ACTIVITIES SCRAPBOOK

Carols by Candlelight

It was cold, it was snowy, it was a classic Christmas Eve and a fine time to enjoy our carol service. Under the glow of flickering candles we enjoyed the Christmas story presented in the format of "This is your life". Carols were sung, mince pies were eaten and mulled wine enjoyed, and a great time was had by all.

If this was your first visit to us, please don't make it your last. We would love to see you again at either Christ Church or St. George's at any time of the year, not just at Christmas.

Meet the cast...

On The Beach

A small group of us gathered on Redcar beach for an evening time of worship, with the rising tide lapping at our feet we were accompanied by a symphony of breaking waves and distant jet-skis.

Rosh HaShanah - The Re-gathering: Although "Rosh HaShanah" is celebrated as a Jewish New Year Festival, it does not come at the start of the New Year. As God commanded Moses in Exodus 12.2, the Passover marks the start of the Jewish Year. "Rosh HoShanah", the festival of Trumpets, comes just over half way through the year as the harvest begins, and is a time of repentance, re-gathering and rededication following the summer break. In many respects the Jewish calendar is similar to our own for, while we celebrate the New Year on January first, we also mark the start of the school year in September. "Rosh HoShanah" therefore, can serve as a time of rededication at the start of the Church's year. The summer holidays are ended and we gather again, refreshed and ready for whatever God is asking of us.

Copies of the service used are available on request at the Parish Office.

USA Visitors

Recently a group of young Christian Evangelists visit our area and spent some time working among young people, along with members of Christ Church, One Life and St. George's fellowships. Here are a few picutes taken throughout the ten-day visit. To see more click HERE (5.6Mb PDF document that opens in a new window).

2010 Churches Together Witness Walk

On a cool Good Friday morning members of several churches in Eston and Normanby walked in procession to Eston square for a time of remembrance and worship. Approximately 140 folk gathered together to remember what the Easter celebration is all about with praise and worship of our great God who has redeemed us all.

It was a cool wind, our toes and fingers may have been a little on the cold side and we needed to huddle together for shelter, but we were all well-warmed in our hearts.

Bible Readathon

It was a challenge of Biblical proportions - but young and old rallied round to read aloud every word of the Good Book.

A Bible Readathon at St George's Church, Normanby, saw more than 300 volunteers read for more than 75 hours, covering all 66 books - that's a total of more than 31,000 verses!

The final passage, from Revelation, was read aloud yesterday afternoon by everyone who happened to be in the church at the time.

It wasn't a fundraising event - it was simply a way to spread God's word before Christmas.

And, according to Julian Blakeley, the rector of St George's and Christ Church, Eston, it worked wonderfully well.

He said: "The readathon has succeeded beyond our expectations. While some of the logistics have been a challenge, everyone has worked with us and our humour and enthusiasm remained undimmed.

"Folk have really taken it to their hearts, and have been prepared to come in at all times of the day and night - including the very early and very late slots. It has really brought the Bible to life in a very personal way for everyone involved."

Every name of every reader has been written down for posterity. And there was lots of fun along the way.

Julian said: "When we did the Psalms on the night, Robert Hughes and some people from the One Life church came down and we did it together as two churches. But because we were getting tired, we ended up marching around the church - and one guy crashed into a chair!

"There's been a common humanity in this - it has brought out the best in people."

Co-organiser Carol McIntosh said one of the highlights was the involvement of schools.

Ravensworth Junior pupils read passages from Jeremiah and Lamentations, Normanby Primary covered from Paul's 1st letter to the Corinthians and Teesville Infants youngsters read the Book of James.

Five Ravensworth pupils also took part in Monday's launch by reading the story of Noah to guests including the mayor and mayoress.

(Used with the kind permission of the Evening Gazette.)

See more pictures and events in our Scrapbook Archive