The worshipping heart of parish life; a Common Worship service including Holy Communion, with refreshments afterwards in the Institute across the road.

All are very welcome.

Sunday, 19th April 2026 - Easter Season: The Third Sunday of Easter

Preacher and Celebrant:
The Reverend John McManners

Then he said to them, ‘Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.

(Luke 24:25-31, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition)

The Collect of the Day:

Almighty Father, who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples with the sight of the risen Lord: give us such knowledge of his presence with us, that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life and serve you continually in righteousness and truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

The Post Communion:

Living God, your Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: open the eyes of our faith, that we may see him in all his redeeming work; who is alive and reigns, now and for ever.

Amen.

Readings:
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
1 Peter 1:17-23
Luke 24:13-35

Psalms:
116.1-3, 10-17

Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Intentions for the Day:

University Chaplains: Durham University - The Reverend Canon Gavin Wort (Lead Chaplain), The Reverend Julia Candy, The Reverend Peter Kashouris, The Reverend Dr Samuel Hole, The Reverend Fiona Hill, The Reverend Marie Edwards and The Reverend Kate Eaton-Wells; The University of Sunderland - The Reverend Chris Howson

Anglican Communion Prayer Cycle Intention for the Day:

The Church of the Province of Myanmar (Burma) - The Most Reverend Stephen Than Myint Oo (Archbishop of Myanmar and Bishop of Yangon)

Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Deanery Intention for the Month:

April 2026 - Chester-le-Street and Houghton Deanery

***Unless otherwise stated, all hymns are from Common Praise: A new edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern (2000); *SP = Sing Praise: Hymns and Songs for Refreshing Worship (2010).***

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All are very welcome to join us at St Helen's, together with our friends from across the Benefice for a special Civic Service for The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Durham, Councillor Gary Hutchinson.

A short time of reflection, designed to be a benefit for parents dropping off children at the school, with a concluding prayer and coffee. All are very welcome.

Please click on the attachment below for further information.

Wednesday, 22nd April 2026 - Easter Season

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A prayerful, reflective service from the Book of Common Prayer, held in the chancel.

Tea, coffee and chat afterwards in the vestry.

All are very welcome.

Wednesday, 22nd April 2026 - Eastertide

Midweek Holy Communion

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

(Luke 1:39-45, King James Version)

The Collect of the Day:

Almighty God, who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life: Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The Post Communion:

O Lord and heavenly Father, we thy humble servants entirely desire thy fatherly goodness mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; most humbly beseeching thee to grant, that by the merits and death of thy Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in his blood, we and all thy whole Church may obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of his passion. And here we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice unto thee; humbly beseeching thee, that all we, who are partakers of this holy Communion, may be fulfilled with thy grace and heavenly benediction. And although we be unworthy, through our manifold sins, to offer unto thee any sacrifice, yet we beseech thee to accept this our bounden duty and service; not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offences, through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, all honour and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty, world without end.

Amen.

Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Intentions for the Day:

Holy Trinity, Washington (Tyne and Wear): Priest in Charge - The Reverend Teresa Walton; Self Supporting Ministry Curate - The Reverend Chris Scorer; Readers with Permission to Officiate - Ms Olive Sangha and Mrs Dinah Gollan; Pastoral Ministers - Mrs Jenene Snowball and Mrs Elizabeth Slowther

Vocations to Ministry from Chester-le-Street and Houghton Deaneries

Parish Giving Adviser - The Reverend Paul Child

Anglican Communion Prayer Cycle Intention for the Day:

The Diocese of Wernyol (The Episcopal Church of South Sudan): The Bishop of Wernyol - The Right Reverend Gabriel Kuol Garang

Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Deanery Intention for the Month:

April 2026 - Chester-le-Street and Houghton Deanery

Join the County Durham Faiths Network for an evening of interfaith encounter on ‘“Love your neighbour”: what does this mean to you, and how do you put it into practice?’

Speakers from various traditions: Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Humanist, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh.

Please confirm attendance: [email protected]

All are very welcome.

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A monthly event which usually takes place on the second Tuesday of the month. Pop in for tea, coffee and a chat.

Free entry; all are very welcome.

We celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord together with our friends from the various churches in the Durham Deanery, at a service of the Eucharist which takes place at Finchale Priory, Durham.

Preacher:

Ms Joanne Nicholson - Lay Minister and Chaplain at County Durham and Durham Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

All are very welcome to join us for this special service.

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

(Luke 24:50-53, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition)

The Collect of the Day:

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that as we believe your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens, so we in heart and mind may also ascend and with him continually dwell; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

The Post Communion:

God our Father, you have raised our humanity in Christ and have fed us with the bread of heaven: mercifully grant that, nourished with such spiritual blessings, we may set our hearts in the heavenly places; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.