Acomb Summerfest

Almost a quarter of a millennium after Wesley and the other great Methodist preachers visited Acomb, the local churches once again gathered on Acomb Green to deliver the same message.
It was Sunday 21st June 2009, and despite a rainy week the weather was remarkable – sunny, dry and very hot.
This was also a milestone because for the first time ten Acomb churches had worked together on one project like this. St Stephens, St Aidans and Holy Redeemer – Anglican churches, Our Lady’s RC, Lidgett Grove and Acomb Methodist churches, Acomb Baptist Church, Gateway (New Frontiers), The Ark (Ground Level) and the Quakers all cooperated to make this outreach possible.
Summerfest ended up being a great name for the event, because on the first day of summer, and with such glorious weather sunburn was a bigger problem than keeping dry!
Godfrey Birtill launched our worship with his arrangements of some old hymns as well as own up to date repertoire.
This was followed by Archbishop Sentamu preaching the gospel from John 10:10 that Jesus has come to give us life.
Dr Sentamu gave an alter call for people to respond to Jesus – so they could connect with the life of Christ.
The Archbishop had a little help from a girl who was celebrating her tenth birthday. He had a torch which he asked her to turn, but she discovered by opening it that it was full of rubbish inside. There was also a five pound note between the batteries. Dr Sentamu pointed out that the life of God can’t shine out of us because rubbish has accumulated inside us. He also said that money was OK but when it is used inappropriately it also hinders us. Most of all we were reminded that the life of God comes from Jesus and that we need to make sure that we make a good contact.
The prayer team was very active helping people and ministering to them.
Godfrey sang a few songs to end the meeting and the crowd enjoyed themselves singing "Are you ready, ready, ready?"
The barbeque served over 300 people with lunch whilst others brought picnics and still others left after the meeting.
Many families turned up and a significant number of people who do not normally attend church joined us.
The Police commented that it was so good to see the Green used for a positive purpose. We were also joined by the Leader of York Council Andrew Waller, whose Facebook comment was that ”Acomb Summerfest was brilliant… well done to One Voice for organising it”.
The comment made by a number of church leaders was simply “let’s book again for next year!”
Click to read the great coverage that the York Press gave us.
NEWS & FEATURES
Breakfast with Sally Burns
On Wednesday 30th June 2010, One Voice had breakfast with Sally Burns the Director of Communities and Neighbourhoods for the City of York Council
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Global Day of Prayer 2010
May 23rd 2010 was the Global Day of Prayer and in York One Voice led a tremendous event of prayer and celebration.
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One Voice Launches Healing on the Streets
On Saturday 22nd May 2010 One Voice took 'Healing on the Streets' for the first time in York
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WHAT WE'RE DOING
REGULAR EVENTS
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Leaders Prayer
A weekly prayer meeting for Christian Leaders in York
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Lunchtime Prayer for Revival
A Prayer meeting for anyone who wants to see revival and community transformation in our city