Friday - St Cuthbert's Day
6:00pm: Solemn Evensong and Procession in Honour of St Cuthbert at Durham Cathedral
Saturday - The Commemoration of the Martyrdom of Thomas Cranmer; Cuthbert Saturday
9:00am: Pilgrimage Walk for Cuthbert Saturday, meeting at St Mary and St Cuthbert's Church Parish Centre, Chester-le-Street
4:00pm: Festal Eucharist in Honour of St Cuthbert and Farewell to Bishop Sarah at Durham Cathedral
Sunday, 22nd March 2026 - Passiontide: Passion Sunday; The Fifth Sunday of Lent
11:00am: Parish Eucharist (CW), followed by a talk over tea/coffee about Cornerstone in the Institute
6:00pm: Evening Prayer with Hymns (BCP)
Wednesday - Annunciation: The Feast of the Annunciation of Our Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary; The Installation of the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury - The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally DBE
9:00am: Oasis
10:00am: Midweek Holy Communion (BCP)
2:30pm: The Installation of the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury - The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally DBE at Canterbury Cathedral—Please see the separate page under 'News Stories' in the 'News and Notices' section for further information, including the web address for the Church of England's YouTube channel where the Service will be live streamed
Saturday
4:00pm: Dramatic Performance - 'Entry into Jerusalem'—Please see the note below for more information
Sunday, 29th March 2026 - Passiontide: Palm Sunday
***Please note - British Summer Time begins today; clocks go forward one hour!***
11:00am: 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 this year's St Cuthbert Celebrations and 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 and 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. ([email protected], [email protected]).
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, Peter
The Reverend Peter Kashouris
St Oswald's Vicarage, Church Street, Durham [email protected]
Lord, Jesus, we honour you as the Saviour and Redeemer of the world. Help us offer ourselves fully to you as living sacrifices. Make us, with all your Church worldwide, a holy and pleasing fragrance; that the whole world may come to know you.
Amen.
The Reverend Canon Dr Judy Paulsen, Honorary Assistant in the Parish of St Matthew and St Aidan, Buckhorn - Part of the Diocese of Toronto (The Anglican Church of Canada); Professor of Evangelism at Wycliffe College (The University of Toronto)