In York, we've met fortnightly for fellowship, lunch, prayer and discussion - including ethics, psychiatry, assisted dying and homelessness. Clinical students have also met for Bible study. We have enjoyed dinner with our medical school secretaries, Mark and Rachael Pickering. We've been able to serve our student colleagues by providing goodies in the CMF cupboard in the common room, a toastie and film night, and a crispy cake Easter gift for each student.
Hull CMF recently held an awesome jazz night in a coffee shop - an evening of chilled out music and great conversation. We continue to enjoy monthly meetings with our medical school secretaries, Dave and Anne Crick, recently looking at self-esteem and forgiving fallibility. A highlight in the HYMS calendar was our weekend in Scarborough. It was a fantastic opportunity to get to know Christians from both sides of the medical school (Hull and York) and to welcome in the freshers.
Sheffield pre-clinical students meet weekly to discuss topics related to the work of Christian doctors. There's sometimes a speaker, often lively discussion and always food. One recent session was led by a representative from Sheffield Pregnancy Counselling Support. Each month, Christian doctors open their homes to provide a meal and a warm venue for an evening meeting.
We've had speakers on climate change; medicine overseas and 'dealing with being fallible'. It's such a blessing to have generous hosts and speakers prepared to give their time. Earlier in the year Matt Lillicrap gave a short evangelistic talk on 'Why believe anything at all?' Although turnout was a little low, the talk provoked good discussion and God was certainly at work.
In Leeds a highlight of the year was the Answering Other Faiths conference; a great opportunity to learn about other religions and how we can relate to them. With December came our annual Carol Concert with over 200 guests. The medics' choir, orchestra and Afro- Caribbean gospel choir gave terrific performances and Mark Pickering delivered the gospel talk. Nearer Christmas, members visited patients in the hospital with hand-made Christmas cards that were very much appreciated. Two 'Cake for a Question' stalls involved answering the questions of fellow students in return for a cake. Questions ranged from 'why are you a Christian?' to 'what do you think about abortion?' and even 'what will happen at the end of the world?' Weekly pre-clinical meetings involve discussion topics, prayer and worship. Clinical students meet monthly with local doctors to share a meal, with teaching or discussion.
