They chose the coldest night of the year for it – but still people from Heaton turned out for a service on March 2nd to mark the beginning of a Local Ecumenical Partnership Covenant.
Heaton Road must be one of the holiest places in Newcastle – at least if you equate holiness with the number of church buildings. Seven at the last count – and now five of these are bound together, bound to one another, in a covenant which is to be known as 5churches4heaton.
Gathered in St Teresa’s Roman Catholic Church were members of the local congregation, St Gabriel’s Parish Church, the two Methodist Churches (Heaton and Bainbridge) and Heaton United Reformed Church. Guests included the Mayor and Mayoress of the city, together with local councillors, and also the four church leaders who signed the covenant as witnesses.
During the service a PowerPoint display reminded those present of the variety of work already undertaken, some separately, but more and more together; and the Acting Methodist Chair, the Revd Terry Hurst, encouraged those present to take further bold steps on their ecumenical journey together.
Although not mentioned at the service, there is already the possibility of new directions. Our own church is in conversation with two neighbouring Methodist Churches (one within the new Covenant, and the other not) which might result in a joint congregation. Which would be good for ecumenical witness, but would mean 4churches 4 inplaces of 5churches4!
Meanwhile, back at the service - on the altar members from the five churches had placed symbols of our common faith: the Bible, oil, water, a candle, and bread and wine. Later in the service that faith was affirmed in words for today led by children and adults together. After representatives of each church signed the covenant, and the congregational sang joyfully “we are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord” everyone moved to the church hall for refreshments. It was with warm hearts that they faced the cold journey back home.
