Parishes by the Wall - Living Faith on the Frontier
On February 13th, the Mothers' Union hosted their traditional Shrove Tuesday Lunch at the General Havelock in Haydon Bridge.
This event is always popular and all tickets were sold, thirty eight people attended from across the Benefice.
The meal was very enjoyable in a convivial atmosphere, served efficiently by the helpful staff.
The menu included pancakes which proved very popular and the raffle raised £109.
On Thursday January 25th, fifty people gathered in the Village Hall for a Burns Night supper and ceilidh.
John Galbraith welcomed us with a glass of whisky or sherry. The meal was delicious - vegetable soup, haggis (of course) and apple crumble.
Then we needed to dance with enthusiasm to work off some of the calories!
It was a delightful evening, well organised and full of fun. I hope to be there again next year!
The children of Bardon Mill had a wonderful time on Sunday afternoon with their Messy Church Christmas Party. More than thirty children and their parents took part. At one o'clock they tucked into a lunch of pizza, sausage rolls, sandwiches and cheese scones, followed by jelly and ice-cream. After lunch there were activities such as icing and decorating Christmas biscuits, making a Christmas wreath and decorating a lantern. Many of the grown-ups (especially dads!) joined in with enthusiasm! Then there were traditional party games such as "statues" and "corners". As the sun started to set, everyone came together to form a lantern procession and walked along to the Village Green. The wonderful Messy Church Mums brought along flasks of Hot Chocolate which tasted amazing - especially as the temperature around us was below freezing. We sang carols and everyone cheered when the Christmas tree lights were switched on. To end an excellent afternoon, Santa Claus arrived on his wonderful red sleigh with special treats for the children.
In a crowded and joyful series of services and celebrations in the run up to Christmas, none was more special than the Crib Service at Henshaw on Christmas Eve, when the children participated in the telling of the Nativity story and placed the crib figures into the crib. Not only were there excellent readings by the children, but also a “first performance” from an embryonic children’s choir. The church was full of parents and grandparents, and all participated lustily in singing some well known and loved carols.
From Sunday we will move into the great Season of Advent where we will watch and wait for the coming of Jesus.
On Saturday, as dusk falls, there will be a Candlelit Advent Carol Service at Haydon Old Church. There will be parking and refreshments - and remember to wrap up warm!
And through Advent, on Tuesdays at Henshaw and Fridays at Haydon Bridge, there will be a short reflection as part of Evening Prayer on a servies of Advent Themes which will be uploaded to the website each week.
These reflections will follow the pattern of the Church of England #GodWithUs resources which offer opportunities to stop and watch and wait through Advent and Christmas.
