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Welcome to Earlsdon Methodist Church
Newsletter and Notices
Number 295: 31.5.26
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,
This week’s newsletter brings the usual diary of events, Church family news, suggestions for prayer, birthdays in June and information about ‘Open Doors’ shared by Richard K-G. Don’t forget the Christian Aid Quiz night coming up at St Barbara’s Church soon; order your tickets early this week!
Do send in news and items for inclusion by Thursday please.
(The newsletter editor is taking a one-week break in mid-June, so there won’t be an edition on Friday 19th)
Hymns can hold special meaning to many of us for different reasons. Victor shares another hymn by Isaac Watts and Judith shares a particular memory relating to a very familiar hymn.
“Musings around a hymn
Many years ago, David and I decided we had to go back to our favourite holiday destination….Wengen, in the Swiss Bernese Oberland. My anticipation was great. I yearned to see my beautiful snow-covered mountains. I needed a spiritual uplift. It must have been late when we arrived via the cog railway which had hauled us up to 4,000 feet, because we did not go out for an evening walk to admire the view.
Next morning, I looked out of the window to see the mountains shrouded in cloud. I felt so disappointed; indeed, my heart sank. But we had to get on with the day and first things first, we needed to go to the bank. I really was feeling low. As we were waiting patiently to be served, I could hear a radio playing in the background the faint strains of “How great thou art”. I found myself asking a member of staff if they could turn the volume up. They did, and it made my day. That was the spiritual uplift I needed. The Lord provides, and He knew what I needed.
In case you need a reference, it is 82 in Singing the Faith: ‘Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to thee: How great thou art’.
Judith Cule”
Sunday 31st May (Trinity)
Worship at 10.30am led by local members
Morning Worship is available to access via the usual zoom link
Coffee and tea are available after morning service
Sunday 7th June
Worship with Holy Communion at 10.30am led by Revd Graham Gee
Followed by Church Barbeque
Sunday 14th June
Worship at 10.30am led by Bill Holdforth
Sunday 21st June
Worship at 10.30am led by Penny McAinsh
Sunday 28th June
Worship with Holy Communion at 10.30 am led by Revd Pauline Warner
Church Family News and Prayer:
We think of Enobong sitting A Levels over May & June. We wish him well along with all students facing exams.
We wish Dianabasi safe and successful travelling to China shortly and hold the family in our prayers with ‘a lot going on’
We remember Jill (our church cleaner) and her daughter and family as the funeral for Amy’s husband, Gary, takes place on Monday 8th June, not Saturday 30th as previously mentioned.
Birthdays In June
We say ‘Happy Birthday’ to: David Mills (19th), Sarah Lewis (27th), Lorna Warrener (29th)
Have we missed anyone?
Do let us know your birthday; we would love to include you too.
Praying for Church and Community
The activities we would like people to pray for next week are:
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House Group at Ray's which meets fortnightly on Tuesdays
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Earlsdon Crafters who meet in the church hall and occasionally hold craft fairs there too
Praying the alphabet?
As we continue through the alphabet we might also include in our prayers this week, those in the church family whose name is a ‘D’? (I can think of six – are there more?) We are generously blessed with Davids and Daves!
Support Stewarding
Thank you to the people who have volunteered to help stewards on Sunday mornings. We are just missing help on 16th August in the morning. Let the stewards know if you can help.
Thank you, Steve
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
Mondays
‘ Come and Sing!’ 7.30pm in Church fortnightly Next Meeting Monday 8th June
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.
Tuesdays
Intercessory Prayer Group: 11am online
Evening Bible Study and Fellowship Group 7.30pm at Ray’s fortnightly. Next meeting 2nd June
Wednesdays
Worship Band meet for rehearsal in church, 8pm. Next meeting 3rd June. An open invitation to join if you are interested.
Wednesday Worship 7pm. A short act of worship held fortnightly. Coffee available from 6.45pm. Next meeting 10th June
Thursday
Church Council meets on Thursday 11th June 7.30pm in Wellspring
“St Barbara’s is holding Quiz Night in support of Christian Aid on Saturday, 6th June starting promptly at 6.30pm. The evening will include a meal (with nine different options, including vegan). Tickets are £8 per person (or £6 for a schoolchild). For tickets, which must be obtained in advance, or for further details, please contact Ian Leitch at ianleitch094@gmail.com. All welcome.”
Open Doors
I’m a church rep for ‘Open Doors’ a charity which supports the persecuted church.
Open Doors produces an annual World Watch List of the situation in countries where following Jesus costs the most. 388 million Christians, or 1 in 7 worldwide face extreme or very high levels of persecution and discrimination.
Despite the best efforts of dictators, extremists and criminals the gospels are still alive and churches are even growing. “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).
Open Doors works in over 70 countries providing the persecuted church with Christian resources, leadership and resilience training, emergency relief, trauma care and practical support to secure their futures.
Open Doors aims to mobilises churches in safe countries to pray, speak out in advocacy and raise funds to support this work. There are small but effective actions we can take to support our brothers and sisters globally.
You are welcome to look at the display and information about Open Doors just past the sound control desk as you enter our church.
From the display information in church, or on the Open Doors website, www.opendoors.org.uk you are invited to:
. Sign up to the Open Doors newsletter;
. Take literature;
. Write to your MP (template on website);
. Make a donation or subscription (website);
. Take prayer card sets to use in house groups or prayer groups.
Please feel free to talk to me about these issues when you see me in church.
Thanks
Richard Kellegher-Green
WOODSIDE CHURCH FELLOWSHIP
Due to the heatwave this week, and the inability of some members to travel in such extreme heat, it was felt necessary to cancel last Tuesday's meeting. The talk which we were to have had, about the reduction in numbers of hedgehogs and danger of extinction, has now been been postponed until the end of June.
Our Programme for the coming month is as follows:
Tuesday, 9th June, at 2pm - Rev Jill Marsh will be speaking to us on the intriguing title of "The Priesthood of all Believers" (which could also be called "the ups and downs of life as a Minister"!)
Tuesday, 23rd June, at 2pm - Our own Christine Short will be giving the postponed talk about Hedgehogs, which includes a short video. We are collecting used stamps for this cause - many thanks to those of our Earlsdon friends who have already donated.
Our meetings always finish with a refreshing cup of tea (and biscuits).
Everyone is welcome to join us.
Eco-Space – Caring for God’s World
Y is for Young People
A significant minority of young people in Europe and North America are struggling to cope with life in the world they find themselves in today. We hear a lot in the media about such things as bullying at school, mental health issues, eating disorders and self-harming.
The increased access to social media in the last 25 years has led to such things as cyber-bullying. Photo-shopped pictures which are accepted as ‘normal’ can have a negative impact on the self-esteem of those viewing them. ‘Influencers’ may portray certain life-styles as acceptable when they are actually far from healthy.
What can we, as older people, do to help?
Did a youth worker, church leader, neighbour or teacher play a part in developing who you are today? We in our turn could form a good relationship with a young person so that they feel they can come to us for advice or support. As followers of Jesus we could be role models, demonstrating good Christian values.
Globally, half of the world’s population is under 30 years of age. The good news is that child mortality rates have dropped dramatically in recent times; more babies receive vaccinations; most primary age children are in school and the majority have access to information on-line.
However, AIDS is still a leading cause of death in young people as well as a significant cause of children and young people being orphaned. Several millions of primary age children are not in school, especially girls. Many young people are unemployed, making them particularly vulnerable to bonded labour, getting involved in armed conflict, sex work or being kidnapped.
On the other hand young people all over the world are at the forefront of action for justice and change. We think of Malala Yousafzai and Greta Thunberg in recent years: brave young women standing up for female rights and for the well-being of the planet respectively. There are also many local initiatives on such things as renewable energy and recycling which are being run by young people, supported by aid agencies such as Christian Aid or Tearfund.
Action points:
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Think about young people in our community. Are their needs being met? Are they able to fulfil their potential? Is there anything you could do to help, even if it’s just being a friendly face?
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Encourage the children in your life to have a healthy relationship with technology and to engage in more face-to-face interactions with others.
Events and meetings coming up:
“People's Emergency Briefing on Nature and Climate - Coventry Screening & Discussion”
An event organised by ‘Warwickshire Wildlife Trust’
Sat 30 May 2026 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Coventry Central Hall, CV1 2HA
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/warwickshirewildlifetrustteamwilder/2156604
Church Barbeque on Sunday 7th June following morning worship
Strawberry Tea, Saturday 27th June 2pm – 4pm. Wellspring area and outside.
Both of these events are an opportunity to meet and welcome our neighbours in the local community
The Newsletter by Email will not be produced for one week - Sunday 21st June. Please send in any items relevant for that week by Thursday 11th June for publication on Friday 12th. Thank you
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), 29/05/2026
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