ruth white – Metanoia Project

Heritage has moved to Sundays!!

Posted on 25th January 2020 by ruth white

Dates for 2019/20

Sundays

15th September

17th November

19th January

15th March

17th May

5th July

Summer Ball

Posted on 22nd July 2018 by ruth white

Our wonderful Young Leaders decided that we needed a summer ball so they set about planning and organising an extravaganza with music, food, an impossible quiz (thanks Anto), games, decorations and even a photo booth. The ball was for all our young people aged 14+ and included some of the gang who were back from University too. It was a brilliant night with lots of fun and I was struck by the love the young people have for one another with younger members immediately included in their family. Special mention and thanks go to Tushar who carried the vision and made it happen. I think the video of unedited pictures captures the evening quite well…

Living Water Social

Posted on 22nd July 2018 by ruth white

It was great to spend an evening of food, fellowship and a few dodgy jokes with some of the Thursday Night group. Most weeks we spend time sharing in small groups but it was fantastic to relax together and get to know each other in a more social environment. That’s it for the summer now but we look forward to seeing everyone in September

End of term celebrations

Posted on 22nd July 2018 by ruth white

We’ve had a wonderful year with our Seekers, Anointed and Sent youth groups who continue to astound us with their dedication, eagerness to seek God, love for one another and openness to all Jesus wants to

do with them. We’ve had trips, residential experiences, group work, games and more games, dramas, artwork, friendship, obstacle courses,

dressing up, teaching, silliness, music and of course lots of Scripture and prayer. They keep coming back for more because Jesus is the only one who truly satisfies. It has been beautiful to see the young people (and groups) grow and a real privilege to be able to share in their lives. God is so good!!

New Seekers Youth Group starts

Posted on 22nd July 2018 by ruth white

In May we started a second Seekers group based in a different Parish – St Andrew’s in Cottam. It is early days and it has had a bit of a slow start but we are hopeful that when we return in September it will go from strength to strength. We’ve loved getting to know the new children who attend and look forward to walking with them in the years ahead.

Back to School…

Posted on 22nd July 2018 by ruth white

We had a fantastic time in June with 8 Primary School afternoon visits and a whole day with around 60 Year 3s from the Small Schools Cluster. We explored themes from trusting in God to following Jesus to the Eucharist! The children loved their sessions and joined in so well. They had some amazing ideas and answers too. Our Yoke Young Leaders helped us to lead the days which added a boost of energy too. These sessions were so successful that we are now looking at setting aside regular time each week to work with Primary Schools.

Welcome to Nora!

Posted on 22nd July 2018 by ruth white

There has been so much going on over the past few months that there has been no time to write about any of it!! A huge bit of brilliant news though is that Nora Lord joined our team here in April as Children and Families Coordinator. We are very blessed to have her with us and to receive the benefit of her enthusiasm, joy and hard work. There are already a few new plans in the pipeline and we can’t wait to see the impact Nora has on our ministry. Please keep her (and all of us) in your prayers.

Family Afternoon

Posted on 11th May 2018 by ruth white

We are really excited to present our first event for families. Come along for family fun and prayer and to meet other families who are passionate about growing in faith together. All the details are on the poster but please get in touch with Nora if you want any further info.

Seekers Trip

Posted on 15th March 2018 by ruth white

Last night the Seekers Youth Group spent the evening using up huge amounts of energy at Rascals play centre. Having the place to ourselves meant that there was more than enough room on the climbing frames, slides, trampolines, scramble nets etc to keep the young people entertained for a couple of hours only stopping half way through for pizza and chips followed by jelly and ice cream. Everyone had a fantastic time – we managed to get one sensible photo of them all but the following photo probably captures their personality and their evening more accurately!

YOKE Young Leaders Retreat

Posted on 25th February 2018 by ruth white

In February Half-Term we took our young leaders away for a retreat full of teaching, prayer, creativity and training. They responded so well with their openness to the Spirit, their love for one another and all their hard work. We stayed with Fr Philip Conner (and of course Bosco the dog) at St Joseph’s in Lancaster where we were made to feel really welcome and at home. The church in Preston is blessed to have such a dedicated, talented and holy bunch of young people who are leading the way for others. Here are what a few of them said:

This mid-week residential in Lancaster was a more in depth, personal and mature retreat in which I learnt some answers to questions about my faith and formed more questions. The blend between praying, learning and getting to know everyone was perfect as it didn’t leave me bored or fed up; but instead got me realising the importance of God which I may have been neglecting. Tushar

The retreat definitely helped me to develop my own personal relationship with Jesus. It made me realise how much I need Jesus in my life and that being without him is not an option for me. It also helped me to bond with my peers, deepening my relationship with other Christians as well as God. Richa

It helped me to develop a deeper understanding of why I am a Christian and to understand the importance to open up my heart to him. The retreat also allowed me to delve further into my purpose in the world and how I can help bring the word of God to others as a community. Alvina

The retreat allowed me to know Jesus better and gave me the opportunity to experience his love more. The times of prayer were really good as it gave me time to reflect and allowed me to be opened up to the Holy Spirit in a way that I haven’t been before. All in all, it was 3 days filled with spirituality, teaching and chances to bond with others in a way that may not have been possible without the retreat. Anto

The retreat has helped to form a much deeper personal relationship with Jesus. It has also helped me to understand how I can spread the word of God and what makes me a Christian. I also believe that I have formed a closer relationship with my teammates. Alfi

The retreat has changed the way I see my faith. I feel like I have grown closer to god and have been more willing to let the holy spirit in. It has also helped to bond with others in our group allowing us to come closer as a community. I have realised that god loves us so much that he won’t force his way into our lives, we have to let him in and after this retreat I feel more willing to let him into my life Ellie

If you would like to share your own reflections on this passage and read reflections from other people you can join our Facebook Group. More info here

Metanoia Project

3 hours ago

**Gospel for Thursday 13th May 2021, Ascension of the Lord, Year B: Mark 16:15-20**

**Happy Feast of the Ascension!**

**It isn't Sunday but it's a Solemnity so like a Sunday! So after the Gospel passage you will find a reflection to help you get the most out of this celebration. We hope you will find it useful!**

Jesus showed himself to the Eleven and said to them:

‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is baptised will be saved; he who does not believe will be condemned. These are the signs that will be associated with believers: in my name they will cast out devils; they will have the gift of tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison; they will lay their hands on the sick, who will recover.’

And so the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven: there at the right hand of God he took his place, while they, going out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that accompanied it.

**Reflection**

Today we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus into heaven. It is now 40 days since Easter Sunday when Jesus rose from the dead. In that time He showed himself not only to the disciples but many more people, in fact in 1 Cor 15:6 it mentions that Jesus appeared to more than 500. The first word of today’s reading is “Jesus showed himself …”. It speaks of how much Jesus wants to show himself to all people. For people to know Him and to know how much He loves them. We see this in His final words to the disciples to “go out to the whole world, proclaim the Good News to all creation”.

So what is this Good News? In a nutshell, it is that God loves us so much that Jesus came to suffer and die for us so that we could have forgiveness for our sins. Jesus accomplished His mission through His life, death and resurrection and now He has returned to heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father. He conquered death so that we too can have salvation and eternal life. It is a free gift, not something we need to earn.

I wonder how the disciples must have felt as they watched their beloved Jesus be taken up to heaven. In the first reading (Acts 1:1-11) we hear how Jesus told the disciples “you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit …” but at this time they probably didn’t fully understand what that meant or understand that Jesus needed to go to be with the Father so that the Holy Spirit could come to be with all those who believe. The Holy Spirit is part of the Good News.

When I first read this reading I felt very unworthy to be preparing a reflection on proclaiming the gospel to all creation and on the signs that would follow. It made me ask myself ‘am I going out and proclaiming the good news to all creation?’ ‘Do I see signs and wonders happening when I pray?

Many years ago a friend told me that she had inner peace because Jesus was in her life. This was a turning point for me, because even though I was going to Mass every Sunday, I didn’t have that inner peace. It made me turn more to Jesus, to eventually give my life fully to Him and to invite the Holy Spirit to fill me and use me. She didn’t realise what her words had done for me and I suppose we never realise how much we have helped others by sharing our faith with them, even in small ways.

As I’ve meditated on this I realise I’m not like St Peter preaching to the 1000s, but I do see God opening the door for me to share His love with people, often in small ways, through offering to pray (for them or with them), reminding them that God loves them or giving a short testimony of what God has done for me. When I’ve done this I’ve been amazed at the signs that follow. I’d like to say I take every opportunity but sadly sometimes I miss the chance because of doubt or fear. It’s a reminder to me of how much I need Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit in my life. It is certainly not something I can do in my own strength. Jesus may have ascended into heaven and sits are the right hand of God but through the Holy Spirit He is with each one of us, we are never alone and He will never leave us. “The Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that accompanied it”.

We are all called to be other “Christs” to people, to make Him known and to spread the love of God to others. To be brave despite our fears and inadequacies. To step out in faith and rely on the Holy Spirit to work through us. We are all different and God gives us different gifts to use to bring others to Him. It’s only in stepping out that we will see the signs that follow believers. In the second reading (Ephesians 4:1-13) it says that “each one of us has been given his own share of grace, given as Christ allotted it” and it goes on to say that we all have different gifts “so that the saints together make a unity in the work of service, building up the body of Christ.” We can do this!

When Jesus had ascended into heaven the disciples didn’t immediately start preaching to people, in fact they went to the upper room and prayed for nine days (the first novena). At Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came on them, they received the power to preach and the boldness they needed to do it. This reminds us of the importance of prayer. Tomorrow we start the nine days leading up to Pentecost and it’s an opportunity for us to prepare for Pentecost, to pray a novena for the power of the Holy Spirit to fall afresh on us, so that we too can share the Good News. Come Holy Spirit.

-Christine ... See MoreSee Less