​ Our vicar is   Revd Alison Wallbank  
The Vicarage , Greta  Lodge, Middleton-in-Teesdale DL12 0BP
Contact number:  01833 641302   
Email:  Alison.Wallbank@durham.anglican.org

MORNING PRAYER   is said at 9am  to 9.30am
Holy Trinity Church, Eggleston - every Wednesday 
St Mary's Church, Middleton-in-Teesdale - every Friday   

What has the Diocese ever done for us???
​Check out  ........
GENEROUS GIVING  FOR OUR CHURCHES 
The link to the website where all the articles may be directly uploaded is:   https://thegenerousgivingproject.wordpress.com/   
The most efficient way for you  to access them is if to click ‘FOLLOW’ on the bottom right hand corner of any of the articles. You’ll then be directly informed when a new one is posted.
Look up 'The Generous Giving Project' on Facebook too, as new articles are also posted there. There’s also a twitter account you can follow: @GenGivProject and an Instagram account!

​Below you will find ...    
Other C of E information. 
    Martin's Mid-Week Missive.   
    Minutes of the Deanery  Synod.    

The Durham Diocese African Christian Partnership                is with the Lesotho Diocese known as 'The Link',           (which covers the whole country of Lesotho). 
News can be found on  www.durham-lesotholink.org.uk
​or check on the www.durham-anglican.org  website
​  

  DeDear friends,
 
Last Sunday
I was at St. Peter's for both morning services and my sermon dealt with the twin themes of loyalty and spiritual warfare. If you'd like to read what I said just click here; http://revmartinjacques. blogspot.com/2018/08/gods-hidden-hand-and-war-within.html
 
On the subject matter of sermons Sally Rogers sent this email to a friend in the USA and she sent back this response!   A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday.
 
He wrote: "I've gone for 30 years now, and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons, but for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time, the preachers and priests are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all".
 
This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column.
 
Much to the delight of the editor, it went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:
  "I've been married for 30 years now.  In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals.  But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals.       But I do know this:  They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work.  If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today.     Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"
 
Thank God for our physical and our spiritual nourishment!
 
Readings for Sunday 2nd September: Trinity 14: Proper 17
Deuteronomy 4: 1-2, 6-9. Don't forget about God's goodness and wisdom which is even self-evident to outsiders! Rehearse them in your mind and relay them to your children.
James 1: 17-27. Belief and action in unity is the hallmark of much of the epistle of James. People who "hear" the word and even ascent to it but don't act upon it - their religion is useless.
Mark 7: 1-8, 14, 15, 21-23. The difference between man-made traditions and the Christian tradition has long been a hobby horse of mine and here is the scriptural warrant for it. Once we elevate human traditions above God in our minds we are guilty of idolatry.
 
East Budleigh Street party.   On Bank holiday Monday and the high street was closed to traffic, and a large number of locals filled the street for a street party to commemorate the death of our most famous son, Sir Walter Raleigh. We were joined at the celebration by Queen Elizabeth I, who joined in with the Exeter Morris men. There was Elizabethan music provided, an exhibition in the village hall, Duck races, a Falconry display, and a tug of war contest - a great day.
 
Organ recital and tea!
David Davies is a superb organist (organ scholar at Magdalen College Oxford and former organist at Exeter cathedral) and he really did need something to occupy his time since giving up being Brexit secretary........
and on Sunday afternoon he made the organ SING in an absolutely lovely recital. He is such a light-hearted and engaging personality to boot. Afterwards we were treated to a lovely tea prepared by Mary and Sue and an art exhibition in the Peter Hall. A great way to spend a wet afternoon!
 
Thought for the day
Discovering an interest in Sir Walter Raleigh is one of the more surprising results of moving to Devon.  Not surprising really as East Budleigh was his place of birth and we are celebrating 400 years since his execution.  We were invited recently to a great play called "From the Exe to the axe" staged outdoors at his birthplace Hayes Barton and on this bank holiday Monday East Budleigh hosted a street party in Sir Walter's memory.   I have already mentioned before his fervent Protestantism and his willingness to fight on behalf of the French protestants against the Catholics.  There is something terribly romantic about that era of history, when ideas, especially religious ideas really mattered....in fact a matter of life and death.  Of course in spiritual terms they still are and always will be.  Jesus himself sorted people into those who were spiritually alive and those who, although very much physically alive were actually spiritually dead.
Matthew 8:21-22
21 Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22 And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”
 
Prayer for the day. I couldn't find anything suitable in my books so I just had to write one myself!
 
Heavenly Father
I pray for wisdom and enlightenment.
Baptise me in your Spirit,
that I may shine with your light,
that shone in the face of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
 
Love and peace,
     Martin




 
The Examen Prayer
How do I pray? -  is a common request that people ask and here is a very simple prayer that should take no more than ten minutes at the end of every day whose raw material is your own life, that recalls the events of the past day and takes note of our feelings.     The "Examen" prayer is taken from the Jesuit tradition.     The purpose of the prayer is to become more aware of the ways in which God has been present to me during the day, and examines how the Holy Spirit has been drawing me towards life. This prayer encourages me to find God in all things. These are the stages one goes through; 

​1. Relax and feel attentive and open to God. Prepare yourself for prayer
2. Relish those moments in your day that you have enjoyed
3. Request the Spirit to lead you through your day
4. Review the day and for which moments am I most grateful.  What gave you energy and made you feel alive?
5. Repent of any mistakes or failures.   What experiences drew you away from God. What drained you and made you feel less alive?
6. Resolve in concrete ways to live tomorrow well.    End by giving thanks
 

  ​               A meeting of the Barnard Castle Deanery Synod took place at
                   Forest in Teesdale Church     at 7.15p.m. on 10th July 2018
 
Draft Minutes
 
1.    Worship: Revd Wallbank led synod in an act of worship
2.    Present:  Alec Harding, Alison Wallbank,  Eileen Harrop,  Annette Butters, Richard Bell, Brian Whitley, Christine Barnett, Lynne Lobley, Kath Caygill, Wendy Greenfield, Frances Stenlake, Geoff Taylor, Clive Newble,   
3.    Apologies: Ken Steventon, Alison Chapman, Peter Graham, Christine Beardshall, Hazel Whitehead,

4.    Minutes of the meeting held on 1.5.18 previously circulated were approved and signed.

5.   Matters arising
a)                 Diocesan synod elections Lay members elected were: Frances Stenlake, Ali Chapman, Wendy Greenfield and Maureen Gwilliam
Clergy elected were: Eileen Harrop and Brian Whitley.  There is one vacant clergy place
b)           Bishop’s Council visit to the Deanery: the date set for this listening exercise is Saturday October 13th. (Venue to be decided).
 
(After synod BC met. It was reported that staff changes at Cuthbert House and on the Council have delayed papers being sent to help prepare Parishes to take part. These will be sent out as soon as possible.)
 
6.         Feedback on Bishop Paul’s Walk through the Deanery 10-13 May:
Synod divided into groups to reflect on the questions:  What did we learn about ourselves, our communities and God at work within them?
Responses included:
            It was hard work.
            A positive experience meeting ‘real’ people
            + Paul appreciated the time spent in the deanery.
            Creating the programme necessitated us ‘going out’ to establish possible conversations
            The walk built on existing relationships and strengthened them
The walk brought a sense of affirmation: of the Dale, of individuals.
The confirmation service was very special
There was a genuine welcome for prayer
Generally enjoyable.
Final service much appreciated.
 
7.         Parish share offers:
Some parishes have already made their offers. Others are requested to do so by the end of September/beginning of October. These can be sent to Frances Stenlake as well as the diocese.
 
Lynne Lobley thanks all parishes for sending their BC deanery contributions.
 
8.         Diocesan Synod report: synod met on 23rd June 2018
a)    Diocesan Finance: a major shift in creating the budget has taken place that reflects the lag in filling clergy vacancies. On paper this shows the budget to be balanced, in reality the financial situation has not changed and is still difficult.
b)    Modern Day Slavery:  Wendy Greenfield gave some statistics concerning MDS. The number of people trafficked has doubled in 5 years from 21 million to 42 million. Of those freed from slavery in GB 41% were children.
There is currently no provision for children freed from slavery. Synod passed a motion which will be sent to General synod requesting HM Government to provide for these children.
c)    Safeguarding: Diocesan synod had heard from Professor Simon Hackett who chairs the body that oversees the Diocesan Safeguarding policy.
d)    Resource churches: a presentation was given by David Tomlinson concerning Resource Churches. David will visit our next Deanery synod.
e)    Process for the appointment of a new + Jarrow. Synod had fed ideas into the process as to why a Bishop of Jarrow was needed and what role and qualities they should have. The process of appointment is slow. The earliest a consecration can take place will be the end of February 2019.
 
9.    Deanery Walk: The Area Dean reported that Revd Ruth Stables was offering to lead a Deanery Walk.   The idea was met favourably and the preferred date would be the afternoon of Sunday September 30th.    AH will communicate this to Ruth.
 
10.     Church News:
a) Barnard Castle – new involvement at Teesdale school and ‘Peg Powler’ children’s workshop.  Armed Forces weekend concert. Chaplaincy established at YMCA.
b) Eggleston – Roof repair fund now at £6,500
c) Gainford & Winston – Bible study for newly confirmed.  Open the Book Team started
d) Upper Dale: open the book.  Opportunities at Middleton School.
Mock weddings for school children in a number of parishes.
 
 
11.Resource Churches: placed on agenda for next meeting 
 
12. AOB
Eggleston show: 15th September 2018. Synod agreed to cover the cost of the pitch. Richard Bell hoped that his ‘councillor’s grant’ might enable the organisers to give the church a reduced rate.
A trailer has been borrowed from churches in Leeds Diocese. This will house a prayer tree.
Wendy Greenfield and Alison Wallbank will co-ordinate volunteers. Synod will re-imburse any volunteers who would not normally attend the show.
 
13.Date of next meeting:        November 6th 2018 at Gainford.
​                  7.00pm for 7.15pm
 


 

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