Living Christ’s Story in a Mustard Seed Way
The Mustard Seed programme enjoyed a wonderful day at Bishopthorpe Palace, our third annual gathering, for everyone during their Stepping Up year. It was a joy to be away from our ordinary lives, to spend the day in such beautiful surroundings, and we were blessed with glorious sunny weather to enjoy the gardens.
“It was really inspiring and above all peaceful, I really felt the Holy Spirit moving.”
Archbishop Stephen
Archbishop Stephen was in London, but very much present with us in the room as he joined us online to share about Living Christ’s story. He spoke to us about God’s way of being human, which has been revealed in Jesus Christ. That we are all being called to be truly human, ‘the very best you’ living as God intended us to be.
He reminded us that God believes in each one of us and the wonderful potential within each person. That this gift of living as God intended us to is a gift – available to us all through the outpouring and indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
He challenged us to live out this truly human life, living as God intended us to be in our churches and communities. To demonstrate to others and allow them to encounter Jesus through our lives. Finally, he recounted a significant part of his own faith story; the people who faithfully prayed for him and his family to know God’s love and reminded us to faithfully pray for those around us to know and follow Jesus.
Stories of mission
We were delighted that Donna Brookes, Kev Oldfield and Maggie Hadland, who completed Stepping Up in 2022, joined us to share their stories.
Donna shared her faith story, crying out to God from a dark place and being transformed so that she is now working in her church. Donna is developing the church café as a safe space where people can be loved and known and encounter Jesus.
Kev talked to us about walking into church as a homeless person cold, wet and hungry. He is now providing a hot meal every Tuesday for people experiencing homelessness, sharing God’s love through his own experience.
Finally, Maggie entertained us with funny stories from her own faith journey and how God woke her up at 3am in the morning to show her how he wanted her to Step up in mission – creating a welcoming space for children and families each week in her local church.
Bishop Eleanor
Worshipping together in the chapel was a joy, singing, praying and sharing communion, as Bishop Eleanor reflected on the calling of Simon Peter. How he was called from a place of disappointment and failure as a fisherman to give up everything and follow Jesus.
Bishop Eleanor helped us to reflect at the end of the day, noticing all the seeds that are growing in our lives through the Stepping Up programme: Seeds of Trust, Seeds of Safety, Seeds of Grace, Seeds of Courage, Seeds of Humility, Seeds of Hope, Seeds of Purpose, Seeds of Confidence, and Seeds of Love.
She reminded us that a cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12), and for us to hold onto the three strands of:
1) Prayer and our relationship with Jesus.
2) The people around us who journey with us and support us.
3) The communities where God has placed us and the people there who are in our hearts.
To find out more about how we are Living Christ’s Story in communities on the edge of the Diocese of York explore our website to watch the ‘Be Inspired’ films, and read the Stepping Up stories and stories of mission.