CHRIST CHURCH NEW MILL 2008-2009

Lindisfarne: 17^th – 19^th July 09 The weather was astonishing on the journey there, but a good group of folks from Christ Church made it to the Holy Island staying at the Manygates retreat house. It was a relaxing enjoyable weekend, walking, praying eating and laughing. We celebrated a Celtic Eucharist in the ruins of the Abbey, thanks English Heritage. We are considering going to Normandy next year!

Greenbelt 09 over the August Bank Holiday saw even more Christ Churchers mixing it up with their friends from Nuneaton at this year’s festival. We enjoyed possibly the best Greenbelt Eucharist ever (other than the annoying worship band) and enjoyed talks from Rob Bell and our old favourite John Bell from the Iona Community. It was good to meet up with friends and make some new ones.

During Advent 2008, we worked with a local environmental artist Sarah Branson on two projects. The making of a new altar frontal for Christ the King and a Wicker Advent Crown which provoked a variety of responses ranging from “Ooh what’s that?” to “I feel touched by this piece of work.” Certainly the physicality of this crown made you pay attention to reality that Christ was coming. The altar frontal was made by children and adults out of felt. For more information about our Altar Frontal please see this link.....

The Weavers Group at church also made a banner this year for the church. We had been looking God world and we wanted to capture some of the beauty of it, so we make this banner for the church...we wanted to show the whole world as an act of worship. “Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness, bow down before Him the LORD is his name.”

Over summer The Arts Festival ran an out-door exhibition which was a walk around Homestyes reservoir. Our Vicar Sean and assistant priest Steve contributed a poem each ( click here to see them ) for that arts trail.

We also had a pastoral visit from Bishop Tony this year; one of the things that he did was visit the local High School to meet pupils and find out what is going on locally in schools. He led the Festival of Folk Service in Holmfirth, with the Sheffield based band OUTCRY.   

We also had a great summer Garden Party round at the vicarage....Francesca our Junior Church rep. spent the year raising monies and awareness for her chosen charity.

Easter was a special time too; we built an empty tomb in church, and everyone walked through the tomb on their way to place a flower in the cross. While we did this we sang hymns. We took out the cross outside church after the service. 'Alleluia he is risen!'

Alex Quinn (www.alexquinn.net) who sings and plays guitar in the Church Worship Band also played a concert at church during the year with Sue & Owen Philips & Steve Dixon. It was a really good night of Folk and Indie music.

We also had a ready steady cook Pampered Chef Harvest-time evening at which two men from the comngregation competed to to make the most delicious dish. Well done Mark & Chris and everyone for their support...great fun for everybody.