St Mary’s Church Pateley Bridge

photoThis the derelict former parish church of Pateley Bridge in Nidderdale. It’s up a very steep hill. The faithful would have paid a penence every time they attended just for enduring the gradient.

Which is the real thing?

Which is the real thing?

Originally uploaded by Dawnriser

There’s new night club opening in York. It’s called Salvation. This morning I noticed this phone box advert for the new club sited right outside the Salvation Army.

Salvation Advert
I had already sounded my own Hurumph about the use of the name Salvation for a night club, but there’s something cynical about the juxtaposition of the club and the church in this commercial way surely designed to exploit the real Salvation of the Christian gospel.
It looks set to insult the fervent faith of members of the Salvation Army. These honest, disciplined, tee total adherents of the Christian Faith stand in stark contrast to the debauchery, drunkenness and licentiousness that defines the city’s nightclubs.
I’m reminded of a new testament scripture that says of Jesus Christ “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
So I leave you to judge – if you needed Salvation which would you go to – the night club or the church?

Riding Bike – The Route

Planning moves into a new gear to prepare for my sponsored cycle ride to raise money to bring Palestinian Students to the Riding Lights Summer School.

This is route I plan to take

View Larger Map

I start the circular route in Grassington and travel through Leyburn, Hawes, Settle, and Malham before returning to the start after 105 miles. You will notice that it will take me up some challenging inclines. I plan to ride the route in two days with an extra day at the end just in case of any delays, bouts of exhaustion, heavy storms or other hazards.
To sponsor me click here.

 

Riding Bike for Riding Lights – Sponsor me

My Trusty Steed
Next month I am mounting my trusty steed and peddling round 100 miles of the Yorkshire Dales. It’s a sponsored ride to raise money for the Riding Lights Summer School.

To sponsor me follow this link and make your donation

Specifically I’m doing the ride to raise money to bring four students from the Christian Palestinian Community in Bethlehem to the UK. They will join the summer school and return home with new skills to help their community to tell their story.

This follows from the Theatre Company’s production of Salaam Bethlehem last year.

Riding Lights – Past Shows
SALAAM BETHLEHEM
A Riding Lights Theatre Company Production

For the past 18 months we have been making steady progress towards a new play for the season of Advent running right up to Christmas 2007. A play with undertones for all our Christmases, Bridget Foremans SALAAM BETHLEHEM is set in the little town today where the streets are definitely darker beneath the concrete slabs but where the everlasting light still shines.

In May last year we met some of the dwindling Palestinian Christian community, discovering a remarkable range of people whose simple message to Riding Lights was Pray for us, tell our story, visit us.

Before anyone jumps to conclusions and because both inside and outside the Church issues to do with Israel seem to be so contentious… this is not a political play… or it is only political insofar as anything that deals with people is naturally political. We are not colouring in a new roadmap for the Middle East peace process. We are seeking to stand alongside brothers and sisters in the church of Christ. And how grateful all of us should be that they are still there.

York Youth Mysteries

MySpace.com – York Youth Mysteries – www.myspace.com/yorkyouthmysteries

York Youth Mysteries posterYork Youth Mysteries – A day of free performance in and around the streets of York City Centre. 21st June 2008!

 

Riding Lights Youth Theatre is performing one of the plays. It’ll be a fascinating day. Just what will our young people make of the traditional bible stories?

Find out in the streets of York on June 21st, 11am – 5pm