GRAPEVINE – 3rd to 17th November 2019.
Church Family News
Please remember in your prayers:- Tom and Joyce Millions – Tom has been in hospital for a number of weeks, however we are pleased to report that he has been transferred to Rosedale this past week, so hopefully it won’t be too long before he is home into the care of Joyce.. We think of all members of our church family who are maybe struggling with health problems, and we think of those who are due to undergo hospital tests, operations, treatments etc for various conditions or perhaps waiting for results and trust all will go well for them. We also remember all Church family and friends who can no longer share in fellowship with us because of being housebound or who are now in the loving care of Care Homes in the area, and feel sure that knowing they are in our thoughts and prayers is a comfort to them.
Happy Birthday, Congratulations and Best Wishes to all who have Birthdays and/or Anniversaries over the next couple of weeks.
Belated birthday greetings to Millie Bruce, who celebrated a milestone birthday last week. We know you enjoyed your day Millie, but as a Church Family we take this opportunity to wish you Happy Birthday and may God’s Blessings surround you always.
Dates for your Diary
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Saturday |
16th November |
Christmas Fair – Do YOU have any ideas for different stalls? |
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Saturday 6.00pm |
23rd November |
All we Can Partnership Evening at North Billingham see later notice |
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Tuesday 7.00pm |
26th November |
90 Minute Group meet – last one this year |
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Tuesday 7 for 7.30 |
26th November |
God in Love Unites Us – Marriage & Relationship Road show at Yarm Rd |
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Saturday 5.00pm |
30th November |
Annual Concert organised by Linda Richardson – please see later info |
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Friday 7.00pm |
13th December |
Bella Canta Choir Concert at St. Pauls |
Memorial Concert held at Greens Lane – from Christine & David Smart
The Concert which was held on Saturday 26th October at Greens Lane and which was so well supported by church family members, raised a fantastic £1,110.00p. This sum will be shared between the two blood cancer charities:- Bloodwise and Myeloma UK. Thank you to everybody for your support and assistance.
Christmas Fair
Saturday 16th NOVEMBER 2019
Please spread the word to family, friends and neighbours that our
annual Christmas Fair will commence at 1.00pm on the above date.
Soup and Roll lunches together with tea and coffee will
be available from 12 Noon onwards until 1.30pm
and tea/coffee and mince pies will be available during the afternoon.
See You There !!!!!
Traidcraft News
Traidcraft Christmas Cards are now on display for sale and to order from. Please note that the Traidcraft contact at GL for the next few weeks will be Sandra Wilkinson., please pass any orders directly to Sandra. If you purchase cards from those already available, please pop money in an envelope which can be found on the table and pass to Sandra. We thank Sandra for stepping up into this role and looking after things.
The Traidcraft Shop
Will once again be open from mid November and will be situated at Dundas Arcade in Middlesbrough. The store will open Monday to Saturday 10.00 am – 5.00pm. They will have a wide selection of Fair Trade Christmas gifts, cards and foods from all around the world. Why not pop in if you are in Middlesbrough town centre, you may just find exactly what you are looking for, for that ‘special gift’.
Christmas Quiz
John Schofield in his own inevitable way has again prepared a new Quiz to keep everyone alert as we approach Christmas – every answer has a Christmas connection!! The Editor thinks it is hard, but excellent value at still just £1 a copy. There is plenty of time to complete it over the coming weeks as entries are to be in by 29th December and the winner will be announced at our Faith Tea on Sunday 5th January 2020
Tuesday Coffee
Tuesday Coffee morning could still benefit from more helpers to share serving coffee on a rota basis, and if anyone thinks that they could help in this way, perhaps only once a month, then please have a word with Margaret Schofield – watch her smile when YOU offer.
These Feet were made for Walking
If you agreed to sponsor Heather Wilkinson for her “Asthma UK Step Challenge” of walking 270,000 steps during October, then please pass on sponsor money as soon as you are able. Well done Heather……. Your effort makes the Editor’s 4,000 steps a day look quite pathetic against your 9,000 a day!! We think of all who are affected by asthma and trust that Heather’s fundraising for this very worthwhile charity will help in the fight against this debilitating illness and continue the specialist support given by the nurses specially trained in their role.
Additional ‘Green’ Collections
If you have been continuing to cut back plants and foliage in your garden as you ‘put the garden to bed for the winter’ you may be pleased to know that Stockton Council has arranged an additional one-off collection for the weekend of 16th/ 17th November. If your normal refuse collection days are Tuesday or Wednesday, then the additional green rubbish will be collected on SATURDAY 16th. If your normal days are Thursday or Friday then green waste will be collected on SUNDAY 17th .
Re-Cycling at Dobbies
Dobbies Garden Centre will be only too pleased to have any rinsed out plastic plant pots together with plant trays returned to them for re-cycling. Why not declutter sheds and garages and get those empty pots out of the way?
Stockton Circuit Missions Event – All We Can Parnership
The Mission Evening this time will be held at North Billingham Methodist Church commencing at 6.00pm and will include a faith supper. The theme will be ‘Deepen your Roots and will particularly look at ‘Ethiopia’ (the project for this year) and there will be a ‘Best Dressed Potato Competition, Quiz and Music from the music group. An open invitation is extended to all to pop along and share in the evening.
Christmas ‘Tidings’ Magazine
This year certainly has flown by, and now Margaret and John Schofield are already asking (in good time) for any articles YOU may have for the next magazine which will also contain all details of our church services over the festive period. If you do have anything, please pass to the Schofields by Sunday 24th November.
God in Love Unites Us: Marriage and Relationship Roadshow
Why are we having a road show????
God in Love Unites Us – the 2019 Methodist Conference made some important recommendations about the Methodist position on marriage and relationships. In the Spring of 2020, District Synods will be considering and voting on these recommendations and feeding back to the Conference.
What will Happen?
The Darlington District is offering a series of local opportunities to reflect on the recommendations of the Marriage and Relationships report. The aim of the evenings is to provide an opportunity for open, honest, respectful sharing, for prayer and conversation about how God is calling the Methodist Church at this time and reflection on what this may mean for local churches and circuits.
Who is it for
Each session is open to anyone from across the district. Please note, it is particularly important that Synod Reps attend at least one session.
When is it taking place?
Consultations will take place at the various venues, beginning at 7pm with tea and coffee and sessions running from 7.30 – 9.30pm
The date scheduled for Stockton Circuit is Tuesday 26th November 19 at Yarm Road Methodist Church.
Annual Concert organised by Linda Richardson
Linda has scheduled this year’s Concert for Saturday 30th November starting at 5.00 pm. All funds raised will be for the Great North Air Ambulance Linda has asked for anyone who can help on the evening and also anyone who wishes to take part and perform to speak/confirm with her a.s.a.p. If you can help with either of these requests Linda will be extremely grateful.
Brightening the Festive Season for others.
In our church vestibule you will note that two brightly covered boxes have appeared – one for donations to the food bank which runs out of St. Andrews, and one for donations for the Seafarers Mission who specifically requested toiletries for seamen who will visit the Mission on Christmas Day. We have also picked up information that hats, mittens and scarves would also be appreciated for the seamen, should there be any available. The box for the food bank has been started off with a Christmas pudding, and we feel sure that ‘little luxuries’ like chocolate biscuits and other festive treats would be gratefully received together with basic everyday commodities. The box for Seafarers will be in the porch until end of November, and the food donation box a little longer. Please help if you possibly can.
Please Can You Help
Via Grapevine, Millie Bruce has asked if we can mention that the Butterwick Hospice are in need of ‘pretty fronts off cards’ – any card, but NOT Christmas cards. They cut as necessary and use them at their craft classes to re-cycle and make new cards. If you can help in this way, please tear off the verse side and pass on the fronts to Millie. Thank You
Please remember to keep saving postage stamps so we can support ‘Kidney Care’ 3,513 now 3,542 (going up!)
Please remember to pop into the large green bin anything that can be passed on to local asylum seekers
Please remember that we, as a Church, are supporters of Fairtrade products
IN AND AROUND THE CIRCUIT AND COMMUNITY
Eaglescliffe Trinity wish to advertise, on behalf of the Circuit, the ‘Living the Faith’ group which meets on the second Thursday of every month at 7.30pm in the school room. One volunteer starts the discussion with a few minutes on the topic and it is then open for all to contribute respectfully until 9.00 pm with ‘on tap’ tea ! The group ends with the 2 Corinthians grace, recognising that we all exist in God’s grace, love and fellowship, forever. The meetings are open to all and free
St Paul’s wish to advertise their Christmas Singing Workshop which will take place in the Church Hall on Saturday 23rd November from 1.00 – 4.00 pm. We are invited to go along and get into the festive spirit and join an afternoon of song led by Jeanette, Choir Leader of Bella Canta Ladies Choir. Tickets are and £5 and include refreshments. Places are limited, please book your place via email :- singat20@gmail.com
Early notice of “A Festive Nowell” to be presented by the Bella Canta Choir on Friday 13th December at 7.00pm at St. Paul’s Church. This is fund-raising concert for the Choir, Church and British Heart Foundation. Free entry – with a retiring collection. Evening will include a raffle and refreshments after the concert.
Yarm Choir Christmas Concert will be held on Saturday 14th December 2 – 4 pm. Tickets £5 to include mince pies and coffee. All welcome and tickets can be bought at the door.
The next Grapevine, will be issued on 14th November 2019
