Worship with us this Sunday!
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THIS WEEK'S NEWS
Harvest Festival
This Sunday, we celebrate Harvest, gathering to give thanks for the good things in our lives and to act with generosity towards those less fortunate.
It is a time which for many of us is evocative of childhood; of bringing food for those in need, singing hymns and saying prayers.
Today at St Mary's, we house a permanent collection point
for the Foodbank, and Harvest is a time when we can contribute in support of this valuable work in light of the winter months ahead.
If you would like to bring a donation for the Foodbank this Sunday, it would be gratefully received.
A Message from Ben
Dear Friends, I’m sorry to have to let you know that I have Covid. The symptoms are flu/cold-like and I’m resting and recovering (having been double vaccinated months ago). I’m looking forward to being back with you all very soon; with my annual leave included, it feels like such a long time since I was at St Mary’s! I have already received so many well-wishes and offers of help, and I am very grateful. With this week’s Harvest Festival, I am especially reminded that whatever comes our way, we have so much to be thankful for. Can’t wait to see you soon. Ben
Eco Church
This week we celebrate Harvest Sunday, a time to give thanks and celebrate the gifts of creation. It follows on from Climate and Generosity Sundays, which highlighted our responsibility to care for Creation and to use our abilities and talents.
As a church community we have joined Eco Church and shown our intention and commitment to making a difference to the present environmental issues. We continue to look at the changes we can make to lessen our impact on the environment and increase the awareness our actions have on the local and global community. We all have the ability to make small changes and we can all make a difference.
As a more normal way of church life returns and we open up for meetings and social events, we have the opportunity to take important steps to make a difference and demonstrate our wish to care for those around us and the environment. We can renew our commitment to using Fairtrade products in church and at events, ditch disposables and single use plastics, look at the sustainability and composition of products we buy and support our local tradespeople. To mention but a few.
I would love to hear your ideas, comments and the actions you're taking. Please, if you haven’t already, have a look at the eco board in church. It may give you ideas for some new actions.
Marion Oakes.
Afternoon Tea in a box
As part of our Mini Autumn Fair on October 30th 2021, Carol Nesbitt and her team are offering beautiful Afternoon Tea boxes - ideal as a gift, or just to treat yourself!
You can eat your afternoon tea in church with friends, take it home to enjoy at your leisure, or perhaps gift one to someone else?
Afternoon Tea boxes can be collected from St Mary's between 1-3pm on the day of the fair. To order (tea for one costs £3, tea for 2 costs £5.50), please put your money into an envelope with your name clearly written on it and place it in the box in the vestibule. Alternatively, email Carol Nesbitt to place your order and receive further instructions on how to pay.
There will be 100 Afternoon Teas available so don’t wait too long before you order yours or you might be disappointed!
See you on 30th October,
Carol and her Team.
Anna Dias in Concert
This Sunday 3rd October there is a FREE concert at St Mary's at 3pm by Anna Dias, soprano. Anna has just completed her undergraduate studies at Newcastle University studying music under the tutorship of Miranda Wright, achieving a first class degree. She commenced her job as a graduate music teacher at Barnard Castle School in September.
Much of the repertoire Anna has chosen for this concert is taken from her final recital programme which she was unfortunately unable to perform in front of a live audience due to the pandemic. Church will be open from 2.30pm for the refreshments and you can just turn up at the door and enjoy around 45 minutes of free entertainment. Do come along and support this event - we hope to see you there.
Covid 19 Update
After due consideration, taking into account the number of cases in North Tyneside and children returning to school, it has been decided that the current arrangements in church will remain in place at this time. Please be assured that it will be kept under review.
DIARY
Sunday 3rd October, 18th Sunday after Trinity
Harvest Festival
8am Holy Communion
10am Sung Eucharist
Readings -
OT: Joel 2:21-27
NT: Revelation 22: 1-5
Gospel: Matthew 6: 25-33
3pm Anna Dias Concert (refreshments from 2.30pm)
Monday 4th October
9:30am-11am Toddler Group
Tuesday 5th October
9am No Morning Prayer
Wednesday 6th October
9am No Morning Prayer
10:30am No Holy Communion
Thursday 7th October
9am No Morning Prayer
Sunday 10th October, 19th Sunday after Trinity
8am Holy Communion
10am Sung Eucharist
Monday 11th October
9:30am-11am Toddler Group
For your prayers this week:
Your Prayers are requested for
Revd Ben Jarvis
Martin Cooper
Lucinda & her children
Alison Young
Ron House
Sylvia McDougle
Dorothy
Kathleen Dales
Jenny Watling
Rest in Peace
Albert Abernathy RIP 30th September 2021
Please also pray for
Josephine Chambers who was baptised here at St Mary's on Sunday 26th September.
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.
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Reminders
Remember that News and notices from previous weeks are all available to read by clicking "notices" at the top of the page.
Autumn Mini Fair 30th October 2021
We are very much looking forward to our Autumn Fair next month! Our Fair website will be live from 1st October, but for now, here's a taster of what's going on.
Home Produce
On the day of the Fair, we are going to have a fabulous home produce stall. St Mary's folks are great cake makers - please do contact Ruth Blake if you would like to make one (or any jam, chutney, etc) as a contribution. Items would need to be delivered to the church on the morning of the Fair for setting up / pricing.
'Attic Treasures' and 'Past and Present'
We are seeking vintage, old or new good quality items for an online auction as well as for a stall on the day of the fair. These could include boxed items, good quality jewellery, nests of tables or cameras - please no books, plastic or electrical goods. Contact Tom Savage if you have anything to offer to the fayre - if you have treasured it, someone else will too!
Announcement from David, Sue & Liz
As most of our community know, Rachel was installed as the Archdeacon of Northumberland on Sunday 5th September.
This means we went into 'vacancy' from Monday 6th September. Of course, we still have Clare, Ben and the other staff members, so other than there being no Rachel, all should appear smooth on the surface. But underneath, we're all paddling like mad. There's a lot that needs to be done and we (Sue, Liz and David) have already met with Tim Mayfield, the Area Dean, and have another meeting booked shortly. Liz, Sue and David can start preparing the Parish profile officially but this will take some time. After we're happy with the profile, we'll start the recruitment process for our next vicar. Please pray for us and bear with us as we undertake these tasks for our parish and we will do our very best to respond to queries or sort things out.
David and Sue (churchwardens)
Liz (Chair of PCC)
Concert Series 2021 - Tickets available now!
Tickets for the upcoming Birkett and Fisk concert on Saturday 16th October, and for 'The Miranda Wright Singers' on Saturday 27th November, are now available either from our website (10% off with discount code EARLYBIRD10) or from the church office, open 10am-12pm every weekday.
Roadmap out of Lockdown:
A reminder of our latest Covid Measures (valid from Sunday 25th July 2021)
All government restrictions have ended, but we have been following the latest Church of England advice to ensure that we can continue to worship together safely and with confidence.
Some measures are being relaxed, moving our worship slowly towards the way things were pre-Covid, but some measures are being retained for now. Please do get in touch if you have any queries or concerns.
Measures we are keeping:
The wearing of masks.
The sign-up for the 10am Eucharist (not essential but helps to speed up the arrival process).
Doors open for ventilation.
Hand sanitiser available.
Rows of seats will be well spaced.
Washing and sanitising for the President and Deacon at the Preparation of the Altar and Distribution of Communion.
We will not be sharing the wine at Communion yet.
We will not be having regular refreshments after the 10am Eucharist yet.
The 10am Eucharist will continue to be live streamed.
At the 8am Holy Communion, no changes will be made from current practice.
Elements we are relaxing/introducing at 10am:
Introduction of a traffic-light sticker system: you can choose a red, yellow or green sticker to wear, which will show others immediately how comfortable you are with social interaction.
We will be responsible for our own distancing and seating arrangements. Please be bold in sharing your preferences with others around you. This is particularly important at the Peace, which may be shared physically (with immediate neighbours), with their consent.
We will be able to sing (if masks are worn; just the Eucharist Setting and Offertory Hymn to start off with).
We will come up to the front for Communion.
The Noah's Ark children's corner will be available for little ones.
Increase maximum capacity (though still retaining spaced seating).
Removal of the one-way system (i.e. exit via the Main (West) Door).
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