Our Lent Outreach Appeal this year is in aid of Cornerstone Supported Housing & Counselling Ltd, a small local registered charity dedicated to tackling the causes of homelessness. The appeal will run from Sunday 8th March to Sunday 12th April. Cornerstone’s approach is very practical and hands-on. It runs a furniture-making and vocational training unit in Willington, and has units in Bishop Auckland and Hartlepool which act both as community hubs and selling outlets for the furniture it makes at Willington. Its team of volunteers work on the streets and through the community hubs to help homeless people find support and emergency accommodation.A display about Cornerstone's work is now on the welcome boards at the back of Church, with information on how to donate (note that Cornerstone is not at present registered for gift aid, as its small team has put all their initial drive into developing the range of services it offers).Cheques should be made payable to Cornerstone Supported Housing & Counselling Ltd. They may be placed in an envelope labelled St Oswald’s Easter Homelessness Appeal and left in the Institute secure letterbox (across the road from the church) or placed in the collection plate at a Sunday morning Parish Eucharist.https://cornerstone-north.org/
Please see the video below and click on the link at the bottom of this page to read the article from the Archbishop of York.We pray for Rick at this time and send him our congratulations and best wishes as he embarks on his new journey.
Friday - St Cuthbert's Day6:00pm: Festal Evensong and Procession in Honour of St Cuthbert at Durham CathedralSaturday - The Commemoration of the Martyrdom of Thomas Cranmer; Cuthbert Saturday9:00am: Pilgrimage Walk for Cuthbert Saturday, meeting at St Mary and St Cuthbert's Church Parish Centre, Chester-le-Street4:00pm: Festal Eucharist in Honour of St Cuthbert and Farewell to Bishop Sarah at Durham CathedralSunday, 22nd March 2026 - Passiontide: Passion Sunday; The Fifth Sunday of Lent11:00am: Parish Eucharist (CW), followed by a Talk over Tea/Coffee about Cornerstone in the Institute6:00pm: Evening Prayer with Hymns (BCP) Wednesday - The Annunciation of Our Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary9:00am: Oasis 10:00am: Midweek Holy Communion (BCP)2:30pm: Church of England YouTube Live Stream of the Installation of the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury - The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally at Canterbury Cathedral (please see the separate page under 'News Stories' in the 'News and Notices' section for further information, including the link to the live stream)Saturday 4:00pm: Dramatic Performance - “Entry into Jerusalem” (see note below)Sunday, 29th March 2026 - Passiontide: Palm Sunday11:00am: Parish Eucharist (CW), Followed by Tea/Coffee in the Institute (the Service begins in the Institute for the Procession across to Church)6:00pm: Evening Prayer with Hymns (BCP)***Please see the Calendar of services attached, including Holy Week Services.******Please see also David’s Music Notes attached.***The Scena Mundi Theatre Company and Durham University students will be performing the medieval play of the 'York Skinners' Entry into Jerusalem' in St Oswald's. This free performance will take place at 4:00pm on Saturday 28th March. The performance should last about half an hour. All are welcome.Deanery Confirmation Service 2026: The Confirmation Service this year will be on Saturday 6th June at 6:00pm at St Nics, Durham. Please let Peter know if you would like to be Confirmed or indeed Baptised and Confirmed at this service. It will be taken by Bishop Frank White.Setting up for Services: Could you help set up for services once a month? We have a beautiful but currently too small rota to clean the candlesticks, find the passages in the Lectionary and prepare for communion (count the wafers, set up the water and wine). It takes around an hour once a month on either the Friday or Saturday. Obviously we'd show you how to do it until you are comfortable with the tasks. And it's more fun and quicker to do it with a friend, so do think about offering with someone else!Please speak to Beth, Sarah, Alison, Judy or Roz to learn more about it and see whether it's for you; it certainly isn't a Ladies Only club!Thank you for thinking about it.Lent Outreach Appeal 2026: Our Lent Outreach appeal this year runs from 8th March to 12th April in aid of the local homelessness charity, Cornerstone Supported Housing & Counselling Ltd. A display about it, with information on how to donate, is on the Welcome Board at the back of church.On Sunday 22nd March, over tea/coffee in the Institute after Parish Eucharist, there will be a short talk by Nicky Morson from Cornerstone about the charity’s work. This will also be an opportunity to meet Bob, the charity’s therapy dog, who helps break the ice with homeless people whom its volunteers encounter via its homelessness hubs or on the streets.Two Events at Durham Cathedral: Attached is information about the Farewell Service for Bishop Sarah.Trip to Lindisfarne: Durham Churches Together is hoping to organise a day trip to Lindisfarne, on Saturday 6 June this year, similar to those run, pre-Covid, by Churches Together in Elvet & Shincliffe. A decision depends on enough participants at a price not exceeding £20.00 per head for the coach. If you would be interested please let Boyd Sims-Williams or Stevie Taylor know as soon as possible. (boydsimswilliams@gmail.com, gsktaylor@outlook.com).Foodbank – Weekly message from Lynda Delf: On 15th March, £40.00 and 4kg of food was donated in Church; also £20.00 was anonymously posted through our letterbox. This will provide five meals and the money used to replenish stocks. Many thanks.This week we need jam, rice, coffee, teabags, sugar, kettle food such as instant soup and noodles, tinned tomatoes, meat, potatoes, fish, rice pudding and fruit We always need household cleaning materials, toilet rolls, long life milk and fruit juice.Thank you very much, your continuing support is much appreciated. For your Prayers: Amongst the sick please pray for Fleur Coppock, Angie Robley and Carol Simmons.Of your charity, please pray for the repose of the soul of Chloe May Galliers RIP, Margaret Adams’ grand-daughter who died of an epileptic seizure aged 25. A message from Margaret: Chloe’s funeral will take place on Friday 27th March at St Mary’s Church, High Street, Haverhill CB9 8AX. She will be laid to rest in Haverhill Cemetery.With All Good Wishes and Prayers, PeterThe Reverend Peter Kashouris St Oswald's Vicarage, Church Street, Durham pzkashouris@gmail.com
