News & Notices 21st September 2025
- St Mary's Parish Office
- Sep 19
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 22
St Mary's Monkseaton # 276 September 2025
Vicar: Rev Nigel Taylor email: vicar@stmarysmonkseaton.org.uk
Curate: Rev Claire Lewis email: ctfairgrieve.lewis@gmail.com
Please note: Nigel and Claire are not available on their day off which is Friday.
If you missed last week's service, or can't make this Sunday, you can catch up online.
Services: Trinity 14
8.00am Holy Communion
10.00am Holy Communion
PCC
The Parochial Church Council met on Wednesday 17th September. The following are some of the key decisions and issues discussed.
• The annual request from the Diocese for projected increase to ‘parish share’ was discussed. The request from the Diocese is for a 10% increase to enable the continued employment of stipendiary priests and to reduce the Diocesan budget deficit. Trustees of the PCC considered the request considering the parish finances, which are under significant pressure due to increases in utility costs and the capital projects that have been completed this year, and have taken a decision to increase the parish share by 6.5% (£5,265). It was agreed to review the finances at the half year point in 2026 with the potential of increasing the offer subject to the parish finances.
• The parish structure was considered, and clergy made a proposal to change the groups that meet to support the work of the PCC and parish. It was recognized that the parish has changed over the years and many people who have served diligently over the years are now tired and we need new people to step up to support the parish.
• The times of services were discussed, and it has been decided to survey the congregation on their views as to the appropriateness of service times. A survey will be prepared and sent out via the newsletter and at the back of church during October.
Standing Committee will meet in October to review progress on decisions made.
Season of Creation 2025 Events
Saturday 20th September: Art and Eco Fair (see poster below)
Friday 26th September: Ceilidh (see poster below)
Saturday 27th September: Bike ride along the new coastal path
10.30am Meet at St Mary’s. We’ll join the path on the sea front and head towards Tynemouth. Any children to be accompanied by an adult please.
Sunday 28th September: The Great British Beach Clean
1.30 -3.30pm St Mary’s Island Nature Reserve – meet at the mainland end of the causeway
Sign up to attend on the Marine Conservation Society website
Saturday 4th October: Pet Blessing Service at St Mary’s 3pm
Sunday 5th October: Harvest Festival
Eco Tip for the Week
Engage with environmental events taking place near you.
The 20th of September is World Cleanup Day. A global event focusing on the textile waste crisis and encourages everyone to unite in clean up efforts to reduce waste pollution and promote responsible consumption habits. By an extraordinary coincidence, St. Mary’s is holding our Art and Eco Fair on the 20th September, tomorrow, and definitely promoting responsible consumerism and caring for nature.
Please come along and support local businesses promoting sustainability, recycling and eco-friendly values. See what can be done with repurposed textiles into bags, clothing, footstools, and many other amazing articles. Also meet groups raising awareness about the impact of waste on the environment, wildlife and health.
We would love to see you. If not here, maybe support an eco event near you.
Please remember to sign the Christian Aid petition in the vestibule, or using the link below, which will be running through Creationtide.
OWLS
Following our summer break we will be meeting again on Friday 10 October.
I’m hoping we will have a speaker for the meeting but there will also be lots of news to share including details of our venue for the Christmas meal.
I look forward to seeing you all. Details are the same as usual, meeting at 12noon, £6.50 for a sandwich lunch. Please feel free to bring along a new friend, but if you do please sign them up on the sheet for lunch. The sign up sheet will be on the table in the vestibule from this coming Sunday. Do phone or text me if you have any queries.
Beryl Austoni
Tel 07808 078894
Older, Wiser, Living Spiritually
Eco Fair
Following the success of last year's event, our 2nd Arts and Eco Fair will take place on Saturday 20th September.
Please come and support the impressive gathering of local eco-friendly artists/crafters, sustainable makers and environmental exhibitors.
Ceilidh
Dust off your dancing shoes for an evening of fun, food and music, raising money for the new windows we need to reduce energy loss and lower St Mary’s carbon footprint, and celebrating 70 years of Monkseaton Morris.
Help Needed
We would be grateful for any help to serve food and serve on the bar. Please contact Mary Cooper on 0191 2525707 or 07690 401006.
Christmas Fair
I’m really excited to announce that planning for St Mary's Christmas Fair is well underway!
The fair will be on Saturday 29th November and we are planning lots of stalls, raffle, tombola, cakes and hopefully a visit from Santa!
We are beginning to reach out to the congregation for anyone who wants to be part of the fair, whether to help, whether to have a stall, whether to donate raffle or tombola prizes or whether to bring in cakes! Please contact Andrew Potter (andrewpotter@hotmail.com) for more details
Church Windows Update
Please support our next fundraising event, the Ceilidh on Friday 26th September.
You can contribute by:
- cheque payable to "St Mary's Monkseaton" or cash (envelopes in church, with Gift Aid slips, into the wall-safe)
- by bank transfer to: Sort Code: 403418, Account: 04502086 Please give your surname as the 'reference'.
Please also email office@stmarysmonkseaton.org.uk if you are able to Gift Aid your donation
Saturday 20th September
10.00am: Eco Fair
No Marianum
Sunday 21st September: Trinity 14
8.00am: Holy Communion
10.00am: Holy Communion
Monday 22nd September
9.30 Toddlers
Tuesday 23rd September
9.00am: Morning Prayer
10.00am: Craft Group
7.30pm: Church in the Kittiwake
Wednesday 24th September
9.00am: Morning Prayer
10.30am: Eucharist
Thursday 25th September
9.00am: Morning Prayer
7.30pm: Bible Study at Ron's
Friday 26th September
7.00pm: Ceilidh
Saturday 27th September
5.00pm: Marianum
Sunday 28th September - Trinity 15
8.00am: Holy Communion
10.00am: Holy Communion
Prayers
Your Prayers are requested for:
Martin Cooper, John Hughes, Jennifer Stephenson, Jill, Janet Minto, Don and Helen Bulmer, Amelia Moyano, Abby and Beth, Monique Hughes, Jemma and family.
Rest in Peace
Susan Kelly
Sophia Lily Evans
Those whose anniversaries of death fall at this time
Thomas Bell
Gertrude Jean Bellamy
Andrew Weatherston
We also pray for
Shaftesbury Avenue
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