Churches April 2022

St Helen's Church is still out of use following the incident last June.

We are very grateful to Ian Pagan for enabling us to use Longhorsley Mission for worship.

You are reminded that you must not attend if you have any of the symptoms of Covid-19. Please remember to comply with social distancing rules and wear a face covering.

Easter Services 

Tuesday 12th, Wednesday 13th April at 7pm in the Vicarage: Compline

Maundy Thursday 14th April at 7pm in the Vicarage: Holy Communion of the Lord’s Supper followed by Watch of the Passion until 8pm: Compline

Good Friday 15th April at 2pm in the Vicarage: Service of the Lord’s Passion and Death followed by 3pm: Evening Prayer

Easter Day 17th April at 10am in the Side Hall of the Mission: Holy Communion

PCC Meeting

The next meeting of the PCC is 6th April.

St. Helen’s Annual General Meeting

Sunday 24th April: Holy Communion Service, followed at 10.45am by AGM in the Vicarage

St Helen's Contact Details

Vicar: Audrey McCartan 708806

audreymccartan@btinternet.com

Website: www.achurchnearyou.com

Wardens: David Pringle 788283 (Treasurer)

Stephen Gibson 788711 (Secretary)

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Holy Week at St Thomas’

Palm Sunday 11.15am - Mass with blessing of Palms

Good Friday 5.15pm - Solemn Liturgy of the Lord's Passion

Easter Sunday 11.15am - Mass

Services at St Aidan’s, Ashington

Holy Thursday will be celebrated at 8.00pm

Holy Saturday Mass will be celebrated at 8.30pm

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Thought for the Month

The foyer was crowded, noisy. People clustered around; queuing to pre-order interval drinks; queuing for the loo; queuing for the auditorium.

Row D seat 3; seat 4 arrives after we've all sat down; seats clatter as we all stand to let them through; and sit down again. The murmur of conversation. Random sounds from the orchestra; squeaking violins, trilling flutes.

The lights dim. The conversation drops. Last minute shuffling; coats and bags are stowed under seats. Musicians sit up straight; last coughs around the auditorium; and the conductor walks on stage.

He claims the spotlight. All eyes are focussed on him. Silence falls as he raises his baton; and the music begins.

One of my favourite Eric Morecambe lines was to composer and conductor Andre Previn “I'm playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order”. He was playing his own version of Grieg's piano concerto, disregarding both conductor and Grieg!

We live in a discordant world, clamorous with war, injustice, and suffering. It has closed its ears to God's music. We, the church, are God's orchestra; and, yes, it is often out of sync, throughout history and today, but neither the music nor the conductor are at fault. Diverse instruments, many sections; solo violinists and the man who plays the triangle; as God's musicians we are each responsible for playing our own part, following the one who holds the baton to stay in unity and bring harmony to the world.

As Easter approaches, the spotlight falls on Jesus. He led a faultless life, perfectly in tune with his Father's will. He was the visible image of the invisible God… the head of the church, which is his body... and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross - Colossians c1v15-20

Technology brings a blow by blow account of events as they happen around the planet, but only the bible tells the whole story - from Creation until now. It predicted Jesus' birth, and death; gives eyewitness accounts of his life on earth and his resurrection, and tells us how our story will end. Jesus has promised he will return, and all eyes will see him - on a global scale. Revelation c1v7

He will reclaim the spotlight and restore harmony to his Creation.

Lesley Smith, Longhorsley Mission

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