Today marks the start of work on a project with St Michael-le-Belfrey in the basement here at Central, transforming part of the building into a centre for young people.  Teams coordinated by the Belfrey are working over the next couple of weeks to clear and decorate two of the rooms; to follow progress, have a look at their blog by clicking here.

In 1753 John Wesley (one of the founders of Methodism) said, “So wickedly, devilishly false is that common objection, ‘They are poor, only because they are idle’.” Yet today church-goers and the general public alike are willing to believe that the key factors driving poverty in the UK are the personal failings of the poor – especially ‘idleness’.

The Methodist Church, along with Baptist, URC and Church of Scotland partners, has produced a report which lays bare six myths about the poor which enable the majority to live with the comfortable assumption that both poverty and wealth are deserved.

As a city-centre church which hosts a project for the homeless run by people from many different churches we see what poverty can do in 21st century Britain. Please read the report – and act on it.

Click here to find out more.

Walk with us towards Easter:

Service of Holy Communion with imposition of ashes

Led by Revd Nick Bird.  Wed 13th February 12.45pm

Lent Talks: People of the Passion

Wed 27th February – Revd Dr Peter Doble (York Methodist circuit)
Wed 6th March – Revd Neville Simpson (York Methodist circuit)
Wed 13th March – Mr David Redrobe (Kirton in Lindsey, Lincolnshire)
Wed 20th March – Revd Christopher Humble (Central Methodist Church)

Talks begin at 12.45pm
Light lunches served from 11.45am

Everyone welcome
For further information
tel: 01904 426483

Lent flier 2013

Rev Peter Doble challenged the congregation at Central with his ‘mission statement’ during this morning’s service. I though I’d share it here as I think it sums up our faith pretty well:

When they ask ‘Who are you?’

Say –

We are a People gathered around, attentive to, and shaped by Jesus’ story,

– committed to following him in his way of selfless love,

– knowing that ‘following’ entails ‘taking up a cross’;

– being nourished by his means of grace: especially by praying his prayer and gathering at his table;

– drawing from the wells of our tradition while

– contributing to that tradition through our own responses to what God has done and continues to do through Jesus;

– seeking to embody his mission in our living, both corporate and personal.

We are vigorously seeking to become a fellowship who own disciplined values are those of God’s Kingdom.

– revealed through Jesus’ life, death and vindication;

– now expressed through local Christian social, economic, and political commitment;

– probably the only basis for a global, prophetic message of God’s peace [shalom; salaam],

– particularly in Mammon’s current crisis!

In God’s kingdom,

– orthopraxy (living right) outweighs orthodoxy (creeds);

– ‘walking’ is better than ‘talking’;

– choosing God entails refusing Mammon (idolatry!).

 

Rev Peter Doble (used by permission)

As part of York’s annual Residents’ Festival, Central will be open from 11 till 4 on Saturday, 26th January.  You’ll be very welcome to pop in and have a look around the chapel; some of us will be around to answer any questions you may have.  We hope to have a number of organists playing during the day too, so it’s an opportunity to hear what is generally regarded as one of the best organs in the city.

There’s no need to book in advance and you don’t even have to be a resident!