For quite a while now we have been running an afterschool club once a half term in both North Stainley and West Tanfield C of E primary schools. It used to be called Messy Church - but in January 2020 we re-branded to JAM (Jesus and Me). This is a joint initiative between the Church of England churches in the two villages and the Methodist church in West Tanfield. On Sunday 1st March we held the first JAM Extra session! We celebrated Shrove Tuesday (a few days late!) and the beginning of Lent... with all things pancake - crafts, games, worship and eating pancakes. A great time was had by 67 people at our Pancake Party. Pancakes were designed, prayer mice were made, Lent wordsearches were puzzled over, Mardi Gras masks were created (thanks for modelling yours Sian!), salt dough prayer pretzels were rolled, worship songs sung and we thought about acts of kindness and the story of Jesus being tempted.... and.. and ... and then we ATE pancakes and played pancake games. A very busy afternoon! Thanks to all the helpers from the churches in N Stainley and W Tanfield and the parents and grandparents who brought smaller people along!
Our Christmas celebrations started in the second week of December with a bumper attendance at Messy Church which we run in conjunction with North Stainley Primary School. We thought again about the Christmas story - from the perspective of the grumpy innkeeper - and realised that Jesus is the real star of Christmas. The children then took part in lots of different craft activities, including colouring in a large stable, making star decorations to put on their Christmas trees at home, and even making puppets of all the characters in the story. Huge thanks to all the adults who supported this.Leaflets are being delivered to all the homes in the parish to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and to invite them to our special Christmas services. North Stainley School held their special Christmas service in church on Monday - when the Rev Sian retold the Christmas story using various chocolate bars (eg God created the "Galaxy", Jesus was "Divine", the wise men were "Smarties"!). Everyone was fascinated! The pupils also led the prayers, read the account of Jesus' birth from Luke's gospel and read a poem about the Colours of Christmas. On Tuesday Class 1 came to help set up the stable scene in church. We will have 2 nativity sets in church this year - the traditional one and the the knitted Posada figures which the children have each been taking home with them overnight as an Advent project. They have made a book detailing Mary, Joseph and the donkey's adventures!On Sunday 22nd December at 4pm we will have our Carol service - with readings, reflections and lots of carols to sing. This will be followed by mulled wine and mince pies at the back of church.4pm on Christmas Eve is our Christingle service - this has become one of the best attended services in the year, when all ages meet to think again about Jesus, the light of the world, being born at Christmas. Do come along and bring your friends and family.On Christmas Day at 9.15 we will have our Christmas Holy Communion Service - everyone is welcome to this special celebration.
Siân writes....I am going to be serving my title post in the Benefice of Masham united with Healey and West Tanfield with Well with Snape and North Stainley. I have been training at St Mellitus North West in Liverpool for the past two years on the MA Christian Leadership Program. I am Married to Chris, who is the Rector of a set of Neighbouring Parishes and we have 4 children Llewelyn ( 20) Emrys (19) Arwyn (18) and Bleddyn (10) we also have 2 Springer Spaniels called Cuthbert and Ruan. I love living in the rural world and I am also a Chaplain at the Auction mart in Leyburn. I love being creative and enjoy many different and varied crafts.Please pray for Siân and all those being ordained over the next six weeks. Our deacons will be ordained at Wakefield Cathedral on 29 June.
