Here’s what we did during 2022

HCT Chair’s Report on 2022

By Revd Rachel Ford, St Margaret’s Church:

I started my year as chair of HCT grateful to have the opportunity to be involved with a such a fabulous group of prayerful, faithful people, committed to working together to share God’s love and spread the good news of the gospel in Horsforth. At the end of that year, that gratitude remains. Looking back over the past 12 months, I am astounded & encouraged by how much Horsforth Churches Together have achieved – the very many, creative ways in which, together, you (and it has been you!) have blessed the local community, loved your neighbour & witnessed to God’s love in word and deed.

Events

The events calendar for the year seems to have been packed – all the regular events and a few new ones!

• In March, a Covid ‘2 years on’ Memorial gave the local community space to reflect, grieve and process.
• At Easter it was great to be back together again for the Good Friday Walk of Witness.
• The summer months were busy ones – June in particular!
• The Queen’s Jubilee picnic in the park at the start of June was wet but not a wash out! The churches were present in a wonderful, visible way – handing out ‘Our Faithful Queen’ booklets, plus providing games and activities for children and families.
• In mid-June, a concert for Ukraine at The Grove raised nearly £3000 in support of those affected by the conflict there.
• And then at the end of the month the Churches Together were a really valued presence at the Horsforth Gala – with free of charge games, an area for toddlers and a space to pray for Ukraine in the inflatable church.
• The John Archer performance at Lister Hill on Gala Saturday was a great, invitational event.
• In July, the Civic service was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate, encourage and pray for a whole host of different local organisations that work in and for our community.
• The Perfectly pitched concerts in the first half of the year were well received and attended, making high quality classical music available to all.
• And finally Christmas – at the start of December, the Farmers Market team provided vital support for Horsforth’s first Christmas Market – building on existing relationships with local businesses, and supporting an initiative aimed to really bless the local community and high street.
• Christmas card distribution – including a fellowship meal at Cragg – went well, and Carols in the Park was, as always, a great success.
• Rewind to Christmas also deserves a special mention – a fantastic team from across the churches worked to share and encourage reflection on the Christmas story with nearly 300 children from all but one of Horsforth’s primary schools.

Regular Activities and Ongoing Work

As if all that wasn’t enough… regular Churches Together activities continued and expanded.

HCT Welcome pack was a new feature of 2022 – it has now been distributed to all churches/ made available in the library – a great resource for welcoming new folks to Horsforth and letting them know about the local churches in the area.

Open the Book Team – back in schools sharing stories from the Bible in a fun and memorable way.

Our support of MHA continued – we welcomed Judith at the March meeting, continued to offer a monthly time of reflection/ prayer at their Thursday lunch club. 

Christian Aid volunteers hit the streets in May – delivering envelopes that could be returned to any of the churches or to a post box in Morrisons, which raised £2578.

October marked the 10^th anniversary of the Farmer’s Market, now back on Town Street.

Refugee work – this year we have been able to support Our Lady of Kirkstall Migrant Support Group, as they connect with and support male asylum seekers in the Parkway hotel. Shoes, good quality clothing, baking and Christmas presents have all been donated. The Horsforth Chaplaincy Project has also appointed Rose – to coordinate and take forward what we do as HCT in this area.

Finally – we have begun to respond to the cost-of-living crisis, by collating all the times the different churches are open during the week, and publicising that through churches and the HCT website.

Fond Farewells and New Faces

• We have said goodbye to Mark & Jenny, from the Grove.
• We have welcomed new leaders – Matt Powell at Lister, and Jo Lightowler leading the Methodist churches.
• There have been changes in Duncan’s role, as he’s taken on responsibilities at Cragg, and in response to that welcomed Rose and Rhoda as new members of the Horsforth Chaplaincy Project.
• Judith, Nigel, Duncan and all those involved with the Covid memorial event
• Open the Book Team – wonderful ongoing witness in our local schools
• Matt/ Lister – hosting the John Archer evening
• Phil/ Mark/ all at the Grove – Ukraine concert & hosting the civic service
• Farmers Market Team – all they do, especially for the support shown to local businesses at Christmas.
• Rose/ Rhoda – the ways they are already supporting & enhancing what we are able to do/ offer as a Churches Together
• Nigel – leading Carols in the Park
• Duncan – all that he does to allow us to be present at events like the Gala, and to make the Walk of Witness/ Carols in the Park possible.
• Lynne – her work as secretary
• John – keeping an eye on the money.

FUTURE

There are challenges ahead – finances – for churches, churches together & individuals, and the challenge of finding new faces & new energy to support the work of HCT.

But there is opportunity too –

• To demonstrate the love of God to our local community through a difficult winter
• To grow and develop our work with the support and energy that Duncan, Rose & Rhoda bring
• And to discover – in potentially challenging times – that our God is a God who provides.

So – at the start of a new year – let’s set our hearts/ minds on Jesus; let’s prayerfully discern how God is calling us to serve him, encourage one another & build up his church in Horsforth in the year ahead – and let’s ask Him to provide for all that he calls us to be and to do.