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!

Our annual Christmas carol service will be on Wednesday, 19th December at 7pm.  We’ll be singing some well-known carols such as Once in royal David’s city and Hark the herald angels sing.  Everyone is welcome so please feel free to come along and join us to hear the story of Christmas in music and readings.

Here’s a flavour of our carol singing session yesterday.  We raised about £140 for Action for Children: thanks to all who sang or donated.

The York Schools and Youth Trust (YoYo) produce an online Advent calendar for schools (it counts down the remaining days of the school term).  Keep your eyes peeled over the remaining few days as Central Methodist makes a cameo appearance in this year’s videos.

The calendar can be found on YoYo’s website.

Update (19.12.12): Central’s starring role can now be viewed on day 19.