Six bishops from Leeds Diocese headed north to the Diocese of Durham for a weekend of mission, ‘Talking Jesus’ from 2nd – 5th March. They have been taking part in a range of speaking events and activities as diverse as Bishop’s bingo, comedy evenings, costumed singing events and a family cricket tournament,
The four days of mission and celebration started at Durham Cathedral on Thursday 2nd March in a service led by The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, after which the teams went out into communities in all corners of the Diocese – from the Tyne to the Tees and the Dales to the Sea.
The Bishops and their teams joined 20 others who were talking about Jesus at more than 450 community events across the sixteen deaneries in the Diocese of Durham.
Among the many events, the Bishop of Ripon, the Rt Revd James Bell, was in Darlington’s Holy Trinity Church on Friday 3rd helping to lead a ‘Come and Sing’ event with congregation being invited to dress up to sing music from Joseph, Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar and Sister Act. Even more unusually the next day he was at a family event in Darlington labelled ‘Chase a Bishop on a Bike’!
The Bishop of Huddersfield, Rt Revd Jonathan Gibbs, joined Street Pastors in Gateshead visiting pubs and talking to Friday night revellers. Earlier he spoke at events throughout Gateshead along with a team of ordinands from Durham University.
The Bishop of Bradford, Rt Revd Toby Howarth was in Stockton with an Assistant Bishop in Manchester, Graham Dow meeting local people and taking part at an art event, ‘Painting Jersus’.
The Bishop of Richmond, Rt Revd Paul Slater a keen cricketer, put his skills to the test at a family cricket tournament, Soft Cricket, held by St James’s Church Lanchester on Friday 3rd March. (Picture left courtesy of Keith Blundy)
Bishop Tony Robinson, the Bishop of Wakefield, also took part and the former Bishop of Bolton, Rt Revd Chris Edmonson, now an Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Leeds, wtook part in events in Durham and Sedgefield including a Pop Up breakfast, a comedy evening, a ‘Big Sing’ and a ‘Bishop’s Bingo’ event.
The Right Revd Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham, said: “In this Diocese, we’re all about blessing our communities in Jesus’ name for the transformation of us all. What greater blessing can we offer than an introduction to Jesus? What could be more transformative than coming to know him? Just imagine: one long weekend; twenty five Bishops; hundreds of events; thousands hearing about Jesus and having their lives transformed.”
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu said: “We’re in the Durham Diocese for a weekend of ‘Talking Jesus’. Jesus came to bring the very life of God as a gift to all of us. His resurrection makes it possible for us to live the life he lived. The heart of the Christian faith is about having an encounter with Jesus – an encounter which transforms and brings hope and love”.
Talking Jesus Durham is the third mission undertaken by the Northern Bishops. Previous missions have been at Blackburn (2016) and Sheffield (2015).
More information and details here
Picture courtesy of Keith Blundy, Diocese of Durham