What’s here – Joshua Cafe, Covid latest, Events Diary,
Joshua Cafe now open Fridays 10.00 – 4.00
It has been an exciting launch of the Joshua Tree Cafe.
Building on the legacy of the Cafe Drop-in pre-covid, Joe and his team have been supported through prayer, donations and a willingness to serve others.
The cafe is combined with the well established Hillside Todder group so there is space to chat and catch-up or if you’re a parent/carer with a toddler, somewhere for them to play and ready them for the nap!
We look forward to seeing you
Covid Latest
Dear All,
Following the last PCC meeting and advice from the Government and Durham Diocese we feel able to relax some of the precautions we are taking against the spread of Covid.
We continue to request the wearing of face masks inside the building to protect yourself and others unless you have a medical exemption.
Joyful congregation singing will be able to happen at last, although we request that you wear a mask when singing!
We no longer need to leave the building as soon as the service is over but, as with life in general at the moment, it is safer to have conversations outside if possible.
Infection rates are still high in our area so we hope that you feel comfortable with these measures and that they will enhance your enjoyment of worship in person at Hillside.
Dear Friends
If you are able to attend on Sunday let us know by contacting the office either by email hillsidechurchoffice@gmail.com or phone 0191 4220445 so that we can monitor numbers.
What a long time it is since we last met together in the church building. We’ve been meeting and worshipping online and have been grateful for the technology which has made this possible.
The time has come, however, when we can take some gentle steps back into the church building for worship. We know that returning to the church building will not be something everyone can or wants to do at this time. Some of you may be shielding limiting your social contacts, some may feel it’s too soon for this step – and that’s fine. We will be maintaining the online worship through Zoom as well as the uploading to Facebook and YouTube. We will also ensure those who require a DVD will continue to receive this.
We are not in a position to undertake Sunday School (this will remain online) so unless the little ones are able to stay with you we ask that you continue to have patience until it’s deemed safe to come again.
While we will be taking a number of steps to keep you safe, we cannot make this risk-free.
Please do not to attend the service if you have:
- A new cough, a temperature, lost your sense of smell or taste.
If you do decide to come to church you will find that we’ve had to make some changes to keep everyone safe.
- The service will be a said Communion service at 10.15am on Sunday Mornings.
- Communion will be in one kind – i.e., bread only.
- A mask will be required and at present, no singing is allowed.
- Seating will be spaced out so that there is 2m between individuals or household groups.
- There will be no refreshments served after the service.
- All current guidelines on social distancing will need to be observed – this means that there is no scope for socialising before or after the service.
Here is an outline of what you can expect when you arrive at church.
- When you arrive you will be welcomed and directed into church to avoid a queue at the sanitising station.
- Before you enter please put your mask on.
- On entering the building please use the hand sanitiser.
- We will record your attendance for track and trace purposes. If you develop COVID-19 symptoms within a 3 week period of attending church you need to notify us.
- Please keep apart by 2 metres at all times
- During Communion, only bread will be distributed.
- At the end of the service please stay in your seat until you are directed to leave.
- On leaving the building please be aware of not blocking anyone else’s exit by stopping outside the church doors.
We want you to have the best experience without additional concerns during what is, a very disrupting time. On a more positive note I was encouraged by Hebrews 10:19 – 25 where the writer reminds the reader of what Christ has done, how we are a people of confidence and assurance in our God and as such we meet to be an encouragement to one another.
‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit’ (Romans 15.13)
Let us continue to be the people of hope in our community.
Yours in Christ
Events Diary
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Thy Kingdom Come
Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray from Ascension to Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus.
Since its start in May 2016 God has grown Thy Kingdom Come from a dream of possibility into a movement. Christians from 172 countries have taken part in praying ‘Come Holy Spirit’, so that friends and family, neighbours and colleagues might come to faith in Jesus Christ.
This praying together has been across our diversity and differences as every person, household and church are encouraged to pray in their own way. According to our annual survey findings an astonishing percentage of people said they were praying for family and friends to come to faith in Jesus, and a significant number of people join in for the first time, we recognise there is much more we can do together to help Thy Kingdom Come be fully in the lifeblood of the Church.
During the 11 days of Thy Kingdom Come, it is hoped that everyone who takes part will:
- Deepen their own relationship with Jesus Christ
- Pray for 5 friends or family to come to faith in Jesus
- Pray for the empowerment of the Spirit that we would be effective in our witness
After the very first Ascension Day the disciples gathered with Mary, constantly devoting themselves to prayer while they waited for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Like them, our reliance on the gift of the Holy Spirit is total – on our own we can do nothing.
Through the centuries Christians have gathered at that time to pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit. ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ picks up this tradition. Over the years more and more worshipping communities have dedicated the days between Ascension and Pentecost to pray ‘Come Holy Spirit’.
We are praying that the Spirit will inspire and equip us to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with our friends and families, our communities and networks. It has been amazing how many varied ways there have been in which people from every tradition have taken up this challenge. The effects have been remarkable.
It is our prayer that those who have not yet heard the Good News of Jesus Christ and his love for the world will hear it for themselves, and respond and follow Him. Specifically, we again invite each and every Christian across the globe to pray that God’s Spirit might work in the lives of 5 friends who have not responded with their ‘Yes’ to God’s call.
Whether you have joined in ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ before or not, we invite you to take part – along with churches from over 80 different denominations & traditions in nearly 90% of countries (172) around the world.
“In praying ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ we all commit to playing our part in the renewal of the nations and the transformation of communities.” Archbishop Justin Welby