Newsletter - Lent 1
22/02/26 (Year A)
Your weekly e-newsletter from the Benwell & Scotswood Team.
Services this week
Sunday
10am - St John's Holy Communion
10am - St Margaret's Holy Communion
11.15am - St James Parish Eucharist
Tuesday
4.30pm - Persian bible study at St James
Thursday
12pm - Venerable Bede Holy Communion
Dates for your diary
Wed 25 Feb
4pm - Exploring Faith group begins
Sun 29 Mar - Sun 5 Apr
Holy week (see below)
Sun 3 May
11.15am - Team service for the APCM (annual meeting) at St James
News
Exploring Faith begins this week
During Lent each year we host a group for people explore faith, ask questions, and get to know the church community. This will continue for 5 weeks.
This year we will use the ‘Growing Good’ resource (from the Church Urban Fund) to explore what faith in action can look like in our community.
We will also be baptising adults at Easter, if you would like to take this step then speak with Fr Chris (or anyone else in church!)
Wednesdays at 4pm
Finish by 5.30pm
At St James Benwell, NE15 6RS
Beginning 25th February
Lasting for 5 weeks
Holy Week, 29 Mar - 5 Apr
Holy Week is the most special time in the Church’s year. As a church community we journey together as pilgrims, remembering each Holy Week event at each of our four churches. Together we walk with Jesus’ through his passion, death, and resurrection– the greatest story of hope in the face of suffering.
Palm Sunday Eucharist
29 March, 11.15am
At St James Church Benwell, NE15 6RS
Beginning with a procession, singing, and waving palm crosses and branches. We remember how Jesus was welcomed by the people of Jerusalem, before he was killed. We also have a dramatic reading of the story of Jesus’ arrest and death.
Maundy Thursday - the Eucharist of the Last Supper
2 April, 7.30pm
At Venerable Bede West Road, NE4 8AP
You are invited to have your feet washed (not compulsory!) as Jesus washed his Disciples’ feet at their last meal together. We share communion before the altar and church are then stripped of decoration and we descend into darkness.
‘The Watch’ lasts for an hour after the service for those who want to stay, just as Jesus asked his disciples to stay awake and pray with him in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Good Friday Veneration of the Cross
3 April, 2pm
At St John’s Church Benwell Village, NE15 6NW
We tell the story of Jesus’ trial and death. As we meditate on his sacrifice, a cross is brought into the church and we offer our prayers. This is a powerful service when we remember the outpouring of God’s love and how an instrument of death and oppression was transformed into a symbol of hope, joy and eternal life.
The Easter Celebration - Eucharist of the Resurrection
Saturday 4 April, 8pm
At St Margaret’s Church Scotswood, NE15 6AR
We begin in darkness with a vigil around a fire, telling the story of God’s love and salvation throughout history. We light the Paschal Candle and light returns to the church with celebration and joy and singing. We baptise new Christians and renew our baptismal promises. We then celebrate the Eucharist once more, remembering that Christ conquered death, and now we share in this heavenly meal and receive eternal life.
Easter Day
Sunday 5 April, 11.15am
At St James Church Benwell, NE15 6RS
We gather on Sunday morning, as we gather every Sunday, to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. There may even be an Easter egg hunt for young ones!
Coffee, Cake and Craft, Women’s Group - Change of date
Wed 4 March 10am
(11am for Morning Prayer)
Please note, the coffee cake and craft session at the Ven Bede will NOT be on this Wednesday. Instead it will be Wednesday 4th March at 10am at Venerable Bede
