This Christmas our bishops are taking to social media to share their messages and prayers for Christmas from their area of the diocese.  The five area bishops as well as Bishop Nick have used their own mobile phones for the simple messages which are being shared on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.  Each day a new message is being uploaded. See more here 

It is Christmas time again and everyone is busy buying presents, arranging Christmas dinner, and listening to the same classic Christmas songs.  Of course there is another type of Christmas music that speaks a different message. In this short video for sharing on social media channels, Canon Robin Gamble explores favourite carols and invites you to sing them at a church, chapel or cathedral. 

Bradford Cathedral has announced an ambitious programme of  concerts by international musicians, talks by renowned speakers, events and exhibitions throughout 2019 to mark the centenary of St Peter's church becoming  Bradford Cathedral.  Among those travelling to  give concerts will be violinist, Tasmin Little. More here 

More than 60 delegates from churches across the region have been at Wakefield Cathedral learning how to heat and light churches in a more sustainable way.  The  "Powering God's Northern Powerhouse" conference was a collaboration between the diocese and the CofE ChurchCare team. Read what happened here

Open up the digital Advent Calendar, now on the diocesan website, for a new advent story from across the diocese each day. If you would like to appear on the online calendar send us your stories with pictures. It's not a list of services - for those visit 'A Church Near You' and add yours - but we would like to hear about anything newsworthy. See the Advent Calendar here

The streets of Bingley will come alive with a real life presentation of the story of the nativity next Saturday 22 December. 

Bingley Nativity Live will include a real donkey for Joseph to lead to Bethlehem and the shepherds will have real sheep. And of course, there will be a real baby in the manger. It begins  at 2pm at the bandstand in Myrtle Park - more here 

Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley, the Bishop of Ripon, says she is really looking forward to leading her first Boxing Day Pilgrimage, December 26, from Ripon Cathedral to Fountains Abbey.  The pilgrimage follows in the footsteps of a group of 12th century Cistercian monks and attracts hundreds from across the diocese. More about the walk here 

On Saturday 12 January there will be two opportunities to hear Professor NT Wright - Harrogate at 10am and Leeds at 6pm.   The Rt Revd Dr Tom Wright is well known as an author and is a Research Professor at the University of St Andrews. He will be speaking on Space, time and history: Jesus and the challenge of God.  More about the two lectures here

Every Parish is encouraged to have a disability representative.  This important training day on January 26 outlines the role of the disability rep and explains the support and information available. The event takes place in Huddersfield, and is open to all, with future training events are being planned in other parts of the diocese. It is for existing reps and those considering the role. Find out more here 

Former Ripon vicar turned bishop, Mark Tanner, is to lead a weekend for men from across the Yorkshire Dales early next year.   Bishop Mark, who is now the Bishop Berwick in the Diocese of Newcastle, but was the Vicar of Holy Trinity Church Ripon will speak at a 'Men of the Dales' weekend from February 1-3  Find out more here 

1000 shoeboxes were packed over a five hour session held at Bradford Cathedral, in collaboration with the Bradford Cinderella Club, to bring Christmas gifts to children in the city to help make their Christmas special.  The shoeboxes, which included gifts, toys, chocolate and hygiene products, aimed at girls and boys of differing ages from babies to teenagers, were assembled by a team of dedicated volunteers. More here 

On Christmas Eve, Bishop Nick and the Mayor of Calderdale will join with carol singers at the Piece Hall in Halifax, for open-air carol singing around the Christmas tree helping to raise money for the Children's Society. Baubles celebrating their 50th anniversary will be given out and ne w technology will be used for the first time alongside the traditional Christingle orange sweets and candles to help encourage donations. Find out more

A dialogue and reconciliation group, set up by St George's church in Leeds has met with members of the Jewish community in Leeds to discuss anti-Semitism and hear the views of local Jewish people.  Find out what was said here.

A much loved Leeds church is to share in a large funding payout from the National Churches Trust.  An £8,000 National Churches Trust Community Grant will help fund a project to refurbish the kitchen of Grade II listed St Luke's church, Holbeck, ensuring the church can function as a hub for the community. More here

The town centre church of St Peter's Harrogate,  which provides breakfast every day for the homeless and vulnerable will be trying to make Christmas happier this year.  On Christmas Eve breakfast will be Christmas dinner with turkey and all the trimming and the 'Breakfast Club', as it's called, will also enjoy a visit to the Pantomime. More here 

It was a great start to Advent for the whole community in Boroughbridge when Messy Church for Advent took place at the Coronation Hall, a community centre in the town.  More here 

Multitudes of Kings, angels, Marys, Josephs and many other nativity characters took part in the first ever DIY Nativity at Christ Church in South Ossett. Many v isitors to last Sunday's Christmas service  came in fancy dress as their Christmas character of choice. The nativity story was then retold by a narrator who took the audience on a journey around different areas in the church, set up to replicate the nativity scenes. More here 

The Bible Breakfast Club is a new initiative at St John the Baptist Kirkheaton which is drawing in families from the local area.   In this short video, see the Bible Breakfast Club at work as Karen and Ian Atkinson talk how it started.  There's more on Family Ministry ideas and links on a new resource page here.