St Margaret’s
Newsletter
Winter 2025
www.stmargaretsurc.org.uk
Dear friends across the Bede Pastorate,
At Christmas we return, year after year, to a simple yet extraordinary story: a baby born in the midst of uncertainty, vulnerability and fear. The world into which Jesus was born was not calm or safe. It was a world of occupation, injustice, anxiety and deep longing. And yet, into that world came love — small enough to be held, gentle enough to be missed, strong enough to change everything.
That is the heart of Christmas. God does not wait for the world to become peaceful before coming among us. God comes into our frightened and frightening world, bringing a peace that is deeper than circumstances and a love that refuses to let fear have the final word. The baby in the manger shows us a different way of living: a way shaped by compassion, generosity, kindness and hope.
This Christmas, many of us carry heavy hearts — for our communities, for our world, and for personal joys and sorrows held quietly within. The good news is that God meets us exactly where we are. The love shown in Jesus is not fragile sentiment, but resilient love — love that walks alongside us, strengthens us, and calls us to be bearers of peace for others.
I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone across the Bede Pastorate who, throughout this year, has lived out that love so faithfully. Thank you to those who lead worship, offer hospitality, care for neighbours, support children and families, serve behind the scenes, pray quietly, and keep showing up week after week. Your faithfulness matters more than you may ever realise.
As we celebrate Christmas, may we know ourselves held in God’s love, and may that love flow through us into our communities — bringing light, peace and hope.
With every blessing for Christmas and the year ahead.
Love,
Jane
ST MARGARET’S CHURCH FAMILY
This year we very sadly lost two members of our church congregation. Margaret Robertson was a stalwart member of St Margaret’s and had been an Elder, Brownie Guider and organiser of many things at church. Linda Whitfield had joined us from St Paul & St John’s and was a member of our Singing Group and Social Committee. Each in their own way brought so much to our church life and will be missed by us all.
ADVENT WREATH
Our beautiful Advent wreath was made by Laura Ridley and on your behalf, I would like to thank her very much.
Penny Maccoy
THANK YOU LETTERS
Coffee and Chat Thursday and Sunday Mornings
£50 has been given to each of the following: Key2Life Food Bank; Children’s Society/Christingles; Mercy Ships; Royal British Legion South Shields.
Red Box
The red box on the stage continues to be filled on a weekly basis with tins, dried food items, and toiletries for the Key 2Life Food Bank, which is situated on Boldon Lane, South Shields. Many thanks to all of you who contribute to this.
Events
Sunday, 5th October Harvest Thanksgiving
Sixteen bags of tinned food etc were collected in, together with £92 of donations and these were given to the Key2Life Foodbank.
Saturday, 15th November Christmas Bazaar
A total of £1,433 was raised for church funds and we were delighted with the support from our local community for this event.
Wednesday, 26th November
Twenty shoeboxes filled with love were given to Teams4U for poor children in Eastern Europe. A cheque for £170 was included, made up of £100 donations and £70 (20 x £3.50 per box).
Thank you to all who supported this appeal.
Brenda Brownless
TODDLERS AND CARERS
On our last meeting in July, we said goodbye to twelve of our children, but we are now full again with lots of little ones joining us every week. We also said goodbye to two of our ‘cooks’, Julie and Christine, who would provide us with scones and cakes at Toddlers over the years they were with us with their grandchildren!
At our Christmas Grotto we had 41 children, all excited to see Santa and tell him what presents they would like for Christmas. We have photos of our grotto on our notice board for people to see who couldn’t make it upstairs. Hazel and the children also made a lovely nativity scene, which is displayed on the walls in the church hall.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from everyone at our Toddler Group.
Margaret, Hazel, Edith, Penny, Laura and Jane
RAINBOWS
Once again, the Rainbows have been very busy this year. We have now gone back to a Tuesday night which is much easier for us.
We have been working on various badges throughout the year and some of the girls have received their bronze and silver awards.
In May we had a trip the Life Guard Station in South Shields and in June we went to Adventure Valley with the Brownies, after a day or two of worry about the weather it turned out to be a glorious day for them all, until unfortunately a shower came along and soaked the Brownies but fortunately missed our Rainbows.
In November we had a trip to the Customs House Pantomime, again this was with the Brownies, and a great afternoon was had by all
We also had a visit from Emma’s exotic animals where the Rainbows got to have their picture taken with a snake. She also had lizards, rabbits, guinea pigs, stick insects and various other animals that the girls all got to stroke and hold. They were all very brave.
In December we held a Division Carol Service at our Church for the different units in South Shields to come together. Thank you to Jane for organising the service for us.
As many of you know, my mam passed away in September, and it was through her love of Guiding that I became involved in Guiding and now, of course, my daughter also helps. I would like to thank you all for the love and support shown to myself and my family, it is much appreciated.
The Rainbows and the Leaders wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Peaceful New year.
Linda Fernandez, Rainbow Leader
BROWNIES
Hello everyone,
What another great year we have had!
We took part in world smile day by making smiley biscuits, singing songs that make us smile, creating a new smiley emoji and of course the girls earned a colourful smiley badge – they are a very happy group in any way!
The girls also earned their first aid badge. They learned CPR, how to put someone in the recovery position, what to do if someone is choking and how to dress/bandage a wound. They were all keen to learn and all passed with flying colours
You may have seen some hedgehog houses in the church grounds. They built 3 of these and left the hedgehogs some straw and food. I’ve not checked yet but hopefully we have a least 1 hedgehog using them. We also planted some spring bulbs in the new raised planter. Hopefully they grow and we see some flowers in the coming months.
To end the half term, we had a friendly bowling competition at The Dune. Unfortunately, I think that I came last, ha-ha. The girls are much better than me!
We had a great time at the Christmas Bazaar, as you can see by their faces on the above photo! Lots of prizes were won and we raised a total of £258 for church funds.
We most recently visited The Customs House for our annual trip to the pantomime. This year it is Goldilocks and the Three Bears. What a great afternoon we had and. if you have not already been. I would certainly recommend it.
We also returned to Cheviot Court Care Home to sing carols and pulled the home-made Christmas Crackers, that the girls made, with the residents. The residents certainly enjoyed our visit and had a good old sing along with us.
We ended the year with a fabulous Christmas Party with the Rainbows and lots of fun (and noise) was had by all!
On behalf of myself and the Brownies, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for 2026!
Julie Elliott, Brownie Leader (aka Brown Owl)
St Margaret’s Dates for January to March 2026
Services start at 10.30am
January
Sunday 4th Worship Group
Sunday 11th Mrs Barbara Ledger
Sunday 18th Singing Group
Sunday 25th Revd Jane Rowell
February
Sunday 1st Worship Group
Friday 6th Annual General Meeting at 10.30am
Sunday 8th Mrs Barbara Ledger
Sunday 15th Revd Peter Jordan
Sunday 22nd Revd Jane Rowell with communion
March
Sunday 1st Mrs Barbara Ledger
Sunday 8th Worship Group
Saturday 14th Synod meeting at St Margaret’s
Sunday 15th Revd Jane Rowell – Mothering Sunday
Friday 20th Quarterly Church meeting at 10.30am
Sunday 22nd Revd Peter Jordan
Sunday 29th Joint Bede Pastorate service at Stockton Road URC
led by Revd Jane Rowell
Singing Group
Every Monday at 7pm.
Thursday Morning Coffee and Chat
Every Thursday from 10.30am till noon.
St Margaret’s Café
Normally the last Friday of each month, from 10.30am until 1pm. Please check with Carol.
www.stmargaretsurc.org.uk