Sunday, 22nd February 2026 - Lenten Season: The First Sunday of Lent
11:00am: Parish Eucharist - Preacher & Celebrant: Canon Gavin Wort
6:00pm: Evening Prayer with Hymns
Sunday, 1st March 2026 - Lenten Season: The Second Sunday of Lent
11:00am: Parish Eucharist
6:00pm: Choral Evensong - Preacher: Andy Jones
Sunday, 8th March 2026 - Lenten Season: The Third Sunday of Lent
11:00am: Parish Eucharist
6:00pm: Choral Evensong - Sung by the Choir of St John’s College
***Please see the Calendar of services attached.***
***Please see also David’s Music Notes attached.***
Rivers of Ink installation and talk in Cathedral (Codex Amiatinus): Sat 21st February. The sound and light installation will be available all day on Saturday from 10:00am-5:00pm, and the talk by Professor Francis Watson "Cuthbert, Bede, and Two Great Northumbrian Books” will be at 3:00pm that day.
The installation will also be available from 12:30pm-3:00pm on Sunday 22nd Feb; and a talk by Professor Richard Gameson "The Three Bibles of Wearmouth/Jarrow" will be on Sunday 22nd Feb at 2:00pm.
Deanery Confirmation Service: 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.
Ash Wednesday: Lent got a strong start at St Oswald’s on Ash Wednesday, with the school in for their assembly first thing, and then the Communion Service included a homily from Lydia, a masters student of theology from Louvain, and then the evening Sung Eucharist Service. This service was well supported by singers from St Mary’s College and members of the college in the congregation. Many thanks to Andy and the team for setting everything up so well and to David, and the choir. I was also into the High School for their assembly so it was a fittingly full day.
Lent Outreach Appeal: The PCC has accepted the Outreach Committee’s recommendation that the focus for our Easter appeal should be on countering homelessness, and it will be in aid of Cornerstone Supported Housing & Counselling Ltd, a small local registered charity with a very, practical hands-on approach. Cornerstone runs a furniture-making and vocational training unit in Willington, with 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. It was suggested to the Outreach Group by our parishioner Nick Storey, who has been impressed by the work of its volunteers on the streets of Bishop Auckland. Our appeal will run from Sunday 8th March to Sunday 12th April, and there will be our usual display in church to explain the charity’s work and how to donate. We hope also that it may be possible to arrange a short talk after the service one Sunday morning, by one of the charity’s workers, possibly accompanied by the charity’s therapy support dog Bob, who helps volunteers to break the ice with they encounter rough sleepers.
Oasis: This is a short time of reflection, designed to be a benefit for parents dropping off children at the school, with a concluding prayer and coffee. It takes place on a Wednesday 9:00am-9:30am. All welcome. Attached is more information.
Two Events at Durham Cathedral: Attached is information about the celebration of St. Cuthbert’s Day and the Farewell Service for Bishop Sarah.
A service for the World Day of Prayer will be held at North Road Methodist Church on Friday 6th March at 10:30am. This year the service has been written by Christian Women of Nigeria. All are welcome.
Foodbank – Weekly message from Lynda Delf: On 15th February £5.00 and 4kg of food was donated by Parishioners, this will provide 5 meals. Thank you for your continuing support.
This week we need sugar, rice, coffee, teabags, instant soup, and noddles, tinned fruit, rice pudding, meat, fish, potatoes, tomatoes and spaghetti. We also need household cleaning materials, toilet rolls, nappies, long life milk and fruit juice.
Many thanks for all you do to help people who visit our food banks.
For your Prayers: Amongst the sick please pray for Angie Robley and Carol Simmons.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Caroline Tucker RIP. Caroline’s funeral will take place at St. Oswald’s on Monday 1st March at 12:45pm.
Of your charity, please pray for the repose of the soul of Chloe May RIP, Margaret Adams’ grand-daughter who died of an epileptic seizure aged 25; of Trevor Jones RIP; and of Susan Liddle RIP, the daughter of Liz Cairns.
Archdeacon Rick Simpson has been appointed as the Bishop of Durham. This appointment will substantially strengthen the ministry of the Church in the diocese. We pray for Rick, and for the whole diocese, for God’s grace and direction.
With All Good Wishes and Prayers, Peter
The Reverend Peter Kashouris
St Oswald's Vicarage, Church Street, Durham [email protected]