Upper Weardale Benefice Newsletter

7^th June 2026

First Sunday After Trinity

Collect

God of truth,

help us to keep your law of love

and to walk in ways of wisdom,

that we may find true life

in Jesus Christ your Son.  Amen

14^th June 2026

Second Sunday After Trinity

Collect

Faithful Creator,

whose mercy never fails:

deepen our faithfulness to you

and to your living Word,

Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

21^st June 2026

Third Sunday After Trinity

Collect

God our saviour,

look on this wounded world

in pity and in power;

hold us fast to your promises of peace won for us by your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ.  Amen

What’s On Over the Next Three Weeks

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 Bishop Rick as he is formally installed.

We continue to pray for peace and reconciliation between warring countries around the world, especially remembering the innocent and vulnerable caught up in violence.

We pray for our own nation in a time where our unity and tolerance come under pressure through political division and uncertainty. We pray for calm and wisdom for all those who seek to lead us.

News

Bishop of Durham

The Rt Rev Rick Simpson will be installed as Bishop of Durham this Sunday at Durham Cathedral.  At the recent Diocesan Synod he made an inspirational speech about his conviction that the Church is at a turning point.  You can find a link to a video of the speech here.  

“Do What You Love but Do It For God”

Rev Graeme is often to be heard telling us to do this, but what does it look like in practice? We know how important cycling is to him – now he has written a beautiful description of his 40mile cycle route around the benefice, interwoven with prayer and reflection.  Read it here

Choir Director Sought

IS there anyone out there who may be interested in becoming a Choir Director for churches around the Dale?

Rev Graeme Holdsworth is experimenting with the idea of perhaps developing a Christian Choir that would move up and down Dale, singing in churches on Sundays. They would also, of course, practise together and become a social group, enjoying rehearsing and making new friends.

Anyone interested is advised to contact Rev Holdsworth via email at Rev.Holdsworth@pm.me

Stanhope Sponsor a Stone Project

Ann Hodgson of the Friends of St Thomas’ Stanhope has asked me to share the following message about the project.  If you would like to know more about the project itself please contact Ann (contact details are at the end of her message)

Coming Up…

Faith Through Music – Tuesday 9^th June

On Tuesday 9th June, at 20:00 and by Zoom, the Faith through Music group will be looking at the well-loved hymn “Take My Life and Let Me Be”

As ever, Richard will offer a brief overview of the song, perhaps looking at the circumstance of its composition  or some of the underlying theology, but will then facilitate a free-flowing discussion, addressing questions such as:

• Do we like or dislike the hymn?
• How do we see this song fitting into our personal or corporate worship?
• How do the words and music speak to us?

If the discussion dries up, Richard will try and have some Difficult Questions prepared.

Richard thinks it would be great to have some new faces peering out of his computer screen – particularly folk from a non-Anglican tradition.  It would also be fantastic if folk could suggest songs we could look at, especially if they’re songs that are not well known in the Church of England.

So if you want to join the fun, give Richard a shout via the newsletter.

Farming Exhibition at Cowshill 13^th-14^th June

There will also be a farming celebration service on Saturday 20^th at 3pm

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   rev.holdsworth@pm.me

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.

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