News
26th March 2026
A Lenten Lingering
Contributions & Reflections so far…
to linger ……….to go in a slow or leisurely manner; to saunter.
“Saunter, from the French phrase "Sainte Terre." Back in the Middle Ages people used to go on pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and when people in the villages through which they passed asked where they were going, they would reply, 'A la sainte terre,' 'To the Holy Land. ' And so they became known as sainte- terre-ers or saunterers.”
It struck me this weekend that this lingering is not so much about place. Not so much about where but about how to linger. How to be in the midst of sudden change. And unexpected stresses. How to stay steady.
This weekend I felt a grace not to wobble. And in the limits of time, there were moments of lingering.
Fiona P
first signs
leaf buds loosening
towards warmth and light, trusting
god’s invitation
Anna H
Am lingering ‘in place’… (and) am starting to realise that all those previous walks and lingering are still healing me even though I can’t do them at the moment. All the lockdown practises of walking and sauntering in one small area mean that I can still go for a walk in my mind and I can find my way along the path intimately remembering what is there. And it’s just as soothing, just as lovely…
Also in this scary, suddenly unsafe world I have been thinking about and drawing the ‘fixed points’: the daily sunrise; the stars; set prayers; poems; the earth; music; strong trees; hills and the still, small voice of calm. I think we can navigate by these?!
S T
Today I am Iingering after an intense week of learning and receiving with others.
Listening to hundreds of voices lifted in worship praising God, inspired by kingdom justice, small churches doing great things and opportunities to join with councils and health care to bring healing and wholeness. Feeling privileged, in pain and joyful. Meeting people I haven’t seen for so long and new people I do not know at all.
No compulsion to talk to people or fear of being ignored.
Standing in confidence because I am a child of God.
All to Jesus, I Surrender All.
Gillian S
Tend to the space for God to inhabit.'
Liz D
19th March 2026
Healing & Wholeness: A Reflection
‘It maybe wouldn't wash saying it to a hungry person, but our greatest poverty is connection; the best healing of any and everything is connection; the only way to wholeness is connection.
Its why Jesus came and what he re-made possible: connection.
The day we spent together at St Paul's felt to me like it spoke to, and was a balm for, our poverty. It was a kind of, a vision of and a start of some healings, and was a least a good stab at making some wholeness between, and around, this thing called 'Hull Deanery' and/or maybe, the body of Christ in and around Hull.‘
The Healing & Wholeness Workshop Day took place on Saturday 14th February. There were a range of workshops and activities including Blokes United and Women United.
Blokes United has been running for 10 years (with Women United set up some years later). It allows people to explore well being in a safe setting where relationships and trust are built first and an opportunity to share faith can follow.
The day also included a session on Food Pantry Best Practice, an interactive creative session, time to enjoy fellowship and food, and space for prayer and reflection.
‘In October last year we'd hoped to be in three places and 'showcase' three other things as well as what we experienced at this gathering but this was a really very special start, or step along the way.
We had a very generously and sacrificially offered insight into how both Blokes United and Women United work - creating deep connection, healing and robustly holding struggles towards wholeness with people around St Paul's. If there aren't kind of copies as a result, I'd be surprised.
And it was clear that the St Philip's 'food community' addresses both the need for food - at scale - and the need for connection.
In both, or rather all three of these 'things', the people of God and their fellow travellers are so far beyond 'do gooding', so desirous of connection with 'the other'; they who become friend and are being healed and made whole as a result.
And people came with food and serving and washing up from St Aidan's.
And there were other elements too.’
‘Dry Bones’ was a creative session run exploring the passage in Ezekiel 37: 1-14. Reflecting on what our dry bones are and how God gives us life.
‘It felt like we connected. It was a lot more than a laugh, but it had a lightness - it was enjoyable, serious as much of it was.
We really hope to make more spaces for us to learn and share and connect.
We hope you may join us next time.’
