Candle will burn until awful situation resolved
The world never stands still, even though occasionally we all wish it would?
AS I sit at my desk it’s hard to comprehend that Russia has invaded Ukraine.
Only last week I was asked if the Minster would hold an event to mark the 40th anniversary of the end of The Falklands War.
I remember my dad sitting me down to see the Flotilla leaving Portsmouth harbour and telling me this was an historic day.
I also recall the sinking of HMS Coventry in retaliation of the sinking of the Belgrano. Since then we’ve seen military action in Northern Ireland, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
War in Europe was something of the past, and certainly not something we ever imagined would be allowed to ever happen again.
I will never forget the Service in the Minster on Remembrance Sunday when the assistant Lutheran bishop of Aachen spoke as we marked the end of the First World War, and German soldiers marched through the streets of Halifax alongside the Yorkshire Regiment as a symbol of friendship and peace between our two great conurbations.
We shall light a candle in the Minster for the people of Ukraine, and it will burn until this awful situation is resolved.
I’ve spent much of today writing the Civic Service to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee which is to be held on Sunday, June 5 at 6pm.
Like the Diamond Jubilee it will be full of pomp and
circumstance, Anglican liturgy at its best, with the full participation of the other faith communities that enrich the Borough.
There will be music, dance, the Fanfare Trumpeters of West Yorkshire Police Band,
together with a mighty choir to lead the singing and sing Parry’s great Anthem I was Glad. What a contrast to the battle field of Russia and Ukraine.
Lets hope and pray the
Queen quickly recovers from Covid.
Today also marks the start of Fairtrade Fortnight.
Holly Lynch our Member of Parliament has led the way on this campaign, not only winning Fairtrade Status for Halifax but also Chairing of the APPG on Fairtrade in the Houses of Parliament.
Holly will speak in the Minster on Sunday, providing that Parliament is not recalled for the weekend, reminding us of our corporate and individual responsibilities to support our farmers both at home and abroad.
It’s still very disappointing to see Sainsbury’s in Halifax no longer supplying Fairtrade tea bags, a topic I regularly remind the manager of when I see him on a Saturday morning.
Last week most of the Covid restrictions were removed.
This comes with great joy for many people, while others remain anxious and nervous.
The world never stands still, even though occasionally we all wish it would?
For those who have lost family members and close friends, life will never be the same again.
On Sunday, March 20 at 4pm there will a Memorial Service in the Minster to mark the second anniversary of the first lockdown.
There will also be two exhibitions: one made up of the thousands of l uggage labels on which the people of Calderdale have written their prayers during the pandemic; the other a series of quilts made during the first lockdown.
Do come to the service and also bob in to see the exhibitions.