Upper Weardale Benefice Newsletter

15^th March 2026

Mothering Sunday

Collect

God of love,

passionate and strong,

tender and careful:

watch over us and hold us

all the days of our life;

through Jesus Christ our Lord

Amen

For Your Prayers

We keep in ourprayers all in our community who are in any kind of need.  

We continue to pray for the end of war in and around Iran, in Ukraine and in Gaza.  We ask that peace will come speedily and that justice will abound. 

As we celebrate Mothering Sunday we thank God for our mother church, and for those who have cared for us through our lives.  We remember those who grieve for their mother, for those who grieve for their children, and for those who long to be mothers.

What’s On This Week

More about this week …

Mothering Sunday – 15^th March

Services will be held at 10am in Eastgate and St John’s Chapel.

Poster for each  service attached.  Invite others if you can!

Diocesan Fruitfulness Event – 16^th March

The Diocese asks us to reflect on the question: “What Does Fruitfulness Look Like in your Parish?” Events have been held in each Archdeaconry, and now the date for our own event in Auckland Archdeaconry has been announced.  Join Archdeacon Rick and the Diocesan Team at Holy Trinity Darlington on Monday 16^th March at 7-9pm.    Lifts may be available! Contact Sandie by replying to this email if you would like one and she will attempt to make it so!!  Poster attached with details of how to book in.

Faith Through Music – 17^th March

The Faith through Music discussions are continuing their canter through hymns (broadly) based around the Songs of Ascent – Psalms 120-134, by looking at the hymn “Come down, O love divine” at 20:00 on March 17th, by zoom. 

The song can be found as number 90 in the green hymnbooks the Anglicans use, and based around Psalm 131.

We will read the Psalm together to start our discussions, and then Richard will give a brief overview of the song, and the circumstances of its composition.  Then he will facilitate a free and open discussion, covering questions such as “Do we like/dislike the song?” and “how faithfully does the song reflect the psalm?”

We are a friendly group, who enjoy learning from one another, and from the songwriters that serve and have served the Church, and would welcome other folk joining us.  Please feel free to contact Richard (via the Newsletter), so that he can send you the zoom link and a youtube link to the song.

Eco Church Prayer Forum 19^th March 12-1pm

Praying Together as an Eco Church Community

Three of our Benefice churches now hold Eco Church awards, which is amazing! It’s an important part of our mission as churches in Upper Weardale so why not join in this online sharing of prayer on Thursday 19^th next week?

Book your place HERE

Looking Further Ahead:

Save the Date – Easter Fayre

An Easter Fayre is planned for Saturday March 28^th in Heatherycleugh – offers of help to Rev Heather please.

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 Rev Graeme Holdsworth

01388 531460  

Associate Priest: The Rev. Heather Ross

01388 537439, 07713 388106,

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.

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Basic information on all churches is available at www.achurchnearyou.com