MU Celebration, Panto, Beach Trip, Games Afternoon, Basement Project, Hymns & Pimm's, Patronal Festival, Confirmation classes
- Aug 1
- 11 min read
August Sunday Services at a glance
Sunday 2nd August
The Ninth Sunday after Trinity
8am Eucharist
9am Bubble Church
10am Sung Eucharist with Junior Church and Crèche
12pm Baptism Service
Sunday 9th August
The Tenth Sunday after Trinity
Mothers' Union Celebration (see below)
8am Eucharist
10am Sung Eucharist with Junior Church and Crèche, and admission of new MU members
Sunday 16th August
The Eleventh Sunday after Trinity
8am Eucharist
9am Bubble Church
10am Sung Eucharist with Junior Church and Crèche
Sunday 23rd August
St Bartholomew
8am Eucharist
10am Patronal Festival with Junior Church and Crèche
Sunday 30th August
The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity
8am Eucharist
10am Sung Eucharist with Junior Church and Crèche
NB. the choir is on a break thoughout August, except for the celebration of St Bartholomew on 23rd.
The Transfiguration
Thursday 6th August is the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord. There will be a Eucharist as usual at St Mary Magdalene on that day at 12pm followed by soup. All are welcome to join.
Bubble Church is a Sunday church service especially for babies, toddlers, and young families. It's a puppet-packed, Jesus-centred, coffee-and-food-fuelled, 30 minute kids and families adventure.
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.
On Sunday 9th August, we will be celebrating 150 Years of the Mothers' Union with a special 'takeover' service at 10am.
What is the Mothers' Union?
In 1876 the Mothers’ Union was founded by Mary Sumner. Her aim was to create a support network for women from all backgrounds as they brought up their children in the Christian faith. The first meeting was held in Old Alresford Rectory, where she lived with her husband, The Revd George Sumner. Too nervous to speak at that meeting, George spoke on her behalf and invited the women to return the following week. At that second meeting Mary had the courage to speak for herself. From that small beginning, the Mothers’ Union has grown into an international Christian movement with over 4 million members in 84 countries.
The fundamental focus of transforming communities worldwide through the nurture of the family in its many forms has remained steady for 150 years. What has changed, however, is the membership. Originally open only to married mothers, the sole requirement now is that you have been baptised. Men and women, married or single, with or without children. All are welcome.
St Bart's MU
Mothers’ Union aims to end poverty fostering self-reliance and resilience, to end injustice advancing gender justice and end violence promoting peace and safety through their many projects. St Bart’s branch is actively involved in this through support for the local Women’s Refuge, provision of emergency hospital bags, comfort bags for local schools, the Mothers’ Union literacy programme and more. We meet on the third Tuesday of the month at 1.30pm in the Choir Vestry. We are a happy group of people, committed to doing all we can to improve family life locally and internationally and we have fun doing it. In this 150th year, why not join in, join us! Do come and find out more about us in the church hall after
the celebration service.
St Bartholomew's Day this year will be celebrated a day early on 23rd August. St Bartholomew has been the patron saint of our church and parish since 1791. Come and celebrate with us!
Junior Church Trip
Junior Church will be going on a summer trip to Tynemouth Priory and the beach on Tuesday 11th August. Meeting at Church at 11am.
Pantomime
Bill Tarpy writes:
A long time ago, in a land far, far away, St Bartholomew’s had a tradition of putting on an annual pantomime. Oh yes it did!
I had the great privilege of actually writing and directing about 10 of these. There was a regular crew of good people who would volunteer to appear on stage and make fun of themselves. It would be great to try and get this tradition going once again. I can’t do it all myself. I need your help.
The plan is to start slowly with a ‘Panto Concert’, lasting about 2 hours, with a half hour interval. There will be no elaborate costumes, limited scenery, and (most importantly) you are allowed to hold a script. The number of rehearsals will be limited. Chorus and members of the cast will be seated on stage and come forward when it’s their turn to speak. There will also be music and songs. Chris, our wonderful organist, has volunteered to play the piano.
Provisional dates of performances are the evenings of Friday 20th and Saturday 21st November. There will also be appropriate get togethers with key cast members and, as we approach the performance date, the whole cast, on Sunday afternoons, to be planned in October and November.
If you are interested in appearing, or helping in any way, I’m looking for all ages. We need people to help with lots of “ front of house”, scenery, props, sound and costumes. I’ll arrange a first get together to be announced in September or drop me an email titled PANTO.
And we’ll all live happily ever after!
Board Game Afternoon
We are hosting a board game afternoon on Saturday 29th August from 1.30pm til 5pm in the Church Hall. Come along and enjoy great games, good vibes, and even better company! Refreshments will be available.
Feel free to bring along games with you to play, and bring some friends too.
Basement Project is back
We are delighted that The Basement Project will launch on Tuesday 8 September, meeting every Tuesday and Thursday after school until 6pm.
The Basement is a welcoming and inclusive 'third space' for high-school-age young people to relax, meet friends, eat food, play games, do homework, or just hang out. It is a place to belong, build confidence and simply enjoy being together.
Please spread the word!
We are also looking for adult helpers. We are delighted to be supported by the Longbenton Youth Project, but a few extra occasional helpers would be great. We are conscious of the huge effort the Basement was back in the day, and we hope to make it more sustainable. Please speak to Fr Mark if you'd like to know more about what's involved.
The Basement Project
Tuesdays and Thursdays during term time
after School until 6pm
in the Basement
Table Top Sale
Thank you to everyone who supported our sale - those who hired a table, the refreshments team and everyone who bought items and enjoyed a cuppa with us. We raised £600 for church funds. A brilliant effort!
Mothers' Union Afternoon Tea
This year's annual afternoon tea fundraiser was held on 11th July. The sun shone and we managed to fit it in before the Wimbledon Ladies Final. A delicious selection of food, prosecco, great raffle prizes and a wonderful atmosphere in the room made this another successful event. £410 was raised on the day to support local Mothers' Union projects. Thank you to everyone who supported us.
Invitation to 2344 Squadron’s 70th Anniversary Summer Ball
2344 (Longbenton) Squadron will be celebrating its 70th anniversary with a formal Summer Ball at the Village Hotel on Friday 11th September 2026, with arrival from 18:30.
We would be delighted to welcome those from St Bartholomew’s who supported the parade and service. Their hospitality, practical assistance and encouragement meant a great deal to the squadron, and it would be fitting to celebrate this milestone with them.
Tickets are £42.50 per person and include a three-course dinner. Full details, including the menu and booking form, can be found at:
Please could responses and payment be submitted by 10th August 2026.
Thank you once again for the continued friendship and support shown to 2344 Squadron.
Thank you to those who have already supported our appeal. Please do continue to spread the word, and encourage others to give. This will make such a difference.
Lighting Appeal
We have been exploring how to improve accessibility to church. In the evenings and winter months it is very dark outside the church, and it can be difficult, even unsafe, using the paths. A proposal has been approved by the PCC improve the lighting in different stages:
Replace and add to the lighting affixed to the outside of the church.
Replace the lamp post at the bottom of the path by the car park.
Light the path from the car-park to the church hall door (with lights affixed to the handrail).
Replace and add to the lighting outside the Basement doors.
Replace and add to the high-level uplighters and spotlights in the church.
The estimated cost is £22,000. We will be exploring any possible grant funding, but we really do need your support to be able to afford this. When these proposals come to fruition it will make such a big difference to how we can use our church!
Click below to give a one-off or regular gift to St Bart's via the Parish Giving Scheme
Eco Tips of the Month
Look after wildlife in the heat.
Put out a dish of water for birds and insects. A stone in a plant saucer helps bees to perch and drink without drowning.
Net bags for flower arranging.
Have you ever wondered what you could do with the net bags you get your oranges and lemons in? They make a great eco friendly "flower frog" when you are arranging flowers in a vase. Cut out a section slightly wider than the opening of your vase or jar. Place it tightly over the top of the vase and secure in place with tape or a rubber band. Push your flower stems through the holes in the netting. This will keep your stems upright. Then stand back and admire!
Big Butterfly Count 2026 - 17th July to 9th August
Count butterflies and become a Citizen Scientist!
Could you spend just 15 minutes sitting in the sun and counting the butterflies and day flying moths you see? If you can, follow this link for all the information you need to join in and help assess the health of our environment by counting butterflies: Big Butterfly Count
Spotlight
Spotlight is a monthly informal gathering where we can take a closer look at areas of scripture, theology, faith or church life.
This Spotlight session will explore the Oxford Movement, the nineteenth-century movement which sought to recover the Catholic inheritance of the Church of England. We will meet figures such as John Keble, Edward Pusey and John Henry Newman, and discover how their ideas shaped the Church of England we know today.
Spotlight on the Oxford Movement
Monday 24th August 2026
7.30pm
The Basement
Join us on Saturday 22nd August for "Hymns & Pimm's". Entry is free, but donations will be accepted for glasses of Pimm's and other refreshments. Raffle tickets will be available and will be drawn throughout the night to decide which hymns will be sung, all chosen by you.
Hymns & Pimm's
Saturday 22nd August 2026
7pm
'We Believe' Confirmation Classes
Confirmation is the chance to make your baptism promises for yourself and to be strengthened in the service of God. The bishop leads the service of confirmation and says "Confirm O Lord your servant with the Holy Spirit".
Anyone who is baptised and able to speak for themselves can be confirmed although it is usually for teenagers and adults. Those who are baptised as adults should be confirmed at the earliest opportunity.
There are 6 sessions of 'We Believe" Confirmation classes starting on Wednesday 2nd September. Additional classes may be made available for younger people seeking confirmation.
Colby’s Milestone Fundraiser for Newcastle Hospitals Charity
September 2026 will mark an important milestone for Colby - he will be starting Reception Class. To commemorate this his dad, Paul, and one of his uncles, Andrew, will be participating in the Great North Run in support of the Newcastle Hospitals Charity. You can find out more about Colby's journey and the race by clicking below.
Exploring Baptism is short session for parents/carers to explore Baptism in the Church of England for their children.
This session will explore and explain Baptism in the Church of England at St Bart's.
The session will include:
What Baptism services there are
What it all means
Choosing godparents
Christian life
Answering your questions
This is essential information for anyone considering or preparing for Baptism.
Exploring Baptism
Sunday 20th September
5pm
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!
Evergreens Care Home Service
Our short praise service at Evergreens Care Home in Forest Hall has moved to the last Wednesday of every month at 2pm. If you are interesting in joining this, please contact Fr Mark.
Craft Club
The Craft club is held every Thursday at 1pm in the Choir Vestry. All are welcome to bring along whatever they are working on or just drop in for a coffee and a chat.
Speak to Ann Luckley for more information.
Monday Club
The Monday club is now taking its summer break and will reopen on Monday 7th September with a social afternoon.
Art Group
Our Art Group continues to go from strength to strength, we meet fortnightly on a Wednesday At 11.30am and a Saturday at 12pm in the Basement. If you are interested in joining please speak to Louise in the office, or just come along!
REMINDERS
Did you know that you can contact the Parish Office via WhatsApp?
Add us:
01912662015
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.
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.
Everyday Faith App
Everyday Faith is the daily devotional app from the Church of England designed to inspire, equip and encourage you in your faith every day of the week. The app will provide you with carefully curated daily reflections, including selected Bible readings, a simple prayer to prepare you for the day ahead, and thoughts based on that week’s theme.
Search for "Everyday Faith" on your phone's app store, or click Download for iOS or Download for Android.
Home Communion
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!