Churches October 2022

St. Helen’s Church is now open for worship again. Everyone is welcome.

Weekday Services and Events

Wednesday 5th October 10am - Holy Communion which will be followed by coffee.

Wednesday 19th October. You are invited to ‘pop in’ for coffee and chat from 10am till 11am.

PCC and Sub-Committee Meetings

All meetings to be held in St. Helen’s Meeting Room.

PCC Meeting

The next meeting of the PCC is 13th December at 6.30pm.

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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Thought for the Month - God bless the King

In last month’s Tree Father Shaun wrote about new beginnings and especially of those young people who were starting a new school or going up to university. Many in this parish have done just that and we wish them well. Before they had hardly settled in, our nation and many people across the world heard the news of the death of the Queen and the accession of the new King. And for the UK a new prime minister was appointed with new government ministers. The only constancy, so it seemed, was change.

As the saying goes, every end is a new beginning. Though change is usually challenging, we move forward to new possibilities and horizons. In the Gospels, Jesus was always walking forward, through Galilee where he began his ministry along the roads to Jerusalem where he was to claim his messiahship on the Cross. Along that journey of three years, and in the company of his disciples and other men and women including Mary his mother, he walked and talked and preached and healed. All along the way, he was teaching, and his listeners were learning so much about the Kingdom of God.

That Kingdom is made of love and joy and peace (Galatians 5:22-26). Recently, we have seen outpourings of so much love towards the Queen, and thanksgivings for her reign, and joy and peace as well. People have clapped and celebrated all that she gave us in so many different ways and in such abundance.

Now, we must focus on our new King and his family. Praying that in love and joy and peace he and they will grow through their grief. The Queen referred to grief as the price we pay for love (in September 2021). And in the fullness of time to bring those gifts of the Spirit to people in many different geographical places and to all kinds of needs.

A Prayer for King Charles III

Lord God,

you provide for your people by your power,

and rule over them in love:

Grant to your servant our King

the Spirit of wisdom and discernment,

that being devoted to you with his whole heart,

he may so wisely govern,

that in his time we may live in safety and in peace;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our own lives move forward also. We give thanks for the lovely September days we have enjoyed, for October days to come, and for harvest thanksgivings. We rejoice in the colours and fruitfulness of autumn and say thank you to our farmers.

From a harvest hymn

We plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the land,

but it is fed and watered by God’s almighty hand:

he sends the snow in winter, and warmth to swell the grain,

the breezes and the sunshine, and soft, refreshing rain.

All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above;

then thank the Lord, then thank the Lord,

for all his love.

May God bless you and everyone you love.

The Reverend Audrey McCartan, Priest in Charge St Helen’s

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Harvest Thanksgiving Service:

Sunday 9th October at 11am. All are invited.

All gifts will once again be donated to the Wansbeck Valley Food Bank.

For our other group meetings, please see the Group Activities sections.

Visitors are always very welcome to all our events.

Contact Ian Pagan 788263 idpagan@btinternet.com

Website: www.longhorsleymission.org.uk

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