Minster Musings
Come away with me……
As I have been pondering this article, the song from Nora Jones has been ringing in my ears ‘Come away with me….’. That calm and beautiful song, where she calls her beloved to step aside from the hustle and bustle; to walk in golden fields under grey skies; to stand on mountaintops; to rest in each other’s arms waking to the sound of rain on a tin roof. It’s a secular song but it reminds me of the call of God, calling his beloved children to himself, a call that has echoed throughout the ages.
St Aiden followed that call into monastic life; first on the Isle of Iona, and then at the behest of King Oswald of Northumbria on Lindisfarne where he founded a monastic community. The monastery became the seat of the diocese and the hub from which Aiden and his monks took the message of Christianity throughout Northumbria.
After St Aiden, St Cuthbert responded to the call, first as a monk and missionary, and latterly as hermit, becoming a bishop along the way. Cuthbert was renowned for his wisdom, generosity and healing powers. Cuthbert and Aiden’s lives were deeply involved in the life of their communities and deeply involved in the life of God. Both were renowned for missionary work building churches and spreading the Gospel, as well as stealing away to spend time in prayer and devotion.
Rather like the ebb and flow of the tides, or the passing of the seasons; prayer and work, solitude and community weave their way through their lives. Contemplation and action are both the work of God; each fuelling the other as we journey with God and God’s people. In our busy and frenetic world where there is so much injustice, poverty and need. We hear the urgent call to action, the need for food banks and human rights, for diplomacy and peacemakers. Yet it’s all too easy for this important work to drown out the call of God to come away with me…. to walk with God under grey skies, to sit with God on the mountain top, to take a moment on a bus, by the river, or in a church, to be still and know God.
This Lent, I encourage you to make time for contemplation and silent prayer. You might just add five minutes of intentional silence to your day; or a moment in the week; or plan a walk to a beautiful place. You might even look at booking a retreat to a monastery like the Community of the Resurrection at Mirfield or a holy place like Lindisfarne. However you spend your Lent, listen out for the call of God, our maker and redeemer who loves you, and is ready to meet you in the field of yellow grass, under the grey sky, on a mountain top, on a bus, whenever and wherever you turn to him. Amen
This Lent the Minster will hold an hour’s silence every Wednesday from 3pm – 4pm, a time to come away, to be still with God, to hear his breath and our own. You are very welcome to join us.
Revd Sam Crook
Curate
January in Pictures
January has seen the Minster celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, with the beautiful Carol Service that also marked Holocaust Memorial Day and the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
With the calendar being (slightly) less busy, there was time for some conservation work on the organ. New ‘cross-trackers’ were manufactured and fitted. These are part of the mechanical connection between the organ key and the pipes. They replaced parts which were nearly 100 years old and often failed. The Minster is very grateful to the Friends of the Minster for helping to fund this work, which cost over £7000.
January also marks the beginning of the farming year and we marked Plough Sunday by welcoming members of Calderdale young Farmers to a special service where we prayed for the farming community and all those who help to manage the land
The Minster Choir goes from strength to strength. The number of choristers is growing and medals were awarded from the Royal School of Church Music, to those progressing in their singing and music theory.
The Minster currently has Mark Terrey and Naomi Hewerdine, Ordinands on placement from the College of the Resurrection. They spent a week in January meeting members of the local community, visiting organisations and are seen here after meeting with Prof. Anand from Calderdale Interfaith.
The Minster was used for two sell-out concerts, the Magic of Motown and David Bowie by Candlelight. These nights bring hundreds into the church, often for the first time and are a good source of income for the Minster. We have received a lot of positive feedback from hosting these evenings. If you are interested in stewarding these types of events, please contact the Minster Office.
