Central is holding a fund-raising day at St Crux hall on Saturday, 22nd September from 10 till 3.30.  Come and join us for drinks, sandwiches and home-made cakes.

St Crux is at the end of Shambles:

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Today (9th September) we celebrated our harvest festival with thanksgiving for what we have from God and challenge to link work and prayer as we live out our daily lives, making everyday choices. Our aim is to develop as disciples of Jesus each and every day, not just on Sundays.

Harvest flowers

Thanks to some hard work by a number of our members, the church building was beautifully decorated and much admired by visitors on our open days. We also invited friends from other churches in York city centre: some came to join in our morning service and others came after services in their own churches to join us for lunch.

Gathering for lunch in the hall.

Our youngest regular attender even brought a visitor from another world…

A clanger, waiting for harvest lunch.

The service to mark the beginning of the York Circuit (which took place at Central on Saturday, 1st September) is the subject of a piece in the local paper, the Press.

The new York circuit of Methodist churches is now officially up and running.  Here at Central we hosted a special service on Saturday evening, 1st September, to welcome new ministers and induct Revd Philip Turner as our new superintendent minister (who has oversight over the whole circuit).

The new circuit ministers, Revd Andy Lindley, Deacon Ian Cartwright and Revd Elizabeth Cushion, on the steps outside Central before the welcome service.

Revd Stephen Burgess, the chair of the York & Hull district, preached and both he and Philip Turner gave us encouragement and words of challenge as we embark on a new phase in our work here.

Some members of the circuit leadership team on the steps outside Central before the welcome service. Central’s minister, Revd Chris Humble, is on the far right; the superintendent, Revd Philip Turner, is on the far left.

It was great to have friends from all around the York area to join in the service, including a number from other Christian traditions who came to add their voices of welcome to our new staff.

Hymn singing at the beginning of the welcome service.

The service included a ceremonial cutting of a cake, which was iced with the words YORK CIRCUIT responding to the transforming Gospel of God’s love in Christ.

The York Circuit celebratory cake.

Those who were able to stay after the service joined in fellowship over more cake in the halls.

More cake!

Fellowship in the halls.

Now the real work begins – and we look forward to welcoming and working with new friends.

As part of the heritage weekend in York, we’ll be joining other historic buildings in opening our doors so you can come and have a look around our church building, which dates from 1840.  We’ll be open between 2 and 4 pm on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th September, 2012.  All are welcome.

On previous weekends we’ve had plenty of visitors comment that they had no idea such a wonderful building was hiding in St Saviourgate: come and have a look for yourself, ask questions and take photos!

You can find more information about the building here.