Upper Weardale Benefice Newsletter

WEARDALE PULPIT

Upper Weardale Benefice Newsletter

31^st August 2025                                                                                        

Trinity 11                                                                                                      1                                                         

Collect

God of glory,

the end of our searching,

help us to lay aside

all that prevents us from seeking your kingdom,

and to give all that we have

to gain the pearl beyond all price.  Amen

What’s On This Week

For Your Prayers

We keep in our prayers all in our community who are sick or bereaved, or in any kind of need.

We continue to pray for those suffering in Gaza, the Ukraine and Sudan and pray that international peace efforts will bear fruit.

News

Coming up This Week …

Bread Church Friday August 29^th 6-9pm Stanhope Church Hall

 A chance to make bread and an opportunity to reflect during a simple Bible study and short prayer time while the bread cooks.  When cooked, we share a  bread based meal as a time of fellowship. 

Open to everyone, of all ages and all faiths or none.  Invite a friend! Donations welcome.

Weardale Show Service 6pm St John’s Chapel Sun 31^st August

Way of Hope-Help Needed

We will be promoting the new ‘Way of Hope’ Weardale Pilgrimage route at the Weardale and Stanhope shows on August 30^th and September 13^th/14^th respectively.
We need to man the stands each day from 8.30am until finish. Any help even for a short period of time would be gratefully appreciated.
Please contact Liz for more information on 

Eco Festival 6^th and 7^th September

In September the Church celebrates an annual ‘Season of Creation’ and this year West Weardale Parish will be holding events over the weekend of 6^th and 7^th September in Heatherycleugh Church, Cowshill Village Hall and St John’s Church to celebrate the natural world and to think about how we care for all that God has made. There will be:

• family-friendly workshops – build a bug hotel, create a bat box, drill a bee-log
• craft demonstrations – have a go at drop-spindle spinning, see demos of peg-looming and willow-weaving, and one of the oldest and most traditional forms of recycling – proggy mats!
• plastic-free tombola – what will you win?
• wildlife information – follow the bird identification trail or see if you can identify them from their song; learn about red squirrels; find out about bats (and sign up for our planned bat walk); buy seed for birds and for pollinator friendly flowers.
• ideas for creation-caring living – supporting local food-producers; finding new uses for wool; scheme to recycle medicine blister packs

There will also be a film showing (“2040” – an uplifting and inspiring film from Australia about solutions to the climate crisis that already exist – see trailer here ) on the Saturday at 7pm and a talk by John Robson Grundy of wildernesstamed.com  on creating a wildlife-friendly garden on the Sunday at 2.30pm, followed by a short closing service in the open air. If you would like to help in any way please talk to Sandie on 07913909676 or by replying to the newsletter. 

Poster attached – please do publicise!

Looking Further Ahead…

Harvest Family Service Stanhope

Following the successful family service in August, St Thomas’ Stanhope will be holding a Harvest Family Service on Sunday 28^th September at 4pm,  All welcome, refreshments afterwards.  Please come along, and please invite others!

Retreat at Alnmouth Friary

You are warmly invited to come for a short retreat at Alnmouth Friary—a peaceful opportunity to step away from the busyness of life and find rest and renewal.

We’ll arrive at the Friary by 4pm on Monday 3rd November and return the following day, Tuesday 4th November, after lunch (around 2pm). During our stay, there will be time to eat and pray with the brothers, enjoy the beautiful surroundings, and relax—whether that’s walking the grounds, visiting the beach nearby, or spending quiet time in the library and dining area.

The friary is situated just a short walk from both the beach and Alnmouth village. You can find out more about the friary at: https://alnmouthfriaryssf.org.uk

A recommended donation of £60 is suggested to help cover costs, but please don’t let money be a barrier—you are very welcome to come regardless of your financial situation.

There are only 11 spaces available, offered on a first come, first served basis, but if there’s enough interest, we may be able to arrange a second retreat (subject to availability at the friary).

  We’re hoping to coordinate travel using lifts from those who are able to drive. When you put your name forward, please let us know if you can offer a lift or if you’ll need one, and we’ll do our best to organise car shares.  

To book your place or find out more, please contact Carol Richardson by phone or message.

  07517560693

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

01388 537439, 07713 388106,

Assistant Curate: The Rev. Michael Baldwin

Tel 07716065012 

Parish Safeguarding Officers:
Liz Curry 07921 176012
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

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