December 2010
November
28 Sun First Sunday of Advent
10.00 am Parish Eucharist & Young Church
3.00 pm 'Messy Church' (Kepier)
6.00 pm Advent Carols by Candlelight
29 Mon
12.30 pm ‘Drop in’ afternoon for new residents (Kepier)
2.00 pm Mothers' Union Deanery Festival (St Michael & All Angels)
6.00 pm ‘Vestry Hour’ for Baptism and Marriage inquiries
7.15 pm Rehearsal for Baptism Families
30 Tues
7.00 pm Eucharist
December
1 Wed
6.00 pm Advent Evening Prayer
7.30pm Ladies Fellowship (Kepier)
2 Thur Thanksgiving for Andrew, Apostle, Patron of Scotland
10.00 am Eucharist
1.00 pm HOPE Fellowship (Methodist Church)
4 Sat
2.00 pm CARE Group (Kepier)
5 Sun Second Sunday of Advent
8.30 am Eucharist
10.00 am Family Eucharist with Welcome of Baptism families and
Baptism of Benjamin Darby
6.00 pm ENGAGE WITH HOPE!
6 Mon
12.30 pm ‘Drop in’ afternoon for new residents (Kepier)
6.00 pm ‘Vestry Hour’ for Baptism and Marriage inquiries
8.30 pm 'Last Orders' for Men (Houghton Rugby Club)
7 Tues
7.00 pm Eucharist
8 Wed
6.00 pm Advent Evening Prayer
7.00 pm 'Last Orders' for Men Christmas Meal (Seaton Lane Inn)
7.30 pm Ladies Fellowship (Kepier)
9 Thur The conception of virgin Mary
10.00 am Eucharist
1.00 pm HOPE Fellowship (Methodist Church)
11 Sat
2.00 pm CARE Group (Kepier)
7.00 pm Houghton Brass Band Concert
12 Sun Third Sunday of Advent
8.30 am Eucharist
10.00am Parish Eucharist & Young Church
12 Noon Baptisms of Lee-Matthew Hoggin & Blake Morris
1.00 pm Baptisms of Maisie Purdham & Evie Barker
6.00 pm Choral Evensong
13 Mon
12.30 pm ‘Drop in’ afternoon for new residents (Kepier)
2.00 pm Mother's Union Carol Service
6.00 pm ‘Vestry Hour’ for Baptism and Marriage inquiries
6.30 pm Uniformed Organisations Carol Service
7.30 pm Christmas 'Time Out' for Women (The Mill Inn)
14 Tues
7.00 pm Eucharist
7.30 pm PCC Meeting Room
15 Wed
6.00 pm Advent Evening Prayer
7.00 pm 'Light of Life' Service
7.30 pm Ladies Fellowship (Kepier)
16 Thur Thanksgiving for John of the Cross, Poet, Teacher of the Faith
10.00 am Eucharist
1.00 pm HOPE Fellowship (Methodist church)
18 Sat
2.00 pm CARE Group (Community Centre)
19 Sun Fourth Sunday of Advent
8.30 am Eucharist
10.00 am Parish Eucharist & Young Church
3.00 pm Christingle
6.00 pm Service of Light
20 Mon
12.30 pm ‘Drop in’ afternoon for new residents (Kepier)
6.00 pm ‘Vestry Hour’ for Baptism and Marriage inquiries
21 Tues
7.00 pm Eucharist
23 Wed
6.00 pm Advent Evening Prayer
23 Thur Feria
10.00 am Eucharist
1.00 pm HOPE Fellowship (Methodist church)
24 Fri Christmas Evev
3.30 pm Crib Service
7.00 pm Carol Service
11.30 pm Midnight mass
25 Sat Christmas Day
8.30 am Eucharist
10.00 am Festive Eucharist
26 Sun First Sunday of Christmas
10.00 am Parish Eucharist & Young Church
23 Thur The Naming & Circumcision of Jesus
10.00 am Eucharist
31 Sat
7.30 pm New Year's Eve Party (Kepier) Tickets only see here for details.
Mediterranean donkey gets festive in Houghton-le-Spring
Mediterranean donkeys come from Islands of Sicily and Sardinia
A donkey that was rescued from a travelling circus in France takes on a friendly Christmas role in Houghton-le-Spring.
Silver was a bit of a lone ranger and used to carry monkeys around the circus ring on her back when she was 10 years old.
However, seven years ago the Mediterranean donkey was brought to the north-east of England, adopted by a farm, given a new life and taken care of.
This winter Silver will be part of the nativity scene created at the Farm's barn for visitors to have a look at and even give her a gentle stroke.
Excited
Donkeys play an important part in the classic nativity story.
Silver will be helping to recreate some of these scenarios as Down At The Farm turns festive for Christmas.
The farm's owner, Catherine Weightman, says: "Whilst children are always so excited to see Santa and tell him their Christmas wishes, we feel it important to convey the traditional Christmas story. Silver plays an important part when it comes to doing this.
"Children entering our Christmas wonderland are so thrilled when they see real live animals in the nativity scene, particularly if they have been practising for their school nativity play!
"Getting the opportunity to stroke and hug a real donkey is one that creates much pleasure, both for the children and the parents bringing them to our festive barn".
Houghton-le-Spring in Old Photographs Book
Houghton Heritage Christmas Puddings
Houghton-le-Spring 2013 Calendar
