Groups

The Music Group or Hesband, as some people call it, is the group of people you will often see in the corner on a Sunday morning, the more disreputable-looking members wielding guitars. Believe it or not, we sometimes practise – at the moment we tend to rehearse on Wednesday or Thursday evenings. If you have an instrument and want to join in or have vocal cords and want to use them to add to the singing, come and find Rick (the one with the facial hair who is playing acoustic guitar). The aims of the group are threefold: to have fun, to worship God to allow people to discover/use/develop musical gifts, to be a group where people can meet each other, and to help others to worship God. OK – fivefold. Help us to do this better – we welcome feedback, especially with new ideas. New members of the group, both singers and instrumentalists are always welcome.______Rick Taylor

Mother's Union meets on the third Thursday of each month in the meeting room (2.00 pm in winter and 7.30 pm in summer) with a varied programme of speakers. In summer there is an outing in July and a Teddy Bears' picnic for the Pram service in August. At Christmas there is a Christmas lunch. They also meet on the first Wednesday of each month at 9.00am for a corporate Communion in the Church followed by Bible study.

The Prayer Group meets fortnightly on a Tuesday morning at 10.00 am in the Community Room at Heslington Court. Members take it in turns to lead the meeting, each person doing it in their own way. After the time of prayer there are light refreshments and friendly chat. Please join us if you can.

The Church Walking Group meets at Heslington Vicarage at 9.30 am, usually on the third Saturday of the month, for walks in the Howardian Hills, the Wolds or the North York Moors. The distance is normally about 10 miles, with a shorter route of about 5 miles for those who prefer it. The walks are most ably led by our trusted guide and author, John Eckersley. Bring your own lunch and don't be put off by the nettles, brambles and mud that are a guaranteed feature of every walk. You don't have to be super-fit to join us - walkers of all levels of experience and age are welcome.

Let us know if you are coming (so we can arrange transport) either by signing the notice in the church or by ringing John Eckersley at 01904 410389.

See the pictures taken by our enthusiastic photographer on a recent walk to explore the countyside near Castle Howard.

Find out about John's walking books by going to his website.

From the annual church report:
With John Eckersley's Wilberforce Way launched successfully last May, the walks this year have not followed a particular theme but have been to places of beauty and interest on the Wolds and North York Moors, as well as around the Castle Howard and Harewood House estates. Numbers involved have ranged from three to twenty-four and ages from two to getting on a bit.

Historical or religious interest is often part of the planning of walks, but some of our greatest pleasure comes from the unexpected - a roedeer leaping across our path, finding fox or badger prints in the snow or sharing a barn during a heavy shower with a rabbit. Come and join us!