All posts by Parish Secretary

Growing in Faith

We are always in need of learning more about our faith – but where do we start and what should be our priorities for maturing in understanding? This Lent, we want to gather your thoughts on this important part of our Christian living and so please complete one of the questionnaires which you can pick up from the noticeboard and place your completed form in the box in the narthex. If you have any questions, just ask Andy Doyle (0191 3783660 or andydoyle1066@sky.com).

Traidcraft

Last year, we supported Traidcraft and sold over 40 Real Easter Eggs. The eggs are available in milk or dark chocolate (£4.50 and £5.95 respectively). The chocolate is palm oil free and and made with fairly traded cocoa. Please let the staff on the Fair Trade stall know if you would like to order an egg this year.

You can see other Fair Trade products on the website at www.traidcraftshop.co.uk and if there is anything which you think should be on the stall please tell us.

You shall have no gods except me

It may startle us to see an angry Jesus in today’s Gospel. We are more used to seeing him gently blessing children, or reaching out to the sick with a healing touch. Today, Jesus makes a whip and drives out the money-changers and the animal sellers. But John doesn’t tell us that Jesus hurt anyone – though he certainly caused a commotion.

What drove Jesus to such anger? The Temple was God’s house – a place of prayer and worship for the whole Jewish nation (and for foreigners too.) The money-changers converted pagan, Roman money into shekels that were acceptable for offerings to the Temple. The animals sold in the Temple were guaranteed to be without blemish and suitable for sacrifice. Money was being made out of the people’s faith. Jesus, with a dramatic gesture, demanded a purification of the whole system. He was filled with zeal for his Father’s house.

Today’s first reading warns us against the worship of false gods. Money, especially, can easily become a false god that gets in the way of our worship of the one true God. The Gospel reminds us to purify our hearts during the season of Lent. We are called to live by the wisdom of God, not of the world.

Emmanuel, “God is With us”

A day led by David Wells at St. Mary’s Comprehensive, Benton Park Road, Newcastle NE7 7PE on Saturday 24 March, 10am-4.30pm. David will help us to work out a vision for a way forward for our diocese. The Bishop will be present and so will members of the Diocesan Service Team. Tea and coffee will be available – please bring a packed lunch. No charge – collection will be taken. Booking can be arranged by email: adult.formation@diocesehn.org.uk

God did not spare his own Son

God puts Abraham to the test, by asking him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. God’s demand seems shocking to us. It would be shocking to Abraham, too. It was common for pagan nations to offer up their children to appease their gods; but the God of Israel forbade the horror of human sacrifice. For the people of Abraham’s time, the very life of a father himself was bound up with the life of his child and heir. There was nothing more important to Abraham than Isaac, the son whom God had given to him and Sarah when they were well past the normal age of raising a child. If Abraham gives up Isaac, he will have nothing left but his trust in God. But he doesn’t hesitate to offer to God what is most precious to him: and God, seeing Abraham’s faith, rewards him with blessings beyond his imagination.

If we are shocked that God could ask the faithful disciple Abraham to sacrifice his son – even as a test – we should be even more shocked that God would sacrifice his own Son for our sins. There is no limit to God’s love for us.

Safeguarding

If you have a role within the parish that requires Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance for safeguarding purposes, it’s important to keep your clearance up to date. If you receive a DBS form (on paper or electronically), please complete it as soon as possible and bring it to our parish Safeguarding Representatives, Stephanie Brown or Mark Miller, with the necessary identity documents to be verified.

Justice & Peace in Lent

Suggestions for efforts we can make individually or as part of our Parish. If you’d like to join in our Parish Lenten Witness you could place a blue pebble in one or more of the labelled jars in the porch when you have made an effort or intend to.

1. Add to our monthly collection for the Diocesan Refugee Project. Leave toilet rolls or biscuits in the narthex for Sunday 4 March.

2. Collect toiletries* for prisoners leaving Low Newton. Leave items in the narthex throughout Lent. (Only toiletries please)

3. Help reduce carbon emissions, leave your car at home and walk to work.

4. Donate unwanted items to your local charity shop.

5. Sign the CAFOD online petition asking the PM to take a lead in developing new UN agreements on migration and refugees.

6. Put something in the food bank when you leave the supermarket

7. Fast on Family Fast Day in Lent and give the money you save to CAFOD. The government will double your money during Lent this year

The items for the Diocesan Refugee Project are always very gratefully received, as are the items for Low Newton and the women there express great appreciation.
Items requested* Shampoo, shower gel, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant (roll-on please NOT spray), STs- (NOT tampons please)

CAFOD Family Fast Day

CAFOD Family Fast Day is this Friday, 23rd February. It’s an opportunity to support our brothers and sisters who don’t have enough to eat. This Friday, can you give up a meal, or eat a simple meal, in solidarity? With malnutrition still killing almost three million children a year, your fasting, prayers and donations will ensure more of God’s children have enough good food to eat. And this Lent, your donation will make double the difference. For every pound you donate to CAFOD, the UK Government will also donate a pound, up to a total of £5 million. Please collect your Fast Day envelope from church this week and give generously. Here at St Cuthbert’s, we will be holding our regular soup lunch after Mass on Friday, and this week, our friends from Churches Together are invited. Pope Francis has also declared Friday 23rd February a day of prayer and fasting for peace, throughout the Church.

CAFOD: In the light of recent news reports, you may wish to know CAFOD has a statement about safeguarding vulnerable communities at www.cafod.org.uk and a copy is on our parish noticeboard.

Holy Week Liturgy

If you can help with welcoming, reading or administering Holy Communion at our Easter services, please sign up on the rota on the noticeboard as soon as you can. We need many, many volunteers to ensure that our liturgies are celebrated with dignity and joy without overloading our ministers. Also, if you would be willing to participate in the foot-washing as part of the Mass on Holy Thursday evening, then also sign up or let Fr Andrew or Andy Doyle know as soon as possible. Many thanks.