Join us for an evening of entertainment and music with the Gilpin Singers on Wednesday 27th April at 7pm in the Kepier Hall. Tickets are £3 and include tea and coffee – you can bring your own drinks.
At our APCM yesterday we had to give a very special thank you to our Church Warden extraordinaire Alastair Bradley who has served us very faithfully for a full term of 6 years. Alastair has made a particular contribution to managing and maintaining the fabric of our Grade I listed building and will continue in a role as Assistant Church Warden in this capacity.
Thanks for all your hard work Alastair!
Join us this Wednesday 13th April at 1.00pm – for a special Master Musicians International piano recital from Jens Hagen Wegner (Germany). Jens will be playing a selection from Chopin, Liszt and Dohnanyi. Tickets are £7 on the door.
Alleluia, Christ is Risen!
Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ there would be no worshipping community here in Houghton-le-Spring. Everything we do is in response to the love God lavished on us through Jesus. We are all trying to make a difference and share this love with everyone we encounter. Here is a video and song expressing this desire – will you join us?
Every good wish for a joyous Easter
Rector Sue and the St Michael’s Ministry Team
We were blessed with beautiful weather this morning as we gathered in Rectory Park for our Procession of the Palms remembering Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey as the crowds waved their palms.
We were joined by Houghton Youth Brass Band and two donkeys, the little one, a Spanish miniature called Bethany and the bigger one an Irish breed called Summer.
Here are some photos from John Lambton of this very special day:
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.
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- The curate getting the ash ready
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- Rector Sue and Bishop Mark
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- Anne, Poppy (Cranmer student) and Rev Bryony
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- Ros and Rita
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- The Bishop speaking to someone
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- Bishop Mark speaking to Dawn
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- Emily serving free tea and coffee
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- Brian, George and Dian serving free tea and coffee
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- Prayers we gathered from the people of Houghton
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!