5/1/25
Your weekly update from the Benwell & Scotswood Team.
Click below for the latest news and events in the parish and texts for Sunday worship.
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Dates for your Diary
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
Sunday 5 Jan - Epiphany
9.30am - St John's Holy Communion
9.45am - St Margaret's Holy Communion
11am - Hub service (Parish Eucharist) at Ven Bede
Sunday 12 Jan - Baptism of Christ
9.30am - St John's Holy Communion
11am - Hub service (Parish Eucharist) at Ven Bede
4pm - St Margaret's Evening Prayer
News
Candlemas
11am, Sunday 2nd February 2025
at Venerable Bede Church, West Road, NE4 8AP
A service of celebration of all who have been christened in Benwell & Scotswood Team Parish.
(The parish includes 4 churches: St James' Benwell, St John's Benwell Village, St Margaret's Scotswood, and Venerable Bede West Road.)
You are invited
Those who have been baptised (christened) in our churches are invited every year to this special celebratory service along with their loved ones and Godparents.
Some useful info
This family-friendly service will last less than an hour.
There will be some light refreshments after.
If you still have your baptism candle then bring it with you to light them during the service (don’t worry if not, there will be some spare candles!)
There is no need to RSVP but if you would like to contact us for any reason: church@benwellscotswod.com or 07968 162067
p.s. Do you have photos of baptisms in our churches? However long ago or recent, we would love to show them in the service!
What is Candlemas?
Traditionally this festival 40 days after Christmas (or the nearest Sunday) was when candles were blessed to be used throughout the year- hence 'candlemas'!
It is when we read the story of how Mary and Joseph took the baby Jesus' to the temple in Jerusalem 40 days after his birth and gave thanks to God.
Baptisms on the feast of the Baptism of Christ
Next Sunday 12th Jan is the Feast of the Baptism of Christ. At the 11am parish eucharist, we will be baptising several people, including several of our Persian group, and welcoming them into our church family on the day we remember Jesus himself was baptised.
Please pray for all the candidates as they take this big step in their faith journey.
Welcome to Fr Mike
From 15th January we will welcome the Revd Michael Baldwin on full-time placement with us for 2 months.
Mike is currently a curate in Weardale, in the Diocese of Durham. He will be joining us for a couple of months to work with us in sharing the love of God in Benwell and Scotswood and to experience ministry in a different context to his current parish.
He will be leading services and working with us at our various community groups throughout the week, so you will have plenty of chances to get to know him and make him feel welcome.
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
Epiphany
Gold/White
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
Those preparing for baptism
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.
Isaiah 60.1–6
60Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.2 For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.3 Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
4 Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you;your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms.5 Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice,because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.6 A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come.They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.
Matthew 2.1–12
2In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ 3When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:6 “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.” ’
7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ 9When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Sermon
Revd Anne
Slide 1
‘We three kings’ was the first widely popular carol written in America. It draws on the story we have just heard in Matthew’s gospel about visitors to Bethlehem. It also invites us, as carols often do, to reflect on our own journey in faith.
‘We three kings of orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star’
‘Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.’
…….Farsi………………………………
Slide 2
We three kings of orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar.
‘Magi came from the east’ (Matt.2.1)
Who were these ‘Magi’?
Men, women?
Scientists? Kings? Astrologers? Traders?
How many? – we are not told
Matthew tells of three gifts they bring – gold, frankincense and myrrh –
so we imagine there were three –
but maybe not – maybe more?
Where are they from? –
the eastern lands of Persia, the Orient –
lands rich in spices and fragrant oils.
Why are they travelling?
They see a star and wonder:
they follow the star to find an answer.
And what of us?
We travel through our lives seeking answers
to questions we can hardly put into words.
The path ahead is rarely seen and maps can be deceiving.
But, like the ‘wise ones of old’, we follow the light,
with our simple gifts held gently in trembling hands,
and hope to find, some day,
all our answers.
---------Farsi---------------------
Slide 3
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star
‘We have seen his star in the East.’ Matthew 2.2
Our journey can be like a country walk,
a stroll through leafy lanes,
by babbling brooks.
Enjoying the views of open fields
and bigger skies.
and
It can also be like a battle zone,
a disaster through awful pain,
by horror untold.
Through desert lands,
Across mountain ranges,
Hanging on, more or less,
In the hope of better days to come.
How far must we travel to see the face of God?
To see the smile of welcome,
The words of comfort?
How far must we go
to feel the warmth of love,
the healing touch
and safe embrace?
One more step – whenever the strength allows,
Following the star of hope,
the star of promise,
where love prevails.
One more step – whenever strength fails,
when hope perseveres,
and the star beckons
to love’s abode.
----------Farsi--------------------
Slide 4
Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.
‘When they saw the Star they were overjoyed.’ Matthew 2.10
I wonder what that star really was –
a planet?
a comet?
a supernova?
a metaphor?
a sign?
A star of wonder - light from millions of years gone by
A guide to the perfect Light of here and now -
The Light which had come into the darkness,
the Light which entered our world,
the perfect Light of all time,
the Light of all people,
the Light of the world: -
‘The Light to guide our footsteps and a light for our path.’ (Psalm 119;105)
-----------Farsi----------------
Slide 5
Star of wonder, star of night
Guide us to thy perfect Light.
Jesus said: ‘Whoever follows me, will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ (John 8.12)
As we journey on – in this time,
in Benwell and Scotswood
where we find our stable place,
what gifts do we bring to honour the king of kings?
What love can we bring to the cradle of Light?
Our Lord of Light, we pray…
As we travel through our lives, seeking answers,
speak to us.
As we ask the questions we can hardly put into words,
help us to listen.
As we look for the path ahead that is rarely seen,
teach us wisdom,
and like the wise ones of old –
may we follow your light faithfully.
Please hold our gifts gently,
in your steady hands,
and nurture our hope, as we journey,
that we may find,
some day,
all of our answers.