Welcome to the April edition of our benefice magazine which again covers lots of news and activities across our four churches.  I am sure we are all looking forward to Easter Day on 9th April, when after the long period of Lent we can gather in our home churches and say together “He is risen, He is risen indeed!”.  What a glorious and majestic God we meet in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  We are very much Easter People and through the resurrection, Jesus meets us by his spirit in our daily lives and offers us hope that nothing can separate us from his love.

With regards the vacancy for a new Associate Priest, it is very good to report that work has been progressing in the background putting together a benefice brochure, role description and person specification. It is planned to advertise the post in April throughout the Leeds Diocese and also at national level as well. There has also been work taking place on the Wrenthorpe vicarage where the new person will live. In the meantime please pray for the benefice and for those involved in the day to day running of the benefice during the vacancy – many thanks. 

Also, I offer you this prayer for your personal use…..

Almighty God,
We thank you for the life and ministry of the North Wakefield Benefice.
We thank you for the blessings and love we receive from you our heavenly Father and for all that we share together in worship, social events and in many other ways as part of your family.
As we look to the future for a new associate priest to join our family here in the benefice, we pray that your Holy Spirit would guide and bless us as we advertise the post and in the process to appoint the new priest.
We ask that you would prepare the heart of the right person to join us here in the benefice so that together we can continue to share our lives and the good news of Jesus across the benefice.
We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Take care and God Bless, Glenn

Rev Glenn Coggins, Vicar of the United Benefice of Stanley, Outwood and Wrenthorpe and Alverthorpe