Universities Chaplaincy in Leeds

23/06/2026

TONIGHT - TUESDAY 23RD JUNE - TAIZE PRAYER AT ST MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS' CHURCH IN HEADINGLEY

Join our Lutheran and Methodist Chaplains, Joseph Nelson and Tim Nicholls, for our last Taizé prayer of the Summer at 7pm at St Michael and All Angels' Church, Headingley, Saint Michael's Rd, Headingley, Leeds LS6 3AW.

Taizé Prayer is a form of prayer open to everyone. It is a simple, meditative form of worship, calling us to dwell deeply on God’s presence around and within us.

If you would like to know more please come along or contact the chaplaincy team.

22/06/2026

Sometimes I feel a bit scared at the idea of being seen and known so deeply, as Jesus says in this passage. Because I know that in my heart there are both good and bad things, and I would feel ashamed and humiliated if the covered, bad things in me were to be proclaimed on the housetops.

But this is the Gospel, and it means that, while proclaiming the Truth, it also always brings Mercy. The idea that at the end everything will be revealed is definitely a hint of the fact that nothing is indeed hidden to God. He sees and knows everything that happens in our heart. Why is this a Good News?

Because the word that Jesus whispers in the hidden depth of our soul is not a word of condemnation, even when it sees our worst sins. It is a word that keeps affirming and restoring what in us is beautiful, good, valuable, and calls us to let go of those things that are like encrusted on our beautiful face. And that's also the word He calls us to proclaim to everyone, by living it out in our lives.

That God sees us and knows us is a good news, because it means that we are shielded by the Love of the Father, for whom we are more valuable than any other part of His creation. That my loving Father sees my sins and my troubles is a good news, because if I bring those things to Him, if I call them by their name, He can free me from them, reminding me who I am in His eyes. This can be painful and difficult, but it's all worth it. God's love is sweeter than honey, and like honey it is a disinfectant: at times it may burn, but it never crushes you, only heals.

The person I am in His eyes is the truest me - even when I do not live up to it. That is my soul, and it cannot be killed by others. What does it mean? That I can learn how to live out in my words and actions - in my body - my identity of beloved child of God, without worrying about pleasing others, without proving myself or showing myself off. I no longer need to pretend and I can finally be, proclaiming what my Father whispers into my soul: you are eternally loved.



Carmen Costanza - Student Outreach Worker

17/06/2026

NEXT WEEK ON TUESDAY 23RD JUNE - TAIZE PRAYER AT ST MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS' CHURCH IN HEADINGLEY

Join our Lutheran and Methodist Chaplains, Joseph Nelson and Tim Nicholls, for our last Taizé prayer of the Summer at 7pm at St Michael and All Angels' Church, Headingley, Saint Michael's Rd, Headingley, Leeds LS6 3AW.

Taizé Prayer is a form of prayer open to everyone. It is a simple, meditative form of worship, calling us to dwell deeply on God’s presence around and within us.

If you would like to know more please come along or contact the chaplaincy team.

16/06/2026

We have no activities running today and our offices are closed until Wednesday 17th June but did you know that the Chaplaincy team has an Out of Hours Number available every day of the year?

If you need to speak to someone, you can still reach us using our out of hours phone number on 07780 613 862.

15/06/2026

A most important detail in this Gospel passage is that Jesus speaks moved by compassion.

There are times in which we do not understand what He says - times in which we do not understand our circumstances, or why God allows certain things to happen to us. But if we go back to this fact, that He is in control and moved by His infinite love for us, we will be able to see things from a different perspective. It won't change our circumstances nor spare us from struggles, but will change our way to live them.

In fact, He feels compassion for the crowd because He sees them as sheep without a shepherd. Without a guide, sheep would not be able to find the right places for them to pasture, and often the shepherd has to lead them through rougher places before finding an appropriate one.

We may dislike the idea of being compared to sheep, but this is far from being belittling. It is actually freeing, and the very basis for being true labourers into the Lord's harvest.

It is freeing because it is about acknowledging that we are not self-sufficient, and, instead of being a curse, this is what allows us to experience love, from God and from others. It is also what frees us from our pride: we do not know everything, so we can be humble and let S/someone else guide us. Which doesn't mean to delegate the responsibility of our choices to someone else, but to trust the perspective of someone wiser than us.

To be labourers of the Lord means, as the Gospel says a few lines later, to have "authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction". Such things can be done only if God is the Lord in one's heart, only if one is a sheep of the Good Shepherd's flock. One can be able to see and cast out an unclean spirit only if he is not under its influence and tied to it, but free from it. One can see the Truth more clearly only if his heart is not too in love with a lie.

I hope and pray that we can truly be His sheep, so that we can also be sheperds to others, in a beautiful chain of Love.



Carmen Costanza - Student Outreach Worker

15/06/2026

Bursaries are available for the final places at this weekends' Student Christian Movement Theology Day and National Gathering at the Emmanuel Centre.

👇 Read more below:

Thanks to our wonderful friends at .europe we have some bursaries available for folk who want to attend our national gathering, "Do Good To Those Who Hate You", exploring the challenging words of Jesus with regards to the far-right. If you'd like to come but money is tight, the bursary can be used to cover a hotel room (which will we arrange and pay for), to reimburse travel costs to get to Leeds, or both.

To claim your bursary please book on via the link below, choose an SCM ticket, and say 'Yes' to the two relevant questions in the booking form. We will then be in touch to confirm details re the room or reimbursement of travel. DM us if you have any qs!!

➡️ https://buff.ly/ByBwYV1 ⬅️

📅 20th June 2026
⏰️ 10.30am - 5pm
📍 Emmanuel Centre, Leeds
🎧️ Access: the venue is fully wheelchair accessible, and a hearing loop is available on request. More info on the booking link.

11/06/2026

TODAY - THURSDAY 11TH JUNE - AT 12PM
Join us from 1pm upstairs at the Emmanuel Centre for at the chaplaincy.

Each week we enjoy a simple gathering for students who just want to have a break between lectures and be treated to some tea, coffee, snacks, card games and meaningful chats!

This idea is born from the desire of some theology students wanting to be together in a friendly, safe environment, to ask questions, discuss ideas and see where the conversations go! Come for the full length or just pop in at any point to say hello and meet other fellow students with inquisitive minds!

All welcome.

10/06/2026

TODAY (WEDNESDAY 10TH JUNE) AT 1.30PM

Let’s go together with Dante on this journey through Hell, Purgatory and Paradise and delve deep into the beauty and mystery of being humans!

Come to these popular sessions, led by Dante scholar, Dr Carmen Costanza, upstairs in the Wilson Room at the Emmanuel Centre, Woodhouse Lane.

09/06/2026

TODAY - TUESDAY 9th JUNE - AT THE CHAPLAINCY (1.10PM):

Find us at the Emmanuel Centre on Woodhouse Lane where you can join Breathe - a weekly, silent Quaker style worship - from 1.10pm led by Quaker Chaplain Robin Fishwick with refreshments provided afterwards.

Everyone is welcome to join us.

08/06/2026

TODAY - MONDAY 8th JUNE - AT 1PM

Join us this lunchtime from 1pm at the Emmanuel Centre for our weekly session at the chaplaincy.

Each week we enjoy a simple gathering for students who just want to have a break between lectures and be treated to some tea, coffee, snacks, games and meaningful chats!

This idea is born from the desire of some theology students wanting to be together in a friendly, safe environment, to ask questions, discuss ideas and see where the conversations go! Come for the full length or just pop in at any point to say hello and meet other fellow students with inquisitive minds!

All welcome.