A View from the Pews October 2026Autumn – the word conjures up warm colours, earthy smells and that cosiness of a hot chocolate enjoyed with friends. Autumn is a time to be grateful for the gifts of nature and a time to reconnect, with ourselves, one another, and God. This October the CLUWES parishes are also making new connections with the people of Longhirst. We will start working together with St John Longhirst from 4 October – so watch out for those changes in worship patterns and times! (See the What’s On to find out more).As the days draw in, we would also like to offer more ways of staying in touch and finding purpose and perhaps new friendships through praying together. Would you like to experience the power and connection of praying together? You are invited! Join a group either in church, online or through the ancient art of letter writing and prayer journaling. If you would like to give it a try, be in touch with Rev Julia. It might just change your life...Contact detailsVicar: Rev Julia Lacey, revjlacey@gmail.com, 07769 988527An invitation to rhythms of the earthAs we enter the season of harvest, we are invited to pause and recognise the quiet faithfulness of God woven through the rhythms of the earth. Long before the fields were golden, long before fruit hung heavy on the branch, there was the unseen work — seeds in the soil, roots in the dark, rain and sun in their time. Harvest reminds us that God is at work even when we cannot see it.Scripture calls us to notice this truth. “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest... will never cease” (Genesis 8:22). These words reassure us that God’s provision is not occasional or uncertain; it is steady, dependable, and rooted in love.But harvest is more than crops gathered in. It is a spiritual invitation. Paul writes, “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).The kindness we sow, the prayers we offer, the compassion we extend — these are seeds of the Kingdom. Some grow quickly, others take years, but none are forgotten by God.This season encourages us to look back with gratitude and forward with hope. Gratitude for the blessings we have received, and hope for the fruit still forming in our lives, our families, and our community.As we gather in worship, fellowship, and thanksgiving, may we remember that every good gift comes from the One who nurtures both the earth and our hearts.And so we pray:Lord of the harvest, teach us to sow generously, to trust patiently, and to rejoice wholeheartedly in all You provide. Amen.By Paula DarkinThe Beaufort Scale.It was really exceptionally windy today.Dad said ”That'll blow the cobwebs away.”And then with a chuckle, he went on to say"Mr. Barnes will have to watch his toupee!”"Just look at the washing, for goodness sake”.Mum was really worried that the line would break."I don't know how much pressure it can take,Then that's twice the work the wind will make.”Mrs. Bell went past and she just couldn't stop.Walking her pooch, a pug named Curly top.Mrs. Bell did a run, and a skip and a hop.The wind scooped up Curly, then let her drop."Go home.” said my Dad, ”This wind's unusual.It'll blow you over and make you fall”"But Curly top needs her constitutional,”Said Mrs. Bell. ”Exercise for dogs is essential” "What a day” said Dad, "For flying a kite.Reeling it out, letting it take flight.Watching it reach an incredible height!”"Tom, the line's broken! I feared it might..”Down we three scrabbled for the clothes."Careful, Tom! You!re standing on those!”Then, an insult, to add to mum!s woes,Her brand new nylons snagged on a rose.Once inside, we battened down the hatches,Some of the clothes were dirty in patches.Dad made us some toast in batches,Then we sat and played cards for matches.Next day, on the news, the wind was all the tale.Dad said ”All my life, I never knew a wind on that scale.”Beaufort knew though, it was not a wind but a gale.Mum bought a clothes line and some nylons in the sale.Author Loraine RutherfordCOMMUNITY NEWSWelcome“Fear not, I have called you by your name, you are mine” Isaiah 43.1In September we celebrated Rory’s baptism. May he be blessed as he begins his journey of faith together with his parents and god-parents.Farewell“Nothing can separate from the love of God” Romans 8.38. In September we remembered with gratitude the lives of all whose anniversary falls in this month. May the memory of them give us joy amidst the pain and may they rest in peace and rise in glory.Godspeed“Those who live in love, live in God and God lives in them” John 4.16In August we celebrated the marriage of Rachel Nealan and Nathan Walker. May they be richly blessed in their new lives together.Chameleon BuddiesI am delighted to have the opportunity to introduce you to our small charity, founded in Alnwick in 2022, by me and my friend,Nicola Napier. Chameleon Buddies supports people in the UK and Kenya to adapt to changes in their lives following ostomy surgery or childbirth injury. Our main work is at the Gynocare & Fistula Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya. We currently support 160 women and children through the hospital, alongside a new partnership with the Nyanza Ostomy Association, which supports 1,000 children with ostomies in Kenya and Uganda.The charity was founded following my own experience of living with a permanent stoma (ostomy) following devastating childbirth injuries in 2011. It can be a lonely, distressing and painful time, compounded by a lack of understanding from others. In Kenya, the situation is much worse, with women ostracised from their communities, where they are regarded as “cursed” or unclean, due to their injuries or ostomies. There is a critical lack of medical supplies for the patients, who are discharged from hospital without access to ostomy bags. Instead, they use rags, cloths, plastic bags and tin cans to try and contain their bodily waste. Children are unable to attend school, and patients are unable to attend church services or take part in their local community events.What began as a simple idea to send out ostomy supplies to the patients, has expanded to include a network of outreach peersupport groups and the provision of specialist stoma nurses for one-to-one clinics. In 2025, Nivea Ogutu, a local Kenyan ostomate, was taken on as our first employee, running our community hub and distributing supplies to the patients. We have witnessed some truly special transformations in the last four years, including Mary Ruturo, who was rescued from danger in the far north rebel-country, where her house had been burnt down and her sewing machine stolen.In 2022, Mary arrived at the Gynocare Hospital wearing a plastic bag for her urostomy (which is a urinary diversion surgery), malnourished and unable to provide for her teenage daughter. Four years later, Mary is the lead seamstress at the hospital and makes beautiful items which she sells to support herself and her daughter. She leads our practical workshop sessions, demonstrating how to make washable sanitary pads for the patients to make and sell.We have recently begun an exciting new collaboration with the Nyanza Kenya Ostomy Association, who support up to 1,000 children with ostomies in both Kenya and neighbouring Uganda. We are now sending supplies to the children, alongside the 160 women and children we currently support within our hospital outreach programme. It costs £1500 every two months for us to send out the vital supplies to Kenya. This is a huge sum of money for a small charity to find.In November we are returning to the Gynocare with our biggest clinical outreach team. Four stoma nurses and a staff nurse (the latter has a stoma) will be carrying out one-to-one clinics with the sixty patients who will be invited to attend the four day clinic and peer support workshop programme. Mary will be running the practical sewing workshop, while Nivea will be leading the peer support programme, encouraging the patients to accept their bodies and find friendship. For the first time, Kenyan ostomates who have attended previous workshops will be attending as workshop peer support workers.Meanwhile, in the UK, we run a monthly ostomy peer support group in Alnwick. In October, the group will be taking part in their first Stoma Specific Swimming sessions at Willowburn Leisure Centre in Alnwick, to encourage them to overcome their fears about taking to the water with their ostomies. After three years, the support group has grown to twelve regular attendees, with fabulous friendships and support flourishing between members. Alnwick is also the centre of our volunteering community. Every month, there is a sorting session run by the volunteers, who sort through and organise all of the donated ostomy supplies sent in by the public, before they are sent out to Kenya via boat.Our charity motto is simple. No Secrets, No Shame.
A View from the Pews September 2026September is an odd in-between month: no longer summer, but neither yet autumn. It’s almost like we are waiting for something…As Christians we are always waiting with great hope for something good. And this year, for the first time, the Church of England has decided to mark this great hope with a new feast: Creation in Christ – to be celebrated on the first Sunday of September. With this celebration we are reminded that all of life (human, animal and plant and beyond) is created through Christ, the Word of God. And that means that we belong all together and that we have responsibility for one another.We will start our celebration a week early in our joint service and continue the feast to 6th September, culminating in our thanksgiving service for our pet friends at 4pm at Cresswell church. Come along and celebrate with us!Contact detailsVicar: Rev Julia Lacey, revjlacey@gmail.com, 07769 988527Parish Safeguarding Officer: Anne Baxter, arabella3337@gmail.com, 07544 119575Wondering at Creation. By Paula DarkinThere is something deeply refreshing about taking time to notice the world around us. In the rush and noise of everyday life, it can be easy to forget that creation is all around us — the changing seasons, birdsong in the morning, sunlight through the trees, the sound of rain, and the simple beauty of a flower opening.The Bible begins with these words: “In the beginning God created theheaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1Creation reminds us that we are part of something much bigger than ourselves. We are not simply passing through a world that belongs to us; we are invited to receive it as a gift, to care for it and to give thanks for the One who made it.The Psalmist writes:“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Psalm 19:1How often do we stop and listen to what creation is saying? A sunrise speaks of new beginnings. The changing seasons remind us that life has rhythms of growth, rest, letting go and renewal. Even the smallest things— a leaf, a seed, a bird in flight — can turn our attention towards God.Jesus encourages us to look closely at creation too:“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” Matthew 6:26Perhaps there is an invitation here for us. To slow down. To notice. To give thanks. And to trust.Creation also reminds us of our responsibility. In Genesis, humanity is entrusted with the care of the earth. We are called not simply to admire creation, but to nurture it and protect it for generations to come. Caring for our environment, our local places and our communities can therefore become an expression of our faith.And perhaps this is where creation connects beautifully with community. Just as every part of creation has its place and purpose, so every person has a place and a part to play. We are wonderfully different, yet connected. When we care for one another, we reflect something of theCreator's love.As we go through the coming weeks, may we make time to notice the beauty around us. May we find God in the ordinary things we sometimes overlook. And may creation inspire us not only to worship, but also to care — for the earth, for our neighbours and for one another. COMMUNITY NEWSWelcome“Fear not, I have called you by your name, you are mine” Isaiah 43.1In August we celebrated the baptisms of Stanley Butler, Joey Morrison, Freya and Harrison Sturgeon and Harper-Mae Harrison. May they be blessed as they begin their journey of faith together with their parents and godparents.Farewell“Nothing can separate from the love of God” Romans 8.38In August we remembered with gratitude the lives of all who have died. We may no longer see them but their influence on our lives is still felt.May they rest in peace in God’s sure embrace.Godspeed“Those who live in love, live in God and God lives in them” John 4.16In August we celebrated the wedding of: Megan Leighton and Jay Pearson.May they be richly blessed in their new lives together For More of the 'CLEWES-NEWS' Select 'Notices' You can then download the complete News Letter
