News & Notices 25th January 2026
- Jan 22
- 5 min read
St Mary's Monkseaton # 293 January 2026
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: Epiphany 3
8.00am Holy Communion
10.00am Holy Communion
Shrove Tuesday Afternoon Holiday Club
Shrove Tuesday (17th February) is in the school holidays this year so we would like to offer an afternoon holiday club to children 11 and under before the usual Pancake Party. It would start at 1pm till 4pm when we open the doors and invite everyone to eat pancakes.
In order to provide this for 40 children we will need some help. If you are available to join the team to provide support (especially if you already have a church DBS certificate) please speak to Claire or Nigel.
To sign up to the club, please use the barcode below:
PCC Meeting of 21st January 2026
Bullet points from the meeting of the PCC. If you have any queries please speak to Nigel or Claire
The Diocese has engaged a new company for processing Discolsure and Barring Safeguarding Checks (DBS) which all volunteers working with children or vulnerable adults will need to have. In addition all voluntary posts will need to be 'safely recruited'. More information will be forthcoming. NEVER BE AFRAID TO REPORT TO CLERGY OR THE PARISH SAFEGUARDING OFFICER (SUE JOHNSON) AND CONCERNS OR SUSPICIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF A CHILD OR ADULT.
Health and Safety Risk Assessments have been completed and are being reviewied on a regular basis. If you notice any Health and Safety risks, please speak to a warden.
With the help of fundraising such as the Christmas Fair and donations we finished the year 2025 in a positive position. We have challenges with income for this coming year and the PCC will be considering how to manage this.
A new meeting structure was approved by the PCC. The foundation of this will be improved communication and the opportunity for people to join groups to offer their gifts and talents. A display of the new structure and what each group will be doing will be put up toward the end of February.
The PCC were delighted to receive the news that an order for the windows has been placed and further work will be ongoing to achieve grants for the remaining windows at the higher level. The congregation will be notified of a start date for the works.
Volunteers are needed to help on Tech Desk. Training will be provided. Speak to clergy, Kate Stobart or David Lax.
100 Club
Our January winners are:
£50 Molly Pole
£30 Ron Noble
£20 Audrey Searle
OWLS
A message from Beryl.
The next OWLS Meeting is on Friday 13th February. Please sign up for this meeting by Sunday 9th January so that I can order food. We have a speaker for the meeting who will be talking about the role of Crafting after crime.
If you have any questions my phone number is 07808 078894 please text or call. We look forward to seeing you all on the 13th February.
Men's Breakfast
Following the white ribbon service in November 2025, a decision was taken to raise awareness of domestic abuse in our Parish. The first step of this is to hold a Men's Breakfast on Saturday 7th February at 10am at St Mary's for all men who would like to know more about domestic abuse and what to do if you become aware of an abusive situation. Bacon sandwiches will be provided. Please sign up at the back of Church. Any questions, please talk to Nigel or Claire.
Toast Church
Toast Church is our weekly children’s service. It runs after school on a Thursday. People are welcome to arrive anytime after 3.30pm for a drink and some toast as we gather after a busy school day. At 4pm we start our service of songs, prayers, story and an activity. Parents can stay if they wish or are welcome to drop off children and pick them up at 4.30pm. The service is designed for under 11’s but all are welcome.
Windows
We are still waiting for a start date for the first phase of windows. Easter is on the horizon, so we will need to bear that in mind.
The first phase will be all the ground floor windows and the circular windows. We’re undertaking the work in phases in view of the rapidly rising costs. The first phase doesn’t involve outside scaffolding which will be far more expensive than we had estimated. Rather than replacing upper windows as we can afford to, we’ll need to raise the entire sum to save on additional scaffolding costs.
As a result we’re looking at how we can raise the necessary additional funds. Although we’ll have a good sum left over from the first phase, much more is needed. We’re mindful of the incredible generosity of the congregation so far, so are now revisiting external funding sources.
A couple of new grant providers are being approached and we are hopeful this will prove successful.
In the meantime, please pray for the scheme and many thanks for all your contributions so far.
If you have any queries please speak to Nigel, Claire or David Tompkins.
Eco Tip of the Week
It's good to use a wide variety of resources to gain information for sustainable living. St. Mary's is one of over 8,000 churches signed up with A Roche UK, which provides a framework, resources and accreditation for Christian communities to care for the environment. They have produced a calendar of easy eco tips for the coming year, which gives simple ideas on how to take action for the climate and nature. Please check out the link below:
Prayer List
If you have requested someone to be added to our prayer list, could we ask you to provide any update to Nigel, Claire or the Office. Many thanks.
Cedarwood Centre
Cedarwood are looking for Wheels of Care - Volunteer Transport. Wheels of Care provides essential transport for local people who need a lift to the Cedarwood Trust Centre and essential appointments, such as GP, doctors.
Can you spare a few hours a week to drive someone to a warm meal, a creative session, or a supportive chat or essential appointments?
Volunteers make this programme possible — and change lives along the way. We also operate a meals delivery service across North Tyneside.
Saturday 24th January
5.00pm: Marianum
Sunday 25th January - Epiphany 3
8.00am Holy Communion
10.00am Sung Holy Communion
Monday 26th January
9.30am Toddlers
Tuesday 27th January
9.00am Morning Prayer
10.00am Craft Group
7.30pm Church in the Kittiwake
Wednesday 28th January
9.00am Morning Prayer
10.30am Holy Communion
5.30pm Young Notes
6pm Choir
Thursday 29th January
9.00am Morning Prayer
From 3.30pm for 4pm Start Toast Church
7.30pm Bible Study (at Ron's House)
Saturday 31st January
5.00pm Marianum
Sunday 1st February - Presentation of Christ
8.00am Holy Communion
10.00am Sung Holy Communion
4pm Escape
Prayers
Your Prayers are requested for:
Jill, Martin Cooper, Monique Hughes, John Hughes, Jennifer Stephenson, Janet Minto, Don Bulmer, Ian Davies, Colleen and Stephen, Sheila Jones, Stuart Colter, Jill Horn.
Rest in Peace
Reverend Canon Rose Lawley, Dot Elliot
Those whose anniversaries of death fall at this time
Ruth Frederica Wolf
Margaret Campbell
Alan Chalton Wolf
We also pray for
Swinbourne Gardens
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