Many people were intrigued by our bringing an idea from the United States (experienced by our Rector last year in Washington DC) to the North East of England. In this interview on BBC Radio Newcastle, our Rector Sue reflects on the experience:
Photo by Keith Blundy
We now have a Youtube Channel and you can listen to Bishop Paul being interviewed on BBC Radio Newcastle and see a gallery of images from today’s trip onto the streets of Houghton for Ash Wednesday: Ashes to Go – taking the message of God’s forgiveness and love out of the church building to the people of the town. Find links to our press coverage here.
Today we were out on the Broadway from 7.15am with Bishop Paul offering the opportunity for people to receive ashes on their forehead as a sign of repentance and forgiveness.
This was a step of faith for all of us but we were surprised by the warm response and the interest of passers by – the bishop even ashed a bus driver and we were visited by a dalmatian dog as well!
Read more about this on the Diocese of Durham’s website here. Find lots more photos on our Facebook page and Instagram account.
Here is an outline of what Ash Wednesday is all about:
Life often gets messy and we end up hurting other people or ourselves. We do and say things we regret or we don’t do things that we should have. We all need the opportunity to acknowledge our sorrow for our mistakes, to say sorry and to be forgiven.
On Ash Wednesday, the Christian Church offers us that opportunity. By taking time, even if it’s just a few moments, to seek forgiveness from God and our fellow human beings, we can begin to wipe the slate clean, have a fresh start.
The ash cross on our forehead is a symbol of our sorrow and our desire to be forgiven.
Ash Wednesday is a day full of hope, because each one of us can find a new start in the love and forgiveness of God. Today is the start of the Christian journey towards Easter and the ultimate act of love: the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We welcome you to join us on this journey: you never know it might change your life.
May God bless you and all those whom you love,
St Michael and All Angels Church
The Church of England in Houghton-le-Spring
“Draw near to God and he will draw near to you” – James 4:8, The Bible
We celebrated George Peebles’ 25th Anniversary as Organist and Director of Music of St Michael’s today. A very special occasion marked by cake, champagne and a special photograph album. Congratulations George and a huge thank you for all your hard work and commitment over the last 25 years.
This year at St Michael’s we will be taking a new approach to a centuries-old tradition with the help of the Bishop Paul on Ash Wednesday (February 18th) this year. Traditionally on Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent when we prepare for Easter with a period of repentance and reflection, Christians have received a cross of ashes on the forehead as a reminder of our failings and an invitation to receive God’s forgiveness.
We are joining the new international movement Ashes to Go that sees clergy and lay people visiting bus stops, street corners, coffee shops and train stations to mark the foreheads of interested passers-by with ashes and invite them to repent of past wrongdoing and seek forgiveness and renewal.
Bishop Paul will join the church members on The Broadway, Houghton-le-Spring, between 7.15am and 9.15am.
Ashes to Go provides the opportunity to participate in that tradition for people who have lost their connection to a church, or have never participated before, according to the Reverend Canon Sue Pinnington, Rector of Houghton-le-Spring.
The Rector taking part in Ashes to Go in Washington DC in 2014
She said:
“Ashes to Go is about bringing the important traditions of our faith out from behind church doors and into the places we need them every day.
As people get busier and busier, we need the church to be working in new and non-traditional ways. We especially need reminders of forgiveness in the tough places of our working lives. The people who accept ashes on the street are often people longing to make a connection between their faith and the pressures of daily life. Ashes to Go helps them feel that connection.
I first encountered and took part in Ashes to Go last year in Washington DC and was incredibly moved by the encounters I had with people as they travelled to work. This is the first time we have taken part in Ashes to Go here in Houghton and we are delighted that Bishop Paul is joining us.”
This story has already attracted some press, you can read other articles about this here:
The party season may have ended for most people but St Michael’s went a little further with our Church Family Party on Saturday 31stJanuary. The party was open to all young and old with some of the activities being centred around our younger members (most people fitting into this bracket). The 900 team had already prepared our supper – “Hot Pot or Cheese, Onion and Potatoes” the smell drifting into the hall whetting our taste buds. As the 70+ guests came in a quiz awaited them just to keep the grey matter working before supper at 8pm. After supper and apple strudel the activities proceeded with Raffle, Corners, Bingo and Pass the Parcel, these were run by two young girls who offered to help with the evening. Some of the Bingo calling kept us entertained and amused eg 1 and 10 ….. 10 or 99 oops 66 (90 being top of the shop).
All in all a good time was had by all with proceeds going to our Church to the value of £336.
A big thank you to the Next 900 team for organising yet another fantastic event.
Open Auditions for parts in the Houghton Passion Play will take place on Saturday 14 February 10-11.30am in St Michael and All Angels Church Houghton-le-Spring. There are speaking and non-speaking parts and we welcome all levels of acting experience. The Passion Play will take place on Good Friday 3rd April 2015 at 12 noon in Houghton Hillside Cemetery. For further details contact The Reverend Canon Sue Pinnington.
Be Online in Houghton-le-Spring this month at Space4
Some of you may remember that in 2014 Space4 joined in with the Get Online Week campaign. From 23rd-27th February 2015 we will again be joining with other centres around the country in the Be Online campaign, helping you to make the most of the Internet.
If you’ve got a spare hour, we’re on hand to show you how getting online could save you time, hassle and even money. Whether you want to get healthy, get connected, get a job or get a bargain, you could be doing it all – and more – by doing it online. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never even touched a computer before or if you already know a bit – this is your chance to give computers and the internet a go.
It’s fun, it’s free, and it could change how you do your favourite things – and your everyday chores – forever!
One person who’s already got online with a bit of help from Space4 is Jo who said after setting up her email and learning how to use her tablet that it felt like she had ‘wings’!Now she can skype her family abroad and receive photos of her grandchildren by email.
Pop in to Space4 (ground floor of Houghton Library on Newbottle Street) during our opening hours (closed Wednesdays) from 23rd – 27th February and you can go online on our computers or we can help you with your own device if you bring it in.
If you are already a keen internet user, search the #beonline15 hashtag on social media.Be Online!
What is Pilgrim?
Pilgrim is a major new teaching and discipleship resource from the Church of England. It aims to help every local church create a place where people can explore the Christian faith together and see how it can be lived out each day.
Pilgrim takes a different approach to other Christian programmes. It approaches the great issues of faith not through persuasion, but participation in a pattern of contemplation and discussion with a group of fellow travellers.
Pilgrim is comprised of two stages: the Follow stage for those very new to faith or wanting a refresher course, and the Grow stage for those who want to go further in exploring faith. Each stage contains four short six-session courses, which focus on a major theme of Christian life.
Pilgrim’s Approach
Pilgrim at St Michael’s
We say the creed (our statement of faith) every week on Sunday but have you ever stopped to think about what it means?
We are running the next Pilgrim course looking at the Creeds starting on Thursday 4th February 2016 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.
For further details contact the clergy.
Watch this video for a short introduction to the course:
For 2015 we are running our fun activity session Messy Michaels at Gillas Lane Primary School. This is a chance for us to take church into the community, singing songs, doing crafts and teaching the children bible stories.
At our first one this week we looked at the story of creation from Genesis chapter 1 and made some church windows depicting the 7 days of creation – I think my favourite is the children’s imagining of what God did when he rested! (If you look closely you’ll see that it includes playing football, riding a bike and playing on a computer!)
