14th December 2025
Third Sunday in Advent
Collect
God for whom we watch and wait,
You sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of your Son:
Give us courage to speak the truth,
To hunger for justice,
And to suffer for the cause of right,
With Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
What’s On This Week
| Sat 13th Dec | 7.30pm | Barrington Hall SJC | Folk Night | |
| Sun 14th Dec | Advent 3 | 10am | Heatherycleugh | Eucharist |
| 10am | Stanhope | Eucharist | ||
| Mon 15th Dec | 9am | Stanhope | Morning Prayer | |
| 6pm | St John’s Chapel | WI Carol Service | ||
| Tue 16th December | 8pm | Zoom | Faith Through Music Christmas Hits | |
| Weds 17th Dec | 10am | Stanhope | Eucharist | |
| Thurs 18th Dec | 9am | Stanhope | Morning Prayer | |
| Friday 19th Dec | 2pm | SJC/Stanhope | School Christingles | |
| Saturday 20th Dec | 3pm | Heatherycleugh | Carol Service | |
| 3.30pm | Stanhope Methodists | Christingle | ||
| Sunday 21st Dec | Advent 4 | 10am | St John’s Chapel | Eucharist |
| 10am | Stanhope | Eucharist |
For Your Prayers
We keep in ourprayers all in our community who are in any kind of need. Prayers are asked in particular for Joe Deimel
We pray that all who visit our special services over the run-up to Christmas will know themselves to be welcome, and will sense God’s love.
Coming up This Week
Folk Night Sat 13th December
An Advent/Christmas-themed Folk Evening
Saturday 13th at 7.30pm
in the Barrington Hall,
St John’s Chapel.
Tunes and Tales, Songs and Carols, poems, a piece of cake
and non-alcoholic punch.
No charge, but donations for St John the Baptist Church St John’s Chapel are welcome.
Faith Through Music – Tuesdays through DecemberFaith through Music on the 9th December had to be cancelled (Richard was unwell), but the next discussion (16th December, 20:00 and by zoom) will be around Michael Jackson’s Christmas 1995 hit “Earth Song.”
If you want to join the discussion, please contact Richard (via the newsletter) and he’ll send you an invitation and a link to the song.
Looking Ahead …
Special Christmas Services This Month
News
Special Collection for Christian Aid
Christian Aid celebrates its 80th birthday this year! Up the Dale we always support Christian Aid Week in May but how about holding an Advent collection to mark their 80 years of helping poor communities help themselves and bringing relief to refugees and victims of war?
Sarah Stancliffe is collecting from the Stanhope congregation through the weeks of Advent and would be happy to pool contributions from others up the Dale. For those happy- and savvy enough – to pay online you can just scan the QR code below with your smart phone camera to be taken to a secure payment area.
Alternatively contact Sarah Stancliffe 01388 526912
Request from Rev Rachael Farnham, Chaplain at HMP Frankland
Matt 25:36 “I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me”
“This Christmas, we invite churches and their congregations to consider donating small selection boxes for prisoners to receive on Christmas Day. A simple gift like this can bring a moment of joy and connection to those spending the season in custody, reminding them they are not forgotten. It’s a meaningful way to share Christ’s love and compassion, offering hope and dignity to individuals who may be feeling isolated. Your generosity can make a real difference in someone’s day and help foster a sense of community and care within the prison.
You may also like to write anonymous Christmas cards that we would give out Christmas day saying something like, ‘With thoughts and prayers at Christmas, from your brothers and sisters in the Upper Weardale group of churches’”
If you would like to take part, please leave your gift and/or card at church and we will make sure they get to Rev Rachael.
St Thomas’ Stanhope Closure
St Thomas’ Stanhope will be undergoing major reordering work from 12 January and lasting several months. The church will be CLOSED from 29 DECEMBER while we prepare. Most services will be in the hall. Posters will be displayed to keep the community informed and one is attached here if you are able to display it.
2026 Calendar
The St Thomas Stanhope 2026 calendar is now available! A snip at £5 per copy – perfect Christmas presents for all the family.
Photos are by 1st Stanhope cubs and scouts
Available from Rowells , Woodhalls , The Hub Stanhope or from Anne Hodgson.
General Information
To add any items of news to this newsletter please contact Sandie Barton at . Photos of church events etc. would be lovely (but do make sure any people in the photos have given their permission!)
The deadline is 3pm on Thursday for issue by email on Friday. Sandie is also happy to add people to the circulation list, on request.
Durham e-News: a regular email from the Diocese for worshippers and people with an interest in the diocese. It contains the latest news and features from the Diocese, and can be delivered directly to your inbox. To sign up simply fill in your details via this link: Diocesan newsletter.
Contacts
Priest-in-charge: The Benefice is currently in an interregnum. Please contact Rev. Heather or Rev Michael if needed.
Associate Priest: The Rev. Heather Ross
Assistant Curate: The Rev. Michael Baldwin
Parish Safeguarding Officers:
Liz Curry 07921 176012
Jan Wright 07415 046392
To arrange a baptism, marriage or funeral please contact Rev Heather Ross as above.
Facebook Weardale Parish News: to keep up to date, join
Weardale Parish News on Facebook
Basic information on all churches is available at www.achurchnearyou.com
