29/1/23
Your weekly update from the Benwell & Scotswood Team
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Dates for your diary
Wed 8 Feb
10.30am - 'Big conversation' at Newcastle Cathedral
Wed 22 Feb
10.30am - Ash Wednesday (ashing and communion), Ven Bede
Services this week
Sun 29 Jan
11am - Ven Bede, Candlemas celebration (parish eucharist)
Sun 5 Feb
9.30am - St John's holy communion
9.45am - St Margaret's holy communion
11am - Ven Bede holy communion (Parish eucharist)
News
BBC documentary featuring our churches
We are incredibly proud of our community who feature in this documentary about the cost of living crisis. Though we believe this crisis should not be happening, the generosity and love that has been shown gives us real hope for humanity.
Watch on BBC iplayer here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001htyr/fighting-the-costofliving-crisis
Candlemas celebration service this Sunday
Sun 29 Jan, 11am at Ven Bede
You are invited to a special service of celebration for all who have been baptised/christened in our churches!
40 days after Christmas (or the nearest Sunday) is when we remember the story of how Jesus' parents presented him in the temple to give thanks for his birth. Traditionally this was when candles were blessed to be used throughout the year- hence 'candlemas'!
If you still have your baptism candle bring it with you and we will light them during the service!
Adjustment to service patterns begins next Sunday
From next Sunday 5th Feb, we are very happy to announce that we are moving to a more consistent pattern of worship on Sunday mornings:
St John's - 9.30am weekly.
St Margaret's - 9.45am (1st and 3rd Sundays)
St Margaret's - 4pm (2nd and 4th Sundays)
The hub service - 11am weekly at Ven Bede (St James in the Summer).
If there is a 5th Sunday in the month, there will be a team service.
The Big Conversation
Now 7pm at Heaton Football club
The Big Conversation has been rearranged to Wednesday 8th February at Heaton Stannington ,Football Club, Newton Road, High Heaton, NE7 7HP at 7pm. This brings together conversations that have been happening across communities over the last few months. This event will include key local decision-makers to find real solutions and ways forward for our communities.
Sign up and more info here: realconvos.org
or speak to Matt Dobson.
Thank you from Chris
"I would like to give everyone a huge thank you for supporting me throughout my curacy and celebrating with me as I licensed as Team Vicar for mission. I am overwhelmed by the support and generosity. I am so happy to be staying in this wonderful community for another 3 years and I can't wait to work with you all as we join in God's mission to love all unconditionally."
The Collect
Almighty and ever–living God,
clothed in majesty,
whose beloved Son was this day presented in the Temple,
in substance of our flesh:
grant that we may be presented to you
with pure and clean hearts,
by your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Reading
Malachi 3.1–5 3See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; 3he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness.4Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. 5 Then I will draw near to you for judgement; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow, and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.
Gospel
Luke 2.22–40 22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’), 24and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’ 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.27Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, 29 ‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’ 33 And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’ 36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, 37then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.
Talk and activity
Revd Chris
Intercessions
If you would like to add someone to the prayer list please email church@benwellscotswood.com
The name will stay on the list for 1 month unless requested to be long-term.
Prayers for others:
Shno, Dara, Hani and Yani
Tom
Lorraine Atkinson
Esther Kolie
Edith Hutchinson
Lyndsey Richardson
Christine, David, Philip, Neil and Steven
Elizabeth Taylor
Honar
Moe and Mary
Alison Campbell
John Taylor
Irene Foskett
John Nicholson
Alan Robson
Michelle Wilson
Joan Finley
George Snowden
Claire Mozaffari
Herbert Agbeko
Post Communion prayer
Lord, you fulfilled the hope of Simeon and Anna,
who lived to welcome the Messiah:
may we, who have received these gifts beyond words,
prepare to meet Christ Jesus when he comes
to bring us to eternal life;
for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever.
Amen.