INSIDE

An event held by the Energy Group saw visitors taking a test drive in a hybrid car Fraught end whilst learning how well our solar panels are performing. to holiday for procession organiser

Organiser Bruce Merrick had to procession under way. Geoff Mankin move quickly when illness put stepped in as cross bearer, a role him out of action on the eve of often filled by Bruce in recent years. the local Good Friday procession of witness from All Saints'. For this inter-denominational act of Christian witness - supported by The second issue of Half-way through a two-week Spring churches across the Eaglescliffe- our colour break with Janet in the Caribbean, Yarm area - stops were made at two Community In Touch Bruce's ongoing bronchial condition local shopping precincts and at has been delivered deteriorated, possibly as a result of Egglescliffe Cenotaph. Numbers had throughout the parish. a local infection. The couple grown significantly by the time the completed the return flight from procession moved into Yarm for the Costa Rica on 21 April, by which closing service outside the Town Hall. time Bruce was almost voiceless. At each point passages were read Back home, with the Good Friday from Matthew's Gospel covering the event less than 24 hours away, period from Jesus' trial to his Bruce sent out a flurry of emails to crucifixion, the clergy taking part local clergy and lay members to being Father Patrick Hartnett, from ensure eleventh hour adjustments to St. Mary and St. Romuald RC Church the planned schedule were safely in in Yarm, Canon Tim Ollier, Rector of place. St. John's CE Church, Egglescliffe, and Rev. Moira Peters. Methodist In the event, and with the promise Minister for Yarm and Eaglescliffe, The success of the of another fine and warm morning together with Avril Rhodes, Reader new service for ahead, everything went smoothly. As at St. Mary Magdalene Church in children from St. Bruce went in search of emergency Yarm. Mary's school has a medical advice, John Doherty led great response. worship outside All Saints' to get the Bill Cockcroft.

This Church Exists to Worship God... To Make Disciples... To Share the Good News of Jesus... And To Care For Those In Need... How Peter All Saints' will have its annual spring clean on Saturday 7 May. If you can help at all between shows us the 9am and 3pm, please let Sandra know. way Do you receive In Touch as a hard copy? Please consider switching I have been reading the everything we need to live a to the e-mail version to accounts of the appearances godly life (v 3). In verse 5 he save our resources. The e- of Jesus after the encourages us to make every mail version is full-colour, resurrection. John, in his effort to apply the benefits of and you can always print gospel, provides many God's promises to our lives. He it off if you don't like convincing stories. goes on 'then your faith will reading it on the screen. produce a life of moral Simply e-mail us at: In one appearance Jesus speaks excellence', which leads to newsarticles.allsaints@ directly to Peter. You will knowing God better which in turn gmail.com if you'd like remember that Peter had told leads to self control. Self control to switch. Jesus he was prepared to die with leads to patience and patience to him; however as Jesus had godliness and godliness leads to predicted Peter denied him three love for others. Peter encourages We are currently times. In John 21 on the shores of us to grow in love for everyone looking for some extra the sea of Galilee Jesus asks so that we can become more people to operate the Peter three times 'Simon son of productive and useful in our sound desk, particularly John, do you love me more than knowledge of the Lord Jesus during the 10.30am these?' 'Yes Lord, you know I love Christ. service. If it's something you' he replied. Jesus charged Peter to 'feed my lambs', take All of this from the man who you're new to, training care of my sheep, then 'feed my denied Jesus and who was then can be arranged. The sheep.' charged with looking after Jesus' commitment would be lambs. Peter's earlier bold one service per month if Three times, in his fear, Peter's promises had wilted in the face we get enough love for Jesus had failed, now of fear, and who among us can volunteers. See Matt Jesus say we would have done Falcus or a worship gives Peter the opportunity to otherwise? But Jesus challenged leader for more once again affirm his love for his him to make his love concrete by information. friend. Not only was he allowing serving others and Peter did not Peter to make amends but he was let him down a second time. also showing him that love is so Spring is here and much more than words or Jesus taught Peter that love for volunteers are needed feelings; it is courageous and God is expressed most for cutting the grass at serving action. powerfully in committed, All Saints'. Please let courageous and obedient Sandra know if you are Later on, in 2 Peter 1, the very service. If today Jesus asked you able and willing to help courageous and servant-hearted 'do you love me?' how would you with cutting the lawns. Peter pleads with us to get to answer? know Jesus better, so that his divine power will give us Sylvia Wilson. Mary Thompson Fund: please keep up your generosity by filling the boxes at the back of church as often as you Birthdays can. This month's birthdays amongst our children and youth

Our Pastoral Care 5 May Caleb Seed Age: 11 Team are available on 7 May Mia Clayton Age: 7 07892 870670 on 15 May Tonnika Wilkinson Age: 13 Mondays, Wednesdays, 17 May Samuel Falcus Age: 7 Thursdays and Sundays. 26 May Alice Griffiths Age: 17 Pastoral Care drop-in is 27 May Hannah Dodsworth Age: 18 on Monday and Tuesday mornings in the Centre. We hope you all have a fantastic day!

2 Churchwarden Matt our youngest ever? All Saints' annual elections on April 4 Completing the new PCC produced what is believed to be our youngest membership are the other ever Churchwarden. three Deanery Synod representatives: Gill Clayton, At 30, In Touch editor Matt Falcus takes over from Bruce Merrick and Margaret Bruce Merrick who has stepped down after three Vaughan; Janet Atkinson from very busy years. Diocesan Synod, and nine elected lay members: Karen An active member of All Saints' Young Adults' Bates, John Belmont, John group, Matt can almost certainly lay claim to Doherty, Mark Harrison, Sue another All Saints' 'first' at officer level: he is the Jennings, John Littlehailes, holder of a private pilot's licence! Pamela Rushton, Kevin Sexton New warden, Matt and Wendy Sheffield. Falcus On the new Parochial Church Council he will be serving alongside his mother-in-law, Karen Killick, Immediately after the APCM the new PCC met to who was elected churchwarden for a second year. elect the following officers for 2011: Chair, John And to complete a singular family contribution to Lambert; vice-chair, John Littlehailes; secretary, church administration, Matt's wife, Lucy (nee Margaret Vaughan; treasurer, John Belmont; Killick), the daughter of Andrew and Karen, stays on electoral roll officer and recorded, Gill Wake; Gift PCC by virtue of her election to Stockton Deanery Aid Secretary, Jon Bates. Synod. Bill Cockcroft. All Saints' Website Update We've experienced a number of ongoing the church, and the current set of rotas for each problems and security breaches with our service. website over the past month. This led to the existing site being removed. The website address is www.allsaints-church.net A new site is in development which will remedy the As a temporary measure, we have a basic website security problems, and give the whole look and at the same address which has contact details for functionality of the site a makeover. WILL ... it be possible to make sense of this??

The point at which you Example 1: start to pay Inheritance Tax Total Net Value of Estate: £500,000 is £325,000. When Amount subject to Tax: £175,000 someone dies, the first Tax at 40%: £70,000 £325,000 of their Estate is Final Inheritance: £430,000 inherited tax-free. Anything over that amount Example 2: is subject to 40% tax. Total Net Value of Estate: £500,000 10% left to All Saints’ Church £50,000 There are some ways of Amount subject to Tax: £125,000 reducing the amount of Tax at 36%: £45,000 Inheritance Tax, but most of Final Inheritance: £405,000 these are complicated and are probably too difficult to explain in this article. Let me be honest here. The only real winner here is All Saints’ Church! Taking a closer look at the In the 2011 Budget, the Government made some numbers above, however, you can see that in changes to the Inheritance Tax laws in order to Example 2, £50,000 has been donated at an encourage people to give some of their Estate to effective cost of only £25,000!! charity. If you leave 10% (or more) of your net Estate to charity, you are rewarded with a 10% If the person in Example 1 decided to give away reduction on your Inheritance Tax rate. 10% of their inheritance, they would give £43,000 away and therefore only actually receive £387,000 Sounds good? Too good to be true?!! for themselves. The person in Example 2 has ended up being £18,000 better off having given The two examples below show firstly a person who more money away!! gives nothing away to charity, and secondly a person who leaves 10% of their net Estate to a If you want to speak to me about this further I charity (say All Saints’ Church!). would be more than happy to give advice. John Belmont.

3 Now and again, the woollen industry. fell walkers come Moorland across tales of Isaac Holden and haunt of the unexpected. Sons made a fortune All Saints' and created the Victorian tea walkers Holden dynasty. unearthed one Their factories in trader while exploring Bradford processed part of the North the wool from eight Pennines near Alston in March. million sheep, with further production at Pausing for a breather after an uphill stretch, one of St. Denis in Paris as the group spotted a toppled signpost at a footpath well as the highly junction. What was distinctive about this post was a profitable outlet at small directional plaque for Roubaix in North- "Isaac's Tea Trail." All Saints' East France walkers - well familiar with their Biblical Isaac - were intrigued. The 36-mile Tea Trail Who was this Isaac and what, is a circular walk historically, had been his starting in Allendale involvement with tea in this at Isaac's Well then remote area of the Pennines? climbing over to Nenthead and Alston before returning via Ninebanks, and has been described in Later, all became clear the Independent Newspaper as "one of the last Skeil short when Bryan Moss, one of great undiscovered wilderness treks in England." our walk leaders, did a hello search on the internet. Our 14 walkers thoroughly enjoyed this return visit Isaac's Tea Trail, it to Mark Close Farmhouse, a self-catering property A letter on transpired, is named splendidly located a mile north of Alston. The three- Palm after an itinerant tea night break was blessed with excellent weather for Sunday seller and fund raiser late March, Saturday being set aside for group from our called Isaac Holden. walks in the South Tyne Valley. On the Sunday mission Isaac's career began as a morning we joined local celebrants at Holy partners lead miner. When his Communion in Alston St. Augustine Church, before Hugh and health deteriorated and tackling an attractive walk in the lower Nent Valley, Debbie Skeil comes on earnings from the mines incorporating part of Isaac's Tea Trail. the verge of their fell, he was forced to find return to the UK. another livelihood. In the Once again the group is hugely indebted to Pemma dramatic ups and downs Littlehailes for her meticulous planning and for The auction of their in Victorian life, his excellent back-up support at the catering and house in Newcastle took Scottish-born cousin walks' organisation levels. place on 18 April, and (another Isaac), invented their hope was that it and developed looms for Bill Cockcroft. would raise enough money to allow them to or other place of refuge. Unlike purchase a place to live Support Durham Cathedral, we do not have a when they return on 24 Sanctuary Knocker on the door of All May. 'sanctuary Saints’, but we have for some time been collecting items for MTF who Whilst their visit is provide a bag of basic food every initially for practical seekers' week to each of their destitute clients reasons - to visit fellow “The word ‘asylum seeker’ has, in some – seekers of sanctuary from Christian Mission Society sections of the tabloid press, become a persecution in their own countries. colleagues, friends and term of abuse. Sadly, it has created a MTF say: “As you know, the cost of supporters around the perception in the minds of the public that food has soared recently, so any help country, and to attend a someone who is fleeing persecution and with our bag contents is welcome”. retreat - they will then exercising their right to claim asylum under We would like All Saints’ to help more begin praying and international law is somehow illegal and effectively. The basic items that go discerning what steps to intent on gaining economic advantage by into the bags are tins of fish, take next. deception.” tomatoes or chickpeas, followed by tea, coffee and sugar. If you feel you The pair are grateful to This is a quotation from the Mary could commit to a regular gift of one have received enough Thompson Fund Spring Newsletter. or more of these items, weekly or financial support through They go on to report that the monthly, please sign up on the list CMS for the year. International Asylum Commission, behind Sandra’s desk, or get in touch However, they ask for after a public survey, is suggesting with Bruce (657121) or Jeremy our prayers for the that the phrase ‘sanctuary seeker’ is (782292). future, and their time less hostile and better reflects the back in the UK. situation of those needing protection. Jeremy Atkinson. A sanctuary was originally a Church, 4 The trials of A testimony to life can be God's faithfulness hard but if Springboard we put our trust in The Project I have been a Christian for 11 Lord and Springboard is a 'Big years and the last three years leave our have been a real challenge to my Society' idea from All concerns Saints' and is part of faith. I have had recurring and worries depression for about ten years; our four-year vision to at the foot reach out to our sometimes stable and other of the cross then we can achieve so times quite debilitating. community over a two much in Him. week period this summer. One of my biggest challenges came I now am out of debt, I rent a in the summer of 2010, when I was beautiful home and I am beginning to It is an opportunity for told that my home would be feel better than I have in a very long repossessed if I did not sell it within members of All Saints' to time. I truly believe that God is offer practical help to six months. In human terms, for a healing me. The process has started single mother with two children, that those and I am excited at what the future in the is not what you want to hear. I was holds, with God at the helm. fortunate, though; I had someone parish who bigger than any of my issues on my In good times and bad, I have found side and that was God. need from experience that if you praise it. God and thank Him for everything He This With help from many lovely people at is doing in your life, then things start All Saints' Church, I started the long could to change. Keep your eyes fixed on be through help around the road to selling my property and Him, amazing things happen! clearing and packing my home. When house, DIY work, I had moments of real stress God gardening, giving lifts to Psalm 62 v 1 – 2 appointments or to visit walked with me; He did amazing ‘My soul finds rest in God alone, my things. When I actually found my new family,or doing some salvation comes from Him. He alone is shopping. home and it was time to move, I was my rock and my salvation; He is my so calm and moved with no drama at fortress, I shall never be shaken.’ all. ‘Wow’, I thought, ‘Life is changing The project will take place for the better, thank you Lord!’ over a two week period Gill Ollet between 11-23 July. We have already set things in Test driving the motion by announcing the project in the Easter issue Energy Group of the colour Community In All Saints’ Energy Group Touch which went out to (Community Action for Energy every house in the parish. Eaglescliffe) organised an open People were encouraged to day on 20 April to show off our ask for a particular need solar electricity installation and to by contacting the church demonstrate the incredible office, or by sending in a mileage from electric and hybrid simple tear off slip. cars. In order to make this We had visitors from other community project work and to show centres and churches who might like the residents of our parish to do something similar, as well as the how much we care for support of RMB Toyota to show visitors them, we will need how economical their hybrid cars are. volunteers to sign up and Stockton Council also sent their plug-in Dave Bunford after his test drive be ready to give some electric car. Our solar panels aroused a lot of time. interest from visitors, many of whom Visitors were invited to take a test are considering something similar Sandra will be collating drive around a 3 ¾ mile route in a either on their homes, schools or names and details of what Prius or an Auris to see how churches. We were able to give some you could help out with, economically they could drive. John interesting facts to them, especially and what times you'd be Lambert took this very seriously and since our installation is now three available, ready to match went on to come second with 72.5 months old and has saved us £75 from them up with requests we mpg equivalent. Melanie from the our electricity bill and earned around have from people. Please council, who counts as semi- £310 from electricity sold back to the consider offering some professional because she is used to Grid. The good publicity it has earned time to give to people who driving an electric car, only beat him our church and churches in general may really need some help. by a narrow margin. has been of enormous value. John Doherty. 5 in ministry. It was a great night of connecting with Past and Present Youth other people and hearing of the great work that is going on in the Tees Valley. I long to see more of Workers Working this happening – God’s people coming together, from all around the Tees Valley, with one heart to Together see God’s Kingdom grow in our communities. In September 2010 I was given funding to run a project called ‘Raising Up Young Female One of the most recent developments of this project Leaders Across the Tees Valley’. The first step is that I am able to work more closely with Amy of this project has been running a course Burns. Amy was the Youth Worker at All Saints’ called Growing Leaders (Youth Edition). between September 2003 and December 2006. She was my The course was opened up to Youth Worker when I was a girls around the Tees Valley young person, and now I am who have shown signs of being blessed to be able to work a leader in their church, alongside her. Amy runs a community, school life etc. We ministry called G:em (Girls have seen girls from All Saints’, Empowered). G:em longs to Norton, The Tab, and TVCC see young girls equipped and during the time the course has encouraged to be young been running, which has been women of God – this is done very encouraging. It is a through a series of events fantastic opportunity for young which are run especially for girls in the Tees Valley. I Christian girls to come together am fortunate to be on the G:em leadership team, with other girls their age and and through this work together, and our own grow in their faith and relationship with God friendship, we were able to discuss the idea of together, and seek His plan for their lives. The girls working together more closely, which has resulted are being encouraged to think about areas where in Amy agreeing to come and co-lead the Growing God may be calling them to leadership, and then Leaders Course with me. She is an inspirational look at how to be a leader and what comes with leader and a phenomenal teacher, and I therefore that. I have already had girls talk to me about think it is an amazing step forward. running radio shows, preaching in church, organising events and much more, so I really believe As G:em and Growing Leaders are able to work in that God is working in them through this ministry. conjunction with each other, girls from the course will be given opportunities to grow in leadership in May the God who gives endurance and the various events G:em runs – we would love to encouragement give you a spirit of unity among see them leading events, organising events, leading yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with worship, preaching – released into the calling that one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and God has placed upon their lives. Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5. If you would like to know more about G:em, or the One of the most encouraging aspects of this project project to raise up young female leaders I’d love to comes through bringing so many people together. I talk to you about it. We would also really appreciate have been fortunate to meet so many amazing your support in prayer – that more girls in our area female youth workers and other people who are would be equipped and empowered to do the work passionate about girls ministry from across that God has planned for their lives. We are holding Stockton. It has encouraged us to work together another networking event on 11 July which will be more, share ideas and resources, come together an information evening about all of the girls ministry with our young people and to support each other. In that is happening in the Tees Valley – we would love November I was able to organise a networking event to see you there. More details to follow. for anyone that had a passion for working with girls Kathryn Belmont. Second Community In this issue to all 1270 houses in the parish. This issue covered the official launch of the solar Touch sent out at Easter panels, and CONNECT activities such as seated The second issue of our special exercise classes, Tuesday Lunch Club and Home colour Community In Touch has and Away event. It gave advanced notice of the been delivered in time for Journeys Course, and of course Easter, detailing a range of the advertised the Easter services great things happening at All happening at All Saints'. We also Saints' over the holiday period had space to mention Toddlers, the and early Summer. Real Easter Egg, and to mention the Springboard Project, offering As part of All Saints' four-year people the chance to sign up for vision we feel it is important to help from one of our church take every opportunity to members (see separate article on promote the church to those who this). live around us. Therefore, like the previous issue in December, we have sent 6 St. Mary's School and Community Service - GodZone

In February 2010 a small group of six members of St. Mary’s congregation, including Susie Green, the curate, met to plan a service for the children from St. Mary’s School, to be held in church and open to the community.

We had already visited St. Luke’s Church in Hartlepool, to experience their Sunday afternoon family service, which gave us lots of ideas. We knew we wanted the service to be active, fun and one that would support the school in developing the children’s spiritual lives. The school had suggested that the service should be held towards the end of the school day, so that parents and carers could pick up the children from the church, or join us for the service. added the Creation zone, where the children planted up pots of seeds to take home. We decided that we would start with a short service of praise, prayer and a talk, and then the children We noticed that at each consecutive service the would be free to explore the zones set up around numbers of children who used the prayer zone and the church. These were the Prayer zone, where the blessing zone increased, and there was a real prayers could be written, or candles lit and a prayer sense of excitement before each service began. In said; Giving zone, which had a display about the spring this year Mr Moorfoot asked if the service various causes the church supports; Blessing zone, could be more frequent, and we have planned to where children could ask for a blessing from Susie, have a service each half term between now and Praise zone, led by Debbie Hird, where children December 2011, then review the frequency again. could experience praise in a variety of creative On the 14 March 125 adults and children were ways; Belonging zone, where children looked up the present at a service jointly planned and led by meaning of their names, and added a small figure members of the church and the school staff on the representing themselves to the belonging tree theme of “Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and which remains in church, Learning zones (2) in the life”. The children had made musical which activities were offered, (making bookmarks, a instruments which were used to great effect in the quiz about the church, making and decorating faith final song, and many went out with the paper boxes etc.), Baby zone, an activity area for babies daffodils they made in the learning zone. Several and toddlers, and Sorry zone, where children could had been out in the village with cameras taking say sorry for things they had done. images of signs of new life. It was a very happy and joyful occasion, and everyone involved in the The first service was held on 3 March 2010, and we service feels privileged to witness the deepening of were overwhelmed with the response: the church faith and worship in the young people. was packed with children and adults, and the feedback was very positive. The children responded Dates of future services: with great interest and sensitivity, and all the zones Wednesday 18 May, 2.30pm were well used. We continued to run a service each Wednesday 13 July, 2.30pm term, keeping the zones the same, but changing the Monday 3 October, 2.30pm activities in the learning and praise zones, to suit the theme of the service. In the May service we Dee Palmer-Jones.

STOP PRESS!

The May issue of In Touch will be available on 4 June. Please send us your articles, stories and news by Sunday 29 May. 7 All Saints' Services St. Mary's Services

Sunday 1 May Sunday 1 May 9am - Holy Communion 10.30am - Service of the Word 10.30am - Worship, Word & Ministry 6.30pm - Worship, Word & Ministry Sunday 8 May 10.30am - Service of the Word Sunday 8 May 9am - Holy Communion Sunday 15 May 10.30am - Service of the Word 10.30pm - Weekend away. at Saltburn No 6.30pm - Vintage Worship Night service at St. Mary's.

Sunday 15 May Sunday 22 May 9am - Service of the Word 10.30am - Service of the Word 10.30am - Engage 6.30pm - Holy Communion Sunday 29 May 10.30am - Service of the Word Sunday 22 May 9am - Holy Communion Tuesdays 10.30am - Service of the Word & Baptism 10am - Tuesday at Ten 6.30pm - Worship, Word & Ministry Did you know? Sunday 29 May All of our rotas and service information are 9am - Holy Communion available on our websites: 10.30am - Holy Communion www.allsaints-church.net 6.30pm - Joint service at Stockton Parish Church www.stmaryslongnewton.co.uk

Dates for your diary - May Monday 2 May 7.30pm All Saints' Standing Committee Thursday 5 May 7.30pm St. Mary's MDT Thursday 5 May 7.30pm Journeys Course, All Saints' Monday 9 May 7.30pm All Saints' PCC Tuesday 10 May 11.30am Tuesday Lunch Club, All Saints' Wednesday 11 May 7.30pm Journeys Course, All Saints' Monday 16 May 7.30pm All Saints' MDT Wednesday 18 May 7.30pm Growing Leaders, All Saints' Thursday 19 May 11.45am Big Ted Thursday 19 May 7.30pm St. Mary's PCC Wednesday 25 May 7.30pm Journeys Course, All Saints'

All Saints' Preston-on-Tees & St. Mary's Long Newton Rev. John Lambert (Priest-in-Charge) Church Office (in the Centre Foyer) The Vicarage Quarry Road Open Weekdays 10am-12pm Eaglescliffe Coffee served. Traidcraft goods TS16 9BD and charity cards on sale.

01642 789814 01642 783814 (except Tuesdays)

Please send your news, comments etc. to [email protected] Produced by All Saints' Church Communications Group