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Parish of St.Cuthbert, Benfieldside

Sunday Worship
8.00a.m. Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.00a.m. SUNG EUCHARIST (Common Worship)
6.00p.m. Evening Prayer
+ Choral Evensong (BCP)
Taizé Vespers

Sunday School meets at 10.00a.m. in the Church Hall during term

Weekday Worship Please see the

Calendar &
Morning Prayer: 8.30a.m. Monday - Friday Pewsheet for
Evening Prayer: 5.00p.m. Tuesday alterations to this
Midweek Eucharist: 10.00a.m.Thursday pattern.

Parish Office
Arrangements for Baptisms, Marriages, etc. should
normally be made in the Vicar‟s vestry in church on
Tuesdays at 5.30p.m. - please phone first if possible.
For Spiritual Advice & the Sacrament of Reconciliation
(Confession), please contact the Vicar.

Clergy & Readers

Vicar: The Revd Martin Jackson
St. Cuthbert‟s Vicarage, Church Bank, Shotley Bridge
01207 503019
mobile phone: 0797 226 2412
e-mail: martin.jackson@durham.anglican.org
Readers: Mrs. Rosie Junemann 01207 583998
  Mr. Paul Heatherington 01207 506282

Parish web-site: www.communigate.co.uk/ne/saintcuthberts

Parish Blog: www.saintcuthberts.blogspot.com
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PARISH CALENDAR - NOVEMBER 2009

Sunday 1 FEAST OF ALL SAINTS
(Wisdom 3.1-9; Revelation 21.1-6a; John 11.32-44)
8.00a.m. Eucharist
10.00a.m. SUNG EUCHARIST
6.00p.m. Evening Prayer
Mon. 2 ALL SOULS’ DAY
THE COMMEMORATION OF THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED
2.00p.m. Mothers’ Union Service & Meeting
7.30p.m. SUNG REQUIEM EUCHARIST
Thurs. 5 10.00a.m. Eucharist
Sunday 8 3rd SUNDAY BEFORE ADVENT
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
(Jonah 3.1-5,10; Hebrews 9.24-28; Mark 1.14-20)
8.00a.m. Eucharist
10.00a.m. SUNG EUCHARIST
& Act of Remembrance
& Sunday School
3.00p.m. Service of Remembrance - Memorial Cottages
6.00p.m. Evening Prayer
Mon. 9 7.30p.m. PCC Meeting - Vicarage
Tues. 10 12.30p.m. “Second Tuesday” Lunch Club - Church Hall
Thurs. 12 10.00a.m. Eucharist
Sunday 15 2nd SUNDAY BEFORE ADVENT
(Daniel 12.1-3; Hebrews 10.11-25; Mark 13.1-8)
8.00a.m. Eucharist
10.00a.m. SUNG EUCHARIST
& Sunday School
12 noon Holy Baptism
6.00p.m. Taizé Worship - at All Saint’s, Lanchester
Mon. 16 7.30p.m. Sing Together - in church
Tues. 17 7 for 7.30p.m. Deanery Synod - Christ Church, Consett
Thurs. 19 10.00a.m. Eucharist
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Sunday 22 FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING
(Daniel 7.9-10,13-14; Revelation 1.4b-8; John 18.33-37)
8.00a.m. Eucharist
10.00a.m. SUNG EUCHARIST
& Sunday School
6.00p.m. Evening Prayer
Thurs. 26 10.00a.m. Eucharist
Sunday 29 THE 1st SUNDAY OF ADVENT
(Jeremiah 33.14-16; 1 Thessalonians 3.9-13; Luke 21.25-36)
8.00a.m. Eucharist
10.00a.m. SUNG EUCHARIST
& Sunday School
ADVENT PROCESSION in the Cathedral - look out for details
Mon. 30 2.00p.m. Eucharist at Derwentdale Court

DECEMBER
Thurs. 3 10.00a.m. Eucharist

Saturday 5th December from 12 noon to 3.00p.m.

ST. CUTHBERT’S CHRISTMAS FAIR
Join us in the Church Hall

Sunday 6 THE 2nd SUNDAY OF ADVENT

(Malachi 3.1-4; Philippians 1.3-11; Luke 3.1-6)
8.00a.m. Eucharist
10.00a.m. SUNG EUCHARIST
& Sunday School
6.00p.m. Evening Prayer
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View from the Vicarage

Careful what you write…
As I write these words the Church is in the news - well, not much, but in a
short story that the Vatican has opened the way for Anglican clergy to
transfer their allegiance more easily to Rome should they feel that way
inclined. Of course it was already possible. But now there is to be a
structure, and clergy and congregations who make the jump will be able to
retain certain Anglican practices within defined “Ordinariates.” There’s a
word new to most people - and me! There’s just this problem - most of the
disaffected clergy I know of who wish to escape the prospect of women
bishops are already quite happy with official Roman Catholic liturgies, and
would pop over pretty quickly if it weren’t for the prospect of stricter
discipline, re-selection (or not) and re-training - plus the fear that they’d
encounter more guitars and rather less incense… And the pay is even
worse! What they don’t want is the assurance they can carry on in an
Anglican way - after all they never have wanted to do that in the past!
Actually the Church hit the news the day before this as well when Fr. Ed
Tomlinson - an Anglican priest in Tunbridge Wells - found an excerpt from
his “blog” plastered all over the national dailies. He wrote:
In the last few years it has become painfully obvious that many families I have
conducted funerals for have absolutely no desire for any Christian content
whatsoever. I have then stood at the Crem like a lemon, wondering why on
earth I am present at the funeral of somebody led in by the tunes of Tina
Turner, summed up in pithy platitudes of sentimental and secular poets and
sent into the furnace with „I did it my way‟ blaring out across the speakers! To
be brutally honest I can think of a hundred better ways of spending my time as
a priest on God‟s earth. What is the point of my being present if spiritually
unwanted? … Once upon a time even funerals at the Crem would have been
sincerely Christian in character. But that was another England, a time when
Christianity was worshipped on these shores…
I fear that he’s less than charitable, though I know what he means. But I
rather welcome the desire I encounter in people who wish to say something
personal to them while at the same time having a priest as officiant. Where
religion seems an alien creature, the music or poetry they know might help
them make a connection. Weddings in church offer more possibilities than
the civil version. If people wonder about my attitude I’d say, “Try me.”
Nevertheless I’d advise that the organ provides better music than a CD for
getting into church whether for a wedding or a funeral - our Bill knows when
to start and stop! Let’s be sanguine - and cheerful. Martin Jackson
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Mothers’ Union News

Monday 2nd November
2.00pm Service in Church
followed by a talk by Kelvin Ashley
about Samaritans Purse and Operation Christmas Child.
Come and find out more about what happens to the shoeboxes
you fill each year – everyone welcome.

Thursday 17th December - at 12noon

Lunch at Chapters Restaurant, Derwentside College

Mothers’ Union have launched a major emergency appeal for relief

funding to feed desperate families affected by famine in Tanzania, Uganda
and Kenya following their third failed harvest. Mothers’ union is there
already feeding families but they urgently need more funds. Please look out
for the posters and help if you can – envelopes are available at the back of
Church or go online at www.themothersunion.org/donate

Global Village Fair is the Mothers’ Union new year-round ethical gifts
scheme, a follow-on from Make a Mother’s Day but now available for other
occasions – birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, Baptisms and In
Sympathy. Gifts vary from £7.50 to train families in bee-keeping and
mushroom-growing to £100 for vocational training in setting up tailoring and
sewing businesses. Catalogues are available at the back of Church or on
line at www.theglobalvillagefair.org


100 Club - Winners
October
1st Prize £25 No.30 Tom Downie
2nd Prize £15 No. 2 Doris Pearson
3rd Prize £10 No.32 Jan Worters
Details on how to join the 100 Club from our organiser,
Jennifer Lambert, phone 505018.

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ALL SAINTS & ALL SOULS

A reminder of our fellowship with the whole company of heaven...

Sunday 1st November ALL SAINTS’ DAY

8.00a.m.Holy Communion (BCP)
10.00a.m. SUNG PARISH EUCHARIST
6.00p.m. Evening Prayer
Monday 2nd November ALL SOULS’ DAY
7.30p.m. SUNG REQUIEM EUCHARIST
Please let us know of departed loved ones to be remembered in our
prayers at the Requiem - a list will be placed in church from mid-
October. And please join us at this special time - to remember your
loved ones, and to support those who join us as they mourn their
bereavement

This is an appropriate time to be remembering loved ones who have gone

before us. All Souls’ Day gives particular focus to our feeling for those
whose loss we grieve - and enables us to lift our prayer for them to God.
th
On Sunday 18 October we remembered particularly one long-standing
member of St. Cuthbert’s as a new silver-plated wafer box was dedicated
in memory of Arthur Eld. Given by his wife, Sylvia, it’s a beautiful and
fitting memorial for one who shared in the administration of Holy
Communion - and knew its centrality in his life. We were delighted that
Sylvia - with daughter Shirley - was able to bring it to the altar at the
Offertory. Our thanks to them for it - and for Arthur!

Readings for Sunday Evening Worship

Please use these readings, whether or not you are able to join us at the 6p.m. service
Sunday 1 Nov. Ps. 148, 150 Isaiah 65.17-25 Hebrews 11.32-12.2
Sunday 8 Nov. Ps. 46, 82 Isaiah 10.33-11.9 John 14.1-29
Sunday 15 Nov. Ps. 95 Daniel 3 Matthew 13.24-30,36-43
Sunday 22 Nov. Ps. 72 Daniel 5 John 6.1-15
Sunday 29 Nov. Ps. 9 Joel 3.9-21 Revelation 14.13-15.4
Sunday 6 Dec. Ps. 75, 76 Isaiah 40.1-11 Luke 1.1-25
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A Surprise for Harry

I have gone to the Mothers‟ Union trips and meals out for a long time and
joined the organisation about four years ago. It is very rare that I attend the
monthly meetings because they clash with my Art Group at Greencroft.
Nevertheless the October meeting was to be an exception. The reason – that
renowned retired clergyman, the Revd. Harry Lee was the speaker. As
everyone knows Harry is a traditionalist, albeit with a great sense of
humour.
Once upon a time when Harry was a lad the ladies all wore hats for church
and his mother would never dream of going to church hatless. His wife,
Averil, on the other hand had other ideas; well she has lovely thick hair.
Sometime ago Harry had told Sammie about this which gave her a bright
idea so she and Sheila hatched up a plot to surprise him, and all the ladies
agreed to join in the fun.

When Mary, Elsie, Doris and I got out of Mary‟s car Harry was walking
down Church Bank. He could not believe his eyes. Mary was wearing an
enormous black and red number - you will all know that the Mitchells do
everything big style. Doris had a navy blue hat and I wore a fascinator, as
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my only other hat is a tatty cowboy sunhat totally unsuitable for the
occasion. Elsie was a vision in a long black skirt, short white jacket and
large black and white hat; she looked good enough for Ascot. More ladies
arrived all wearing hats, Sheila had a lovely lilac wedding hat, and Sammie
a straw hat with a coloured band. Every lady wore a hat and Elsie - bless
her - had brought two or three spares in case anyone forgot.

Harry‟s face was a picture: he was delighted and almost stuck for words,
and that does not happen often. It took him a few minutes to regain his
composure before he remembered that he was there to take the service.
What a versatile vicar, he played two harvest hymns as well. Then he
entertained us with two ghost stories he had written himself.
Sheila felt that the occasion warranted more than the usual tea and biscuits
and had provided two delicious home baked cakes and buttered scones.
Well ladies in hats all like afternoon tea. It was a lovely afternoon and
when Averil came to pick her husband up he was still smiling. I think it is a
day he will long remember – a blast from the past. I do not know who
enjoyed it most, Harry, or the ladies who were so happy to see the surprise
and delight on his face.
Liz Whiting
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Notes & News

Steeplechase up-date: Last month‟s magazine
carried an account of the journey undertaken by our
intrepid steeplechasers in September‟s event,
organised by the Northumbria Historic Churches
Trust. They‟re now pleased to report that through
your sponsorship they raised £252 - to be divided
between the Trust and and our own church. Well
done Linda, Carol, Jennifer and Pam. Navigating
past all those young rugby players and having to
have lunch so late at the pub in Mitford shows it
was a really hard day!
_______________________________________________________________________________________

October has been a really busy month at St. Cuthbert‟s - starting with our
celebration of the Harvest. The Vicar‟s Citroen Berlingo (a van with
windows) groaned under the huge load of food and toiletries given to the
People’s Kitchen for their work with homeless people in Newcastle. It was
unloaded at the same time as a consignment from St. Mary Magdalene‟s
Church in Medomsley, and received by a member of Christ Church,
Consett who works at the Kitchen as a volunteer - so it was good to have
such visible evidence of local support.

Our Harvest appeal for financial gifts is going to the work of USPG in
poorer parts of the world - this year we focussed on the Church‟s work in
fishing communities of the Amazon (with a video of a remarkable
octogenarian climbing a tree, swinging over to another and dropping down
it as though it were a fire-fighter‟s pole). Money in the envelopes totalled
over £188 (still time to give more) - and the Harvest Lunch brought our
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appeal a further £222. Thanks to all who worked so hard in preparation for
our celebrations - and to Mary Mitchell and her catering team. There‟s a
separate appreciation in this magazine concerning the church decorations!
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Mid-October brought two fund-raisers for the church itself

- and a lot of enjoyment, both initiatives of Rosie
Junemann who followed up all the hard work of
organisation by taking the preaching slot the following
Sunday! First off was a Concert by the Derwentside
Singers on 14th October - a varied programme brought out
their skills to the best, the interval brought a relaxed
opportunity for all to mix, and a total of £142 was raised
for church funds.
The end of the same week saw our Book
and Toy Sale with a further £249 raised,
some of it going towards Hall costs. Lots
of people were involved in each event.
Thanks to all who played a part and gave
their support.
And it‟s not all over. Mary Mitchell - as well as having a pivotal role with
the toy sale - was organising another Ladies’ Fashion Show, yet to take
place on 21st October as we go to press.
_______________________________________________________________________________________

It‟s not all social events!... Three of our members (Pam Donnelly, Liz
Whiting & Mary Mitchell) are taking part in a Deanery Faith and Life
Course which began in September and runs till June. They‟re just
completing a module based on St. Mark‟s Gospel and its implications for
discipleship. In November they continue with a unit on the Psalms - and
they‟ll be joined by the Vicar, who will attempt to lead it…
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Reminder - the Webb Ivory Catalogue!

Please do take a catalogue (details on how to order
enclosed) and either 'pass it on' to anyone who is interested or
simply put it back in Church so others can take a look. Up to
25% of proceeds from orders placed will go to St. Cuthbert's.
A good cause indeed! Many thanks. Elaine Bellerby
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SING TOGETHER
For Autumn
7.30 – 8.30pm Monday 16 November th

in St Cuthbert’s Church
All welcome
Further details: Martin Jackson, Bill Hudson or Rosie Junemann



GROWING TOGETHER!

St Cuthbert’s Gardening Club

Bring on indoor plants and bulbs for the Christmas Fair

Saturday 5th December




2nd Tuesday Lunch Club

… continues to provide food and friendship

12.30p.m. Tuesday 10th November

in the Church Hall
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Harvest Appreciation
Congratulations to Sonia Thompson
and her small band of voluntary helpers
for decorating St. Cuthbert‟s Church so
beautifully for the Harvest Festival. The
various floral arrangements were a joy
to behold!
During my 50+ years of worship at St.
Cuthbert‟s, I don‟t think I have seen the
church so decorated at Harvest-time.
The Altar frontal was also lovely and
most appropriate.
Well done, and thank you ladies - you
brought a lot of pleasure to we “oldies”
of St. Cuthbert‟s. Edna Hume

I‟m sorry that a black & white picture here can‟t do any justice to the
displays - but I‟ll try to include some colour shots on our website or parish
blog: saintcuthberts.blogspot.com MJ
_______________________________________________________________________________________

This annual project enables caring individuals, families, schools, churches,

businesses, and other organisations to fill ordinary shoe boxes with small
toys, school supplies, sweets, and other gifts for needy children around the
world. Operation Christmas Child sends a message of hope to children in
need around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes.
Note: As in previous years, Sonia Thompson will coordinate our parish
shoe box appeal. There are leaflets in church giving details. We‟ll be
receiving boxes on the first three Sundays of November. Boxes will need to
be returned to church by 15th November, which has now been designated as
“Shoebox Sunday.”
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Taizé Worship
At St. Cuthbert’s a service we call Taizé Vespers replaces Evening Prayer
on the third Sunday of most months. It’s an opportunity to join in a relaxed
and quiet, reflective service which makes use of the simple cants of the
Taizé Community in France. The congregation tends to be few - useful as
we gather round a small table, a cross and Bible and the Easter Candle -
but also a shame because we think more people could appreciate it.

In November it happens that Lanchester Parish

Church is holding a Taizé service to which
they’re inviting people from the whole Deanery.
So we’ll drop our own service that evening -
and encourage you to go along to All Saints’ to
find out something of their experience. It’s at
the same time and on the same day as our
service would have been. Maybe it will
encourage people to come back to us!

A Service of Taizé Worship

Sunday 15th November at 6p.m.
in All Saint’s Parish Church, Lanchester



Advent approaches…
The First Sunday of Advent is 29th November
- the start of a new year in the Church’s
Calendar, when we’ll be focussing on the
Gospel of St. Luke.

Morning services as usual at 8a.m. & 10a.m.

No evening service in St. Cuthbert’s -
instead…
At 7p.m. an Advent Procession with Carols in Durham Cathedral
- look out for more details, and make sure you sign up!
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St. Cuthbert s Christmas Fair

Christmas Fair 2009
Saturday 5th December
12noon until 3.00pm

tombola, jam stall, cake raffle, Mothers’ Union stall,

bookstall, grand draw, and many other attractions
- note the time; refreshments throughout!

This is your early warning!

And this year our Fair will run as part of….

Shotley Bridge Village Open Weekend:

th th
Saturday 5 - Sunday 6 December - following a similar weekend
organised by local businesses in the spring, there’s to be another in the
build-up to Christmas. Various attractions from 10a.m.-5p.m. each day.
Combine it with a Saturday visit to our Fair. Mark it in your diaries - look out
for further details, and more ideas on how we might be able to join in…
……………………………………………………………………….

Wanted - Jewellery!!!
Yes… it is coming to that time again. Now
we are already into November, it will be no
time before the Christmas Fair on Saturday
5th December. As I will be having the
jewellery stall once more, I would
appreciate any of your unwanted items.

I will leave a box at the back of church - or

you can give items to me at any time.

Many thanks, Pam Hudson

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Saint of the Month:

Andrew the Apostle (30 November)
The apostle Andrew is patron saint of
Scotland. According to the gospel of
Matthew, Andrew and his brother Simon
Peter were the very first two disciples whom
Jesus called. “Come, follow me, and I will
make you fishers of men.” (Matt 4:18,19)
Without more ado, they obeyed. “At once
they left their nets and followed him.” The
story is touching for the simple but total
faith which they had in Jesus.
Whenever the gospels mention the disciples, Andrew‟s name is always in
the first four. Rather than a boisterous leader of men (like Peter), he seems
to have been an approachable person who wanted to help people. It was
Andrew who helped introduce a group of Greeks to Jesus (John 12:20-2)
and Andrew who offered Jesus the five small barley loaves and two small
fishes when Jesus challenged them to feed the five thousand. (John 6:8)
His faith in Jesus over small things was richly rewarded, and this faithful,
kindly Galilean fisherman turned disciple went on to become one of the 12
apostles of the Christian Church.
Andrew never settled back in Capernaum by Galiliee. Instead, his „fishing
for men‟ seems to have taken him far. One ancient tradition links him with
Greece, where both Scythia and Epirus claimed him as their apostle.
Another place in Greece, Patras in Achaia, claimed to be the place where
Andrew was eventually martyred.
Like Jesus, he was crucified, but the story goes that during the two days it
took him to die, he preached earnestly to the people about Jesus. Andrew
was not afraid of death on a cross – he had seen it before, and knew one
thing for certain: because of Jesus, there was nothing but eternal life ahead
of him.
In the West, Andrew‟s feast-day was universal from the 6th century, and
hundreds of churches were named after him in Italy, France and England.
But how did he end up as patron saint of Scotland? Well, according to one
ancient legend, his relics were taken from Patras to Scotland in the 8th
century, and ended up in Fife, where a church dedicated to him was built
 19
and became a centre for evangelization and later pilgrimage. As Andrew
was the only apostle to make it as far as Scotland, he was chosen as patron
saint.
But Andrew did not stay in Scotland. After the fall of Constantinople in
1204, it is said that the Crusaders took his relics to Amalfi. From there the
despot Thomas Palaeologus sent his head to the pope in Rome in 1461 –
where it became one of the most treasured possessions of St Peter‟s - until
it was sent to the church in Constantinople by Paul VI.
In art Andrew is depicted with a normal Latin cross in the most ancient
examples. The saltire cross „X‟, commonly called St Andrew‟s Cross, and
which represents Scotland on the Union Jack, was associated with him
from the 10th century.
Parish Pump

Out of the mouths….

As my five-year-old son and I were heading to McDonald's one day, we
passed a car accident. Usually when we see something terrible like that,
we say a prayer for whoever might be hurt, so I pointed and said to my son,
"We should pray." From the back seat I heard his earnest voice: "Dear
God, please don't let those cars block the entrance to McDonald's."
20

From the Parish Registers

Holy Baptism
18 October Mary Dorothy Hurst
19 Highgate, Durham
18 October Nicholas Charles Wakeling
32 Cutlers Hall Road, Shotley Bridge
May they continue to follow Christ

Funerals
8 October Harold Haley (89)
Woodland Court, Shotley Bridge
16 October Thomas Pearson (83)
Abigail Lodge (formerly Bridgehill)
20 October Edith Mary Riley (90)
Backstone Road, Bridgehill
May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace

Sunday 22nd November is the Feast of Christ the King

He formed the stars, those heavenly flames,
He counts their numbers, call their names;
His wisdom’s vast, and knows no bound,
A deep where all our thoughts are drowned.
Isaac Watts

Useful Church Contacts:

Churchwardens: Linda Short, 9 Sherwood Close   503750
Carol O‟Malley, 13 Spring Close, Ebchester 561884
PCC Lay Chair: Peter Thompson, Wheldon House, Ebchester 560454
PCC Treasurer: Irvine Macnair, 10 Kempton Close. 505828
PCC Secretary: Jill Barron, 141 Benfieldside Road 504352
Sunday School: Carol O‟Malley, 13 Spring Close, Ebchester 561884
Church Hall: Linda Short, 9 Sherwood Close  503750