St Michael Toddler Group 50th Anniversary 19th Nov 10.00 am

We are celebrating our Toddler Group’s 50th anniversary with special parties and gifts for all of our current children. On Sunday the 19th November there will be a commemorative service at 10.00 am in Church followed by a private celebration for all of our wonderful volunteers past and present.

We would love as many people as possible to join us in Church on November 19th – it is a testament to the relationship our church continues to enjoy with the people of Houghton that this group has not only survived, but thrived.

Services of Light and Hope – Remembrance to Christmas

Have you or a friend lost a loved one?

We are moving into our season of Remembrance and on through Advent eventually into Christmas. We have a series of services of Light and Hope, starting this Sunday evening with our All Souls Eucharist. Here are the dates and times of our other services over this season. Please share this with your friends.

We hope you can come and that it gives you some comfort to gather with others to remember your loved ones.

 

WATCH NOW: Gilpin 500 Documentary about Bernard Gilpin’s Faith, Generosity and Service

Current biographer of Bernard Gilpin, parishioner Roger Elsey is interviewed about Gilpin’s Faith, Generosity and Service and his inspiration for us today in this short 4 part documentary film. This film is part of the Gilpin 500 Exhibition on display at St Michael and All Angels Church throughout Houghton Feast 6-14th October 2017.

Watch the documentary here:

Houghton Feast Community Hymn Singing – with Houghton Area Youth Band Sun 8th Oct 6pm

This year is the 50th Houghton Feast in its modern incarnation – from the beginning the Community Hymn singing on Feast Sunday (this year on 8th October at 6pm) has been a very popular part of the feast celebrations.

This year we are focusing on our Gilpin 500 celebrations of our Rector Bernard Gilpin and his life and witness. We will be joined by Houghton Area Youth Band – a wonderful brass band that will help us give the hymns some welly!

We look forward to welcoming you on Sunday 8th October at 6pm for inspiration through music.

Book tickets: Friday 13th October for the Gilpin 500 dinner featuring The Cherry Pickers Folk Band

THE GILPIN 500 DINNER
Celebrating the 500th anniversary of the birth of Houghton’s famous Rector, Bernard Gilpin, a special dinner with entertainment is taking place in the Parish Church. The Cherry Pickers, a live folk band, will be providing the music and a licensed bar will be available. Tickets can be booked by calling 07917817879.

VENUE: Houghton Parish Church, DH4 4DN
ENTRY: £12.50
TICKET LINE: 07917817879
DATE: Fri Oct 13th 2017 TIME: 19:30
ORGANISER: St Michael & All Angels Parish Church

Michaelmas is this Sunday – our Patronal Festival. Our preacher will be the Rector, Rev’d Canon Sue Pinnington

We are looking forward to celebrating our church’s Patronal Festival of St Michael and All Angels – known as Michaelmas – this Sunday at our Festival Eucharist at 10.00am. This year our preacher is our very own Rector, Rev’d Canon Sue Pinnington.

See you there! This image below shows a detail of our special new altar frontal commissioned for our Gilpin 500 celebrations and painted by Thelma Steel. If you haven’t seen it yet, come to church on Sunday!

 

Houghton Feast Events at St Michael & All Angels

You are warmly invited to join our Houghton Feast celebrations this October.

Friday 6th October 7.00 pm Feast Opening Ceremony

Saturday 7th October 10.00 am Craft & Produce Market

Sunday 8th October

10.30 am Feast Civic Service

6.00 pm Community Hymn Singing featuring Houghton Youth Band

Wednesday 11th October 7.00 pm Houghton Brass Band Concert

Friday 13th October 7.30 pm Gilpin 500 Dinner

Saturday 14th October 5.15 pm RSCM Festival (Durham Cathedral)

Harvest Festival – Sunday 24th September, 10.00am St Michael & All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring

Now thank we all our God! Come and join us for this thanksgiving celebration!

This year’s Harvest Festival service is on Sunday 24th September 2017 at 10.00am.

Please bring non-perishable food which will be given to local people through Space4. Monetary donations (please use the envelopes provided) will go to the DEC Yemen Appeal to help feed some of the most malnourished people in the world.

 

Watch highlights from our Summer Evening Concert

A big audience enjoyed a wonderful selection of music performed by a range of talented people from our congregation and beyond at our Summer Evening Concert this year. Many thanks to our Music Director George Peebles, our conductor Rev’d Frances Wilson and performers Eve Welch, Stuart and David Clappison, Nikki Hellmuth, Tony Wise, Janet Arkle, St Michael’s Liturgical Choir and the Gilpin Singers.

Martin Luther said:

“Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world.”

this was fantastically demonstrated in the performances at our concert. Here is a video of some highlights from a wonderful evening:

We are always looking for new members of the church choir and our women’s choir Gilpin Singers.

Church Choir practice is on Thursdays 6.00pm-7.30pm in the Choir Vestry – come along and join in, even if you can only commit occasionally it would be great to see you.

The Gilpin Singers meet every other Wednesday at 7.30pm in the Choir Vestry, no singing or music reading experience needed – just a willingness to give it a try. The next session is on 6th September 2017 – why not come and see what you think? It could change your life!