We’re delighted to announce that Little Green Rascals Day Nursery is opening a pop-up cafe and playroom at Central for the summer. It opens on Monday 18th at 10am. The cafe will be serving some delicious organic and locally sourced food and there will be lots to keep your Rascals (children) occupied.

We’re proud to support something dedicated to families. Please pop in and see the friendly staff and enjoy some relaxing family time with a yummy organic coffee! We look forward to welcoming you to our premises.

For more details, see the ‘Rascals in the City’ facebook page.

We have discovered that on the 2nd July this year, our organ will be 175 years old, counting from the original dedication service. We’ve even found a printed order sheet from that service!

We think that’s worth commemorating, so we’re planning a whole afternoon of organ related celebrations:

2pm – Recital by celebrated Organist John Scott Whiteley

• Reger – Variations and Fugue on ‘God Save The Queen’
• Bach – Schmücke Dich BWV654)
• Bach – Toccata and Fugue in F (BWV540)
• Samuel Wesley – Airs for the Royal Seraphine
• Saint-Saëns – Prelude and Fugue in B Major
• Francis Jackson – Improvisation on ‘Remember For Good’
• Francis Jackson – Choral in B
• Francis Jackson – Festival Toccata

3pm (approx) – ‘console hands on’ – Try playing the organ for yourselves under the eye of expert advisers.

3.30pm  – short act of worship to give thanks for the the use of the organ.

4.15pm – afternoon tea  (followed by a further ‘console hands on’).

All are welcome to every aspect of the afternoon, and there will be no charge.

The organ case

It is somewhat of a tradition for Central to host a series of Organ recitals on Thursday lunchtimes throughout the summer months. We’re proud of the instrument and enjoy hearing a a variety of talented organists play.

Everyone is welcome, and no admission fee is charged. A collection is taken at the end to which donations are welcome but not obligatory.

For up-to-date details of dates and organists please see: http://www.organrecitals.com/1/recitals0.php?venue=ycmc

During advent, our annual series of talk and lunches will be taking a different format. We will be following York Course’s “Making Room”. This course was produced (very shortly before his sudden death) by Rev David Gamble, a former minster at Central.

For many of us life is full of things to do, people to see, responsibilities and chores. We can sometimes feel there’s not enough time or space in our lives for the people and things that really matter. Maybe we even find it difficult to find or make space for God? This course uses New Testament stories to help us consider why and how we make room for what really does matter.

Part 1 – Tuesday 24th November

Part 2 – Tuesday 1st December

Part 3 – Tuesday 8th December

Part 4 – Tuesday 15th December

Soup will be served from 12 noon, discussion group begins at 12:30pm and will last for now more than an hour.

All are welcome.

The Methodist church give all their ministers a three month sabbatical every 7 years and Rev Chris Humble is taking his sabbatical starting from 10th May – 10th August this year.

We wish him well as he explores, among other things, the welcome offered in a variety of places to inform our own work here at Central.

While Chris is away, the circuit superintendent Minister, Leslie Newton, will take over the remit for Central. If you need a minister during this period he can be contacted on 01904491224 or superintendent@yorkmethodist.org.uk. Please bear in mind that Leslie also has many other responsibilities!