Parish Eucharist for the 2nd Sunday of Lent, 28th February

Parish Eucharist for the Second Sunday of Lent, 28th February. Originally live-streamed from the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Castleside for the parishes of Benfieldside and Castleside - and for all who share with us as an online community of prayer.

Signs of spring - and celebrating the poetry of George Herbert

Signs of spring appear. We take a look around and inside our church in Shotley Bridge.

And we go on to learn from the poet, George Herbert, celebrated today in the Church of England's Calendar.

Our student in training reflects on Sunday's Gospel

Reading, Homily & Prayers for the Second Sunday of Lent.

This is a bonus offering!

We'll be live-streaming the Eucharist on Sunday at 9am - but meanwhile the Vicar "meets" here with Lindsay Harrod, who is training for Ordination at Cranmer Hall in Durham. We're sorry that she can't be with us in the parish itself, but here's the opportunity to see where she is, hear about how her training is going on, and learn from her reflection upon Sunday's Gospel.

Compline from the Prayer Book of 1928 - and some John Keble...

Compline from the Prayer Book (of 1928) - and a wonderful poem of Evening Prayer from John Keble.

This Office of Night Prayer can be used any evening.

Eucharist for the First Sunday of Lent

Our Eucharist for the First Sunday of Lent, 21 February 2021.

Offered for the parishes of St. Cuthbert, Benfieldside and St. John the Evangelist, Castleside - and for all who join us online.

While we can't all join physically in Holy Communion, we affirm our place in the one Body of Christ.

Night Prayer - the Office of Compline - for Ash Wednesday

Night Prayer - the Office of Compline - on Ash Wednesday, 17 February. A reflective service for the end of the day.

This is the form which may be used any evening throughout Lent.

Ash Wednesday, 17 February 2021 - Parish Eucharist & Imposition of Ashes

Ash Wednesday, 17 February 2021 - Parish Eucharist & Imposition of Ashes from St. John's Church, Castleside.

The Revd. Martin Jackson, Vicar of Benfieldside & Priest-in-Charge of Castleside presides and preaches at this service to mark the beginning of Lent.

Eucharist for the Sunday next before Lent, 14 February 2021

Eucharist for the Sunday next before Lent, 14 February 2021, offered in St. Cuthbert's Church, Shotley Bridge for the parishes of Benfieldside & Castleside - and for all who join us online! 

On this final Sunday before Lent begins we look to the divine glory revealed in Christ at his Transfiguration.

"Dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach"

"... dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach."

In and around St. John's Church - with some wintry thoughts on tomorrow's Transfiguration Gospel.

A short walk down Church Bank

A short walk down Church Bank, Shotley Bridge - beauty and danger, thanksgiving and prayer

A Milestone we didn’t want to reach…

From our Parish Magazine for February 2021 - apologies it's appeared here late: we forgot to post it when updating the rest of our site!

It’s truly wonderful that vaccines to fight the Coronavirus have been produced so quickly - and that the vaccination programme itself has already reached several million of those most at risk. But we find ourselves in a third Lockdown. Infection rates, we are told, are falling nationally (but not locally during this last week). However, the mortality rate has continued to climb - and as I write the most conservative assessment shows that over 100,000 people have died within 28 days of contracting Covid-19.

Our Archbishops have written:

As we reach the terrible milestone of 100,000 deaths from COVID-19, we invite everyone in our nation to pause as we reflect on the enormity of this pandemic. 100,000 isn’t just an abstract figure. Each number is a person: someone we loved and someone who loved us. We also believe that each of these people was known to God and cherished by God.

They invite us to pray - perhaps at 6pm each day. I hope we will make time for such prayer. And consider how we can move on from that prayer. 

I’m writing on National Holocaust Memorial Day, when we remember the millions who died simply because they were Jewish, gay, assessed as mentally unfit… and for other reasons which deny our humanity.

The poet and priest Malcolm Guite has written of those dying now:

Behind each number one belovèd face

A light in life whom no-one can replace,

Leaves on this world a signature, a trace,

A gleaning and a memory of grace

All loved and loving, carried to the grave…

These are sober words, but his last verse contains this prayer: “O Christ who suffers with us, hold us close…” As we approach Lent, Holy Week & Easter, and don’t yet know how we will celebrate them, that can be our prayer.                                                                                        

Martin Jackson

Night Prayer (Compline) for 10th February

Night Prayer (Compline) for 10th February - and learning a little from the love of St. Scholastica for her brother, Benedict

Eucharist for the 2nd Sunday before Lent

Eucharist for the 2nd Sunday before Lent, offered in St. Cuthbert's Church, Shotley Bridge for the parishes of Benfieldside & Castleside - and for all who join us online!

Night Prayer A Song for Simeon

Night Prayer - A Song for Simeon.

This Office of Compline always includes the words of Simeon as he took the child Jesus in his arms and saw in him a light for the nations. We celebrate the Meeting of the Lord with Simeon and Anna - and pray that we may live in his light.