Ripon Cathedral was alive to the sound of music, dancing and celebration at the weekend, with hundreds attending two evening fund-raising events and two important Ripon Episcopal Area day-time celebrations.
Church leaders from across the Ripon Episcopal Area came together to celebrate church growth on Saturday morning, October 1st at the Ripon ‘C5’ event, one of five similar events across the diocese. And the following day, 150 young people and adults who had recently been confirmed saw their sins go up in flames during ‘Ignite’, a new Area event - which it is hoped will take place annually.
Speaking at both events was the Bishop of Ripon, Bishop James Bell, who told Saturday morning’s C5 gathering of church leaders that making disciples is the mission of the whole church. “The calling all disciples is to make disciples for Jesus - to share with others the grace, and the goodness and the blessing , the glory and the love of God…. More and more people discovering the joy of God’s love.”
Leading the C5 celebration were the Bishop’s Adviser on Church Growth, Canon Robin Gamble and Fresh Expressions Adviser, Karin Shaw (pictured below right). There were personal stories from churches which were developing new congregations and, in an act of commitment, everyone present was invited to take a small stone and place it on the Holy table as music played and prayers were offered.
Then on Sunday afternoon, October 2nd, young people and adults recently confirmed came along with their church leaders to ‘Ignite’. The afternoon included a variety of activities from placing prayers on prayer trees to writing prayers on pebbles. But the high-point was when those taking part were invited to write their own sins, written on folded pieces of paper, were set alight by Bishop James in a symbolic act representing forgiveness and freedom (picture top right).
Meanwhile, on Friday evening, the Cathedral was transformed for the Dean’s Banquet, a sumptuous black-tie event which included a four gourmet dinner and a ‘silent disco’ where participants dance to music provided on headphones (pictured top left)….
The following evening it was dancing of a different sort as the cathedral’s canons and assorted clergy tried their hand at jigs and reels alongside fellow diners at the Harvest Festival Ceilidh – a two course supper to celebrate the harvest and bring together the community.
Live music was provided by the Aluinn Ceilidh band and the cathedral was decorated in traditional harvest style. It was followed on Sunday by the Great Ripon Harvest Festival at the cathedral with stalls selling fresh produce – with proceeds – as well as the harvest gifts – going to the Salvation Army Food Bank in Ripon.
Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd John Dobson said, “The Cathedral has taken the opportunity provided by the Harvest Festival to help people celebrate God's gift of life and all the blessings that make our daily living possible and fruitful. On a number of occasions, Jesus described heaven as a great banquet and party. This is a party that brings people together in friendship and celebration."
Extra pictures with thanks to Sian Lawton and Rob Hutchinson