News (May 2010)
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Interfaith Visit to Auschwitz
A mixed group of Christians and Jews from Newcastle is setting off to visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland, aiming to engage with Holocaust issues which threaten community cohesion in Britain today.
The visit is part of a diocesan initiative by the Committee for Interfaith and Ethnic Relations (CIFER), in partnership with the Newcastle branch of the Council of Christians and Jews, an initiative which CIFER chair Gavin Wort hopes will prove “a living model of community cohesion and faith sharing that will embody the aims of future community efforts.”
The group is made up of an ecumenical mix of Christians and members of both the Orthodox and Reform Synagogues in Newcastle. Bishop Martin and the Rabbi of the Orthodox Synagogue, David Lewis, are jointly leading the visit.
The aims of the trip are to learn about the experience of social isolation and persecution through the lives of the millions who died at Auschwitz-Birkenau, to engage with the consequences of extreme racial, religious and political prejudice and discrimination, and to grow in understanding of the ways in which the Holocaust has affected individual members of the various faith communities, and those of no faith.
“We’ll be looking at contemporary issues such as anti-Semitism, Islamaphobia, homophobia, and discrimination against gypsy and traveller communities, as well as the racist views of Far Right groups operating in Britain today,” says Gavin Wort. “We want to hear and share personal and family stories about the Holocaust, and to face – and hopefully reconcile – some of the issues which can arise between members of different faith or race groups.”
On their return, members of the group will be sharing their experiences with others within their workplaces and communities, including local schools, colleges of FE and universities, as well as faith groups.
“We expect that participants will personally grow and be transformed through the experience of the study visit, particularly in their understanding of and attitudes toward members of other faith communities and individuals of no faith,” Gavin Wort says. “These ambassadors will ultimately be role models in their communities and for others working to produce a more socially coherent and robust society.”
Lesley Carson, Interfaith Advisor for the Diocese and one of the architects of the expedition, adds: “One of those coming with us lost his entire family in Auschwitz, and there’s no doubt that it’s going to be a harrowing trip. But we believe that this first-ever interfaith visit from the North-East will help achieve greater understanding of the issues involved, and feed into a wider sense of what we can do to build a better society.”
It is planned that this Christian-Jewish visit will be the first of two, with a second visit which will include representatives from all the faith communities in the region.
Click here to read Bishop Martin’s letter
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Farewell to Reg
Reg has been a regular member of the congregation at Holy Trinity, Horsley, since the New Year.
Nothing unusual about someone new joining the church, and hardly worthy of mention, perhaps, but Reg is different. He's an Airedale Terrier!
Reg's owners went off to Australia for a few months and left Reg in the care of Jim Procter, the church's treasurer. Not wanting to leave him in the house alone, Jim brought Reg along to church with him each Sunday.
Church members report that Reg is very well behaved throughout the service. He sits in one of the back pews and sometimes joins in with the hymns. Occasionally he might also mutter a comment about the sermon, especially if it goes on too long.
Sadly for Holy Trinity members, Reg's owners will be returning home soon and he will be leaving the church. But with a woof and a prayer, who knows ? Maybe he'll be back, bringing his owners with him!
Our picture shows Reg on the chancel steps with some members of the congregation.
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New Canons Installed
Our picture shows the new canons installed at St. Nicholas’ Cathedral recently by Bishop Martin. Left to right, the new canons are: John Bull, Geoffrey Purves, the Rev. Brian Hirst, the Rev. Judy Glover, (Bishop Martin), the Rev. Sheila Bamber, the Rev Kevin Hunt, and Roger Styring. The eighth canon, Reader Carol Wolstenholm, was on holiday and will be installed at a later date.
Click here to read an interview with Sheila Bamber.
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Blessed by the chance to explore prayer
Recently a friend invited me to a special 'Day of Prayer' at St. John's, Kingston Park, and as St. John's was accessible by Metro, I decided to go.
I felt I really needed to 'explore' prayer, so I was very much looking forward to this day. It had been made clear that it didn't matter what time people arrived, as this was a 'drop in' prayer day.
The very first thing we did as a group, when I got there, was to visit every room in the church and pray about all the activities that went on, and also pray for all the people who would be meeting there.
The theme for the day was inspired by Sue Mayfield's book, “Exploring Prayer”, and each of the workshops lasted an hour, with a 10- minute introduction from different people.
You could also wander around. Not only was there a private room available for personal prayer, but there were creative prayer workshops in a sectioned off area, and also upstairs. Here the prayer activities were so varied, and many of them involved using the five senses. Beautiful fragrances of lemon, rose, cinnamon and thyme filled the air, there were coloured threads to drape on a small cross; pebbles, representing our concerns, to drop into a bucket of water, maps to pinpoint areas for intercessions, scrabble letters with which to form prayer phrases, and so on.
There was a lovely presence in these prayer areas to which I returned several times during the day. I knew in my heart that whatever happened on this day I would 'feel safe'. I felt truly blessed.
It was a truly wonderful day for me, I got so much out of it and I am left wondering when another day like this might happen again.
Margaret Broad
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Recorder orchestra heads for Ponteland
The North East Recorder Orchestra will be giving a concert in St Mary's church, Ponteland, on Saturday May 15th, starting at 7.30pm.
The Orchestra was started in January 2004 to give recorder players in the North East of England the opportunity to tackle large scale pieces either especially written for the recorder orchestra or arrangements. At present it numbers about 30, mainly adults, but there some younger players as well. It features seven different types of recorder, five of which are lower in pitch than the much maligned descant!
Also taking part are the 'Morpeth Waites'. They are a group of musicians who present the songs and dances of the common people of the 15th and 16th Century, some of which continue to be played as 'folk' songs and dances to this day. They play on a variety of instruments (flutes, fiddles, trombone, bassoon together with recorders) to try to recreate the sound and feeling of that music. 'Waites' were professional musicians paid by towns or villages to supply music when it was needed for civic occasions in those days, and the town of Morpeth had such a group.
The concert features music from the 16th Century up to the present day and includes the first performance of a piece (Serenade for Cor Anglais and Recorder Orchestra) composed last year by the conductor, John Hawkes, especially for tonight's soloist, Anita Arris.
Tickets, £5 (children free) which include interval refreshments, are available from the Church office, members of the orchestra or on the door.
Further information can be obtained by visiting the orchestra's website:
www.nerco.org.uk
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Whitley Summer Concerts
The third season of summer concerts at St Paul's, Whitley Bay, will be launched on Friday, May 21 at 7.30 pm with an organ recital, to be given by Catherine Ennis, of St Lawrence Jewry, the church of the Lord Mayor and Corporation of the City of London.
Catherine is an organist of national and international renown who, as well as this recital, will also be offering an organists' workshop on the following day, promoted by the Newcastle and District Society of Organists.
Further concerts in the series will take place at monthly intervals, as follows: Friday, 11 June, 7.30 pm : Brian Tanner and Martin Clark (City of Durham); Friday, 16 July, 7.30pm, Stephen Bryant (Clifton Cathedral, Bristol); Friday, 13 August, 7.30 pm, Katy McDermott (Worcester College, Oxford),:Friday, 17 September, 7.30 pm, Mike Dutton (Newcastle upon Tyne).
Tickets for all concerts will be on sale at the door, £6 (concessions £5), including cheese and wine buffet afterwards.
Further information from Dr Terry Mason, Director of Music, Parish Church of St Paul, Whitley Bay (email:terrymason@blueyonder.co.uk)
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Become Contagious…
Are you wanting to use your gifts and skills to serve God? Are you aged 17 - 25 and passionate about sharing your Faith? We are looking for: Youth workers, Actors, Singers, Dancers / Break Dancers and DJs
Contagious, a Charity in Northumberland is starting a creative arts team called ReAct. We want to share Jesus with thousands of young people throughout Northumberland, by using creative arts such as drama and dance.
What will I do on ReAct? Youth Work, Schools Work, Summer Festivals', IX Hour, Harvest, Work with Young Offenders, Radio Shows, Holiday Clubs + much more.
The Gap Year runs from September 2010 till August 2011 and will cost £2000 which includes accommodation, food, travel, training and a M10 overseas mission.
Even if you're not sure what your skills and gifts are, and interested in taking a year out on ReAct please get in touch.
For more information about ReAct please contact Gary Tate
on 07793917362 or e-mail gt.contagious@googlemail.com
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Top marks for St. Michael’s
St Michael’s Church of England School in Alnwick has scored top marks from Ofsted inspectors.
The inspectors, who visited the school in March, judged it to be ‘ outstanding,’ awarding it the top grade of 1 in all aspects of its teaching and work.
The inspectors complimented the school on its ‘ family atmosphere underpinned by Christian values,’ which they said ensured that each pupil was well known, and so ‘received excellent care, guidance and support, enabling all to flourish and achieve highly.’
The quality of the teaching came in for a special mention. According to the inspectors throughout the school, from Nursery to Year 4 when pupils left, they enjoyed learning thanks to the ‘exciting and interesting lessons.’
Also singled out was the ‘vision, passion and ambition’ of the School’s head, Sally Lamb, who, the inspectors said, was at the heart of the school’s successful improvement over the last three years.
Overall, they said the school ‘radiates an ethos of happiness, calm and purpose in which pupils of all backgrounds can thrive,’ something appreciated by parents and carers who expressed high praise for the school and the way it prepared their children for the future.
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Cursillo Taster Day
We strained the facilities at Shepherd’s Dene for the first Cursillo “Taster Day” in February, with a total of 45 people attending to find out more.
The principal speaker was Dr. Ruth Etchells, following three talks explaining the history of Cursillo, and how it works. Small group discussion additionally demonstrated one of the key features of Cursillo: the importance of maintaining regular meetings in small groups called Reunions.
After a splendid buffet lunch, Dr. Etchells spoke about her experience of a Cursillo weekend, quoting the poem by George Herbert: “Love bade me welcome yet my soul drew back guilty of dust and sin.”
Ruth had been drawn to Cursillo in several ways and found that the weekend dealt with the "dust on her faith". The weekend, she said, turned out to be like Christmas and Easter with all their surprises rolled into one. “It was like the best party you have ever been to, with the profoundest moments of worship and the experience of being totally and unconditionally loved: an experience of coming home, rediscovering the freshness and reality of prayer which has continued in the regular group reunions.”
Anyone who would like to know more about Cursillo is invited to speak to
George or Janet Proud. Call 01434 682 393.
Colin Perkins
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Beyond the Barricades
Beyond the Barricades is approaching its 20th anniversary and rehearsals are in full swing for a big celebration of two decades of exploring new ways of sharing the Gospel through the media of dance, sign and drama. A Tyneside ecumenical group of Christians drawn from many different churches, Beyond the Barricades began with coordinators, Revds Anne and Derek Marr who then handed the baton on to the current coordinators Kevin and Oonagh Atkinson. The group, which numbers around 30 and whose age-range is from 10 to 80+, have worked in many locations, large and small. They have helped to lead worship in many churches and at numerous diocesan events.
They presented street theatre and supported the worship at the Mothers' Union celebration at the Great Northern Showground in Harrogate in 2000 and had a major input at the Arena for the Roman Catholic Millennium Confirmation, Some of the younger members have been involved in diocesan youth exchanges with young people in Europe, exploring the gospel together. The image on the poster is from the Mothers' Union York Provincial Pilgrimage to Lindisfarne last year. No event is too large or too small, Beyond the Barricades is there to be a servant to the Church whenever and wherever it is invited.
Tickets for the celebration at Brunswick Methodist Church at 6pm on Saturday 26 June are available from Jennie Jones (0191 267 7829) and Kevin and Oonagh Atkinson
(0191 483 2679)
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St. Augustine’s Alston – Flower Festival
St Augustine’s Church, Alston will be holding a spring flower festival during the Whit Bank Holiday Weekend. The festival, which will have a theme of ‘Poetry in Bloom’, will be to raise funds for the restoration of the church.
St Augustine’s church was built in 1870 in the centre of Alston. However, there are records showing a much longer history. The church was dedicated to St Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury; it is thought that the archbishop was involved in the banishing of evil spirits from Fiends’ Fell, the highest point of the Pennines which lies very close to Alston and is now renamed Cross Fell. It is also thought the Archbishop may have came to Alston Moor before his death in the early 600s, a visit that was linked to the building of a simple wooden church.
St Augustine’s Church was part of the Derwentwater Estates until the lands were sequestrated and the family exiled following their involvement with Bonnie Prince Charlie. The Crown granted ownership of the church to the Greenwich Hospital in 1735, plus much of the surrounding land.
The church houses the Derwentwater Bell and Clock which were taken from the seat of the Derwentwater family, Dilston Hall, before it was demolished. The bell has been in constant use for the last 200 years; the clock was restored in 1992 and is at the back of the church.
Today St Augustine’s has some serious structural problems so the church needs to raise funds to repair and restore much of its fabric. It is hoped that the Flower Festival will help raise these funds. There will be exhibits from many local groups and societies which will celebrate the beauty of spring in the North Pennines. Refreshments will be available throughout the festival which can be enjoyed in the church grounds (weather permitting!); there will also be daily children’s activities. A Festival ‘Songs of Praise’ will be held on Trinity Sunday 30 May at 6.30pm in the church.
Alston itself has much to offer visitors with its cobbled streets, hidden lanes and stunning views over the South Tyne Valley. There is also the narrow gauge railway which is always popular with young and old alike. The Flower Festival will begin Friday May 28 and run through to Monday 31 May 2010. The doors will open daily from 10am to 7pm. A very warm welcome is extended to one and all.
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National Finals for Young Rothbury Rower
A team of Year 7 pupils from Dr Thomlinson CofE Middle School, Rothbury have recently rowed to victory in a series of local, regional and national indoor rowing competitions.
In the local Northumberland competition for boys the determined rowing of Rich Forsyth (First) and Alex Wragg (Third) took them through to the second stage of the competition.
In the Regional Finals, which took place in Durham, they notched up a respectable 7th and 10th placing respectively in the Individual Competition. The girls’ team of four won their initial local competition, with two of the girls also being placed first and second in the Individual Competition. A fantastic effort from Natasha O’Reilly in the Regional Finals was rewarded with first place and a trip to London to compete in the National Junior Indoor Rowing Competition. Natasha achieved a very impressive 10th placing when competing against the winners of all the regional finals.
The team train at school during the weekly lunchtime club under the guidance of Mr. Hinson, PE teacher and SSCo for the school.
“These pupils worked extremely hard to achieve this and are to be commended for the encouragement they showed to each other throughout the competition. We are very proud of them,” Mr. Hinson says.
Tracey Boldy
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Godly Play Taster Morning shows creativity and openness
On a recent Saturday a group of enthusiastic people gathered together in the Godly Play classroom at Henshaw First School for a taster session about Godly Play.
With an early start at 9.30am there were three presentations showing the three different genres of Godly Play to help people learn about its methodology and underlying principles. The first session, led by Rev. Joanna Anderson from Hexham Abbey, featured the Exodus - from the genre of Sacred Stories. The second presentation by Mary Cooper was the Faces of Easter – from the genre of Liturgical Action. The third presentation was the Parable of the Mustard Seed, delivered by Angela Joyce - from the genre of Parables.
Lively and informative discussions took place between the presentations as the assembled group explored the applications of Godly Play and its impact on ways of working with children and adults. The impact of Godly Play was noticeable to us all as the first session held the attention not only of the adults present but also the two under-fives who had come along with their Mum!
Godly Play is based on Montessori methods of learning. It offers a creative and imaginative approach to spiritual and emotional development. It uses symbols and objects as well as words, and works well with those who have learning difficulties. It has been used in hospitals and prisons.
Godly Play values openness and discovery. Most importantly it is non-judgemental! It involves sitting in a circle and the story teller telling a religious story using specially made materials. Afterwards the participants are invited to reflect on the story, responding to open-ended questions.
If you would like to find out more and participate in a Godly Play taster session, the following are planned over the coming months.
Thursday 6th May 7.30pm at Stannington Church, Stannington.
Saturday 22nd May 9.30am-12.30pm at The Church of the Good Shepherd, Battle Hill, Wallsend
Saturday 12th June 9.30am-12.30pm at Bedlington (venue to be confirmed)
After each session there will be an opportunity to talk to the leaders about further training, find out where to get the resources you need or how to make your own resources, and where to get further help and support.
To find out more and to book a place at one or more of these sessions please contact:
Jan Bryce -telephone: 07885227730
e-mail: godlyplay.north@googlemail.com
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Stop! At Shepherds Dene
“Being on retreat, doesn’t have to mean sitting in silence,” according to Sue Degnan, Assistant Director at Shepherds Dene, “It can be active and creative as well.”
There is a chance to try out an active retreat when Shepherds Dene takes part in the national ‘Stop! in the name of God weekend’ from 18th – 20th June.
Half-day workshops and activities are planned throughout the weekend on painting, gardening, and bird watching. Participants can attend one or more workshop but there is no compulsion to join in. Guests may find a quiet spot in the house or grounds for individual contemplation and join in worship throughout the day.
The highlights of the weekend are a dinner and discussion about ‘Spirituality for Dads’ led by the Revd Colin Gough on Friday 18th and a dinner and discussion about ‘Spirituality for Extroverts’ led by the Revd Judy Hirst on Saturday 19th.
Each workshop is £10 or £15 for the whole day with running refreshments available in the dining room. There will be an additional charge for the dinners. Stop is organised by the Retreat Association to encourage time for quiet and reflection and to provide a way of ‘dropping in’ during a busy weekend. This year, Stop will be also be the perfect way to avoid the World Cup for a few hours!
“ It’s a great way to find out what it is like to have some quiet and peace,” adds Sue “ And if you like it, then sign up for one of our weekend retreats as well.”
The full programme is available at
www.shepherdsdene.co.uk or by ringing Kathryn on 01434 682 212.
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Book Now for Staying Alive 2010
It’s back! A long weekend by the sea with a host of things to do including workshops, competitions and a talent show is offered in Staying Alive 2010.
The Newcastle Diocesan Youth Event from August 19 to 22 inclusive will, as usual, be based at the Seahouses Hostel. As well as the many social events, the workshops will offer those taking part the chance to explore their faith. Worship will be lead by Re:Born.
Participants will include plenty of youth leaders so that individuals can sign up for the weekend even if their own church youth leader cannot attend.
The cost for the long weekend is £50 and there are reductions for three or four siblings. The Seahouses Hostel includes basic facilities, showers and bathrooms, and there is also camping in the grounds for those who fancy the outdoor life. The price includes all meals
and transport to outreach activities, and there will also be a Staying Alive coffee bar with Fair Trade products.
Spaces are limited so early booking is advised. In addition, if demand is high, it may be necessary to limit the number of applicants from one church. An application form for the event is available on the diocesan website – so get booking!
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General Election – The need to vote
Religious leaders in Newcastle are urging people in the region to make sure that they vote in the forthcoming General Election, and to vote for “freedom, not fear.”
In a statement issued recently, the leaders’ group, which includes representatives of the Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jewish, Bahai and Zoroastrian communities as well as from the different Christian denominations, say that voters should beware of “political forces who would seek to divide our country.”
The statement reads: “With the approach of the General Election it is of paramount importance that we all take the time to vote; for we are not just voting for the next five years, but are setting the stage for successive generations. Our vote today will decide the world that our children and grandchildren will live in.
“We are all too aware of those political forces who would seek to divide our country by promoting an ideology of racism and prejudice. We are immensely proud of the fundamentally British characteristics of equality, respect and fairness. We also cherish our society’s uncompromising rejection of the demonisation of any group, whether religious, ethnic or otherwise.
“We therefore urge every British citizen to examine the roots and culture of each political party, and not to vote for those who stand for the destructive politics of hatred.
“Vote rather for freedom not fear, for partnerships not prejudice, and for hope not hate.”
The religious leaders’ group is chaired by Bishop Martin.
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