News (July/August 2009)

Shepherds Dene Rises as a symbol of God's gathering love

Shepherds Dene entered a new phase of its life last month with a service of rededication in the chapel and a supper to celebrate its reopening after the recent refurbishments.

Welcoming friends and guests to the ceremony was the chair of the Shepherds Dene trustees, Alison Moore, who was also introducing the Revd. Gill Henwood, new chaplain at the retreat house, and George Hepburn, due to take up his post as full-time director of the house in September.

George took groups of guests on a tour of the freshly-painted house, showing off the new en-suite bedrooms – six in all – and the improvements to disabled access and facilities before the eucharist in the chapel began.

Gill Henwood told the assembled worshippers that in celebrating the reopening of Shepherds Dene, those present were the inheritors of many who’d had a vision of the house over the decades as a place of “God’s gathering love”.

Drawing on biblical images of the sheepfold and the shepherd, and recalling a recent trip into the Coquet Valley where she’d seen sheep on the hills and in the folds, she said that the images spoke of “shelter, of a gathering together, of warmth and safety”, all ideas that were appropriate for Shepherds Dene. The retreat house was in many ways like a sheepfold, she said, a staging post on the journey, a meeting point for members of the flock.

Later Alison Moore praised the staff at Shepherds Dene, as well as manager Peter Dodgson, for their dedicated work during the difficult period of the refurbishment, and welcomed both Gill Henwood and George Hepburn to the next era in the life of the house.

“So many people see Shepherds Dene as a special place,” she said. “They say things like: ‘that’s where my life changed’, or ‘that’s where something really important happened to me’. You know that many people have prayed here, and you also know that people have met the spirit of God here. You can feel it all around you.”

Alison acknowledged that many retreat houses had fallen upon hard times, but that there was optimism and determination that Shepherds Dene would prosper. “This is a channelling place, a transforming place,” she said, “And don’t we need that !”

Radical decisions had been taken about staffing and restructuring, and the Friends of Shepherds Dene would be reborn shortly in a bid to marshal the interest of all those who loved the house and wanted to support it.

“Our thanks go to all the trustees, the volunteers, and the people of St. James Riding Mill,” Alison said.

MBE for seagoing Mike

Congratulations to the Revd. Michael Hills, a chaplain in the Navy from Newcastle, who has been awarded the MBE in this year’s Birthday Honours.

Michael is currently serving on HMS Bulwark, somewhere in the Indian Ocean, having previously served with the Fleet Protection Group, Royal Marines, and he’s due to return home in early August.

Home is in Gosforth where he lives with his wife Emma and two young daughters, Lydia and Eva.

Emma says: “It’s wonderful news, very exciting, and we’re all very proud of him. I’m taking the girls down to meet the ship when it docks, because apparently it’s quite a sight when they’re all on deck in their uniforms. It will be the first time we’ve seen him in six months.”

Lydia, who is three, already knows that something special is happening, largely because when the letter arrived “her Mummy kept jumping up and down”, as Emma puts it. “I told her that the Queen wanted to say thank you to her

Daddy, and she asked if that was the real Queen. She was a bit disappointed to be told it was – she would have preferred the Queen from Snow White!”

The MBE citation for Michael reads as follows: “As the first padre of this major operational Royal Marines unit, you rose to the diverse challenges of this unique, disparate and busy appointment. Directly involved with notifying the next of kin for 15 Royal Marines casualties over a period of 15 months, you displayed outstanding compassion and consummate professionalism at harrowing times. Whilst maintaining primary focus on the bereaved families, you also provided parallel support to the Casualty Notification and Bereavement Visiting Officers. Giving freely of your time, you supported families through the lengthy grieving process, successfully negotiating potential difficulties with sensitivity. The success of the Loss and Legacy Service in Portsmouth Cathedral in April 2008 was due, in no small part, to your vision and initiative. Overcoming many obstacles, you also played a significant role in securing the award of pensions to long term partners of those killed in action. Providing critically important pastoral support during a demanding period of operations, you have been an outstanding and exceptional Unit Chaplain, both to men of the Fleet Protection Group and to the wider Corps Family.”

Taking leave of their first schools

More than 900 children and staff from Church of England schools in the diocese attended the annual Leavers’ Service at St. Nicholas Cathedral at the end of last month.
The service, called “All God’s Children”, featured the orchestra from Richard Coates Middle School in Ponteland, and a display of African dance from pupils at Broomhaugh First School who have recently completed a class project about Africa.

There was also a dramatic reading of The Good Samaritan by children from Corbridge, and the congregation watched a dvd of pupils from Felton in fine singing voice.

The Diocesan Director of Education, Canon Margaret Nicholson, says: “It was a wonderful service, and we are incredibly proud of all our schools. This year we were delighted to be celebrating the outstanding Ofsted reports given to two of our schools, Broomhaugh and Corbridge.”

The Corbridge Ofsted report had this to say of the school: “ This outstanding school very successfully places an equal emphasis on pupils’ academic, creative and personal development.
Pupils flourish in a very caring, nurturing, interesting and exciting environment. They say they thoroughly enjoy schools, and their behaviour is exemplary.”

The Broomhaugh report similarly praised teaching standards, behaviour, the way in which pupils interest in subjects was stimulated and maintained as well as facilities and links with the community.
Margaret Nicholson says: “Our congratulations go to the headteachers, Ali Barden and Jen Stephenson, and the staff and pupils of both schools.”

Stanley celebrates his golden jubilee

More than 450 people attended a service at Hexham Abbey last month to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ordination of Canon Stanley Prins, and to hear Bishop Martin give thanks for his “faithful, devoted and priestly ministry.”

The Bishop welcomed “friends from the William Temple Association, from the Hexham Society of Sacred Study, from the Hexham Local History Society, from PROBUS and the SSAFA, from the 101 Medium Field Regiment and the Tynedale Scout Association, where Stanley served as chaplain for so many years, from the Cathedral College of Canons, from the Diocesan newspaper, the Link, which Stanley edited for 20 years, and from all the parishes within the Diocese which he served so faithfully and well. From Benwell, St Thomas’ and the University, from Chapel House, where Stanley was instrumental in building a new congregation and a new church from scratch, from Humshaugh, Simonburn and Wark, as well as from all the parishes in the Bellingham and Hexham Deaneries which Stanley had served in his so-called retirement.”
Also present at the service were Stanley’s wife Marion, their daughters Lucinda and Katherine and their son Simon, along with their families, and Stanley’s godson, Richard Rossington, who flew from Bristol for the occasion .

After the service Stanley thanked all who had contributed to making it a memorable night, including churchwardens from the current parishes where he serves, who had done the stewarding, and the Mothers Union who provided refreshments.

“I’m happy that all ofmy ministry has been in the Newcastle diocese,” he said, “And that I stayed a comparatively long time in my various parishes. I was always inclined to stay until the job was done.” * Stanley is pictured with his wife Marion in the garden of their home

Joseph's Amazing Schools Week

For the past two years The Benwell Churches Schools Team have run an annual schools week for three local primary schools and one special school. This year the children took part in activities and listened to stories around the theme for the week, which was Joseph.

The team transformed St. James Church in Benwell into a multi-coloured Egyptian world and even brought some of the characters from the story of Joseph to life.

Explains team member Phill Dexter; “We held nine two-hour sessions and our schools brought a maximum of 60 children to each. We worked with about 435 children during the week, which is a huge number. Each session involved the children and their support staff in singing of some of the songs from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical and visiting three workshops led by three characters from the story.

“The workshops were on Forgiveness, run by Benjamin, Making Good and Bad Choices, run by Mrs Potiphar, and Dreams, run by Pharaoh. In each workshop the children heard part of the story, made something to remind them about the workshop, and drew or wrote a prayer on different shapes that were then stuck on a big wall. The children were also given work books with an activity pages for them to fill in at home or school.

“It was a fantastic week. We had to pack a lot into the sessions but it seemed to go really well and everybody including the team really enjoyed it. Thanks to everyone who helped out.”
For more information about the week contact Phill Dexter at Cornerstone on 0191 2260941

Craft festival and fayre at Embleton

An exhibition of crafts and flowers interspersed with live music will take place in Holy Trinity Church Embleton on the 23rd and 24th August. There will also be interactive crafts for all to try out their skills. No admission charge but donations will be welcome being divided between Local Hospice and Cancer Care and Holy Trinity Church. In addition, and in order to maximise charitable proceeds, refreshments and a sales table (contributions to this would be valued) will be available in the Parish Church Room on Monday the 24th (only).

Across from Holy Trinity Church, Creighton Village Hall will be playing host on Sunday the 23rd (only) to a Craft Fayre where you will be able to purchase crafts and buy craft supplies. Substantial refreshments will be available throughout the day and games will take place (weather permitting) on the sports fields at the rear.

For further information and if you wish to enter a craft please contact Cathryn Kerry (01665 576 225) or Rosalind Malthouse (01665 576 599). This year we are inviting you to provide us with an item made by a previous generation of your family. For information or to book a table for the Fayre please contact Shelagh Coxon (01665 576 791).

Breathing Together

The Revd. Paul Bayes, National Mission and Evangelism Adviser for the Archbishops’ Council, visited St. Mary’s Monkseaton over Pentecost weekend for a series of events on the theme “Breathe In, Breathe Out”.

There were workshop and prayer sessions, an art exhibition, kite-making event and outdoor parish party, followed at the parish communion on the Day of Pentecost itself by the commissioning of St. Mary’s new local ministry development team.

The commissioning of the team comes as the climax of a Year of Spiritual Growth at St. Mary’s during which members of the congregation have been encouraged to explore their own spirituality while working out how this contributes to mission in the parish.

Paul says: “Every churchgoer should be sharing in the Church's mission, and all Christians should be involved in evangelism. We had a great weekend exploring these ideas.”

The weekend ended with an ecumenical service at St. Mary’s to which Christians from many other churches in Whitley Bay were welcomed by the vicar, Canon Robin Greenwood.

Newcastle Children's Work Thanksgiving

Children’s Development Work Advisor Sister Sandra Doore is pictured with Bishop Martin and some of those who attended a service of thanksgiving for children’s work and workers at St. Nicholas Cathedral last month.

The service was part of the Year of the Child initiative which aims to celebrate children’s work in the church and look for new ways forward in working with children.

Says Sandra: “It was a great service, and a way for us all to say thank you for the work that goes on in so many parishes, and the dedicated service of those who give their time and talents to inspiring our children and helping them develop their faith.”

Beadnell Boats Blessed

Parishioners at Beadnell held an open air service last month at which Bishop Martin blessed the boats.

The “blessing of the boats” started at Craster in the mid-90s when representives from Farne Churches Together along with visitors came together for the first ecumenical service
Now there is a regular date at Beadnell Harbour when Bishop Martin blesses fishing boats and leisure boats at their moorings.

This year’s service was led by the Revd. Jane Wood ,with contributions from the Revd. Audrey Atkinson, Father Tony Owens (Roman Catholic),the Revd. David Herbert (United Reformed Church) and the Revd Pauline Fellows (Methodist Church. It ended with Bishop Martin blessing all seafarers and families who work and sailed on the boats

Says Joan Turnbull, who attended the service: “As you can see, we were fortunate to have a beautiful summer's evening, and the local parishioners and visitors to the area enjoyed the service very much. Refreshments were served in the Beadnell sailing club afterwards.”

All Ale Saint George!

As part of the celebrations of the 125th Anniversary of its Dedication, Saint George’s Church in Cullercoats has commissioned a special ale to be brewed.

Says the rector, Canon Adrian Hughes: “Created for us by the good folk of Wylam Brewery, this superb product is now available to the discerning public. Because of licensing regulations we are unable to sell this ale, but if you would like to make a generous donation to the roof appeal, I am sure the good souls who are guardians of the cellar will be happy to give away a bottle or two or more entirely free of charge!”
Adrian adds that supplies are generally available on Sunday mornings after the 9.30 service, or by special order from Ron House on 0191 253 1610

St. Bartholomew's Church Fayre 2009

St. Bartholomew’s Church, Newbiggin by the Sea, will be staging their annual fayre over the August Bank Holiday weekend. The event begins with a preview evening of the Flower Festival to be held in Church on Friday August 28 at 7pm – cost £3 including wine. This year’s theme is ‘The Surrounding Sea’ – and viewing times over the weekend will be: Saturday August 29: 10am – 4pm; Sunday August 30: 12 noon– 4pm; Monday August 31: 11am – 4pm.

On Saturday August 29, entries will be welcomed from 7.30am onwards up until 10.30am for the ‘Village Show’, which is held in the Church Centre. Judging will take place at 11am. There are many classes open for the show including vegetables, cakes, arts and crafts, flowers, photography and a children’s section which this year will include a new class for cookery and for a ‘seaside garden in a seed tray.’ Entries for a piece of creative writing – a successful new addition last year – is again listed in the schedule but material must be handed in by August 22. Another venture to be held over the weekend will be a class section for children’s and adults “maritime scarecrow” entries – the stipulation being that the scarecrow is not taller than a broom handle! Children from two first schools in Newbiggin – Windsor and Moorside – will be taking part and the entries will be displayed in the church centre. Viewing times for the Village Show will be 1.30pm – 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. Refreshments – excluding luncheons - will be served all day in the Centre.

On Sunday August 30, services in church include the parish communion at 9.30am and a village Songs of Praise at 6.30pm. Sandwiched between at 1.30pm, His Royal Highness King John and entourage will process along the prom to be greeted by the good folk of Newbiggin – and a pageant unfolds during which the history of the village is recounted including a guest appearance by the ‘Couple’. The King shows his appreciation by presenting the charter - an historic document - which granted Newbiggin the right to hold an annual fayre at St. Bartholomew’s tide. Meanwhile refreshments will be served during the afternoon in the Church Centre (1.30pm-4pm)

On Monday (Bank Holiday) August 31, the Church will hold ‘The Fayre’ in the Church Centre from 11am – 2pm with a variety of stalls, and sale of produce. Refreshments will be available from 10am onwards.

Then on Friday September 4, the events draw to a close with ‘Stakeford Folk’ providing the music for a Ceilidh which is being held in Newbiggin Sports Centre from 7.30pm – 11.30pm. Tickets (which include supper) are available from Bill Sampson on 01670 817440 – and during the course of the evening, the grand prize draw will take place.

The Church would appreciate support for all or any of the events.

'Bottleworks Fifth' is a huge success

Following on from the success of the fifth Bottleworks art exhibition held in May , plans are well underway for the sixth, which will be held in St. Paul’s Seaton Sluice from Saturday – Monday 29th -31st August from 11.00 -4.00pm.
The theme for the sixth exhibition is “contrasts” and contains work of 11 Northumbrian artists.

The Bottleworks project, which has been developed as part of the mission plan of Delaval parish, and aims to bring tourists to the area as well as involving the local community in a social enterprise scheme. The response to the new chairs and the flexibility of the space was good and commended by several visitors to the church who remarked that the new layout made the building more welcoming and warm.

The response to the exhibitions themselves was also effusive and so the committee have plans to expand the exhibitions to include a craft market on November 14th and a photography exhibition early in the New Year. Peter Bryars, the Vicar of Delaval and chairman of the Bottleworks trustees said: “It is lovely to see people from all parts of the area coming to into the church, some for the first time, and to observe how they are affected by the prayerful atmosphere of the place.”

Exhibitions are held twice a year and artists are now being sought to display their work for 2010 and 2011. Further details on 0191 2371982

Youth Workers Meet

Our picture shows full time and sessional paid church youth workers and the diocesan youth team who meet every three months to catch up on news, and to share ideas, contacts, websites, books, and reflections on television programmes, films and magazines, that engage young people. The group includes Chantal Noppen at All Saints Gosforth, Neil Sorensen at Holy Trinity Jesmond, Matt McKenna from St George’s, Jesmond, Darren Purdie in Cramlington and Gary Tate who is working in Alnwick. Andrew Shipton, youth team leader say’s ‘ items that appear on the agenda often relate to the joys and challenges of being a church youth worker, how to recruit, encourage and train volunteers, and the different skills required to work with young people of different ages and backgrounds. We also plan diocesan youth events and reflect on outcomes, always hoping to learn from our experience’. The group has a collection of games equipment which is available for churches in the diocese to borrow. These include a PS3 80GB console with LittleBigPlanet and Fifa 09; Xbox 360 Arcade Pack & Kung Fu Panda, LEGO Indy, Tomb Raider Underworld plus extra wireless controller, and a Nintendo Wii with extra controller+ Guinness Book of Records+ Mario Kart (with wheels). Also a Wii Rock Band (Full Kit).

To borrow any of the items for a youth event please contact the youth team.
Andrew Shipton 0191 236 3788
Simon White 01670 787263
Bar Nash Williams 01661 886853

A thank you barbecue

St Mary’s Church Fawdon held a barbecue last month to say thank you to the Probation Service for transforming the garden area around the church.

Previously the area to the rear of the church had been a complete wilderness - not somewhere you’d want to linger. The project involved a lot of hard work, managed by the offender manager, Reg Harrison, and included moving 10 tons of earth, laying a large patio area, creating raised easy-to-manage flower beds – completely landscaping the available space.
The whole project has taken two years to complete with the offenders working each Tuesday, rain or shine, on the garden. During most of that time, two members of the congregation, Sheena Stephenson and John Brown, have made soup for the offenders for their lunch which they enjoyed, especially when they were working in freezing cold and wet conditions. The resulting garden area is now fabulous and will be well used.

On the day members of the Probation Service – staff and offenders, and Bishop Martin and Archdeacon Geoff Miller were all invited to join folk from St Mary’s as we said thank you to all who’d helped. Bishop Martin thanked all who’d been involved y and said prayers of blessing for the garden and for all who’ll now be able to enjoy it. Then we tucked into barbecue fare in the sunshine - in our lovely new garden. Sue McCormack

Ponteland's Summer Festival

Every two years, St. Mary’s, Ponteland, organises a Flower and Arts Festival, and this year, between August 1 and 8, the church will be hosting a Flower Festival with the theme of “Northumberland”.

At the same time there will be an exhibition, “Northumbrian Artists of Today” in the church hall, featuring original paintings by invited artists from Northumberland. Many of the paintings will be on sale and refreshments will be on offer – scones, ploughman’s lunches and cream teas.

A programme of music takes place throughout the festival, with concerts ranging from Folk to Organ on four of the evenings (tickets now on sale). The first Sunday ( August 2) will have a Festival Service at 10 am and a Songs of Praise at 6.30 pm, and on the Wednesday (August 5) a special Eucharist will be celebrated at 10 am for the feast day of the great Northumberland saint, Oswald.

As an additional attraction this year, a marquee in the vicarage garden will house exhibitions on the theme of “History and Railways”. Ponteland Photographic Society will mount a display “Images of Northumberland”, and there will be history displays from local churches and other organisations. Within the railway theme, Ponteland Local History Society will have one about the short-lived branch line, and other local railways will be featured.

As St Mary’s is the burial place of William Weallens, an engineer who was apprenticed to the firm of Robert Stephenson and Co in 1838, later becoming head draughtsman and then a partner in the firm, there will be an exhibition about Weallens and Stephenson.

Finally on Wednesday August 5, there will be an evening of British Transport Films in the Church - The Great Highway (1966), England’s North Country (1978), The North Eastern Goes Forward (1962) and Any Man’s Kingdom (1956). The programme starts at 7.30 pm.

Admission to the festival is free, but donations are requested. Two years ago over £8000 was raised for charity. This year three charities will be benefitting: St Oswald’s Hospice, Down’s Syndrome NE, and the Church Army. More details from The Reverend Peter Barham, 01661 822140 – 07879 474712 – revpeterbarham@btinternet.com
www.pontelandstmarys.org.uk

Mission means curry and fun!

It began with a curry and ended with a sing-song – and it was, by many accounts, one of the most rewarding and enjoyable weekends the folk of Wideopen can remember in their locality for a long time.

The Diocesan Advisor for Local Evangelism, Canon Dave Elkington, came up with the idea, and Ian Flintoft, team vicar based at St. Columba in Wideopen, ran it past his congregation. How about a mission weekend, with activities of the church people’s own choice and devising, aimed at having a good time in general, and engaging with the community in particular ?
The first thought was food, and curry seemed an excellent way to kick off the events, particularly as there was a fine Indian restaurant in the neighbourhood. But the meal was to be combined with a bit of brain food too – and so it became a “Curry and Questions” evening with a panel of experts answering all comers, church people and visitors alike, on the big issues. What about Science and Religion ? What about Evolution ? What about Suffering ?

“We had about 40 people there, and it was a real mix,” Ian says. “There were church people, there were people on the fringe, and there were people we’d never seen before. The interesting thing is that word seems to have got around, and we’re being asked to do it again!”

The following afternoon the church offered a family fun session called “Getting to Know You” - otherwise known as Messy Church – with art and craft activities, a treasure hunt, dance from Beyond the Barricades, and Sandra Doore, the diocesan Children’s Work Development Officer, doing a spot of storytelling. More than 70 people turned up and the session finished with hot dogs and cakes, as well as inquiries about the regular monthly teatime church which already attracts some 25 children.

It was business as usual on the Sunday morning, but the afternoon offered a special Songs of Praise with musicians from St. George’s in Jesmond, followed by a cream te. The event attracted 120 people.
“The weekend was an unknown,” says Ian, “But it’s made people here very enthusiastic about what we’re doing, and we’ve seen that we can actually engage in this thing called mission! I want to thank the congregation for going with it, and all those people who worked so hard to make it a success.”

The Mission Weekend was supported with a small grant from the diocese, and a coffee morning which raised funds to pay for the curry and other food on offer. Says Dave Elkington: “This is a really good example of how a local parish can put on an interesting, exciting church weekend and build bridges with the local community.”

Supporting Families at St. Oswald's

St Oswald’s Hospice in Gosforth is well known among church people for providing specialist care for North East adults and children with life limiting conditions.

The hospice follows a holistic approach that aims to address not just physical symptoms, but also spiritual and emotional needs too. Its services include an adult inpatient unit, day hospice, outpatient clinics, outreach and a Children’s unit.

St Oswald’s are also currently undertaking a project to develop their Adult Day Services, and once complete staff will be able to offer improved quality of life for patients, as they will provide enhanced care, timely services and appropriate surroundings.

No charge is made for any of the care services provided at St Oswald’s, ensuring accessibility to all, and each year, the hospice has to raise £5 million through charitable giving. As a result, the kind of community fundraising that can be done in Newcastle is vital for helping staff continue with their care.

A fundraising event can involve anything and everything; big or small, and St. Oswald’s Community Fundraisers are on hand to help every step of the way, offering advice and support, including promotional materials.
St Oswald’s Fundraisers can also be found giving talks, attending cheque presentations or organising events such as Christmas Fairs and Light up a Life.

The Community Fundraiser for the Newcastle area is Viv Williamson. If any church group would like Viv to talk about the work of St Oswald’s and fundraising, or offer support or advice on any aspect of raising funds for St Oswald’s, they are invited to call 0191 285 0063 (ext 369), or email vivwilliamson@stoswaldsuk.org.

Says Viv: “Without the support of local communities, St Oswald’s simply could not continue to care – and so we say thank you