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 (12th July), there will be a Communion Service in church at 8.45 am (with Rev Barnaby Huish preaching and presiding) and at 10.30 am (with Rev Barnaby Huish preaching and Canon Remi Omole presiding).The 10.30 am service will be broadcast live (available to view on our Facebook page) https://www.facebook.com/StJohnschurchnevillescross.

 The Mothers’ Union is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, we will be marking this in the prayers and in other aspects of our services this morning, with help from our local branch leader Annette.

 Invitation from St John’s Mothers’ Union to All Members of the  Congregation: Just a reminder that our next meeting will take place on Monday 13th July at 1.45pm in church. Our speaker will be Susan Egglestone who will update us on the Durham Lesotho Link. Everyone is welcome!

Durham Deanery Children’s ministry network: a new forum for people involved in children’s work in our local churches is being set up by Christine Muneza (Diocesan Mission Enabler for Children). The first meeting will be at St Laurence’s, Pittington at noon on 13th July. If you would be interested in taking part, or finding out more, please contact the Rector.  It would be great to have St John’s represented.

Diary Dates:

Prayer meeting – Saturday 11th July at 9.30 am

Open Door: the next Open Door will be on 15th July.  Do come and join us from 10.00 am – 12 noon for coffee/tea, conversation and cake.

Meditation group: the meditation group has now started and meets every 3rd Thursday at St John’s.  We meet at 7 pm, with the silent meditation beginning at 7.15 pm and finishing by 8.20 pm. All are welcome but bring a blanket!  If you have questions and would like to get involved, please speak to Andrew Mattches for information.  No prior experience required.  The next meeting will be Thursday 16th July.

Bearpark Summer Club: Here at St Edmund’s, it is our hope and intention to once again offer the popular holiday club for primary school children in the village this year.  It will run on Mondays, from 10 am – 1pm for six weeks beginning 27th July and we will be offering craft activities on the theme of Creation, games and lunch each week. Friends from St John’s have always been generous with their support and time and I am asking again this year for volunteers to help us. There is a sign-up sheet at the back of church if you are able to volunteer or, if you need more information, please speak to Sue Massey or Sarah Chandler. Thank you!  Ann Lipscombe If you feel unable to manage a long morning, it would be lovely to have volunteers offer to serve lunch or wash up the lunch crockery.  Alternatively, we need volunteers to hoover up and shift tables at the end of the session.  We do not expect every volunteer to turn up every Monday over the six weeks.

Save the Date!  Church Away Day on Saturday, 26th September. Our church Away Day this year will be on Saturday, 26th September at St Brandon’s church, Brancepeth.  We will be exploring different ways to pray, with a particular focus on contemplative prayer. The day will be led by Dr Heather Mole, who co-ordinates spiritual direction at St Antony’s Priory and is a wonderful facilitator.  There will be something for everyone, whether you’re familiar with contemplative prayer and love it or think it sounds a bit weird and/or difficult.  So, do plan to join us for a day of refreshment, inspiration and rest, as we spend a relaxed day with each other and God.  We are also looking for a small team to help with planning the day itself (refreshments, etc), and if you’d like to be involved in that way, Mike Chater would love to hear from you!

Please support Abby, our former youth worker, who is taking a year out to go overseas again as a volunteer.  She is returning to Central Asia towards the end of July to work in an International School for their academic year from August to June, as Assistant to the Student Life Director, offering pastoral support to the children and young people and helping them to flourish and grow.  She will also have opportunities to engage with local people and students through conversation, friendship and fellowship, and to renew former links.  She would be very grateful for our prayers as she steps out again in faith, but also for financial support as she will need to be self-supporting and estimates that the year will cost her around £16,000.  Donations can be made through her GoFundMe page:- https://gofund.me/a9c0df37c We will keep in touch with Abby and let you know how the year progresses, and if you would like more information, Abby is happy for people to contact her direct.  Please ask for contact details.

Foodbank: Many thanks to all who continue to contribute to Foodbank, either by dropping off items in church or through regular financial donations.  So far in 2026 Durham and Sunderland Foodbank has supported 4,744 people.

The Foodbank is asking people to ADD ONE FOR SUMMER.

They explain “The summer holidays can place extra pressure on household budgets, particularly for families already struggling to make ends meet.  With children at home throughout the day, the cost of food can quickly add up.  That is why, from 25 May to 20 July, we are asking shoppers to consider picking up one extra item from our list of urgently needed items during their regular shop.

Every donation, no matter how small, helps us provide well-balanced food parcels containing the essential items local individuals and families rely on.  By adding just one item to your basket, you will be helping us ensure we are ready to support those who may need us over the summer months.  If you would like to support us, have a look at our list of most needed items on our website.” 

 Saturday Night at the Movies – 11th July 7.30 pm: Enjoy an entertaining journey through cinema history, from silent films and Charlie Chaplin to classic genres and Steven Spielberg, brought to life with live music.  This lively, nostalgic show blends humour, insight, and local Durham film heritage—plus an intermission with refreshments.  Tickets £5 with all proceeds going to the centre for future community events – e.g. Dementia Café, Kids Holiday clubs.  Tickets can be purchased from Merryoaks Community Centre in person or by phone -Tel – 07467063940 or pay on the night.

 Job Vacancy: Cranmer Hall is currently advertising for a fixed-term (10 weeks) admissions assistant to support admissions work over the summer. The role is 21 hours per week and ideal for anyone looking for something flexible and short term. For an informal conversation, please email sarah.e.strand@durham.ac.uk.

Hymns for 8.45 am service:

• Take My life (687)
• Jesus Good Above All Other (383)
• Tell Out My Soul (692)

Collect

Merciful God, you have prepared for those who love you
such good things as pass our understanding:
pour into our hearts such love toward you
that we, loving you in all things and above all things,
may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Alternative Collect

Creator God, you made us all in your image:
may we discern you in all that we see, and serve you in all that we do;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Readings:

• Isaiah 55.10-13
• Romans 8.1-11
• Matthew 13.1-9,18-23

Post Communion

God of our pilgrimage, you have led us to the living water:
refresh and sustain us as we go forward on our journey,
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Readings for Next Sunday:

• Isaiah 44.6-8 
• Romans 8.12-25
• Matthew 13.24-30,36-43