Welcome to Earlsdon Methodist Church
Newsletter and Notices
Week beginning 1st December 2024
Minister: Revd Doreen Koffie-Williams
The weekly newsletter with further information is available by email and we warmly invite you to join the mailing list. Please contact: earlsdonmcnews@gmail.com
Additional information can be found on this website
Dear Earlsdon Methodist Friends,
We are entering the season of Advent as we look towards Christmas. A time of waiting. We are familiar with the story to come; perhaps so familiar that we have forgotten that sense of childlike wondering and open curiosity? Do we think we know it all?
I’m not very good at waiting patiently. I’m certainly not patient with myself at times. I can be patient with (most) other people ….most of the time. Just don’t catch me on a bad day!
We can find it hard to stay with the waiting, the not-knowing, whether we’re young or old. It’s not always easy to be patient.
Sometimes we wait with excitement. My local supermarket is displaying each day the number of sleeps to Christmas! (Maybe for adults that’s more pressure than excitement?)
Sometimes we wait with anxiety, for news, for medical treatment, for time to pass when it hangs heavily.
Waiting patiently can feel almost impossible at times.
The Psalmist says:
‘Be Still and Know that I am God’
Psalm 46:10
Finding a place of stillness within ourselves, within God, can help in our waiting.
“It is impossible to shift priorities if we are in a constant, busy, frenetic lifestyle. There has to be that pause, that breath, that waiting, that willingness to be still until we know. Be still and know—but the stillness doesn’t immediately lead to knowing. At first, we have to be still, and then we have to be patient until the knowing comes about.” (Dr Barbara Holmes, 1943-2024)
Our hymn this week sent in by Victor is one from Isaac Watts. It reminds us that we can see the glory, the presence and the grace of God in all things – in the wonder of creation and in each other.
(Ed)
Sunday 1st December: First in Advent
Worship with Holy Communion at 10.30am led by Revd Doreen Koffie-Williams
Morning Worship is available via the usual zoom link.
Coffee and tea are available after service
Sunday 8th December: Second in Advent Christmas Tree Festival Weekend
All age worship at 10.30am led by Penny McAinsh
Sunday 15th December
Worship at 10.30am led by Alison Gee
Sunday 22nd December
All age worship at 10.30am led by Revd Stephen Willey
Carols for the Community at 6pm led by Revd Doreen Koffie-Williams
Christmas Eve
Holy Communion at 6.30pm led by Revd Doreen Koffie-Williams
Christmas Day
Family Worship at 10am led by Revd Doreen Koffie-Williams
Sunday 29th December
Worship at 10.30am led by Revd Ian Coates
CTEC Advent Service, will be held at Earlsdon Park Village this Sunday at 6pm.
All are welcome. (Poster HERE)
‘The Vine at Home’ is a worship resource for anyone to use. (You will also find an archive of past issues there. (TW))
(At the Worship Cloud you can download Hymns, Prayers, Commentaries and Images for use in your Sermons, Devotionals, House Groups and Personal Discipleship. (TW))
Church Family News and Prayer
We continue to remember
Barry Gallard who remains in hospital following his operation. Our prayers are with him, with
Carol and the family.
We also hold
David & Judith Cule in our thoughts and love.
Birthdays in December:
Ros Light (7th), Akanimo Nkantah (18th ), Helen Holdforth (18th ), Dianabasi Nkantah (20th )
A Happy Birthday to you all!
(Have we missed anyone?)
And this weekend we wish
HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all our American friends!
Meetings and Activities at EMC:
Tuesday 3rd
Morning Prayer and Reflection: 8.45am for 15 minutes online.
Zoom link as for Sunday worship. All are welcome.
Intercessory Prayer Group: 11am online.
Eco-Meeting 7.30pm online. All are welcome. Use the Sunday worship zoom link
Wednesday 4th
‘Prayers and Bears’ toddler church meets at 9.30am, open from 9am
Friday 6th
Earlsdon ‘3in1’ Youth Group meets in the Church Hall, 6- 8 pm for 5–18-year-olds.
(Meeting on the first and third Friday each month)
Wellspring Café
Thursdays 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. Saturday 9.00 a.m. -12.00 noon.
The usual menu of drinks and light food is available. Prayer Shawl knitters meet on Thursday.
Church Christmas Tree Festival is next weekend (from Thursday 5th – Sunday 8th December). The trees will be open to view in church each day and volunteers are needed to be available to welcome visitors. Please see the posters in Wellspring. Do contact the stewards or Penny & Adrian if you can help. Thank you
CHURCH SAFEGUARDING
We have been asked to ensure that our Safeguarding Training is up to date. As I have only been able to find partial records of who has or has not had training, I would be grateful if those of our community that have roles which require training would check their training certificates and let me have a copy of it. Many thanks.
David Mills CSO
CHURCHES TOGETHER IN EARLSDON AND CHAPELFIELDS FELLOWSHIP MEAL
The annual CTEC Fellowship Meal for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will take place on Saturday 19th January 2025 at 6.30pm at our church. If you would like to share in this opportunity to enjoy food and fellowship with people for other local churches, tickets (£8) will be available nearer the time.
But we also need volunteers from our church to help prepare and serve the meal.
If you would be willing to help in any way, please speak to Alison, Richard or Lorna soon so that we can put a team together.
Thank you.
Woodside Fellowship
We had a lovely afternoon last Tuesday when we welcomed 86 excited children from Stivichall Primary School Choir to our church! The well-trained children entertained us by singing some songs from the musicals and some Christmas songs. Many thanks to the children and their teachers for a very enjoyable afternoon.
Tuesday, 10th December, at 2pm - "Christmas Celebrations!"
The children from our Playgroup will start our celebrations by entertaining us with songs from their Nativity Play. This will be followed by a Christmas Quiz, readings and singing our favourite carols. Finishing with mince pies and a cup of tea!
Please note that our Christmas meeting will be the last one of the year.
We will meet again in the new year on
14th January 2025 for our AGM and listen to the music of Andre Rieu (via CDs).
The programme for the early months of 2025 is available
HERE.
Come and join us - you will be made very welcome.
Other Events over Christmas.
Christmastide Celebrations at Coventry Cathedral - See Poster
HERE.
Coventry Cyrenians Christmas Day Dinner Event 2024 - Poster available
HERE.
Lois Talbot (Web version by Tim W), 16/11/2024