Parishes by the Wall - Living Faith on the Frontier
On Sunday 26 November our joint service was the next in our new pattern of 'Celebration Services'.
Focusing on the theme of 'Heaven' we drew together the themes from our children's and family worship through the month to reflect on the idea of Heaven and God's promise that, in Jesus, Heaven and Earth meet.
The main focus was this banner created by the Children from Messy Church which included what they think heaven looks like - look out for the giraffe.
Through the service we then built a ladder reaching from Heave to Earth to remind us that in worship and in Jesus heaven and earth come together.
Each month we will celebrate at 10am on the fourth Sunday of the month drawing together all worship from the past month. These will usually be a non-communion service.
Our next Celebration service will be on Sunday 28 January 2018 at 10am at St Cuthbert's Haydon Bridge where we will have a Christingle Service to Celebrate the Feast of Candlemas and the end of the Christmas period.
Why not come along and find out more?
One of our priorities in the Parishes by the Wall is to secure the long term sustainability of all the churches in our care.
This is particularly the case with the Haydon Churches - St Cuthbert's Haydon Bridge and Haydon Old Church.
To begin this process we are asking as many people as possible what their 'dreams' for these Churches are.
Don't worry about the cost or the money, let us know what you would like to see the Haydon Churches become for the life of the whole community in the coming years.
Please take our survey it will only take a minute or so of your time.
We will then use the responses to this survey to develop a more concrete plan for the development of both churches. We hope that the first version of this plan will be available in the new year.
There were services in Haydon Bridge and in Henshaw for Remembrance Sunday, with Rev’d Dr John Harrison leading worship at Henshaw, and Rev’d Dr Benjamin Carter officiating at Haydon Bridge.
In sparkling autumn weather, large groups gathered at the War Memorials where the names of those who fell in two World Wars were read out, wreaths were laid and the two minute silence was observed.
We had a lovely autumn wedding in Henshaw last week, between Brian Dodd and Charlotte Oliver. Charlotte was attended by bridesmaids and a page boy. She carried a most beautiful bouquet, with white roses and deep purple lisianthus. A full church sang All things bright and beautiful and Lord of the Dance.
Despite overcast skies and threats of rain, the churchyard clear up at Henshaw moved what seemed like tons of leaves – all carefully taken away and put into leaf bins to make leaf mould. Some of this is used each year to feed the yew tree at Beltingham, thanks to the hard work of Libby Scott. A good number of helpers turned out and included Libby’s daughter and her baby – our youngest helper yet! After an hour an a half of sustained activity, a cup of tea and coffee was welcomed by the team.