St Jude's, South Shields
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Building Localities
South Shields Central Locality.
Based on a report by Les Noble (Churchwarden, St. Jude’s)
A Vision Day for our Locality.
On Saturday 7th October 2006 the PCCs and clergy of the member churches (St.Hilda, St.Stephen with St.Aidan, St.Michael, and St.Jude) of the newly formed Central Locality met at Jarrow Cross Church of England School. The aim of the day was to work towards identifying what particular issues are relevant to the church in South Shields today and finding a positive and creative way forward for the Locality.
The Reverend Canon Stephen Cherry, Director of the Board of Ministry and Training in the diocese of Durham led the day. He had previously held a meeting with the clergy of the Locality and another with the churchwardens, to assess their views and feelings.
After a short act of worship and a homily by the canon he told the assembly about himself and his previous experience in forming a Locality. There is no set formula for this as each situation is different and can only be worked out by those concerned.
Getting to know you.
The morning was spent in small groups to get to know one another and to discuss such issues as how they saw themselves as a new group and the positive and negative things in their own church and what they would like to see changed. Some did see themselves as a new group, some did not and others said they are only sub-divisions of the main group.
Trials of the recent past.
In the afternoon each church was given the opportunity to present its own story to the meeting. One spoke of the trauma of overcoming the effects of a serious fire while two others told of the distress of congregations having to share church buildings while other churches were declared redundant and pulled down. The congregations, which had been required to merge, expressed disappointment at unfulfilled expectations and apprehension about the present further changes. The mother church of the town was able to tell us about their long history on the site of an ancient church.
The healing process.
After the presentations, there was a period of bible study and discussion, in small groups.
The final half hour was devoted to an open forum in which a lively debate took place. From this, a need became apparent for an understanding leadership, both ordained and lay, to help the members of the four congregations to face a challenging future together, united in Christ.
A story with a message.
Canon Cherry brought with him the saddest, dying plant you could wish to have seen. Bought for a pound he was told he had been robbed. He insisted that all the plant needed was a little care and attention and it would revive. The canon placed it on a table in the centre of the room and watered it. At the end of the day some of the group looked at the plant and said, "Canon Cherry – there was life in that plant, it has revived, you seem to have got yourself a bargain".
Locality Progressive Meeting
By Les Noble, Church Warden.
Representatives from the four churches involved met on Wednesday 8th November 2006 as a follow up meeting to the PCC Vision Day for our locality at Jarrow Cross C of E School on 7 October 2006.
We have created a pattern using the following two prayers either at the start or close of meetings:
Eternal God and Father,
Give us and to all our people grace and courage
To proclaim your mighty work in Christ,
In the crib and on the cross and in the world today,
May we work together for the establishment of your kingdom
In the areas where we serve and worship,
Ever looking in joyful hope for its consummation at the end of the age:
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty God, who called your church to witness that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself:
Help us to proclaim the good news of your love, that all who hears it may be reconciled to you:
Through him who died for us and rose again and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Revd Canon Stephen Cherry again led the proceedings along with a now very well revived plant. (See previous report.)
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LOCALITY NAME and VISION STATEMENT
 We discussed our priorities and decided that “Localities” was not the best name for what we felt we were.
Hence the following vision statement was procured:
We are
THE SOUTH SHIELDS CENTRAL GROUP OF CofE CHURCHES
St.Hilda with St.Thomas
St.Stephen with St.Aidan
St.Michael & All Angels, South Westoe
St.Jude, Rekendyke
And we are going to take responsibility for our own future,
To pray together,
To discern Gods sense of direction,
And work together,
To clarify what we are called to do,
To grow God’s kingdom.
We agreed that each church would retain its own individual identity, continuing to do the things we do now, however we would work together (as the central group of churches) in the mission of “growing God's Kingdom"
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Central Group of Churches Ceilidh
The representatives of the Soft Issues Group organised a Ceilidh, which was hosted by St. Jude's Church on Saturday 19 April. We booked the Cashel Ceilidh Band as previously and we were not disappointed.
Despite only having 50 plus people, those who were able took to the floor to do the jigs and reels and it was wonderful to see among them plenty of octogenarians, uninhibited by their age. Those people who could not manage to get up to dance still enjoyed themselves watching others. Judging by the smiles and giggles, the night proved to be a huge success and guests were requesting dates for the next dance.
As ever, we are grateful to George Robison and his helpers for the hot buffet with a great variety to choose from. Also, we would like to thank those who made posters, sold tickets, brouht raffle prizes and made the night go with a swing.
The evening was to be a purely social event to be shared by the four churches within the Locality, however a small profit was made by the time costs were taken into account.
Thank you to all those who participated and we look forward to the Barn Dance in September to be held at St Stephen's Church
Judith Husband, St Jude's Deputy Representative
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Forthcoming Social Events
Thurday 15 May. St Judes's Church is hosting a concert by the Jubilee Singers at 7.00 pm. Tickets for the event are £2.00 including supper.
Wednesday 28 May. St Michael's Church is arranging an Evening Mystery Tour. Bus leaves the Church Grounds at 6.00 pm and returns 10.30/11.00 pm. Prices to be advised at a later date.
Saturday 19 July. St Jude's Church is having a Sponsored Walk of 11 miles. The event starts at 9.30 am and is open to all who wish to partake. Any sponsorship to your own Church's good cause.
All the above events are open to all. Come along, join us, and have a fun day out. |
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