Ryedale Methodist Circuit - North Yorkshire

News from around The Circuit

Please send details of any news items via the email link at the bottom of this page

2012

Trisha Wick`s news for January (St Hilda`s misssion partner) (pdf doc)

2011

DECEMBER
Trisha Wick`s news for December (St Hilda`s misssion partner) (pdf doc)

Visit of the President of the Methodist Conference

Each year the Methodist Church elects two people to be its leaders for the year; the President and the Vice President of Conference. This year’s President is the Rev’d Leo Osborn, the Chair of the Newcastle upon Tyne District of our Church. Leo will be visiting our circuit on Sunday 15th January when he will lead morning worship at Kirkbymoorside Methodist Church. This will be a Circuit Service at 10.30am.

It is very appropriate that the President should be visiting Kirkbymoorside during this their 150th Anniversary year.

Report from the Riziki Children’s Organisation in Nakuru

Riziki Children’s Organisation in Nakuru continues to grow quietly onwards with 16 children now in the Home. The children have settled in at the local school and have been accepted into the surrounding community. They attend worship at the nearby church where they have been made very welcome and take an active part. Following a request from one little boy, for his own garden, all the children now have their own plot which has proved very popular. I quote from a report received from our friends, Ian and Diana, recently returned from Kenya.



“We have been at Riziki every day and found everything to be in excellent order. The children are delightful and clearly very happy and healthy. We helped with homework some evenings and found that elementary arithmetic is a big problem for some. 2 + 3 had to be done on fingers five times in a row! Today, Sunday, we joined them all in church for a two hours (+) service where behaviour was impeccable (theirs, not ours) and their singing to the church beautiful. This afternoon was play. Four of the children have had new shoes and the boxes were in great demand to be turned into cars with assorted wheels. One made a car from a weed that grows with a strong stalk and circular flowers! Others played marbles and hopscotch.”



They have been able to buy a bike and start a library of books with a grant from the United Nations Women’s Guild. They have also been able to buy cows, more hens and a desk, chair and filing cabinet to help Alice, the housemother, to carry out her records and admin. I quote from another report, this time from Julius (Director of Riziki Children’s Organisation in Nakuru).

“The chicken project is doing well. They started laying slowly with 1 egg, then 2 and so on but yesterday we collected 30 eggs meaning that 30 chickens laid, so we hope to collect more today. If all will be able to lay, in future we will be collecting 60 eggs a day. On Monday this week they (the hens!) were all vaccinated against many common diseases that kill. When funds are available we would like to increase the number to 150.” Eggs surplus to the Home’s requirements will be sold.



A supply line for mains electricity to supplement their own solar energy is to be installed and also a water pipeline to provide a basic supply to the Home three days a week and act as an emergency supply for the people nearby. Donations, mainly from the UK, have enabled these projects and much other work to be carried out.

We thank you all so very much for the financial support, the prayer and interest shown by people in the Ryedale circuit.

Stuart and Janet Brown

NOVEMBER
Trisha Wick`s news for November (St Hilda`s misssion partner) (pdf doc)

OCTOBER
Missions matters

Rievaulx have made contact with the leadership team at St Michael the Belfry in York to see what assistance they can give.
A Christmas Barn Service is to be held on the farm of the Foster family. Previous services have been well attended and are real outreach into the community.
Norma is hoping to organise a Christmas service in the Blacksmiths Arms at Hartoft End.
David outlined the plans for ‘Longing for Home’ on the 19/20 November at Helmsley; this will be a journey through the Old Testament with a difference.

Local Preachers

Several people are undertaking worship leader training at present – 2 feel called to this and others are considering.
Local preachers and worship leaders will be working through ‘Talking of God’ at their fellowship meetings. ‘Local Worship’ is now planned at some churches where the church is being asked to be responsible from time to time for their own worship.

Children and Youth work

Kirkbymoorside – Junior church increased in size recently and there is to be a new youth club in the town through Churches Together. Shell Club have another helper which means the club is able to continue.
Beadlam – children’s activity days, held at regular intervals in the year continue to be successful. There will be six events during 2011.
Rievaulx – 15 children and young people attend regularly. Five went to the Grapevine conference recently and returned refreshed and renewed. One teenager has been received into membership.
Youth Fellowship – held at Helmsley; from this September the year 7 age have been invited rather than waiting until year 9. They have an active programme.
Helmsley – hold a monthly All Age Worship service – sometimes children are present, sometimes not. The tea-time initiative continues to be successful reaching out to young families. There is a teaching programme on the first Sunday monthly.
Schools work – Churches Together in Helmsley have build up a relationship with the RE department at Ryedale School and have visited the school and also the GCSE groups have visited each church. St Hilda’s at Beadlam have also been into 3 schools.
Assemblies – Norma involved at Gillamoor School and has made contact at Kirkby School with the school rep; Kirkby School is holding their harvest festival in the Methodist church this year. David has visited Helmsley and Nawton primary schools.

Please pray for the work done in the schools and for those who do this challenging work.


Update of the creation of the new ‘Ryedale Circuit’

There is a crucial meeting on 8 October when the 3-circuits governance group will meet to discuss future structures and patterns. The circuit will be known as the Ryedale Circuit with 4 hubs – Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside, Pickering and Malton – with some resources available for use across the circuit. There will be a bulletin issued after the meeting on 8 October.

Trisha Wick`s news for October (St Hilda`s misssion partner) (pdf doc)

Ryedale War Memorials
The Ryedale Family History Group is in receipt of a Heritage Lottery Grant, some of which is to be spent on researching War Memorials. The idea is to produce a booklet for each parish or community which provides information about how the memorial was designed, built and funded, and to give a pen picture of each individual listed on the memorial. This will include information about where, when and how they died, where they are buried, about the family they left behind and their circumstances. As far as possible, photos will be included.

If anyone has ancestors on a memorial that they are willing to share information about, please make contact as below. Even better, if anyone is interested in helping with the research, there is to be a meeting at the Ryedale Family History Research Room at Hovingham Village Hall on Wednesday 16th November at 2pm when research facilities will be offered and explained and the expected end result will be described. No expense will be incurred.

If you can offer either of the above please contact me by e-mail at pab37@btinternet.com or telephone at 01904492712. Thank you.

Peter Braithwaite

SEPTEMBER

Around 150 people from the Malton, Pickering and Ryedale circuits got together at the Village Hall in Kirkbymisperton to get to know each other in preparation of the coming together of the three circuits next year. The fun was soon under way and the music from the ceilidh band 'Tiefrung Gleemen' had the dancers up on their feet. It didn't matter if you could or couldn't dance, the caller taught us all what to do.
The young people are way ahead of us and had already been joining together in activities. They gave us a very humorous account of their trip out to Lightwater Valley. It really did sound to have been a good day!
During an interval, we had a faith meal with food galore to share. Not long after, the dancing began again, to much laughter when hands and feet went in the wrong direction. Did it matter? No!
To close the evening we had a short act of worship led by Norma which rounded the evening off perfectly.
Having met new friends, it gives us lot's to look forward to in the coming years.

Trisha Wick`s news for September (St Hilda`s misssion partner) (pdf doc)



AUGUST

Alan and Margaret Bidnell

Many of you will remember Alan and Margaret On 5th August they celebrated their Golden Wedding, with family and friends.
This photograph was taken in the garden in their home in Bromsgrove, where the editors visited them to take greetings and best wishes from Ryedale. We send then all good wishes for many more happy years of marriage.

The new Circuit

Plans for the creation of a new circuit are now beginning to take shape. The new circuit will come into being on the 1't september 2e12 aho witt be cailed "The Ryedale Circuit". lt will be made up of the exisiting Malton, Pickering and Ryedale Circuits. lt will work around four hubs:

Malton, Pickering, Helmsley and Kirkbymoorside (The Kirkdale LEP will relate to the Helmsley hub). The Circuit will be enabled by: four presbyters, a circuit administrator, a worker with children and primary school age and a worker with young people of secondary school age. ln addition the Malton and Pickering hubs,
in addition to their presbyter, will each have the support of two 15 hour lay workers.

ln anticipation of the birth of the new circuit there is to be a Ceilidh (storytelling, music, food, dancing, singing and worship) at Kirkby Misperton Village Hall on Thursday September ft 2011. The event begins at 6.30pm and tickets are available. There will be a coach running along the ,A170 and collecting people from the present Ryedale Circuit.

The Year of the Bible

We continue to celebrate the year of the Bible. Events have included a Bible exhibition in Kirkbymoorside, the creation of the Helmsley and Kirkdale Bibles, a reading of St Mark's Gospel and in November (probably the 19th and 20th) "Searching for home - a Journey through the Bible" A small group - predominantly
from St Hilda's are developing ideas for this event.

Circuit Stewards

Christine Wright (Helmsley) will be leaving the team of Circuit Stewards at the end of August and Audrey Windress (Gillamoor) will take her place. The team of Circuit Stewards will then be: Jean Benson (Senior Steward), David Sanderson. PaulAndrews & Audrey Windress

Stuart Brown will continue to serve as the Circuit Treasurer and Janet Brown as the Circuit Meeting Secretary.

Pastoral Oversight 2011 -2012

From September 1't, in addition to her current responsibilities Rev Norma Davey will have pastoral oversight of the Methodist churches in Cropton, Hartoft and Rosedale. David Emison will continue to act as Superintendent of the Ryedale and Pickering Circuits and, in addition to his present churches have oversight of Thornton le Dale. (Day to day ministry in Thornton Dale will be offered by a newly appointed lay

pastoralworker)

Trisha Wick`s news for August (St Hilda`s misssion partner) (pdf doc)

JULY
Trisha Wick`s news for July (St Hilda`s misssion partner) (pdf doc)

JUNE
Trisha Wick`s news for June (St Hilda`s misssion partner) (pdf doc)

Rev Kevin Waters

We were all shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Kevin Waters. Kevin’s deep Christian faith led him as a young man to train in medicine. He gave himself unstintingly to his calling and ended his medical career as a Consultant Physician specialising in the care of people suffering from diabetes. Alongside his demanding life in medicine Kevin also served as an ordained minister in the United Reformed Church.
On retiring to Helmsley he and Wendy became active members of our circuit and of our church family at Helmsley. Kevin gave generously of himself in many areas of our church’s life. He led worship regularly throughout the circuit and beyond, acted as a Church Steward at Helmsley and had an active and leading roll in Ryedale Christian Council. Whether it was from the pulpit, the chair or the back-benches he was equally appreciated for his passion, his commitment, his humour and his wisdom.
All our lives are the richer for having known Kevin and for having received so much from him. We give our heart-felt thanks to God for his life and remember Wendy and all the members of Kevin’s family in our prayers.

Our Circuit Stewards

A big thank you to Christine Wright who retires from the office of Circuit Steward at the end of August. Christine amongst all her other commitments to the church and beyond has been an excellent steward and has taken an active part in the leadership of the Circuit. In these last two years, during a period of great change, Christine has been our senior steward and has played a full part in the process leading to the creation of our new circuit in 2012. The whole circuit joins in thanking her for all that she has done and will continue to do for our church.

We welcome onto the team of Circuit Stewards Audrey Windress. When asked to consider becoming a Circuit Steward without hesitation she said “yes”. It is so refreshing when people are ready and willing to serve us so generously. We look forward to the contribution that Audrey will make to the leadership of our Circuit.

May

The Methodist Church
Malton, Pickering and Ryedale Circuits
A Way Forward for Mission 4

Dear Friends,

Time marches on relentlessly and preparations for our new circuit continue. Since the last bulletin the Coordinating Group and the governance Group have met and discussed various issues. All the Task Groups have begun their work and we are really getting down to thinking about the fundamental practical issues that we face. lt is good to remember that as we engage in this process, we are sharing with the whole British Methodist Connexion as we address the needs of 21't Century mission. lt is vital that we back the whole thing with prayer, and we hope that you will use these bulletins to inform your prayers for the Circuit Leadership Teams and the Task Group members as we endeavour to discover God's Will and be obedient to it.

Timetable of Events
The Coordinating Group has produced the following timetable of events:

May 2011 Completion of the work of the Legal Responsibilities Task Group and th e Oversight Task Group

December 2011 All the other Task Groups will have completed their work

January 2012 The proposed constitution of the new circuit will be finalised

March 2012 The constitution of the new Circuit will be agreed by the existing three circuit meetings

May 2012 The new circuit will be approved and authorised by the District Synod

June 2012 A joint meeting of the three circuit meetings will be held to agree the first year's budget for the
new circuit and how that will be allocated. This meeting will also have to address issues relating to the reinvitation or replacement of presbyters in the new circuit

September 2012 The New Circuit "Goes Live"

The Name of the New Circuit
After much thought and prayer, it seems that the most obvious name for our new circuit is "The Ryedale Circuit". This does not imply a takeover bid by one of the existing circuits, but a reflection of the fact that geographically, sociologically and ecumenically the circuit will cover Ryedale! lf anyone would like to suggest an alternative or a better name, we are ready to listen.

Report From the Networking Group

The Networking Task Group has produced an excellent study of the shape that the new circuit might take. lt notes that we shall serve five centres of population (Malton/Norton, Pickering, Kirkbymoorside, Helmsley and Thornton Dale) The population is unevenly distributed across these five centres and we will have only
four full time presbyters. lt would seem obvious to organise the circuit around four hubs, with Thornton Dale linking with Pickering, but care must be given to ensure that the needs of the whole circuit are equally met.

Thursday 1st September 2011
Block the 1st September in your diaries! On that evening a joint circuit Ceiledh is being planned. This will be an opportunity for our three circuits to draw together, affirm our covenant to work together, get to know each other and generally build up excitement. Don't worry if you do not feel energetic, dancing will not be
compulsory! A true Ceiledh is a community event in which everyone can share. There will sharing of stories, sharing of food and of course, dancing. This will be a WISE meeting. By that we mean it will include Worship, lnformation sharing, Social activity and Eating together. The venue will be a village hall somewhere in Ryedale to be announced in the next bulletin due out in July. Watch this space!

April

Palm Sunday April 17th

...................

Bootsie the shetland pony pauses outside Wombleton Village Hall. In glorious sunshine she headed the Joyful Palm Sunday prosession which was followed by a family service and refreshments in the packed village Hall.
There are eight donkeys in a field near Wombleton, but Bootsie was known to be easy to lead and to ride and no one was sure about the donkeys!

Saturday 9th April

......................
On a glorious Spring day, with the daffodils in full flower, High Farndale Methodist Church held an open day with photographs and information – and refreshments which were served outside in the sunshine.


Trisha Wick`s news for April (St Hilda`s misssion partner) (pdf doc)

March

Trisha Wick`s news for March (St Hilda`s misssion partner) (pdf doc)


February

Trisha Wick`s news for February (St Hilda`s misssion partner) (pdf doc)


January

The Methodist Church
Malton, Pickering and Ryedale Circuits
A Way Forward for Mission (3)

Dear Friends,

This is the third bulletin about the progress towards the formation of a new circuit. Steady progress has been made since September when the last bulletin was issued. The Joint Leadership Team has been renamed the Governance Group and although the name may sound like a flash back to 20th Century politics the responsibilities of the group remain as follows:

· bringing reports to the three Circuit Meetings
· keeping everybody informed of what’s happening and ensuring wide consultation,
· setting up the co-ordinating group,
· appointing the task groups and receiving their final reports,
· making sure all developments in the three circuits are in line with our emerging plans
· preparing and agreeing a final report to be presented to the three Circuit Meetings and the District Synod by May 2012,

The Coordinating Group consisting of the Superintendent ministers and two members from each circuit has met. This group will gather together and oversee the work of the smaller Task Groups which are charged with working out the fine detail of the merger as it affects every aspect of Circuit life. These Task Groups have been constituted and some of them have begun to meet. No formal decisions have yet been taken but a great deal of thought and prayer is going into this work and we can expect some exciting and innovative ideas to emerge from the process. Under the Methodist Constitution, it is the Circuit Meetings that take all the important decisions, and the work that is going on at the moment is all to ensure that the Circuit Meetings can make the best decisions based on the accurate and meticulous groundwork done by these groups.

The line of communication is as follows: The Task Groups report to the Coordinating Group which in turn reports to the Governance Group which takes the findings to the Circuit Meetings. This may seem a cumbersome set up, but it is felt that this is the best way to keep the process open and satisfy the requirements of the Methodist Constitution. These regular bulletins are intended to enable everyone in the circuit to be aware of what stage the process has reached. If you have any response to anything you read or hear about the merger, please speak to your minister who will be glad to feed your comments into the process at an appropriate place.

Please Pray

Please thank God for the life and witness of the three circuits. At the last Governance Group we shared some of the joys and challenges that the circuits face. In Malton plans are going ahead to join the three societies of Rillington Settrington and Scagglethorpe into one by September 2011 and the circuit is prayerfully considering how to use the building at Barton Le Willows in a way that will benefit the community and enable mission. Christian Healing is an important theme this year and a DVD course on healing will take place each Tuesday in February at 7.30pm at Norton Bethel. (Details available on request) Events are also planned to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the Authorised Version of the Bible.

Please pray for the Pickering Circuit as the folk face some very challenging situations. When Peter Cross leaves the circuit in September there will not be a replacement. The Ryedale circuit has graciously offered the help of one of their ministers and from September there will be some blurring of the Circuit boundaries when, in addition to her present duties, the Revd Norma Davey cares for three societies from the Pickering Circuit. Special arrangements are being planned for the Pastoral Care of Pickering and Thornton Dale and three of the country chapels are trialling the appointment of lay pastors from within the congregation.
Please remember the folk in the Ryedale Circuit as they support the year of the Bible and have several other initiatives planned.

Please pray for God’s guidance over the question of how the budget will be set and the assessment raised in the new circuit, and also ask God to bring into focus the vision of how the new circuit might operate around the networks and hubs of the communities we serve.

Please pray for a possible event planned for the 1st September 2011 at which the three circuits might come together in worship and celebration and affirm the covenant we have made to work and grow together.

And Finally

Let’s give the last word to God, in the beautiful prose of the Authorised Version which celebrates its 400th anniversary this year:
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Revelation 21:5-6

Trisha Wick`s news for January (St Hilda`s misssion partner) (pdf doc)

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