Come and join us in church this Sunday 30th August 2020 for a Service of the Word. To help us prepare we are asking that you let us know you're coming. You can do that by clicking below, or by leaving a message on the office answerphone.
If you aren't able to join us in church, you can still join in from home. The service is LIVE from 09:45am on Sunday, then available as a video all week.
Parish Eucharist & Patronal Festival
After many months, we will return to our Parish Eucharist as the main service of the week, starting on Sunday 6th September at 10am, which coincides with our Patronal Festival (the Sunday nearest the Birth of Mary, the mother of Jesus, when we celebrate the dedication of our church to St Mary.) There will be a few changes to our normal, pre-lockdown service, in line with Church of England guidance on celebrating Holy Communion, but it will be a joy nonetheless. We do need to wear face coverings in church now so do bring one and you can also bring along any Planned Giving envelopes too.
From 6th September we are able to welcome more people into church than before—still socially distanced—and it would be lovely to see you there. We're still going to be using the sign up system (either online or via the Office) because it’s helpful for us to know who’s coming in advance, but if you do just turn up on the day, we will find space for you if we can.
Live Stream Update
We managed a successful live stream last Sunday, but we're not home and dry just yet: there are still a few issues with the audio sync and volume, but we're improving...so keep persevering, and continue to be patient. Thank you!
APCM
Our Annual Parish Church Meeting will be held on Sunday 20th September at 11:30am. We’re still working out how best to facilitate the meeting, and we’ll let you know nearer the time. But put the date in your diaries!
Wedding in Church
Friday 4th September at 11.00am in church – the wedding of Sue Morgan and Adrian Picton. We send Sue and Adrian our love, congratulations and best wishes from all at St Mary’s.
Music: First Steps Questionnaire
Thank you to everyone who has completed this short survey. These questions will help us to work out what our wants and needs are before we advertise for someone to help lead our music. If you've not had a chance to fill it in yet, give it a go. The more responses we get, they more comprehensive a picture we get.
You can submit anonymously, or you can add your name. The survey questions are below, or you can click here to complete them via the SurveyMonkey website.
Virtual Coffee Morning returns!
Our Online Coffee Morning via Zoom is starting up again beginning on Tuesday 1st September! If you are able to join us online between 10:30am and 11:15am on Tuesdays we’d love to see you.
Click the link above, or go to ‘Events’ on our website to RSVP and get a link to join via Zoom. You would need to click on RSVP and enter your name and email address and click on ‘submit’. An email is then sent to you with a link to the Coffee Morning. If you haven’t already got Zoom, you can get it for free on your computer, tablet or phone. You could download it now from https://zoom.us.
Flowers in Church
The flowers in church this Sunday are in loving memory of Marina Pratt from Patrick
Happy Birthday Edna
We send birthday greetings to Edna Davis who will celebrate her 98th birthday on Friday 28th August. After her recent spell in hospital Edna is now being cared for at home. Congratulations Edna and love from all your Church family.
Thanks from Clare
Many thanks for all the lovely flowers, cards and messages of sympathy you’ve sent me after my Mum’s death. I have felt supported and cared for by my lovely church family.
Clare
New Book: Scripture Messages
Copies of Derek Burton’s book ‘Scripture Messages’ are available free of charge. (Any donations from members to parish funds would be appreciated). Let the office or Derek know if you’d like a copy: 0191 251 2064 or derekburton344@gmail.com
"I recommend Derek Burton's book for many reasons. It is a well organised collection of talks and messages on extracts based on the Bible. It is informed and illustrated with stories and examples, as well as references to other parts of the Bible. This book makes you want to read more of the chapter from which the texts are taken. Above all it is a candid testimony to the power and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ to change and enrich lives. It has integrity. A good book, I think to use for Bible study, as it aims to point to a personal relationship with Christ. More than ever it is relevant today in our beautiful but disturbed and chaotic modern world."
Rosemay Dunlop
Thank you for all your handbags!
We have received these beautiful bags for the women in our North Tyneside Refuge from "Love Grace x". This is a charitable initiative set up in memory of Grace Millane. Grace was unjustly taken from her family on the eve of her 22nd birthday whilst backpacking around New Zealand. Grace’s family have been working with The White Ribbon charity to raise money, and this has gone towards educating at a grass roots level about the issues of domestic violence & violence against women. However as a family they wanted to do something for the women that have suffered. So after seeing a social media post about filling an unwanted handbag with toiletries the idea for Love Grace was born. They worked with local refuges to set up a handbag appeal; they discussed the sort of things the women in their refuges would appreciate, and set up an appeal with friends & family. Each bag has shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, deodorant, toothpaste & toothbrush. They then try to fill them with as many luxuries (or things we take for-granted) as possible: make up, body lotion, perfume, hair brushes, note-books etc. Each bag is then tied with white ribbon and a tag telling the ladies a little about Grace and reminding them that they matter. We just wanted to say a massive thank you for thinking of us and for your kind donations.❤️
Ann Elliott
Plants Sale for Church Funds
Last year, Dave Haddock, who was running the Tai Chi class in our hall, brought a selection of plants and shrubs to our Autumn Fayre. He is now offering to sell some of his plants which he grows in his Wallsend nursery garden, and he will deliver if local. 30% of sales will be donated to St Mary’s, so be sure to mention St Mary’s when you order!
So far £130 has been raised through this scheme!
Order from Dave Haddock: tel. 0191 2524985, mob. 07976 687973, or email: landman2000uk@yahoo.co.uk. View the Catalogue below.
Church Open Times
Morning Prayer is on Wednesdays at 9am, and the church remains open until midday for private prayer.
The Office is still working remotely, as is the norm in August. Any phone messages or emails will be checked regularly and correspondence could be popped through the letterbox in the north door and will be responded to as soon as possible.
Do let us know if you or others are celebrating any special event or anniversary or if you have any news you wish to share and we can put this news into our future email letters. You can do this by leaving a message on the church office answerphone 0191 251 4216 or email at: office@stmarysmonkseaton.org.uk.
For your prayers this week:
Your prayers are requested for
Martin Cooper
Emma Campbell
Michael Hampson
Olya Bouchard
Edna Davis
Jonathan Jackman
Rest in Peace
Hazel Wood
Marina Pratt (Anniversary)
Canon Alan Porteus (Anniversary)
Please also pray for
Sue Morgan and Adrian Picton who are to be married here at St Mary’s on Friday 4th September at 11.00am.
Don’t forget, you can add someone to the prayer list by emailing or phoning as usual, but you need to get their permission before adding them to the sick list. You can also use the form on the website here to submit a prayer request online.
Hymns & Readings from this Sunday's Service
First Hymn
Take up thy cross, the Saviour said, if you wouldst my disciple be; deny thyself, the world forsake, and humbly follow after me. Take up thy cross - let not its weight fill thy weak spirit with alarm; his strength shall bear thy spirit up and brace thy heart and nerve thine arm. Take up thy cross, nor heed the shame, nor let thy foolish pride rebel; thy Lord for thee the Cross endued, to save thy soul from death and hell. Take up thy cross then in his strength, and calmly ev'ry danger brave: 'twill guide thee to a better home, and lead to vict'ry o'er the grave. Take up thy cross, and follow Christ, nor think till death to lay it down; for only they who bear the cross may hope to wear the glorious crown. To thee, great Lord, the One in Three, all praise for evermore ascend: O grant us in our home to see the heav'nly life that knows no end
Charles W. Everest
Tune: Breslau
Collect
Almighty and everlasting God,
you are always more ready to hear than we to pray
and to give more than either we desire or deserve:
pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid
and giving us those good things
which we are not worthy to ask
but through the merits and mediation
of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
First Reading
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:9-end
Gospel
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
“For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Matthew 16:21-end
Second Hymn
From heaven you came helpless babe Entered our world, your glory veiled Not to be served but to serve And give Your life that we might live
This is our God, The Servant King He calls us now to follow Him To bring our lives as a daily offering Of worship to The Servant King
There in the garden of tears My heavy load he chose to bear His heart with sorrow was torn 'Yet not My will but Yours, ' He said
Come see His hands and His feet The scars that speak of sacrifice Hands that flung stars into space To cruel nails surrendered
So let us learn how to serve And in our lives enthrone Him Each other's needs to prefer For it is Christ we're serving
Graham Kendrick
Tune: The Servant King
Full Transcript of this week's Service
We send out a full transcript of the service to those who don't have internet access. If you would like to download it, you can do that here:
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