Mary and Joseph Blaze A Trail Around Monkwearmouth

There may have been no room at the inn 2000 years ago, but Mary & Joseph were guaranteed a warm welcome today when the crew of Fulwell Community Fire Station offered to take them in for the night.

WM Steve Bewick receives the Holy Family from Rev. Dick Bradshaw
(c) Paul Child/Monkwearmouth Parish

The nativity figures from St. Andrew's Church Roker, plus their trusty donkey, have been travelling around Monkwearmouth Parish since the start of December as they make their way to the Crib Service at 4pm on Christmas Eve. Local residents, coffee shops, businesses and schools have offered them a bed, or at least a windowsill, for the night as the community joins together in a 'Posada,' originally a Mexican tradition that allows people to become part of the nativity story in the run up to Christmas.

When this came to the attention of Watch Manager Steve Bewick, it seemed natural for the Fire Station to be involved.

“We are always involved in the community, but especially at Christmas,” he said. “With the increased risks from candles, tree lights and paper decorations at this time of year it seemed right to not only be able to house this wandering family, but to remind people to stay fire safe.”

The Mary and Joseph figures
(c) Paul Child/Monkwearmouth Parish

Rev'd Dick Bradshaw said “It's wonderful for the whole of the community to be sharing in the journey of Mary & Joseph as we approach Christmas and the celebration of the birth of Jesus. There have been some very moving comments in the Posada diary from those who have hosted the couple so far.”

The fire crew's next task will be to safely deliver Mary & Joseph to Fulwell Junior school in time for their carol service tomorrow (Wednesday 11th December), with future stopping points including Lloyds Bank, Seaburn Dene Primary School & The Rowan Tree coffee shop.

For more information about the Posada, or the Christmas services in Monkwearmouth Parish, visit www.monkwearmouthcofe.com

What a performance...

'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens

The Monkwearmouth Drama Group present their version of the Dickens classic 'A Christmas Carol.' 

Come along to the Priestman Hall, St. Andrew's Church, Roker, and experience a truly wonderful performance.

 

Friday 15th November - 7:30pm

Saturday 16th November - 2:30pm & 7:30pm

Sunday 17th November - 3pm

Monday 18th November - 7:30pm

Tuesday 19th November - 7pm

 

Entry is £5 on the door.

Click here for help to find us.

Centrepoint Sleepout 2013

A cold November evening beckoned as we arrived at Beamish Museum for the third

North East Sleepout to raise funds for Centrepoint, a charity whose work is aimed at giving fresh hope and support to homeless young people.

We hosted the first Sleepout at St, Andrew's Church in 2011 (see photos), and it seems no coincidence that a brand new hostel has been opened by them in the parish.

 

So, well wrapped up on thankfully a dry night, it was time to meet old friends and renew

acquaintances with those whom we had met in previous years. Bowls of hot soup

and hot dogs provided by the museum staff to keep out the chill and so to bed; well it

was the pavements and doorways of the main street in the museum.

 

Some had gathered around a few braziers set up along the street, an image of

yesteryear, a picture of poverty and homelessness in a bygone age. Yet this was

2013 and we were told over 6000 young people would be doing what we would do,

albeit only one night for us.

 

During the evening much information was given about the work of the charity and

how we were part of a national event taking place tonight. Yet what was most

poignant was to listen to the stories of four young people whose lives had been

turned around by the charity's work. From backgrounds of hopelessness, through all

the ills of family breakdown inflicted upon some young people, to the life skills and

direction that brings hope for the future through the skills of the Centrepoint staff.

 

Not the best night's sleep I have ever had, well not much sleep at all as Ralph and I

decided to sleep on the cobbles of the stable courtyard. Emerging from our special

bags provided by the charity at 6. a.m. after an almost frosty night, bones chilled to

the core and probably a few imprints of cobbles upon our bodies it was time to go

home to the warmth and comfort we take so much for granted.

 

Thank you to all who have sponsored Dick, Ralph and myself and hopefully a bed

and a better future for some unknown young person in need. A small price to pay by

us on one cold bone chilling night in November.

 

John Pattinson

For more information about the amazing work of Centrepoint here in Sunderland and across the UK, visit http://www.centrepoint.org.uk/

FOSA Auction - 16/11/13

Broadcaster & author Melvyn Bragg

The Friend's of St. Andrew's much loved Coffee Morning Auction is back! On Saturday 16th November, starting with coffee at 10am, the items going under the hammer from 11am include a signed pic from Milton Jones, signed books by Kate Adie, Chris Mullin and Melvyn Bragg, signed CDs & DVDs by Sir Thomas Allan, Joe McElderry and Sarah Millican, and a number of signed books and framed prints from Sunderland AFC. All items have been kindly donated to enable us to continue in our efforts to raise funds for further church renovation. There will also be a cake stall, raffle and Christmas Novelty stall. 

X-Factor winner Joe McElderry

Top comedian Milton Jones

 

Remember - Saturday 16th November 2013 at 10:00am!


Look forward to seeing you there!




Journalist Kate Adie









 









Sleep Out for Centrepoint

 

The big Centrepoint Sleepout is this Thursday (7th November) from 7pm to 7am at Beamish Museum.

 

We are blessed to have Centrepoint's first purpose-built accommodation for homeless young people in the Parish! Located in Dundas Street, it boasts en suite bathrooms, modern facilities, a training kitchen and multimedia suite - perfect for Centrepoint staff to hold more effective workshops in learning and life skills, and to really engage and support the vulnerable young adults of Sunderland.

 

Some of our congregation members are already signed up to take part in the Sleepout, but it's not to late for you to get involved - visit Centrepoint's website to find out how. 

 

 

 

 

 

You can also join us in praying not only for those involved, but for those who face homelessness & rough sleeping as a reality every day - and for charities such as Centrepoint for their invaluable work helping them.

 

For more information on what Centrepoint do & who they support, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monkwearmouth Churches Welcome Weary Pilgrims

A chance encounter on Twitter led to two Christian pilgrims receiving a hospitable welcome at two North East Anglican churches.

 

Keith Blundy | Aegies PR

A few weeks ago, Rev’d Paul Child, new Associate Curate in the Monkwearmouth Parish, Sunderland, noticed a tweet from the Big Bible project saying Sheridan Voysey and DJ Konz, two Australian nationals now residing in the UK, were about to embark on a 100 mile, nine day journey from Lindisfarne to Durham Cathedral on foot to view the Lindisfarne Gospels.

 

The pilgrimage was designed to be an interactive experience for those following on-line, with



 

regular tweets about their progress, pictures, video blogs and offers to pray for people as they walked, all under the hashtag #digipilgrim.

 

Paul said: “I thought it was worth asking if they were coming through our Parish, not least because of the heritage of St. Peter’s, one of the oldest churches in the country.

“ DJ replied, we swapped email addresses and decided to see what we could do to help them on the final leg of their pilgrimage.”

 

This included organising a tour of World Heritage candidate St. Peter’s so the pair could find out about its rich history, including viewing the original 7th Century archway where the Venerable Bede, known as the “Father of British History” would have entered the building aged just seven.

It also meant a chance for Sheridan and DJ to join the 8am congregation at St. Andrew’s, sometimes referred to as “the cathedral of the Arts & Crafts movement,” to help set them up spiritually for the last day of their trek.

Keith Blundy | Aegies PR



 

DJ said: “this is a fantastically historic part of the country and centre to the Christian story in the UK. To follow in the footsteps of the Cuthbert pilgrimage has been a deeply spiritual experience and the welcome we have received has been magnificent. Our visit to St Peter’s which was around as a place of worship at the time of Cuthbert’s ministry is just mind blowing – what a privilege.”

 

Paul said; “The three churches in Monkwearmouth Parish, the third being All Saints, Fulwell, are really seeking to be welcoming, hospitable places for people to come and worship.

 

“I hope this encounter with DJ and Sheridan shows that we are also interested with things happening outside the church building, and keen to engage with those from both inside and outside our community in ways that show Jesus’ love for each of them.”

The Pilgrims finished their journey through Durham Diocese with a brief visit to St Mary and St Cuthbert’s in Chester-le-street and on to Durham Cathedral.

Here is the news...

Welcome to our shiny new news blog!

The aim is to use this blog to show what is happening in the wonderful parish of Monkwearmouth, so please do keep checking back to find out what's going on!

If you want to know more about anything you read on here, you can find us at www.monkwearmouthcofe.com,  tweet us @monkwearmouthce or find us on Facebook.

Thanks for dropping by - see you again soon!