Welcome to Earlsdon Methodist Church

Newsletter and Notices
Number 285: 1.3.26

Minister: Revd Doreen Koffie-Williams

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Dear Earlsdon Methodist Friends,

Signs of Spring hope have been with us this week! Warmer days, the brightness of sun and spring flowers exploding in glory in gardens and on the roadside. It does lift the spirit!

With our usual weekly newsletter, we have posters advertising events nearer to Easter, temptation thoughts for Lent and an old hymn of Charles Wesley which may be very familiar to many.

We hope you enjoy reading the newsletter. Please send in any items by Thursday at the latest for inclusion. Thank you.

* * * * *

I do enjoy the challenge of particular puzzles – mainly online now. Wordle, crosswordle, nerdle (a particular favourite of mine) and if I have more time, a game of sudoku or a crossword. They are my ‘go to’ activity for a bit of relaxation at the beginning or end of the day.

The thing about most puzzles is, that with a combination of luck and logic, you can get the right answer; sometimes quickly, sometimes with more struggle. Doing the right thing gets you the right outcome - and that is very satisfying.

Life is a bit more complicated than that, in my experience anyway. There are times when our good intentions and actions bring about positive results. On other occasions it just doesn’t work that way. I am sure we can all think of examples when this has been the case. In technical or engineering terms, most of the time, the right tool or approach yields success. Relationships and human interactions don’t always obey ‘technical rules’. Thank goodness for that we might say. We are not robots! (A discourse here on AI may be tempting but that is way beyond my capability!)

I wonder, if we are brutally honest with ourselves, whether we sometimes view our life in God, our ‘spiritual life’ with an unspoken hope of reward for ‘doing the right thing’? We wouldn’t admit to this in public, but it lurks under the surface perhaps?

If I attend more to prayer, to reading the bible, to participating in worship, to giving attention to God, then somehow, things will improve for me!
There are those who do sincerely believe that good health and prosperity are the direct consequence of God’s favour and a reward for pleasing God. I’m not sure what that says about their understanding of the God we worship, God’s relationship with people, or indeed our relationship to others. It doesn’t sit well with me.

Maybe as we walk through the days of Lent with Jesus who obeyed God in all things and who walked towards a cross, we might examine ourselves and the temptation of desire for a satisfying reward?

In my puzzles with fellow humans, with God, with myself even, relationship is always the way forward, rarely yielding instant results or ‘rewards’. It often takes time, frustration, setbacks, patience, understanding and Love. (Luck and logic may occasionally play their small part too!) That is my ongoing struggle. What is yours?

(For an energetic and theological sermon which expresses similar ideas more eloquently than I can, try this You Tube link, a 10 minute watch I think it's great!)

Sunday 1^st March (Second Sunday in Lent)
Worship with Holy Communion at 10.30am led by Revd Doreen Koffie-Williams

Morning Worship is available to access via the usual zoom link.

Coffee and tea are available after morning service

Sunday 8^th March
Worship at 10.30am led by Karen Brookes

Sunday 15^th March
Worship at 10.30am led by Revd Neil Bishop

Sunday 22^nd March
Worship at 10.30am led by Penny McAinsh

Church Family News

The funeral for Bob Timms will take place on Wednesday 18^th March. 1pm- 2pm at Church and 2.30pm at Canley Crematorium. We continue to hold Bob’s family in our love and prayer.

We say ‘Happy Birthday’ in March to:

Adrian McAinsh (19^th), Doreen Koffie-Williams (31^st) and special congratulations to Judy Bridgeman who will be 90 on 29^th

Have we missed anyone?

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 2^nd March

Tuesdays

Intercessory Prayer Group: 11am online

Vision Group meets in Wellspring at 7.30pm. You can also join online via the regular Sunday worship zoom link.. One item of discussion will be Church Anniversary Celebrations on April 26^th. Everyone is welcome to the meeting.

Evening Bible Study and Fellowship Group 7.30pm at Ray’s fortnightly. Next meeting 10^th March

Wednesdays

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

Lent Lunch at All Souls RC Church from 12 noon. (See notice below for more information and other venues during Lent)

Wednesday Worship 7pm. A short act of worship held fortnightly. Coffee available from 6.45pm. Next meeting 4^th March.

Praying for Church and Community: Fortnightly, and next meeting on 4^th March following worship from 7.45 to around 8.30pm. This meeting can be attended in Wellspring or online, using the usual Sunday worship link.

Pastoral Committee meets on 11th March, 7.30pm

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)

Forest Church Experience
Julie Smith from Meriden is holding a Forest Church session in Millisons Wood on Sat 14th March at 11.30 am– 1.30pm. Julie is a Forest Therapy practitioner in training. If you would like to attend, please give her a call to book in as she will have an upper limit on numbers. 07831 669495

CTEC Lent Lunches 2026

For many years Churches Together in Earlsdon and Chapelfields (CTEC) has organised 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. You can arrive at any time, but don’t leave it too late or there may not be any soup left! Donations are split between CAFOD and Christian Aid.

This year they will take place on the following days:
24^th February at Sherbourne Community Church (URC and Baptist LEP)
3^rd March at All Souls Catholic Church
10^th March at St Barbara’s Anglican Church
17^th March at St Mary Magdalen’s Anglican Church
24^th March at Earlsdon Methodist Church

All are welcome.
Lorna Warrener (CTEC rep for EMC)

WOODSIDE CHURCH FELLOWSHIP

We had a very interesting afternoon last Tuesday when we welcomed Phil Godfrey from Solihull Rotary who gave an illustrated talk about the Potters Village in Uganda, a project to help vulnerable children and which includes a hospital and orphanage. It was humbling to see how the people in that country live and made us appreciative of our own NHS and welfare facilities. We had a "whip round" afterwards and were pleased to be able to donate £80 to this worthwhile cause.

We meet again on Tuesday, 10th March at 2pm, which will be an Open Meeting. "Who do you think I am?" We all have memories and stories of our past that we could share with others (but don't worry if you do not - just come along and enjoy listening to others). Followed, of course, by a refreshing cup of tea (with biscuits). Come and join us.

FUTURE DATES
24th March - Musical Afternoon from a local Ensemble
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

NOTE: I have been approached by several Earlsdon Church friends about our meeting on 14th April, when Rev Becki Stennett will be talking about "Susanna Wesley - the Mother of Methodism". This promises to be very interesting - please be reassured that EVERYONE is welcome to come - bring your friends!

Kathleen Wykes

Clothing Coventry, a charity that gives free clothing to families and vulnerable people has said it faces closure unless it can bring in more money.

Please spread the word that Clothing Coventry needs support to continue its work.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c620x1j2j2no

Events and meetings coming up:
Church Eco-meeting: Monday 9^th March 7.30pm online (Sunday morning worship zoom link). All are welcome as we explore steps forward for the coming year.

Pastoral Committee meets on Wednesday 11^th March at 7.30pm.

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.

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.

Church Website

Church Facebook page
Church Office email: office@earlsdonmethodist.org.uk
Circuit Website
Circuit Office email: office@covnunmethodist.org.uk
District website
District Facebook page
District Instagram page
District YouTube page

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), 27/02/2026

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

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