Dear friends,
Advent, Christmas and Epiphany
The Church’s year begins on 2nd December, Advent Sunday, a period of preparation for the coming of the Christ child. Christmas is a glorious celebration of the Incarnation (God made flesh in Jesus Christ). The Epiphany on 6th January, beginning with the coming of the Three Wise Men, celebrates how Jesus reveals God to humankind.
Meanwhile, we live with the anxiety of ‘Brexit’. On the day I write uncertainty continues, we do not know what is going to happen next and we have no control over it. Whilst, arguably, we are largely protected from the vicissitudes of politics in Helmsley and its surroundings there is no doubt that decisions made or not made in the coming months will profoundly affect this country for generations.
If there is one quality that all those who call themselves Christians should have in spades it is hope. Hope in the revelation of God in Jesus Christ - born for us on Christmas Day.
What can we say about God revealed in Jesus Christ on Christmas Day? God creates. God sustains. God is good. God is love. God is truth. These values are what we believe in and give us hope. Hope that life does not end with death, hope in a better world, hope that each person made in the image of God (every single human being on this planet) may enjoy fulness of life.
It is in this context that we must pray for those who are working tirelessly for the best possible outcome for our country in our relationship with Europe, that is all those who seek the Common Good.
Tim Robinson
Vicar
Helmsley Parish in the Diocese of York
Helmsley's parish church, dedicated to All Saints, dates back a thousand years and more. The present building , built on Norman foundations, was dedicated in 1838. Helmsley Parish also includes Anglican churches at Ea
st Moors, Rievaulx and Sproxton.
On Sundays in Helmsley there are two well-attended services and a regular midweek Holy Communion. Locals and visitors alike, of all traditions, are always very welcome to all our services. After Sunday's main 9.30 am service at Helmsley there is an opportunity to meet one another over refreshments.
Helmsley Church is open every day as a place of interest and for private prayer from 9am - 5pm (summer) and 9am - 4pm (winter). St Columba's Chapel, in the south transept, has votive candles to aid people's own particular prayers.
A Christian church has existed in Helmsley since AD 200, according to the 19th century wall-paintings in the north aisle. Certainly there was one on this site by the time of the Norman Conquest. (There's a 10th century hog-back tombstone in the porch and an entry in the Domesday Book of 1086.) The present building's splendid chancel arch, one of the largest in Yorkshire, dates from the 12th century (as does its counterpart over the entrance). Otherwise the handsome present day building is largely the result of major restoration in Victorian times, with the stained glass as well as the murals from this period too. All this variety of history and interest makes Helmsley Church a very special place to visit and worship in. More information about our other churches is elsewhere on the website.
Tim Robinson, our vicar, says: "I love being vicar here. Helmsley is a great community and I aim to serve everyone here be they part of the Church or not. Members of the congregation and I work with other community organisations for the common good. We have a special relationship with Helmsley in Business. Recently I accompanied the Archbishop of York (on his Pilgrimage of Prayer, Witness and Blessing around the Diocese) to celebrate Helmsley's win as best Market Town in the Great British High Street competition at the The Feathers Hotel before he answered questions at an event called 'What's on your Mind' at Helmsley Church.
"We are delighted you have taken the trouble to look at our website. We hope you will come and visit us soon."