St Margaret’s Newsletter
St Margaret’s
Newsletter
Winter 2023
www.stmargaretsurc.org.uk
Dear friends,
Merry Christmas to you all!
Firstly, this is my opportunity to say thank you for the gift that I received earlier this year – I wanted to wait until it was almost spent to say thank you so I could tell you what I bought!
I used it to get some practical things for the house and also some special things. So firstly I bought an air fryer – a super duper, 8in1 air fryer – that bakes and roast and fries!!! All singing all dancing!! I also bought two new rugs one for the living room and one for the bedroom, and some throws for my settees etc!
Next I went to the Glass Centre and bought two pieces of glass. The first is a small piece called the tree of life (made in Sweden) and then also a vase which was made in the centre itself – it’s hard to describe but looks like the sea with the waves crashing! Come to the manse and see it for yourself.
Advent and Christmas are upon us – times of preparing and a time of God giving us the best gift ever – in the baby Jesus. How many of you have advent calendars? Or advent candles? How many of you use this time to reflect on the year past and the time to come? To prepare ourselves spiritually anew for Christmas and then the Year to come?
In the New year I’ll be beginning a series of whole pastorate Studies – I’m not sure if we’ll be using Stepwise or something else but we will be doing something! These will be held at the manse but would require folks to sign up so we can make sure I have enough room for everyone in the manse!
So, go well in your preparations! Be blessed and bless others this Christmas time.
Blessing and love.
Jane
THANK YOU LETTERS
Operation Christmas Child/Samaritan Purse/Shoe Box Appeal
24 shoeboxes were handed over filled with love from St Margaret’s, also a cheque for £300 made up from £120 (24 x £5 per box) plus £180 in donations. Thanks to all of you who took part in this appeal.
Donations from Thursday and Sunday Coffee Mornings
£50 has been given to each of the following charities: British Legion Poppy Appeal, Mercy Ships, People’s Kitchen Newcastle and The Bible Society. Thank you to all who give in this way.
Christmas Bazaar
A wonderful total of £1,541 was raised. Thanks go to everyone who was involved in any way towards this amount.
Christmas Greetings
Thank you for your donations raised this way – these are displayed in this newsletter. £100 will be shared between UNICEF and Sightsavers.
Key Community
Donations from our Christmas Day worship will be given to the Food Bank. But please still keep filling our red box every week – it’s on the stage and all the items are so gratefully received at the Food Bank in Boldon Lane. Our ‘ACTS’ girls who meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays are very good at helping us fill our box and after their Hallowe’en Party they raised £185 and generously donated it to the following: £100 to St Margaret’s, £50 to the Food Bank and £35 to the Shoe Box appeal. So, on your behalf, we thanked them.
Harvest Coffee Morning
A marvellous £335 was raised at our Harvest Coffee Morning on Saturday, 30th September and 11 bags of canned food etc. was taken to the Food Bank.
Brenda Brownless
TODDLERS AND CARERS
This festive season our toddlers have been making Christmas crafts, thanks to Hazel’s great ideas. Our Minister also joins them, especially enjoying the singing of the nursery rhymes. Santa will pay us a visit at our last session, which will also be our party.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
All the Helpers
RAINBOWS
Well, the Rainbows have been having a very busy year this year. We started in January by welcoming new Rainbows to the group. We have made various crafts throughout the year to work towards the Rainbow Programme and the girls have earned their badges. By the time you read this some of the Rainbows will have also earned their Bronze Award.
On 14th May the County held an event at Beamish. It was a fabulous day and the girls all enjoyed themselves. There were various stalls and crafts that they could do, and they all enjoyed a ride at the fun fair. They were all extremely tired at the end of the day, but all thoroughly enjoyed it.
In April one Unit became two Units when we took over a Unit that was due to be closed due to the leader retiring. We now meet on a Tuesday and Thursday and have double the fun.
We had a trip to the Lifeboat Station at Roker, where the girls learnt about water safety and what to do if they see a person in trouble. I am not sure if the volunteers knew what had hit them after 30 girls turned up.
We also had a visit from a lady who showed the girls how to do sign language, it was lovely when they all sang ‘We can sing a rainbow’ and signed it as they sang. We have also been bowling this year, they always enjoy this.
We attended the Customs House Pantomime on 30th November along with 300 other excited Rainbows, Brownies and Guides and we had a wonderful night. For end of term, we are holding a joint meeting for the two groups together, we are having a party and hiring a DJ, after that we are looking forward to a well-earned rest over the Christmas period.
We would like to wish you all a lovely Christmas and a Wonderful New Year.
Linda, Hannah, Katie, Sophie and Emily
BROWNIES
Hello everyone, what a great year we have had! We earned our grow badge by planting these lovely marigolds and distributed them to some of our older residents, which seemed to bring a lot of joy and delighted the Brownies. The message read:
CUP OF KINDNESS 2023
We have planted this cup of kindness
To give to you today
We hope it keeps you smiling
All spring and summer through
It will need a little water and likes a little sun
We hope you will accept it and see a good turn done
With love from 43rd South Shields (St Margarets) Brownies Unit
We also have done many craft activities such as – Light up Brownie Promise in a bottle, aboriginal dot painting, made a fantasy hotel in a box for the homeless, made poppies for Remembrance Sunday and lots and lots of Christmas crafts.
We have also had a visit from a children’s author – Lauren Davis; been to Beamish Museum with the whole of Girl Guiding in the County; this year’s Pantomime – Aladdin and, as a special Christmas treat, we are going ice-skating.
Brownies raised £200 for church funds at the Christmas Bazaar and a further £23 was made from 2 Brownies – Aleesha and Kendal – as they sold jewellery they made at home, so a huge well done to them all.
At our last meeting before Christmas we are carol singing at Cheviot Court Care Home and the girls have made each resident a Christmas cracker to pull.
On behalf of myself and the Brownies, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for 2024!
Julie Elliott, Brownie Leader (aka Brown Owl)
St Margaret’s Dates for January to March 2024
Services start at 10.30am
January 2024
Sunday 7th Worship Group
Sunday 14th Revd Greg Thompson
Sunday 21st Mrs Barbara Ledger
Sunday 28th Revd Jane Rowell
February
Friday 2nd Annual General Meeting at 10am
Sunday 4th Mrs Barbara Ledger
Sunday 11th Worship Group
Monday 12th Quarterly Church Meeting at 10.30am
Sunday 18th Revd Jane Rowell with Communion
Sunday 25th Revd Greg Thompson
March
Sunday 3rd Worship Group
Sunday 10th Revd Jane Rowell
Sunday 17th Mrs Barbara Ledger
Sunday 24th Palm Sunday service led by Revd Greg Thompson
Thursday 28th Maundy Thursday Communion service at 7pm led by
Revd Jane Rowell
Friday 29th Good Friday service led by Revd Jane Rowell
Sunday 31st Easter Sunday Communion service led by Revd Greg
Thompson
Singing Group
Every Monday at 7pm
Thursday Morning Coffee and Chat
Every Thursday from 10.30am till noon
Quiz Night
First Friday in each month at 7pm
Bible Study
Second and fourth Friday of each month, from 10.30am until 11.30am
St Margaret’s Café
Last Friday in each month, 10.30am until 1pm
www.stmargaretsurc.org.uk