Monday 29 June 2015

Brave requests, considering ....

Here is a story of two different people, in very different situations, who come to Jesus as a last resort, when all else has failed.
Read Mark 5.21-43
and
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Deanery visit to Newcastle Cathedral

good number of parishioners from across Bellingham Deanery visited St Nicholas Cathedral in Newcastle on Sunday afternoon. We were given a tour of the cathedral, although there was not enough time to see it all. Tea and scones were served during which we were encouraged to consider St Nicholas to be 'your cathedral', and learnt about the planned developments as well as being told about how to become a 'friend' of the cathedral. Our visit concluded with choral evensong, which, to me, was the highlight of the visit. 
The picture shows detail from the East window. 


Sunday 21 June 2015

Piano Recital at St Cuthbert's Elsdon

Over 70 people filled St Cuthbert's Elsdon on Saturday for a mid summer piano recital given by Richard Simmance. We were informed, entertained, moved and thrilled by his fine performance of pieces by Brahms, Debussy, Mozart, Gershwin, Ravel  and the less well known Manuel de Falla. A glass of wine, included in the ticket price, was enjoyed during the interval. The concert raised money for St Cuthbert's Church and a defibrillator for the village. 
Moments of concentration
A full Church
Interval 


Saturday 13 June 2015

Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass (and mustard seeds)




In a previous parish I sang in the church choir. We had a very patient choir master who also directed the impressive local Choral Society - I think he saw his work with us as a charitable offering. Anyway, he informed me that I had a tenor voice. There was only one other tenor in the small choir - I followed him as I had extreme difficulty reading the tenor music line. If he was away I sang bass (with the bass voice) or just followed the melody line ......

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Friday 5 June 2015

Notice this


A small group of dedicated parishioners cleaned up and 're-stocked' the noticeboard at St Francis, Byrness on Friday afternoon. The church is on the Pennine Way and it's good that walkers can see that the church is loved and cared for. Unfortunately at present the church is locked but we are working on having it open as a place of physical and Spiritual rest for walkers/pilgrims.

I came across the following short article on 'mindful walking' by Simon Parke. I have made some small changes to make it more appropriate for walkers. (The original can be found at http://tiny.cc/lpnexx

Here is my version, which we have put on St Francis noticeboard.