The blogger Returns

Sorry about my absence since 19 th but our computer has been out of action.

Important events have been Sentamu visits to St Saviour on Sunday and consecration of new bishop for Whitby in York Minster yesterday.

And removal of witnessing Christian from the Celebrity Big Brother House.....

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THE Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, paid a special visit to a Scarborough church yesterday to deliver a sermon encouraging greater faith and hope among people in the town.

Dr Sentamu was preaching at St Saviour’s Church, in Gladstone Road, and spoke to a congregation of more than 100 people about the life of Ananias, who was chosen by God for his readiness and willingness to carry out his duties.

During the evensong service, led by Peter Williams and assistant priest Fr Graham Waring, Dr Sentamu addressed worshippers in an occasionally animated sermon by appealing for positivity during unsettled times and calling on them to repeat the faithfulness shown by Ananias.

He said: “The church is made up of ready, willing and faithful disciples. Through Christ we can overcome all things and we should all see an opportunity in every difficulty, a rose instead of a thorn, and turn ordinary lives into extraordinary ones.

“In Haiti, after the recent earthquake disaster, there was a young boy who had been trapped for eight days but when he was found he was waving to the cameras and almost saying ‘look at me’.”

“That is the robust faith we must have and our faith should be infectious because far more vital than what we do is what we are.”

Dr Sentamu also told the congregation he had thoroughly enjoyed his visit to Scarborough and the church – which is currently without a priest – and joked about making them pray for a new one.

He added: “It is nice to be here in Scarborough at St Saviour’s Church and I would like to thank Fr Graham Waring, Peter Williams and the church wardens for keeping the services going during the interregnum.

“I am praying that you will soon get another priest and I urge you, if you aren’t already, to do the same.

“In fact, you should do it straight away or I will come looking for you and make sure you do!”.

THE new Bishop of Whitby has been consecrated at York Minster by the Archbishop of York.

Bishop Martin Warner, formerly the Canon Treasurer of St Paul’s Cathedral, was consecrated as the new Bishop of Whitby by Dr John Sentamu at a ceremony yesterday.

Bishop Warner said: “Preparations for the consecration in York Minster have been humbling and astonishing. People going back to my childhood have sent messages of prayer and support. “They all seem to think this is what God is calling me to do, and after a time you begin to believe it! Also, the opportunity to be an ambassador for Jesus Christ in one of the most varied and exciting parts of Britain is what keeps me going when I think of the awesome responsibility of being a bishop. I’m looking forward to learning the art of my new life and work.”

Dr John Sentamu described Bishop Warner as a “man of great faith and integrity who has a real heart for serving the community”. He said: “I am sure that his passion for helping others will shine through.”

Bishop Warner replaces the Right Rev Robert Ladds, who resigned to return to life as a parish priest in London.

Actor Stephen Baldwin has become the fourth celebrity to be evicted from the Celebrity Big Brother house.

The crowd chanted "Get Stephen out" as host Davina McCall delivered the news the public had indeed done that.

The born-again Christian showed off a "Jesus" message T-shirt and looked up to the sky as he left the house to audible boos amid the cheers.