Welcome to Earlsdon Methodist Church

Newsletter and Notices
Newsletter 248: 18th May 2025

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,
With our weekly newsletter we have updates on special services, news and events coming up.

Victor’s hymn choice this week is one which has been popular for many years, and we find in our current hymn book, with a slight change of wording. Spot the differences!

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Do you ever daydream about what you might have done in life – or what indeed you’d like to do …in your dreams! It can be a fun activity with friends over a meal or a cup of tea, chatting about what your fantasy persona might be, and why.
There’s part of me that would have liked to have been an opera singer. (I don’t have the voice, the discipline or the ample chest, but we can all dream!). Maybe you can imagine being an astronaut, a footballer, a great orator or dancer?
There are practical reasons why our ‘ego-dreams’ are not always possible. The limitations of our bodies, our circumstances, opportunities etc.

However, I wonder whether we often carry deeper frustrations. The irritation or anxiety that we don’t seem to fulfil our more realistic dreams of living freely and joyfully. The disappointed with ourselves. What is it that can stop us ‘thriving’ - really living to the full?
I’m sure I’m not alone in having an ‘inner chatterbox’, not always clear in words but a sense of : “ I’m not (doing) enough!” “I’m letting someone down!” “I’m always running behind” – like the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. “I shouldn’t be feeling like this!”. These are things I don’t actually believe, but the voice in my head keeps chuntering at me, reducing me…..

As we come to the end of Christian Aid Week, we are confronted yet again with the reality that so many lives in our world are cruelly limited, reduced, cut short, disabled from their potential of full life because of poverty, or war, or injustice.
There are so many reasons why lives are restricted.

What might actually make a difference?
Perhaps if we could really accept the truth in God that we believe and proclaim…. That I am loved. You are loved. Each person in this world is loved. And that we might live our lives from this deep truth!
The transforming power of experiencing real love can never be underestimated. The disabling power of love withheld is evidenced all around us.
Knowing that I am loved beyond measure is probably not going to help me become an astronaut or an opera singer. Neither will it change overnight the injustices and cruelties in this world. However, the transforming power it does have, is undeniable and I wonder if we can fully imagine or dream of its potential?

Last week Heather and Penny shared a quotation in worship. It speaks well to us:

“As for that which is beyond your strength, be absolutely certain that our Lord loves you, devotedly and individually: loves you just as you are. Think only of this and say to yourself, “I am loved by God more than I can either conceive or understand”. Let this fill all your soul and all your prayers and never leave you.
And St John, who knew all the depth and tenderness of God’s love, was constantly ravished by the thought: “He loved us first!” (1John 4: 7-10)

Abbe de Tourville (writing at the end of the 19th C and the beginning of the 20th C)

Sunday 18^th May
Worship at 10.30am led by Hugh McCredie

Worship with Holy Communion at 6.30pm led by Revd Christine Crabtree

Morning Worship is available via the usual zoom link.

Coffee and tea are available after morning service

Sunday 25^th May
Worship with an Eco-theme at 10.30am led by Lorna Warrener and church members

Sunday 1^st June
Worship with Holy Communion at 10.30am led by Revd Doreen Koffie-Williams

Circuit Easter Offering Service (at EMC), 4.15pm for tea and cake followed by worship at 5pm

‘The Vine at Home’ is an additional worship resource for anyone to use. (You will be redirected to the Circuit Website where you will also find an archive of past issues. (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))

Christian Aid Week 11^th -17^th May
'Christian Aid' Plant sale on Friday 16^th and running into the weekend.

This will be in Wellspring and your support is welcome.

Wellspring Café
Thursdays & Fridays 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.

Service of Accreditation for Jo Hibbard as a Local Preacher. Saturday May 17^th, 3pm, at Woodside Avenue Church. All are welcome

Christian Aid Quiz Evening
As usual, St Barbara's is holding a Quiz in support of Christian Aid It will take place in the Church Hall on Saturday 17th May (on the last evening of Christian Aid Week), and will start promptly at 6.30pm.
Tickets are £7 per person (or £5.50 for schoolchildren) and includes a hot meal (with 10 choices - including vegan).
Tickets must be obtained in advance from Ian Leitch at ianleitch094@gmail.com

Mondays
‘Come and Sing!’ 7.30pm in Church. Next Meeting, 2^nd June

Tuesdays

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

Intercessory Prayer Group: 11am online.

Wednesdays

Prayers and Bears meets at 9.30am (open from 9am), with Penny, Lorna, Helen and Viv supporting its continuation for now at least as Revd Tulo Raistrick has moved on from St. Barbara’s. Leadership in the longer term for this important ministry requires prayerful thought. Do get in touch if you can help or have input.

Wednesday Worship 7pm. A short act of worship held fortnightly. Coffee available from 6.45pm. Next meeting on 28^th May

Pastoral Committee meeting is on Wednesday May 21^st at 7.30pm.

Saturday

Grow Planning Workshop Morning at Bedworth MC 24th May, led by Adam Sanders District Mission Advisor. Steve Fox will be going and can give a lift to 2 or 3, if needed. It is Important for us to be thinking about this, and we encourage anyone and everyone to participate. (Advertising poster HERE)

We are starting a Vision Group at Earlsdon. The first meeting is Thursday 5^th June, 7.00pm in Wellspring
This group is open to everyone who with ideas for the forward movement and mission of your Church here in Earlsdon. They will be formulating ideas and working closely with the stewards to help implement them.

The Stewards

Work on the Church Garden is coming along, but I need some community help.
Could everyone keep their eyes open for free packets of wildflower seeds please. There are a few charities who will send them out free, to further wilding of areas for insects etc. If you have any spare or are able to obtain some, i think they will make a great finishing touch to the open areas.

A pictorial update will be part of the upcoming Eco service. Thanks, Steve

Eco-Corner

Caring for God’s World

H is for Habitats
God created an earth teaming with life. He called it ‘very good’. (Genesis 1 v 31)

In the last 25 years there has been an enormous loss of species worldwide, both on land and in seas, lakes and rivers. This has been caused to a significant degree by the cutting down of rain forests, polluting land with harmful chemicals and the introduction of invasive species.

As an example, since the 1980s huge tracts of tropical forests in Asia and Africa have been cleared for palm plantations, destroying the habitats of many rare and endangered species. Rainforests and savannas are also cleared to grow soy or maize as food for livestock, to supply the increasing demand for meat worldwide.

Here in the UK we too have created species deserts in recent decades by clearing land and building large housing estates without considering provision for the needs of animals and plants as well as humans. Butterflies, bees and garden birds are declining rapidly. Insects in general, which are essential food for birds as well as being necessary for the pollination of plants, are also in decline.

Surely all this destruction of places and creatures must cause God sorrow.

What can we do?
It’s important that we and our families spend time in nature so that we can really appreciate the joy and beauty of what God has created.

Because agriculture has destroyed habitats in the countryside many species rely on our gardens, hedges and rooftops for their homes. Plastic lawns, paving over gardens for car parking and garden pesticides can mean these are no longer liveable habitats.

Instead we could grow bee-friendly plants; allow nettles and ivy to have space in our gardens as they are nesting sites for butterflies. We could change the gardening products we use and cut down on or avoid the use of pesticides.

Action points:

Take steps to make your garden or balcony a welcoming place for wildlife.
Try to avoid products with palm oil or only buy those made with sustainable palm oil.
Reduce the amount of meat and dairy you eat.
Consider supporting organisations which protect habitats, such as WWF or A Rocha.

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

WOODSIDE AVENUE FELLOWSHIP
We had a very enjoyable session last Tuesday, when were entertained by our Playgroup children who sang delightfully with words and actions. Many thanks to the children and their leaders.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday afternoon, 27th May (at 2pm) when we will listen to the very funny poems of Pam Ayres, read by one of our members. Followed, of course, by tea and biscuits. If you are not doing anything else on this Bank Holiday Tuesday, why not come and join us? Our Earlsdon friends are always very welcome.

Please make a SPECIAL NOTE of the date of our meeting on Tuesday, 10th June when the Children's Choir from Stivichall Primary School will be coming again to sing to us. They have been several times before and we always have a very enjoyable afternoon listening to their lovely singing.

Kathleen Wykes

Events coming up:
Ascension Day Service: Thursday 29^th May, 7pm at Woodside Avenue Church. Poster HERE.

Vision Group at Earlsdon. The first meeting is Thursday 5th June, 7.00pm in Wellspring

Big Lunch BBQ after worship on 8^th June. Volunteers will be welcome to help mingle with the crowds and help serve food. Another opportunity to meet, greet and converse with our local neighbours.

‘Great Green Giveaway’ Saturday 14^th June, 10am-12am outside church. We will give eco-friendly cotton dishcloths, seedlings, cuttings and any garden produce to our Earlsdon neighbours – with love.

Concert at All Souls RC Church to commemorate their Centenary. Coventry Philharmonic Choir will perform Fauré's Requiem. Saturday 21^st June, 5.30pm. Tickets £8 in advance or on the door

Church website: http://www.earlsdonmethodist.org.uk/
Church office email: office@earlsdonmethodist.org.uk
Church Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/EarlsdonMC
Church Twitter (X) account: @Earlsdon MC
Circuit web892site: http://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 (Edited for website by Tim W), 16/05/2025

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

what3words

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