St John's Sharow
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News from St. John's Sharow

SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR

Ascension Day 2025

1/5/2025

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Please join us for our Ascension Day service on Thursday 29th May - 6.30om for some glorious bell ringing from the churchyard. 7pm service followed by Trumpets atop the tower. 
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May Newsletter 2025

1/5/2025

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May 2025
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Be Still and Find God

1/5/2025

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In the busyness of life, it can be hard to find time to sit in stillness long enough to hear what God has to say. With the incessant pinging of phone notifications, partners, children, and pets all vying for our attention, the tv blaring in the background, life can be busy, noisy and fast paced. 

I hadn’t fully realised this until Holy Week when I attended a Maundy Thursday vigil and got to sit in silence for hours, away from the distractions of life. It was then that I realised that far from God ignoring me, I was struggling to hear him amongst the noise of everyday life. My head had been so full of endless lists, worries and angst that I’d effectively blocked God out. When I sat in silence, minus my phone, in the semi darkness I started to feel my whole body settle. It was like I’d taken a much-needed deep exhale. At first my mind chattered, then slowly as the hours passed the chattering stopped. Silence came. Then peace. Absolute peace. I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever felt that level of closeness to God, nor the same level of calmness. It was as if my body had simply reset itself to how it was intended to be. 

 
How do we find time to be still when life is so incredibly hectic? Author James Clear suggested in his book “ Atomic habits’’ that we are wise to anchor new habits onto our existing rituals, so taking a little time on a morning, doing something like mindfully drinking tea in the garden, or having that first few minutes of our day in silent contemplation (if that’s possible for you) can really help. Having a solitary walk somewhere beautiful is another good way of reconnecting with God. Your body is doing its own thing, and your mind can then start to unwind a little. As you look around you, you are likely to notice all the little glimmers of hope – the blossom on the trees, the cheeping of birds, the light shining through the trees, the scent of a fragrant herb. This is a great way of reminding ourselves that God is all around us, wherever we are.
Connect here
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Congratulations Caroline !

1/5/2025

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Our Wonderful Caroline, who you’ll know from her many different St John’s hats, received in April (after many, many years) her Tertiary Cross, being admitted to The Order of the Holy Paraclete. The Tertiary Order of the Holy Paraclete (TOHP) invites individuals to embrace a Christian sacred rhythm of life, intertwining daily existence with the divine presence. Rooted in the Anglican tradition and inspired by the Holy Spirit—the Paraclete—this path offers a harmonious blend of contemplation and action.
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A Sacred Calling
Tertiaries are lay individuals—women and men—who feel drawn to live out their Christian faith deeply connected to the Order of the Holy Paraclete. Guided by the Holy Spirit, they commit to a Rule of Life that nurtures spiritual growth within their everyday lives.
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The Order of the Holy Paraclete
Founded over a century ago, the Order is a female Anglican religious community based at St Hilda’s Priory in Whitby, North Yorkshire. Inspired by the Benedictine tradition, St Hilda, and the Northern Saints, the Sisters live and work together, both at the Priory and in community settings in the UK and in Africa.  ​

​Journeying Through the Stages
  • Postulant: An initial period of 3 months to a year to explore the calling, guided by an experienced Tertiary.
  • Novice: Upon commitment, simple promises are made, and a Novice cross is received. This stage lasts at least two years, focusing on developing one’s Rule of Life.
  • Full Member: After the Novitiate, life promises are made, and a Full Member’s cross is received. These promises are renewed every three years.

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Communal Harmony
Tertiaries gather regularly, both in person and via Zoom, participating in quiet days, talks, joint worship, and study sessions. Annual Chapter meetings at the Priory in Whitby offer opportunities for collective worship and fellowship. Conferences and retreats are held every three years, fostering deeper spiritual connections.
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​Spiritual Resources
Members receive the Rule of Life, a commentary on the Rule, and a Midday Prayer and Compline booklet. Regular mailings include a daily prayer diary, the Warden’s letter, and news updates, nurturing a continuous spiritual journey.

01947 899560 [email protected] 
Book a night by the coast staying in the Priory (open to all) from £60/pn [email protected]
​https://www.tohpwhitby.org.uk/index.php

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With love + thanks

1/5/2025

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Nicky,
​We want to express our heartfelt thanks to you as you retire from your role as our safeguarding officer. Your background as a nurse has shone through in every act of care, compassion, and diligence, and we’ve been truly blessed by your presence. Your gentle strength and unwavering commitment have made our church a safer and kinder place. For all the ways you’ve cared, supported, and protected us—thank you.
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Ruth,
​We would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to Ruth as she steps down from her ex officio role on the PCC. Her faithful guidance, rooted in prayer and centered in Christ, has been a steadying and inspiring presence for us all. Over the decades, Ruth has served St John’s in many invaluable ways, and her commitment to our church community is a true blessing. We are deeply grateful for all she has given and continues to give.

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Rosemary,
​As you retire after many years of faithful service as our Church Warden, we gather to thank you and celebrate your dedication. You have offered loving pastoral care to all, always ready with a kind word, and have carefully overseen countless baptisms, weddings, and funerals with compassion and grace. You have been a steady support to our clergy and have diligently handled the church’s administration, keeping our parish running smoothly for all these years. You have inspired and motivated volunteers with your warmth, gently resolved countless issues, and provided wise and calming leadership whenever challenges arose.


We have all cherished seeing you with your familiar cuppa in hand, usually devouring some time-sensitive paperwork, and your wonderful Peter faithfully not far away, usually amongst the churchyard. Thank you, Rosemary, for pouring your heart into this community and for your tireless, loving service all these years. We pray God’s richest blessings on you as you begin this new chapter of rest and joy in your retirement. In the words of our Lord from Matthew 25:21, “Well done, good and faithful servant” – a fitting tribute to your years of selfless dedication.
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Encapsulating Yorkshire & Raising Funds for St John’s

1/5/2025

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(A poem by Lori Hanson accompanying her artwork above)
The Narrow Path


Between thorns and bramble,
A hidden narrow path, unseen by hurried eyes.
Its edges softened by time's gentle sway, This winding trail beckons both night and day.
Amidst tangled chaos, flowers bloom.
Their fragile faces lifting toward the sun.
Petals whisper secrets to the heavens.
Promises of eternity, whisper back.
For this path, though fraught with pain and strife, Leads beyond the thorns, into eternal life.
Step lightly, weary traveller, and behold:
The narrow way, where love and grace unfold.
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Lori Hanson is an American-born artist now rooted in the poetic landscapes of North Yorkshire. Working in an impressionist style, she captures the quiet magic of the English countryside with oil on canvas—favouring soft, dreamy colours, energetic brushwork, and subtle textures. Inspired by nature’s inherent beauty, Lori paints both in-studio and in the Yorkshire Countryside, using small outdoor studies to inform her larger works.


Her process is deeply reflective, often accompanied by poetry that emerges alongside the paintings. Though she has faced challenges with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Lori continues to find moments of creative vitality in the open air, even leading a Yorkshire Plein Air painting group. This summer, she serves as Artist in Residence at Newby Hall, celebrating the region’s light, atmosphere, and quiet wonder through her art.


We are blessed to count Lori amongst our congregation here at St John’s. She is kindly offering 30% donated to St John's when you purchase an original painting or commission directly from her. 

Find out more about this incredible offer :
[email protected]
07956 506 707
https://www.lorihansonart.com
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Welcome to May

1/5/2025

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Where did it all begin: this searching, this believing in something other? This believing in something beyond ourselves, something larger and stronger and deeper than humanity, took hold of earliest peoples, who first worshipped what they could see; things which existed before and after the lifespan of mortals, so were thought to be inhabited by spirits, which could not be seen.


Not only inanimate objects such as trees, rocks, mountains were worshipped but in many cultures, ancestors were worshipped too. They had been, so maybe they still are I imagine our own ancestors thought. So perhaps, early on in our development there was a concept of another realm beyond this.


Many religions, or belief systems, were embraced by our brothers and sisters in ages past. A great many deities were regional or even domestic and there was huge diversity across national borders. Several different gods, or objects of worship were identified as being worthy of devotion and took the form of created objects in precious metals and gems, the richness of their parts showing the extent of esteem in which these deities were held. I’ll admit that although I don’t carry gold and gems with me on my travels, to aid my worship, I do carry a small wooden cross which I often hold in prayer. We are all different and for some, a jewelled set of prayer beads or a rosary serve the same purpose.


What stands out for us as we look at differing forms of religion is that most were polytheistic, from Paganism practised is what became Britain to household gods of Roman times. Many ancient religious beliefs continue to be held today.


As to the emergence of monotheism: dates in the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament are the subject of debate but Jews, Christians and followers of Islam share the belief that God, one God, made himself or herself, known to those who would follow. Many ancient religions from earlier times still have their adherents across the world. In our own Christian faith, some of the religious celebrations central to our practice have overlaid long forgotten pagan festivals. Think of our Easter, known by ancestors long ago as Eostre, a celebration of spring. I like to think of our faith having grown to embrace ancient beliefs rather than totally contradict them. We believe God is and always has been, so must have been part of the whole history of humanity. In the gospel of St Matthew we read that Jesus said: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them.” Of course this refers to the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament but many pre Christian religions may find echoes of their own beliefs in the teachings of Jesus. Even Wicca a contemporary pagan religion whose practices are totally at odds with our Christian faith, seeks to honour the life-giving and life-sustaining powers of Nature through ritual worship and a commitment to living in balance with the Earth. There are so many connections between people of faith.


Our turning point came with the birth, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Just days ago I was sitting with an elderly Muslim widow and she gave me a precious Koran to hold. It had belonged to her grandmother and was richly bound and illuminated. As she touched it with reverence and love, she told me how she had learned about Jesus and his mother Mary from this sacred text. It was slightly shocking that she knew more of our faith than I did of hers. We had little language to share but we’re able to say “One God” and “One peace” Our realities and hopes and prayers were united in that moment and it felt that more should and could unite us than divide us. She was as sure of her faith as I am of mine yet there was respect and acceptance of difference. It is a moment I shall never forget. The only other English she had was to wish us a Happy Easter. Where there is understanding, there is hope and our shared hope is for peace.


The elderly lady (who was probably younger than I am) is a family matriarch of a large, loving family whose religious faith differs from one member to another. It must be so in families across the world. She would influence without directing, share without imposing. Every group or family needs people to lead and take responsibility. So does every church family. It’s like a baton being handed from generation to generation .


Right now I’m thinking about such people in our own church family in Sharow. About twenty years ago, when I started my training as a Reader, now more commonly known as a Licensed Lay Minister, the then priest in charge said I should give up being a church warden. I’d been in post for five years of the allotted six, having been guided in the first three years by one Peter Triffitt. So,who would take over? We say the Lord will provide and lo and behold, the Lord provided Rosemary. She hasn’t been in post continuously since then but it might feel that way to her.


Nobody could have known then what a huge influence she would become in the post and in everyone who came her way. We know now what a huge part Rosemary has played in the life of St John’s, far beyond those early days when she and I were Sunday school leaders with our own children from 1983!


I run out of words of praise and thanks for all Rosemary has done because there are so many things at St. John’s when she has been involved. It’s not just that she makes events happen but happen so smoothly. Thank you Rosemary but did you have to make it so hard for anyone to step into your shoes??!! She may have taken breaks from the church warden role but seemed to keep coming back - some people will never learn. However, the time has come for her to pass on the baton to someone else or several people. Rosemary you have our thanks and love for all you have done and been in our church family.


Another hugely important role which didn’t exist 42 years ago when Simon and I first came to St Johns is that of Safeguarding Officer. Every organisation has had to take greater care to protect its members, especially young, old and vulnerable and overseeing this essential work requires vigilance and empathy. As we all know, this now complex job has been handled over recent years by Nicky Howgate, also a long standing worshipper with us all. She has encouraged and occasionally cajoled members of the PCC to complete safeguarding training and has been a huge support to incumbent priests. All done with remarkable good nature. She too is standing down from the Church Council and leaves us as a much better informed, aware and qualified group than we were years ago. Thank you Nicky for always being there as wise counsel, for turning up for absolutely every event possible and for your legendary patience with us all. I’m so pleased you will continue to be a friendly, welcoming presence at services, concerts and the like. Nicky too goes back to times when we brought our children to Sunday school and then SCHADY (Sharow Copt Hewick and district youth) all of whom are parents themselves now.


Similar groups and roles exist in other churches of widely differing traditions and in mosques, temples and synagogues across the land and around the world. Most people want to live in peace, see future generations thrive and support and protect our hard won freedoms. We do well to look to the commandments God gave to early followers who, like many families went their different ways. Those commandments continue to be building blocks of many faiths and instruct us to love our God and our neighbours. Those neighbours don’t just live next door but share this world and in standing up for them we ensure that in return they will stand up for us because that’s what families do. Remember that old joke” it’s a great day for the race” “race, what race.” “Why, the human race of course” like the faiths we follow in our different ways, if surviving is to turn into thriving, we, Gods children must care for one another and together protect this wonderful world we have been given to share, inhabit and pass on in good order.




-Kindly penned by our marvellous LLM Ruth Grenfell
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Midsummer Piano, Pimms & Poetry with Afternoon Tea

30/4/2025

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​🎶SAVE THE DATE🎶
'Come and enjoy a Midsummer Melody of Afternoon Tea with Piano, Pimm's & Poetry on Saturday June 21st 2pm-4.30pm.
Relax to wonderful piano music by David Powling whilst enjoying delicious afternoon tea. 
Enjoy reading out your favourite poem or one you've written yourself or if preferred a reader will be available to read aloud for you.
£10 a ticket. 

Please email [email protected]

or speak to one of the Friends of St. John's Team -Caroline WS, David,  Simon G, Ruth G, Charles, Patricia or Abby'
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May 2025

30/4/2025

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We dearly hope you will join us in our services this May. Easter continues gloriously, humbly and fearfully and we reach Ascension Day on May 29th.

Everything is at St John’s,Sharow, HG45BJ, unless otherwise stated. 
“*HI” indicates the location at The Holy Innocents, Copt Hewick, HG45B
Our churches are continuously adapting to need. If a schedule is altered, there will be a note on our Facebook Page. We will also endeavour to alter the website diary (however this is not always possible).
  1. Thursday - Philip & James The Apostles
  2. Friday - Athanasius Bishop of Alexandria, Teacher of the Faith, 373
    09:00 Morning Prayer
    10:00 Bible Study
    18:00 Celtic Worship 
  3. Saturday - 
  4. Sunday - The 3rd Sunday of Easter - English Saints + Matyrs of the Reformation Era
    10:00 Holy Communion *HI
    09.15 Bell Ringing
    10:00 Cafe Church 


  5. BH Monday -
    18:30 Bell ringing practice 
  6. Tuesday -
    10:00 Holy Communion *HI
    10:45 Community Cafe 
    19:15 Paulinus Singers practice
  7. Wednesday -
    10:00 Wonderful Wednesday Craft & Cuppa 
    19:00 Ripon Choral Society
  8. Thursday - VE Day - Julian of Norwich Spiritual Writer, c.1417
    6.30-7pm Bellringing for VE Day
  9. Friday -
    09:00 Morning Prayer
    10:00 Bible Study
    10:30am Bridget Wild Swimming- all invited - meet HG58HL to walk and swim at Watermill Cafe, Knaresborough
    18:00 Celtic Worship 
  10. Saturday -
  11. Sun - The 4th Sunday of Easter 
    09:15 Bell Ringing
    10:00 Holy Communion


  12. Monday -
    09:00 Morning Prayer
    09:30 Chat with the Church Wardens 
    10.30 Magdalen Fellowship 
    18:30 Bell ringing practice
  13. Tuesday -
    10:00 Holy Communion *HI
    10:45 Community Cafe 
  14. Wednesday - Matthias the Apostle 
    10:00 Wonderful Wednesday Craft & Cuppa 
    10:00 Silent Bell Ringing Practice 
    19:00 Ripon Choral Society
  15. Thursday -
  16. Friday -
    10:00 Bible Studies
    18:00 Celtic Worship 
  17. Saturday -
    Christian Aid Coffee Morning at Copt Hewick 10am-12 HG4 5BY
  18. Sunday - The 5th Sunday of Easter - “Bell Sunday”
    10:00 Holy Communion with Dean John 
    12:00 APCM 
    PM time TBC Magdalen Fellowship at Ripon Cathedral


  19. Monday -
    10:30 Magdalen Fellowship 
    18:30 Bell ringing practice
  20. Tuesday - Dunstan Archbishop of Canterbury, Restorer of Monastic Life, 988
    10:00 Holy Communion *HI
    10:45 Community Cafe 
  21. Wednesday - Alcuin of York Deacon, Abbot of Tours, 804
    10:00 Wonderful Wednesday Craft & Cuppa 
    10:00 Silent Bell Ringing Practice 
    19:00 Ripon Choral Society Rehearsal
  22. Thursday -
  23. Friday -
    10:00 Bible Studies
    18:00 Celtic Worship 
  24. Saturday - John and Charles Wesley Evangelists, Hymn Writers, 1791 and 1788
  25. Sunday - The 6th Sunday of Easter The Venerable Bede Monk at Jarrow, Scholar, Historian, 735
    09:15 Bell Ringing
    10:00 Family Service 


  26. BH Monday - Augustine of Canterbury First Archbishop of Canterbury, 605
    18:30 Bell ringing practice
  27. Tuesday- 
    10:00 Holy Communion *HI
    10:45 Community Cafe 
  28. Wednesday - 
    10:00 Wonderful Wednesday Craft & Cuppa 
    10:00 Silent Bell Ringing Practice 
    19:00 Ripon Choral Society Rehearsal
  29. Thursday - Ascension Day
    18:30 Bellringing- you are invited to relax in our churchyard 
    19:00 Ascension Day Service 
  30. Friday - Josephine Butler 1906
    10:00 Bible Studies
    18:00 Celtic Worship
  31. Saturday - The Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth

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Christian Aid Coffee Morning

29/4/2025

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  • Home
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    • St John's
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  • JOIN US
    • The Sunday Service
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  • HIRE US
    • An Exceptional Venue
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  • NEWS & EVENTS
    • Special Events Calendar