On Saturday 25th January 2014, Central will be open for anyone to come in and have a look at our building and have a chat with some of us.  This is officially part of the York Residents Festival (and the inside of our chapel is usually a wonderful surprise for residents who visit during the festival) but actually we don’t mind whether you live in York or not.  No need to show a YorkCard or anything: just come along and say hello.  Pop in any time between 11am and 4pm.

In previous years we’ve had organists playing our spectacular pipe organ to entertain visitors; this year for the first time you can have a go yourself!  Under supervision you’ll be able to try your hand at what’s probably the biggest musical instrument you’ll ever get to play.  Click here for more information about our organ.

See you there!

If you have a smartphone or tablet computer you can download an app called York Churches.  The app has been produced by the Centre for the Study of Christianity and Culture at the University of York and contains all sorts of information about the historic church buildings in the centre of York.  One of the highlights of the app is a panoramic photograph of the interior of the main space in each church which you can scroll around and click for more information on points of interest.  Only a few churches have so far been included in such detail and Central is shortly to be added to the list.  We were pleased to welcome the team from the Centre who came yesterday to see our building and take the photographs in preparation for the panorama.

Setting up the camera in preparation for the panorama

Look out for more news when we appear in the app itself.

Our carol service this year will be on Thursday, 19th December at 7.30pm.  If you’re in town shopping, why not take some time to rest and enjoy carols old and new in our chapel lit by candlelight?  There’ll be refreshments available beforehand and if you need to arrive late or leave early that’s fine.

Beneath the paper wrappings, there’s an open stable door
beneath the fir tree trappings, there’s a welcome and there’s more…

There’s another opportunity to see the wonderful Riding Lights theatre company in action, this time with their Christmas production at St Michael-le-Belfrey church.

For more details, see the Belfrey’s website.

All are welcome this Advent to our continuing series of lunchtime talks, on Wednesdays 4th, 11th and 18th December.  This year our own minister, Revd Christopher Humble, will lead on the theme of Expecting Christ.  Each session will include a presentation and time for discussion as we explore moments in our lives when Christ might meet us – not just at Advent or Christmas.

Presentations begin at 12.45 and light lunches will be available from 11.45.