WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S KIRK

We’re at the corner of Sandyford Rd and Grantham Rd

 (next to Benton House)

Follow us on  Facebook and Twitter @NewcastleKirk

St Andrew’s Update

July 2021

Covid update – We are open!

We are now open for worship at the usual time of 10:45 every Sunday morning. If you would like to attend could you please contact the session clerk on 07723703029 or by email at  standrewssessionclerk@gmail.com in order to reserve a place as numbers are still restricted.

April

Maintaining Community and Supporting Each Other

Everyone can play a part in maintaining contact with others via telephone, email or letter, especially with those who are particularly vulnerable. Our Elders are encouraged to make contact with those in their districts, and church members are welcome to contact the Session Clerk on 07723703029 or standrewssessionclerk@gmail.com to request a contact from their Elder or the Minister.

Smartie Challenge. The Smartie Challenge continues but for the next few Sundays you will have to purchase your own tube of Smarties (or just use a jam jar). This is one of the very few fundraising events we can run and funds are low. The money you collect can be handed in at church or can be paid into the church bank account – details below.

Congregational offerings

Offerings for the upkeep and work of St Andrew’s can be made via the Church bank account HSBC UK Bank PLC Grey Street Newcastle upon Tyne Account name : Church of Scotland Sort code: 40-34-18 Account Number: 11310747 Please provide your gift aid number or other reference when making a donation. If your donation is for the foodbank please show this in the reference box. Thank you to all who have donated to any of our appeals over the last several months. We are still struggling to meet all of our commitments but are managing by using some of our very slender reserves.

Holy Week

The Moderator has  sent a letter to all congregations about Holy Week
and Easter he writes: “While probably unable to meet together in church our
devotional patterns can certainly continue and to that end I am going to offer a series
of daily reflections running from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. These will be
available through the Church of Scotland social media channels and will be released
each morning at 8am. They will also be available to download and place on your
own digital platforms. Further, text versions will be available for local printing if
desired and non-digital folk will be able to access them via phone: 0333 340 9200.
Each episode will include readings, prayers, reflections and music; with ministers,
deacons, elders and others from across the Church taking part. My hope is that
these daily reflections will remind us of our essential unity and that we belong to a
body of believers that stretches beyond our parish boundaries. As we continue
through Lent, may you have a growing sense of the nearness of the Lord and know
that with Him, we’ll find ourselves soon enough at Calvary and in turn at the empty
tomb.”

The Craft Group is suspended

After the successes of recent years the Craft group will be back on a Tuesday morning. Everyone is welcome to come. The crafters will be sewing, knitting and helping each other. Feel free to drop in any Tuesday morning between 10.30 and 12.30 when restrictions allow. Tea and coffee available.

The live streaming of the Pont St service will continue.

 Dial into Sunday Service.

Sunday Service:

Arrival & Entry to the Building

Please observe physical distancing inside and outside our building. There may be a small delay getting people inside. Allow plenty of time to arrive before service. The doors will be open from 10.15am.

Safety & Hygiene

Anyone is welcome to attend but please do not if you have any COVID19 symptoms.
If you are feeling unwell, please follow the steps on the NHS website
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Government advice is that you must wear a face mask while you are in the building unless you have a health or disability reason not to. Please come with and wear your own face masks while in the building. (A small supply of masks will be available if you do not have/ forget your own.) To observe good hygiene, hand sanitiser stations are on
site. We ask that you use these to keep yourself and others safe.

Ladies, Gents and Disabled toilets will be open, with a one way system in the Hall. The lift will be in operation for those who require it.

Inside the Sanctuary

As you enter the entrance vestibule a member of the welcome
team will add your name to the attendance list. Inside the
sanctuary you will see that alternate pews are roped off.
Members of the same household can sit together. Please be
understanding if you are shown to a seat that is not in your
usual place. To adhere to government regulations the
sanctuary has been cleared. The pew cushions, bibles, hymn
books, Gift Aid envelopes and the Children’s Corner have been
removed to reduce contamination and assist post-service
cleaning.

Sunday Service: Test & Trace

To assist NHS Test and Trace we will keep a record (name and telephone number) of everybody who enters the building. The information will be held securely on the premises for 21 days. Should someone in the congregation fall ill and test positive for Covid-19 the details of who was in the church with that person will be passed to the
NHS who will then make contact with those who may be at a greater risk of contracting the virus.

Sunday Service: Welcome Team Volunteers

Opening the building safely and efficiently, for the Service during September and October requires a minimum team of four volunteers. In current circumstances we would be very grateful to receive offers of help from any member of the congregation.

To volunteer, please contact the Session Clerk via email or phone – 07723703029.

Please note we are asking people not to step forward if they have underlying health issues or if anyone in their household is showing even mild symptoms.

Maintaining Community and Supporting Each Other

Everybody can play a part in maintaining contact with others via telephone, e-mail or letter, especially those who are particularly vulnerable. Our Elders are encouraged to make contact with those in their districts, and members are welcome to contact the session clerk to request a contact from their elder or the Minister.

Offerings

For the moment offerings will not be collected at the service as handling of cash is discouraged. We are asked to encourage people to give electronically. If you would like to give a weekly, monthly or quarterly gift, the most efficient way of doing this is setting
up a standing order to the church.
Offerings to St Andrew’s, Newcastle can be made via:
Account – Church of Scotland Sort code – 40-34-18
Account number – 11310747

Stamp appeal

During our time of social isolation many of us are sending letters, cards and parcels to loved ones near and far. Remember to save the stamps and bring them to the church when we reopen or post them to your elder, the church or to the stamp project appeal directly. This year the Stamp Project proceeds will benefit The Women’s Development Centre (WDC) in Kandy, Sri Lanka which runs a project to support women and girls who have been victims of rape and sexual violence.

The WDC gives these women somewhere to stay, and supports them in caring for their children, helps them return to education if they wish, and trains them in skills they can use to make a living when they leave. The WDC has a social enterprise and café where the women can work and sell their hand-made products.

The team at WDC care for and heal girls who are vulnerable and often discarded by their families. It is impossible not to be moved by what they do. Help support them by collecting used stamps which are then sold on.

Post your stamps to World Mission Stamp Project, PO Box 9191, Wishaw, Lanarkshire, ML2 OYB

St Andrew’s Kirk

In line with guidance from the Church of Scotland all church services are cancelled until further notice. Permission to postpone the Stated Annual Meeting has been given by Edinburgh so this will now not take place until services are resumed.

The Church of Scotland is suggesting that, as we still have to maintain the building and meet our financial commitments whilst not generating any hall rental income  or offerings, you may like to consider standing order contributions.

Bank details are as follows:-

HSBC UK Bank plc

Newcastle upon Tyne, City

Account – Church of Scotland

Sort code – 40-34-18

Account number – 11310747

Further information can be found at the Church of Scotland website http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk

Some of the poppies on display for the Remembrance Sunday service 2018.

Whether you are a visitor from around the world, have moved to live in the area, work locally, are on holiday or just want to experience a different form of worship – we are pleased to welcome you.

We hope you will enjoy your time in our Sanctuary and be able to stay awhile as we share fellowship together after morning worship with tea, coffee and occasional lunches.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion is held three times a year usually in February, June and October. Our next Communion is Sunday 11th February.  Additional services of Holy Communion are held on Maundy Thursday evening at 7p.m and on Easter Day. 

Family Services are held four times a year when children are the focal point of our interactive services. All young people, not only those baptised here, are very welcome.

Our Kirk in Newcastle upon Tyne is linked with St Columba’s, Pont Street, London and the Minister of the linked charge is Rev Angus McLeod and our local Minister is Rev Dorothy Lunn.

 LOOKING FOR A HALL, MEETING ROOM OR KITCHEN TO HIRE

Finlay had a great birthday party here

Why not try us?

Just e-mail   hallrentals.newcastlekirk@gmail.com