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Welcome to Earlsdon Methodist Church
Newsletter and Notices
Number 309: 27.09.26
Minister: Revd Becki Stennett
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,
We warmly welcome our new Minister Revd Becki Stennett in leading worship with us this coming Sunday. We look forward to her ministry amongst us and our working together alongside the three other local Coventry Methodist churches.
Last Saturday 10 volunteers had a good time pruning back in the church garden. We have some photos HERE including ‘before’ and ‘after’. We will now let the garden rest over winter and then in the springtime embark on the next phase of creating our wildlife friendly space – which we hope people can enjoy too! There is even the beginnings of a pond.
Do send in contributions for the newsletter. If there is something missing, it’s because The Editor doesn’t know or has forgotten! She needs reminding from time to time. Thank you….
Ed
Sunday 27th September
Worship at 10.30am led by Revd Becki Stennett
Morning Worship is available to access via the usual zoom link.
Coffee and tea are available after morning service
Sunday 4th October
Worship at 10.30am led by Bill Holdforth
Sunday 11th October
Eco-themed Worship for Harvest at 10.30am led by local members
Followed by a ‘Bring and Share Lunch’
Sunday 18th October
Worship at 10.30am led by Revd Graham Gee
Sunday 25th October
Worship for All with Holy Communion at 10.30am led by Revd Becki Stennett
Church Family News and Prayer:
Praying the alphabet
This week we remember those whose name begins with ‘T’ in our church family. I can think of six. Are there more?
Praying for church and community
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Wednesday Worship
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Say Something in Welsh who meet fortnightly in a room above Wellspring
(Repeated from last week, so these groups receive our ongoing love and attention)
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 during normal opening hours. Prayer Shawl knitters meet on Thursday
The Café will be closed on Saturday 17th October in preparation for Ros Light’s Thanksgiving Service at 11am
Mondays
Banner Group meets on Mondays at 2pm above Wellspring. If you love being creative with embroidery, design and sewing, speak with Gill W, Helen, Heather or Lynda.
‘ Come and Sing!’ 7.30pm in Church fortnightly, took a break in August. Next meeting on 28th September. This group is for anyone who loves singing- you don’t need to read music!
Monday Evening House Group meets fortnightly and next on 5th October
Tuesdays
Intercessory Prayer Group meets weekly on zoom at 11am. Speak with Lorna or Helen if you would like to join.
Evening Bible Study and Fellowship Group meets fortnightly, at Ray’s, next on 29th September (then 6th October with regular fortnightly meetings thereafter)
Wednesdays
Worship Band meet for rehearsal in church, 8pm. The next meeting is 30th September.
Wednesday Worship meets fortnightly in Wellspring. Next on 30th September
Friday
MacMillan Coffee Morning Friday 25th September in Wellspring, 9am – 1pm
A stall selling cakes, plants and preserves. DONATIONS OF CAKES AND PLANTS VERY MUCH WELCOME – bring with you on the day or leave in Wellspring on Thursday. Come along between 9 and 2, enjoy a hot drink and cake in the coffee shop then take home edible treats and bargain plants.
Saturday
CTEC Prayer Breakfast on Saturday 3rd October at 8am. All Souls Church.
Community Christmas Meal
There's a little chance that Central Hall might be able to resurrect a Community Meal on Christmas Day this year as there's some funding potentially available from the Hill Construction Group.
I thought I'd get in touch to see if there would be any appetite (pun ENTIRELY intended) from folk within our churches to help volunteering to host this meal if Central Hall could sort out opening up etc?
Thanks, Becki
Please speak to any of the stewards if you are free and willing to help out.
Shoe Box Appeal
It is that time of year to think about the T4U Shoe Box Appeal for children who have nothing. The appeal is asking for the same items as previously with an extra request for games/items for boys aged 12 years. At a time when there is so much misery for children around the world it is a chance for us to make a small contribution to children's happiness & a reminder to them that others do care.
We will be packing boxes on Monday October 12th so gifts & financial donations will be very welcome from September. They can be brought to Wellspring or to Wendy Winch or Gill Spokes.
Suggested items for the boxes are woolly hats, scarves, gloves, stationery items, small toys & games, soft toys (Not home knitted), tooth brush, tooth paste, soap etc.
Thank you for your kindness.
Wendy Winch & Gill Spokes
WOODSIDE CHURCH FELLOWSHIP
We had an enjoyable afternoon last Tuesday, welcoming an Officer from the Salvation Army and listening to a talk about their valuable work. We also enthusiastically joined in singing one of their songs whilst shaking tambourines!
Our Programme for October is as follows:
Tuesday, 13th October, at 2pm - Our own Christine Short will be giving a talk about the plight of Hedgehogs, their dramatic reduction in numbers and what is being done to help them. (Note: this is the talk postponed from the summer because of the heatwave.)
Tuesday, 27th October, at 2pm - We look forward to welcoming Rev Graham Gee, together with his wife, Alison, for another of their interesting presentations.
We always finish with a refreshing cup of tea (and biscuits).
An updated Programme until January is in preparation and will be available as soon as possible.
Our Earlsdon friends are always welcome to our meetings.
Kathleen Wykes
A reminder about Gift Aid
The Methodist Church is a charitable body that is able to benefit from Gift Aid donations.
Gift Aid is a government initiative that allows charities to reclaim basic rate tax from the government on donations made by UK taxpayers. If a donor’s tax is paid in the UK, then Gift Aid is a simple way to increase the value of their gift to the church. It is the donor’s responsibility to ensure that he/she has paid enough income tax to cover the claim.
Thank you to everyone who has signed a Gift Aid declaration form, which allows Earlsdon Methodist Church to reclaim 25p for every pound donated to our church (subject to these donations meeting HMRC Gift Aid rules).
For the last tax year 2025 - 2026, the church claimed, and has received, £10,231 in Gift Aid payment from HMRC.
Gift Aid Smaller Donations Scheme is a similar government initiative which allow charities to reclaim basic rate tax on eligible cash donations made by donors who have not signed a Gift Aid form.
Last tax year, the church claimed, and has received, £923 in GASDS payment from HMRC.
Where permitted, Gift Aid and GASDS is claimed on all donations and Sunday service collections, whether made by Standing Order, blue envelope, cheque or cash. The church can also claim on certain other freewill donations, including those given to the Sunday Morning Tea & Coffee Fund, the Flower Fund, the Benevolent Fund, the Big Lunch and the Strawberry Tea, and any eligible one-off donations.
If you wish to have your donation Gift Aided a form can be obtained from Chris Fisher, and he can provide further information about Gift Aid if needed.
Rescheduled Canva Software Training (Circuit News)
Following the postponement of the Canva Trainings session on Wednesday 16th September, here are details of the rescheduled training date. The Canva Training Sessions will be led by Fiona Fidgin, Digital Communications Officer with the Connexional Team.
Canva is a user-friendly design platform that enables users to create clear, engaging and professional communications, including posters, newsletters, social media content and more.
Wednesday 4th November 2026
Morning Session 9:30am - 12:30pm Bedworth Methodist Church
Afternoon Session 1:30pm - 4:30pm Earlsdon Methodist Church
To make attendance as accessible as possible across the Circuit, we have arranged two sessions on the same day at different venues. Both sessions will cover the same content, so attendees only need to attend one session unless they would like the opportunity to revisit the training.
To get the most from the practical elements of the session, participants are asked to bring their own fully charged laptop where possible as we can’t guarantee charging facilities in the venues.
Please could you share this information with anyone in your church who may be interested in attending.
For planning purposes, please notify the Circuit Office by Wednesday 28th October 2026 if you wish to attend and indicate which session and venue you will be attending.
We hope that many of you will be able to take advantage of this valuable opportunity to develop your communication and design skills.
Jane Bennett - Circuit Administrator: office@covnunmethodist.org.uk
Events and meetings coming up:
Pastoral Committee Wednesday 7th October in Wellspring, 7.30pm
Church Lantern Festival: Saturday 17th October – more details later
CTEC Prayer Breakfast at EMC Saturday 7th November 8am
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), 25/09/2026
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