This Sunday’s Engage explores the question of Why did Jesus Die? If you haven’t been to an Engage service before – why not try it out. The service is relaxed, we sing contemporary songs, listen to readings and ‘engage’ with God and each other. See you there this Sunday at 6pm.
Holy Week and Easter are almost upon us. Every year we have the wonderful opportunity to spend a week walking alongside Jesus and the disciples as they approach Jerusalem and ultimately the cross on Calvary.
This year in Holy Week we will be reflecting on the Passion of Jesus Christ through some of the less well-known characters who were there at Calvary: Nicodemus the Pharisee, Veronica who wiped Jesus’ face on his walk to Golgotha, Simon of Cyrene who was forced to carry Jesus’ cross by the Roman soldiers and Pilate’s Wife who had a disturbing dream about this Jesus of Nazareth on the night before his trial.
These are the services to which you are warmly invited during Holy Week and Easter, do try and come to as many as you can, it’s an experience not to forget:
Holy Monday
2pm – Mothers’ Union Easter Readings Service – Why did Jesus die?
7pm – Eucharist with sermon on Nicodemus
Holy Tuesday
7pm – Eucharist with sermon on Simon of Cyrene
Holy Wednesday
7pm – Eucharist with sermon on St Veronica
Maundy Thursday
This is the day we remember Jesus’ last supper with his friends, his journey to the garden of Gethsemane with the disciples, their falling asleep while he prayed and then his betrayal by Judas. After a powerful service of the Eucharist the altar and church are stripped of all their decoration as a symbol of the stripping of Jesus by the soldiers. We then gather in the side chapel (representing the garden of Gethsemane) in silent prayer – a time called the ‘watch’ where we remember how the disciples fell asleep and Jesus’ words: ‘So, could you not watch with me one hour?’ (Matthew 26:40) Following our silent prayer we finish with Night Prayer – Compline at 10pm.
10am – Eucharist
7.30pm – Parish Eucharist, followed by the stripping of the altar with the watch (silent prayer) until 10pm
10pm – Night Prayer – Compline
Good Friday
Good Friday is the day we remember the crucifixion of Jesus and meditate on what this means for us. It is a time when we confess our sins and receive God’s forgiveness.
11am – Service of Reflections and Confession
2pm – Liturgy of the Cross
Holy Saturday
On Holy Saturday in the evening we celebrate the Easter vigil. Our new Easter (Paschal) Candle is lit from a fire outside, blessed and brought into a dark church representing the light of the Risen Christ. The first Easter song of praise, the ancient chant of the Exsultet is sung by a minister to greet the Risen Christ and bless the new candle which is then used at baptisms all through the year. We then hear a range of bible readings starting with the Old Testament and leading all the way to the accounts of the Resurrection of Jesus.
7.30pm – Easter Vigil Houghton Deanery Service
People of all the churches in Houghton Deanery are invited to attend this special Easter service.
Easter Day
This is the most important festival in the church year – the feast of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This year is extra special for us at St Michael’s because our Festival Eucharist at 10am will include the baptism of Rosie and also our children will be receiving communion for the first time in the service. Do come along and celebrate the greatest festival with us!
8.30am – Eucharist
10am – Parish Festival Eucharist
6pm – Celtic Eucharist
Join us this Sunday evening for a service of music and readings for Passiontide – the season in the church where we reflect on the final days of Christ’s life: the last supper, his arrest, betrayal and crucifixion.
A view of the Broadway on Ash Wednesday 2016
We were blessed with beautiful weather on Ash Wednesday this week as we took to the Broadway offering prayer, free tea and coffee, and of course ashes ‘to go’ to passers-by. It was a tremendous privilege to speak to people from all walks of life from Houghton about their hopes and aspirations, their needs and desires and to share with them the love and forgiveness of God.
Below are some photos from the day and a short film made by Jorgie Carmichael which includes an interview with Mark, Bishop of Jarrow about the experience.
This Lent we are delighted that Bishop Mark will be leading us in a series of four evenings on prayer:
Wednesday 24 February, 7.00pm at St Michael’s, Easington Lane
Wednesday 2 March, 7.00pm at St Oswald’s, Shiney Row
Wednesday 9 March, 7.00pm at St Mary’s, West Rainton
Wednesday 16 March, 7.00pm at St Oswald’s, Shiney Row
Prayer can be challenging, but incredibly varied and rewarding as well. Come along and explore prayer with us!
This week, if you’re on the bus, take a closer look at the adverts and you may see a prayer there. This is all part of the Prayers on the Move project. The hope is that the posters, booklet, website and app will encourage you to give praying a go, or to try doing it more often. Click on this prayer picture below to visit the website – you might like to download the free app so that on your commute to work or when you’re on the bus you can ‘pray on the move’. Through the app you can share the prayers on Facebook and Twitter with your friends.
#prayersonthemove
If you’ve ever wondered why people pray, or you’d like to know more about what prayer is, see ‘Why pray?’
You don’t need to be religious to pray, but praying may help you to develop your spirituality and to connect with something bigger than yourself.
And what better time to start thinking about your prayer life than at the beginning of Lent?
This Lent we are offering a variety of activities including the Pilgrim Course (about the Creeds) and a course on Prayer in the deanery with Bishop Mark. In addition this Lent we will be exploring the life of Saint Francis and how he might inspire our Christian lives today.
There will be three activities to choose from; you may attend one or all of these, feel free to attend the 7pm Eucharist held just before the sessions:
Tuesday 16th February at 7.45pm (Kepier Hall Community Room)
Documentary: begin Lent watching a documentary about the life of St Francis followed by a group discussion.
Tuesday 1st March at 7.45pm (Kepier Hall Community Room)
Film night: watch a new film ‘Finding Saint Francis’ filmed at the home of the Anglican Society of Saint Francis, Hilfield Friary in Dorset. The trailer can be viewed here:
Following the film there will be a group discussion.
Tuesday 15th March at 7.45pm (Kepier Hall Community Room) OR
Friday 18th March at 2.00pm (Space 4) – same session repeated
Book Club: join a group reading ‘Chasing Francis: a pilgrim’s tale’ by Ian Morgan Cron ending Lent with a discussion group.
Chase Falson has lost his faith so he crosses the Atlantic to visit his uncle, a Franciscan priest, where he encounters the teachings of Francis of Assisi and rediscovers his ancient faith. Follow Chase’s spiritual journey in the footsteps of Francis, and then begin one of your own through the pilgrim’s guide included in this book.
Please sign up on the sheet at the back of church to order your book.
Last year we were the first parish in the North East to try ‘Ashes to Go‘ providing people with the opportunity to receive prayer and ashes on their foreheads at the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday right outside on the Broadway in Houghton-le-Spring.
This year we are delighted to be welcoming Bishop Mark alongside our team on Ash Wednesday 10th February.
We will be out from 8.00am on the Broadway (outside the church entrance), reaching out with the love and forgiveness of God to everyone in Houghton-le-Spring.
We begin Lent by being marked with the sign of the cross in ash as a reminder that we are mortal and that we can do nothing without God.
Start Lent well with us this year, look out for us on the Broadway!
Later on Wednesday 10th February there will be a Eucharist at 10.30am and at 7pm.
What was it like last year? Listen to the Rector being interviewed here:
We say the creed (our statement of faith) every week on Sunday but have you ever stopped to think about what it means?
Join us on Thursdays at 2.15pm at Space4 (starting 4th February 2016) to discuss and learn together more about the Christian faith and in particular the creeds – all are welcome, whether you’ve been at church for a long time or you are just interested in exploring faith and taking your first steps.
We are running the next Pilgrim course looking at the Creeds starting on Thursday 4th February at 2.15pm at Space4. Limited numbers will be able to attend so please sign the list at the back of church to indicate your interest.
Here’s a simple video with some people talking about what they got from doing the Pilgrim Course:
Sing those January blues away!
A new term starts this Wednesday 27th January for our women’s community choir, the Gilpin Singers at 7.30pm in the Choir Vestry. New members are always welcome!
(No auditions and no musical ability necessary, we’ll show you the ropes!)
We are also on Facebook! Click here:
