April/May 2023

The Lantern

From the Vicarage

Over the past couple of weeks, I have had the privilege to work with more than 12 classes to explore the story of Holy Week and Easter. Naturally, we have explored this powerful story in a variety of different ways depending upon the age of the children. However, all of the children have thought about Jesus as a King who reveals that God’s love is for everyone and not just for a chosen few. The children were fascinated about Jesus being an unexpected King, one who surprises people by the choices he makes as he willingly journeys towards the cross.

Jesus the King shows us all a different way of living, one that flows out of the deep abundance of God’s never-ending love for us all. The kingship of Jesus is seen as he washes the feet of his disciples, as he breaks bread and speaks of his own broken body. The throne of this king is not one of gold and luxury, but one of wood and nails – the cross. This image of Jesus as king being exalted upon the cross is especially important within the Gospel of St John. As Jesus foretells his coming crucifixion, he says, ‘And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself’ (John 12:32). This is a king who is willing to die so that others may find life, eternal life.

The kingship of Jesus turns the wisdom of the world upside down as he refuses to collude with the authorities and, instead, speaks truth about power. Jesus unsettles the status quo as he proclaims the coming of the Kingdom of God, one in which the proud are scattered and the mighty have fallen. The power and glory of this new Kingdom is made manifest as Jesus rises from the tomb having defeated evil, sin and death once and for all.

As we begin to look towards the joy of Eastertide, we also begin to look towards the forthcoming coronation of King Charles III. This is a new time for our nation, a new time for King Charles himself. Over the past decades the then Prince Charles has forged his own path and spoken out in a way that has not always been expected. His deep love and respect of the natural world has

been all too clear, and he has often spoken out prophetically about the need to protect and care for our planet. King Charles has pointed to the need to listen to scientists and campaigners about the seriousness of the ongoing climate emergency. His very public statements have not always gone down well but, for me, they reveal a king who truly cares for the wellbeing of all.

In this magazine, we have several articles that explore the importance of facing up to our duty to truly care for the gift of God’s creation. This task can often feel overwhelming as thousands are flooded out of their homes and as droughts threaten crops. We can feel too small to truly make a difference. Yet, this is not true. Christians up and down this country, and around the world, are involving themselves in campaigns to positively change attitudes and the way we live our lives.

May God grant us to follow in the footsteps of Jesus our King and, like His Majesty, work to protect the gift of God’s precious creation.

Let us pray,

Holy God, earth and air and water are your creation, and every living thing belongs to you: have mercy on us as climate change confronts us.

Give us the will and the courage to simplify the way we live, to reduce the energy we use, to share the resources you provide, and to bear the cost of change.

Forgive our past mistakes and send us your Spirit, with wisdom in present controversies and vision for the future to which you call us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The world as it is today

The world is heating up. Industrialisation, burning fossil fuels and unsustainable consumption have dangerously increased the levels of carbon dioxide in the air we breathe. The UK has played a significant role as the sixth largest historical carbon emitter and the country that kicked off the mass burning of fossil fuels through the industrial revolution.

Global heating is causing communities to suffer immeasurable loss and damage through ever- increasing droughts, storms and floods.

The climate crisis could push 130 million people into extreme poverty by 2030. It is the great injustice of our time that those least responsible for this crisis are bearing the brunt of its impact.

If we are to choose a fast that can loosen the bonds of injustice, then we must understand the systems, laws and practices that are causing the climate crisis.

When reconciliation is pursued, we can repair our relationships with fellow humans. The loss and damage caused by the climate crisis is a matter of justice, where some have not been considerate of others in their actions.

Reconciliation gives us a pathway to the restoration of relationships.

Reconciliation allows us to talk with each other and find ways and means in which the harm is acknowledged without cause for further division. But more than anything else, reconciliation opens the door for those communities aspiring to do justice to walk in solidarity with the common goal of being reconciled with creation and healing with creation.

I feel helpless to make a difference, what can I do?

When we look at the information from Christian Aid and their campaign it can all seem a bit detached from us here in the UK but as individuals, families and churches there are plenty of ways for us to exercise our influence by looking at our choices and lifestyles.

Do we know which industries our banks and pension funds invest in? https://makemymoneymatter.co.uk/ is a great place to find out if your bank or pension fund has investments in fossil fuels.

Everything we buy has an impact in some way, an excellent magazine is www.ethicalconsumer.org/ published 6 times a year and also available online with up to date information on ethical choices whether you’re looking at energy, food and drink, health and beauty, home and garden, retailers, technology or travel.

Top tips

Bank Accounts: Choosing an ethical bank is one of the simplest and most ethically productive things you can do. An ethical bank doesn't invest your money in things like fossil fuels, weapons, gambling, tobacco and other unethical industries. Instead, the bank does invest your money in positive areas, such as renewable energy.

Holidays: When booking a holiday, consider choosing a destination you can get to by train, coach, and ferry rather than flying. For the accommodation you book, consider hostels, camping, glamping or other venues with high sustainability criteria.

Mobile Phones: Think about using a second hand phone rather than always getting a new one. Ask for a modular phone as this is easier to repair.

Campaigns: We can also support the campaigns of Christian Aid, Oxfam, Jubilee Debt Campaign, Global Justice Now, Greenpeace all calling for loss and damage finance for the countries already feeling the impacts of the climate crisis.

No more fossil fuels. Amen

God’s creation is in trouble. Antonio Guterres, the head of the United Nations says “We are firmly on track towards an unliveable world.” The International Energy Agency said we can have no new fossil fuels after the end of 2021 – yes, 2021, that’s not a misprint! Yet the UK government is giving tax breaks to oil companies to open up 100 plus new oil and gas fields. They have even given the go ahead to a new coal mine – against the advice of their own advisors. On 21-24 April a big rally is taking place around Westminster to demand an end to fossil fuels. The rally is being organised in conjunction with the police. Many of those joining the witness will be Christians, people of faith. Jesus instructed us that we are “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.” In participating in this mass protest, we bring our faithful communities into the space as salt, actively working as preservers and transformers in that secular space (and of that secular space), and as communities, even more than as individuals, we do so very visibly, giving light to everyone.

If you do one thing for God's creation this year, this is it. Praying for and demanding climate leadership from our government is more important than anything else you can do.

Compassionate God, you know our hearts and share our sorrows. We are hurt by the despoiling of the living Earth, which we love. We are angry at the loss we contemplate.

We long for words of comfort yet find them hard to hear.

Turn our grief to active love.

Turn our anger to energy for repair of the world.

Turn our guilt to solidarity and by your forgiveness make us whole with all creation. Amen (From Green Christians at www.greenchristian.org)

Find out more about the organisations taking part in the rally at www.christianclimateaction.org

If you would like to meet and talk more about the climate crisis and our possible responses, please contact

Bill Vincent or Anne Blair-Vincent

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Eco Church and Time to Act Group

Time to Act is a small group of people from both churches concerned about the effects of climate change on our environment and wanting to do something about it. We meet to discuss and implement actions we can take both as a group and individuals to try and improve our world.

For me it was simple. I am worried about our planet and want to do something to help, but what? How? When? This group explores any options available to us to improve the situation - from wasting, wanting and using less; recycling and refilling more; lobbying our MP; attending protests and taking action to demonstrate that we have no time to waste on this. It really is time to act. Individuals within the group do whatever they can within this wide spectrum, to ‘do their bit.’ We work on the premise that every little action helps. One such action is working towards each church becoming an Eco Church.

Eco Church is an award scheme for churches which can demonstrate their care for creation as an integral part of loving their neighbour and following God faithfully. It sets out a framework and programme of activity to be demonstrated to reach various standards in 4 categories: Land; Buildings; Community and Global Engagement; and Lifestyle.

Shirley Sinclair is taking this forward for St Peter’s and has completed the initial survey which shows we are already doing a lot right, but there is more to be done, with examples of areas we might like to improve highlighted for us. I am about to start the survey for St Mark and St Cuthbert’s, subject to PCC approval.

One such area is to study the Bible as we seek direction in how to tackle climate change. At the end of last year, a small group of us, from both churches, met together with Cameron for a series of studies based around the book: Changing the Climate - Applying the Bible in a Climate Emergency, by Debbie Hawker. This was very stimulating and informative in identifying what more we as individuals and as a church can do. We hope to do further studies in the coming months.

If you are interested in doing your bit to improve the environment, however big or small, we would love your help with this. On an individual level I have learned loads from other people in the group and changed many of the ways I go about things in my daily life. If you are interested, or can help in any way, please speak to Shirley or me.

PS. Top Tip - with the gardening season upon us, please use Peat-free compost. Peat bogs trap carbon in the ground. Digging up peat for compost releases the carbon back into the atmosphere, so please use peat-free.

Olwen Smith

The story of JJ & Monty

For those of you who do not know our Monty, he is a gentle calm 11 year old Black Labrador who will be 12 in June. He went through major surgery last August as he had a Mast Cell Tumour removed in this throat followed by 12 weeks of chemotherapy and to date he is making a good recovery. He has been coming to St Marks & St Cuthbert’s church for over 3 years since lock down and is part of the church family and well loved by all. He lies down on the carpet at the back of the church and joins in the communion service.

JJ is a lovely 7 year old boy who has been coming to church with his grandad Marshall for the past 3 years too and JJ was very frightened of dogs.

This is the amazing story of how JJ and Monty have bonded.

During lock down the heating went off in St Marks & St Cuthbert’s church so the services were held in the church hall. JJ was there for the first time with his grandad Marshall and when I walked in with Monty, Marshall said would I keep Monty away from JJ as he was terrified of dogs. I obviously said no problem as Marshall did not know Monty and we sat the other side of the hall.

Slowly over the years JJ seeing more of Monty, he became more interested in him and his confidence grew and grew so he would come up to Monty and stroke his back while I held his head, and then JJ would shoot off in case Monty turned round!

Then on Sunday March 5th of this year I walked into church with Monty and to my utter amazement JJ came up to Monty holding his hand out saying “ Will Monty lick my hand” Wow this was a turn up for the books. I said I am sure he will and Monty licked JJ’s hand.

During the service JJ and his little sister Tilly sat down next to Monty who was lying on the carpet at the back of the church, JJ was stroking Monty’s head and Tilly was stroking Monty’s back!! I could not believe my eyes that JJ was finally bonding with Monty. Then after the service Monty stood up JJ bent down and while stroking Monty’s head, Monty licked JJ on the cheek. I was filled with tears as it was so heart warming to see.

Then JJ asked me if he could hold Monty’s lead and have him sit with him at the back of the church while he had his drink. He even asked if he could take Monty home with him or back to his grandad’s house! What a Red Letter Day for JJ.

I am sure from now on a great friendship will bloom between JJ & Monty.

Diane Lee

Bahookie Puddock Eejit Blether

After the main meal, the traditional toasts were given as Cameron toasted the lassies and Diane Lee replied with a toast to the laddies.

Both toasts cheekily celebrated the lassies and laddies, with many laughs being shared on both sides.

Either scan the QR code above or visit https://www.sja.org.uk/getinvolved/volunteer-opportunities/badgers-cadets-youth-teamvolunteers/ to register your interest.

Training will be in the Salvation Army building in South Shields: 19.00 - 20.30 on Friday evenings. Dates to be confirmed.

SNIPPETS, SOUNDBITES AND STORIES

I thought it most cheerfully appropriate to write something in this current issue regarding the forthcoming Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, and as I referred to the Chapel Royal at the Palace of St James in the previous issue, it called to mind another anecdote.

Some years ago, Stan was visiting the Chapel with the then Area Dean (Canon) Eric Stephenson, himself a Queen’s Chaplain. They were in conversation with the Queen’s Senior Chaplain who was looking decidedly agitated and kept looking out of the window. Eventually he said, “Ah! I can relax now, she is home. I worry about, and pray for Her Majesty, when she is away from the palace, so I am always relieved when she returns”. (His signal was the raising of the Royal Standard on Buckingham Palace). This is just a tiny insight into our late Queen’s relationship with her personal clergy, and their love and concern for her, in the church of which she was supreme head and of the faith and service she demonstrated in her lifetime.

This faith and service demonstrated by his mother appears to be manifesting itself in our new king. It is many years since he declared that he himself would wish to be a defender of faiths, (referring to the MONARCH’S title of Defender of the Faith). Now we are seeing a growth in interfaith dialogue, demonstrating one of the many aspects of Prince, now King Charles’ vision.

During the Coronation service, the act, deemed to be the most sacred part is the anointing of the new monarch with Chrism or Holy Oil and is performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury out of the sight of anyone else in the abbey. This act originates from God’s instruction to Samuel, the Old Testament Priest of the Temple, to select the shepherd boy David as King, and to anoint him with Holy Oil to be God’s envoy. This is continued in the anointing of all Christian monarchs today.

Anyone who has had the great privilege of visiting the Garden of Gethsemane and the Mount of Olives will have experienced the sensation of treading on the olives fallen from the trees, grown from olives fallen in Jesus’ time. It is from these trees growing in the nearby Greek Orthodox

Monastery of Mary Magdalene that the oil is pressed and perfumed with essential oils using a centuries old formula. The monastery church is the burial place of His Majesty’s paternal grandmother, Princess Alice of Greece. The Oil of Chrism has been consecrated in a special ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. These places were visited by King Charles about two years ago while still Prince of Wales.

And on a lighter note: - Writing this has jogged my memory; I must dig out (hoarder that I am) my 1953 Coronation scrap book and finish sticking in the remaining cuttings. (I’d better not start another one!)

Anita Buyers

Activities at St Peter’s Church Hall

Weekly Social Activities & Uniformed Organisations

Monday • Twinkle Tots • 9.30 am to 11.30 am

• U3A Art • 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm

• Brownies

• Guides

Tuesday • Pilates (Judith Briggs)

6.00 pm to 7.15 pm

7.30 pm to 8.45 pm

9.30 am to 10.50 am

• Yoga (Pat Uttridge) • 3.00 pm to 4.30 pm

• Yoga (Jill Glozier) • 7.30 pm to 8.45 pm

Wednesday • Art & Craft Club (Carol White)

• Line Dancing - Beginner (Ethel Ramsey)

9.30 am to 12 noon

1.00 pm to 2.00 pm

• Line Dancing - Improver (Ethel Ramsey) • 2.30 pm to 3.30 pm

• T’ai Chi (Martin Thorogood) • 5.15 pm to 6.15 pm

• Yoga (Carrie Kirston) • 6.30 pm to 8.00 pm

Thursday • 50+ Exercise to music (Ethel Ramsey)

• Cubs

• Scouts

Friday • Exercise (Caroline Maidment)

12.30 pm to 1.30 pm

5.45 pm to 7.15 pm

7.15 pm to 9.00 pm

10.00 am to 11.00 am

• Beavers • 5.00 pm to 6.30 pm Helpers needed

Saturday • Irish Dance (Stokes & Collins Dance) • 9.30 am to 1.00 pm

Activities at St Mark & St Cuthbert’s

Church Hall

Monday • Your Voice Counts Cooking

• Karate

Tuesday • Bertie’s Toddler Group

• ‘Crafternoon’

• Brownies

Wednesday • Friends Together (1st and 3rd Wed every month in church)

• Rainbows

Thursday • Bertie’s Toddler Group

• Ballet & Tap

Friday • Line Dancing

Sunday • Coffee

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• 9.15 am to 11.15 am

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• 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm

• 5.30 pm to 7.00 pm

• 1.30 pm to 4.00 pm

• 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm

• 12.45 pm to 2.45 pm

• 4 00 pm to 7.00 pm

• 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm

• after 10.30 am Parish Eucharist

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Rev Kate Boardman

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Vicarage:3 Page Avenue, South Shields, NE34 0SY * 0191 4554682

Rev Cameron Abernethy

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CHURCH PERSONNEL ST MARK & ST CUTHBERT’S

PCC Members Ms Liza Dorothy; Mrs Diane Lee; Ms Sarah Lysaght; Miss Jean Smith; Mrs Eileen Wraith

Mr Colin Brown; Mrs Angela Clark; Mr Jamie Hughes; Mr Ernie Russell; Mr Melvin Paterson; Ms Amanda Lenney; Mr James Scott; Dr Mark Sinclair; Mrs Linda Smithson

Mrs Angela Clark; Mrs Jean Roberts; Mrs Joanne Tunnadine

HARTON CHURCHES TOGETHER REPRESENTATIVES