The Church's Outreach
As well as the church's membership being drawn largely from the local community, there are a number of more formal links with organisations whose members may not attend church services regularly.
The church is now regularly opened on weekdays from 12-2 for visitors and those wishing to use it for prayer or contemplation (in practice, most visitors appear after the Sunday morning and are made welcome). The numbers coming in are not large, except when we find ourselves entertaining orderly groups of school visitors to the University. Those who come seem to appreciate the facility and a number of useful and productive contacts have resulted.
The University
The Anglican and Methodist chaplains at the University are based at Heslington Church. They are also in a Covenant of Unity with the Roman Catholic Chaplaincy. More information on the university chaplaincy can be obtained from their website.
Schools
Badger Hill Primary School and Lord Deramore's School
The two primary schools in the parish get regular visits from the clergy
and one of the lay readers speaks at school assemblies at both Badger
Hill and at Lord Deramore's. The assemblies are a great opportunity to
get to know some of the children and hopefully this will be an encouragement
for them to come to the Summer Club in August. The Christmas Story, the
Easter Story and the Lord's Prayer were all presented, the latter using
a computer PowerPoint presentation prepared by some of the youngsters.
A very warm welcome is received at both schools and invitations to meet
the staff over coffee are always gratefully accepted.
Archbishop Holgate's CE Secondary School
Rev Nancy Eckersley is chaplain at Archbishop Holgate's School and visits
at least once a week. Both the weekly and annual chaplaincy events are
now well established and accepted. There is a collective worship with
Year 7 and a 'drop-in' lunchtime in the chapel. Also there is a 'Rock
Sold' group for Yrs7, 8, and 9 at lunchtime and a Christian Union for
Yrs 10 and 11. Both are run by YoYo with help from Tang Hall Community
Church.
The annual visit to Heslington Church continues with Yr 7 and the help
from the congregation members is great. Yrs 7 and 8 have each a 'teaching
communion' with the focus in the first year being 'Christian Acts of Worship'
and the second year 'the life and teachings of Jesus'. On almost every
occasion the students are reverent and interested. The Chair of Governors
(the Bishop of Whitby) comes to the annual Christmas service in the Minster
and it is much appreciated., YoYo helped with the Easter services this
year and two senior pupils were able to give their testimony about the
meaning of the cross and resurrection for their lives today. Much of the
administration is greatly helped by Richard Nihill, the lay chaplain,
who produces class assemblies each week for use by the teachers.
The staff communions on training days have been supported by a few faithful staff members who express appreciation and this year a Quiet Day was held at Heslington in the autumn.
Extra involvement this year is happening with the 2008 banner and the art exhibition produced by students in Yr 8 and Yr 10. We will also be able to see the new dance group at the Historical Exhibition.
The LodgeThe Lodge, a home for elderly people in Heslington village, is visited monthly by Rev Nancy Eckersley along with several ladies from the congregation. They hold a service in the communal lounge on Wednesdays at 2.00pm which consists of traditional hymns, a Bible reading, a talk and prayers. All residents, family, friends and staff are welcome to attend. The residents always look forward to this service and the friendly chat that follows it. The majority of the residents are ladies, with a couple of gentlemen
sitting coyly in the background. Many of the elderly who live there
have few visitors and enjoy the contact with members of our congregation,
some of whom have visited for many years and have become firm friends
with the ladies who live there.
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Woodlands MS Resource and Respite Care Centre |
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Guests from Woodlands join us at Heslington Church for Sunday worship and there is a weekly Reflection half-hour in the Centre. Several building projects at Woodlands have been completed this year with the result that Woodlands can now take four more guests (the demands are high) and accommodate them in the extended dining room. Nancy visits fortnightly (alternating with Fr Pat from St George's Roman Catholic Church). The Pastoral Team has grown by one person to six, comprising 4 Catholics and 2 Anglicans. The weekly reflections we run continue to be varied and the guests are now very used to them and are usually confident at sharing their own insights. The Christmas Day and Easter Day communions are attended by almost all the guests and the Carol service was full to bursting with the choir from Dunnington coming to help swell the singing. |
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Heslington Outlook
Heslington Outlook is a monthly newsletter, produced by the church and distributed to all 1413 households in the parish by a willing band of 37 helpers. It contains a brief message and comment from one of the clergy, news from the Parish Council and lots of information about meetings and activities of the various groups in our community.
Please send or phone any contributions for the next issue (there is a strict dead-line of Monday 26th May) to the editor:
Mr. G. D. Thompson, 32 Peel Close, Heslington, York YO10 5EN. Tel: 01904 415535
Gordon has been editor since April 1999 and has recently produced his 100th issue. We are all grateful for the fine work he is doing in the development of the newsletter.