From the Vicar

This is very much the busiest time of the year for HPC. Since the summer, our feet have not touched the floor. With very many extra and exciting things happening within the church and across the town, we try to keep the machinery moving, carrying on weekly and monthly tasks as well as taking on new ones.

There are many people in our worshipping community who work tirelessly behind the scenes, and whom we rarely ever see taking any public role and acknowledgement. One of those people is Philip Dyson, the editor of this magazine. Philip has faithfully carried out this task for many years, and at the end of the year, will take a well-earned rest. We owe Philip a great debt of thanks for all that he has done for us. The Media and Communications Group have been giving some thought to the way forward, especially with the advent of the Minster project. The intention is to pilot two newsletters, one in November and the other in December. It is hoped to introduce a new style magazine in the New Year. We hope very much to be able to print the new magazine ‘in house’ and will certainly ask for help in collating and quality control.

The month of November is about remembrance: All Saints, All Souls, Remembrance Sunday; Christ the King. The liturgical colour is red. And yet as we remember, we also have the Christian courage to look forward, liturgically to Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, and as a Church community to what the New Year may bring. Vision Coordinators are busy finalizing their Work Plans for 2010, which will be approved by the Church Council together with the new budget for next year. Whilst I write this letter in October (12) we have our eyes fixed on what is going to be happening in the Minster next year, as prior planning makes for excellent performance and control. The themes that are guiding us over the next three years are Education, Culture, and Civic Engagement. Each of the Vision Groups will look at these themes, and work into their plans activities that begin to engage, and help us become more focused and organized in our ministry and mission. On All Saints Day, after the Initiation Service in the morning, I shall be going to the Cathedral to give to the bishop our Transformational Plan, which together with all the other parishes provides the whole Diocese of Wakefield with a sense of drive and energy for the coming of the Kingdom of God amongst us. To Him be the glory!