News and Notices

The tenth Sunday after Trinity

Sung Eucharist for the tenth Sunday after Trinity

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 27 August at 10.00 am

Sacred Space
This Thursday 28 August at 6.00 pm

Pilgrims in the Park
This Saturday 30 August at 2.00 pm

Sung Eucharist for the eleventh Sunday after Trinity
Next Sunday 31 August at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

The Leeds South & East Food Bank: What's Needed?

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations of food to help feed those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, biscuits, custard, cooking sauces and tinned or packet mashed potatoes.

If you are able, you can donate by picking one of these items up in your weekly shop and dropping it in the box at the back of the church. You can find other ways to help, including donating money or your time, on their website at wkrk.uk/fbd. If you need the help of a foodbank yourself, see wkrk.uk/fbh.

Renewal of the Prayer List

Praying for those who are sick and in long-term care, or in any other kind of need, is central to our mission and it happens daily at Morning and Evening Prayer, and also at our Sunday Eucharists. In order to ensure that the prayer list remains up-to-date and manageable, however, we have decided to renew it twice a year. This will happen on the first Sunday of September and the first Sunday of March. A list is now available at the back of church for you to add the names (first names only, please, for data protection reasons) of anyone for whom you would like us to pray for. It is of course fine to add names at any time by contacting Claire or leaving a prayer on one of the cards that are always available at the back of the church, but please do also remember to ask for names to be removed if the person is recovering or a moment of crisis has passed. As well as those remembered by name, we always also pray for any others who are in need of our prayers, so please be assured that no-one will be left out. God knows our needs and the needs of those who are on our hearts, even when we do not articulate them in so many words. There is no need to renew the list of those whose year’s mind we remember: this will continue as usual.

Adam Kelly

Adam’s last service at Whitkirk before he leaves us to start his training for ordination will be on Sunday 31 August. We would like to invite you to celebrate all that Adam has brought to Whitkirk at a bring-and-share lunch after the service on that day. Food contributions can be left in the fridge in the Community Centre before the service. Please do stay and celebrate with Adam if you are able to do so.

Teddy Bear's Picnic

This Saturday 30 August at 12.30 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

Well-behaved bears and their humans are welcome at this event, especially suitable for under-10s. Bring your own picnic and we will provide drinks and treats. Teddy Zip Wire, Teddy Bear Trail, Treasure Hunt, games and loads of fun.

Open Church

This Saturday 30 August at 2.00 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

Don’t forget that St Mary’s is open every Saturday afternoon until the end of September for anyone to come in and look around. This may be an easy way for you to invite friends and neighbours who are not churchgoers to come in and find out more, so please do spread the word and encourage people to pop in. Refreshments will be available.

Concert Season: Smeaton String Quartet

Saturday 6 September at 2.15 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

The Smeaton String Quartet return as part of our 2025 Concert Season. All are welcome. Free Admission with a retiring collection. Refreshments will be available.

The Annual Whitkirk Lecture: The view from the tower

Friday 12 September at 7.30 pm
St Mary's Church Whitkirk Community Centre

This year’s lecture explores the history of places you can see from our church tower, covering subjects including the Knights Templar, one of the oldest railway lines in the country, and a lost sporting venue.

All Creatures Great and Small: Pet blessing service

Saturday 20 September at 2.00 pm
Whitkirk Vicarage Garden

Join us with your furry (or feathery or scaly) friends for a special service to celebrate the pets with whom we share our lives. Whether you have a donkey or a stick insect, all are welcome. Weather permitting, we will meeting in the vicarage garden (in the church, if wet) to sing, pray and praise God for the wonderful animals who keep us company, with a special blessing for pets and their owners. Please keep dogs (and larger animals) on a lead and have smaller animals in a basket or carrier, and come prepared to clean up after your pet.

Harvest lunch

Sunday 5 October
St Mary's Church Whitkirk Community Centre

Our Harvest Festival will be taking place this year on Sunday 5 October and will be followed, as usual, by our Harvest Lunch. More details to follow soon, but keep the date free for a wonderful feast with friends as we give thanks for all that God provides for us.

Songs of Praise: Whitkirk's Top Ten Hymns

Sunday 5 October at 6.00 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

On the same day as the Harvest Lunch, we will be holding a Songs of Praise service in lieu of our usual Choral Evensong. There will be a chance to vote for your favourite hymn and to see if it makes the Top Ten which we will sing on the day. Voting slips are available in the church today and you will also be able to vote via our Facebook page. One vote per person only, please!

We will also be looking for a few volunteers to say _why _they chose a particular hymn. If you would be willing to do this on the day, please tick the box on the voting form.

The ninth Sunday after Trinity

Sung Eucharist for the ninth Sunday after Trinity

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 20 August at 10.00 am

Sung Eucharist for the tenth Sunday after Trinity
Next Sunday 24 August at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

The Leeds South & East Food Bank: What's Needed?

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations of food to help feed those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, biscuits, custard, cooking sauces and tinned or packet mashed potatoes.

If you are able, you can donate by picking one of these items up in your weekly shop and dropping it in the box at the back of the church. You can find other ways to help, including donating money or your time, on their website at wkrk.uk/fbd. If you need the help of a foodbank yourself, see wkrk.uk/fbh.

Renewal of the Prayer List

Praying for those who are sick and in long-term care, or in any other kind of need, is central to our mission and it happens daily at Morning and Evening Prayer, and also at our Sunday Eucharists. In order to ensure that the prayer list remains up-to-date and manageable, however, we have decided to renew it twice a year. This will happen on the first Sunday of September and the first Sunday of March. A list is now available at the back of church for you to add the names (first names only, please, for data protection reasons) of anyone for whom you would like us to pray for. It is of course fine to add names at any time by contacting Claire or leaving a prayer on one of the cards that are always available at the back of the church, but please do also remember to ask for names to be removed if the person is recovering or a moment of crisis has passed. As well as those remembered by name, we always also pray for any others who are in need of our prayers, so please be assured that no-one will be left out. God knows our needs and the needs of those who are on our hearts, even when we do not articulate them in so many words. There is no need to renew the list of those whose year’s mind we remember: this will continue as usual.

Adam Kelly

Adam’s last service at Whitkirk before he leaves us to start his training for ordination will be on Sunday 31 August. We would like to invite you to celebrate all that Adam has brought to Whitkirk at a bring-and-share lunch after the service on that day. Food contributions can be left in the fridge in the Community Centre before the service. Please do stay and celebrate with Adam if you are able to do so.

Open Church

This Saturday 23 August at 2.00 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

Don’t forget that St Mary’s is open every Saturday afternoon until the end of September for anyone to come in and look around. This may be an easy way for you to invite friends and neighbours who are not churchgoers to come in and find out more, so please do spread the word and encourage people to pop in. Refreshments will be available.

The eighth Sunday after Trinity

Sung Eucharist for the eighth Sunday after Trinity

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 13 August at 10.00 am

Sanctuary
This Thursday 14 August at 6.30 pm

Sung Eucharist for the ninth Sunday after Trinity
Next Sunday 17 August at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

The Leeds South & East Food Bank: What's Needed?

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations of food to help feed those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, biscuits, tinned fruit, tinned or packed mashed potatoes, and cereal.

If you are able, you can donate by picking one of these items up in your weekly shop and dropping it in the box at the back of the church. You can find other ways to help, including donating money or your time, on their website at wkrk.uk/fbd. If you need the help of a foodbank yourself, see wkrk.uk/fbh.

Renewal of the Prayer List

Praying for those who are sick and in long-term care, or in any other kind of need, is central to our mission and it happens daily at Morning and Evening Prayer, and also at our Sunday Eucharists. In order to ensure that the prayer list remains up-to-date and manageable, however, we have decided to renew it twice a year. This will happen on the first Sunday of September and the first Sunday of March. A list is now available at the back of church for you to add the names (first names only, please, for data protection reasons) of anyone for whom you would like us to pray for. It is of course fine to add names at any time by contacting Claire or leaving a prayer on one of the cards that are always available at the back of the church, but please do also remember to ask for names to be removed if the person is recovering or a moment of crisis has passed. As well as those remembered by name, we always also pray for any others who are in need of our prayers, so please be assured that no-one will be left out. God knows our needs and the needs of those who are on our hearts, even when we do not articulate them in so many words. There is no need to renew the list of those whose year’s mind we remember: this will continue as usual.

Adam Kelly

Adam’s last service at Whitkirk before he leaves us to start his training for ordination will be on Sunday 31 August. We would like to invite you to celebrate all that Adam has brought to Whitkirk at a bring-and-share lunch after the service on that day. Food contributions can be left in the fridge in the Community Centre before the service. Please do stay and celebrate with Adam if you are able to do so.

Claire away

Please note that Claire will be away from the 1 to the 16 August. Should you need to contact the Church, Claire’s number, 0113 531 8141, will be answered as usual and someone will be able to help you. During this period there will be no Morning Prayer, but Evening Prayer and all other regular activities will continue as usual.

Open Church

This Saturday 16 August at 2.00 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

Don’t forget that St Mary’s is open every Saturday afternoon until the end of September for anyone to come in and look around. This may be an easy way for you to invite friends and neighbours who are not churchgoers to come in and find out more, so please do spread the word and encourage people to pop in. Refreshments will be available.

The seventh Sunday after Trinity

Sung Eucharist for the seventh Sunday after Trinity

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 6 August at 10.00 am

Compline by Candlelight
This Wednesday 6 August at 8.30 pm

Sung Eucharist for the eighth Sunday after Trinity
Next Sunday 10 August at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

The Leeds South & East Food Bank: What's Needed?

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations of food to help feed those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, biscuits, tinned fruit, tinned or packed mashed potatoes, and cereal.

If you are able, you can donate by picking one of these items up in your weekly shop and dropping it in the box at the back of the church. You can find other ways to help, including donating money or your time, on their website at wkrk.uk/fbd. If you need the help of a foodbank yourself, see wkrk.uk/fbh.

Renewal of the Prayer List

Praying for those who are sick and in long-term care, or in any other kind of need, is central to our mission and it happens daily at Morning and Evening Prayer, and also at our Sunday Eucharists. In order to ensure that the prayer list remains up-to-date and manageable, however, we have decided to renew it twice a year. This will happen on the first Sunday of September and the first Sunday of March. A list is now available at the back of church for you to add the names (first names only, please, for data protection reasons) of anyone for whom you would like us to pray for. It is of course fine to add names at any time by contacting Claire or leaving a prayer on one of the cards that are always available at the back of the church, but please do also remember to ask for names to be removed if the person is recovering or a moment of crisis has passed. As well as those remembered by name, we always also pray for any others who are in need of our prayers, so please be assured that no-one will be left out. God knows our needs and the needs of those who are on our hearts, even when we do not articulate them in so many words. There is no need to renew the list of those whose year’s mind we remember: this will continue as usual.

Adam Kelly

Adam’s last service at Whitkirk before he leaves us to start his training for ordination will be on Sunday 31 August. We would like to invite you to celebrate all that Adam has brought to Whitkirk at a bring-and-share lunch after the service on that day. Food contributions can be left in the fridge in the Community Centre before the service. Please do stay and celebrate with Adam if you are able to do so.

Claire away

Please note that Claire will be away from the 1 to the 16 August. Should you need to contact the Church, Claire’s number, 0113 531 8141, will be answered as usual and someone will be able to help you. During this period there will be no Morning Prayer, but Evening Prayer and all other regular activities will continue as usual.

Open Church

This Saturday 9 August at 2.00 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

Don’t forget that St Mary’s is open every Saturday afternoon until the end of September for anyone to come in and look around. This may be an easy way for you to invite friends and neighbours who are not churchgoers to come in and find out more, so please do spread the word and encourage people to pop in. Refreshments will be available.

The sixth Sunday after Trinity

Sung Eucharist for the sixth Sunday after Trinity

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 30 July at 10.00 am

Sacred Space
This Thursday 31 July at 6.00 pm

Sung Eucharist for the seventh Sunday after Trinity
Next Sunday 3 August at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

The Leeds South & East Food Bank: What's Needed?

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations of food to help feed those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, biscuits, tinned fruit, tinned or packed mashed potatoes, and cereal.

If you are able, you can donate by picking one of these items up in your weekly shop and dropping it in the box at the back of the church. You can find other ways to help, including donating money or your time, on their website at wkrk.uk/fbd. If you need the help of a foodbank yourself, see wkrk.uk/fbh.

Renewal of the Prayer List

Praying for those who are sick and in long-term care, or in any other kind of need, is central to our mission and it happens daily at Morning and Evening Prayer, and also at our Sunday Eucharists. In order to ensure that the prayer list remains up-to-date and manageable, however, we have decided to renew it twice a year. This will happen on the first Sunday of September and the first Sunday of March. A list is now available at the back of church for you to add the names (first names only, please, for data protection reasons) of anyone for whom you would like us to pray for. It is of course fine to add names at any time by contacting Claire or leaving a prayer on one of the cards that are always available at the back of the church, but please do also remember to ask for names to be removed if the person is recovering or a moment of crisis has passed. As well as those remembered by name, we always also pray for any others who are in need of our prayers, so please be assured that no-one will be left out. God knows our needs and the needs of those who are on our hearts, even when we do not articulate them in so many words. There is no need to renew the list of those whose year’s mind we remember: this will continue as usual.

Adam Kelly

Adam’s last service at Whitkirk before he leaves us to start his training for ordination will be on Sunday 31 August. We would like to invite you to celebrate all that Adam has brought to Whitkirk at a bring-and-share lunch after the service on that day. Food contributions can be left in the fridge in the Community Centre before the service. Please do stay and celebrate with Adam if you are able to do so.

Claire away

Please note that Claire will be away from the 1 to the 16 August. Should you need to contact the Church, Claire’s number, 0113 531 8141, will be answered as usual and someone will be able to help you. During this period there will be no Morning Prayer, but Evening Prayer and all other regular activities will continue as usual.

Open Church

This Saturday 2 August at 2.00 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

Don’t forget that St Mary’s is open every Saturday afternoon until the end of September for anyone to come in and look around. This may be an easy way for you to invite friends and neighbours who are not churchgoers to come in and find out more, so please do spread the word and encourage people to pop in. Refreshments will be available.

Concert Season: Giles Taylor (Organ Music)

This Saturday 2 August at 2.15 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

As part of the Whitkirk Church Concert Season, our Director of Music Giles Taylor will perform a programme of light classical music on the organ, including works by Delibes, Bach, Schubert, and Mascagni. As well as traditional organ music, the concert will feature a number of compositions that were originally written as instrumental or orchestral pieces. All are welcome. Free Admission with a retiring collection for the Organ Fund. Refreshments will be available.

Youth-led service to celebrate the new school year

Calling families! We are hoping to hold a special service to celebrate the start of the new school year and to give the children in our congregation the chance to shine! This service will involve our children and young people in as many different ways as possible (as readers, servers, and welcomers; bringing up the collection and assisting with communion… all with appropriate support). All ages welcome to play a part. More information to follow, but please do sign up on the sheet at the back of church if you would be willing for your child to play a part in this service, as this will help us with planning the service.

The fifth Sunday after Trinity

Sung Eucharist for the fifth Sunday after Trinity

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 23 July at 10.00 am

Pilgrims in the Park
This Saturday 26 July at 2.00 pm

Sung Eucharist for the sixth Sunday after Trinity
Next Sunday 27 July at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

The Leeds South & East Food Bank: What's Needed?

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations of food to help feed those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, biscuits, tinned fruit, tinned or packed mashed potatoes, and cereal.

If you are able, you can donate by picking one of these items up in your weekly shop and dropping it in the box at the back of the church. You can find other ways to help, including donating money or your time, on their website at wkrk.uk/fbd. If you need the help of a foodbank yourself, see wkrk.uk/fbh.

Renewal of the Prayer List

Praying for those who are sick and in long-term care, or in any other kind of need, is central to our mission and it happens daily at Morning and Evening Prayer, and also at our Sunday Eucharists. In order to ensure that the prayer list remains up-to-date and manageable, however, we have decided to renew it twice a year. This will happen on the first Sunday of September and the first Sunday of March. A list is now available at the back of church for you to add the names (first names only, please, for data protection reasons) of anyone for whom you would like us to pray for. It is of course fine to add names at any time by contacting Claire or leaving a prayer on one of the cards that are always available at the back of the church, but please do also remember to ask for names to be removed if the person is recovering or a moment of crisis has passed. As well as those remembered by name, we always also pray for any others who are in need of our prayers, so please be assured that no-one will be left out. God knows our needs and the needs of those who are on our hearts, even when we do not articulate them in so many words. There is no need to renew the list of those whose year’s mind we remember: this will continue as usual.

Adam Kelly

Adam’s last service at Whitkirk before he leaves us to start his training for ordination will be on Sunday 31 August. We would like to invite you to celebrate all that Adam has brought to Whitkirk at a bring-and-share lunch after the service on that day. Food contributions can be left in the fridge in the Community Centre before the service. Please do stay and celebrate with Adam if you are able to do so.

Open Church

This Saturday 26 July at 2.00 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

Don’t forget that St Mary’s is open every Saturday afternoon until the end of September for anyone to come in and look around. This may be an easy way for you to invite friends and neighbours who are not churchgoers to come in and find out more, so please do spread the word and encourage people to pop in. Refreshments will be available.

Pilgrims in the Park

This Saturday 26 July at 2.00 pm
The Lodge Car Park, Temple Newsam

We are so blessed to have the beautiful setting of Temple Newsam on our doorstep. This is a chance to make the most of it together, while giving thanks to God for the wonders of the natural world and for each other. Meet at the lodge car park at 2.00 pm. We will begin with a very short reading, reflection and prayer, and then we will head off for a walk (at a gentle pace) to talk and reflect together, ending at the cafe for post-pilgrimage refreshments. If walking is a challenge, why not catch up with us at the cafe and join us for a cuppa and a catch-up?

Youth-led service to celebrate the new school year

Calling families! We are hoping to hold a special service to celebrate the start of the new school year and to give the children in our congregation the chance to shine! This service will involve our children and young people in as many different ways as possible (as readers, servers, and welcomers; bringing up the collection and assisting with communion… all with appropriate support). All ages welcome to play a part. More information to follow, but please do sign up on the sheet at the back of church if you would be willing for your child to play a part in this service, as this will help us with planning the service.

The fourth Sunday after Trinity

Sung Eucharist for the fourth Sunday after Trinity

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

Messy Church
Today at 4.00 pm

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 16 July at 10.00 am

Sung Eucharist for the fifth Sunday after Trinity
Next Sunday 20 July at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

The Leeds South & East Food Bank: What's Needed?

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations of food to help feed those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, biscuits, tinned fruit, tinned or packed mashed potatoes, and cereal.

If you are able, you can donate by picking one of these items up in your weekly shop and dropping it in the box at the back of the church. You can find other ways to help, including donating money or your time, on their website at wkrk.uk/fbd. If you need the help of a foodbank yourself, see wkrk.uk/fbh.

Renewal of the Prayer List

Praying for those who are sick and in long-term care, or in any other kind of need, is central to our mission and it happens daily at Morning and Evening Prayer, and also at our Sunday Eucharists. In order to ensure that the prayer list remains up-to-date and manageable, however, we have decided to renew it twice a year. This will happen on the first Sunday of September and the first Sunday of March. A list will be available at the back of church for you to add the names (first names only, please, for data protection reasons) of anyone for whom you would like us to pray for a month or so before the list is renewed. It is of course fine to add names at any time by contacting Claire or leaving a prayer on one of the cards that are always available at the back of church, but please do also remember to ask for names to be removed if the person is recovering or a moment of crisis has passed. As well as those remembered by name, we always also pray for any others who are in need of our prayers, so please be assured that no-one will be left out. God knows our needs and the needs of those who are on our hearts, even when we do not articulate them in so many words. There is no need to renew the list of those whose year’s mind we remember: this will continue as usual.

Youth-led service to celebrate the new school year

Calling families! We are hoping to hold a special service to celebrate the start of the new school year and to give the children in our congregation the chance to shine! This service will involve our children and young people in as many different ways as possible (as readers, servers, and welcomers; bringing up the collection and assisting with communion… all with appropriate support). All ages welcome to play a part. More information to follow, but please do sign up on the sheet at the back of church if you would be willing for your child to play a part in this service, as this will help us with planning the service.

Adam Kelly

Adam’s last service at Whitkirk before he leaves us to start his training for ordination will be on Sunday 31 August. We would like to invite you to celebrate all that Adam has brought to Whitkirk at a bring-and-share lunch after the service on that day. Food contributions can be left in the fridge in the Community Centre before the service. Please do stay and celebrate with Adam if you are able to do so.

Bible Discussion Group

This Friday 18 July at 6.00 pm
The Smeaton Room, St Mary's Church Whitkirk Community Centre

Would you like to engage more deeply with the Bible? Ever wondered how you might get more out of Sunday sermons? Have you got questions that you don’t get the opportunity to ask? Would you like to think more deeply about how reading the Bible might impact your daily life? Why not give this new discussion group a try? We will meet weekly to read and discuss the passages that will be read the following Sunday in Church. No previous knowledge needed, no such thing as a silly question. No need to commit to coming every week; the group will operate on a ‘drop-in’ basis, so just come if and when you are free. Bring a Bible (any edition) if you have one.

Open Church

This Saturday 19 July at 2.00 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

Don’t forget that St Mary’s is open every Saturday afternoon until the end of September for anyone to come in and look around. This may be an easy way for you to invite friends and neighbours who are not churchgoers to come in and find out more, so please do spread the word and encourage people to pop in. Refreshments will be available.

Pilgrims in the Park

Saturday 26 July at 2.00 pm
The Lodge Car Park, Temple Newsam

We are so blessed to have the beautiful setting of Temple Newsam on our doorstep. This is a chance to make the most of it together, while giving thanks to God for the wonders of the natural world and for each other. Meet at the lodge car park at 2.00 pm. We will begin with a very short reading, reflection and prayer, and then we will head off for a walk (at a gentle pace) to talk and reflect together, ending at the cafe for post-pilgrimage refreshments. If walking is a challenge, why not catch up with us at the cafe and join us for a cuppa and a catch-up?

The third Sunday after Trinity

Sung Eucharist for the third Sunday after Trinity

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

East Leeds Deanery Celebration Evensong
Today at 6.00 pm · Watch the service · View the order of service

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 9 July at 10.00 am

Sanctuary
This Thursday 10 July at 6.30 pm

Sung Eucharist for the fourth Sunday after Trinity
Next Sunday 13 July at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Messy Church
Next Sunday 13 July at 4.00 pm

The Leeds South & East Food Bank: What's Needed?

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations of food to help feed those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, biscuits, tinned fruit, tinned or packed mashed potatoes, and cereal.

If you are able, you can donate by picking one of these items up in your weekly shop and dropping it in the box at the back of the church. You can find other ways to help, including donating money or your time, on their website at wkrk.uk/fbd. If you need the help of a foodbank yourself, see wkrk.uk/fbh.

Renewal of the Prayer List

Praying for those who are sick and in long-term care, or in any other kind of need, is central to our mission and it happens daily at Morning and Evening Prayer, and also at our Sunday Eucharists. In order to ensure that the prayer list remains up-to-date and manageable, however, we have decided to renew it twice a year. This will happen on the first Sunday of September and the first Sunday of March. A list will be available at the back of church for you to add the names (first names only, please, for data protection reasons) of anyone for whom you would like us to pray for a month or so before the list is renewed. It is of course fine to add names at any time by contacting Claire or leaving a prayer on one of the cards that are always available at the back of church, but please do also remember to ask for names to be removed if the person is recovering or a moment of crisis has passed. As well as those remembered by name, we always also pray for any others who are in need of our prayers, so please be assured that no-one will be left out. God knows our needs and the needs of those who are on our hearts, even when we do not articulate them in so many words. There is no need to renew the list of those whose year’s mind we remember: this will continue as usual.

Youth-led service to celebrate the new school year

Calling families! We are hoping to hold a special service to celebrate the start of the new school year and to give the children in our congregation the chance to shine! This service will involve our children and young people in as many different ways as possible (as readers, servers, and welcomers; bringing up the collection and assisting with communion… all with appropriate support). All ages welcome to play a part. More information to follow, but please do sign up on the sheet at the back of church if you would be willing for your child to play a part in this service, as this will help us with planning the service.

East Leeds Deanery Celebration Evensong

Today at 6.00 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

A special celebration Evensong for the East Leeds Deanery. Come to this service of Choral Evensong from the Book of Common Prayer, at which our choir will be enhanced by participants from other churches around the Deanery. Our Guest Speaker will be Siaa-Liane Mathurin, Chief Officer of Wellsprings Together, an organisation which works with the Diocese of Leeds to support faith communities in social engagement. Come and hear more about the work of Wellsprings Together, sing and worship with Christians from across East Leeds, and revel in the wonderful music of the English choral tradition.

Refreshments will be available from 5.00 pm in the Community Centre, with Choral Evensong at 6.00 pm.

Sanctuary

This Thursday 10 July at 6.30 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

A reminder about our new monthly contemplative Eucharist, ‘Sanctuary’, which will take place on Thursday at 6.30 pm. This month’s theme is ‘Discipleship’. The service uses fewer words than a Sunday Eucharist, and leaves more time for reflection, using gentle music and silence. There is the opportunity to receive prayer ministry at the end of the service for those who would like it.

Bible Discussion Group

This Friday 11 July at 6.00 pm
The Smeaton Room, St Mary's Church Whitkirk Community Centre

Would you like to engage more deeply with the Bible? Ever wondered how you might get more out of Sunday sermons? Have you got questions that you don’t get the opportunity to ask? Would you like to think more deeply about how reading the Bible might impact your daily life? Why not give this new discussion group a try? We will meet weekly to read and discuss the passages that will be read the following Sunday in Church. No previous knowledge needed, no such thing as a silly question. No need to commit to coming every week; the group will operate on a ‘drop-in’ basis, so just come if and when you are free. Bring a Bible (any edition) if you have one.

Summer Fair

This Saturday 12 July at 12.00 pm
St Mary's Church Whitkirk Community Centre

All are invited to our Summer Fair, featuring stalls and games for adults and children, refreshments, and Altofts and Normanton Brass Band.

Bakers in the congregation are invited to make cakes for the cake stall and cafe, if they are able to do so. We have volunteers for the various stalls, but would welcome a few offers of help in the cafe if anyone is able to volunteer for a short time during the course of the day. Please talk to Joan Williams if you are able to do so. Thank you.

Open Church

This Saturday 12 July at 2.00 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

Don’t forget that St Mary’s is open every Saturday afternoon until the end of September for anyone to come in and look around. This may be an easy way for you to invite friends and neighbours who are not churchgoers to come in and find out more, so please do spread the word and encourage people to pop in. Refreshments will be available.

Pilgrims in the Park

Saturday 26 July at 2.00 pm
The Lodge Car Park, Temple Newsam

We are so blessed to have the beautiful setting of Temple Newsam on our doorstep. This is a chance to make the most of it together, while giving thanks to God for the wonders of the natural world and for each other. Meet at the lodge car park at 2.00 pm. We will begin with a very short reading, reflection and prayer, and then we will head off for a walk (at a gentle pace) to talk and reflect together, ending at the cafe for post-pilgrimage refreshments. If walking is a challenge, why not catch up with us at the cafe and join us for a cuppa and a catch-up?