each play our part in the mission that God is calling us all to be involved in.I hope that over the coming months we can begin conversations around these themes. We are involved with God in his mission to all His creation. What part will you be playing in that journey?Geoff
