What's on

S. Helen's Luncheon Club

We have launched a major new service to the community in the Parish Centre. On the second Tuesday of the month we are serving a meal to the elderly who will be picked up by bus, have coffee on arrival, take part in a Mass celebrated in the Centre and enjoy a good lunch and some entertainment before returning home.

We have started with 12 members but hope that this will grow if we can secure funding for a paid cook. It may also help us to hold the club weekly

On Tuesday 2nd December, 2008, 24 elderly people, some in wheelchairs, were brought to the Centre on a beautiful, cold day, and, after celebrating Mass led by Fr McTeer, enjoyed a first class Christmas lunch prepared by Barbara Bevan and her cohort of helpers. Without exception all expressed their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all those who had given up their time and effort in organising such an event.

Packed once again, and mainly lit by candles, the church was a wonderful setting for this year's celebration of Christmas as the congregation enjoyed the singing of many traditional carols accompanied, not only by the stirring music of the Ferryhill Brass Band, but also by Mr Phillip Hall, the church organist.

Traditional Christmas poems were also read including the poem, " Twas the Night before Christmas" written by Clement Clark Moore or was it, perhaps, Henry Livingstone as both have support for having written it. Its effect was, however, to redefine our image of Christmas and Santa Claus because prior to its publication St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, had never been associated with a sleigh and reindeer.

With a reading of the birth of Jesus from S. Luke, the saying of the Lord's prayer and the singing of, " The Twelve Days of Christmas" conducted, if that is the right word, by Fr. McTeer, the service ended with feelings of joy, gladness and happiness by all present.

Last night, Sunday 21st December, 2008 a packed church thoroughly enjoyed the annual Christingle Service for the children of the parish. Beginning with prayers and a carol the Thanksgiving was led by one of the young members of St. Helen's church, lChildren from the cubs, scouts and guides then read, with feeling, passion and understanding, the story of the Nativity. Children from Copeland Road Primary School and from St. Helen's Primary School sang carols and Christmas songs as well as readings from their work at school.

Finally, before the Blessing, all the children lined up in the aisles, each child given a Christingle, the lights of the church were put out and the candles of the Christingle were lit creating a peaceful, wonderful scene.

Thanks to Anne and Alan Brown providing bacon butties and cakes after Mass on Wednesday, 6th May 2009, £60 was raised towards the Organ Fund

On Tuesday 26th May, 2009, the Jolly Tots Club for under 5s and their families met in church for a simple Act of Worship which was followed by a trip to Hamsterley Forest for a picnic

Today, blessed by fine, warm weather two short sponsored walks were held from the church in order to raise money towards supplying electricity, water and toilets for the primary and nursery school in our link parish of Kibi, Ghana. Supported by the scouts, guides, cubs, beavers, brownies, rainbows, their parents and members of the church, both young and old this was a great success and ended at the Parish Centre where drinks and food had been so kindly organised by Anne Owen

Larger versions of the thumbnails below can be accessed
by clicking on them in turn or by clicking on the first one and then scrolling down on the new page which opens

Although not blessed with the fine, warm, sunny weather of last year we held a very successful Summer Fayre in the Parish Centre raising a total some £1400.
Simple, but very sincere, thanks are given, not only to the time and effort given by the stall holders and to those who provide tea and light refreshments, but to all who kindly came along to show their support.

Castaways Children's Holiday Club
Parish Centre
Monday 10th August to Friday 14th August, 2009

The club, run by Gareth Gladman, from 1.00pm until 4.30pm, is a major mission for the young people of the parish. Please contact Garteth at church for further details

Flower Arranging at Evenwood

"Two of our flower arrangers took part in a flower festival at St Paul's Church, Evenwood. The theme of the festival was a walk through the life of that village over the last century. 'Gardens, Allotments and Pigeons' was arranged by Valerie Bryden and Marjorie Brodie arranged 'Scouts'."

Christmas Fayre 2009

Despite the appalling weather with heavy frequent downpours the fayre was a huge success raising slightly in excess of £2 700. We wish to express a very simple, but most sincere, thankyou, not only to all who gave so muchtime for the fayre in helping with the stalls and providing refreshments as well as giving help in other ways but also to all those who attended and bought so generously.

Confirmation
December 2009

The Bishop of Beverley and Fr. McTeer with those who were confirmed on the 6th December 2009

Lent Lunch 2010

Parishioners and friends enjoying lunch on
Wednesday, 3rd April, 2010

Larger versions of the thumbnails below can be accessed
by clicking on them in turn or by clicking on the first one and then scrolling down on the new page which opens

and finally, the washing up.