TOWN CRIER

Parish Church Services for Wolsingham & Thornley in March 2004

Wolsingham Methodist Church: Sunday Service at 10.30am

St Thomas’ RC Church: Saturday Mass at 6.30pm

Wolsingham Baptist Church: Sunday Service at 3.00pm

From the Parish register

Funerals

Joan Bell 5 February at Durham Crematorium

Joan Bell was born in Wolsingham and lived here all her life. She worked in a factory in Crook for many years but in later life she was a home help. She was easy going and made friends easily; she loved to socialize with her friends on Bingo Night at the Club. The many cards of sympathy were greatly appreciated by the family. Though she will be missed by both family and friends, memories of her will live on.

Church News in Short

Home Communions and Visits: If you know of anyone, including yourself, who would appreciate receiving communion at home, please contact the Rector on 527340. This is usually the first Wednesday in the month. Please keep the Rector informed of anyone who is ill or in hospital so that they can be included in his schedule of visits.

Wolsingham PCC. There will be a meeting on 1st March at 7.30pm.

This will take place in Frosterley Parish Church at 2.00pm on Friday 5th March. All are welcome to attend.

Mothers’ Union

The next branch meeting will be on Tuesday 2nd March at 1.30pm in Church. A service of Holy Communion will be followed by the AGM. Members are reminded that the £8 annual subscription is due. If you have any items for the Women’s Refuge, please bring them to the meeting.

The Lady Day Service will take place on Thursday 25th March at 2.00pm at Howden le Wear Parish Church. There will be a faith tea and a stall for the Overseas Fund.

During March the 3.00pm services will be led by Ted Hemingway. The theme for the month is "God needed…"

March 7: God needed Noah

March 14: God needed Moses

March 21: God needed John the Baptist

On March 28 there will be a Songs of Praise in the Town Hall at 3.00pm.

From a Bygone Age

The Parish Magazine for November 1928 mentioned 73 communicants and stated that the church had to find £31 7s 10d as its diocesan share.

Communicants in November 2003 were 212 and the Diocesan Quota is now in excess of £20,000 – that’s a lot of coffee mornings!

News from St. Bartholomew’s Church.

Hi Everyone

It is time for the snowdrops and crocuses, and once again the village green is a picture.

As always in January and February there is not a lot going on and so not a lot of news.

At the short PCC meeting on the 5th Feb., the Treasurer, Pauline Walker informed us that this years Deanery Share was to be £3458. That’s before we pay any bills or expenses, so we need to get fund raising. Anyone with any ideas, let us know. Don’t all rush at once! Plans so far:

• Towards end of March a QUIZ NIGHT for all the family.
• As part of the Weardale Festival (August 21st - Sept. 8th 2004) we are hoping to have, over the August Bank Holiday weekend, a FLOWER and WEDDING DRESS FESTIVAL in Church. Maybe serve THORNLEY TEAS at the same time. A lot of help need there, so if you can put it in your diaries or calendars now, please do.

If you have your wedding dress (especially if you were married in St. Bartholomew’s), can give and/or arrange some flowers, help in any way please let me know as soon as possible. If we don’t have the people, we can’t do it and that would be a shame. Details later.

The next meeting of the PCC will be the AGM on Tuesday April 20th at 6pm in Church. All are welcome, and of course you can always stand to be a member of the PCC!

Dorothy Dowson hasn’t been too well lately. I know that I am sending warm thought from everyone Dorothy, to wish you well. Take care.

That’s all for now.

Remember:-

Holy Communion: Sundays 9: 30am.

Family Service: First Sunday in month.

Bye for now. Geraldine - 01388 730012.

Some Basic Principles of Cultivating Community Life

What would you add to this basic list?

Community requires commitment to each other.

Community requires trust. You can’t build a caring community without mutual trust.

Community requires honesty. You will have to be honest with each other, rather than be silent or be glossing over a problem or issue.

Community requires humility. Self importance, smugness and stubborn pride destroy community life.

Community requires courtesy. Respecting each others feelings and being patient with people who irritate you.

Community requires confidentiality. Only in the safe environment of warm acceptance and trusted confidentiality will people open up and share their deepest hurts, needs and mistakes.This basic list could apply to family life, Village life, Church life or any society committed to each other.

The Bible says that you can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honour. (See James, chapter 3). MG

Continuing Success

Wolsingham Community College has received a "Making the Difference Award" from the Learning and Skills Council for its diverse and successful range of adult education courses.

The College ran a University of the First Age event on how to revise and how to help your family revise for exams. Staff and students from Durham are producing revision materials to help pupils achieve even greater success in external examinations. For more information on College events, contact John Maddison on 527302.

During half term pupils in KS4 and KS5 attended a Pop School at Shotton Hall. Two days of dance, a mock press conference and producing a CD culminated in an evening show for family and friends, which was well received.

Pupils studying music for examination had to give live performances of their own work in school. An evening of a high standard of music was rounded off by a performance of a Flanders and Swann number – The Warthog, by Mr Fowler.

HATSTAND OPERA

Perform in School on March 4^th at 7.30pm.

Hilarious scenes and Heart-rending arias from the world’s favourite operas.

Tickets: £4.50

Family £14.00

Concessions £3.00

Contact 527302.