Christianity – the good, the truth, the beautyHaving spent last Saturday at Wydale, I felt inspired by a simple phrase of Christianity – good, truth and beauty that I felt it a worthy topic for this week's thought. Quite often when thinking about the Bible, Jesus, God – ie all those things we think of in isolation we often focus on aspects of the good and the truth as ways of thinking about the word, not often the beauty.Regardless of your level of faith, it is impossible not to be able to see the positive impact that the church has had on the society we live in through the teachings of Jesus. John 13:34 sets out a basic approach to life “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another”. OK, we may fail to do this on many occasions but as a principle for life we can not suggest that this is not the way we should live and is not good. Christianity has touched virtually every part of life, and always for the better.Truth, from a Christian perspective, is not an abstract concept but is embodied in the person of Jesus Christ and is central to our faith and the relationship we have with God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Throughout the bible God is presented as truth (see Deuteronomy 32:4) and Jesus links to this when he declares in John 14:6 "I am the way and the truth and the life". This clear identity of Jesus’ divinity links our faith in the certainty of the saving power of Jesus.The third part of this, however is something we probably consider less. The Beauty of Christianity, or more particularly the Christian faith. In summary, beauty from a Christian perspective is a multifaceted concept that goes beyond simple aesthetics and the superficial and instead is engrained in God’s nature and emphasises the inner character of God an Jesus. As Christians we are called to reflect that beauty as we live our lives and how we interact with others. In other words, to mirror the mission of the Archbishop ‘Living Christ’s Story’.So in our Churches and Communities what doe this mean for us. I put it to you simply. Have faith in the New Covenant, believe and trust in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ and play our individual and collective parts of the Great Commission, but most importantly let each and everyone of us shine as images of Jesus in our daily lives and daily interaction that the beauty of the Lord may be your reflection.Pray for …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 works of Jesus, however big or small the deed.That we may be open to hearing God’s will and move forward in faith.Give thanks for …Giving opportunities for us to share our faithThe sure foundation on which our faith is groundedAll those who work to bring the Kingdom of God closerAlan Johnston
Shoebox Appeal 2025Thank you to all who built a shoebox last year in 2024. Operation Christmas Child shoe box appeal sent 11.9 million shoe boxes to over 100 countries where children are victims of war, disease, poverty and famine. Your gifts are greatly valued.'You never know how God is going to use that box. They go by plane, they go by riverboat, they go by motorbikes - these shoeboxes go to children in some of the most isolated areas of the world.' Franklin Graham (President, Samaritans' Purse).If you wish to take part again by donating or filling a shoebox, St Giles' once again will be offering flat-pack boxes to fill, or you can donate and build a shoe box online. Boxes can be collected from the foyer whenever church is open.Please return your boxes to St Giles on:Thursday 13th Nov 09.30 - 12.00Friday 14th Nov 09.30 - 12.00Saturday 15th Nov 09.30 - 12.00
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK - From Vicar Geoff – 16th October 2025Listening for the still small voice of GodOne of my favourite hymns is ‘Dear Lord and Father of Mankind’, mainly because of the last few lines of the 4th verse, which go … speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire, O still small voice of calm, O still small voice of calm!We all live such busy, complicated and noisy lives, yet our God who created the heavens and the earth, does not usually speak in a loud booming voice, but in a still small voice of calm. Yes, there are occasions where He makes his voice known to all, such as when Jesus is baptised and God speaks out,17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)God enjoys that intimate one to one with each of us. Sometimes that can be in prayer, other times when we least expect to hear from Him. But that should not be considered unusual. If we know and love God, I believe He wants to be communicating with us regularly and often. He wants us to hear from Him. But are we listening?We need to be ready and open to hear from God, as part of our ongoing relationship with Him through Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. We can prepare ourselves to do this by setting ourselves a part to listen to Him in prayer. I was recently at Ripon Cathedral when I heard God speak clearly into my life, at a time when I really needed to hear from Him. I was struggling and hurting, and He brought a word of life, encouragement and comfort.When did you last set time apart to ear from God? You don’t need to go away on retreat or sit in a church building in silence; you simply need to be open to hearing His voice. Why not give it a go? Tell God you are listening and then hear Him speak.Pray for … The ceasefire in Israel and Palestine to hold For peace to be achieved in the Ukraine The coming together of the ABC & AAA Churches and Villages to form a Mission and Ministry Unit The appointment of God’s person as our Children, Youth and Families WorkerGive thanks for …. Our new Licenced Lay Ministers President Trump in his negotiations for a peace deal God’s provision to meet our every need Our new Archdeacon of York,
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
