South Shields
and
HebburnPastorate
NEWSLETTER
Spring 2020
www.southshieldsandhebburnurc.org.uk.
Dear Friends,
As many of you know, I’ve been learning more about the NHS recently, part of this is because my sister has visited four hospitals in the area lately! Her treatment will continue over the coming few months. Thank you for allowing me to be with her and support her through a very difficult time.
Time goes by and our priorities have to adjust to circumstances. I’m conscious that there are church folk spending much time and energy looking after others or helping with charity work. Sometimes that’s spending more time with the family, and sometimes it’s beyond. As our priorities change, that can have a knock-on effect on others. That’s certainly been my experience. Thank you to you all for your patience, understanding and extra work!
Attending church and leading Sunday services has been one of the things which has kept me going. We may come to church to find refreshment or peace and find challenge instead. Growth is always part of God’s life and we understand that it’s not all about ‘me, me’. That almost goes without saying, in church. We know that others like different hymns and music and different styles of worship and prayer. Some gain most from having an activity as part of worship and others love more formal expressions. We learn and grow from them all and hopefully expand our ‘likes’ along the way. So do put 7th June in your diary and commit to coming along at 3pm to Westoe Baptist Church for something fun and new! It’ll be a Generation Game style time, based on things we do in church. So, we’ll need the different generations and it should be fun for adults and children. We need people to commit to coming, so do let me know if you are planning to be there. Thank you. Maybe it’ll then be something we could use in other areas too.
As we travel through Lent and Easter, onto Pentecost, the emotions of following Jesus’ life story are turbulent. The rigors of fasting and prayer, the jubilation of Palm Sunday, followed by the hostile debates of Holy Week; the future commitment of the institution of Holy Communion at the Last Supper; the mental and spiritual agony of Gethsemane; the brutality of trials and the violence of the cross. Grief, and sorrow shock and lack of comprehension are suddenly transformed into joy and celebration, followed by commissioning and equipping as the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit. All of these emotions may be part of our Christian journey, too. Thanks be to God that we have the Holy Spirit to help us through.
May God always be your guide and inspiration.
May Jesus be your constant companion on life’s road.
May the Holy Spirit bring you all you need, protect and guard you and bring you peace of heart and mind through all circumstances.
May God bless you always!
Love in Christ,
Helen
For your prayers …
Loving God,
Thank you for seeing us through the winter storms. Be with all who have suffered loss – of a friend, colleague or family member, of home or business or livelihood. Be with them as they try to re-build their lives and grant them the support and help they need.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Help the people of Australia, we pray and protect them as fires rage. Guide the nation to the future you have in mind, and help people to adjust to their new circumstances.
Lord, have mercy, Christ have mercy.
Lord, have mercy upon them.
Grant healing to those who are ill, and comfort to the bereaved we pray. Help us to overcome people’s loneliness through the fellowship of your church.
May your kingdom come, your will be done.
Bind us together in your love we pray, as we seek to truly represent the Body of Christ and show your love to others.
Bless us now and always, we pray.
Amen.
Key2Life Foodbank
There is a new email address for the Key2Life Foodbank on Boldon Lane –
key2lifest@gmail.com
BEACONS OF PRAYER EVENT PENTECOST 2020
On Pentecost Sunday, (31st May), Christians will be coming together to join in prayer at several places (local beacons) along the Northumberland/Tyneside coastline. It is suggested that the event takes place in the early evening, for about 30 minutes. This initiative is being co-ordinated by the Welcome Network led by Bob and Mary Bain.
Beacons of Prayer Pentecost 2020 ties in well with the ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ initiative, a national movement that invites Christians to pray for more people to come to know Jesus. At our local event in South Tyneside, there could be prayer both for our local community and for the wider community e.g. people living along the banks of the Tyne and in the area behind the coastline.
While candles and horns could be used to mark the beacons, the prayers are the real beacons, the light of the world as in Matthew 5:13 – 16.
I hope you will feel this prayer event is a big opportunity to bear witness to Christ and that you and your church members will support it.
Churches Together South Tyneside is convening a small group to plan the event in South Tyneside. If you are interested in being part of this planning group, could you let me know and we will find a convenient date for the group to meet?
Look forward to hearing from you.
Bernadette Askins
South Tyneside Prison Matters
South Tyneside Prison Matters is a small registered charity, supported by local churches, which gives personal and practical support to ex-offenders. It was set up four years ago by people from local churches who were concerned at the lack of support for ex-offenders returning to the community from prison. Volunteers from local churches run two weekly drop-ins at the Independent Methodist Church in Hebburn. There is a strong Christian ethos. Everyone is very friendly, kind and caring of one another, not making any judgements. It is a great little project.
We are very excited to be appointing a part-time worker to support the trustees and volunteers to develop the work. Initially the job is for 6 months but it is hoped the post will continue (dependent on securing grants). The closing date is March 23rd. For more information please go to: southtynesideprisonmatters@yahoo.com.
Bernadette Askins
Joint Pastorate Diary
March
Mon 1st Lent 1 St David’s Day
Fri 6th World Day of Prayer (formerly Women’s World Day of Prayer)
2pm service at IMC/St Andrew’s
Tues 10th –
Thurs 12th Synod’s Spring Retreat at Shepherds Dene, Riding Mill. Apply: peter.rand65@gmail.com
Sat 14th 9.15am for 10am till 4pm Synod meeting, Roker URC
Tues 17th St Patrick’s Day
Sun 29th Lent 5 British Summer Time begins. Clocks spring forward
April
Sun 5th –
Sat 11th Holy Week
Thurs 9th Maundy Thursday
Fri 10th Good Friday
Sun 12th Easter Day. Sunrise service 6am at the seafront behind Minchella’s ice-
cream parlour, followed by Easter Breakfast at St Bede’s
Thurs 23rd St George’s Day
May
Mon 4th Please note – NOT a Bank Holiday
Fri 8th Please note – Bank Holiday
Wed 13th 12.30pm South Tyneside Churches Together AGM, St Peter’s, Jarrow
Fri 15th –
Sat 16th Re-Imagine Synod Conference at Novotel, Kingston Park. 1 free place
per congregation.
Thurs 21st Ascension Day
Thurs 21st –
Sun 31st ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ prayer initiative
Sat 23rd –
Sun 24th Big Church Day Out
Mon 25th Bank Holiday
Sun 31st Pentecost
June
Sun 7th Come and bring the children to Westoe Baptist Church at 3pm for Generation Games! All welcome.
Revd Helen Drummond
ST ANDREW’S NEWS
Over the past few months, especially Christmas, we have participated in ecumenical events in the town, both spiritually and socially.
We had a very enjoyable Christmas Celebration at the Sea Hotel on 18th December.
Our Joint Pastorate service on 29th December was well attended, it is always good to share fellowship with members of our sister churches. Our thanks are extended to Colin for playing the organ for us.
It is with great sadness we report the death of Anne (Nancy) Taylor, who was a life-long member of St Andrews. Although in her later years Nancy was unable to attend church on a regular basis but she always enjoyed worship with us when she could attend. Nancy welcomed us to her home for our monthly Bible Study which enabled her to participate and enjoy the chat. Nancy is sadly missed by us all.
World Day of Prayer, which will be held at Independent Methodist Church on Friday 6th March at 2 pm, this year concentrates on Zimbabwe. At our recent rehearsal we made plaited bookmarks which will be distributed to all those present at the service – all are welcome.
The ‘SALT’ (Sing Along Together) Ecumenical choir will host a concert on Monday 30th March at 7 pm. at St Aloysius to raise funds for their forthcoming Lourdes trip, please come along and support this worthwhile cause.
As always, we are very grateful to all those who have led services for us.
Bible Study dates will be advised later.
Our thoughts and prayers are extended to all our church family who are unable to attend services.
Sheila McNabola
ST PAUL & ST JOHN’S NEWS
LENT SERVICES
Tues 10th March 12 noon Lent service at St Bede’s
Tues 31st March 7.30pm Lent service at Westoe Road Baptist Church
SPORTS NIGHT
Nothing too energetic – carpet bowls, table tennis and snooker every Tuesday at 7.30pm until 9.30pm with a break for refreshments and chat.
Thank you to Peter who brings cakes along for us to enjoy. Also, thank you to those who help with the setting up and the locking up, not forgetting Maurice who makes the tea and does the washing up.
June Blythman
QUIZ NIGHT
Quiz Night is the first Friday in the month at 7pm.
The Quiz Masters are:
6th March Margaret and Brian Slater
3rd April Ron Shaw
1st May Jane Alderson
5th June Margaret Shields and Liz
3rd July Lillian Mattimore.
Come and join in. Contribution is £1 and there is a faith supper and a raffle.
Thank you to those who volunteered to be Quiz Masters and to those who help in many different ways to make it a successful evening.
June Blythman
ST MARGARET’S NEWS
LENT SERVICES
The following are the dates and venues for the ecumenical Lent services, which are held on Wednesdays at 7pm.
4th March St Gregory’s
11th March St Peter’s
18th March Harton Methodist
25th March St Margaret’s
1st April St Mark’s and St Cuthbert’s
On Saturday, 4th April Harton Churches Together have arranged a Walk of Witness which will start at 10am at St Peter’s. Thereafter they will be calling at Harton Methodist, St Gregory’s, St Margaret’s and St Mark & St Cuthbert’s.
EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE
The Easter Sunrise service will take place at 6.00am on Sunday 12th April at the sea front behind Minchella’s ice-cream parlour, followed by breakfast at St Bede’s.
NEW HYMNS FOR WORSHIP
Come and join us in the Choir Room from 7pm till 8pm on the following Mondays: 16th March, 30th March and 27th April. We learn new hymns and sing some favourites as well. It is very informal, so bring your friends.
SPRING COFFEE MORNING
On Saturday 4th April we are holding our Spring Coffee Morning run by the Mardies from 10am – 12 noon in aid of church funds. Donations are required for the tombola stall, jewellery stall and ‘smelly’ stall. The tickets are 50p each, which includes a cup of tea or coffee. Please help to make this event a success and an outreach to our community.
The tickets are on sale now. Everyone is welcome.
Sylvia Briggs
RAINBOWS
As reported in the last newsletter the girls went to the Wacky Warehouse for their end of term party, they had a lovely time.
In January they came back refreshed and we have a full pack.
We have been working towards another badge this term, it’s about who is there for you and who cares about you. We have done various crafts which the girls have enjoyed.
For Chinese New Year we did a paper dragon, though I must admit it looked easier than it was, but at least the Rainbows had a laugh that evening as it all went wrong.
On 11th February 2020 we held a Division Event in the Church, 150 Rainbows/Brownies and Guides descended upon us. We made Thinking Day Lanterns – we made a picture of the World Thinking Day badge by them drawing around their hands and putting on what they liked about Guiding, and then they made a Love Heart Tree. We ended the evening singing Guide songs and saying our different promises. It was lovely evening, even though it was very tiring.
We have also had the usual fun on Pancake Day trying out different toppings on pancakes, which the girls all seemed to enjoy.
We are continuing to work towards our Theme Badge and hopefully we shall be organising a day trip out for them.
Our Coffee Morning this year is on 9th May. If anyone has any tombola prizes they can donate they would be most welcome.
Linda Fernandez, Rainbow Guider
BROWNIES
Hello everyone.
The theme that we are currently working on this term is Know Myself. This will help the girls to get to know who they are by finding their strengths and weaknesses, aspirations, friendships and their role in guiding and the wider world. The girls had a very enjoyable evening making s’mores toasted over a tealight candle (digestive biscuits spread with Nutella and a toasted marshmallow sandwiched together). They were very yummy 😋.
We recently had a great district event to celebrate World Thinking Day 2020, the theme was Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. We had 150 Rainbows, Brownies, Guides with Leaders and it was very noisy as you could imagine! Linda Fernandez (our District Commissioner) arranged some great activities for them all and we had a lovely guiding sing song at the end. The whole evening was enjoyed by all so thank you Linda for arranging it.
Another favourite day of the year is Shrove Tuesday. The girls had great fun decorating a ready-made pancake (much easier and quicker than making them from scratch). They could choose from Nutella chocolate spread, strawberry jam, honey, strawberries, grapes and banana.
We have some lovely activities planned for the rest of this term, so look forward to telling you all about them in the next newsletter.
Julie Elliott, Brownie Guider
PARENT AND TODDLERS
We have had a very busy start to the New Year with lots of new children. It seems we have more adults coming for a coffee and chat and enjoying seeing their grandchildren more than ever before, which is good!
Hazel keeps the Mams and children busy making cards for special occasions, like Valentine’s Day in February and, coming up, for Mother’s Day in March.
Thank you to everyone who supported our Coffee Morning on 29th February, when £220 was raised, which will be shared between church funds and STARCH (South Tyneside Asylum and Refugee Church Help) funds.
All the Helpers
DAILY BREAD
Thank you to all those from the Joint Pastorate who have already donated. I will be sending a cheque at Easter so there is still time if others would like to donate.
Katie Wilkes
ST MARGARET’S CAFÉ
St Margaret’s Café takes place on the last Friday of each month from 11am until 1pm. It is lovely meeting up with those folk who come on a regular basis. We would love to have input from those who have not been. We are a very friendly group of people. Do come for a bite to eat and a cup of tea or coffee. We look forward to welcoming you.
Carol Asker
Thank You SECTION
Donations from Christmas Greetings in the Winter Newsletter
Donations from our Christmas Greetings in the Winter Newsletter raised £140, giving £70 to UNICEF and £70 to Sightsavers. Extra donations for UNICEF through small change given to Colin during the year amounted to £120, so a £190 cheque was sent off and gratefully received by UNICEF.
Donations from the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services came to £120.20. Donations from ACTS, the Tuesday and Thursday classes for girls, came to £111.30. So, a cheque for £231.50 was given to the KEY2LIFE Project and Foodbank, along with lots of bags of food from our Red Box on the stage, which the girls from ACTS also help towards filling, so a big thank you to everyone who gives in this way.
Brenda Brownless
Donations from Thursday and Sunday Coffee Mornings
£30 was given to each of the following: Mercy Ships, Bible Society, Guide Dogs, Marie Curie Daffodil Appeal and The Children’s Society. Thank you to all who give in this way.
Brenda Brownless
Sightsavers
Sightsavers has sent us a letter thanking us for the £100 I sent from donations given at church. Thank you so much for giving in this way.
Hazel Singleton
Bras for Africa
A very big thank you to everyone who has supplied me with bras for Africa. With your generous help we have collected over two thousand from the South Shields area. The last shipment, however, is due to leave in mid-March, so I will not be collecting any more. Thank you once more for your support in this very worthwhile venture.
Adrienne Thompson
Lepra
We have received a thank you letter from Lepra following our collection which raised £86. Thank you to all those who contributed to this very worthwhile cause.
Greg Thompson
St Andrew’s Calendar – March to June 2020
Sunday Worship at 11.15am – unless otherwise stated.
March
Sun 1st Lent 1. 5.30pm Songs of Praise at St James’
Fri 6th 2pm World Day of Prayer service at St Andrew’s / IMC
Sun 8th Lent 2. Holy Communion led by Revd Helen Drummond
Thurs 12th 7pm Hebburn Churches Together meeting at St Aloysius
Sun 15th Lent 3. Morning worship led by Revd Helen Drummond
Wed 18th 10.30am Elders’ meeting (TBC)
Sun 22nd Lent 4. Morning worship led by Mr Roy Merrin
Sun 29th Lent 5. 11am service led by Revd Helen Drummond, followed by AGM
April
Sun 5th Palm Sunday. 5.30pm Songs of Praise at IMC
Thurs 9th 7.15pm Maundy Thursday Joint Holy Communion service with IMC led by
Revd Helen Drummond
Fri 10th Good Friday. 11am Good Friday Walk of Witness led by Wilf Kelly, followed
by procession to St Cuthbert’s
Sun 12th 8.30am Easter Day Breakfast with IMC
Sun 19th Morning worship led by Revd Greg Thompson
Sun 26th Morning worship led by Revd Helen Drummond
May
Sun 3rd 5.30pm Songs of Praise at St Cuthbert’s
Sun 10th Holy Communion service led by Revd Helen Drummond
Wed 13th 10am URC and IMC meeting
Thurs 14th 7pm Hebburn Churches Together meeting at St Cuthbert’s
Sun 17th To be advised
Sun 24th Morning worship led by Revd Helen Drummond
Sun 31st Morning worship led by Mr Roy Merrin
June
Sun 7th Trinity Sunday, Environment Sunday. 5.30pm Songs of Praise at St
Aloysius
Sun 14th 11am Morning worship led by Revd Helen Drummond followed by church
meeting
Bible Study dates to be advised.
St Andrew’s United Reformed Church, 80, Victoria Road West, Hebburn NE31 1LR
southshieldsandhebburnurc.org.uk
St Paul & St John’s Calendar – March to June 2020
March
Sun 1st Lent 1. Holy Communion led by Revd Helen Drummond
Fri 6th 7pm Quiz Night
Sat 7th 10.30am AGM in the Church Centre
Sun 8th Lent 2. Morning worship led by Marilyn and Roy Merrin
Tues 10th 12 noon Lent service at St Bede’s
Sun 15th Lent 3. Morning worship by Revd David Hardiman
Sun 22nd Lent 4. Mothering Sunday. Morning worship led by Revd Helen
Drummond
Sun 29th Lent 5. Morning worship by Roy Merrin
Tues 31st 7.30pm Lent service at Westoe Road Baptist Church
April
Fri 3rd 7pm Quiz Night
Sun 5th Palm Sunday. Morning worship led by Revd Helen Drummond
Sun 12th Easter Day. Easter celebration with Holy Communion led by Revd Helen
Drummond
Sun 19th Morning worship by Marilyn Merrin
Sun 26th Morning worship by Roy Merrin
May
Fri 1st 7pm Quiz Night
Sun 3rd Morning worship led by Revd Helen Drummond
Sun 10th TBA
Sun 17th Morning worship led by Revd Helen Drummond (or 11am with church
meeting tbc)
Mon 18th 7pm Churches Together meeting at St Paul & St John’s
Sun 24th TBA
Sun 31st TBA
June
Fri 5th 7pm Quiz Night
Sun 7th Holy Communion led by Revd Helen Drummond.
3pm Churches Together Generation Games worship at Westoe Baptist
Church. Come and bring children/grandchildren and have some fun!
Sun 14th TBA
Sunday services, normally at 11.15am, are held in the Minor Hall of the Church Centre. Do come and join us.
St Paul & St John’s United Reformed Church, Church Centre, 1 Broughton Road, South Shields NE33 2RR
Southshieldsandhebburnurc.org.uk
St Margaret’s Calendar – March to June 2020
March
Sun 1st 10.00am Lent 1. Family worship led by Revd Helen Drummond
6.00pm Evening worship led by Revd Greg Thompson
Sun 8th 10.00am Lent 2. Family worship led by Revds David and Cynthia Hardiman
6.00pm Evening worship with Holy Communion led by Revd Helen Drummond
Sun 15th 10.00am Lent 3. Family worship led by the Worship Group
6.00pm Evening worship led by Revd Jane Rowell
Thurs 19th 7.00pm Elders’ meeting
Sun 22nd 10.00am Lent 4. Mothering Sunday. Family worship led by Revd Helen Drummond
6.00pm Evening worship led by Revd David Hardiman
Sun 29th 10.00am Lent 5. Family worship led by Revd David Hardiman
6.00pm Evening worship led by Revd Helen Drummond
April
Sat 4th 10am – noon Coffee Morning run by the Mardies
10am for 10.30am Harton Churches Together Walk of Witness. Meet at
St Peter’s
Sun 5th 10.00am Palm Sunday Family worship led by Revd Helen Drummond
6.00pm Evening worship led by Mr Colin Bird
Thurs 9th 7.00pm Maundy Thursday Holy Communion service led by Revd David
Hardiman
Fri 10th 9.30am Procession of Witness from and to St Margaret’s followed by
10.00am Good Friday worship led by Revd Helen Drummond
Sun 12th 10.00am Easter Day – Family worship with Holy Communion led by Revd Helen
Drummond
6.00pm Easter Day – Evening worship with Holy Communion led by Revd David
Hardiman
Sun 19th 10.00am Family worship led by Revds David and Cynthia Hardiman
6.00pm Evening worship led by Revd Greg Thompson
Sun 26th 10.00am Family worship led by the Worship Group
6.00pm Ecumenical service at St Margaret’s led by Revd Helen Drummond with
preacher provided by St Mark & St Cuthbert’s
Mon 27th 7.00pm Quarterly Church Meeting
May
Sun 3rd 10.00am Family worship with Holy Communion led by Revd Helen Drummond
6.00pm Evening worship led by Revd David Hardiman
Sat 9th 10am – noon Coffee Morning run by Rainbows and Brownies
Sun 10th 10.00am Family worship led by Revds David and Cynthia Hardiman
6.00pm Evening worship led by Revd Jane Rowell
Wed 13th 7.00pm Christian Aid Social at Harton Methodist
Sun 17th 10.00am Family worship led by the Worship Group
6.00pm Evening worship led by Revd Helen Drummond
Sun 24th 10.00am Family worship led by Revd Helen Drummond
6.00pm Evening worship led by Mr Colin Bird
Sun 31st 10.00am Pentecost Family worship led by Revds David and Cynthia Hardiman
6.00pm Revd Harold Stuteley
June
Sun 7th 10.00am Trinity Sunday, Environment Sunday. Family worship led by Revd
Helen Drummond
6.00pm Professor John Derry
Sun 14th 10.00am Gift Day. Family worship led by the Worship Group
6.00pm Evening worship with Holy Communion led by Revd Helen Drummond
St Margaret’s United Reformed Church, Prince Edward Road, South Shields NE34 7ND
stmargaretsurc.org.uk
