News from St. Michael and All Angels | St Michael and All Angels Houghton-le-Spring

Celebrating Bernard Gilpin (1517-1583) – Apostle of the North and Rector of Houghton-le-Spring

Posted on March 1, 2015 by office

Today we celebrated our patron and former rector of Houghton Bernard Gilpin with a festive eucharist and a parish meal provided by the Next 900 Team.

Here is the collect (prayer) for today:

God of holiness, your glory is proclaimed in every age; as we rejoice in the faith of Bernard Gilpin inspire us to follow his example of generosity, scholarship and integrity through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

In her sermon the Rector praised all the unsung ‘Bernard Gilpins’ that throughout history have acted as the grit in the oyster to bring about change in the world. May we continue to follow Gilpin’s example in preaching the Gospel, helping the poor and challenging injustice.

The tomb of Bernard Gilpin decorated with greenery for his feast day.

Bernard Gilpin as depicted in our East Window

Bernard Gilpin in our great West Window

What was Ashes to Go like in Houghton-le-Spring? Interview with Rev’d Canon Sue Pinnington

Posted on February 22, 2015 by office

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

Missed Ashes to Go? Watch a video all about it

Posted on February 18, 2015 by office

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.

It’s Ash Wednesday – an opportunity for a fresh start with God

Posted on February 18, 2015 by office

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.

Church of England on Facebook

: An #ashtag #selfie with the team!

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

George Peebles celebrates 25 years as Director of Music

Posted on February 15, 2015 by office

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.

Ashes to Go comes to Houghton-le-Spring!

Posted on February 12, 2015 by office

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:

Inspire Magazine

The Chronicle

Durham Diocese Newsroom

Premier

News North East

Church Family Party held on Saturday 31st January

Posted on February 6, 2015 by office

The party season may have ended for most people but St Michael’s went a little further with our Church Family Party on Saturday 31^stJanuary. 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 Houghton Passion Play 2015

Posted on February 1, 2015 by office

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 at Space4 23rd-27th February

Posted on January 31, 2015 by office

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!

Pilgrim Course

Posted on January 31, 2015 by office

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

It starts at the very beginning. Pilgrim assumes very little understanding or knowledge of the Christian faith.
It focuses on Jesus Christ. Pilgrim aims to equip people to follow Jesus Christ as disciples in the whole of their lives.
It flows from the Scriptures. The primary focus of each session is a group of people engaging with the Bible together.
It draws deeply from the Christian tradition. In the Early Church, the Christian faith was taught by the transmission of key texts which summed up the heart of the Christian message. Pilgrim restores this approach for the twenty first century.
It honours the Anglican way and its many streams. Pilgrim has been developed as a specifically Anglican resource which aims to cater for every tradition in the Church of England.

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:

“Draw near to God and he will draw near to you” – James 4:8, The Bible