Written by Graham | 04 March 2013

Dear Friends,

Since I last wrote to you my situation has progressed and I am able to return to work on ‘amended duties’! Further investigation revealed that the condition of my spine was worse than had been thought and the treatment required was therefore greater. At present, I am receiving physiotherapy which, it is hoped, will return me to full fitness in time. My hope is that as I continue to improve I will return to a full workload.

For those of you who have endured prolonged illness you will know something of what I have been going through. Initially my condition was so debilitating that I could think of very little; then I went through a period of anxiety over what I was unable to DO and what I was missing at church. As I have improved and returned to some limited work my abiding thoughts have been focussed on how I have missed the community and the work which is the focus of my life - my very being.

All of this has prompted me to dwell on the nature of vocation, what it means to devote ones doing and being (ones very self) to a cause or purpose. In the case of Christians this means focussing our lives on God through Jesus Christ. My privilege is to live and work in a community, (the church in this place) where so many people have a vocation. Here I live and work daily with folk whose work, leisure, community life and personal lives have at their focus a desire to dedicate their lives to Christ and His Church. Often those people don’t recognise the importance of what they do and would never presume to proclaim it publicly, but nevertheless it is Christ-centred and fulfilling God’s purpose. From time to time some in our community feel called to give expression to this sense of vocation through formal roles within the church and on occasions this will take the form of Licensed Ministry.

In the last year this has happened to three people. I have already announced that Sue Hill and Geoff Hill have been accepted for training as Readers in the Church of England and they are now well into their first year of training. I can now formally announce that Ellouise Bangay has attended a Bishop’s Selection Conference and has been recommended for training for Ordained Ministry. Ellie has for the last year worked as an intern at a church in Durham and will begin her ordination training later this year.

Whilst I would hesitate, on our part, to make any claim to have propelled these three people into ministry, I do hope that we will feel very proud that where God has planted the seed we, as a church, have provided the fertile ground in which those seeds have grown.

We should all take heart in the fact that our church is one in which our vocations can thrive. Each of us should prayer regularly for ourselves and for one another, giving thanks that God calls us all to serve Him in whatever way we are able, however small or great, and praying that God will open our hearts and minds to the power of his presence in us.

May God continue to bless us all in his service.

Graham

Written by Administrator | 04 February 2013

 

We are always on the look-out for new singers of every voice (and age!)…

* Boys aged 7-11  * Girls aged 12+   * Altos and Contraltos    * Tenors and Basses

* Plenty of fun, team work and social extras   * You don’t need previous experience

* Get a free musical training      * You don’t have to have been a church attender

* Outings to wonderful cathedrals    * So much satisfaction and sheer fun!

Why not give it a try? And don’t say that you can’t afford a regular weekly commitment – we accept this is often the

case in this modern age – and it certainly applies to the majority of our singers!

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes

Richard Bendelow, Director of Music at St Nicholas

Tel: 01287 634429

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Written by Administrator | 21 January 2013

We have 3 new activities starting in January in the Parish Hall, Bow Street. Please come along and support them.

Ballroom Dance Tuition - Beginners' Class.

Each Tuesday from January 22nd 2013 - 7:00 - 8:30p.m.  ...followed by ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written by Administrator | 05 January 2013

Tuesday 27 November By the time we began “stripping” the Church on the morning of Tuesday 27 November to make way for delivery of the trees on the afternoon, work had already started on putting up the lights and providing supplies for the tree lights. It was a hive of activity as people dismantled and “hid” items around the Church, and tables were brought up from the Parish Hall and covered, ready for the trees to arrive. At 1.00 pm, the delivery of 52 four foot high trees, and one 14’ high tree, arrived at the Church. By 4.00 pm all trees were set in their stands and left to dry out overnight before being put in place. This was all completed so quickly, you would think people had done this before!!!! Wednesday 28 November Work started at 8.00 am on the morning, putting the trees in place, so they were ready for sponsors to start decorating from 10.00 am. By 10.00 all trees, barring one, were decorated and looking good. Thursday 29 November The Festival opened to the public at 10.30 am for viewing prior to the official launch on the night. There were over 100 people at the launch event, and the Festival was officially opened by Cllr Denise Bunn, Mayor of Redcar & Cleveland, and Cllr Malcolm Griffiths, the Guisborough Town Mayor. Friday 30 November Besides being open during the day, Highcliffe Primary School entertained relatives and visitors to the Festival with a carol concert. The Festival re-opened on the evening for public viewing, while St Nicholas Choir provided background Advent and carol singing. Saturday 1 December Saturday was family day, with many activities for children and families, including face painting, children’s crafts, and colouring competition, with a special appearance by Micky and Minnie Mouse, which generated much interest. The evening saw a Christmas concert by Cleveland Police Band. Sunday 2 December Another busy day with visitors throughout the day, and the Christingle Service at 5.00 pm. Monday 3 December A busy day, followed by an even busier night as we were entertained with a very well attended Christmas concert by the Apollo Male Voice Choir, with a surprise performance from the Guisborough U3A Singing for Pleasure Choir. A good night was had by all. The Apollo did not charge a fee for their performance, but were delighted with their retiring collection of £204 from the audience. Tuesday 4 December Tuesday saw our busiest day of the festival, with over 800 visitors. During the day we had three carol concerts, provided by Galley Hill, St Paulinus, and Belmont primary schools, providing entertainment for relatives and visitors. The Festival opened late, as it was the Guisborough Christmas Parade and Christmas Light switch-on, and late night shopping. The evening was very busy, and included a children’s Nativity Treasure Hunt competition. Wednesday 5 December Wednesday meant that we had to dismantle the Festival. Sponsors collected their trees and decorations, the tree needles were swept up, and the Church returned to ‘normal’. The end of a week of effort by so many people, that had passed all to quickly. Over the 6 days there were more than 2,000 visits to the Church to see the Festival and over £2,000 was raised. So it’s over, and what can we say, but thank you. However, “Thank You” are two small words that can never express the enormous gratitude of the Christmas Tree Festival Organising Group for the hard work and endeavour of so many who have helped in so many ways to ensure that not only did the Festival happen, but that it was successful and appreciated by so many. On a final note, the winners: Best Decorated Christmas Tree winners were: • School & Colleges Category - Belmont Primary School • Community Group Category - Gisborough Priory Project • Business Category - Priory Coffee House & Bistro • Church Group Category - St Nicholas Choir Colouring Competition winners were: • Under 5 years - Nia Ward (Age 4) • 5-7 years - Emma Palmer (Age 7) • 8-10 years - Lily Duffty (Age 8) Nativity Treasure Hunt Competition winner: • Rosie Neville (Age 5)

Written by Administrator | 29 November 2012

You are welcome to join us in celebrating Christmas this year at the following services:

Sunday 2nd December - 5:00pm - Christingle Service

Sunday 16th December - 6:15pm - Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

Sunday 23rd December - 6:15pm - Stations of the Nativity

Monday 24th December (Christmas Eve)

12 noon - A Service for Bereaved Parents

5:00pm - Crib Service

11:30pm - Holy Communion

Tuesday 25th December (Christmas Day)

8:00am - Holy Communion

10:00am - Parish Communion

Written by Graham | 29 November 2012

Advent Meditation

Despite all that is going on at this time of year, it is vitally important that we take a step back and pay attention to the ‘inner windings of the soul’. As we know the great advent themes are traditionally watching and waiting.

The Rorate Caeli, or the ‘Advent Prose’ as it is commonly known is an ancient hymn composed of texts from the book of the prophet Isaiah (45.8) and is traditionally sung during the season of advent. It expresses themes of penitence, expectation, longing, and comfort.

Roráte caéli désuper,

et núbes plúant jústum.

Drop down ye heavens, from above,

and let the skies pour down righteousness.

For months we have had a succession of ordinary Sundays. But now it all changes. Expressed in the external change of colour from green to purple we now have some rather different sorts of Sundays, Sundays with a different feel, a different mood, a different significance. We are not left alone floundering in a succession of endless Sundays - we are forced to change.

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