The Flying Scotsman steams through the Wiske Benefice

Benefice of the Wiske

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Diocese of Leeds

News and Updates

Trinity Sunday Service

We are exploring how to show our services on the webpage. This is our first attempt. The Video will not work till 9.00am on the 30th May.

PRAYER WALKING

Sun 16th May 4.00pm - Prayer over Birkby

Mon 17th May 7.00pm - Prayer Walking in Great Smeaton and Hornby

Tue 18th May 7.00pm - Prayer Walking in Appleton Wiske

Wed 19th May 7.00pm - Prayer Walking in East Cowton

Thurs 20th May 7.00pm - Prayer Walking in North Cowton

Fri 21st May 7.00pm - Prayer walking in Danby Wiske

Sunday 23rd May 11.00am

Open Air Service for Pentecost, meet outside/behind East Cowton Church

For resources and ideas look at the Wiske Benefice Website, “Wiske Churches” FaceBook page or sign up for our weekly news and resources email.

During the 11 days of Thy Kingdom Come, it is hoped that everyone who takes part will:

Deepen their own relationship with Jesus Christ
Pray for 5 friends or family to come to faith in Jesus
Pray for the empowerment of the Spirit that we would be effective in our witness

Through the centuries Christians have gathered at that time to pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit. ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ picks up this tradition. Over the years more and more worshipping communities have dedicated the days between Ascension and Pentecost to pray ‘Come Holy Spirit’.

We are praying that the Spirit will inspire and equip us to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with our friends and families, our communities and networks. It has been amazing how many varied ways there have been in which people from every tradition have taken up this challenge.

Letter from our Clergy

June 2021

What does a good church look like?

For some it will be about the style of the worship, solemn, majestic, holy, traditional or informal. For others the teaching is key or the space it provides in the week for refreshment. As important as those things are I would like to suggest that they all miss the mark of a good church. They are the style but it’s the substance that matters.

It's possible to love without being a Christian but according to John. (1 John 4:7-end) it's impossible to be a Christian without love. A good church is one that is working hard at being better at loving God, each other and the world.

Love is a tricky word, is it about a nice feeling, about others being nice to us, about getting to do what I think is best because you love me? All of these can be part of love and one of the often-forgotten parts of God’s commandments is to love ourselves, but love is more and much deeper.

At its heart, love isn’t about what I get but what I give. The mark of love is not what I want but what is best for me and you.

At the centre of the Christian understanding of love is the cross, where we see God’s sacrificial love poured out for us so that we might know his love and be set free to love others.

A good church is one where the people are looking to grow, (we are never going to be perfect) learning to love and be loved. To be a people that makes the Holy Spirit feel at home as we show one another kindness, gentleness and patience. We need to have high standards, yet also have lots of grace and mercy for ourselves and others when we fall short.

A place where we can come as we are to learn that we are loved,

growing more like Jesus, because we have found Him at the heart

of the church. That’s the sort of church I would like to be part off,

what about you?

Blessings.

David

The Benefice of the Wiske is a group of 5 churches, located in the NE corner of the Diocese of Leeds. Our Benefice comprises several small villages and hamlets near the River Wiske which are largely rural in character, but are also commuter villages, as agriculture, though still important, no longer employs many people and most work in Northallerton, Darlington or Teesside. The population has a high percentage of retired people. There is a Church of England (VC) Primary School in East Cowton and primary schools in Great Smeaton, North Cowton and Appleton Wiske. A Youth Group meets every other Friday during term time at All Saints. The Benefice has a Priest in Charge, supported by retired priests and lay readers.

Church Information

St Peter - Birkby

Priest in Charge: Revd. David Bartlett

Lay Chair:

Secretary: Margaret Owens

Treasurer:

The Church is open several times a week.

Services twice a month. BCP

Contact Us

Revd. David Bartlett

Benefice of the Wiske

01609 765323