Weekly News Sheets

 St John’s Church, Neville’s Cross

We are encouraging as many people as possible to receive this weekly news sheet via email.  Please click here to contact the Rector’s Secretary to be added to the distribution list. This helps to keep our costs down and also reduce our carbon footprint.

This Sunday (8th December) there will be a Communion Service in church at 8.45 am and 10.30 am (with Amy Ward speaking and Rev Barnaby Huish presiding at both services).  The 10.30 am service will be broadcast live (available to view on our Facebook page) https://www.facebook.com/StJohnschurchnevillescross.

Taste:  As 1st December was Advent Sunday and many of our regular Taste congregation were attending the Advent Carol Service at the Cathedral, we decided to cancel Taste for December. Normal service will be resumed on 5th January.  As an advanced notice, in February Taste will be hosting a performance of Crystal’s Vardo, a play bringing to life Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history and culture.  Book the date, 2nd February 2025.  Mike.

Ordinand on placement: Josh Thornhill, who is in his first year training for ordination at Cranmer Hall, is going to be on placement with us this year: he will be based at St John’s this term, and St Margaret’s next term.

The next Open Door session is on Wednesday 18th December.  Do come and join us from 10.00 am – 12 noon for coffee/tea, conversation and cake.

Messy Church: We were delighted to welcome 27 children and families to our Messy Church on Remembrance Sunday.  At our next Messy Church on 8th December (4-6 pm), we will make our Christingle and Christmas Decorations before our Christingle Worship Service, after which we will have tea.  We look forward to seeing you, and children – please bring an adult with you.

Durham Anglican Cursillo are holding their Advent Ultreya (Gathering) at St John’s on Friday 6th December at 7 pm.  If you are a Cursillista, please come along.  It would be good to have the home team well represented and if you are able to help with setting up tables etc, that would be an added bonus.  Just speak to Caroline Friswell about this.  If you are not a Cursillista, and would like to discover more about Cursillo, you are very welcome to come along as well.  We will be spending time thinking about Jesus’ birth and how it is celebrated in different parts of the world.  There will be refreshments as well.

Invitation from St John’s Mothers Union to All Members of the Congregation: Just a reminder that our December meeting will take place on Monday 9th December at 1.45pm in church. Please join us for our annual Christmas Celebration which includes traditional carols, bible readings and seasonal poems.

Prayer Meeting: The next Prayer Meeting will take place on Saturday 14th December at 9.30 and in 2025, on 11th January.  If you can’t attend in person, please pray wherever you are for the Church and the world.

Angels and Stockings A huge thank you to all who have knitted angels and stockings.  We have over 100 Stockings for the Food bank and over 100 angels to be displayed outside church in December for the community to take for Christmas.  Please remember the deadline for leaving these in the box in the foyer was Sunday 1st December.

Neville’s Cross Community Choir will be giving an end of term concert on Friday 13th December at 7.30pm in church.  Entry by donation.  Do please come and join us.

Christmas events at St Edmund’s Church, Bearpark: 

• Thursday 12th December 7.30pm: Christmas Concert by Ushaw Chapel Choir (followed by refreshments)
• Tuesday 17th December 7pm: Village Carol Service, accompanied by the Salvation Army Band

Durham Cathedral Young Singers present a service of Lessons and Carols, here in St John’s Church Join us for a traditional service of readings, Christmas anthems and carols to celebrate the Christmas season. Saturday 14th December, 11am. No ticket necessary.

Community Carols at St John’s Church Thursday 19th December, from 7-8pm with mulled wine and mince pies. Come and sing some of your favourite carols in an informal setting, and maybe use this as an opportunity to invite friends and neighbours to come and join us. If you can help by donating some mince pies, please sign the list in the foyer or speak to Kath Shanks or Elizabeth B.

Nativity Service: the 10.30 am service on Sunday 22nd December will be an All Age Communion Service with the annual John’s Juniors/Think Tank Nativity in place of the gospel and sermon.  This will be a joint service attended by members of St Margaret’s congregation.

Super 6, a group for year 6 students which prepares them for secondary school, will be starting again in the new year, and running for one school term.  Super 6 is a part of the LOL ministry, run by St John’s and King’s Church.  If anybody would like to volunteer to help, please talk to Alex.

Save the date!! We are beginning to plan our next parish weekend away.  It will be from 19th to 21st September 2025 at Scargill House in Kettlewell in the Yorkshire Dales.  More details will be available soon.

Welcome cards: if you are new to St John’s: welcome!  You are invited to fill out one of the ‘Welcome to St John’s’ cards, which can be found in the pews; it will enable us to get in touch and say hello, and also, if you wish, for us to stay in touch and keep you informed.

Would you like to read or lead prayers (intercessions) in church from time to time on Sunday mornings? If so please contact the Rector or Rector’s Secretary.  Training/guidance/encouragement will be given.

Music on Sundays: If you would be interested in receiving a notification on Saturday, about the hymns/sheet music for the 10.30 am service on Sunday please let Amy know either in person or via the Contact Form.

Prayer:  A number of us meet on Zoom every Monday morning at 9.30 am to say Morning Prayer together. This is in addition to the Prayer Meeting in church at 9.30 am on the second Saturday of the month. To join us for Morning Prayer, regularly or on occasion, contact the Rector, Jo Cundy or Mike Chater in the first instance and we will ensure that you receive the Zoom link. It is so important for the life of the church that we pray together. 

PRAYERS AND READINGS FOR THIS WEEK:

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT– 8th DECEMBER

Prayer for Lighting the second Advent Candle:

Lord Jesus, light of the world, the prophets said you would bring peace and save
your people in trouble.  Give peace in our hearts at Christmas and show all the
world God’s love. Amen.

Hymns for 8.45 am service:

• Hark! A herald voice is calling  (140)
• Make way, make way  (500)
• Lo! He comes with clouds descending  (449)

Collect

O Lord, raise up, we pray, your power and come among us, and with great might
succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness we are grievously
hindered in running the race that is set before us, your bountiful grace and mercy
may speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, to whom with
you and the Holy Spirit, be honour and glory, now and for ever.

Alternative Collect

Almighty God, purify our hearts and minds, that when your Son Jesus Christ comes
again as judge and saviour we may be ready to receive him, who is
our Lord and our God.

Readings  

• Malachi 3.1-4
• Philippians 1.3-11
• Luke 3.1-6

Post Communion

Father in heaven, who sent your Son to redeem the world and will send him again
to be our judge: give us grace so to imitate him in the humility and purity of his
first coming that, when he comes again, we may be ready to greet him with joyful
love and firm faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Readings for Next Sunday:

• Zeph 3.14-20;
• Philippians 4.4-7;
• Luke 3.7-18