Your Chance To Make HIStory!

Following on from the success of visit on the 20th February, renowned professional opera singer Graeme Danby and composer Will Todd will be visiting St. Andrew's to continue the preparations for The Great North Passion.

Graeme & Will be with us on the following dates:

27th Feb 3-6pm        28th Feb 2-5pm

10th March 2-5pm    11 March 2-5pm

All are welcome to come for an hour or two, or stay for the whole session - it's up to you!

 

Our task? To help them create a song for The Great North Passion, which will  be performed to the 4,000 strong audience, as well as those watching live on the BBC!

 

This is a fantastic opportunity to experience professional guidance and insight into singing and voice projection, and be part of a national TV event. So if you're young or not so young, love singing in public, only dare in the shower, or simply think you couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, this is for you! Previous experience is definitely not necessary -  this is all about enjoyment and discovering your gifts and skills.

We've  more details on The Great North Passion, available on the website - http://monkwearmouthcofe.com/the-great-north-passion.html

Look forward to seeing you there!

Opera star Springs into St. Andrew's

On Thursday 20th February at 17:00 renowned professional opera singer Graeme Danby will be visiting St. Andrew's to meet with the community.

Originally from Consett, Co. Durham, Graeme has performed at several of the world’s leading opera houses, notably the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and the English National Opera. He is known for his strong, dramatic portrayals of characters in the basso profondo repertoire, and is currently an active tutor in the performing arts department at the University of Sunderland.

The event is in held conjunction with our friends from Cultural Spring - a major Arts Council backed initiative to encourage locally based discovery and development of the Arts of all kinds across Sunderland and South Tyneside - and marks the beginning of a series of workshops, "tasters" and other events which St Andrew's will be hosting in partnership with them.

Graeme and composer Will Todd will work with us to create a piece that will be performed to a 4,000 strong audience on Good Friday, so please come along for the opportunity to experience professional guidance and insight into singing and voice projection. If you're young or not so young, love singing in public, only dare in the shower, or simply think you couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, this is for you! Previous experience is definitely not necessary -  this is all about enjoyment and discovering your gifts and skills.

For more information about Cultural Spring, visit http://www.theculturalspring.org.uk/

Look forward to seeing you there!

Heritage Heaven

It was once said that, "to sit still is to watch decay." And so it has proved in the life of St. Andrew's Church, Parish of Monkwearmouth The ravages of time and the north east coastal weather has certainly taken its toll on this important and magnificent grade 1 listed church with its unique style of architecture. A building but a few years after its centenary celebrations in need of urgent and emergency work to maintain it as a place fit to worship our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

It is that vision of "decaying stone" being turned into" living stones" fit for worship that has been the driving force for change, not just to preserve a beautiful building but in the building of God's Kingdom. The task God has set before us, daunting though that might be.

Through 2011/12 emergency work to the stained glass east window, repair of roof parapets on the south side, paths, lightning conductor and much other work was completed. The major work of the restoration of two north nave windows was completed by the summer of 2012. This work was largely financed by legacy money together with several trust fund grants. Our grateful thanks to those with that vision of thankfulness before God of the importance they attached to a church at the heart of their spiritual lives.

To continue the work a grant application was made to English Heritage in 2012 for further funding to replace five windows in the church. The success of this application is now evident with the sight of scaffolding "adorning" the chancel. This work on the two chancel, two north nave and one south nave windows is due to be completed by mid July this year.

A further application was made to the Heritage Lottery Fund last year and I am pleased to announce that this application has now been successful. This will allow the church to replace the three remaining windows and complete the repair work to the nave and transept roof areas, including parapets, guttering, rain water pipes and drainage.

Much work still to be undertaken, amidst the noise of hammer and drill, though the refreshing sights and sounds of human activity pointing to renewal and restoration and a future hope of the hand of God at work amongst us. From visitor to regular member, memories of past connection or the joy of future worship that draws our joint experience of God together through a building of human offering to the glory of God.

So much to be thankful for as the work which will continue for some time to come. Thankfulness to the Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage, Priestman Trust, Northumbria Historic Churches Trust and Durham Diocese, John Barnes (architect), Chris Chesney (Iona Glass), several contractors and not least yourselves who have contributed so much through the "Pane Appeal" to this important work.

John Pattinson                                January 2014

The John McManus Lecture

On 18th January 2014, the ever popular Rev'd John McManus will be returning to St. Peter's to deliver one of his scintillating lectures.

Entitled "The Influence of Wearmouth-Jarrow on Biblical Scholarship" it promises to be a fascinating look at the importance of our region in the development of Christianity across the UK and beyond.

The lecture itself begins at 11am, with nibbles and conversation following at 12 noon. Immediately preceding the lecture is a short Eucharistic service, which begins at 10:30am.

All are welcome to attend any part of the day's activities.

For help finding to St. Peter's Church, go to http://monkwearmouthcofe.com/where-we-are.html

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/