Welcome to Earlsdon Methodist Church

Newsletter and Notices
Newsletter 243: 30.3.25

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,

The weekly newsletter is attached with additional notices as usual. We also include a summary of services and events over Easter which you may find helpful along with Victor’s choice of hymn for us from the old Methodist Hymn Book (MHB). (For some strange reason my browser doesn't open this link in a new Tab, so you may need to use the '<' button to return to this page, sorry, TW)

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There was much splashing in the pond one morning this week. It may have been the rain in the night that encouraged our local frogs into action. We now have large clusters of frogspawn, and the nursery is established once again for this year’s brood of tadpoles and the next generation! Evidence that the year is turning.

We have passed the spring equinox, and the northern half of earth now tilts towards the sun. The clocks move on, and we mark Mothering Sunday this coming weekend. Lent is already over half-way through, and we look towards Easter.

There is hope. And yet there is still mourning.

The journey in Lent continues. In preparation and as we soberly reflect on ourselves, our community and our world, we are called into repentance for the way we are, for the way the world is. A powerful expression of repentance can be in the perhaps less well-used word – of ‘Lamentation’. More than regret, it is a deep sorrow, a community grieving for the way things are, for the pain, the suffering, the twisted nature of our world as it is. We don’t just stand apart and observe it. We are part of it. We lament. We grieve. We repent.

Gaza, Israel, Palestine, Ukraine, Russia, Sudan, Yemen, the changing face of power…….
The Climate crisis
Feelings of despair and anxiety for many in our country. Fear of not coping.
Angry young people who feel that they are not listened to. Lonely old people who feel forgotten…

The Old Testament book of Lamentations and many of the Psalms, both written hundreds of years BCE, find expression for our grieving and our sorrow.

“This is why we are sick at heart” (Lamentations 5:17)

The world is not as it could be. We must lament.

We look towards Easter. There is hope.

The ever-turning, renewing earth gives us hope. Our trust in the God of salvation and resurrection sustains us.

“How long O Lord, How long must I suffer anguish in my soul?...

…..As for me, I trust in your unfailing love; My heart will rejoice when I am brought to safety”. (Psalm 13)

Ed / LT

Sunday 30^th March

Mothering Sunday

All age Worship at 10.30am led by Revd Doreen Koffie-Williams

Morning Worship is available via the usual zoom link.

Coffee and tea are available after morning service

Sunday 6^th April

Worship with Holy Communion at 10.30am led by Revd Doreen Koffie-Williams

Sunday 13^th April (Palm Sunday)

All age worship at 10.30am led by Karen Brooks

Circuit Farewell Service for Rev Stephen Willey, 3pm at Coventry Central Hall with music from The Coventry City of Culture Orchestra.

Holy Week and Easter Services are listed HERE (For some strange reason my browser doesn't open this link in a new Tab, so you may need to use the '<' button to return to this page, sorry, TW)

Church Family News and Prayer

Birthdays in April:

Michael Harris (2^nd), Tae Sigauke (4^th), Ethel Martin (20^th), Tim Jefferies (24^th)

We wish you all a happy celebration

Have we missed anyone?

‘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))

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.

Monday 31^st

Come and Sing 7.30pm in Church. We are practising some less familiar hymns and enjoy the company of singers in harmony and in unison.

Tuesday 1^st April

Morning Prayer and Quiet Reflection: 8.45am for 15 minutes online.

Zoom link as for Sunday worship. All are welcome.

Intercessory Prayer Group: 11am online

CTEC Lent Lunch at St Mary Magdalene, Anglican Church, Sir Thomas White’s Road, Chapelfields. 12 noon. A simple lunch of soup and a short reflection.

Lent Study & Fellowship 7.30 at the home of Ray Williscroft. (Please ask for the address) All are welcome We will be using material produced by ‘Embrace the Middle East’

Wednesday 2^nd

Prayers and Bears’ toddler church meets at 9.30am, open from 9am
Wednesday Worship 7pm. A short act of worship held fortnightly. Coffee available from 6.45pm

Friday 4^th

Earlsdon ‘3in1’ Youth Group meets in the Church Hall, 6- 8 pm for 5–18-year-olds.

(First and Third Fridays in the month)

Other Events this week:

Coventry Cathedral
“Is a lasting and just peace possible in Israel and Palestine?”
Join us on Wednesday 2nd April at 7pm for the talk with Daniel Munayer, Director of Musalaha - a reconciliation ministry in Israel and Palestine - and the only Palestinian ever to have addressed the UN Security Council
His talk will be followed by a conversation with Dean John and Jamie Eyre, CEO of Embrace the Middle East.

Entry is free but you will need to register using the following link:
https://www.coventrycathedral.org.uk/events/is-peace-possible-in-israel-and-palestine-a-lecture-with-daniel-munayer

ST ANDREWS CARE HOME
The staff and trustees of St Andrews invite you to a
COFFEE MORNING on Friday 4th April between 10.00am and 12.00 noon.
They look forward to welcoming you
David Mills

Eclectica, Coventry, a local orchestra, invites you to their Spring Concert at Earlsdon Church on Saturday 5^th April 2.30pm. ‘Music from Stage and Screen’ and supporting their 2025 Charity – Hope Coventry. No ticket is required, just turn up. Refreshments will be available for a donation to Hope.
J S Bach’s St. Matthew Passion Friday 4^th April, 6.30pm at Coventry Cathedral

Eco-Corner

Caring for God’s World

E is for Energy

On an ‘ordinary’ day how many of our activities involve energy usage? Heating, making a cup of tea, switching on lights, radio, TV, driving the car, washing clothes. All things we take for granted and provide the comforts we enjoy. So much of our lives involve the use of energy sources, gas, electricity, petrol.
Around 80% of global energy use is from fossil fuels and this is non-renewable. This are the major contributing factor in climate change.

Scientists have been predicting the effects of climate change for decades – and we now see this as a present reality. Rising sea levels, flooding, drought, loss of species and increased migration and refugees are all connected with the changing world. The poorest are usually affected first and to a greater degree.
Oil (‘black gold’) and natural resources are often central to power struggles, and become the cause of war and conflict causing further misery.

There is some good news. The move away from coal in some countries, international focus on the crisis. Climate conferences (COPs) have attempted to pressure commitment on countries.

Sadly, in recent times there has been a stepping back from these intentions and the setting of targets.

We can’t afford to take our eye off the ball. Industry and government have great influence and power. Furthermore, there are simple things that each one of us can do.

For example: “If everyone boiled just the amount of water needed in the kettle, instead of filling it up, enough energy would be saved to power the whole of UK’s streetlights for the following night…….Turning the thermostat down by 1^oC or using one hour less heating a day can save 10% on fuel bills.”

Action Points
Decide on five ways you will reduce the amount of energy you will use around the home. If you live with family, try to include them in the decisions.

Switch your electricity and gas to a green supplier.

Get involved. Eg The Climate Coalition https://www.theclimatecoalition.org

Ask your MP to put pressure on Government to support renewable energy, energy efficiency, policies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, to support and encourage international climate agreements

Adapted from: ‘L is for Lifestyle’ by Ruth Valerio

Appeal from Coventry Food Bank.
We know it is really tough for a lot of people out there at the moment and that is one of the reasons are stocks are getting so low, but if you can, please do consider donating to Coventry Foodbank.

You can do this by putting items into supermarket collection bins, organising a collection at your work or donating via our online shop (which allows us to claim Gift Aid). https://coventryfoodbank.org.uk/shop-online/

Woodside Avenue Fellowship
Last Tuesday, we enjoyed looking at a lovely display based on gardens in the Bible, and listened to a collection of inspiring and thought-provoking readings and poems given by the Rev Graham Gee and Mrs Alison Gee - many thanks to them both.
During April and May we will enjoy the following:
Tuesday, 8th April - We will listen to a talk about St Catherine and then have a Bring and Buy.
Tuesday, 22nd April (Easter Tuesday) - We will share together favourite poems, stories, music, etc, about Easter and Spring.
Tuesday, 13th May - Our Playgroup children will be entertaining us with their singing.
Tuesday, 27th May (Bank Holiday) - We will listen to a selection of poems (read by Kath Wykes) written by the funny and wonderful Pam Ayres.
We always meet at 2pm at Woodside Church. We always finish with a refreshing cup of tea (and biscuits) and lots of chat together.

Our friends at Earlsdon are always welcome to join us.

Events coming up::
Eco-Meeting Monday 7^th April, 7.30pm on zoom. All welcome

St John’s Passion : An afternoon concert at King Henry V111 SCHOOL in the Burgess Hall where Spires Orchestra and Chorus are performing JS Bach St John Passion. Saturday 12^th April

Details and tickets can be found at http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/spiresmusic

The performance starts at 2.30pm and will include a break for refreshments

Great Green Gathering: Circuit Eco-Meeting online. Saturday 12^th April 4-5pm.

Church Anniversary: Sunday 27^th April Morning worship led by Revd Sam McBratney followed by ‘Bring and Share’ Lunch

Church AGM Sunday 4^th May following morning worship

Church office email: office@earlsdonmethodist.org.uk

Church Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/EarlsdonMC
Church Twitter account: https://twitter.com/@EarlsdonMC
Circuit website: https://covnunmethodist.org.uk/
District website: https://www.birminghammethodist.org.uk/
District Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Birminghammethodistdistrict/

Do let others know of these e-letters. Anyone can go onto the mailing list by posting ‘I’m in’ to earlsdonmcnews@gmail.com . You can opt out at any time by sending an email to this address.

Lois Talbot (Web version by Tim W), 28/03/2025

Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Visitors click here.

Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello

The following information is specifically for those planning a visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday morning.

Where and When

We meet at the Church Building (details below) for our Sunday Service starting at 10.30am. For your first visit, we recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early to ensure you get a parking space and find somewhere to sit before the service begins. When you arrive, you should be greeted by someone on our Welcome Team.

Parking is available at the front & back of the adjacent Church Hall, accessible from Earlsdon Avenue South.

Tea, coffee and biscuits are available after the service, please stay and have a chat.

Plan your journey:
Open Google Maps

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Accessibility: Both the Church & Church Hall have level or ramp access, and chair lift access to upper floors. There are disabled access toilets in both buildings. The main worship area of the Church also benefits from a hearing loop. Please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up.

Our Service

The main service begins at 10.30am, but when the music is led by our Worship Band, we have a few hymns &/or songs before the service starts. There is then a warm welcome from one of our Stewards. Church news & extra notices may also be given at this time. Our services are typically an hour long, with a mixture of hymns, prayers, bible readings and a sermon. One of our leaders will give the sermon that is bible based and that we can apply to our everyday life. We finish with a final worship song before a final prayer is said. (Sometimes there is an opportunity to receive prayer at the end of the service.)

EMC Congregation

What about my children?

If you would like information of the activities available for children please Contact Us.

Have you got children? Would you like to bring them to church?

Earlsdon Methodist Church aims to provide a safe & welcoming environment in which children can be themselves & have fun learning about our Christian faith. Please see our Sunday Services page for more information on Sunday morning groups for children.

Current mid-week groups available for children are as follows:

Prayers & Bears – every Wednesday morning starting at 8.45 am. This is hosted by the church but led by Tulo & Sarah Raistrick from St Barbara’s C of E Church & is open to parents & carers with children aged ?).
Dayspring Steel Band – please follow this link for more information.

If you have any questions about any of the above then please Contact Us .

Children

Getting Connected

Church Groups

While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our small groups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. We have a variety of groups that meet throughout the week, morning, afternoons and evenings.

Our groups include:-

Centenary Choir (alternate Mondays)
Tuesday Prayer Prayer & Reflection online
Tuesday Intercessory Prayer online
Wednesday Midweek Prayer & Meditation
Wednesday Worship (held fortnightly)
Dayspring Steel Band
3 in 1 Youth Group
Wellspring Café
Prayer Shawl Ministry

Check out Church Groups and see if there’s one that you could join, or we can put you in touch with a small group leader who will be more than happy to invite you along to their group.

We hope that whoever you are, you will feel at home at our church.

Best Wishes