Our work of church planting from scratch in York began mid-April 2023, and we are immensely grateful to the Lord Jesus that we can report exciting growth which has culminated this year in our various Christmas events.
On 17 December we held a wonderful Carol Service of readings, poems, carols, and prayers, followed by a festive lunch with much excited conversation and fellowship. On 22 December, equipped with lanterns and carol sheets, we organised Neighbourhood Carol Singing in the Clifton area of York, stopping to sing in six locations. People came out of their houses and joyfully listened to our carols of praise from their doorsteps. The evening was topped off with mulled wine and mince pies. Earlier in December, our minister, the Revd Matthew Firth, represented both us and the wider FCE at the Downing Street Festive Fair and at the Prime Minister’s Advent Reception at No.10.
From scratch, we have grown a core church membership of 15 people. In the New Year we plan to consolidate that growth, introduce various study groups, develop plans for a Centre for Christian Thought, and seek out a location for a much more public expression of church life that will take us to the next level. Adventure awaits!
