News (December/January 2009/2010)
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Asylum seekers face a desperate Christmas
Could you face Christmas on £10 a week, with only a bag of minimal groceries and toiletries as extras ?
This is the situation facing destitute asylum seekers this year, and for the third year running, Bishop Martin is making their plight the subject of a Christmas appeal.
The Bishop says: “It is sad that I must do this again this Christmas, but the need is as urgent as ever. In the Tyneside area, there are a large number of asylum seekers who are without income or any means of support. “
He adds: “There are two main reasons for this: if the asylum seeker’s application has been turned down by an Immigration Tribunal and he or she has appealed against the decision, no government support is given while the appeal decision is awaited. And when the Tribunal has turned down an appeal, if the asylum seeker’s country of origin is deemed unsafe, s/he may still not be deported . But official support remains withdrawn.”
The Bishop explains that people in either of these circumstances are not allowed to work, and so they are destitute. “And physical and mental health deteriorate rapidly once statutory support has been withdrawn!”
The East Area Asylum Seeker’s Support Group, known as Common Ground, the West End Refugee Service (WERS) and the Walking With project in Wallsend all run Hardship Funds to bring some relief to people in these situations.
“But this relief is minimal: £10.00 per week at most and a bag of very basic groceries and toiletries. At present 188 clients are supported by the two services, and each person is only entitled to one handout each week: A system is in place to ensure that people do not go from one organization to the other to claim double handouts! As well as practical help, a befriending scheme and counseling service, offers emotional support and friendship.”
But, he points out, Common Ground, WERS and Walking With can only do all this when they have funds – and often they have none.
“Please, will you remember the Hardship Funds this Christmas? Even if you have already allocated your Christmas giving, this appeal is so urgent that perhaps you could find a way to include it ?”
Send your donation, made out to the Newcastle Diocesan Board of Finance, to: Lesley Carson at Church House, St. John’s Terrace, Percy Main, North Shields, NE29 6HS.
Bishop Martin says: “I remain very grateful for all those who have responded so generously in previous years, and I very much hope you will be able to do so again.”
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Celebrate Christingle to help Newcastle children
Go along to your local Christingle service this year and you can help The Children’s Society fund vital projects for children and young people, including the Help and Hope Project in Newcastle. The Help and Hope Project supports children, young people and their families who have recently arrived on Tyneside giving advice on housing issues and education to help them settle in. The project also works to promote tolerance and understanding. Local Christingle services raise money for this project, enabling The Children’s Society to make a real difference to improve the lives of children and young people in the community.
Last year, thousands of people came to 89 Christingle services across the Diocese of Newcastle raising more than £9,000. St Bede’s in Newsham raised the highest amount in the diocese in 2008 with a grand total of £343. By attending your local candlelit Christingle service this year, you can light up the lives of children and young people in your community and make childhood better.
Christingle services are a fun and engaging way to bring together families, friends and communities to celebrate the Christian story in an inspiring way. Whether you are new to Christingle or one of our regular supporters, these festive events have something for everyone.
To find your nearest Christingle service, visit www.christingle.org or call 0845 300 1128.
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All Saints college principal retires
All Saints College, the first Church of England secondary school in the Diocese, bids farewell to David Scott, who is retiring this month.
David joined the College in September 2005 having returned to his native North East to undertake the formidable task of raising the attainment and aspirations of a community where education over the past few decades had let many people down. Taking the College helm from the first Principal, who left after only two years, David quickly brought stability and hope to staff and students. He is a familiar figure in the College, with a word for everyone. He cares passionately about each and every student.
He has provided staff with encouragement and support, always enabling them to see how they can move onward and upward. In his time at the College, results have risen year on year. Before David’s arrival, no students had gone to University. This year more than 30 began degree courses. David has encouraged collaborative working.
Working with local businesses the College achieved specialist Business and Enterprise status. The College also developed innovative vocational pathways for students, tailored to their needs, which are providing stepping stones for many to progress into Further and Higher Education.
David is a natural enabler and a very modest man. His biggest achievement is to have created an environment in which students and staff can genuinely develop and grow, in which parents are heard and in which people feel valued.
David is unlikely to rest in 2010, though he will have more time for his family… Or will he? He has been a Methodist lay preacher since he was 16, but since coming up to Newcastle he has been worshipping at Holy Trinity, Jesmond. I understand that he has taken on the task of churchwarden… Everyone at All Saints College wishes him a long and very happy retirement.
Pauline Pearson (Vice Chair, Governors)
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Why not drop in on Stan Drew?
Stan Drew was the name on everyone’s lips as Year 4 children from Beaconhill Community Primary School Cramlington gathered to make a life-size model of one of the disciples. Stan Drew –better known as St Andrew- is the patron saint of the local Anglican church meeting at the Community Centre next door to the school
Funded by PICA (Partners in Community Action, Newcastle Diocese), and with the help of community artist Louise Batham (ThinkMakeGrow Ltd), the children helped to paint make a full size model of Stan. St Andrew was a fisherman and this is the character of the main model. Working in groups the children also painted boards with alternative occupations for Stan - as an ordinary working man, called by Jesus from his work to be a disciple, they thought that today he might have been a builder, a policeman, a decorator or a scientist.
The main model is now being cut into a free standing board, and it will be possible to hook on the alternatives which the children have prepared. In due course, it will be used to advertise a second phase of the Project, a Community Drop-In at the centre next door to the school, offering advice, credit facilities, and refreshments. Together with local churches, and in co-operation with Citizens Advice Bureau and Credit Union South East Northumberland, Stan Drew’s Drop-In is due to open on January 6. Initially the Drop-In will open fortnightly on Wednesdays, 9am- 11am, and it is intended to serve the needs of ordinary folk like Stan who live in the Beaconhill and Beacon Lane area of Cramlington.
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Watch out for copper thieves
Parishes in the diocese are being warned to be on the watch for lead and copper thieves after a medieval church was damaged by water following an attack on its roof.
Archdeacon Peter Robinson says: “I would encourage all parishes to review the security of their church buildings and especially to use Smartwater as a deterrent. Reviewing security doesn’t mean closing the church doors. The fact that many of our churches are open daily and welcoming to those who visit is essential to our ministry, but it does mean being vigilant and doing all we can to prevent metal theft.’
St. Mary’s in Morpeth is the latest church in the diocese to be hit by thieves. Metal raiders are believed to have struck the 14th Century church over a weekend, stripping the roof of copper and lead. And their actions could have cost thousands of pounds as heavy rainwater cascaded inside the building.
Experts are still assessing the damage, but the Revd. Robert McLean fears the church may have to appeal to the public for financial help. "The last time something like this happened it cost us around £14,000," he says. "We need to find out whether we can afford to pay for the new repairs ourselves.”
He explains: "We had water cascading down the walls and running all over the choir pews, damaging the hymn books and carpet. The church will dry out because these medieval buildings are pretty resilient, but a great deal of mess has been caused by what is simply wanton damage. We’ve had to take the carpet up."
He adds: " We hope the cost of repairs will not jeopardise plans to improve access for wheelchairs and to install toilet facilities. In that case, we may have to appeal to the public for funds. We are the latest victims of something that is happening nationwide, and because the insurance companies have been having to pay out millions across the country in recent years, they’ve imposed a limit on what they are prepared to pay .”
" Police are investigating the theft and have appealed for anyone who may have seen suspicious activity at the church between Saturday, October 24, and Sunday, November 1, to contact them.
Archdeacon Peter Robinson adds: “I feel very sorry for parishioners at Morpeth because they’ve been working so hard to improve their church.”
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Attractive Christmas cards for only 60p
This attractive card – blank inside – is being offered for sale at 60p, with money going toward “The Gillian Sweetman Art Prize”. The Revd. D.H. Sweetman explains that the prize was set up in a local primary school in memory of his daughter. He says: “The card can be sold for £1 with the extra money going to church funds. The words on the design ‘Christ Human – Christ Divine’ mean that it is suitable for Christmas.” The card is available from the Revd. Sweetman at 31 Gloster Park, Amble, Northumberland, NE65OJQ.
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Mission shot through with gold
The “Autumn Gold” mission week in Weetslade was planned to be “surrounded by prayer” says vicar Angela Maughan.
The P.C.C. weren’t sure about what they were taking on, but plans went ahead, one of the main events being a Fun Day with a difference, “the difference being the Gospel message contained in it,” Angela says.
The Mission spanned Tuesday evening to Sunday. “Knowing we needed to get to know each other and our families first, we decided to have two social evenings,” Angela explains. “Families and spouses and those who had ‘lapsed’ were given special invitations. A local club and a public house were the venues, and a church member’s daughter provided splendid buffet suppers - funded in part by a diocesan grant.” Sheila Hamil was asked to share her Gospel music and Ian Knox was asked to speak and invite people to give themselves afresh to Jesus.
“People did just that, and we had two great evenings. People were inspired and encouraged in mission. Ian Knox preached at the two Holy Communions on Wednesday, connecting those who came only to these services, and on Thursday there was a coffee morning in a local residential home, an established monthly event. “This time we had the usual bingo and raffle but also hymns and a Gospel message and 11 people gave their lives to Jesus. Ian preached about Jesus being close to those in the “autumn gold” of their lives with great sensitivity and enthusiasm. We are now to have hymns and Gospel input at other times in the year.”
Saturday’s Fun Day with a Difference was next, “ and God’s provision was beyond our wildest dreams,” Angela says, including a chance meeting with someone able to provide just what the Mission team had been looking for – a drum roll every hour!
The children’s activities came about through Christian Club members working together - making Lord’s Prayer book markers, making caterpillars with “love God and love others,” messages, making Christmas cards and crackers. “We had a table where children
decorated biscuits with the little sheep that was lost, and pebbles and hearts made of pastry were painted. During the event every child who attended put their name on a colourful leaf for our Autumn Gold Mission Tree to be displayed in church”
Angela adds: “We believed that justice was part of mission and had a P.C.D.C. stall selling olive wood items from the Holy Land. Over £200 was raised and the plight of the children in Palestine was highlighted.”
So where is the parish now? “Hoping to keep up with the people we met,” Angela says. “Those who took part can see a possibility, though we need to build on the Mission contacts we have just made.
We’re determined not run ahead too fast and to prayerfully work out what God wants us to do. Hopefully people will come to the events on our prayer leaflet and join us at Christmas and be reminded that Christmas is Christ! They may come to our social events too. We don’t know what God has planned but we know that God works with us, providing what we need to share his message of saving love with each generation.”
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Interfaith experiences
A young Christian from the diocese, Esther Copeland-Harrison, spoke in Westminster last month at the launch of Interfaith Week. Three MPs from the main parties were listening as were other civic and religious leaders from many different faiths and interfaith bodies from around the country.
Across Communities, a young peoples’ project running in the diocese since 2003, was asked to find a young Christian girl to be part of the team giving presentations at the launch.
Esther, who is 17 and in her final year of her A Levels, was approached and asked to speak from her own experience about why interfaith dialogue and friendship was so important.
She told the assembled company that she had grown up as a practising Christian, but from a very early age had been embraced by the Jewish community. “My mother has always been heavily involved with the Council of Christians and Jews and this has afforded regular interactions with the local Orthodox Jewish community. I celebrate Christmas and Easter but am also heavily involved in Chanukah and Pesach celebrations and greatly look forward to a Seder meal each year!
“My favourite Jewish festival is Purim (which is, as it happens, the festival dedicated to Queen Esther!). This festival is the most fun of all the Jewish festivals, where all the congregation of the synagogue join in the service by dressing up, throwing sweets and shaking rattles at the mention of the name of Haman - "the baddy" in the Purim story.
“The customs, traditions and beliefs of Judaism have not merely enhanced my own faith, they have been invaluable in my understanding and contextualising of Christianity. It is very easy to forget that Christianity was born out of Judaism; Christ himself was a great Rabbi and prophet. A great amount of Christians (and others) may benefit from experiencing aspects of the Jewish faith. I am so grateful to my Jewish friends in Newcastle who have welcomed me to their homes, services and festivals and who have educated and inspired me.
“For me, my own pilgrimage has not meant travelling to a Holy Temple or a journey to a Promised Land, but it has been through the people, the communities, friendships, customs and traditions of Judaism and Christianity that has ‘kindled a flame in my heart’. Next September I hope to be reading Theology at University and continue to enjoy a bilateral dialogue between Judaism and Christianity which will also encompass other World Faiths.”
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Cursillo in Newcastle – Taster Day
The Newcastle Diocese is a gap in the Cursillo map - all of our neighbouring dioceses are active in Cursillo and deriving great benefit from it. Our Archbishops all express enthusiasm for the movement, and I know that some of us in the diocese have already derived huge benefit from it and would wish to see the Newcastle gap on the map filled in just as soon as possible - and as soon as God will allow. Cursillo is active throughout the Christian world.
Gradually we are building up numbers in Cursillo in our Diocese - but we are not yet at the stage when we would be able to work as a movement within the church in Newcastle. However, it is probable that we will be ready to establish Cursillo within the next year or two.
As many readers of The Link will know, Cursillo is a movement firmly rooted within the church, which helps Christians to grow in their faith and to have greater confidence in their Christian living. It is very firmly an outward-looking organisation, well matched to any church which has Mission and Evangelism as part of its core ideals. At the present time Cursillo has been accorded Task Group status in the diocese and we would like to see it developed and in place just as soon as we can manage it. The mechanism by which we introduce Cursillo is to have a Gifting Diocese which leads us through the early stages until we are of sufficient size to "go it alone". Our Gifting Diocese is Ripon and Leeds, and Bishop Martin and Bishop John have both confirmed this arrangement.
A Taster Day for Cursillo has been arranged for Saturday, February 27 at Shepherds Dene. The final details of the programme are to be worked out, but the day will start with coffee - probably at about 10am and then there will be a practical workshop until about noon when we will stop for lunch. After lunch there will be a general forum and we will conclude with a Eucharist - followed by a cup of tea. There is no charge for attending!
If you think you would like to come do please get in touch with me , George Proud - tel: 01434 682 393 or e-mail on george.proud.1@btinternet.com.
The invitation is for everyone, both clergy and all parishioners, but we will need to know numbers for catering purposes.
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PICA Groups meet
Members and staff of community groups supported by PICA and CUF over the last few years were invited to lunch at Church House last month for a 'catch up' session.
The event was organised to help groups communicate with each other by telling their own particular stories and networking with people working in similar situations.
The group were also given information about resources across the diocese including
available funding and venues for training days or holidays for groups. Forty people representing 21 projects from across the diocese attended.
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Congratulations to Adrian
Church House staff were only too happy last month to help their colleague Adrian Patterson celebrate 25 years in the job – first as post room assistant and more lately as data manager. Adrian was presented with a watch and other gifts, and provided cakes for the occasion in return.
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Centenary carols for MU
Dorothy Arrowsmith, Branch Leader of Prudhoe Mothers’ Union, and Muriel Marsh, Branch Secretary, arranged to have a booklet printed containing the favourite hymns and carols of the branch members to commemorate the centenary of the branch. Our picture shows Dorothy presenting the first copy to the vicar, the Revd. Charles Hope. The occasion was very memorable and joyous and enjoyed by all those present.
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Lemington Male Voice Choir
The Lemington Male Voice Choir brought the curtain down to end the 2009 summer season of concerts at St Bartholomew’s Church, Newbiggin, with an excellent performance. The choir – under assistant musical director Michael Scott – presented a programme which included Jesus shall Reign, The Rose and Gwahoddiad in a first half of music and with Remembrance Day approaching, Here’s to the Heroes and For the Fallen were other apt choices. Tony Burns, Jim McGee, Michael Scott and accompanist Jenny Martins all gave solo items whilst Softly as I leave you; the ever popular Nessun Dorma and a debut rendition for the choir of This Land is Your Land were amongst selections after the interval – before the concert finished in grand style with an arrangement by Mickey Newbury of the American Trilogy.
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Supporting children with cancer
While we are soon to enjoy all that Christmas means to us, for children with cancer this may be a lonely and frightening time. Clic Sargent supports them and their families and Newcastle City Hall on Sunday December 13 there is a Carol Concert which will raise money for this wonderful cause.
Twenty-seven years ago the Newcastle Carol Concerts started as a thank you for the recovery from cancer of a pupil at The King’s School, Tynemouth. Ever since then choirs from The King’s School have taken part in the City Hall concerts and this December both Junior and Senior Choirs will be performing.
A central feature of the concerts is the choir made up of nurses and hospital staff from across the region. They get together each autumn to rehearse for the concert.
The focus on young people is further highlighted by the performance of a nativity tableau by the 8th Whitley Bay Brownie Pack. Musical support is provided by Sarah Boutwood (organ) and the New Tyneside Orchestra conducted by Stephen Pettitt, while the whole event is compered by BBC weatherman Paul Mooney.
It is very much a family event with plenty of opportunities for the audience to join the combined choirs in the carols.
Tickets are £6/£4 and are available from J G Windows, the City Hall Box Office and on the door on Sunday 13th December 3 pm, Newcastle City Hall.
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Edna honoured in national hunt for heroes
Congratulations to Edna Beveridge of St. Mary’s Stannington who has made the shortlist in Country Life’s “Unsung Heroes of the Rural Church” competition.
Since Easter, the Church of England and Country Life have been hunting for the ‘unsung heroes’ and presentations to the 12 finalists will take place at Lambeth Palace on December 4. There will be two runners-up and an overall winner.
As the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams wrote in a special Country Life article to launch the competition: “In our countryside, armies of unsung heroes are keeping the circulation going in the community’s body. They are organising community celebrations and simple local services like mothers and toddlers groups or drop-in centres. But they are increasingly stepping into the gaps that have opened up in rural society in the last 10 years or so.”
Since then the search has been for those volunteers, of any denomination, who keep alive the rural churches and chapels that are often the thriving hubs of their communities. The judges’ original brief was to choose 10 finalists – but the quality of all the nominees’ contributions was so high that they could not reduce the list below 1, one of whom is Edna.
In previous years, Country Life have run competitions about churches being used to serve the wider community. But this year’s is about people, and it highlights the wide range of voluntary activities taking place in and around churches and chapels and their churchyards – in addition to their being places of worship and vital oases of calm and reflection in a busy world.
As well as the nominees’ general worthiness, the judges assessed factors such as the extent of their service and range of their contribution; responsibility for new initiatives; reliability and continuity - and making a measurable difference.
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Morpeth five-a-side winners
The 1st Morpeth Company of the Boys' Brigade, based at St James's Church in Morpeth, sent two teams to the annual Tyneside Battalion five- a side competition in Gateshead recently. The younger lads, 6 and 7 year olds, played very well but did not win in their age group this year.
The 10/11 age group won their opening matches, however, and were soon heading towards the final. With some excellent goal keeping from Jonathan Winfield, tight defending from Benedict Gosling, some midfield magic from Haydon Scott, and a top attacking duo of Stefan Thomson and Matthew Jordan, the 1st Morpeth finally wrested victory from an excellent 18th Gateshead team after a nail-biting final.
Company Chaplain Jeremy Cooper congratulated the winning team, pointing out that teamwork, tenacity and dedication had been needed to bring the trophy back to Morpeth.
Thanks go to Paul Dixon of Tyneside BB for organising the competition, and to the other teams for their sportsmanship and good humour – also to the Parish of Morpeth for their continued support of our activities.
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Our Posada journey
Last year St. Peter’s Church, Monkseaton, participated for the first time in Posada. Many have spoken about how special that was - welcoming the nativity figures into your home, preparing a special place for them. Some families shared a meal with friends whilst they hosted the figures, others found a deepened sense of prayer and contemplation during the Advent season. This year we are inviting people to share in Posada once more.
Posada is a Spanish word meaning ‘inn’. Posada celebrations originated in Mexico where two young people were chosen to dress up as Mary and Joseph. They used to travel from house to house in their village telling people about the imminent arrival of Jesus and asking them if they would give Him a room. On Christmas Eve they would re-enact a community play and bring figures of Mary and Joseph to be placed in a crib.
The modern day equivalent is based on this concept, but it encourages people to give a home to the nativity figures of Mary and Joseph and the Christ Child for a night. We include the figure of Jesus because making a place for Jesus in our lives, at all times of the year, is so important.
Each night from the fourth Sunday before Christmas the figures travel around the parish, work place or community from place to place arriving in Church or at a service on Christmas Eve in time to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
The journey encourages people to think about the meaning of Christmas and to share the message with others. On Christmas Eve when the figures arrive at their final destination, the crib scene is built up during a service in preparation for Christmas Day.
For further details about Posada, contact Revd. Pat Craighead. On 07967 316 615
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