News & Notices August 2026
- Jul 30
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 3
St Mary's Monkseaton #320 August 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.
This newsletter covers the whole of August 2026.
If you have missed a service, or can't make this Sunday, you can catch up anytime, online.
Sunday 2nd August: Trinity 9
8am Holy Communion
10am Holy Communion
4pm Escape
Sunday 9th August: Trinity 10
8am Holy Communion
10am Holy Communion
Sunday 16th August: Trinity 11
8am Holy Communion
10am Holy Communion
Sunday 23rd August: Trinity 12
8am Holy Communion
10am Holy Communion
Sunday 30th August: Trinity 13
8am Holy Communion
10am Holy Communion
Parish Office
The Parish Office will be closed from Monday 3rd August and will re-open on Wednesday 2nd September. Emails will be checked on an ad hoc basis throughout this period, so if there is anything urgent then please contact the Church Wardens directly or speak to Clergy.
Services During August
During August our 10am services will be 'teaching services' to help people engage with the shape and purpose of our services. Apart from 15th August, which is our patronal festival, we will look at one section of the service each week:
2nd August: Gathering (From opening hymn to the collect prayer)
9th August: The Word (From The bible readings to the prayers of intercession)
15th August: Patronal Festival with guest preacher
22nd August: The Eucharist (From the peace to the post communion prayer)
29th August: Sending (From the notices to parish breakfast)
Giving
On Sunday 12th July, Nigel, Andrew and Jane spoke about 'Giving to support our mission in the community'. The slides, a video of the presentation, the leaflet and more information on how you can join our Parish Giving Scheme can be found here. We are encouraging everybody to review their giving and see if they can increase their support.
Toddlers / Teddy Bear's Picnic
The Toddlers Group is now on it's summer break. However, please join us at our Teddy Bear's picnic on Monday 17th August from 10am to 12pm.
Our regular Monday group will be back up and running on Monday 7th September at 9.30am.
'Bible Lyte'
On Wednesdays our Bible Study group continues in Church after our Holy Communion Service (at 10.30am). The study will start at approx. 11.15am, and will run for an hour. Refreshments will be provided. All are welcome to join at anytime, and we hope to see you there.
Spirituality and Prayer Course
We are running a Spirituality and Prayer course on Saturdays throughout August looking at the following themes:
Overview of prayer and spirituality: How do we pray and what is prayer
Ignatian Spirituality
Physical/practical prayer
Centering and contemplative prayer
The Examen
Starting on 1st August, the course will run for the five Saturdays in August from 9.30am until 11am. Bacon sandwiches will be provided on arrival. All welcome. If you would like to attend, please sign up using the sheet in the entrance foyer at Church or get in touch.
Eco Tip of the Week
Think of helping in any way you can following the massive pollution of our beautiful coast by 25 tons of plastic pellets. The best way is to reduce plastic consumption. What bit of plastic could you give up this summer?
There is more guidance at https://www.northtyneside.gov.uk/plastic-pellets-beaches-nurdles.
If you would like more information, please talk to Kate Stobart.
Church of England - Launchpad
Huge congratulations to the first cohort to complete the Launchpad programme! Bishop Helen-Ann presented certificates to each participant, including our very own Rev Nigel Taylor, during a celebration at Bishop's House earlier this week.
The event was also a chance to share encouraging stories of growth in children and youth ministry across participating parishes, and to hear first-hand from young people about their experiences.
If you’d like to learn more about Launchpad please see here: https://bit.ly/4fkxCFU
100 Club
The winners for July are:
£50 Judith Cure
£30 Diane Scorer
£20 David Tompkins
Arts & Eco Fair - 5th September
We are in the planning process for our 3rd Arts and Eco Fair. Why not save the date and join us for an informative and enjoyable event. There are opportunities for new stalls: please contact the parish office for information.
Eco Church: Repair Café
Our next Repair Café, which is a quarterly event in partnership with North Tyneside Council, is on Saturday 24th October.
PCC
St Mary's PCC met in Church on Wednesday 22nd July. Key points from the meeting included:
the budget report to the end of June was provided by our Treasurer which showed our
income is still down and our expenditure still higher than budgeted.
Terms of Reference for the following groups of our revised structure were approved:
Safeguarding
Fabric & Buildings
Social Group
Justice Peace & Eco
Pastoral
We will now move to getting these groups up and running.
As part our children's safeguarding, an immediate decision was made to reduce the focus of our live streaming so only the alter area is included.
PCC have requested a review of our compliance position with regards to kitchen H&S which is already underway.
The next meeting of the PCC will be on 16th September, with a prior Standing Committee on 12th August.
Fun and Friendship by the Sea
Come and join Whitley Bay Churches Together at the beach, every weekend in August (Friday to Sunday + Bank Holiday) from 2pm, starting on 7th August.
There will be organised games and activities for youth and children on Saturdays.
All are welcome! Meet on the Whitley Bay beach, near to the Rendezvous café. Look out for the banner!
For more information go to www.whitleylodgebaptist.org.uk or contact David Schannen, Community Minister at david.schannen@whitleylodgebaptist.org.uk
Supporting our Claire
Our fabulous Assistant Curate Claire Lewis will be running the AJ Bell Great North Run in September - the World’s biggest and best half marathon! She is raising money for North East Action for Children Parents and Inclusion (NAPI), a charity of which she is Chair of the Management Committee.
NAPI recognises that the needs of children and their families are diverse and individual. It provides and promotes services and support to children and families, local communities, volunteers and organisations, empowering the social, educational and health needs of all those involved.
If you would like to support Claire via a donation, please click here.
Regular weekly events during August:
Tuesdays
9am: Morning Prayer
10am: Craft Group
7.30pm: Church at the Kittiwake
Wednesdays
9am: Morning Prayer
10.30am: Holy Communion
11.15am: Bible Lyte
Thursdays
9am: Morning Prayer
7.30pm: Bible study at Ron's house
Saturdays
9.30am - 11am: Spirituality and Prayer Course
5.00pm: Marianum
Sundays
8am Holy Communion
10am Holy Communion
4pm Escape (on 2nd August only)
Prayers
Jill Horn is now much improved and she, and her family, are so grateful for all the prayers from our congregation.
Your Prayers are requested for
Jill, Martin Cooper, Monique Hughes, Jennifer Stephenson, John Hughes, Don Bulmer, Ian Davies, Colleen, Mark, Pete Johnson
For those whose anniversaries of death fall at this time
Derek Hayes, John E Sutton, Anne Russell, Cecelia Maguire, Ella Joyce, Sylvia Dickinson, Mary Elizabeth Rose, John Ayres Morris, Gladys Muitt
We also pray for
The Links, Claremont Road, Grenada Drive, Bideford Gardens, Monkridge
Comments