40p monthly 0r £4 per year

Parish Church of All Saints, Lanchester

St. John’s Church, Burnhope

December 2015/January 2016

READERS Peter Jackson, 23 Humberhill Drive 521156 Doreen Park, 10 West Terrace 438564 Burnhope Ann Sinclair, 16 Deanery View 521029 Stephen Burt, Reader Emeritus SERVICES AT ALL SAINTS’, LANCHESTER Sunday 8.00am Holy Communion 10.00am Parish Eucharist 3.45pm Messy Church (3rd Sunday of month) 6.00pm Evening Service SUNDAY SCHOOL 10.00am every Sunday Wednesday 9.45am Holy Communion 7.15pm Contemplative Service & Eucharist (monthly) HOLY BAPTISM & WEDDINGS - by arrangement with the Vicar SERVICES AT ST. JOHN’S, BURNHOPE 1st Sunday of the month 9.30 Communion by Extension 3rd Sunday of the month 9.30 Parish Eucharist Weekly service 9.15am from 6th September 2015 Midweek at St. John’s 10am (monthly) CHURCHWARDENS Dennis Geer, ‘Rooks View’ 529025 51, Meadowfield, Burnhope Pam Hasler, Clive Cottage, 528846 3 Ornsby Hill

Doreen Park, 10 West Terrace 438564 Burnhope Peter Smith, 27 Ford Road 520498 VICE CHAIRMAN PCC Margaret Matthews, Delves House, Delves Lane 505448 HON. TREASURER Stephen Bailey, 40 Briardene 521884 HON. SECRETARY PCC Sandy Jackson, 23 Humberhill Drive 521156 ELECTORAL ROLL OFFICER David Baggott, 14 Woodlands 520646 GIFT AID Miranda Donneky, 29 Bradbury Close 231570 Tanfield Lea, Stanley ORGANISTS Craig Davies, 33, First Street Bradley Cottages Leadgate 07999596274 craig_w_davies@yahoo.co.uk

Valerie Collins, 7 Langley Avenue, 521289 Dr Ian Brunt, The Lodge, Durham Rd 521317

Parish Church of LANCHESTER & BURNHOPE Incumbent Reverend Rupert Kalus

The Vicarage, 1, Lee Hill Court, Lanchester DH7 0QE Tel: 521170 E-mail: r.kalus737@btinternet.com

Curate Ali Miller 07557 148689 E-mail: alison.miller@durham.anglican.org

TOWER CAPTAIN Olga Walker, 9 Pineridge Avenue 01740 Sedgefield 621865 CHURCH WIVES GROUP Brenda Craddock, 38 Briardene 520749 MOTHERS’ UNION BRANCH LEADER LANCHESTER Margaret Brown, 31 Oakwood 529714 SECRETARY: Jill Finlayson, 21 The Barns, Stanley 284344 MOTHERS UNION BRANCH LEADER BURNHOPE Elva Hockaday, 6 The Villas, 520019 Burnhope SECRETARY: Muriel Molloy, 1 Whitehouse Avenue 521441 Burnhope SUNDAY SCHOOL Contact the Vicar 521170 MAGAZINE EDITOR: Contact the Vicar 521170 PARISH ROOM SECRETARY Angela Lee, Fairfield Lodge 520032 Maiden Law CHURCH FLOWERS Barbara Sproat, 37 Greenwell Park 520247 MUSIC GROUP Janet Jackson, 31 Foxhills Crescent 521250 MEN’S FORUM Dave Collins, 24 Foxhills Crescent 521300

Contributions to the Church Magazine are always welcome.

Copy should be handed personally to Rob Matthews, left in the tray at the back of the Church or preferably sent by email Tel 01913841998 Email: robmathews48@hotmail.com

The deadline for copy for the February issue is SUNDAY January 24th

Some things can become so familiar that they almost become invisible. Like the colour of our wallpaper, we no longer notice them. And sometimes I worry that this is what has happened to the story of Jesus’ birth. We so often see images of Mary and Joseph, of the Shepherds and Wise-men, even of Baby Jesus himself that we no longer really look at them. When we watch the school nativity play it is the children we are interested in rather than the tale they are depicting. And though the focus of doting parents and grandparents is completely understandable, I wonder if the story itself has become so familiar that it has lost its power to shock and surprise us. What does the amazing claim that the Son of God was born as a baby really mean to us? What do the stories of Jesus’ birth and infancy tell us about the one who brought the whole universe into being? The good news (and it is Good News), is that the answers to these questions are even more marvellous and amazing than the stories themselves.

In his birth Jesus reveals to us a God who shares every aspect of our humanity and human experience. Jesus shows us a God who is not aloof and distant, but who is Emmanuel, God with us; a loving creator and redeemer who knows the joys and sorrows of our daily lives. The Bible tells us that Jesus was born into poverty and forced to flee from his home as a refugee. It tells us that he was visited first not by the rich and famous, but by rough and ready shepherds on the margins of their community. race, nationality, background and lifestyle.

In the visit of the Magi we learn that Jesus had come as a saviour for people of every

In his birth Jesus shows us the goodness and beauty of our own creation. He reveals the truth that we are each made in his image and that each one of us has the potential to express God’s compassion and creative love in the world. This is true no matter where we come from or who we are. It remains true no matter how many mistakes we make. In trusting his own son to the care of Mary and Joseph, God expresses confidence in the capacity of every one of us to be the people he has made us to be.

For the glory of God is revealed every time we give or receive love and every time we make ourselves vulnerable in caring for another.

Any new parent knows that to bring new life into the world involves risk as well as joy.

In the Christ child we see the creator of the universe taking the risk to become as helpless and vulnerable as a new born baby. Jesus gives himself totally and utterly to the world in the same way he will give himself completely on the cross. He reveals the power and nature of God to be complete and self-giving love. This is above all what we celebrate at Christmas. At the heart of all life and creation there is endless abundant love. We see this love in the gift of a child.

May I wish you all a blessed and peaceful Christmas,

Rupert

PARISH REGISTERS Lanchester and Burnhope

Funerals

28th September John Tonks, aged 66 years

9th October Eleanor Coulson, aged 89 years

15th October Ralph Pinkney Kasher, aged 77 years

20th October Derrick Dent, aged 86 years

28th October Louie Beattie, aged 87 years

30th October Richard Fahy, aged 50 years

6th November Mary Patterson, aged 86 years

12th November Dorothy Mary Dixon, aged 93 years

‘May they rest in peace and rise in glory’

Weddings

26th September Darryl James Metcalf and Mellissa Jade Hargreaves

‘May God’s Blessing be upon you in your new life together’

Baptisms

27th September Joseph James Nichol

4th October Laura Jade Eland

Lewis James Hall

Thomas George Hall

11th October Freddie Tilley

18th October Zach Derek Mullen

25th October Oliver James Tennant

Penelope Holden

1st November Jacob Thomas Vivers

15th November Nichola Louise Hetherington

‘We welcome you into the Lord’s family’

NEWS FROM THE CHURCHES

100 Club The winning numbers, all £5, of the November draw were :- 14-26-37-89-157-

166 . Next month is the Christmas draw £100 first prize. However as there is no January magazine the winning numbers will be displayed on the notice board in church . Hazel and I would like to wish all members a very Happy Christmas. Hazel and Eric Gaskell

Mothers’ Union, Lanchester

Our meeting on Wednesday 9th December is our Advent Evening, and we will meet in the Chapter House and go into church for 7.30 pm. This year the service is being arranged by Audrey

Newton and Dorothy Beadling. Members from St John’s M.U. and our Church Wives have been invited to join us for the evening, along with members of the village’s other churches women's groups. After the service refreshments will be served - sherry, ginger wine, fruit juice, mince pies and shortbread. As we did last year we shall also be providing diabetic options.

At our meeting on Wednesday 13th January at 7:30 in the Chapter House, there will be an enrolment. A reminder that the Christmas evening meal is on Friday 11th December, 7:00 for 7:30pm at the Three Horse Shoes, and the Christmas Lunch is on Thursday 17th December, 12 Noon for 12:30 pm at The Kings Head.

Margaret, Maureen and I along with the committee wish everyone a happy and peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year

Jill Finlayson

Mothers’ Union, St. John’s

Our Meeting was held on Monday the 2nd November 2015. All our members took part in the Wave of Prayer con-

ducted by Mrs Hockaday. We will be partaking in the Christmas Tree Festival on the 16th December. The 150th Celebration of St Johns was a great suc-cess. Again we thank Lanchester MU for their help. Our Christmas Lunch will be on the 7th Decem-ber , at the Kings Head. We will be joined by friends of our Branch. May we wish everyone a peaceful Christmas and a healthy 2016

Muriel Molloy

Church Wives Christmas is drawing near Oh dear, so much to do,

But all work makes us very dull So a party is arranged for you. The date is the 9th of December

We will have a lovely time. Eats and games and a Bran Tub And some special Ginger Wine.

After that it is Christmas, It will be next year when we meet

The 14th is the day for this The King’s Head, where we eat.

So have a lovely Christmas And celebrate Jesus’ birth

Let him be in your Christmas For You he came to earth.

Brenda Craddock

Men’s Forum The Men’s Forum meeting in October was to Chester-le Street and the men there had managed to arrange for Bishop Paul to address us. We were unfortunately fewer in numbers ourselves due to holidays and also the celebratory supper on the same evening for our St Johns 150th Aniversary, but the meeting was the most packed we’ve ever seen with over 80 men present. Bishop Paul spoke briefly about his own journey to Christian Faith which started with lunchtime Christian meetings at his Surrey school, and was there nurtured until he became a Christian, and then after his university days explored a developing vocation for ordination. Most of the meeting was taken up with answering questions ( and many of these related to issues arising from the Syrian migrant crisis), or as the flyer for the meeting phrased it “Grill a Bishop” We enjoyed the usual rounds of quiz although we’re still confused as to why peanuts are a component of dynamite. Trying to get to the bottom of that one was just getting the quizmaster more and more explosive, so we stopped arguing until we were back on the minibus and out of earshot. Our next meeting will be the Christmas Dinner on Monday 7th December at the Hobson Golf Club. The guest Speaker will be the retired police officer Sandra Webb speaking to “A lifetime in the Police Force, interesting and amusing experiences. All men reading this are welcome; watch the weekly Notice Sheet for cost and timings. Peter Jackson

From the Church Flower Ladies

Church Flower Ladies would like to thank everyone who supported in any way the coffee morning on Nov 4thWe raised £220. Much appreciated.

Flower Ladies

Thank You We would like to say many thanks for all the cards and good wishes which we received from Church friends for our Ruby Wedding on 1st November. We really appreciate all your kind thoughts. Margaret and Stephen

Christmas Card Stand The Christmas Card Stand is now once more available in the church. This will be its tenth year. Each year many cards have been displayed and a charity selected by the PCC has benefited from your donations. Many of you will appreciate the opportunity to post a single card and in this way to send Christmas greetings to other members of the church family, and at the same time to help others. The PCC has decided that the proceeds will this year be given to Willow Burn Hospice to support its valuable work in the community. Gift Aid envelopes are available. Please place your donations and any completed Gift Aid envelopes in the Donations bag on the stand. Alternatively you may wish to make a private donation to another charity of your own choosing. Edith Pierce and David Baggott

Thank you from The Wardens Thank you to all those hardy souls who turned out on the morning of 15th November to clear the area around the church of leaves and debris. It was certainly a case of many hands making short work as an amazing sixty sacks were filled with debris in just over two hours. This work is necessary not just for cosmetic reasons but also for making sure that gutters and drains are clear to allow water to run away from the fabric of the building. Thank you again. Peter Smith

Remembrance Poppies

Mary Pierce, one of the members of our Church family cro-cheted seventy beautiful poppies recently. We displayed them at the back of the Church and asked for a donation of two pounds per poppy. The last one was sold the week prior to Remembrance Sunday. The sum of one hundred and thirty three pounds was raised. Our thanks go to Mary for her dedi-cation making so many. The money collected has been sent to the Royal British Legion. Pam Hasler

THINK FOOD BANK

As a church we are committed to support-ing the Food Bank in Consett & Stanley.

(There are now 20 Food Banks operating in the Durham Diocese)

Samaritans Purse “Operation Christmas Child” Shoeboxes Thank you to all the generous people who filled a shoe box this year. We have safely delivered 40 shoe boxes to the depot, to be checked and monitored. You have helped to give some disadvantaged child a happier Christmas, which is great. Thank you! Brenda and Steve.

Christmas Open House. Christmas Open House takes place on Thursday December 3rd. It is always special and we would love you to join us for a delicious sandwich lunch, cake, cards, crackers, carols and much more. The doors open at 11.30am.Why not try it. Last month over 50 people attended! We look forward to seeing you. The more the merrier! Brenda and the Open House Team.

2016 Lanchester Church Diaries Copies of the 2016 Lanchester Church Diariy, in an attractive new binding , are now available at the back of the Church . Please leave your donation in the container provided. A mini-mum donation of £1 is suggested.

FUTURE EVENTS

Do come and join us

for lunch

11.30-1pm December 3rd

Prayers in Church at 12.45pm

Church open for Private Prayer

from 11.30 onwards

Julian

Prayer Meetings 2pm in the Chapter House

Everyone is welcome

Do Come and Join us

Walking with Old Testament Women

REBEKAH (part 2)

Do come and join us!

Tuesday 8th December

41 Foxhills Crescent

14th December 11th January 2016

Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina

On the first and third Mondays of each month,

7.30 – 9.00 p.m. in the Chapter House.

All are welcome.

Centering Prayer is a method of silent prayer, based on the most ancient approaches to Christian prayer, and

now adapted for use in the modern world.

Lectio Divina is a traditional way of reading scripture as a source of prayer. The two practices complement each other. For more information, please speak to Howard

Nelson in church, or email

hghn42@gmail.com

SUNDAY SCHOOL

Every Sunday in Term time except on ‘Messy Church’ Sundays

10 am at All Saints’

Do come and join in

More volunteers are always needed to help with Sunday School. If you are interested in helping on a rota basis or for further details please contact the Vicar on 01207 521170. Thank you.

3.45pm Sunday 13th December 3.45 Sunday 17th January

Messy Church

From the Archive December 1900 My Dear Friends We have now reached the last month of the year and century: let the few weeks that remain be a time for deep searching of heart for all of us, as we are reminded of the season of Advent that the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. The closing committee meeting in connection with the Harvest Tea, was held on Oct. 24th, when the sum of £21 was again voted to the Church Restoration fund which was most satisfactory On the same day , Oct 24th, there was a quiet but nevertheless a pretty wedding at the Church, the bride was Miss Aynsley, who for some years lived in our village, and the happy man was Mr. William Forster, of Stanley ; the honeymoon was spent in London, where they had the good fortune to witness a unique spectacle—the return of the C.I.V Friday Oct.26th will not readily be forgotten: a more terrible day and night it would be hard to imagine, rain and snow and wind: apparently the storm was confined to the N.E. part of our land and the accounts of the havoc that it wrought were indeed serious; the village street was turned into a river, whilst the houses at the mill were inundated to a considerable depth. A special meeting was held on Nov. 14th to consider three further points of improvement in the Church - the erection of a new font worthy of the edifice: the razing to the level of the floor the Clavering vault, at the North door; replacing with stained glass the Tower window; this Mrs Hedley is doing in memory of her husband who did so much for the Church; the ceremony of dedicating the window is fixed for the first Sunday of the New Year and is to be performed by Canon Body. The Churchwardens, in answer to an advertisement for a Sexton and a Caretaker for Church and Schools have received more than 50 applications in four days ; only two of the applicants reside in our own county; an evidence of the good work and high wage that is to be obtained in Durham.. Christmas Day this year falls on Tuesday, there will be Holy Communion at 8-30, and also at noon : Morning service at 10.30 as usual

News from the Wardens

The repaired cross on the chancel roof is now in place; the new stone of the stem is obvious now but should soon weather in. Whilst the steeplejacks were on site we asked them to carry out surveys of the parapets to the aisles and nave as well as a couple of areas where there has been water ingress. Access to the nave roof is via a hatch in the void above the nave ceiling reached through an opening in the clock chamber; upon reaching this point and before going out onto the roof they could see daylight through the hatch and water stains on the roof timbers. Upon opening up they found that the hatch-covering had rotted and some tiles had moved; this explains why water had come down the wall above the hymnbook stand. Things did not improve when they started checking the parapets as they found that the pointing in many areas had deteriorated to such an extent that the stones could be moved. As a result we are now faced with further extensive repairs which cost £3500 plus VAT; this will also include re- pointing the roof at the head of the tower staircase. We have now received permission from the Diocese to proceed with these essential repairs but hope to start work at the end of November. ----------------- The Archdeacon of Durham, the Venerable Ian Jagger, visited us in October to carry out an Inspection of the Parish. He met with the Wardens and looked at our administration procedures, completing a four page questionnaire which included sections on the buildings, contents, registers and records, finance and insurance. The four of us spent a morning preparing for the visit, digging out the relevant paperwork and files to ensure that we were able to answer his questions. It is always good to have a third party look at procedures and make recommendations for improvements. We are pleased to report that he found everything to be in good shape and subsequently we each received a letter of thanks from the Archdeacon for our work and also saying how much he always enjoyed his visits to Lanchester. ----------------- There was an extremely generous donation of gifts for the harvest services and we were able send a carload of food to both Consett Food4us and the Peoples’ Kitchen. Thank you all, your gifts are an important part of our mission. ------------------ Our thanks go out to Eric Hepplewhite and his neighbour who voluntarily cleared the large compost heap that stood on the site of the old garden shed in the churchyard. This heap had grown over the years but now the area has been cleared, reseeded and all the material burned-much improving the area and the outlook from their windows. -------------------- Every week at All Saints we are greeted with beautiful floral decorations created by our talented and dedicated team of flower ladies. These flowers are expensive and paid for from voluntary donations and fund-raising events. The P.C.C. only helps out at the major festivals, and so all contributions are gratefully accepted. If you would like to mark a special anniversary or simply help, please speak to Barbara Sproat or Heather Muir. Peter Smith

Bellringers: Ten Years On

It is hard to believe that ten years have passed since the restoration of our bells! A huge project, brought about by the kind generosity of the late Harry Thompson, former Tower Captain who left money in his will for the upkeep of the tower and bells! Initially of course, the restoration included a new steel frame, with provisions for housing eight bells in the future, but six at that particular time. The bells were hung slightly lower down the tower with a new floor beneath them. Four of the bells were restored with new fixtures and fittings the other two were replaced. The 4th bears the inscription The H P Thompson Bequest, the Tenor bell (6th) bears the inscription Canon Peter Waterhouse Vicar. The bells were removed in February 2005 and returned at the beginning of August but unfortunately the tenor was taken away again for fine tuning. It was returned on September 1st, all six bells sounded good together, I will never forget that moment! On October 9th 2005 The Very Reverend Michael Sadgrove, The Dean of Durham dedicated the new 4th and Tenor bells, the new bell frame and rededicated the other four bells! It was certainly a grand evening, the church was full to capacity! In his address the Dean commented on how the cathedral bells reverberated through his house, and also how bells invite rather than summon to worship. He said that bells are a reminder that God must come first in our Christian life, Three years later, we found ourselves with another two Trebles bells making up the ring of eight, given so generously by an anonymous benefactor! Over the last ten years, visiting ringers have commented on our lovely bells, they are a joy to ring and the best in the area, we as a team are very proud and very privileged to be able to ring them! Where are we now ten years on, one asks? Importantly, we still have a very keen, dedicated band of ringers but all at different levels of learning. Indeed we are very lucky to have this, in some areas church bells lie dormant and have no ringers at all. We practice regularly on Friday evenings, ring for Sunday services and weddings when required, and socialise together on occasions! Most of us look forward to our Bellringers’ Christmas Dinner, this year held on December 12th at The Kings Head! We enjoy our annual outings every August Bank Holiday Monday, ringing at different towers on different bells is good experience for everyone! Bellringing is fun, it can be relaxing (when is that? I hear the editor shout!) it is a way of meeting people, it is also a life of continuous learning and dedication to an ancient art! Bells certainly give us plenty to be thankful for! Anyone who is interested in viewing photographs of the Bell Restoration Project, see the file on the unit at the back of church, but can I ask not to remove it from Church! Olga Walker

Traidcraft Thank you to everyone who bought Christmas cards this year and supported Traidcraft. In the last four years Traidcraft has been able to give over £315,000 to CAFOD, Christian Aid and SCIAF from the sale of Christmas cards, products and donations. Christmas is a time of peace and goodwill to all people. Traidcraft work together with skilled artisans living in all kinds of challenging situations. By giving a Traidcraft gift you are not only giving something unique, you are showing you care to the people who made these gifts. Thank you! New items on sale are Coconut, Mixed fruit, gluten-free Geobars, a selection of everyday and occasion cards at £1.00 each, Green Tea, Assorted toffees and Butterscotch sweets and Dates! Please continue to support the work of Traidcraft see our selection of produce, available to purchase in the Chapter House. Olga Walker

ON SALE IN THE CHAPTER HOUSE

biscuits coffee tea dried fruit chocolate

honey muesli and much more

Traidcraft

helps small scale producers in developing coun-

tries

supports people to trade out of poverty

works to bring about trade justice

COME AND BUY – PLAY YOUR PART

A Prayer to Ponder Forgive me Lord for a mind, that turns so readily to weigh my troubles, so seldom to count my blessings. Teach me the practice of recollection, the habit of thankfulness, the art of praise. And may I deal as generously with others as you deal with me. For Jesus Christ’s sake Amen Timothy Dudley Smith (b. 1926)

Editor: And now for something completely differ-ent! Did you know that on 21st December the crossword puzzle will be 100 years old? We didn’t either, but Nigel Beeton did, and so he has written us a poem with some crossword clues within it! Ni-gel admits: “Trying to get crossword clues to rhyme and scan was a bit of a challenge! I fear that the number of letters in brackets interrupts the flow a bit, but it’s only a bit of fun.” (So you’ll find clues in verses 3 & 5 and the answers in verses 4 and 6 – have fun!)

Crossword Fun

A cryptic crossword brings great fun (If you’ve got a twisted mind) With gems like anagrams and puns And hidden clues to find.

For a hundred years we have been clued For words across and down It’s wondrous how the setters brewed Such clues to make us frown!

Lots of lucre, but little luck? (5,7) For nothing squared’s a cube (3) Japanese once flew a duck! (4) Men used to wear this tube. (4)

A ‘small fortune’ should come to you An ‘oxo’ cube you know; A ‘Zero’ was a plane they flew, And ‘hose’ – worn long ago.

You may have seen a cake walk If you had plenty (9) at the time Or heard within a science talk A line concerning lime (6)

A cake walk, or ‘a bun dance’? ‘Alkali’ you’ll not have missed – Are you, dear friend, by any chance A cruciverbalist?

By Nigel Beeton

LANCHESTER E.P. (Cont.) PRIMARY SCHOOL

This has been a very busy term as usual with a number of additional events and activities taking place. Our whole Year 6 class have been on a residential visit to Ford Castle where they all took part in a wide range of team building and outdoor adventure type activities. As expected, every single one of them loved it and demonstrated a wonderful attitude! We have also been successful in securing a substantial amount of funding for another Erasmus+ project (formerly known as Comenius). This project is about the environment and environmental issues in the different countries involved. This project includes schools in Portugal, Romania, Poland, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Sweden, Italy and ourselves. Mr Bailey and myself visited the school in Portugal where the principles, aims and objectives of the project were agreed. Next year, some Year 5 pupils and staff will visit the schools in Sweden and Lithuania and 21 teachers from each of the countries will descend upon Lanchester at the end of January. We hope to hold a community event in school to demonstrate a true British welcome! Many of you may have seen the gradual installation of our new playground equipment. Some very careful budget management and fundraising enabled us in securing enough funds to further improve our school grounds. The climbing blocks, climbing net, sand and water play have been a huge success with all the children although . This has been purchased and installed by ‘Kompan’ who ensure their play equipment all has an educational perspective. Last week, due to the great talents of our children, we recorded a school CD called ‘Lanchester All Stars’. This is going on sale to our parents soon but was a really super morning with the whole school involved. There was a definite buzz in school due to the enthusiasm and enjoyment of everyone! Even the staff recorded a song – not quite sure how that will sound! The next few weeks are always amongst the busiest in the school year! Three Nativities, a Christingle, Carols round the Tree, Christmas Fair, Choir Concerts, Year 6 Trip to Newcastle for pizza on the quayside and Dick Whittington as well as theatre visits into school for the whole school make it an exciting place to be! Jane Davis

The Promise of Advent

Stir up our hearts, we beseech you, to prepare ourselves to receive your Son. When he comes and knocks, may he find us not sleeping in sin, But awake to righteousness, Ceaselessly rejoicing in his love. May our hearts and minds be so purified, That we may be ready to receive his promise of eternal life. from The Gelasian Sacramentary, c. 500 (the oldest official prayer book of the Western Church)

Welcome

Welcome, Jesus baby To a world that is waiting, Welcome, Jesus baby To a world needing joy, Thank you for the presents That you bring us on your birth day, Peace, love and hope Wrapped in one baby boy. By Daphne Kitching

Dates for your Diary December/January 2016

Sun 6th

Mon 7th Tues 8th

Tues 8th

Wed 9th

Thurs 10th

Thurs 10th

Fri 11th Fri 11th

Fri 11th

Sun 13th

Mon 14th

Mon 14th Tues 15th

Wed 16th

Wed 16th

Thurs to Sunday

Thurs 17th

Thurs 17th Frid 18th

Sunday 20th Wed 23rd

Thurs 24th

Thurs 24th

Thurs 24th

Frid 25th

Sun 27th

6:00pm 7:00 pm

3:30 pm

7:30pm

7:30pm

9:15pm

7for7:30pm

All Day

2:00pm

7 for 7:30

3:45pm

AM

2:00pm 9:30to 9:15 11:00 to4:00 7:00pm

16th -20th

12 for 12:30

7:00pm Evening

6:00 pm

6:00 pm

3:00 pm

6:00pm

11:00pm 10:00am

10:am

All Saints Church Chapter House

Burnhope Primary School

Chapter House

Chapter House/Church

Burnhope Primary School

Ricardo’s Lanchester All Saints Church

All Saints Church

Three Horse Shoes

All Saints Church

All Saints Church

Chapter House All Saints Church

All Saints Church

All Saints Church

All Saints Church

Kings Head All Saints Church

All Saints Church

All Saints Church

All Saints Church

St Johns

Village Green All Saints Church

All Saints Church

All Saints Church

Advent Worship SMDT

Messy Church

Meditation Group

M U Advent Evening

Christingle Service

Church Wives Christmas Evening meal Church in use by EP School

EP Christmas Service

Mothers Union Christmas Meal

Christmas Messy Church

Delivery of Christmas Trees

Julian Meeting Decoration of Christmas Trees

Decoration of Christmas Trees Open evening for sponsors of Xmas Tree Festival

Lanchester Xmas Tree Festival (See Poster) Mothers Union Christmas Lunch

Concert in aid of Willowburn and Christian Aid

Lanchester Brass Band Evening music

Service of 9 Lessons and Carols

Nativity and Crib Service Communion Service

Carols on The Village Green

Midnight Communion Service

Family Communion (No Evensong)

Morning services as usual (No evensong

and no service at St Johns. No Midweek service on Wednesday 30th

December

Sun 3rd

Mon 4th

Tues 5th Wed 6th

Sun 10th

Mon 11th

Tues 12th

Wed 13th

Thurs 14th Thurs 14th

Sun 17th

Tues 19th

Sun 24th

Tues 26th Thurs 28th

7:30 pm 6:00 pm

2:00 pm

7:00 pm

7:30 pm

7:00 pm 7:00 for 7:30pm

3:45 pm

7:30 pm

6:00 pm

7:15 pm 7:30

All Saints /St Johns

All Saints Church

Chapter House Chapter House

All Saints Church

Chapter House

Chapter House

Chapter House

Methodist Church Kings Head

Chapter House

Chapter House

Methodist Church

All Saints Church Chapter House

Feast of Epiphany Services as Usual

Decorations removed from Trees

Centering Prayer Standing Committee

Baptism of Christ

Julian Meeting

Meditation Group

Mothers Union - Enrolment

Service Churches Together Wives Group Christmas Meal

Messy Church

Centering Prayer

Christian Unity Service

Contemplative Service Wives Group Trevor Payne (Captain Cook)

January 2016

Wishing all our readers and advertisers A joyful Christmas and a peaceful New Year

Book Reviews

Practical Help for Stressed Christians

By Andrew Procter, SPCK, £9.99 Here is some comforting and practical advice for Christians battling with high levels of pressure. And there are many of us about! For stress is now a huge factor in modern living, with one-third of British workers likely to suffer from it some stage in their careers. Christians are not immune. Indeed it is arguable that they are even more vulnerable to overstress or burnout than secular people because of behavioural expectations relating to God, Church, society, work and the prevailing culture. The authors then offer basic information on various forms that stress can take, followed by material for meditation or reflection; encouragement of some sort, and finally something for the reader to work on.

Christmas Answer

(Lk 2:6)

So many refugees, So many homeless people, So much conflict and des-pair and pain, In a world without answers. But God so loved this world That he created Christmas And came, in Jesus. Jesus, born into poverty, Jesus, who was homeless, Who was a refugee, Who shares our conflict and despair and pain, Who takes it all and transforms it By his life-giving death and resurrection Into possibilities of peace and hope and joy, Into life in all its fullness. Jesus who came out of the stable And lives. God’s answer. Hallelujah. By Daphne Kitching

Whilst waiting in the queue in your local supermarket, pray for the people around you and ask God to bless them

Scripture Cake A recipe taken from Grandma Matthews Cookbook C 1948. 1) 8 ounces Judges 5:25 to last 2) 8 ounces Jeremiah 6:20 3) 1tablespoon 1 Samuel 14:25 4) 3 Jeremiah 17:11 5) 8ounces Samuel 30:12 6) 8 ounces Nahum 3:12 7) 2 ounces Numbers 17:8 8) 16 ounces Kings 4:22 9) 1 teaspoon 11 Chronicles 9:9 10) 1 teaspoon Amos 4:5 11) Pinch Leviticus :2:13 12) 3 Tablespoons Judges 4:9 Method Beat 1,2,and 3 to a cream and add 4 one at a time, still beating then add 5,6 and 7. Beat again and add 8,9, 10 and 11 having previously mixed them. Add 12. Bake in a slow oven for 1.5 to 2 hours. Editor

DAVISONS FOR THE BEST IN FASHION

Front Street, Leadgate

Telephone: 502355

J. & R. DIXON General Haulage

Suppliers of Concreting & Building Sand, Gravel, Dolomite & Roadstone.

‘Farringford’ Cadger Bank, Lanchester Durham DH7 0HE

Eazyclean carpet & Upholstery cleaning First carpet £30, £20 per room thereafter on the same day

Free deodorising with all cleans Rug and mattress cleaning Fire and flood restoration

Mark Armstrong 07968926687

eazycleanmark@aol.co.uk

Maid2Clean (Tyne &

Wear) Ltd are proud to offer insured local

Domestic Cleaners

(Post-Codes: DH1-3, 7-8 & DL 13-16) Weekly, Fortnightly and one-off

cleaning available.

Contact Jeremy Hodnett: 07877 214 336

Email:

Home Communion If you are unable to come to church and wish to receive Home Communion, please contact the Vicar or one of the members of the Shared Ministry Development Team who will be pleased to make the arrangements for you.

Country Homes & Gifts Incorporating

Gallery Coffee Shop 22 Front Street

Lanchester Tel: (01207) 520383

OLYMPIC TYRE SERVICE CAR, VAN, 4X4 & TRUCK TYRES

PUNCTURE REPAIRS WHEEL BALANCING

01207 236200 MITCHELL STREET, ANNFIELD PLAIN

43 Front Street Langley Park Durham DH7 9SA (0191) 373 3700

23 Marshall Terrace Gilesgate Durham City DH1 2HX (0191) 386 3850

Stuart Wright Funeral Service, Durham

24 Hour Service

● Complete Funeral & Monumental Service to all areas ● Private Chapels of Rest ● Funeral pre-payment plans by Golden Charter

www.stuartwrightfunerals .co.uk

DERWENTSIDE GAS LTD

Full Installation - Replacement - Servicing - Repair Boilers - Cookers - Fires - Landlord certificates - Bathroom fitting

Call Simon Fenwick on Free phone 0800 955 3403 or Mobile 0788 211 3403

Heating & Plumbing Services Natural Gas and L.P.G

Advertising

If anyone wishes to advertise in the Parish News please contact Stephen Bailey for further details

Tel: 01207 521884 or s.bailey489@btinternet.com