Congratulations to Elaine Shanks who was authorised today as Lay Minister of the Word to serve at St Paul's, Ryhope.Lay Ministers of the Word are to lead worship, preach and teach so as to build up th eBody of Christ in faith and action.Elaine has been studying all year and has put a huge amount of effort and dedication in to serving our church. It is a joy to see Elaine's ministry in Ryhope grow.A prayer from the service at Durham Cathedral this morning:Loving God,whose Spirit stirs us to care and calls us into service.We give thanks for the rich variety of ministrieswhich embody your compassion.We praise your nameBecause you have called women and men to serve you,bestowing the needful gifts of grace.Equip these your servants, we pray,for the growth of your Kingdom.Give them wisdom in listening and speaking,compassion in their actions and humility in their ministries.Make them channels of your love,that many may come to know and trust youthrough you Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.Amen.
Sunderland Minster, along with Christians from around Sunderland and the surrounding areas, were at Sunderland Pride today supporting the LGBTQ + event. The Minster had a stall with knitted sheep and rainbows in various pride flag colours given out for free to those visiting it. Rev. Jacqui Tyson had a picture frame with “The image of God” written on it which we were invited to pose in. The annual event was well attended with adults, teenagers, families and friends enjoying an afternoon of musical entertainment after the march from Park Lane to Keel Square.This year is the 56th anniversary of the Stonewall riots which sparked the Pride marches. The Stonewall riots were sparked by a police raid on the Stonewall inn in Greenwich village in New York in 1969, after an increasingly oppressive approach to LGBTQ people by the police and US society and law in general. The riots continued for several days and led to organisations springing up advocating rights for LGBTQ people. These campaigning groups have won equal marriage rights and protection in law such as the Equality Act but there has been an erosion of rights in recent years throughout the world.By Elaine Shanks.
We offer a wide range of preloved items: Clothing, Toys, Linen, Baby Items, Bric-a-Brac, and electrical goods (PAT tested)Opening Times:Monday: 9am - 3pmTuesday: 9am - 3pmWednesday: 9am - 12pmThursday: 9am - 3pmFriday: 10am - 4pmClosed:Weekends & Bank Holidays
Thank you to all who supported our Summer Fayre. To the organisers who made this possible, to the stall holders, and to everyone who called in. Together we raised over £1100. Well done, everyone!
