St Mary's Monkseaton # 251 March 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.
Find out more about our upcoming Services here.
If you missed last week's service, or can't make this Sunday, you can catch up online.
Holy Communion: 2nd before Lent
8am Holy Communion
10.00am Holy Communion
4.00pm Escape
Church Window Replacement
There is now information at the back of church regarding the replacement of the church windows.
We need to replace all the windows (except the stained glass ones) for several reasons. The two main reasons are:
- Safety. There is a real risk of the current windows breaking and causing damage or injury.
- Heat. New windows will provide much better insulation as we move towards ‘net zero’.
The total cost is going to be between £75,000 and £85,000 depending on the VAT status of the work.
The PCC have agreed that the work should be funded from reserves, grants and the church community.
Please look at the display and look at the the website:
Please think and pray about whether you are able to help towards the cost.
Perhaps donate towards the cost of a window in memory of a loved one, or to celebrate something.
Each window will cost a minimum of £1000 but, of course, just pay what you feel you can.
There are three ways you can donate.
By cash using the envelopes provided on the white table and post in the wall safe above. If you would like to be acknowledged for your donation please put your name on the envelope
By cheque, made payable to St Mary's PCC with 'Windows' written on the back and then posted into the wall safe.
By using the 'Go Fund' button below.
Please, if you are a tax payer and able, complete the gift aid section on the 'Go Fund page or if giving by cash or cheque complete a gift aid form.
Preparation for Lent
This coming week sees the beginning of Lent, a time for reflecting on our faith and how we might draw closer to God. It is a period of 40 days (not including Sundays) when traditionally people have fasted or given up luxuries such as chocolate or biscuits or doing something positive for family, friends or neighbours and when we engage in deepening our faith through learning. This year there will be an opportunity to engage with 'Reconciliation' through our joint reflective services with St Paul's Whitley Bay and St Peter's Monkseaton. Why not join us to deepen your faith and love of God?
Lent Reflections
Following the success of last years joint Lent reflections with St Paul and St Peters, we have put together another joint series of reflections based on reconciliation. These will be on Thursday evenings and so Bible Study will be postponed during Lent. The series will be concluded with a joint Eucharist at St Paul's Whitley Bay on Saturday 12th April at midday with lunch.
To launch Lent, we will be holding 2 services of Holy Communion with imposition of Ashes. They will be at 10.30am in our usual Wednesday morning service and 7.30pm in the evening.
2025 All New Electoral Roll!
Every six years each parish is required to prepare a new electoral roll. This year there will be no automatic update to the roll. Everyone wishing to be on the Electoral Roll must fill in an application form by the 21st of March 2025.
A notice has been displayed on the board by the entrance and on the notice board outside with the details of the process. Forms are available from the table by the notice board or from the office.
Who can be on the electoral roll?
To be on the electoral roll a person needs to have been baptised, be at least 16 years old and either:
· a member of the Church of England or of a Church in communion with it and resident in the parish.
· a member of the Church of England or of a Church in communion with it, not resident in the parish, but habitually attended public worship in the parish during the preceding six months.
· a member in good standing of a Church not in communion with the Church of England but subscribes to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and also a member of the Church of England and habitually attended public worship in the parish during the preceding six months.
It is important that the electoral roll properly reflects the membership of the church. It is the best way to have your say on the governance of St Mary's and allows you to vote on representatives at the APCM. Please fill in a form and put it in the box. If you know someone who needs a form but they can't get here before the deadline please either take one or let Nigel, Claire or Liz Hayesknow and we will make sure one is sent out. Thank you.
OWLS
Our March 14th meeting will be Bishop John Packer speaking about ‘Bishops in the House of Lords’. If you would like to join us to hear what promises to be an interesting talk, just sign up on the list which is on the table in the vestibule at church by Sunday the 9th March.
We meet at 12 noon for a sandwich lunch which is paid for on the day, just £6.50 for sandwiches cake and tea or coffee, cash please. It will be a good event to give OWLS a try if you are new to the Parish, or if you haven’t been to a meeting yet!
We hope to see you.
Beryl Austoni Tel 07808 078894 for more information.
Our New Congregation: 'Marianum'
On Saturdays at 1700 we have started a new congregation. The service includes contemporary music, prayer, preaching and food. We are exploring what makes church ‘church’. So far we’ve looked at community and accepting God’s love. In the coming weeks we’ll cover worship, confession, forgiveness and sharing the Gospel please pray for us as we continue to find new ways to build up the ‘Body of Christ’.
Eco Church.
Now and moving forward.
I would like to do an update over the next couple of weeks, of the environmental work done here at St. Mary’s. The plan is to add the information to our Eco Church survey and give a progress report at next month’s PCC meeting. Could all groups and individuals, please let me know about your eco works done since the last update, which was printed in last week’s newsletter. Contact me by email, phone or I will be in church on Sunday. Thank you, to those who have already sent an update.
Our Eco Church journey.
St. Mary’s joined the Eco Church program at the end of 2019, with the aim to reduce our environmental impact and become net zero carbon by 2030, in line with the Church of England's plans. Past redevelopment work in the Church building and grounds have helped address several major eco issues. In 2021 we obtained our Bronze Eco Church award.
As we have been on our Eco journey several years now, 2025 seems a good relaunch point, to go forward with a renewed enthusiasm, to get things done, make a difference and work towards our Silver award. So much more information is out there and more eco-friendly options readily available, than when we started, which should, hopefully, help make our efforts easier.
Thank you to all those working on present projects or have already achieved eco changes.
As we go forward, we are continually trying to use less energy in all we do. The buildings group are looking at improving our energy efficiency by insulating areas of the church. A major improvement will be, when we replace the original, single glazed, draughty windows with energy efficient double glazing. This will reduce our energy usage, reduce our energy bills and reduce our carbon footprint.
We hope you will support this next stage of our eco journey, in any way you can. Please keep the environmental crisis and all those working for a sustainable future, in your prayers.
Marion Oakes (Eco rep)
On Saturday 8th March at 6.30pm for 7.00pm in St Mary’s Church Hall
Sue Johnson's daughter is holding a Beetle Drive in support of MIND
Ticket are £10 and include party buffet and drinks or £5 beetle drive only.
Please RSVP to Rachel: 07870481057 or email rachel.johnson17@icloud.com
You can also get more information from Sue on 07817001492
Thank you for all your support!
Saturday 1st March
5.00pm: Marianum
Sunday 2nd March Sunday before Lent
8am: Holy Communion
10am:Holy Communion
4pm: Escape
6.30pm St Mary's Youth Group
Monday 3rd March
9.00am: Morning Prayer
9.30am Toddlers
4.30pm: Evening Prayer
Tuesday 4th March (Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Day)
9.00am: Morning Prayer
10.00: Craft Group
4.00pm Pancake party
7.30pm: Church in the Kittiwake
Wednesday 5th March (Ash Wednesday and beginning of Lent)
9.00am: Morning Prayer
10.30am: Holy Communion with impostition of Ashes.
12.00: Introduction to the Bible.
4.30pm: Evening Prayer
6pm: Choir
7.30pm Holy Communion with imposition of Ashes.
Thursday 6th March
9.00am: Morning Prayer
9.30-11am: Pop in Cafe
4.30pm: Evening Prayer
6.30pm: Lent Reflection joint service at St Mary's
Friday 7th March
Office closed.
Saturday 8th March
8.00am -1pm: Diocesan Synod in church (Church closed for meeting)
5pm: Marianum
Sunday 9th March
8am: Holy Communion
10am: Holy Communion
4.00pm: Choral Evensong
6.30pm: St Mary's Youth Group
Prayers
Your Prayers are requested for:
Sophie, Martin Cooper, John Hughes, Suzanne, Iris Allan, Jennifer Stephenson, Janet Minto and Jill.
Rest in Peace
Nicky Randall and Leonard Skinner
Remembering also those whose anniversaries of death fall at this time:
Letitia Grace Johnson, Leonard Edward Morris, Edith Clark, Bill Reay and Stephen John Pettitt
We also pray for all youngsters and leaders who use Brierdene Scout Hut
For Tom and Jenny whose Banns of Marriage are to be read in church.
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