Sunday, 10th May 2026: The Sixth Sunday of Easter; The Start of Christian Aid Week
11:00am - Parish Eucharist (CW)
12:15pm (approx) - Soup & Bun and Plants Table for Christian Aid in the Institute
***Please see note below***
6:00pm - Choral Evensong (BCP)
Tuesday: The Commemoration of Gregory Dix, Priest, Monk and Scholar, 1952; Rogation Day
2:00pm - Tea & Talk in the Institute (proceeds for Christian Aid)
Wednesday: The Eve of the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord; Rogation Day
9:00am - Oasis
10:00am - Midweek Holy Communion (BCP)
Thursday: The Feast of the Ascension of the Lord
6:30pm - Deanery Ascension Day Holy Eucharist at Finchale Priory (CW)
***Please see note below***
Sunday, 17th May 2026: The Seventh Sunday of Easter (The Sunday after the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord)
11:00am - Parish Eucharist (CW)
6:00pm - Said Evensong with Hymns (BCP)
***Please see the Calendar of services attached.***
Christian Aid Week 2026: On Sunday 10th May, we will offer a Christian Aid Snack (not lunch!) of soup and a bun to prompt us to remember the very poor in the world—and to open our cheque books.
There will also be a plants table for people to bring, buy and swap—for a donation of course!
On Sunday 17th May, we hope to have a speaker or a film; TBC.
Deanery Ascension Day Eucharist 2026: 6:30pm, Thursday 14th May at Finchale Priory, Durham.
Preacher: Joanne Nicholson - Chaplain at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.
Please do come to this wonderful and very special occasion of celebration.
***Please note: There is no roof, no heating and no seating. Please bring your own seat (or be prepared to stand or sit on the grass), and please be prepared for the weather!***
Parish Magazine: The latest issue of the Parish Magazine is now available.
As usual, magazines will be delivered to all regular subscribers, with extra copies available to purchase (£2.00 each) from the back of church.
Good Citizen Award: Win Colman has received this award from the City of Durham Parish Council. A ceremony will take place on 20th May at 6.30pm at Durham University Business School. Everyone is welcome to attend and it should be a joyous moment to say thank you to Win.
Deanery Confirmation Service 2026: The Confirmation Service this year will take place at 6:00pm on Saturday 6th June at St Nics, Durham. Please let Peter know if you would like to be Confirmed or indeed Baptised and Confirmed at this service. It will be taken by Bishop Frank White.
Setting up for Services: Could you help set up for services once a month? We have a beautiful but currently too small rota to clean the candlesticks, find the passages in the Lectionary and prepare for communion - count the wafers, set up the water and wine. It takes around an hour once a month on either the Friday or Saturday. And it's more fun and quicker to do it with a friend, so do think about offering with someone else! Please speak to Beth, Sarah, Alison, Judy or Roz to learn more about it.
Churches Together Trip to Lindisfarne: Durham Churches Together is hoping to organise a day trip to Lindisfarne, on Saturday 6 June this year, similar to those run, pre-Covid, by Churches Together in Elvet & Shincliffe. A decision depends on enough participants at a price not exceeding £20.00 per head for the coach. If you would be interested please let Boyd Sims-Williams or Stevie Taylor know as soon as possible. ([email protected], [email protected]).
Foodbank - Weekly Message from Lynda Delf: On 26th April, 4kg of food was collected in Church and £20.00 was anonymously posted through our letterbox.
In April, £70.00 and 22kg of food was donated by parishioners; this will provide meals for more than 30 people. Many thanks for all you do to support our foodbanks.
This week our shortages include rice, sugar, jam, biscuits, coffee, tinned tomatoes, potatoes, meat, fish, rice pudding and fruit. We always need household cleaning materials, nappies, toilet rolls, long-life milk and fruit juice. Thank you very much.
Wedding: Jonathan and Angela would be delighted for members of St Oswald's to join them at their wedding here on Saturday 23rd May at 11:00am.
Birthday Wishes: Congratulations to Claire Hedley on her 91st birthday on Monday!
For your Prayers: Amongst the sick, please pray for Angie Robley.
With All Good Wishes and Prayers, Peter
The Reverend Peter Kashouris
St Oswald's Vicarage, Church Street, Durham [email protected]