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Welcome to Earlsdon Methodist Church
Newsletter and Notices
Number 251: 8.6.25
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,
Sunday 8th is the celebration of Pentecost and when EMC holds the church barbeque following morning worship. Everyone is welcome. The church newsletter is below including regular features and messages. We also include minutes from the AGM earlier this month – thank you to Gill – and June’s Circuit News is circulated separately for local members.
Victor shares a Pentecost hymn with us from Charles Wesley,
Lots of reading this week!
* * * * *
It was one of those nights when I was wide awake for several hours. Following heavy rain, there was a constant dripping onto a hard surface outside. Two drips per second – relentlessly! Not quite torture, but so irritating and impossible to ignore. Such a small thing…... I am reminded of the familiar adage that you don’t really know the impact of something tiny unless you’ve been in bed with a mosquito!
We know what it’s like to be impacted badly by a constant irritation. We are less aware perhaps of the constant positive flow around us.
The events of Pentecost for the early disciples were not small. A violent wind, tongues of fire, a dramatic and sudden experience of God’s Spirit moving amongst them. They turned from fear into bold and confident people proclaiming the gospel in languages which everyone gathered could understand. (Acts chapter2).
A sudden, dramatic, powerful experience of God’s Spirit might be ours at a particular time. We are uplifted, energised and renewed. It may not be everyone’s experience, and it may not be consistent and ongoing.
The danger is that we can look upon these dramatic events of others and feel distanced. These stories can become about ‘them’, ‘back there’ ‘someone else’. That’s not my story.
What about the consistent, ongoing drip feed of Gods’ Spirit in our lives and the lives of others?
Whether our experience of God’s Spirit of Truth is sudden and life-changing, or a constant relentless drip-feed (or both?), we can be open to the flow and willing to be used and transformed.
Ed
Sunday 8th June Pentecost
All age worship at 10.30am led by Alison Gee
This is followed by our ‘Big Lunch’ Church Barbeque outside – everyone welcome! (see below for additional notice)
Morning Worship is available to access via the usual zoom link.
Coffee and tea are available after morning service
Sunday 15th June
Worship at 10.30am led by Revd Ian Coates
Worship at 6.30pm is a ‘Local Arrangement’ led by members of the congregation
Sunday 22nd June
All age worship at 10.30am led by Revd Richard Wilde
Sunday 29th June
Worship at 10.30am led by Bill Holdforth
Big Lunch BBQ after worship on 8th June. Volunteers will be welcome to help serve food and to mingle with visitors. Another opportunity to meet, greet and converse with our local neighbours.
Hi all, your Coordinating Steward calling.
This coming Sunday, we will be trying something a little different before the service starts. It's an idea I have mentioned to some, asking for times this week, when you have felt the Spirit at work. Good outcomes to treatment, help with work, answer to prayers.
I am feeling led myself to make this happen this week, and have just realised that it is Pentecost Sunday. (God Incidence?)
I have witnessed this a few times at my son’s Church in Stroud, and on both occasions it was both moving and encouraging. It also creates a fabulous atmosphere for us to begin praising and worshiping.
I hope you will feel able to participate, but there is no pressure at all. This coming Sunday I have primed our fabulous and versatile Worship Leaders team, to get the ball rolling, and to break the ice, although you are warmly encouraged to participate. My hope is that this will become easier for us as the weeks go on. It might feel awkward and a little embarrassing, the first few times. But we are all family, we all know most here as friends, and as such will want to encourage and support you. It only needs to be a short sentence or two at most, and I hope everyone will applaud anyone who contributes, to show your love for them as brother and sister in Christ.
I have and will be notifying the preachers that this is going to happen, and inviting them to join us in Church a few minutes earlier to be part of it.
My hope is that this will help us and encourage us to remember, that Jesus is very much working in our lives, yesterday, today and forever.
This week is the first meeting of our Vision group. This is a chance for us to discuss new ways to Worship together, and develop outreach and discipleship elements of our Church life.
I am hoping to add a regular item to our newsletter to keep you informed of ideas and projects which you can be part of, so we can move forward in Faith, that God has a plan for us in building his Kingdom, and we have a vital role in that.
So to finish, as in all good sermons (and this isn't anything like one of those) I have a challenge for you all. A question for you to ponder over this week, and it might be really good if you post your reply in the news letters, over the coming weeks.
Answers on a postcard or sealed down envelope(or probably easier email)
What makes you proud of your Church?
Steve
Mondays
‘ Come and Sing!’ 7.30pm in Church. Next Meeting, 16th June
Eco- Meeting 7.30pm online (zoom link as Sunday Worship) Everyone welcome with ideas or just to be there in solidarity 9th June ( * Sorry, this wasn’t flagged up last week in advance!)
Tuesdays
Morning Prayer and Quiet Reflection: 8.45am for 15 minutes online
Intercessory Prayer Group: 11am online.
Wednesdays
Prayers and Bears . meeting at 9.30am (open from 9am),
Wednesday Worship 7pm. A short act of worship held fortnightly. Coffee available from 6.45pm. Next meeting on 11th June
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)
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.
Church Garden News
Hi all, thank you to everyone who has donated flower seeds for the Church garden. Hopefully it will make it look amazing.
I have been a little over subscribed with packets of seed, but maybe this was His plan all along. I came across some unwanted pot trays this week, and it got me thinking. I am now going to fill them with soil and compost, they are about 50mm deep, and sow the balance of seeds in them. Then here is the clever bit, I have fitted feet to them, and they just fit really nicely in the bottom of the "moat" around the outside of the Church building. Hopefully it will look amazing as well. And if nothing grows, it won't even be noticeable.
So, I have another gardening related request. I am fitting a combination bolt on the Church garden gate, to enable everyone access to the garden, should you feel like venturing in. While you’re there, there is the opportunity to maybe weed, or water it?
So does anyone have a spare water butt, or large container which could be used, to store water in, to facilitate water in the garden.
And any spare compost or top soil, for the trays? I can collect if you let me know.
Thanks, Steve
Eco-Corner
Caring for God’s World
Great Green Giveaway
We are preparing for the Eco-stall, on Saturday 14th June from 10am outside church.
We will be distributing hand knitted dishcloths, plants, garden produce, seedlings….all part of God’s abundant giving to us.
Please bring items for the stall during the week beforehand. We will leave a collection point at the back of church. Thank you.
WOODSIDE AVENUE FELLOWSHIP
Please join us this coming Tuesday, 10th June, at 2pm, at Woodside Avenue Church, 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. Our Earlsdon friends will be very welcome. A cup of tea and biscuits available afterwards. Why not bring a friend?
Kathleen Wykes
Events coming up:
‘ Great Green Giveaway’ Saturday 14th 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 21st June, 5.30pm. Tickets £8 in advance or on the door
City of Coventry Male Voice Choir
We are hosting a joint concert with Rugby MVC & Loughborough MVC at 7.30 on Saturday 21st June at Baginton Rd URC. With two visiting choirs and a varied program, it should be a really good concert.
Tickets may well be available on the night, but to be sure, please get your ticket beforehand!
Ray Williscroft & Mike Spokes are choir members who would welcome your support, and would be able to get tickets for you.
Circuit Great Green Gathering Online Sunday 6th July 4pm – 5pm. The zoom link will be circulated nearer the time.
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 (Web version by Tim W), 06/06/2025
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