Pentecost 2023 Pastoral Letter

Pentecost 2023

Dear Friends,

Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ!  May his peace rest upon you and may the Holy Spirit dwell in your hearts so that you may call God “Father” and be strengthened in your proclamation of the Good News.

It has been a real joy during these first six months of my Episcopal ministry to have visited many parishes and participated in the glorious liturgies of Advent, Christmastide, Lent and Eastertide.  Although many communities are experiencing difficulties and uncertainty, what has been evident to me is the palpable love and joy that our churches live within and share.  Please be encouraged!

Within the See of Beverley, we are nurtured by the Catholic Faith which has been at the heart of the Church in England since the first Christian missionaries arrived on our shores during the Roman Empire.  There have been many changes, upheavals and reforms along the way, but one thing has remained constant – the Faith once preached by the saints of old is the Faith still preached by the saints of today.  Jesus Christ, who is God-with-us, is Crucified, Risen and Ascended for the salvation of all the world.  The Holy Spirit has been given to comfort, strengthen and enable.  We have not “been left as orphans” because those who are loved by Jesus and who love him are loved by the Father. (John 14 v 18-24).  This is our faith, this is the Faith of the Church!

This Pentecost, pray earnestly, with me, for renewal in the Holy Spirit so that we, in our place and time, may “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28 v 19).  Sharing the Gospel is not the sole task of the clergy and licenced ministers:  it is the responsibility of every one of us.  St Irenaeus calls the Holy Spirit heavenly water:

Like dry flour, which cannot become one lump of dough, one loaf of bread, without moisture, we who are many could not become one in Christ Jesus without the water that comes down from heaven.  Like parched ground, which yields no harvest unless it receives moisture, we who were once a waterless tree could never have lived and borne fruit without this abundant rainfall from above.  If we are not to be scorched and made unfruitful, we need the dew of God.” (Treatise against Heresies).

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who so faithfully keep our various communities active in prayer and mission.  It isn’t always easy, but I hope it is always rewarding.  Thank you also to all who have been in touch with me to suggest new or revitalised ways of supporting one another within the See of Beverley.  Events are advertised on Facebook and the website.  Please share widely, especially with those who have no access to social media.

Gill Knowles has kindly joined the team as my PA and is beginning to get to grips with everything.  She is in the process of updating our contact list so might be in touch with you to clarify details.  She is contactable via office@seeofbeverley.org.uk and her office phone number is 07394 545887  Some years ago Gill and I worked together when I was the Diocesan Director of Ordinands so I am really pleased to have her support once again.  She is not a member of the Church of England and doesn’t always understand our quirkiness, but she is an accredited deacon within the Yorkshire Baptist Association and understands what it means to be a Christian in modern Britain.

I will be meeting with my Bishop’s Representatives from across the Province of York at the end of June to reflect upon our shared life in the See of Beverley and to discuss plans for the future.  If there is anything you would like to be brought to my attention before then please be in touch.

Later this summer Gill will open up the 2024 diary for potential visits – 2023 is already rather full!  No bookings will be confirmed, however, until three months before the event and priority will be given to parishes and communities that I haven’t been able to see this year.  Please be prepared to share Confirmation Masses with neighbouring parishes.  More details about Confirmations will emerge after my meeting in June.

On Saturday 15^th July, at 12noon, I will Celebrate Mass and Preach in the Milner Chapel in Parcevall Hall.  This has been a mini Festival in the past, so do come along, bring a picnic and enjoy the grounds.  Pray for good weather!  If you haven’t been before, Parcevall Hall is located at Skyreholme, near the picturesque village of Appletreewick. Brown direction signs point the way from both the B6160 and the B6265. Sat Nav setting BD23 6DE. Free car parking is available to visitors. (more information here)

Please pray for all those to be ordained this Petertide, including those who will serve or continue to serve in Society Parishes in the See of Beverley (more information here):

Deacons:

Gareth Gladman at 10am on Sunday 2 July at Durham Cathedral by the Bishop of Durham

Raymond Parkin at 5.30pm on Sunday 2 July at Sheffield Cathedral by the Bishop of Beverley

Priests:

Fr Jonathan Roberts at 7pm on Thursday 15 June at St Michael, Coppenhall by the Bishop of Beverley

Fr Warren Mitchell at 5pm on Saturday 1 July at Manchester Cathedral by the Bishop of Beverley

Fr Lewis Oliver-Hemmings-Faye at 5pm on Saturday 1 July at Manchester Cathedral by the Bishop of Beverley

Fr Al Thompson at 5pm on Saturday 1 July at Manchester Cathedral by the Bishop of Beverley

Fr Michael Dixon at 5.30pm on Sunday 2 July at Sheffield Cathedral by the Bishop of Beverley

This comes to you with my prayers,

+ Stephen Beverley