Please contact Lynne or Pete to add information to this page.
Christmas Concert (posted 14.11.2020)
Sunday December 20th 2020 at 4pm
Gareth Davies-Jones will be leading our Christmas Carol Concert for us - More information to follow.....
POSTED 14.11.2020
Climate Crisis Prayer Meeting on Zoom Sunday Evening November 15th at 19.30pm. led by Andrew & Julia McGowan
See members page for Zoom link.
Posted 14.11.2020
The NBA Team have put together another worship service for this weekend, which you can access from our YouTube channel here
As a bonus this week, we have an excellent short video from Darlington Baptist Church, who are the focus for our Association prayer diary for this week, which you can find here. This can be used as part of your church's act of worship this weekend.
BMS Action Teams – Online Open Days
BMS Actions Teams is a Christian gap year programme for 18-23 years olds providing the opportunity to serve God around the world. It consists of one month’s training, six months overseas, and a two-month UK mission tour.
If you know of people who’d potentially be interested in participating in this programme, then we’d love to see them (and their parents/carers) at one of our online Open Days happening on Saturday 28 November and Saturday 9 January 11 am – 12.30 pm.
These will be fun and engaging opportunities to hear more about the gap year programme and to explore if it’s something they would like to apply for.
More information about the online Open Days, including how to book, can be found here: BMS Action Team Open Days.
Posted 14.11.2020
LINKING LIVES UK
A new initiative put together over recent months which we are making available to churches Christian organisations across the UK. You may be aware (from previous contact with your association earlier this year) that Linking Lives UK was set up four years ago to enable churches to address social isolation and loneliness particularly among older people. Even prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, these issues were receiving increasing levels of interest and concern from across society including central government.
Home Visiting
Our usual model of operation is to work with churches on a local level to enable home visiting befriending projects to be established. These projects provide a framework for volunteers to visit one person once a week for around one hour and this regular visit can often be a real lifeline. We also have many stories of opportunities for volunteers (where appropriate) to pray with the person they visit or to invite them to church services or other church activities.
Telephone Befriending
Since March, we have developed a new model focusing on telephone befriending, called ‘Two’s Company’. This can be set up quickly and easily by local churches and provides a way to engage with those most at risk of the side effects of social isolation. A weekly phone call lasting for around one hour is made by a volunteer from the church. We provide full training to coordinators and an initial group of volunteers via Zoom, as well as the necessary guidance and documentation needed to set a project up and run it effectively. I enclose a publicity leaflet which briefly outlines the way in which this model operates.
Next Steps
Bearing in mind the ongoing situation with lockdown, we are planning to run a number of regional Webinars focusing on the issues of loneliness and social isolation in general; the impact on those already struggling in various ways; opportunities for churches to respond; and an outline of our Two’s Company model which is available to churches. I wonder therefore if it would be possible to speak with someone from your team about this possibility and whether we could arrange a webinar for members of the Northern Baptist Association maybe in early December.
Posted 14.11.2020
NBA Youth and Children's Specialists. Thursday 26th November qt 7.30pm via zoom, led by Geoff Brown Scripture Union NE. That's the people in each church who take the lead in children's and youth work, whether as a volunteer or staff.
POSTED 9.11.2020
CHRISTMAS PREPARATIONS!
This Sunday we had a focus on our plans to spread a little joy this Christmas! Here's a reminder to see if anything wets your appetite.
Christmas Carols 
Our Carol service this year Sunday 20th 4pm will be led by Gareth Davies-Jones on-line, with invites available for friends and family! Also whilst outdoor carol services with group singing are discouraged by government guidance, groups of up to 6 (socially distanced) could still go out for socially distanced carol singing.
Christmas Angels 
For the knitters out there you can join our existing group knitting angels (Jill Donaldson coordinating). These, along with a small card with a simple Christian Christmas message, will be attached to railings/lamps etc throughout Stocksfield a couple of weeks before Christmas This will brighten up the locality and bless the local community!
Christmas Sweets 
We can buy flat christmas sweets in a cheery christmas wrapper, put together with a short Christmas message in one envelope, and post to neighbours in the area.
Christmas Foodbanks 
Steph has been in touch with the Miners Lamp Cafe (Prudhoe) who have been doing a great job distributing food parcels locally during the pandemic. We are exploring if we could donate food parcels containing non-perishables to aid their work over the Christmas holidays.
Please let Pete Jorysz know if you are interested in being involved in any of these!
Climate Crisis Prayer evening (posted 01.11.20) 
From Alison Page: The church eco-group invites you to join us to pray about the climate crisis, on Sunday 15th November at 7:30pm (by Zoom). The prayers will initially be led by Andrew and Julia McGowan, with time for everyone who would like to pray afterwards.
24/7 Prayer around the Pandemic (posted 30.10.20) 
We are all in the same storm, but not in the same boat. Our November church prayer meeting will be led by Rod and Jill at 8pm on Tuesday 10th November. This will give us space:
-to reflect/pray about our individual boats, to lament/grieve for the things/people we have lost; but also
-to pray into the storm itself, what is God saying to us? What is God asking of us?
As part of this we are encouraging the church to pray 24/7 around these issues. Please sign up to an hour slot 12am-12pm on the 10th November. That could be any time during the day, for those who can't make the prayer meeting it could be later in the evening, and for those who like a challenge it could be the early hours of the morning! Steph has a sheet with 24 hours on it, please text her to let her know which hour (or part of !!) you are covering.
B.U. Prayer Broadcasts (posted15.10.20)
You might find it helpful taking time out to join weekly prayer broadcasts that take place at 7pm each Wednesday evening. These are a great opportunity to spend time in prayer with fellow Baptists from across the country, led by a variety of people from across the Baptist family.
Riding Lights (posted 14.10.20) 
RL is producing our acclaimed children’s show The Selfish Giant on film. Presented in three 15 minute episodes, The Selfish Giant on film can be used for a watch-along party with children’s groups, holiday clubs, primary schools or youth organisations tied to churches safely at home. As we look to an unusual Christmas after an extremely lonely and disorientating year for children, this film is a fantastic treat to give to the primary aged children and their families in the lead-up to Christmas.
The film explores the value of friendship and kindness towards each other through storytelling, puppets, original songs and humour, and is adapted from the classic children’s story by Oscar Wilde. It’s very cost effective no matter the size of the young community, making it a great option for churches both large and small. More information and how to order the film is attached or can be found on our website: https://ridinglights.org/the-selfish-giant/
Posted 12.10.2020
Shoebox Appeal. 
The shoebox appeal for Romania will go ahead this year. They need to be ready by Sunday 8th November. We will not be able to receive donations of boxes from schools this year, so we are hoping SBC will step up a gear and ask family & friends if they can help to donate and/or make up shoe boxes This year as well as filling shoeboxes there is an option to donate money, so that the Bethlehem Christian Centre out in Romania can purchase what they need. (If you would like to give money, please use the BAC details for the SBC bank account and reference "Shoeboxes".) We have done this in previous years and used the money to make up over here. Either way the most important thing is that the boxes are made up and distributed to those in need.
Last year we noticed boxes were given out to families and elderly people as well, so feel free to make up a family or elderly box if you prefer.
Please find attached a leaflet of what to put in a child's box, and also the label for the top of the box. Please attach £2 to label, this is used to pay for the transportation of the boxes.
Heather Gate has spare shoe boxes if you need one, either ask for a wrapped one or cover yourself with Christmas paper.
Both Heather and Lynda can testify how well received and how needed the boxes are and not more so than now when Romania like ourselves has been affected by the pandemic.
We are making up "hygiene" bags in a reusable gift bag this year. This can include, Soap, flannel, brush/comb, shampoo, Toothbrush and toothpaste. If you would like any bag to fill for your shoebox, please contact Lynne Frost who can post them out to you.
Shoebox leaflet 2020 Please click on this link for the labels and more information.
Plans to return to Worship in the building (posted 03.10.2020)
As a church we have managed to meet together, since the start of the pandemic, thanks to Zoom. The first week the building was closed was on 22nd March and we had to just use a pre-recorded sermon. Following the national lockdown, on 29th March we swiftly moved to meeting for worship, gathering as church albeit on line, via zoom. We have been the "gathered church". We have to remember that we are urged to meet together as Christians, but the church is not a building, it is the people. Housegroups and all other meetings have been meeting also by zoom throughout the last months.
At our church meeting last week (23rd September) we looked forward and agreed plans to start streaming services live from the building via Youtube, followed by prayer and meeting together on Zoom, as soon as we have the tech set up. More details to follow!!.
As in all society there are differing views on how and when we should meet. Most decisions outside of Government guidelines are about personal choice and no one should be criticised for whatever they personally decide to do. Although meeting together is about following the government's guidelines, we must also remember that we have a duty of care and protection to all, inside and outside our church community, whether or not we are physically meeting together.
Currently, Lighthouse is meeting on a Sunday morning and the parents of lighthouse children are meeting together in the church building, along with a few others at the same time. (Contact Lighthouse leaers for more info) The "ZOOM" service is streamed in to the church. Everyone should be maintaining social distancing, wearing masks and observing other guidelines set out by the government. Places must be prebooked, prior to attending. Please scan the QR code on entering the buidling and also register your details with the steward on duty.
Red Bananas are also using the buidling for their meetings, again following all the guidance given. (Contact the RB leaders for more info)
Some of the house groups are keen to meet in the building too. A Risk Assessment has been completed looking at how we do this safely.
In the current context of rising infections and change in national status from level 3 to 4, the leadership team would not want to encourage house groups to meet in the building. However, where house groups do want to meet in the building they can, subject to:
-consulting within their groups to ensure that all voices are heard and no one is excluded by the decisions made,
-complying with the Risk Assessment,
-keeping Kath Power informed of when they intend to go in,
- recognising that meeting in the building may have to stop subject to further legislation or government advice.
All guidance must be strictly adhered to
Posted 03.10.2020
Care for the Family are doing a number of online events which look helpful. Thought you might like to advertise in church for those who might be interested and helpful in our families ministry
An online version of their event "Raising Faith" is coming soon and we think it’ll be right up your street.
Please go to Care for The Family Website for more information.
Online events of interest (posted 08.09.2020)
The NBA are delighted to be able to host Ruth Rice, who has pioneered the Renew Wellbeing cafe movement, reading a webinar for NBA churches. Details are on the attached flyer.
Some of us had the opportunity to meet Ruth when she visited the region at the beginning of the year, and this is a follow-up gathering for those churches which are already on interested in opening a renew wellbeing cafe, as well as for those who would like to find out about the renew wellbeing cafes for the first time.
After this session Renew Wellbeing will be able to offer 3 further free training sessions for churches to help themselves to, from the renew wellbeing website and to work through in their own time. This then leads to a zoom meeting with one of the renew wellbeing team so that the church can get signed up and get going.
Prayer Requests
Remember to log in to the Members Area for updated Prayer requests. If you cannot rember your log in name contact Lynne Frost for your log in Name. You can then reset your password on the website. Lynne does not have access to anyones passwords.
Sunday gatherings: Every Sunday morning at 10.00am. Via Zoom. All Welcome (posted 04.04.20)
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/220557344 (Meeting ID: 220 557 344)
Mobile call in: 02080806591
Landline call in: 0203 481 5240, 0208 080 6591, 0208 080 6592, 0330 088 5830, 0131 460 1196
Posted 3.4.20 Remember to log in to the members area to access the prayer page. If you cannot remember your user name, contact Lynne. She will give you the user name and then you can log in like any other website. If you cannot remember your password, go to "forgot password". Lynne does NOT have access to your passwords!
Sermon Recordings are all available on the website.
Friday morning prayers for Prudhoe and the Tyne Valley (posted 27/03/20)
I've shared a few times about the encouraging ecumenical prayer group that meets every Friday morning at 8.30 am to pray for Prudhoe and the Tyne valley. This is now meeitng on-line via Zoom, coordinated by Paul Revill. If you are now at home on Friday mornings and would like to join us, pass your email adress to Paul and he'll put you on the circulation list!
Poem by Debby Henderson (posted 19/03/20)
Debby felt this was inspired by the Lord and is posted here to encourage us!
A Pandemic has hit our lands,
People are worried, Scarred with fear,
Many will die, the pain of loved ones so dear.
But amidst the darkness a light appears!
Can we see the Love of all he teaches?
The beauty as he lingers near.
The world must change!
Love must be pure!
Our lives belong to him.
Death is but a new beginning
to be with the Lord above.
Our destiny from birth
If we live his truth.
Please see the Church Policies Page for updated Covid-19 Communication 17.03.2020. We will be adding much more news over the coming days.
We want to keep all channels of communication open in this difficult time and Pete is in numerous discucussions on how we can use Skype, Zoom etc to meet together while social distancing at home! More information will be released as decisions are made and prayerfully considered.
We are setting up a prayer page in the members area with info on members of our congregation with the Covoid-19 virus or other significant illnesses. For obvious reasons this cannot be on the public part of the site, but will enable all of us to pray for each other (if you have forgotten your log In details, Lynne can give you your Username so you can reset your password on the front page of the website).
When self-isolating or social distancing it is good to have a strategy for each day, and not give in to binge watching Netflix! This is an opportunity to use our time well and invest in our spiritual lives. Some ideas:
1. Invest in God's Word and your Prayer life.
2. Telephone people (yes old fashioned, but is is good to hear people's voices).
3. Have a daily routine and put structure in to your life
4. Incorporate a daily walk to keep fit and get fresh air. (Keeping away from other people of course)
5. Use Social Media to honour God and see who we can reach out to in this time. We see many photos of empty shelves and false news, so let us flood social media with photos which show good things and news that may be balm to the soul.
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