Upper Weardale Benefice Newsletter

3^rd May 2026

5^th Sunday of Easter

Collect

Risen Christ,

your wounds

declare your love for the world

and the wonder of your risen life:

give us compassion and courage

to risk ourselves for those we serve,

to the glory of God the Father. Amen

10th May 2026

6^th Sunday of Easter

Collect

Risen Christ,

by the lakeside you renewed

your call to your disciples:

help your Church to obey your command

and draw the nations to the fire of your love,

to the glory of God the Father. Amen

What’s On Over the Next Fortnight

A full and up-to-date calendar of church events can be found on theBenefice website,

For Your Prayers

We keep in ourprayers all in our community who are in any kind of need.   Our prayers are asked particularly for Kathleen Kirby.

We pray for peace and unity between those of different faiths and none, and particularly for those who live in fear of discrimination and violence. 

Coming up Soon …

Coffee Morning – May 9^th

There will be a coffee morning in Stanhope Church Hall 10-11.30am in support of Weardale Community Hospital.  Cake stall, tombola, raffle, stalls and the opportunity for a coffee and a catch up with friends.  All welcome! A poster is attached

Stanhope Silver Band – May 9^th

In concert at St Thomas’ Heatherycleugh 7pm

Refreshments and raffle.  Donations welcome.

Poster attached.

Faith Through Music- May 12^th

The next Faith through Music will be on the 12th May (at 20:00, by Zoom), and will look at the song “Sing we the Song of Emmanuel.”  It is a song suggested by one of our regular attendees, who writes “I know it’s a Christmas song, but we sang it for the first time last year, and I found it really uplifting.”

The format will be unchanged.  Richard will give a brief overview of the song, and the circumstances of its composition, and then field a free flowing discussion, covering subjects such as “do we know the song”, “do we like/dislike the song”, “how does the song speak to us” and “how could we use the song in our personal and corporate worship. “

We’re a friendly group, and would welcome more members.  In particular, Richard is very open to suggestions of hymns we could look at: please contact Richard via the newsletter should you wish to join the discussion, or suggest songs to study.

Christian Aid Big Brekkie – May 16^th

Want to change the world over breakfast? Then come and tuck in at our Big Brekkie!  We’ll be serving a delicious morning meal while raising money to fight poverty and injustice worldwide.  Saturday 16^th May 10am-12 noon.

Bacon butties, healthy breakfast bar, cake stall, raffle.

Church in the Wild

A different way of worshipping God.

Do you believe in God but find it difficult to join with others on a Sunday? Church in the Wild is a different way for the church to gather. It is worship, but physical as well as spiritual. Church in the Wild invites us to take the metaphor of Christian journey and make it a physical experience. In the same way that our spiritual walk with God begins where we are right now, this worship begins where and when we want.  Read all about it here

Church in the Wild will normally take place on the first Saturday of each month, but please note this month it is planned for Sat May 16th. To take part please contact Graeme well in advance for more details.

Questions About Faith

Graeme is offering a series of one-night events throughout the Upper Dale for those who perhaps don’t attend church regularly but would like to know more about the Christian faith.  Come along and bring a curious friend!

Read more here

Dates remaining:

• 26^th May  Stanhope Church Hall
• 27^th May Frosterley Village Hall
• 1^st June Barrington Hall, St John’s Chapel

All at 7-8.30pm

Graeme’s APCM Report

We are deep into Annual Parish Church Meeting season, but not everyone has yet managed to attend a meeting and so may not have heard Graeme’s report as our new Vicar.  It gives important insight into how Graeme sees his role amongst us, and his vision for the future of our parishes.  You can read the report in full here

(PS – if you get the chance to go to an APCM for your parish do go. It’s an important event in the life of each church and much more interesting than it might sound!)

And finally…

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:
Stanhope: Katharine Adams 07783659089

Eastgate: Liz Curry 07921 176012
West Weardale: 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

Our Benefice Website can be found at