Children bathed in love
Jo Cox’s husband, Brendan, has written that Jo would want her children to be “bathed in love” in the traumatic aftermath of her death. It’s a poignant appeal. Lavish in its choice of descriptive verb (not a sprinkling or a shower but a bath) and in the overt contrast between love and the hate that killed.
On Sunday, Father’s Day, I am going to be asking the question, “Does my father love me?” Deep down in our souls there is a cavity that can only be filled by being bathed in love. The love of a mother or of a father or of a lover or of a creator. As we dwell on this we pray for the Cox family, particularly the children, that they may indeed be bathed in love.
It is Father’s Day on Sunday
We’ll be praying for men and for fathers and there may be chocolate to help us! This will be an excellent Sunday to which to invite fathers and sons in particular.
Afterwards you are also invited to stay and picnic in the church. For more information and instructions please check out the website.
The following week we are going to be finding out about why inviting people is sometimes difficult or fearful. And we’re going to pray once again for the people God has put on your heart.
Do you like talking to people?
Would you like to be our community link person for our Debt Advice Centre? This is a new role which will take up to two hours a week and for which there is a full day’s training. It will be a great way of serving alongside Gwen, our Debt Centre Manager, by building relationships with the local community. The next training day is on 12 July so get in touch with Gwen as soon as possible if you would like to find out more.
How well do you know Leeds?
Next week is Leeds Refugee Week. There is lots more information on a great range of events here - including the answers to these questions:
1. Which famous store first began with a stall in 1884 on Leeds Kirkgate Market?
a) Sainsbury’s
b) Marks and Spencer’s
c) House of Fraser
d) British Home Stores (BHS)
2. What is the estimated population of Leeds (based on the 2011 census)?
a) 750,000
b) 900,000
c) 650,000
d) 870,000
3. In what year was Nelson Mandela made an honorary freeman of Leeds?
a) 1998
b) 2000
c) 2001
d) 2004
4. The name ‘Leeds’ derives from the old Brythonic word ‘Ladenses’ meaning:
a) ‘Central city’
b) ‘People of the fast-flowing river’
c) ‘City of the river’
d) ‘Trading by the water’
5. What is the address of Leeds United football ground?
a. Francis Street
b) Elland Road
c) White Rose
d) St Paul Street
6. What is the name of the major river that runs through Leeds and Yorkshire?
a) River Ouse
b) River Trent
c) River Thames
d) River Aire
Baptisms
Our next baptism service will be on Sunday 24 July. Please let one of the pastoral staff know if you would like to be baptised or to find out more.
Peace,
David