Merry Christmas from Benwell & Scotswood Parish!
- Church
- Dec 23, 2024
- 8 min read
24/12/24
Your Christmas update from the Benwell & Scotswood Team.
Click below to read information for this Christmas season.
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Dates for your Diary
24 Dec
4pm - Crib service at St Margaret's
11.30pm - Midnight mass at Ven Bede
25 Dec
10am - Christmas morning service at Ven Bede (no other services this day)
29 Dec
11am - Team service at Ven Bede (no other services this day)
12 Jan
11am - hub service, Feast of the Baptism of Christ, with baptism of members of the Farsi speaking group.
2 Feb
11am - Candlemas Team service at Ven Bede (no other services this day)
Services this week
Tuesday - Christmas Eve
4pm Crib service at St Margaret's
11.30pm - Midnight mass
Wednesday - Christmas day
10am - Christmas morning Eucharist at Ven Bede
Sunday 29 Dec - Christmas 1
11am - Hub service (Parish Eucharist) at Ven Bede
News
Advent and Christmas 2024
Crib service
24 December (Christmas Eve)
4pm, St Margaret Scotswood, NE15 6AR
Join us at a service that is fun for all the family. We tell the story of Jesus’ birth, place the figures in the nativity scene and sing some of your favourite Christmas carols.
Midnight Mass
24 December
11.30pm, Venerable Bede, NE4 8AP
One of the most beautiful services of the year. By candlelight, just before midnight on Christmas Eve, we gather to celebrate the coming Jesus Christ with Holy Communion. You are welcome whether you have been before or not.
Christmas Day Service
25 December
10am, Venerable Bede, NE4 8AP
Join us on Christmas morning to celebrate the birth of Jesus with Holy Communion. You are welcome even if you have never been before.
Charity Auction - thank you!
Our first Christmas charity auction to raise money for St James and the Something Wonderful project was a huge success! Everyone had a fantastic time and we are still calculating the final total, but it looks like we have made over £800!
We are extremely grateful to all who helped organise the evening, set up, collect payments, donate items, purchase items, serve refreshments, sing carols, and everyone who came to create such a fun event. An extra special thank you to Kath McIntyre, our resident auctioneer and her helpers Tom and Deano.
Team Service - Sunday 29th Dec
Please note that next Sunday 29th Dec, will be a team service at Venerable Bede at 11am.
There will be no other services in the team that day.
Embrace - Gaza appeal
Conflict across the Middle East is unfolding with relentless intensity, devastating the lives of millions. Even as they live through these dark times, Embrace’s partners in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon are working tirelessly to bring the light of Christ amidst the suffering.
As Christmas approaches, please give what you can to help our partners keep the light of Christ shining amid the darkness.
You can click below to donate online. If you would rather donate by phone, please call 01494 897950.
Sunday Worship
Christmas Season
Gold/White
Please note: below are the texts for Christmas night, Christmas morning, and the following Sunday.
Christmas Night
Hebrews 1.1–4 [5–12]
1Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. 3He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
[5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you’?Or again,‘I will be his Father, and he will be my Son’?6And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’7Of the angels he says,‘He makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire.’8But of the Son he says,‘Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever, and the righteous sceptre is the sceptre of your kingdom.9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.’10And,‘In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands;11 they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like clothing;12 like a cloak you will roll them up, and like clothing they will be changed.But you are the same, and your years will never end.’]
John 1.1–14
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
Christmas Morning
Isaiah 9.2–7
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.3 You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy;they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder.4 For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.5 For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire.6 For a child has been born for us, a son given to us;authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is namedWonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.7 His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peacefor the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold itwith justice and with righteousness from this time onwards and for evermore.The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Luke 2.1–14 [15–20]
2In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to their own towns to be registered. 4Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’
[15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ 16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.]
First Sunday of Christmas
Colossians 3.12–17
12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Luke 2.41–52
41 Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. 42And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. 43When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44Assuming that he was in the group of travellers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, ‘Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.’ 49He said to them, ‘Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’50But they did not understand what he said to them. 51Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favour.
Intercessions
Prayers for others:
John Nicholson
Malcolm Smith
John Peterson
Maria Hawthorn
Herbert Agbeko
Ellis & Pauline Nelson
Michelle & Peter Wilson
Alan & Maureen Taylor
Irene Foskett
Pat Law
Moe and Mary
Christina Wilson
Diane Humphrey
Other
Something Wonderful, Newcastle Foodbank, Cornerstone, North Benwell Youth Project, Pendower Good Neighbour project.
Those affected by the tragedy at Violet Close
If you would like to add someone to the prayer list please email church@benwellscotswood.com
The name will stay on the list for 1 month unless requested to be long-term.