Welcome to Earlsdon Methodist Church

Newsletter and Notices
Number 258: 10.8.25

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,

Our weekly newsletter comes round again with interesting material and notices to peruse. We have the wonderful announcement of another new arrival!

Please note the closure of Wellspring café over the next couple of weeks. Closed now after Friday 8^th until Saturday 23^rd August

An update on numbers. 21 email addresses not yet confirmed for continuation of newsletter receipt. Please do get in touch soon!

Victor shares a hymn with C19^th wording – a prayer sincerely offered.

* * * * *

I am often inspired by words which raise my curiosity, which open my mind to think on unconventional tracks of interest, encouraging me to wonder; thoughts that raise my eyebrows and prompt me to ask more questions. ‘Following Jesus’ is a very short piece that had that effect. Simple at first reading…. uncomplicated and yet fertile ground for more thought. Does it raise interest in you? Does it challenge or even disturb? Food for thought?

Sunday 10^th August
All age worship at 10.30am led by Karen Brooks

Morning Worship is available to access via the usual zoom link

Coffee and tea are available after morning service

Sunday 17^th August
Worship at 10.30am led by Tony Cashmore
Worship with Holy Communion at 6.30pm led by Revd Jill Marsh

Sunday 24^th August
All age worship at 10.30am led by Penny McAinsh

Church Family News

Congratulations on the arrival of Lyra Beth. A baby daughter to Jake and Mel Fox. Ruth and Steve now have two wonderful new grandchildren. Much love and prayers for you all.

Mondays

‘Come and Sing!’ 7.30pm in Church. Next Meeting, 11^th August

All other regular groups and meetings are taking a break in August

Wellspring Café

Wellspring will be closed for two weeks(14^th – 23^rd) while redecoration is underway.

Also closed on Saturday 9^th August due to volunteer staff shortages

Wellspring , Kitchen and Foyer

Every year the profit made from the sales of food from Wellspring has been used to support charities decided upon by the staff.

This year part of the profit is going to be used to pay for the materials to redecorate Wellspring, kitchen and foyer.

David Pinks, Steve Fox , Bill Holdforth who work in Wellspring are providing some of the person power. However, we need more willing people to help clean and paint.

Please see the notice HERE for details of dates and help required. (11^th – 21^st August)

Wellspring will be closed for two weeks while this work is underway.

Macmillan Cancer Support

If you are making jam, dividing plants, pickling produce or baking cakes, please put aside any you can spare ready for the Macmillan Coffee Morning at the end of September at which we will be having a sales table as well as hot drinks and cakes in Wellspring. Many thanks

Methodist leaders: recognise Palestine State 'without delay'

The president of the Methodist conference, Rev Richard Andrew, and the vice president, Matthew Forsyth, have issued a statement saying they are “appalled and horrified” by the situation in Gaza and the images of emaciated children. They said there is a moral duty to act on the warnings from aid agencies of mass starvation and malnutrition. “We welcome the pause in military activity, but this is not enough. Red lines in international law have been crossed by the Israeli Government and they and Hamas must provide explicit acceptance of the right to peace, security and prosperity for all Israelis and Palestinians. The time is now right for the Government to take decisive action to recognise the state of Palestine, its right to self-determination, and to ensure safety for all its citizens across the West Bank and we urge them to do this without delay.”

Praying for Church and Community

With the backing of the EMC Vision Group, a new in-person prayer group will be starting in September.

Where? In Wellspring after Wednesday Worship

When? Fortnightly, starting on Wednesday 3^rd September from 7.45 to around 8.30pm

What for? Sharing information about and praying for all church activities and events, as well as for community events and groups such as those who use our church hall

You are warmly invited to join us. There will be no pressure to pray out loud if you are not comfortable doing so. Time and space will be given for quiet reflection.

You are also very welcome to join us before the prayer group for Wednesday Worship at 7pm if you wish.

Additional info:

We currently have an online prayer group meeting on Tuesday mornings from 11am till 12 noon. This focuses mainly on individuals known to us who are going through difficult times. This will continue.

However, some of us feel strongly that all our church projects and community involvement should be underpinned by prayer. Our God invites us to commit all our plans and problems to him, both individually and corporately. We need the wisdom, guidance and blessing of the Holy Spirit if these are to be fruitful.

If you need further information, please speak to Lorna.

WOODSIDE AVENUE CHURCH FELLOWSHIP
Tuesday, 12th August at 2pm - "What does the Cave Art at Creswell mean?" Come and find out - our own Keith Chapman will be giving us an illustrated talk. Followed, of course, by a cup of tea (and biscuits).
Tuesday, 26th August at 2pm- Our annual garden party - we will be meeting in the garden of Sue and Brian Davies to enjoy friendly company, homemade cakes, tea and biscuits (inside if wet). Come and join us.
Our Earlsdon friends are always welcome to our Fellowship meetings.

Chaplaincy

Dear Friends,
Jesus called us friends, and Chaplains are a friendly presence in a place, representing the church and Christ in the wider world.
Some of our churches around the circuit are exploring student chaplaincy, chaplaincy within our church 'Warm Hubs', chaplaincy in hospitals and care homes, and chaplaincy in the workplace.

HERE you'll find a flier for some chaplaincy training and this is the link to the Workplace Chaplaincy Mission UK website.

We hope that some of you might be open to God's prompting and offer to at least explore workplace chaplaincy as a volunteer lay person.
The work is extremely fulfilling, and if you would like to know more about it, please ask your minister or Rev Clive Fowle clivefowle1@gmail.com or 02476 381986

Thank you, Jill

Rev. Jill Marsh
Superintendent Minister

Newsletter Distribution by Email
Every two years we are required to revisit permissions for holding data (GDPR).
Please contact to confirm that you do wish to continue receiving the EMC newsletter by email. Currently Lois Talbot is the person who holds the list for this purpose.
No assumptions will be made. You must send in renewed permission!
The deadline will be 31^st August. I will then remove any names I have not heard from.

Thank you

Events coming up:
Circuit Welcome Service for Rev Becki Stennett followed by Bring and Share cake and savoury snacks. Thursday 4th September 7pm at Coventry Central Hall

Circuit Outdoor Gathering Coombe Abbey Saturday 20^th September from 11am. Bring a picnic. More information will be in Circuit News

If you are intending to go and could offer transport, please let us know. Equally if you need a lift, please get in touch. We hope to travel in as few cars as possible.

(Lorna, Lois, Ethel, Sarah L – your local ‘Eco-bods’)

Eco-Corner

Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations 050125image

In our Eco-service on Sunday 27^th July, one of the issues we thought about was plastic pollution. In order to tackle this we need coordinated action from all nations and plastics industries.

There have been four Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations in the past few years. They have made some progress but not enough. However, there is a recognition that they need to keep talking and working towards binding commitments.

The fifth round of plastics treaty negotiations is currently taking place in Geneva. It runs from 5^th to 15^th August. What can we do to help push the participants towards produce a binding agreement?
WE CAN PRAY!

Here are some prayer points adapted from some I have received from Tearfund. You may like to consider bringing them before God in the coming week:

Pray for ambition and courage at the negotiations so that this round will secure change on a global scale through a binding treaty.
Pray for energy and perseverance as campaigners from faith groups travel and participate in the negotiations. May they carry hope over despair and find God’s blessing going ahead of them in their conversations with negotiators and stakeholders.
Pray for decision-makers and negotiators to understand the scale of the problem and to put aside politics, self-interest and corporate greed in favour of solutions that will benefit the whole world, particularly people living in poverty.
Pray for legally-binding targets for countries to reduce plastic production, drastically improve waste management and scale up reuse solutions so that less waste is created.

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 website: 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), 08/08/2025

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

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