Spirit matters
Contemplate. Journey. Be still. News and experiences from local churches in Saltburn.
Verse of the day:
Emmanuel Church Spirit Matters:
Every Sunday we meet at 9am and 10am. (10am coffee time - 10.30 worship) Come and meet with God and us!
Role Play
In a conversation with Guy, our departed vicar, he said how humbling it was to know that every person who knelt at the Communion rail on a Sunday morning was coping with difficulties in their lives, and, it is only through faith that their path is eased. Here is one story...
My husband and I have been through a lot together; starting with the trauma and sadness of infertility before the days of IVF. We were, however, eventually blessed with a wonderful child. In subsequent years we have battled serious illness together, mental, physical - the Big C included - and also loss and bereavement. We have an incredibly strong bond; we are best mates, work mates, lovers and supporters of each other, thankful that we have the love of God in our lives, always there for us.
But now, when life should be a little easier, as our child is an adult and has flown the nest, we are facing another test of our relationship.
My mother has come to live with us. She is in her 80's, physically frail and has age related short term memory problems.
It was so easy to make the decision for us all to live together, but in reality it is very hard. The problem is that nobody quite knows which role to adopt, parent or child? There aren't any books written about living with an elderly relative, especially for spouses, unlike when one has a baby! There are hundreds of useful books to advise on child rearing.
My mum needs caring for, or to put it another way, parented. We ensure that she eats and drinks enough, encourage her to mobilize and I help her with her personal hygiene, but I also have to prompt her about table manners and ordinary everyday hygiene, which is very difficult.
Other times my mother still wants to be 'mother' with all that entails - "Where are you going? Don't be late home! Don't drink too much, put a coat on, how much have you spent!?" This can be very exhausting for all concerned, and often these episodes leave all of us hurt and confused.
But my mother and I have never been very good at communicating over the years and things aren't going to change now. Why? Because as I said at the beginning, the boundaries between parent and child are blurred.
So we take every day as it comes, sometimes laughing together and reminiscing, but other times we walk on egg shells and are terribly polite to each other. To help me I have Proverbs 15.1 taped on the fridge. 'A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.'
Dear Lord in bringing mum into our house we are obeying the 5th Commandment (Honour your father and your mother), but please give us patience to care for her every need.
Also give us the ability to see the humour in situations, and to find the gentle answer. Finally give us the grace to love one another come what may. Amen.
Jeni Pringle
Echo appeal
Surveys have shown that Emmanuel Church Hall has urgent structural problems. we need to comply with disabled access law better. The only choice is to redevelop some of the hall.
Our new plans have planning permission. They will make this building more environmentally friendly, with solar panels, better heating and 'grey water' facilities.
They will provide a state of the art meeting facility for community use, youth rooms and better storage.
We still need £80,000. Could you or your organisation help us, this Spring, to raise it? Please see www.saltburnparishchurch/echo or call 01287 205322 for more information, or to make a donation. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Saltburn Methodist Church :
The Church is at the corner of Milton
Street and Diamond Street, not far from the Station and the
Bus Stop, in Station Street. We welcome any visitors to Saltburn to our Sunday services at 10.45 am and
to our Wednesday morning service at 10.00 am. There are coffee mornings on Monday and Saturdays to which
all are welcome. The church is also open to anyone for prayer and quiet contemplation, tea/coffee or
just a friendly chat Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The Big Breakfast followed by all-age worship
is normally the last Sunday of every month. Soup & Bun Lunch,12.30 - 1.30pm. A light lunch of homemade
soup and roll, cake and tea or coffee for only £2.50, currently the first Tuesday of every month.
In order to keep in touch with members who are ill, or absent, as well as communicating with present members,
the Church has a magazine, published every second month. Its name is The Link.
Saltburn Evangelical Church :
Leven Street. Worship Services each Sunday 10.30am and 6.30pm.
Ladies Fellowship 1st and 3rd Mondays at 2.00pm.
A warm welcome to everyone. Just turn up or telephone 01287 622329
An independent Evangelical Church - a community of ordinary people - "Christ centered ministry on the foundation of the Scriptures."
The Lighthouse Full Gospel Church :
A small but friendly church with lively worship and bible-based teaching.
The services are at 10:30 on Sundays at Toc H Coach House, Albion Terrace and the Bible Studies in homes at 7:30 on Wednesdays.
All are welcome. 01287 624314
You will get a warm welcome from all these churches in Saltburn:
Saltburn Methodist Church (10.00am Big Breakfast, 10.45 worship)
Our Lady of Lourdes (11.00am)
Emmanuel Church (9am and 10.30am)
Evangelical Church(10.30am and 6.30pm.)
Lighthouse Fellowship (10.30am)
Emmanuel Church now has it's very own website: www.saltburnparishchurch.co.uk
Church locations and contacts
Parish Church of Emmanuel, Windsor Road, 01287 622007
Parish Church Office, Macnay Street, 01287 205322
Methodist Church, Milton Street, 01287 623245
Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church, Milton Street, 01287 623619
St Anthony's RC Church High Street, Brotton, 01287 623619
Lighthouse Full Gospel Church, Toc H Coach House, Albion Terrace, 01287 624314
Saltburn Evangelical Church, Leven Street, 01287 622329
Saltburn Spiritualist Church meets 7.00pm every Saturday at the Community Hall for divine worship and Monday's at 6.30pm for Healing followed by Open Circle at 7.00pm.
“5 minutes a day”
Follow the 'Year of the Bible' program. Spend five minutes each day and read the New Testament in a year.
