Welcome to Earlsdon Methodist Church

Newsletter and Notices
Newsletter 274: 30.11.25

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,

Several homes around us already have a display of festive lights in place and we are reminded that Advent is almost upon us. (It does seem a bit early for Christmas lights in mid-November to me – but they do bring a smile and joy as we see them.)

Sunday marks the beginning of Advent and Mike continues our journey at the opening of our newsletter below. Victor’s hymn for us speaks of the word of God ‘incarnate’, becoming a body of flesh like ours; the essence of the message which Advent points us towards.

This weekend we also greet our American friends marking ‘Thanksgiving’. Turkeys are eaten, a few escape with a ‘pardon’, and families meet up in gratitude and celebration.

I’ve been thinking recently of what it might mean to live with more gratitude; with thanks for all we take for granted. I am reminded that gratitude is also linked with grace, with forgiveness (experiencing that for ourselves, as well as others).

‘Gratitude becomes our home in the presence of God’.

A lot to unpack there perhaps, so I leave it with you. An early gift to unwrap?

Ed

First Sunday in Advent

Were the Prophets ready for the coming of the Messiah? They should have been. After all, they had been telling people about it for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Are we in the same position? We have been waiting for 2000 years now for the second coming, for the time when Jesus will return to his world. He told us Himself that it would happen, the Gospels and much of our New Testament tell us it will happen. Are we ready? Do we really believe it? Do we act as though we believe it? The Jews in Roman Palestine got a big surprise, one day perhaps we will get a similar surprise. Remember our games of ‘Hide & Seek’ and the call ‘Coming, ready or not!’

Mike Spokes

Sunday 30^th November (First in Advent)

Worship at 10.30am led by Revd Doreen Koffie-Williams

CTEC Advent Service, 6.30pm at St Mary Magdelene Church

Morning Worship is available to access via the usual zoom link

Coffee and tea are available after morning service

Sunday 7^th December (Second in Advent)

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

Sunday 14^th December (Third in Advent) : Christmas Tree Festival

Worship at 10.30am led by Penny McAinsh

Church Family News

We are sad to announce that Betty Croft has died. Betty attended church regularly until recent months, when at 96 she found it more difficult to get out. She was one of our oldest members and we will miss her cheerful presence. Our thoughts and love are with her daughter Joanne and family. Funeral arrangements are not yet known.

Ann Farr has recently returned from a visit to Palestine. Ann has been deeply committed for many years to the people of this region and has dear friends and contacts living there. (She also is the person who keeps up our supply of Palestinian goods for sale in Wellspring, and periodically has craft gifts for sale)

We are so glad to know that Ann is safely home again.
In her own words: “Palestine is beyond awful, but the people are still wonderful.
Thank you for your prayers. Palestinians need them more than ever.”

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

Mondays

‘Come and Sing!’ 7.30pm in Church. Next Meeting 1^st December

Tuesdays

Morning Prayer and Quiet Reflection: 8.45am for 15 minutes online (Zoom link is as Sunday morning worship)

Intercessory Prayer Group: 11am online.

Evening Bible Study and Fellowship Group 7.30pm at Ray’s next meeting on 2^nd December

Wednesdays

Prayers and Bears 9.30am (open from 9am), for pre-school children and a parent or carer. Contact Penny or Helen if you feel you could help in any way.

Wednesday Worship 7pm. A short act of worship held fortnightly. Coffee available from 6.45pm. Next meeting on 10^th December

Praying for Church and Community: Fortnightly, next on Wednesday 10^th December, following worship from 7.45 to around 8.30pm. This meeting can be attended in Wellspring or online, using the usual Sunday worship link

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)

WOODSIDE AVENUE CHURCH FELLOWSHIP
We had a very enjoyable afternoon last Tuesday when the children's choir from Stivichall Primary School came and sang for us. 50 children came and filled our church and, also, the pre-school children came to listen. If you missed it, they will be coming again in the spring/summer.
We next meet on Tuesday, 9th December, for our "Christmas Celebrations", when we will listen to and join in with Christmas Carols, stories and poems, and have mince pies with our cup of tea. It will be the last one of the year. After the Christmas break, we will meet again on Tuesday, 13th January, 2026 for our AGM and find out about new year traditions around the world.
Many thanks to those of our Earlsdon friends who have supported our Fellowship during the last year.

Kathleen Wykes

Coventry Open Christmas

Please see the flyer HERE, and share the information with anyone who you think might need this.

Baby Godiva News:

We need to make room for Christmas, so until the New Year can only accept the following items:
Double Pushchairs
Safe sleeping places, such as cots
Consumables: Toiletries, nappies, wipes etc
Baby Formula milk and baby food
Sterilisers
Christmas appeal requests, such as food for hampers, presents for mums, new toys, wrapping paper etc.

You can bring these items to
Baby Godiva 10 Napier st, Coventry, CV1 5PR Monday - Friday 10 - 2pm until 17th December.

Thank you for your understanding, we will review the storage space we have after Christmas and open to more donations in the new year.

Events coming up:
Handel’s Messiah performed in Coventry Cathedral on Saturday 13^th December at 7pm. Coventry Cathedral Chorus, Coventry Boy Choristers. & soloists Tickets £20 in advance, £25 on the door Messiah information and tickets

Community Carols at EMC Sunday 21^st December at 4pm

Church website: https://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: 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 (Edited for website by Tim W), 29/11/2025

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