“Please Send Someone Else” “Moses Said to the with Moses: “Please Send Lᴏʀᴅ, ‘Pardon Your Serv- Someone Else.” but This by Revd Anthony Smith Ant, Lord

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“Please send someone else” “Moses said to the with Moses: “Please send Lᴏʀᴅ, ‘Pardon your serv- someone else.” But this By Revd Anthony Smith ant, Lord. I have never wasn’t the response God been eloquent, neither in was looking for. OUR church annual ough process of the past nor since you We find a better re- meetings are taking place “discernment” before the have spoken to your serv- sponse in Isaiah 6:8. The later in May, and we will formal training begins. ant. I am slow of speech Lord asks, “Whom shall I be looking for new For me, this basically and tongue.’ send?” And Isaiah re- churchwardens and PCC went smoothly. I was in “The Lᴏʀᴅ said to sponds, “Here I am. Send members. “Please send my thirties, and had a lot him, ‘Who gave human me!” Another good exam- someone else” might be of experience in church beings their mouths? Who ple is Mary: “I am the your response! life: preaching, leading makes them deaf or mute? Lord’s servant. May your I’m not a natural lead- services, and being heav- Who gives them sight or word to me be ful- er. That might surprise ily involved in Christian makes them blind? Is it filled” (Luke 1:38). you – or it might not! things more widely. not I, the Lᴏʀᴅ? Now go; None of us is called to I’ve always been quite The only real “bump” I will help you speak and be a Moses or an Isaiah or gifted – at least at certain in the process was when I will teach you what to a Mary. But all of us are things (not sport or art) – had an interview with a say.’ called to do things that but I’ve never been any- panel. For one reason or “But Moses said, take us out of our thing like an “alpha another, they ended up ‘Pardon your servant, “comfort zone”. We will male”. getting quite a poor im- Lord. Please send some- feel inadequate, but that is Some people start the pression of me. Their one else.’” a good thing, because it journey towards ordina- report came back, and The timing of this forces us to put our trust tion in their late teens or although it didn’t turn me reading was perfect for in God, and not in our- early twenties. I don’t down completely, it was me. I felt far from elo- selves. think I was ready at that really very discouraging. quent – slow of speech It’s not a matter of point. I needed a few That evening, the and tongue. But God leaping up and declaring more years to grow in readings appointed by the spoke to me through that that God has called you. maturity and confidence Church of England in- passage, and gave me the But what God looks for is before I offered myself cluded a bit from Exodus courage to carry on. a willing spirit, ready to for ordained ministry. (4:10-13, NIV), in which It would have been give it a try, and listening In the Church of Eng- Moses basically has an tempting to throw in the for God’s voice: “Now land, there’s quite a thor- argument with God: towel at that point, along go; I will help you”.

PARISH ST PAUL’S CHURCH

Sundays: 10.30am Holy Communion (also live-streamed on the St Paul’s Facebook page)

Wednesdays: 9.30am Holy Communion CHURCH WHITWORTH CHURCH

SERVICES Sundays: 9am Holy Communion MAY 2021 PAGE 2

CLERGY CHURCHWARDENS CROSSWAYS EDITOR

Revd Matthew Tarling St Paul’s Church Christopher Luke: 07796 137901

01388 327603 Averre Cleary: 816527 Copy deadline for June edition Deborah Humphreys: 420769 Friday 21st May The Vicarage, 30 Jubilee Close Whitworth Church Revd Anthony Smith Newsletter Secretary: Pauline Storey 816153 June Wilson: 746002 01388 304882 Wayne Rhodes: 816643 St Paul’s Centre Bookings: 813404 Bishop of Durham visits FOR YOUR PRAYERS

Whitworth during pilgrimage For the people of India following a surge in coronavirus cases. Words and photographs by Chris Rhodes For our newly elected councillors in Spennymoor and at County Hall.

For the new Police and Crime Commissioner for Coun- ty Durham

For our annual church meetings.

For our churchwardens and deputies.

PRAYER FOR MAY

BISHOP Paul and his wife Rosemary, along with David Potts and a couple of friends arrived at Whitworth Loving God, you are merciful and forgiving. Grant that Church on 30th March as part of their “Way of Life Pil- those who are suffering the hurts of the past may expe- grimage”. They had walked in the beautiful spring sun- rience your generous love. Heal their memories, com- shine from Bishop Auckland and were welcomed by fort them, and send them all from here renewed and hopeful in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. June Wilson, Vivienne Lowe and myself (Chris Rhodes).

Their journey had begun in Gainford the previous day. Source: The Church of England The little party took in the delights of the surrounding area and then moved into the church, observing COVID restrictions to say a prayer and give a blessing. As they Tony Kirkup retires as funeral verger left to continue their journey to Durham Cathedral the AFTER many years in role (since about the mid- group were wished a safe arrival. 2000s!), Tony Kirkup has decided to retire as the funeral verger at St Paul’s church. We thank Tony for his dedicated and prayerful service to this important role, preparing the church for services, welcoming mourners and managing the sound system - wish him well in his retirement. Tony’s retirement means we are looking for a new verger to take over. It can be done voluntarily, but we pay £30 per funeral to a verger for their time and effort. This is covered by the fees we receive for a funeral. So do enquire with the vicar if you're interested.

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By Emma Blagburn

WE are all aware since as Play Church to start up the notification of the again. So, the children’s first lockdown back on team at St Paul’s have March 23rd, 2020, that worked at providing al- life has been very differ- ternative methods. Play ent in the way in which Church has been on we come together. Gath- Zoom on Friday morn- erings have been mini- ings with booklets and mum, social distancing, crafts delivered to the pack, with craft activi- growth within the church bubbles and interaction individual families – to ties, a bible story, and family and ministry with has been limited. It has engage and share the questions to reflect on. new parents joining ses- been a challenging time good news of Jesus with Recently we have sions and attending ser- for everyone. all the family. The odd matched the booklets vices and nurturing not At St Paul’s we have puppet guest has also with Play Church and only our youth but the a cross section of chil- brought a smile to the Trekkers so it covers a whole family. We hold dren’s ministry; Play toddlers! wider age range, as these the Trekker’s family ser- Church for families 0-3, Trekkers (ages 3+) can either be done in the vice on the first Sunday Trekkers ages 3+ and started with weekly sessions on Zoom or of the month and aim to SPY (St Paul’s Youth) emails and pre-recorded when suitable for the keep this long term, not our 11+ youth group. It videos produced by the family. just during the pandemic. was important as ad- team, with a craft and During lockdown It has helped shape a new vancements were made this was good as could when restrictions permit- dimension to our all-age to keep worship alive and be, viewed online when ted, a monthly family mission and is led by the present so that our young convenient to the family. service was born, allow- Trekkers’ leaders and people were not forgot- However this omitted the ing up to nine families to supported by clergy! ten. But we were con- interaction that we were come and be part of an Families have loved at- scious that they would all missing so much, so interactive session. A full tending these and have not necessarily be able to we moved to weekly risk assessment was car- been very positive in their access church in the Zoom sessions before the ried out, the families comments and felt wel- same way. Sunday service. Topics brought their picnic blan- come, safe and it has giv- For a large part of the related to current life, the kets and cushions to sit en them something to year, the church building pandemic but also in nur- on socially distanced in look forward to! It has was closed, and all min- turing their worship such their bubbles. Packs were also helped the children istries were online, or via as God’s promises, made up for individual when so much interaction postal interaction and God’s love, the story of families following has been limited and they phone calls. Even when Joseph and the life and COVID-19 guidance. have been without face-to things opened it still did miracles of Jesus. Each This has been a real suc- not allow for groups such topic is supported as a cess and even promoted continued on page 4

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16 Clyde Tce 61 Front St 7 Albert St Spennymoor Chester-le-St Shildon www.parishes.durham.gov.uk/spennymoor [email protected] 815451 01913890737 773400 Tel. 814982 [email protected] MAY 2021 PAGE 4 Exploring Children’s Ministry during the

Pandemic Parish Registers continued from page 3 HOLY BAPTISM

St Paul’s 28th March Thomas Batson

CHRISTIAN FUNERALS

Whitworth Church 24th March Brian Alderson

Durham Crematorium 1st April Elsie Wilkinson -face schooling, missing friends, family etc! SPY – the St Paul’s Youth group also meet monthly St Paul’s online on Zoom and have been very creative over the 14th April Elizabeth Turnbull past few months and really grown in confidence and 26th April Philip Fowler their interaction with each other. They have set a real 29th April Edith McDowell

founding for themselves, becoming nicely established. Wear Valley Crematorium SPY is for the older children ranging 11 to 15 and have 14th April Dorothy Denham started discussing a range of topics such as what does 22nd April Kenneth Maughan God’s love mean? Where is God in a coronavirus 30th April Margaret Wilkinson world? Why are there so many atheists? How can we know right from wrong, and what is the point of church? They also recently discussed “The Hiding Place” – Corrie Ten Boom, allowing for good debate on “is it ever ok to tell a lie?” leading to a recommended Earth wind and fire

read and the opportunity for much future discussion! By Sally Gladstone It has been inspiring that during such difficult times we have still been able to gather in various forms and ISN’T it great to see the sun again? One of my favourite grow in strength, ministry, and love! The pandemic has poets Laurie Lee, wrote of the sun: “It burns, but noth- taught us that church does not just need to be sat in ing it consumes.” He was thinking of the burning bush, church on a Sunday morning. If you would like to know but at Pentecost we also see God’s Glory. It is obvious more about our children’s ministry or contribute, please in the most famous story - the first Christians seeing contact one of the team! lighted flames, then going out proclaim the Gospel, but it is also present on the road to Emmaus, “Were not our Easter thanks hearts burning within us?” But what about John’s ver- sion of commissioning the disciples in John 20 v21-22? THANK YOU to everyone who prepared our churches “’[Jesus] breathed on them and said “receive the Holy for worship over Holy Week and the Easter weekend Spirit,”’ so we see the glory of God in both the fire of and to those who took part in the various services. A lot Pentecost, and in quiet prayer with our Risen Saviour. of effort went on behind the scenes and it was good to Happy Whitsuntide! join together for worship, whether in person or remotely during the live-streamed services on Facebook.

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