Thursday 8th September 2022
A fundraising event hosted by Mrs Mary Dickinson was held at Crow Hall Mill.
Sadly, the beginning of the evening coincided with the release of the announcement from Buckingham Palace of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
The Reverend Canon Steve Wright read out the announcement and a prayer was said amidst the shock and sadness of all present. The evening continued in togetherness and friendship remembering with thanks,gratitude and immense sadness the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
Many thanks to Mary, and to all who so generously supported this event,
£655 was raised for the Parish of Henshaw with Beltingham.
Sunday 11th September 2022
Thanks to further kind donations the total is now £700.
Sunday 4th September 2022
'The Churches of St Cuthbert join together'
A Holy Communion service led by Rev'd Canon Steve Wright was held at St Cuthbert's Church, Beltingham to celebrate the life of St Cuthbert, perhaps the most well known of the Northern Saints.
Services at St Cuthbert's have been limited during and since the pandemic so it was extremely heartening to have a full church and also to welcome members of the congregation from St Cuthbert's Church at Greenhead.who very kindly brought with them their altar kneelers which depict events in the life of Cuthbert..
During the service several readers told the story of Cuthbert from his early life as a monk at Melrose Abbey to becoming Bishop of Lindisfarne. Cuthbert spent his latter years in the peace and solitude of Inner Farne where he died in 687.
The Altar Rail Kneelers was a Community Arts project initiated by St Cuthbert's Church Greenhead. The designs are based on aspects of St Cuthbert's life as written down by the Venerable Bede.
Sunday 21st August 2022
The Holy Communion service at All Hallows'Church on the 10th Sunday after Trinity was presided over by Reverend Keith Teasdale.
The Gospel resding for the day was from Luke 13 v. 10-17 and was the story of Jesus teaching in the synagogue on the sabbath when a woman appeared with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. Jesus healed the woman but was met with indignation from the leader of the synagogue for 'working on the sabbath'.
Keith reflected on how life on Sundays has changed over the last 30 years or so since Sunday trading began but remembering that many, particularly those in caring roles, have always been required to work on Sundays.
Keith went on to speak about all the very negative news in the media with the prospect of worse to come in the winter months ahead and considered 'What can we as a Church do? when so many are struggling emotionally and economically.
Small acts of kindness to one another can bring rewards not only to the recipient but to the giver as well.
Amidst the doom and gloom there is always so much to be thankful for In the beautiful landscape around us, as summer transitions into autumn we can observe and be uplifted by the changes in God's creation.
In the words of the hymn by Johnson Oatman Jr. 'Count your Blessings'
When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost
Count your blessings, name them one by one
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done
Count your blessings,name them one by one
Count your blessings, see what God has done
Count your blessings,, name them one by one
Count your many blessings, see what God has done
Sunday 24th July 2022
A service of Morning Prayer with hymns was held at All Hallows' Church led by Anne Galbraith and Carol Adams.
With the Commonwealth Games fast approaching Anne was inspired to reflect on the life and work of Eric Liddell, the athlete who refused to run and compete on a Sunday in the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris. He later went on to create a world record in the 400 metres winning a gold medal. Many will remember the story captured in the award winning film; Chariots of Fire;
Following in his father's footsteps Eric responded to God's call serving for 20years as a missionary in China. In the weeks before the bombing of Pearl Harbour Eric arranged for his wife and family to go to Canada intending to folllow himself but he was captured and interned in Weihsien Camp in Northern China. He died in the camp from a brain tumour at the age of 43 years.
At the end of Anne's reflection our organist Mr Nigel Clayburn played Eric's favourite hymn.
Be still my soul: the Lord is on thy side
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain
Leave to thy God to order and provide
In every change he faithful will remain
Be still my soul: thy best, thy heavenly friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end
Anne concluded by recommending the book 'The disciplines of the Christian Life' based on the original manuscripts of Eric Liddell and first published 40 years after his death.
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Sunday 17th July 2022
The Holy Communion service at All Hallows' on the 5th Sunday after Trinity was presided over by the Reverend KeithTeasdale. Keith's sermon linked closely to the Gospel Reading for the day (Luke 10, v 38 to end), the story of Jesus'visit to Martha and Mary. Martha welcomed Jesus to her home but was distracted by the many tasks she had to do whilst Mary chose to sit at the Lord's feet and listen to what he was saying
Keith reflected on how at diffferent times in our daily life and in our Christian life we are all so like Martha and Mary, often distracted by having so much to do rather than taking time to pause and be quiet.
In the stillness you are there
Lord we need to be quiet to really listen to you
Help us to find the minutes to slow down and in peace and stillness hear your voice