This Week at St Nicholas...
©Morna Simpson
What makes you angry that you wish you could change?
This autumn, Leicester and Leicestershire Citizens are running their Listening Campaign: an opportunity for people to share and talk about the issues that they care about, and that are affecting them and their loved ones. At The Community of the Tree of Life (opposite the cathedral) on the 27th November at 4.30pm, we are going to hold a 'House Meeting', which is a time to share specific issues that concern us. The specific question we will be asking is, 'what makes you angry that you wish you could change?' This is also an opportunity to develop a collective curiosity about 'what is possible' -- these are moments to stir our imagination. Are we going to simply complain or imagine what could be?
Come along if you have something that you would like to share, or even if you would like to come to listen to others. There will be space for everyone to share their answer to this question for about 2 minutes. We will then all discuss what we have heard.
Carols by Candlelight
Join us for our annual carols by candlelight in the ancient setting of St Nicholas Church. Sunday 4th December - Doors open at 6pm - FREE EVENT, all are welcome!
Community Nights - Wednesdays
We will be offering a St Nick's Community Night every Wednesday evening between 6.30 and 8.30pm. In the church.
30 November An evening with Quetzal:Let's Discuss & Crafts is a 2-hour session. it includes a short presentation to learn more about the impacts of childhood sexual abuse on adult survivors and Quetzal Leicester Work, Discussion about the views and needs of LGBTQ+ in relation to childhood sexual abuse and some craft activities.
7 December A St Nicholas Evening at Manuela's flat, there will be traditional Swiss St Nicholas celebration snacks, time to spend a cozy evening together and for those who want some board games (bring your favourite one if you like). To be able to judge food, Manuela would appreciate if you could let her know if you think you can come, but you can also just spontaneously turn up. Let her know and find out her address contact her here:manuela.schmucki@leicestercofe.org
14 December Games Night
21 December - 4 January Christmas Break
St Nicholas at Leicester Pride 2022
Pride was a massive success! Thank you to everyone who helped across the weekend's events; at the march, the stall and for the rainbow eucharist on sunday!
Freddie writes:
Pride was emotional. We were there, queer and Christian, and no one was going to stop us. Our banner, with its fantastic bright colours and silhouette of our St Nicks, waving in the midst of things, showing everyone that Gods love is for them too, for everyone. We ran out of badges unbelievably fast, but it meant there were hundreds of people wearing little St Nicks badges, “old and gay”, “ancient and inclusive”, “holy”. The cupcakes were a hit as well! Love was poured into every stitch on the banner, every cupcake. We invited lots of people to the Rainbow Eucharist, and many turned up and it was fantastic to see. Pride was amazing, and I can’t wait for next year!
Queer Theology
It is good and important to encounter good and affirming Queer Theology and recently Walter Brueggemann, one of the world's most renowned biblical scholars, has written a great article that some of you might find interesting. Here is the link: Walter Brueggemann: How to read the Bible on homosexuality - Outreach
Also, if ever you have any theological questions around sexuality and identity this is a could page to look for some answers: Bible and Homosexuality | Bible and Homosexuality
Intercultural Worshipping Communities Partnering Church
As St Nicholas Church we are a partnering Church of Leicester diocese's Intercultural Worshipping Communities (IWC). IWC are communities around our diocese that are very consciously working out how to be radically inclusive and welcoming communities in relation to people from a variety of cultural backgrounds. As a partnering church we are invited to learn from their experiences and committed to find ways of being more welcoming and inclusive of different cultures ourselves. This means we are invited to participate in Partnering Church Meetings about 3-4 times a year with a few representatives of our congregation and whenever we have ideas, projects we would like to undertake as St Nick's in this area. Please speak to our Curate Manuela, if you'd like to know more!
manuela.schmucki@leicestercofe.org
Nomad Podcast
As some of you might be aware, Karen and Jay were recently on Joy's podcast "Nomad", talking about the "Gayest Church in the City". Have a listen!
Karen Rooms and Jay Hulme - The Gayest Church in the City - (nomadpodcast.co.uk)
#TogetherWithRefugees
Free to Fly - Celebrating great work from Rosemary!
Rosemary Ngozi Ogwuike from our community had a stall representing a Free To Fly at the Refugees Week event on Jubilee Square last Saturday 18 June. Free to Fly is a charity supporting LGBTQ+ refugees.
Leicester Cathedral at St Nicholas...
You may have picked up in the local news that the Cathedral building is closing on 2nd January in the new year for 18+months for major refurbishment and the addition of a new visitor centre. The main 10.30am Sunday Eucharist will continue as normal but take place next door to the Cathedral in the Grand Hall of St Martin's House.
On Sunday afternoons the Choir and congregation have accepted invitations from parishes across the Diocese to join them in Choral Evensong and other special services. Here at St Nicholas we are offering the hospitality of our building for the Cathedral's daily midweek services, all of which are public acts of worship open to all.
Cathedral Services being held at St Nicholas are as follows:
Monday 8.15 Eucharist (Live Streamed to Cathedral Facebook)
Monday 17:30 Choral Evensong
Tuesday 8:30 Morning Prayer (Live streamed to Cathedral Facebook)
Tuesday 13.00 Eucharist (Live Streamed to Cathedral Facebook)
Tuesday 17.30 Choral Evensong
Wednesday 8.30 Morning Prayer (Live streamed to Cathedral Facebook)
Wednesday 17:30 Evening Prayer
Thursday 8.30 Morning Prayer (Live Streamed to Cathedral Facebook)
Thursday 13.00 Eucharist (Live Streamed to Cathedral Facebook)
Thursday 17.30 Evening Prayer
Friday 8.30 Morning Prayer (Live Streamed to Cathedral Facebook)
Friday 17.30 Evening Prayer
please head over to www.leicestercathedral.org for more information.
Ornithologist in Residence...
Dr Alexander Bond is our Ornithologist in Residence
If you want to know a bit more about the research of the Adrift Lab (Alex's research group at the Natural History Museum and University of Tasmania), and how Alex weaves it in with his queer identity, you can watch a talk from last winter for Scientific Queeries over on this website.
You can visit Alex’s website, and follow him on Twitter @TheLabAndField.
Supporting Ministry at St Nicholas...
If you like what we do and stand for, and would like to support our ministry and common life here at St Nicholas please consider giving to our work. This can be done HERE. through our Give A Little online giving portal which can also be accessed via the DONATE button on the top menu of our website.
You can set up a regular donation or make single donations and it is easy to Gift Aid it as well, if you are a UK tax payer. All donations are gratefully and prayerfully received.
Services...
Covid restrictions have now been lifted but we encourage you to do what you need to to feel safe in our space. Sanitiser is still readily available. We want to be 'safe enough'; to respect those who are feeling most anxious and wary, and live by the principle in 1 Cor 10:23 'Everything is permitted, but everything isn’t beneficial. Everything is permitted, but everything doesn’t build others up.' If you have any concerns relating to Covid please do not hesistate to talk to a member of clergy or a member of St Nick's leadership. The common cup has been reintroduced though if you would prefer to receive only in one kind, that is more than okay! To recieve the weekly newsletter please get in contact and ask to be signed up to the mailing list. You can also stay up to date via our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
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