December News and Notices
- St Bart's Parish Office
- 1 day ago
- 8 min read
Updated: 2 hours ago
Advent | Grounds Day | Learning | Kids' Craft Day | Christmas Services
This weekend is squeezed between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and the pressure to spend our way to happiness this season is everywhere. We as Christians must try our best to ensure that the tail doesn't wag the dog, so to speak, that the celebrations and festivities become the be all and end all of what is a profound moment in our salvation: that God came to be among his people and was born in human flesh.
And while for most of our society, Christmas celebrations will come to a rather tragic halt on Boxing Day, for us, Advent invites us to wait and to resist any real celebration until Christmas Eve, after which we will celebrate in one way or another until Candlemas at the beginning of February. The Church jars with the world, but perhaps that shouldn't be a surprise.
So as the world counts down shopping days, we count down holy days, waiting not for the sales, but for a Saviour.
Fr Ben
Vicar
December Services at a glance
Sunday 30th November - Advent Sunday
8am Eucharist
10am Sung Eucharist with Junior Church and Crèche
Sunday 7th December - The Second Sunday of Advent
8am Eucharist
9am Bubble Church
10am Sung Eucharist with Junior Church and Crèche
Sunday 14th December - The Third Sunday of Advent
8am Eucharist
10am Sung Eucharist with Junior Church and Crèche
Sunday 21st December - The Fourth Sunday of Advent
8am Eucharist
9am Bubble Church
10am Sung Eucharist with Junior Church and Crèche
7pm Nine Lessons and Carols
Wednesday 24th December - Christmas Eve / Christmas Night
10am Eucharist
4pm Family Crib Service
11:30pm Candlelit Midnight Mass
Thursday 25th December - Christmas Day
8am Eucharist
10am Sung Eucharist
Sunday 28th December - Holy Innocents Day
8am Eucharist
10am Sung Eucharist with Junior Church and Crèche
Remembrance Sunday
A Service of Remembrance was held at the War Memorial and continued inside the church.
We welcomed veterans, service personel and cadets, as well as local digintaries including teh High Sheriff of North Tyneside and a Deputy Lieutenant of the county. Huge thanks to the military, cadet, and uniformed organisations, plus servers, musicians and choir, for making this Remembrance Sunday so special.
Kingdom Season
From All Saints to Advent our worship in church was focussed on the Kingdom of God. This brings with is discussions about the end of the world and the brokeness of humanity. Not at easy topic for our Junior Church classes to tackle. But our younsters threw themselves into thinking about the struggles of our world. And their depiction of the apocalypse included St Bart's on fire!
Christmas Fair
Thank you to everyone who came out to support our Christmas Fair. The final totals of what was raised is still being calculated but it's a huge way of supporting the life of the church, and having some fun at the same time!
Special thanks to those who put in all the effort to organise and set up/clear up.
Advent Learning
You are warmly invited to join a simple yet enriching journey of daily reflection. You are invited to read one chapter of St Luke’s Gospel each day, beginning on December 1st and finishing on Christmas Eve, allowing the story of Jesus (from birth to resurrection) to unfold as Christmas approaches. Then, in the New Year, we will gather to share our insights, questions, and discoveries, and reflect on what God has been saying to us through this good news. All are welcome to take part, whether you are a seasoned reader or new to Bible reading.
If you don't have a bible, speak to Fr Ben, or just take one from church. They're there to be read!
Grounds Day
Each December, a group of volunteers gather to clear leaves and tidy up our churchyard. And we certainly need it now!
Please come along on Saturday 6th December to help if you can. There will be teas and coffees at 9:45am in the Basement, then Bacon/Sausage Sandwiches and more hot drinks after the graft has been done, at 11:45am. Many hands make light work! Continued thanks to our Working Party volunteers who maintain the grounds throughout the year.
What's the difference between the services?
Churches Together Carol Singing
(Forest Hall by the shops)
Join with local churches to sing carols together in the heart of the community, sharing the message and joy of Christmas in public witness.
Traditional Nine Lessons and Carols
A traditional, candlelit service of readings and well-loved carols, telling the story of God’s promise and the birth of Christ. Mulled wine and mince pies afterwards.
Family Crib Service
A joyful, family-friendly service led by our Junior Church, with children helping tell the Christmas story and leading us in favourite carols.
Candlelit Midnight Mass
A peaceful, candlelit celebration of the first Eucharist of Christmas, with carols, incense and the quiet beauty of the midnight moment.
Christmas Day Said Eucharist
A quiet and reflective early celebration of Holy Communion on Christmas morning, marking the birth of Christ in stillness and simplicity.
Christmas Day Sung Eucharist
Our main celebration of Christmas Day, with carols, sung liturgy and incense as we gather to share the joy of Christ’s birth.
Schools
This December we also welcome St Bartholomew's Primary School, Benton Dene Primary, Forest Hall Primary, Ivy Road Primary, and Longbenton High School for their Christmas Services.
This year's Monday Club Christmas Social is on Monday 15th December at 1pm.
Kids’ Christmas Craft Day
Our Children's Craft Days are really great fun and are very popular! The team are putting together a Christmas Craft afternoon on Saturday 20th December from 12pm until 4pm. There will be loads of activities to do and snacks too. Suitable for kids of all ages.
Please RSVP to help us to prepare.
Like to sing Christmas Carols but don't know where to start? Come along and be a part of the choir at St Bart's for the season, with no pressure or commitment. Come along to a rehearsal or email Chris Haresnape for more info.
Choir Rehearsals Fridays 5:30-7pm
Spotlight is a monthly informal gathering where we can look in depth at areas of scripture, theology, faith or church life. It will be delivered in a similar fashion to the 'We Believe' Lent course.
Our next Spotlight evening will be in January focussing on the Gospel of St Luke.
Watch out for more details in the January news.
Bubble Church continues to inspire and entertain our young families (and the helpers of all ages). Bubble Church runs on the first and third Sunday of the month at 9am (coffee and croissants served from 8:45am!)
Even if you regularly attend, please do sign up. It really helps us to prepare.
Remember our fun and informal Junior Church and Crèche run alongside our 10am Service, so children are very welcome to stay for that too, or come along on a week when Bubble Church isn't running.
Sunday 7th December, 9am
Sunday 21st December, 9am
St Mary Magdalene's is hosting a Christmas Buffet Lunch. This is open to all in the community, so do feel free to join. Speak to Fr Mark if you have any questions.
Are you new to church?
Thinking of coming along for the first time? Just go for it!
We know it can feel intimidating not knowing what to do or where to go, but here you’ll find a warm welcome on the door and someone ready to help with everything you need. Our main Sunday services are at 8am (quiet) and 10am (with music), with midweek Holy Communion on Tuesdays at 6:30pm and Wednesdays at 10am, and daily prayer at 9am and 5:30pm. Plus the church is often open for you to sit and pray during the day.
Children are always welcome: we have Junior Church and a crèche at the 10am service, plus Bubble Church for toddlers and young children. We’re fully accessible, and everything in our services is explained; there’s no need to worry about when to sit, stand, or join in, and a friendly neighbour will always be glad to help.
Regularly hearing God's word, praying, praising, and receiving communion will change your life for the better. And we'd love to welcome you.
Giving to St Bart's
Please consider a one-off or regular donation to St Bart's through the Parish Giving Scheme.
The Parish Giving Scheme (PGS) is a secure and simple way of giving to St Bart’s. It works by making a Direct Debit from your bank account which is then passed on to us. You can also opt to add Gift Aid which PGS claims on our behalf, at no extra cost to you, passing an additional 25% to us automatically.
There is also an option give regularly, and to automatically increase your gift annually. PGS will write to you and advise you of the new amount in advance, so you can choose to add more or to decrease the amount if you wish. If the majority of our planned givers were to opt for this, it would have a huge, positive impact on our finances.
Find out more by clicking the button below.
Morning and Evening Prayer
The Daily Offices (Morning and Evening Prayer) are the Church’s ancient pattern of prayer that punctuates the day with praise, intercession, and reflection on Scripture. From the earliest centuries, Christians gathered at set hours to pray on behalf of all creation and for the salvation of the world, with morning and evening soon becoming the principal times of prayer.
This tradition continues at St Bart's.
9am Morning Prayer
5:30pm Evening Prayer
These services weave together psalms, Bible readings, and prayers in a rhythm that unites individuals, congregations, and religious communities across time and place.
Whether prayed alone or together with others, the Offices give shape to the day, ensuring that, echoing George Herbert’s words: “seven whole days, not one in seven” are given to the praise of God and the forming of God’s people through word and prayer.
Come along and try it.
NB There are usually no services on Fridays.
Easy Fundraising
Easy Fundraising is a website which gives the church (or any charitable cause) free money. Businesses like Tesco, Argos, and Marks and Spencer pay Easy Fundraising a small commission when they direct you to their website to spend money. They forward that money onto us.
For example, if you buy your groceries online from Morrisons, go to Easy Fundraising first, and click on Morrisons. Then when you checkout, Morrisons gives us £1.30 as a thank you. You will need to make an account and select St Bartholomew's as your cause.
It may sound complicated, but once it's set up it's free money for the church!
Reminder: Home Communions
There are some permanently housebound members of our congregation who are taken Holy Communion to their home. This is bread (and wine) which has been consecrated by a priest at church, and then taken by a member of the Home Communion team to be distributed at home or hospital.
But this is not just available to those who cannot come to church at all. If you have been unwell or for any reason unable to attend for a couple of weeks, get in touch! We will visit you and bring you the sacrament.
Also, if you are unwell, or would like to be added to our prayer list, please tell us. Do not assume we know!