Weekly Notices What’s On Advent Sunday 9 December Bishop’s Cleeve Methodist Church Bishop’s Close, Bishop’s Cleeve, GL52 8NT Minister: Revd Dr James Tebbutt tel: 01242 674776
Welcome
10.30am: We welcome James to lead our worship which includes the celebration of Holy Communion. Welcome to you all, especially our visitors. Please stay for refreshments in the hall after our worship if you are able.
This week
Wednesday 12 December: 9am: The ecumenical service of Holy Communion will be led by Rev Richard Reakes, Team Vicar at St Michael's. A warm welcome awaits you to this time of worship with refreshments afterwards.
Thursday 13 December: 12.15pm: Superintendent's lunch at Moon under Water, Bath Road; an opportunity to meet James over lunch. 7pm: Unveiling and dedication of the new Triptych by PJ Crook at St Michael's. 8pm: Housegroup 61 meets at the home of Sue and Jerry Barr on Cleeve Hill. We will be continuing The Bible Course - Explore the Big Story which is also being followed at St Michael's. Please contact Pauline Jones if you would like to join us.
A message from James
Members and friends will be aware that we have two 'prayer trees': the larger one in the church itself, where prayers can be written on 'leaves' and tied to the tree, and the smaller prayer tree in the foyer where each strand of wool represents a particular prayer. You will have seen how the foyer tree has grown with all the prayers over the last year or two! Please do keep using these as you wish, and isn't it wonderful that some of the users and visitors to the church are clearly also adding prayers when they come into the building?
It is important that we always endeavour to keep the prayer tree in the foyer and respect it, since it represents the prayers of many people. Usually it stands on the table opposite the door, but when the table is also used for decorations, it will need to be moved, possibly to the window ledge, but not otherwise relegated or mistreated since it has meaning for many people. Once the decorations are over it is important that the tree is replaced on the table. At a recent stewards' meeting we thought this should be emphasised, and we thank you for your understanding and support. Next Sunday: 16 December
10.30am: Our worship will be led by Robert Carr from Tewkesbury 4pm: All are welcome at our Nativity and Carol service. Please encourage children to dress as one of the characters in the nativity story.
Saturday 8 December:
Church Christmas Coffee Morning 10am-noon
Mildred and Albert invite you, your family and friends to this annual festive morning.
This is a time of fellowship with coffee, tea, mince pies, nibbles
Items for inclusion next week should be sent to David Aldred, either by email or phone .
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The Methodist Circuit of Gloucestershire, Circuit Office Address: Northgate Hall, St. John’s Lane, Gloucester, GL1 2AN Telephone: 01452 415769 Email: [email protected] Prayers We ask you to remember in your prayers this week the worship, work and witness of the congregation at Nailsworth. Circuit Dates, Event & Place: In Brief (further details on each below)
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The Superintendent’s Lunch Club 12.30 on a Thursday. All welcome to sit alongside, eat and chat
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News….
Spring 2019 Quarter Preaching Plan Preaching availability for the Spring Quarter (March, April & May 2019) is requested and Chrestos is available for this information to be entered. Please can everyone show their availability, even if you are unable to offer any appointments by Thursday 3 January so that further work to finalise and distribute the plan can be completed in good time. If there are any queries or issues, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Louise Hebbron, Circuit Administrator
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Connexional Donations – Thank you We have had a letter of thanks from Methodist Church House for the various Connexional donations that have been made during the last ‘church’ year. A total of £19,576.23 was passed through the Circuit Office (there may well be more, if sent directly from churches).
Funds: World Mission £3,845.84; Mission in Britain Fund £2,956.56; Training Fund £660.00; Property Fund £2,464.00; Support of Presbyters and Deacons £872.00; Methodist Church Fund £800.00
Many thanks to all who support the wider church through these donations. Brian Cook – Circuit Treasurer
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Christmas Services A list of services being held (where notified) across the circuit over the next few days is attached to this newsletter. Please also check individual church notices for more dates and information.
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Circuit Office closure over Christmas period Please be aware that the Circuit Office will close at 1pm on Thursday 20 December and will re-open on Wednesday 3 January at 9.15am, with the final 2018 edition of the Circuit Newsletter being published on Wednesday 19 December. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Louise Hebbron & Michelle Warren, Circuit Administrators
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Stonehouse Methodist Church Carol Service Unfortunately it has been necessary to move the Carol Service, held at Stonehouse Methodist Church. The Carol Service, led by Deacon Sue Peat, will now be at 6.30pm on Sunday 23 December. There will be no evening service on 16 December.
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Association for Church Editors Awards Set up in 1999, the Association for Church Editors provides help and support to magazine editors by sending ideas and articles, plus running training sessions on key aspects of magazine production. Their annual awards cover different types of magazines and the next one, in June 2019, will showcase A5 size magazines which use colour printing. Further information can be found in the attached document. The awards will be presented at the Annual Meeting in Westminster Central Hall on 22 June 2019.
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Christian Aid at Christmas 2018 Christian Aid’s Christmas appeal this year is for peace-making work across the world. Information on this together with their range of charity gifts, 100-mile sponsored walk and arms sale campaign action can be found in the attached bulletin or by contacting Noel Sharp on [email protected] or by phone on 07814 141100.
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Dates for the Diary….
Coffee Morning Wednesday 12 December, 10.30 – 12noon May Hill Methodist Church Come along to the May Hill coffee morning, all proceeds to chapel funds.
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Christmas Tree Festival Thursday 6 – Sunday 9 December, 2 – 6pm Hucclecote Methodist Church The theme this year is ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’. The Church organisations have each depicted one day of this Traditional Christmas Song and the Church is filled with beautiful Christmas Trees. All the tree decorations are handmade, including the ones made by the young members of the Girls and Boys Brigade, Junior Church, Jellytotz and Messy Church. Please come and see this wonderful display, spend a little time wandering around the Festival and complete your visit with a refreshing hot drink and homemade cake.
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Gloucestershire Police Male Voice Choir Friday 7 December 2018, 7pm Churchdown Methodist Church Come along and hear the Gloucestershire Police Male Voice Choir! The choir love singing together and entertaining people with their varied and interesting musical repertoire, which includes modern pop songs, classic standards and lively show tunes, as well as the more traditional hymns and choral pieces. There will be refreshments and a raffle and tickets cost £7 each and can be obtained from George Govan on 01452 714290 or by email at [email protected]
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Soup & Carols Saturday 8 December, 12 – 2pm Stroud Methodist Church Enjoy delicious homemade soup and join in with singing all your favourite Christmas carols. Admission is £3.
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Christmas Exhibition – ‘A very Woolly Christmas’ Monday 10 to Saturday 22 December (Mon – Fri, 10am – 2pm, Saturdays 10am – 4pm) Tewkesbury Methodist Church This exhibition will appeal to people of all ages. Over 40 small hand-knitted scenes depicting Christmas Carols and Songs will be on display.
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Spectrum Tuesday 11 December, 10.30am Christchurch, Abbeydale The next meeting of the Spectrum study group will be led by Rev Carrie Seaton who will lead a discussion on ‘Going to Church'. Coffee is served from 10am. All welcome.
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Carol Singing Saturday 15 December, 10.30 - 11.30am Coalway Methodist Church Come and go as you please, we aim to sing over 20 carols in the hour. Coffee and mince pies afterwards. All money raised is in aid of Action for Children.
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Carol Service Sunday 16 December, 6pm Clements End Methodist Chapel Come along and hear items sung by the Coalway Voices. The service will be led by Revd Michelle Ireland. Refreshments will be available.
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Beer and Carols Monday 17 December, 7 – 8pm Exmouth Arms, Bath Road, Cheltenham We are going to attempt to recreate the Greenbelt “Beer and Hymns” atmosphere singing our hearts out with a glass of whatever your tipple is. The idea has been welcomed by the pub who are letting us have the restaurant end to fill with carols. It should be great fun and an uplifting hour for anyone to join in.
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‘It’s Really Christmas’ with the Salvation Army Band and Songsters Tuesday 18 December, 7.30pm Christchurch Abbeydale Advance booking is recommended. Tickets are £5 adults and £1 children. Refreshments will be available.
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Early morning services for Christmas Wednesday 19, Thursday 20, Friday 21 December, 7am Stroud Methodist Church Early riser, insomniacs, want to do something extra during Advent? Why not join Stroud Methodist church and Holy Trinity Anglicans at our early morning services. Themes are Nazareth, journeying, Bethlehem. More info from Karen Burridge, [email protected]
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