epworth and scunthorpe methodist circuit newsletter … 201… · please do join us you will be...
TRANSCRIPT
A Note from Angy
Some of you may have, from time to time, heard Helen, Paul or
myself talk about going off to Launde Abbey on retreat. Launde is an
amazingly beautiful place in a beautiful, bowl-shaped valley not far
from Oakham in Leicestershire. It’s history dates back to 1119 when
it was built as an Augustinian Priory but it was caught up in the
dissolution of the monasteries in the early 16th century when it
caught the eye of Thomas Cromwell. The Abbey’s website records:
“After visiting the priory in April 1540 he wrote in his
Remembrances (a kind of personal journal) “Myself for
Launde,” although he never occupied the house as he was
executed just three months later for treason.”
The Abbey went instead to his son Gregory. After a number of other
owners, the site was bought by a Leicester businessman, Cecil
Coleman, in 1957, who gifted it to the Diocese of Leicester to be
used as a retreat house.
This task of being a ‘retreat house’ it fulfils wonderfully well.
Because of its location there is little mobile phone signal and
sometimes ‘interesting’ internet connection, although has recently
improved with the fitting of some broadband boosters around the
site. Sheep graze, birds sing, flowers bloom and a number of semi-
tame cats wander about as if they own the place. There are crosses
erected around the grounds, you come across them unexpectedly
giving moments of grace or pause for thought, and there is a prayer
labyrinth, a wonderful chapel and lots of garden benches or lawns
to lie down on and be still. On my recent Superintendent’s retreat
we spent a day with Rabbi Debbi Young-Somers thinking about the
Jewish tradition of interpreting Scripture and some of those Jewish
rituals which maintain their faith. We also had some time to ponder
on questions of ministry in our communities, and time simply to
chat. It was a wonderful and blessed time. After 3 days we may not
all have been quite ready to return from our retreat from the world
but we did so nourished and somewhat rested.
The question that I find myself now pondering on is; what task do
our buildings fulfil and do they fulfil them as wonderfully well as
Launde does being a place of retreat?
Places of worship, places of prayer, places of sanctuary,
places of learning, places of care, places of welcome,
places of challenge, places of empowerment,
places of justice …
Of course, to fulfil any of them isn’t just about the building or its
location, although they are important. It is also about the people
who make up the lives of our buildings and our communities; in
other words; us as ‘living stones’ (1 Peter 2.) How can we work with
what we have to make a difference for others around us and what
difference will we make?
God bless,
Angy
Methodist Women in Britain News
I’ve just returned from the annual conference at Swanwick where 250 women gathered to consider the theme ‘Oceans of Justice, Rivers of Fairness’. The keynote speaker was Rachel Lampard MBE, former Vice-president of the Methodist Conference and a member of JPIT, the Joint Public Issues Team. Her presentation was both inspirational and sobering as she considered the issue of hunger in the UK in 2018 and the rise in the use of Foodbanks, much of it relating to the roll out of Universal Credit. As a corporate practical response to Rachel’s presentation we embarked on a craftivism project, each of us embroidering a napkin with a message for our local MP which we will send to them along with a letter asking them to write to the government asking them to include a measure of household food insecurity in the evaluation of the effectiveness of Universal Credit. My message to Nic Dakin, who ran the London Marathon this month raising funds for the Foodbank in Scunthorpe, was: Running is hard. Running hungry is harder. The District Away Day in March led by Rev Jennie Henshall was well attended. Five of us attended from this circuit and we were led in a biblical and creative way to consider how in many different ways we can ‘Discover Joy’ throughout our life’s journey. Our next District Day will be on Wednesday 20th June at Trinity Methodist Church, Immingham. Starting with coffee at 10.30am the day will include the commissioning of our new District President, Mrs Ann Conn as well as a presentation by Catherine Schroter from Action for Children, Ann’s chosen charity.
Looking ahead to the autumn our District day in Louth will be on Thursday 25th October when the speaker will be Sandra Goodwin, national president of Methodist Women in Britain. Transport will be provided by coach from the circuit so please note the date in your diaries. Another date for your diary is our Circuit AGM, Thursday 11th October at Gunness. We meet at 10am for coffee with the meeting starting at 10.30am. All ladies welcome.
Bronwen Braisdell Circuit MWiB President
June 2018 District Day At Trinity Methodist Church
Pelham Road Immingham DN40 1NB
Wednesday 20th June
10.30 to 3.0pm
Morning Worship with Communion led by the Reverend Louise Carr.
This will include the Commissioning of our new President Mrs Ann Conn
Please bring a packed lunch
Drinks and biscuits will be provided throughout the day
Our afternoon speaker is Catherine Schroter of Action for Children
This is to be Ann’s presidential charity which Catherine will outline during the afternoon
We end at 3.0pm
There will be tea and cake to set you on your way
Please do join us you will be made very welcome Further details from
Diane Patrick [email protected]
Or telephone 01469 573638
A pastor is walking down the street one day when he notices a very small boy trying to press a doorbell on a house across the street. However, the boy is very small and the doorbell is too high for him to reach.
After watching the boys efforts for some time, the pastor moves closer to the boy’s position. He steps smartly across the street, walks up behind the little fellow and, placing his hand kindly on the child’s shoulder leans over and gives the doorbell a solid ring.
Crouching down to the child’s level, the pastor smiles benevolently and asks, “And now what, my little man?” To which the boy replies, “Now we run!”
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Music night Saturday 16th June at 7:00 pm By “Belcanto”
£5/= including refreshments
From Old Brumby United Church
As church-going continues to decline and more pressures are put on the church by increasing legislation, regulations and rules; along with the problem common to most organisations today of filling the jobs; we, at Old Brumby United Church, are ‘feeling the squeeze’. We must not, however, look only at Sunday Worship as a measure of our effectiveness; we are extremely fortunate in our buildings and our physical location and we have church and community groups using our premises on a regular basis who bring, as well as much-needed income, a vibrancy and liveliness to our church life. The church has some links with each of these groups and some of them consider themselves to be part of our church community. As well as ABC (mother and toddler group) we have our Wednesday Club for older children, badminton, and a monthly ‘Soup and Sweet’ club. The 16th Scunthorpe Scout Group, (previously from Centenary Church) join us for Church Parade several times a year and then we host a range of other Groups including: Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Scunthorpe Musical Theatre Society, JOPSOX, WOLDS Singers, a painting group, Links Twirlers, Iron Maidens quilting group and Bottesford Belles sewing group as well as regular ad-hoc bookings for parties. In addition we have a weekly bible study group on a Tuesday night and a Coffee Shop that’s open and busy each Saturday morning. Our premises are well used by the community and we are considering other ways to use our space and fulfil our Christian duty to be a faith presence in the community. We are a welcoming Church and our Worship Services are varied and inclusive, child AND adult-friendly, and we hope we make the most of every opportunity to spread the Good News in every way. Submitted by Lawrie Holtby
World Missions Coffee Morning
There were some severe flurries of snow on the occasion of the
Circuit World Missions Coffee Morning held at Epworth Wesley
Memorial on 17th March. In spite of the weather, there was a good
turn-out. Conversation flowed over refreshments and the stalls –
cakes, parcels, Fairtrade and Christian goods did a brisk trade. The
financial outcome was £214.37, for which thanks are extended to all
who helped in any way.
Muriel Jacklin Treasurer
Circuit Lent Lunches
The Circuit Lent Lunches, held on 5 Sundays throughout Lent, again proved popular. The various venues were Messingham, Epworth, Winterton, Haxey and Old Brumby United. In each case the hosts provided tasty food, appreciated by all. Donations for “All We Can” amounted to £374.56. Gift aid will be claimed back on £252.16 (an extra 25p for every £1.00 donated). Claire Welch, of “All We Can”, wishes me to thank everyone who contributed to this donation. I also express my sincere thanks to all who made this possible.
Muriel Jacklin
OBITUARY - We are sad to hear of the death of Dorothy Welch, wife of
the late Rev James Welch, who was a minister in our Circuit from 1972 –
76. Dorothy had been in care for the past 2 years suffering from dementia.
She died age 79. We have happy memories of the time shared together.
From Marie Atkinson
Concert by Isle Community Choir To be held in Ealand Victory Hall
at 7:30 pm Refreshments/Raffle
Proceeds for the Victory Hall and Eland Methodist Chapel £4 per entry
Garden party in Chapel grounds Wednesday 15th August at 2 pm Various stalls and refreshments
Eland Jubilee Chapel sends a warm welcome to all
YADDLETHORPE
METHODIST CHURCH
SATURDAY 28th JULY 7.00 PM
CONCERT BY
THE ELDERBERRIES
FOLLOWED BY LIGHT REFRESHMENTS
ADMISSION £5.00
TICKETS FROM CHURCH OR AT THE DOOR
SUNDAY 29th JULY
10.30AM REV ANGELA LONG
6.00PM REV PAUL BRAISDELL
Other events around the Circuit
Church Event Date Time Remarks
Althorpe Chat-a-while coffee morning
1st
Saturday of each month
10:00 - 11:30 am
Proceeds given to various charities
Fellowship meetings
Wed 20th
June Wed 18
th July
2:00 pm
2:00 pm
Speaker – Mrs Hazel Jackson Speaker – Rev Angela Long
Gunness Coffee Morning, raffle etc
Wed 19th
Sept 10:00am – 12 noon
At St Barnabas Church hall, Station Rd. £1.50 per entry Proceeds for Gunness Methodist Church
Owston Ferry Pop-in Every Thursday morning
10:00 – 11:30 am
Coffee & biscuits
Summer Coffee morning
Thursday 9
th Aug
10:00 – 11:30 am
In Coronation Hall. £2 per entry
Scotter Cream tea afternoon
Saturday 16th
June
2:30 to 4:30 pm
To celebrate
the
anniversary
weekend of
the Chapel –
118 years
Winteringham Coffee Morning
1st
Tuesday of each month
10:00 am to 12 noon
In the Chapel