Welcome to Earlsdon Methodist Church

Newsletter and Notices
Newsletter 286: 22.03.26

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,

Our newsletter this week has more information about services of worship over the Easter period, including the invitation extended to us from friends at Woodside Avenue to join them for breakfast following 8am communion on Easter Sunday. There is a ‘sign-up sheet’ in church for numbers. Also, the ‘Churches Together’ Lent lunch is at Earlsdon Methodist this week. Your support is welcome.

Do check out ‘Eco-Space’ news this week for the opportunity to go on a visit with a difference!

We greet our friends with Irish heritage celebrating St Patrick’s Day on Tuesday 17^th – and apologies to Welsh friends, whose national day on 1^st March, didn’t get a mention here this year.

* * * * *

Struggling to keep up?
I guess I walk at a pretty average speed. I am aware some find walking difficult and move slowly, others sprint away with vigour!

I do struggle sometimes when walking with a particular cousin of mine. She is quite short in height but paces out at a cracking rate and I just can’t keep up. She reckons it’s because she was married for several years to a chap over 6 feet tall and her little legs always had to work twice as hard to keep up with him.

In so many areas of life I find it difficult to ‘keep up’. Don’t’ get me started on computers and technology! In other ways too I can feel swamped by the pace and scale of things. International affairs, war and conflict are an obvious example; the responsibility to be aware of the ecology of the planet; the hate and anger in so much of human interaction – individually and on the public stage; knowing there are so many ‘ordinary’ families and households struggling just to keep going. The list goes on.

I want to DO something. I want to make a difference. I feel helpless.

I am also very aware there are countless people in our community who, in many and varied ways, are doing things, being ‘the hands and feet of God’, at the cutting edge and behind the scenes, making a real difference.

But the sense of ‘not being enough’ can be paralysing. The sense that ‘I should’ be doing something’, when I know I can’t solve the world’s problems is not always helpful. Of course, at times it can be a springboard to action.

The bible can give us a variety of perspectives and can even be confusing. We hear the clear message of grace that there is nothing we can do which will make God love us less – or more. (eg Romans ch 8). We cannot ‘be enough’ by striving to ‘do enough’. We also hear echoes of a reward and punishment model (the sheep and the goats for example, Matthew ch 25); the imperative to action which will be recognised by God, This is why we read the bible carefully, sometimes with help from others, from a place of open-ness.

As we approach Palm Sunday and Easter, we walk with Jesus on a journey which is tough. His example shows that there are no easy answers, no quick solutions, no pain-free paths. Perhaps we can learn to walk at his pace. It isn’t about ‘getting it right’. It is about the sacrifice of love.

What does that mean in practice, for me – for you this Easter?

Sunday 22^nd March (Fifth Sunday in Lent)
Worship at 10.30am led by Penny McAinsh

Morning Worship is available to access via the usual zoom link

Coffee and tea are available after morning service

Sunday 29^th March (Palm Sunday)
Worship at 10.30am led by Revd Jill Marsh

Reflective Evening worship at 6.30pm led by Dianabasi Nkantah

Good Friday 3^rd April
Worship at 11am led by Revd Doreen Koffie-Williams

Meditation for Good Friday, 2pm at Woodside Avenue Methodist Church led by Revd Doreen Koffie-Williams

Easter Sunday 5^th April
8am Holy Communion led by Revd Doreen Koffie-Williams, followed by Breakfast at Woodside Avenue Methodist Church

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

Worship at 6.30pm by Local Arrangement

Refugees
Next week, Palm Sunday, and the following, Easter Day, there will be a collection box for donations to Carriers of Hope.
Please bring any goods you can spare - tinned, packet and bottled food, household cleaning materials, personal toiletries, baby food, nappies.
These will be taken to the CoH warehouse on the Thursday after Easter where all the items we take are always very gratefully received.
If you don't know about the Carriers of Hope charity, there is information in the leaflets rack next to the kitchen door in Wellspring

Thank you
David & Lynda Pinks

'Offertory counting
If you would like to help count the Offertory after the Sunday morning Services you would be very welcome. It doesn't take very long.

Please see Chris Fisher.

Wellspring Café
Thursdays & Fridays 9.00 a.m. - 2.00 p.m. Saturday 9.30 a.m. - 12.00 noon

The usual menu of drinks and light food is available. Prayer Shawl knitters meet on Thursdays

Mondays

‘Come and Sing!’ 7.30pm in Church. Next Meeting 30^th March

Tuesdays

Intercessory Prayer Group: No meeting on 24^th as EMC hosts Lent Lunch

Lent Lunch at Earlsdon Methodist Church from 12 noon. 24^th March

Evening Bible Study and Fellowship Group 7.30pm at Ray’s fortnightly. Next meeting 24^th March

Wednesdays

Prayers and Bears 9.30am in term time (open from 9am), for pre-school children and a parent or carer.

Wednesday Worship 7pm. A short act of worship held fortnightly. Coffee available from 6.45pm. Next meeting 1^st April.

Fridays

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

(First and Third Fridays each month during Term Time)

CTEC Lent Lunches 2026

Churches Together in Earlsdon and Chapelfields (CTEC) organise Lent Lunches on five Tuesdays in Lent. Each one is at a different CTEC church. They run from 12 noon until 1.30pm with a short reflection at 12.45. A simple meal of soup, bread and butter followed by teas and coffees is served by the host church. Donations are split between CAFOD and Christian Aid. All are welcome.

Lorna Warrener (CTEC rep for EMC)

Prayers for Church and Community

Each week we are praying for a different church activity and also one which takes place on our premises but is organised by people from the community. The two activities we will be praying for next week are the Banner Group and the Aerobics class

Cake Bakers and Dessert Makers!

Two opportunities for your skills to shine in the coming weeks:

Circuit Leaving Service for Revd Doreen on Saturday April 11^th at 4pm, Radford & Holbrooks Methodist Church, Rupert Road (off Beake Avenue)

Doreen’s three churches are asked to contribute food for the buffet. EMC are requested to provide cakes and desserts – so heads up if you are baking and freezing in advance!

May Day Festival – Monday May 4^th

More information to come nearer the time, but advance notice that cakes will be very welcome for the refreshments stall as per usual. Thank you

Eco-Space

Sherbourne Recycling Visit 050125image

We are looking into the possibility of organising a group visit to the Shebourne Recycling site in Coventry, probably in June. This would enable us to learn about what happens to our recycling bin refuse.

Visits to Sherbourne are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays, either 10.30am – 12.30am or 2pm – 4pm. Each visit consists of a presentation, site tour and discussion.
They can accommodate a maximum of 16 guests per visit. The minimum is 6. All guests must be over 18 years of age.

Visitors may be exposed to dust, heights and strong magnets (which may affect things like pacemakers). Facemasks can be provided for asthma sufferers on request.

A reasonable degree of mobility is required for the main tour which includes metal staircases across multiple levels. However, an alternative tour is available for visitors with reduced mobility via a step-free viewing platform.

PPE is provided for guests, including safety boots, high-vis, gloves and helmets with built-in headphones.

There is no charge for groups who are located in the area served by Sherbourne Recycling.

Anyone interested? Please let Lorna or Lois know.

WOODSIDE CHURCH FELLOWSHIP
We look forward to our next meeting this coming Tuesday, 24th March, at 2pm, which will be a musical afternoon. We will welcome a newly-formed local Ensemble, together with Margaret Oliver, who has entertained us previously. This will be followed, of course, by a refreshing cup of tea (with biscuits).

FUTURE DATES:
14th April - "Susanna Wesley - the Mother of Methodism" - a talk by Rev Becki Stennett
28th April - a talk by our own Ken Holmes regarding the work of the International Children's Trust
12th May - we welcome the Rev Jill Marsh to speak to us
26th May (Bank Holiday Tuesday) - Open Meeting with music

Our Earlsdon friends are always welcome to join us at our meetings.

Kathleen Wykes

Events and meetings coming up:

Holy Week and Easter Services around the Circuit are included in March / April Circuit News.

CTEC Palm Sunday Evening Service: 29^th March 6.30pm at All Souls Church

Stainer: Crucifixion Friday 3rd April (Good Friday), 6pm Coventry Cathedral, Cathedral Chorus and soloists.

Great Green Gathering online Saturday 4^th April 4pm – 5pm. Our regular Circuit conversation about how we can be more ‘Eco-church’ together.

Circuit Farewell Service for Revd Doreen’s Koffie-Williams at Radford & Holbrooks Methodist Church. Saturday 11^th April, 4pm with refreshments afterwards.

(The leaving service is early in the year as Revd Doreen will be on Sabbatical Leave from May to July, then preparing to move in August when she leaves us for her next appointment.)

Circuit Outdoor Worship at Coombe Abbey Saturday 18^th April 11am

Church AGM : Sunday 19^th April after morning worship. This date has been chosen – a little earlier than usual – so that Revd Doreen can chair this last meeting with us.

Easter Offering Circuit Service Sunday 10^th May at EMC 4.14pm with tea and bring & share cake to follow

Ascension Day Services 14^th May 7pm at Woodside Avenue Methodist Church & 7pm at Arley Methodist Church

Church website: https://www.earlsdonmethodist.org.uk/
Church office email: office@earlsdonmethodist.org.uk
Church Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/EarlsdonMC
Circuit website: https://covnunmethodist.org.uk/
West Midlands District website: https://www.wmmethodists.org.uk/

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), 21/03/2026

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