We can claim the tax back from your donation if it's given in the Gift THE CHURCHES OF

Aid envelope. Please complete with your address, date and box HEALEY, MASHAM, NORTH STAINLEY, WELL WITH SNAPE
ticked. Help us to receive this vital extra income. & WEST TANFIELD
Thank you.

LOOP SYSTEMS have been installed at Masham, Healey, North Stainley, Eighteenth Sunday 9.15 a.m. Healey Holy Communion
Well and West Tanfield for the benefit of those who are hard of hearing. after Trinity 10.45 a.m. Masham Holy Communion
Please switch the button on your hearing aid to the 'T' position. 15th October 10.45 a.m. North Stainley Holy Communion
10.45 a.m. Well Harvest Holy Communion
WEBSITE for the Masham Group of Parishes - 6.30 p.m. West Tanfield Evensong
www.mashamparishes.org
Tuesday 17th 1.30 p.m. West Tanfield Funeral of Michael Colley
WELCOME if you are a newcomer to this church or parish. If you would
like more information about the life of the church please complete this slip and give it to Wednesday 18th 10.00 a.m. Masham Holy Communion
one of the sidesmen as you leave. 1.45 p.m. Pilgrim Course at the Vicarage

NAME Thursday 19th 7.30 p.m. Pilgrim Course at the Vicarage

ADDRESS Nineteenth Sunday 8.00 p.m. Masham Holy Communion

after Trinity 10.45 a.m. Masham Holy Communion
TEL. NO. . October 22nd 10.45 a.m. West Tanfield Holy Communion
6.30 p.m. Healey Evensong
I would like a visit from someone connected with the church [ ] 6.30 p.m. Snape Evensong

Last Sunday 10.45 a.m. West Tanfield United Service of

I would like more information about: after Trinity Holy Communion
Confirmation groups [ ] October 29th

Bible study/prayer groups [ ] SUNDAY 29th OCTOBER There will be a United Service of Holy Communion at West
Tanfield; this will be the only service in our group of churches on that day.
Choir [ ] REFLECTION The parable in Matthew, put in brutal terms, is about the rejection of Christ
by his own people and his acceptance by others, who should nevertheless not presume on
Music group [ ] their unmerited call. As we reflect, we should praise God for the joy of his open invitation
to us, regardless of merit. We absorb the familiar words and pray to know peace that is
beyond our capacity to grasp. We remember that God gives this but to take him for
Bell ringing [ ] granted is to put love always in danger.

Junior Church/young peoples groups [ ]

Singing for Fun [ ] Pop-in Coffee [ ]

The Planned Giving Scheme [ ]

I would like to join the church electoral roll [ ]

 CONFIRMATION
Confirmation is about becoming a committed member of the local and worldwide Christian
family: it marks the point in the Christian journey at which you affirm for yourself the faith
into which you have been baptized and your intention to live a life of committed
discipleship. This affirmation is confirmed through prayer and the laying on of hands by the
confirming bishop. The Church also asks God to give you power through the Holy Spirit to
enable you to live in the way of Jesus.
The purpose of confirmation preparation is to ensure that those who are confirmed have a
proper understanding of what it means to live as a disciple of Christ within the life of the MATTHEW 22: 1-14
Church of England. Preparation sessions encourage candidates to grow in their Christian Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: The kingdom of heaven may
faith through prayer, reflection, studying the Bible, participating actively in the life of the be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves
church and demonstrating to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not
come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, Tell those who have been invited: Look,
SISTER RITA A one act musical play inspired by the life and work of Sister Rita I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and
Lee (as seen on BBC TV), written and produced by Jim Hunter, at St. Marys everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet. But they made light of it and
Masham, Friday 27th and Saturday 29th October, at 7.30 p.m. in St. Marys Church, went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves,
Masham, with actors, chorus and orchestra. Tickets 5 for adults, children free, maltreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, des -
from Masham Community Office or in church after servcies troyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, The wed-
ding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets,
PHILIPPIANS 4: 1-9 and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet. Those slaves went out into
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding
stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. hall was filled with guests.
I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not
ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled be- wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, Friend, how did you get in here
side me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co- without a wedding robe? And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attend-
workers, whose names are in the book of life. ants, Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.
to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just,
whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any
excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep
on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me,
and the God of peace will be with you.

We can claim the tax back from your donation if it's given in the Gift
Aid envelope. Please complete with your address, date and box ticked. Help us to receive HEALEY, MASHAM, NORTH STAINLEY, WELL WITH SNAPE
this vital extra income. & WEST TANFIELD
Thank you.

LOOP SYSTEMS have been installed at Masham, Healey, North Stainley, Eighteenth Sunday 9.15 a.m. Healey Holy Communion
Well and West Tanfield for the benefit of those who are hard of hearing. after Trinity 10.45 a.m. Masham Holy Communion
Please switch the button on your hearing aid to the 'T' position. 15th October 10.45 a.m. North Stainley Holy Communion
10.45 a.m. Well Harvest Holy Communion
WEBSITE for the Masham Group of Parishes - 6.30 p.m. West Tanfield Evensong
www.mashamparishes.org
Tuesday 17th 1.30 p.m. West Tanfield Funeral of Michael Colley
WELCOME if you are a newcomer to this church or parish. If you would
like more information about the life of the church please complete this slip and give it to Wednesday 18th 10.00 a.m. Masham Holy Communion
one of the sidesmen as you leave. 1.45 p.m. Pilgrim Course at the Vicarage

NAME Thursday 19th 7.30 p.m. Pilgrim Course at the Vicarage

ADDRESS Nineteenth Sunday 8.00 p.m. Masham Holy Communion

after Trinity 10.45 a.m. Masham Holy Communion
TEL. NO. . October 22nd 10.45 a.m. West Tanfield Holy Communion
6.30 p.m. Healey Evensong
I would like a visit from someone connected with the church [ ] 6.30 p.m. Snape Evensong

Last Sunday 10.45 a.m. West Tanfield United Service of Holy

I would like more information about: after Trinity Holy Communion
Confirmation groups [ ] October 29th

Bible study/prayer groups [ ]
Choir [ ]
Music group [ ]
Bell ringing [ ]
Junior Church/young peoples groups [ ]
Singing for Fun [ ]
The Planned Giving Scheme [ ]
SUNDAY 29th OCTOBER There will be a United Service of Holy Communion at West
Tanfield; this will be the only service in our group of churches on that day.
REFLECTION Thanksgiving, thanking, expressing our gratitude, making known our
appreciation these are activities which are central to our humanity, to being made in the
image and likeness of God. When we thank someone for what he or she has said or done,
we are affirming that person, and encouraging, strengthening and cheering him or her.
Jacques Maritain said that gratitude is the most exquisite form of courtesy, but it was Isaak
Walton who spotted something yet more important about a mind predisposed to express
thanks: God has two dwellings: one in heaven and the other in a thankful heart.
So the festival of Harvest Thanksgiving bids us to remember our manners, and to give
thanks to God who created this world in love a world capable of giving every man,
Pop-in Coffee [ ] woman and child enough and to spare. That so many go hungry in a world of plenty is a
reminder that the spirit of genuine gratitude is very close to the spirit of generosity: as the
old Irish proverb puts it, When the hand ceases to scatter, the mouth ceases to praise.'

I would like to join the church electoral roll [ ]

THE CHURCHES OF CONFIRMATION
Confirmation is about becoming a committed member of the local and worldwide Christian
family: it marks the point in the Christian journey at which you affirm for yourself the faith
into which you have been baptized and your intention to live a life of committed
discipleship. This affirmation is confirmed through prayer and the laying on of hands by the
confirming bishop. The Church also asks God to give you power through the Holy Spirit to
enable you to live in the way of Jesus.
The purpose of confirmation preparation is to ensure that those who are confirmed have a
proper understanding of what it means to live as a disciple of Christ within the life of the MATTHEW 13.24-30 & 36-43
Church of England. Preparation sessions encourage candidates to grow in their Christian He put before them another parable: The kingdom of heaven may be compared to
faith through prayer, reflection, studying the Bible, participating actively in the life of the someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an
church and demonstrating enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the
plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of
SISTER RITA A one act musical play inspired by the life and work of Sister Rita Lee (as the householder came and said to him, Master, did you not sow good seed in your
seen on BBC TV), written and produced by Jim Hunter, at St. Marys Masham, Friday 27 th
field? Where, then, did these weeds come from? He answered, An enemy has
and Saturday 29th October, at 7.30 p.m. in St. Marys Church, Masham, with actors, chorus
and orchestra. Tickets 5 for adults, children free, from Masham Community Office or in
done this. The slaves said to him, Then do you want us to go and gather them?
church after services. But he replied, No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along
with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I
DEUTERONOMY 8. 7-18 will tell the reapers, collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned,
For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with flowing but gather the wheat into my barn.
streams, with springs and underground waters welling up in valleys and hills, a land Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him,
of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees saying, Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field. He answered, The one
and honey, a land where you may eat bread without scarcity, where you will lack who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed
nothing, a land whose stones are iron and from whose hills you may mine copper. are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the
You shall eat your fill and bless the Lord your God for the good land that he has enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the
given you. reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it
Take care that you do not forget the Lord your God, by failing to keep his com- be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect
mandments, his ordinances, and his statutes, which I am commanding you today. out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into
When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them, and the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the
when your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold is multiplied, righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with
and all that you have is multiplied, then do not exalt yourself, forgetting the Lord ears listen!
your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery,
who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, an arid waste-land with pois-
onous snakes and scorpions. He made water flow for you from flint rock, and fed
you in the wilderness with manna that your ancestors did not know, to humble you
and to test you, and in the end to do you good. Do not say to yourself, My power
and the might of my own hand have gained me this wealth. But remember the Lord
your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm
his covenant that he swore to your ancestors, as he is doing today.