The Flying Scotsman steams through the Wiske Benefice
Benefice of the Wiske
Safeguarding
Diocese of Leeds
A fun time was had on the morning of Good Friday making Easter Gardens. Refreshments of homemade Hot Cross Buns and drinks were served.
The results of the workshop certainly look amazing!!
News and Updates
Covid Guidelines.
Whilst the situation is easing, locally the rate is still very high. So, we are asking that we continue wearing masks whilst moving around the church, keep social distance and use hand gel. Thank you for your continuing love and care of one another during these difficult days.
Praying for our communities this year
You are invited to pray on a regular basis for the life of our villages and their churches. The following prayer is available on a card at the back of each Church, and I will use it daily as part of my own rhythm of prayer.
Loving Lord
Bless this place (name your village/community in this prayer)
Let your love be here
Fill it with your peace
Let your joy be here
Fill it with your grace
Let your light be here
Fill it with your power
Let your hope be here
Fill it with your living water
In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
Praying for each of the villages in turn around the benefice
This week
Monday Appleton Wiske
Tuesday Birkby
Wednesday Danby Wiske & Hutton Bonville
Thursday East Cowton
Friday Great Smeaton & Hornby
Saturday North Cowton
Sunday for the whole benefice.
Letter from our Clergy
May 2022
“13 If there is no resurrection from the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our teaching is useless and so is your faith.” 1 Corinthians 15
Sunday by Sunday we recite the Creed, sometimes all too easily with our mind upon other things such as in the old Joyce Grenfell radio skit “Have I put the meat in the oven? Why does Mrs so and so wear that dreadful hat”and all too easily the words ‘I believe in the resurrection’ wash over us.
I must admit that I have had a particular struggle with the idea of the resurrection of the dead and for a number of years could not say this portion of the Creed. Then, being involved in years of confirmation classes made me sharpen up my thinking. Is it all too good to be true? Is it pie in the sky when you die?
In our everyday living we use the word quite casually “I resurrected this old jumper for use when gardening. It’s a bit tatty but it will do”. “I resurrected that old tea set of Granny’s as I had a lot of people coming for tea. It’ll be OK after I have given it a bit of a scrub”. “I’ve polished that old silver cup Grandpa won in 1920 and it looks as good as new”.
Jesus made it quite plain (John 11.25) when he said to Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever has faith in me shall live, even though he dies; and no one who lives and has faith in me shall ever die. Do you believe this? I do, she replies.
So – what about our resurrection? First, if you haven’t already read Chris Pearson’s letter in last month’s magazine, do so! And think if you can, follow in Martha’s footsteps.
Yes… now I can say all the Creed, yes, all of it!
Anyway, it has kept me going over 46 years of widowhood.
Every blessing,
Rachel
St Peter - Birkby
Priest in Charge: Revd. David Bartlett
Lay Chair:
Secretary: Margaret Owens
Treasurer:
The Church is open several times a week.
Services are usually held twice a month,
on 2nd and 4th Sundays in the month.
2nd Sunday - Holy Communion -9.00am
4th Sunday - Morning Prayer - 9.00am
We usually follow the Book of Common Prayer
Church Information
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.
