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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

the music group

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.

MU logo
Meetings in 2008
17th January 2.00pm York Nightstop Wendy Houseman
21st February 2.00pm
Annual General Meeting plus Fun and Games
 
20th March 2.00pm Oberammergau - this meeting has had to be cancelled. Grace Strong
Monday 31st March 7.30pm
Deanery Lady Day Service at Heslington
17th April 2.00pm
Methodist Network Service Easter Offering
15th May 7.30pm Life as a verger at York Minster Alex Carberry
19th June 7.30pm Christian Aid Stephanie Cooper
17th July Outing to be arranged
Saturday 9th August 2.00pm Mary Sumner Day Garden Party at Seaton Ross
21st August 10.00am Teddy Bears' Picnic for Pram Service Children
Wednesday 10th September 7.30pm Archdeaconry Festival at Heslington Church
Wednesday 15th October 7.30pm Deanery Fellowship at Escrick 'Fair Trade'.
20th November 2.00pm To be arranged
18th December Christmas lunch

Flowers
The church is very appreciative of the beautiful flower arrangements produced each week. They are usually done by Rosabelle Lonsborough, Deirdre Hopwood and Pat Beckwith with back-up from Brenda Turner, Margaret Cummings and Marjorie Gallop. Other members of the congregation usually help at the bigger celebrations. We welcome anyone who might be interested in doing flowers, perhaps to celebrate an anniversary or in memory of a loved one. Please contact one of us.

Wedding flowers are usually organised by the people concerned but we are more than happy to do them for our regular members if they wish.

We try to be self-funding but rely on generous donations from our church members throughout the year for buying flowers and oasis.


The Banner Group's main focus this year has been on the new banner for the 2008 birthday celebrations. So many people have been involved it is impossible to name them all – but our grateful thanks to all who have picked up a needle (some for the first time in many years) to embroider panels and to those who at the time of writing are still working hard to put it all together in time for the party. It will be done!______Deirdre Hopwood


The 20 / 20 Social Group caters for those aged 20 upwards. We meet on the third Saturday of each month for social activities such as 10-pin bowling, safari supper, BBQ, games evening, theatre trip, quiz, video evening, etc. The meetings take place in someone's home, usually with a shared supper unless it is a trip out. There is no formal membership and anyone is welcome to turn up. Full details of each event will be given nearer the actual date. Contact Brenda and Stuart Turner at 01904 425119.

Program of events for 2008
16th February Luck Bag Whist
5th March Ten-pin bowling
26th April Family walk
17th May Theatre
28th June Summer BBQ
26th July Croquet
20th September Day at the seaside
25th October Safari Supper
22nd November Pre-Xmas meal
31st December New Year's Eve Scrabble
17th January 2009 Winter BBQ
28th February 2009 Hotel Dinner B&B

Heslington Men's Group meets in the meeting room on the second Wednesday each month at 7.30pm during the autumn and winter. There are always interesting speakers on a variety of unusual topics. All men of Heslington Church and their friends are welcome to attend. Our retiring collections this year are allocated to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. For more details of the group, contact Brian Blanchard (tel: 01904 410278).

Season 2007 / 2008
10 October The work of the Yorkshire air ambulance Bob Smailes
28 November Birds in Yorkshire Alan Pearman
12 December Health and growing old disgracefully Gordon Evans
9 January Backdoor to Russia in WW2: a railwayman's photographic memory Robin Patrick
13 February Reflections on South Africa Rory Dalgliesh
12 March The history of Brown's of York
Yvonne Parish

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.

image of Albrecht Dürer's betende hände.

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.

Dates of walks in 2008
19 January 16 February 15 March 19 April
31 May 28 June 19 July 23 August
27 September 18 October 15 November  

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.

walking group

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!