CORONAVIRUS

In line with instructions from the Archbishops of Canterbury & York we regret to inform you that all public worship must cease for the time being.

The Church continues to be alive and active, but our buildings must close. We are seeing a huge increase in the number of people falling sick with COVID-19. We must distance ourselves from one another and prevent the spread of infection in order to save lives.

Therefore, as well as public worship being suspended, St. Michael’s Church, and all church buildings in the Church of England are now closed.

The Archbishops have written:

‘Being a part of the Church of England is going to look very different in the days ahead.
Our life is going to be less characterised by attendance at church
on Sunday, and more characterised by the prayer and service we offer each day. We may not be able to pray with people in the ways that we are used to, but we can certainly pray for people.
And we can certainly offer practical care and support.’

Even though it is now not possible to meet together for public worship, the prayer life of the church can and must continue.

Church Online

The Church of England has made available virtual and livestreamed services, daily prayer, and other resources at the Church of England website, and you are encouraged to use the ‘Simple Order of Prayer and Praise’ which can be downloaded below at home.  It can be used at any time but is perhaps especially appropriate for use at the time you would normally be attending a service.

Download the Simple Order of Prayer and Praise in pdf or Word .docx format.

If you would like to contact our Vicar, the Rev’d Canon Paul Scott, he can be reached via his email, paulscott1957@btinternet.com, or by telephone on  01665 603078.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength . . . Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”

To protect the vulnerable amongst us, please do not leave your home except for essential trips.

Daily Readings from St Beuno’s Outreach

St Beuno’s Outreach is based in St Beuno’s Jesuit Spirituality Centre in the hills of North Wales, in the Diocese of Wrexham, and the St Beuno’s Outreach team, led by Father Damian Jackson SJ, has been producing a weekly prayer leaflet called PREGO, which offers reflections on the Sunday readings, for group and individual use. We hope these links, which are updated automatically each week, will provide you with ‘food for thought’ during this time. Please note that these links will take you to the St Beuno’s website.

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Prayers

A prayer about the Coronavirus outbreak

Keep us, good Lord,
under the shadow of your mercy
in this time of uncertainty and distress.
Sustain and support the anxious and fearful,
and lift up all who are brought low;
that we may rejoice in your comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us from your love
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.

A prayer for community cohesion

Lord Jesus Christ,
you taught us to love our neighbour,
and to care for those in need
as if we were caring for you.
In this time of anxiety, give us strength
to comfort the fearful, to care for the sick,
and to assure the isolated
of our love and your love,
for your name’s sake.
Amen.

Downloads:

Coronavirus Notice in pdf and Word .docx format
Coronavirus Prayers in pdf and Word .docx format

From the 9th – 11th August, St Michael’s hosted Alnwick’s Flower Festival, with the theme this year of “A Good Read”.  There were 41 floral displays based on favourite books, from Treasure Island to The Wonky Donkey and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas to Under the Greenwood Tree.

You can view photographs of the displays below, and prints are available from Mr Stanley Trafford on 01665 606180 at sizes up to A4.

For prints of any of the above, please contact Mr Stanley Trafford on 01665 606 180.

Originally published in Gateway Magazine, Februrary 2018

I’ve been asked to write a few words about myself, so that you get some idea of who I am before I join you. Perhaps the best way I can think to do that is to offer some of the story that leads to me joining you as your curate in June.

Before to moving to Durham I was working as a freelance orchestral percussionist in London for several years. This means essentially that I made a living playing the triangle – though I did branch out to other more interesting instruments when the occasion called for it! I had, and have, a particular love for contemporary classical music and was the co-founder of an ensemble that worked with emerging composers to commission new pieces.

I was raised a Christian and continued to attend church most of my life, but it was during my final year at the Royal College of Music that I began to take my faith more seriously. A variety of things contributed to that including meeting my wife and the vibrant faith she introduced me to from a Charismatic Evangelical background in contrast to my Anglo-Catholic upbringing. The most formative moment that I can pinpoint on the way though centred around reading Thomas Merton’s ‘Seven Story Mountain’ – his beautifully written autobiography – and going on retreat at a monastery for the first time.

I discovered silence and prayer in a way I had not before experienced it and felt a strong call to serve Christ in a more whole-hearted, whole-life, way. I dabbled for a while with the idea that this might be a monastic vocation, but God kindly let me know that was not my call and I instead married Karen, for which I’m very grateful. A vocation to ordained ministry gradually emerged instead, and led me to take a part-time, paid role at my church. For two years I happily split my time between freelancing as a percussionist and doing at anything from fixing the drains, to pastoral visiting, to preaching and leading at church.

The final chapter of the story, after being shuffled through my Bishops’ Advisory Panel, took me to Durham to study for ordination at Cranmer Hall. My time here has introduced me to the riches of theological education; I’ve met many wonderful people; our family has grown from two to four; and it has convinced me that the North East of England is one of the most beautiful places in the world. It has been an adventure getting to this point, and I look forward very much to continuing that adventure as I begin my ministry, and continue to learn from the wisdom I am sure to discover among you at Alnwick and Denwick.

This post was written by our Guest Blogger, the Rev’d Colin Perkins.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which this year is on St Valentine’s Day, 14^th February. It lasts until Easter Eve, which is 31^st March. During this penitential season we carry out in our spiritual lives something like the spring cleaning we do in our homes.

In church things are a little more sombre: no flowers or special decorations except those used for Mothering Sunday, and quieter, more reflective hymns. We leave out the Gloria in Holy Communion services.

In private we can think about our own progress in our Christian walk, and examine our consciences. It may be helpful to read a Christian book – there are plenty in our church library to choose from.

Here are some suggestions for things we could do as individuals:

1. Read 1 Corinthians 13, verses 4-7. Here St Paul writes about all the things that ‘Love’ is. Go over it, putting your own name in place of the word Love, and think about how true it is of you.
2. If you don’t usually read the Bible every day, try it. If you don’t know what to read, the weekly pew sheet gives at least five readings for each Sunday and it would do no harm to read them again, one each day, during the week.
3. If you are free, come to either or both of the midweek services. The regular Wednesday morning service at 10.15, and the early Thursday morning Prayer Book Communion service at 7.30am.
4. It is a good tradition to practise some form of self-denial in Lent, but not just to lose weight! If you give up something give away the money saved or use the time saved in some worthwhile manner.
5. Write an article for our magazine, Gateway: something that could be used at any time would be helpful. Everyone has memories, reminiscences or even rants, and something from more than the usual list of contributors would be gratefully received by the readers and editor.

Alnwick Flower Festival 2017

A selection of photographs of the arrangements from this year’s Flower Festival.

Alnwick was bloomin’ lovely this August with the return of the Flower Festival featuring the work of floral artists from around the area and held this year at St Michael’s Church.

From the 3^rd to 6^th August the ancient church of St Michael’s was ablaze with colour as over thirty arrangements, large and small, decorated the interior, including displays from The Alnwick Garden and from a former exhibitor at Durham Cathedral.

The cool interior of the church was an oasis of calm, filled with the sights and scents of summer, a place to rest and a place to relax. The theme of this year’s Festival was “Leisure” and the Festival aimed to be a place to enjoy a lazy summer day. Even a blushing bride or two was spotted among the blooms, as two weddings were held during the Festival!

As well as flowers, Alnwick’s Embroiderers’ Guild (part of a national organisation emphasising, among other things, the therapeutic nature of embroidery) showcased their skills with the needle with a leisure-themed work of art.

Alnwick Flower Festival began with a Preview Evening on the 2^nd August where the Archdeacon of Lindisfarne, the Venerable Peter Robinson, opened the festival, and ended with a community sing-song, where Alnwick’s most popular hymns were chosen and sung as part of an ecumenical church service at which all were welcome.

 

 

Slideshow from Past Festivals

On Sunday, 2nd July our Curate, Rev’d Julia Myles presided and preached at her final service with us, before she goes to take up her position as Priest-in-Charge of the Arle Valley Benefice in Hampshire. We shall miss her very much, and wish her, her husband Paul and daughter Rachel all the best for the future.

Moments from Julia’s Time at St Michael’s

A Word From Julia

There is a song I love us to sing when I lead worship at our fabulous school, St Michael’s C of E Primary. The refrain goes “God behind, God beside, God ahead”...with actions of course! It is my belief in the truth of these words that I am holding on to as the time to leave Alnwick has arrived.

God is always behind, beside and ahead of us, in each moment, surrounding us with His love, holding us when we fall, guiding us when we feel lost. Yet I can also look back at the four years that are now behind me and remember how He has surrounded, and held and guided me since I became your Curate in July 2013.

I remember my first sermon mentioning how the word Alnwick rhymed with panic…and I have had a few moments of panic in the four years! I can recall being overwhelmed as the reality and privilege of being ordained really sank in that first time and then the intensity of the learning curve! I can honestly say I have not been bored in four years!

The privilege of this job is always present in my mind and there are many things about my time here that I treasure. The way this job draws me into the lows and highs of people’s lives at baptisms, weddings and funerals is so very precious to me, as is being present at defining moments of a person’s Christian walk. The privilege of presiding at communion really comes home as I see the row of people kneeling at the rail, hands held open as they come to receive the spiritual food Christ gives us. I am always aware that it is God in me that meets God in you as we meet at that rail, at coffee, at events and meetings, at school or in the street. That time behind the altar however, as I pray over the bread and wine and as I offer it up to God and out to you is one of those moments that confirms my calling. I still marvel at how it is that I got here, but in that moment I simply know that I am in the right place with God. My confidence in presiding comes also from the careful and patient training our Vicar gave me. For this and for the many other things he has taught me, as well as his care for me as a whole person I will always be grateful.

The privilege of preaching is one that takes a lot of effort and brain-ache (and wrist ache on the keyboard) and probably the thing that I most worry about. I sometimes feel sorry for the congregation who are ‘trapped’ there and forced to listen to me politely !

You might have noticed that I love working with children at Mini Michael’s and in school. There is something about the unknown reactions, the thinking out of the box, the depth, the innocence and the honesty of conversing with children and young people that really keeps you alive to new possibilities and really challenges you as you seek to respond honestly in return. It also keeps you humble and is a huge amount of fun. My Thursday mornings have so often lifted my spirits and tiredness has vanished (until later!) because of the buzz of welcoming the community of under 5s & their families, and the Mini Michael’s teamwork that makes it happen. Whenever I visit our school I never cease to be impressed by our children and staff. It is not only a place of wonderful educators who really care that the children get a stimulating and top quality experience, it is a place where children learn to value and respect themselves and others and to be good human beings. I will miss all the children and particularly our Junior Church families very, very much. At the other end of the spectrum I have gained much from becoming a member of the Mother’s Union and getting to know our select bunch known as Alnwick branch as well as speaking at other local branches. This will prove to have been particularly important as one of my four parishes is Old Alresford, where Mary Sumner began the Mothers Union. (Did I mention the watercress and the steam railway?)

It has been a privilege to have played a part in of some aspects of Alnwick’s community life; the dedication and commitment of the Community@NE66 and Gallery Youth teams is immense, despite having to spend too much time seeking financial resources that are woefully lacking. It has been a great pleasure to have occasionally been involved with the Town Council and Armed Forces and Playhouse. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the Christians Together in Alnwick & with Contagious, visiting the coffee mornings and churches as well as the weekly meetings for prayer with church leaders. I have been able to gain wider experience of ministry in other parishes and have felt warmly welcomed and appreciated when I have covered in the Embleton Benefice, in Amble, Whittingham, Widdrington & Ulgham……….Thank you for all these formational opportunities.

I would be amiss if I didn’t mention my regular places of refreshment in Alnwick; the businesses who have kept me going in my busyness! The two Costas and Bari Tea will experience a drop in custom as I leave -so do go in and have something for me!

I have mentioned groups and congregations as a whole but of course there are individuals with whom I have had more regular contact.There are too many to name but they know who they are. From the moment I first met Albert at the font and he said “ You know we are always here for you don’t you? “, there have been those who have consistently supported and encouraged me, prayed for me and been there to help practically as well as give time for conversation. Thank you for keeping me going.

Speaking of going we must all look ahead now. I am off to try and be obedient to God’s call and His mission in the Arle Valley and you remain to try and do the same here, individually and corporately. We are all still in the same family business, just in different places now. We are all part of the same body with Christ as our head, and it is through His Holy Spirit that we are joined as one. That makes it all sound easy, but I know already, as I approach my last day that it will be extremely hard and sad, for all of our family. There will be tears from me you can guarantee, but in those tears will be the sadness of leaving and the joy of having been here with you all.

The name of Saint Michael’s and all the people of this parish will always be intertwined with my formation as a priest, with my own spiritual formation, and of course with my heart. What better words to leave you with than the closing prayer of Mini Michael’s …… with actions of course!

“May the love of Jesus hold you, the love of Jesus keep you, the love of Jesus guide you until we meet again”

The Last Service

Rev’d Julia led her final service at St Michael’s on Sunday, 2nd July at 10am. During the busy service Julia preached her final sermon for us, with the help of children from Junior Church and others. She presided over the Eucharist, and, toward the end of the service, was presented with a gift from Junior Church, and other gifts from the congregation of St Michael’s. After the service we enjoyed refreshments as we bid our final ‘farewell and Godspeed’ to Rev’d Julia, her husband Paul, and their family, and we give thanks for their ministry among us.

All the donations at Mini Michaels this Thursday are going to Christian Aid!

Christian Aid is a Christian organisation that insists the world can and must be swiftly changed to one where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty. They provide urgent, practical and effective assistance where need is great, tackling the effects of poverty as well as its root causes. Find out more at the Christian Aid website.

We were in a celebratory mood today, the 8^th January because it was our Vicar, the Rev’d Canon Paul Scott’s 60th birthday!

Rev’d Paul’s birthday happened to fall on the church’s celebration of Epiphany, and he was presented with gifts from three ‘kings’ including a special book from all of us containing our good wishes and thanks for his ministry. As the ‘star’ of the party, he was also given a star-covered cake which we enjoyed with him after the service (with glasses of prosecco, too!)

We’d like to wish him many happy returns – and we hope to celebrate many more birthdays with him in the future.

Note: This particular post was not actually written by the Curate but by the webmaster!

 

On Thursday, 1st September St Michael’s was honoured to be the venue where the name of the new Suffragan Bishop of Berwick was announced. The grown-ups and children of Mini Michaels gathered for their usual Thursday morning session of  play, craft,songs, stories, bubble prayers (and the ‘okey cokey’) and were joined by the Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Rev’d Christine Hardman. She introduced us to Bishop-designate Mark Tanner, who will be only the second Suffragan Bishop of Berwick since the first died in 1572.

Bishop Christine showed us her Bishop’s staff, which was made in Northumberland, and explained that it is shaped like a shepherd’s crook because she acts as a shepherd to us, her flock. She leads our Diocese, and the new Bishop of Berwick works as her assistant – supporting her and her ministry across the whole Diocese. His appointment follows the announcement of the retirement of Bishop Frank White, Assistant Bishop of Newcastle at the end of September.

The Bishop and the Bishop-designate, along with two Archdeacons, a Dean and the Head Teacher of St Michael’s First School joined us in prayers, parachute songs and  the okey cokey! Bishop-designate Mark was persuaded to wear a paper mitre alongside the children which was given to him by our Curate, Rev’d Julia Myles, and we were also introduced to his wife, Lindsay.

Rev’d Canon Mark Tanner is currently Vice-Principal of St John’s College, University of Durham, and Warden of Cramner Hall. He studied at Oxford and was a youth worker in Coventry before being ordained in 1998. He served as a Vicar in Doncaster and Ripon before becoming Warden at Cramner Hall and being made an honorary Canon of Durham Cathedral. He and Lindsay have two teenage children, and he enjoys cars and motorbikes, and being a husband and dad.

The Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Reverend Christine Hardman, said, “I am delighted that Mark has accepted the invitation to be the Bishop of Berwick. I know that he will be a great blessing to the whole Diocese of Newcastle.  He brings a wonderful range of experience in ministry and is a person of great insight, integrity and warmth.    I am looking forward tremendously to our work together as we face the exciting challenge in this Diocese of growing the Church and sharing the depth of God’s love in ways that bring hope and touch the reality of  people’s lives.”

Canon Mark Tanner said, “It’s a huge honour to be nominated as the next Bishop of Berwick, and I am thrilled to be moving to the Diocese of Newcastle. We love Northumberland, and I am very much looking forward to working with Bishop Christine and the team. There is nothing as wonderful as seeing individuals and communities grow in the life and freedom found in Christ.”

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, said, “As Warden of Cranmer Hall The Revd Canon Mark Tanner has been involved in developing and equipping people of all backgrounds and experience for the work of God’s mission. He brings particular spiritual gifts to this ministry, and it will be exciting to see these put to work across the Diocese. He is a gifted theological educator, a nurturer of the gifting of others, and a joyful and winsome witness to Jesus Christ. Mark joined us when the Bishops of the Province of York gathered on Lindisfarne in May 2014, bringing a group of young evangelists who helped us discern the direction of travel for what became the ‘Crossroads’ Bishops’ missions. He and Bishop Christine will make a remarkable team. Berwick-upon-Tweed has had 444 years to wait for its new Suffragan Bishop – I join the whole Diocese of Newcastle in rejoicing today!”

Principal of St John’s College, Durham, the Reverend Professor David Wilkinson, said, “Mark has been a good friend and colleague over the past five years and I am thrilled at this new appointment for his life and ministry. He has been an inspiring Warden, who has led with great humour and a fully human spirituality in leadership, preaching, teaching and encouraging worship: his influence on the life of the Cranmer Hall community and the life of St John’s has been invaluable and we are sad to lose him.”

Mark Tanner will be ordained and consecrated a bishop by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, in a service at York Minster beginning at 11.00am on Tuesday 18th October.

He will be welcomed to his ministry in the Diocese of Newcastle at services in St Nicholas’ Cathedral, Newcastle, at 11.00am on Saturday 3rd December, and at St Aidan’s Church, Bamburgh, at 2.30pm on Sunday 4th December.

Photos

Okey-Cokey Video

A symbolic installation of feathers and fishing line appeared above St Michael’s Church font last Sunday.

It was Pentecost Sunday,a day when the church celebrates the coming of God’s Holy Spirit upon Jesus’ disciples. In the bible the Spirit is represented by flames of fire or by a dove- hence the white feathers.

Many of the disciples were fishermen and of course it is particularly appropriate that in Alnwick- the home of Hardy’s- these 140 feathers above the font are held to fishing line by split shot and weighted with fishing weights. Rev’d Julia Myles called on the expertise of Hardy’s employees Carmelle Stewart-Hook and Dick Taylor when creating the installation.

Do come along to St Michael’s, on Bailiffgate and see it. Church is open every day.

This year, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York are inviting the whole Church to pray in the week leading up to Pentecost for engagement in evangelism. The Archbishops wrote to every serving parish priest in the Church of England: ‘we long to see a great wave of prayer across our land, throughout the Church of England and many other Churches.’

Friday 6th – Saturday 14th May

Every day for nine days:
• A striking piece of art by Adam Boulter will be on display in church with a prayer guide for individual use.
• There will be prayer stations in St Catherine’s chapel based on The Lord’s Prayer for individual use.
• ‘Conversations at the crossroads’ A booklet including the artwork of Adam Boulter, a bible passage and prayer response. This can be used privately at home or in church.

Mon 9th -Fri 13th May

in St Catherine’s chapel

• Join us for Midday prayers 12.00-12.30pm using the ‘Conversations at the crossroads’ booklet .
• Join us for the short service of Compline at 9pm in church each evening.
• Join us on Thursday 12th May 7.45pm-8.45pm to use the booklet and pray especially for children far and near.Followed by Compline at 9pm.