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Welcome to Earlsdon Methodist Church
Newsletter and Notices
Number 293: 17.5.26
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,
Our weekly newsletter arrives, below, including the usual updates and events coming up. We have an important letter from Steve as steward, a fundraising notice from Simon and a ‘thank you’ from Penny.
The AGM Minutes are also HERE. Thanks to Gill as Church Council Secretary for preparing and sharing these with us.
Items for the newsletter are appreciated. Please send in by Thursday at the latest (earlier is even better).
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The Editor ponders…..
In recent weeks I have been challenged and intrigued by some very different experiences and conversations around ‘faith’ and what this means to people in a diversity of contexts.
I have observed devotions and practices in a temple in the Far East in which rituals and prayers to ‘ancestor gods’ are mixed with folk culture and Chinese religion. I have engaged in conversation about an understanding of Chrisian faith, heaven and hell, somewhat different to that which I hold. I have shared spiritual perspectives with a very dear friend who has rejected the Christian tradition and holds her values in ‘universal consciousness’ with an open heart of love.
All big stuff which has given me something of a ‘head wobble’ on occasion. What to make of it all? How to hold the faith in which I live and move, alongside some very different others – and to value and respect them and their experiences.
I believe that all people can experience God in Christ, but may do so through a different lens, or narrative. (Sadly some perspectives can be distorting at times.)
All religions and groups and communities have their stories and the beliefs or practices that really matter to them. We as Christians value and treasure the message, the story, that we have received and that gives us hope; the narrative which shapes our lives. The story that tells us that God is love and has reached into our world / God’s own world in the full experience of being human – to the point of suffering into death. And that this is not the end of the story! Life and love will triumph over all suffering and death. That is the story we live by.
I have taken two things from my recent encounters – and I hope I will continue to live and learn and ponder more – but two will do for now!
I value and treasure the message, the story I have received. I hope to live by it, to share it.
I value and treasure the community which shares this story. We belong in community, not as isolated believers. Not a community of insiders and outsiders, but one of mutual care, travelling alongside each other on the road of faith.
Hearing the stories of others whose life view may be very different, I learn, I grow, I hope to be open and respectful. I also treasure the sense of belonging – with you – with others – with all who hold the faith we share.
We worship God in community; God who is community – Father, Son & Spirit. But more of this to come in a couple of weeks. No spoilers for Trinity Sunday on 31st !
Ed
Sunday 17th May
Worship at 10.30am led by Alison Gee
Morning Worship is available to access via the usual zoom link
Coffee and tea are available after morning service
Sunday 24th May (Pentecost)
Worship at 10.30am led by Karen Brooks
Sunday 31st May (Trinity)
Worship at 10.30am is by local members
Giving Thanks takes place at the opening of worship on the fourth Sunday each month. You may wish to come prepared to share a short message of gratitude
Church Family News:
We continue to remember our friends who are unwell and those waiting for results or treatment. We pray for David in hospital and for Ros with ongoing treatment.
Praying for Church and Community
The groups we are asking people to pray for next week are:
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Flower ministry, using Alison Lawn's creative talents with husband Richard managing the funding
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The Contemporary Dance group who use the Church Hall regularly
Praying the alphabet?
Could we also include in our prayers this week, those in the church family whose name is a ‘B’? (I can think of three – are there more?)
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 Meetings 25th May (for those available on Bank Holiday) & 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.
Seven beautiful banners illustrating the “I am” sayings of Jesus were dedicated during the service last Sunday. Thanks to the hard work and skill of the members of this group.
Tuesdays
Intercessory Prayer Group: 11am online
Evening Bible Study and Fellowship Group 7.30pm at Ray’s fortnightly. Next meeting 19th May
Wednesdays
Worship Band meet for rehearsal in church, 8pm. Next meeting 20th May. 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 27th May
Earlsdon ‘3in1’ Youth Group is no longer meeting It is hoped there may be a fresh initiative for young people at Circuit level in due course. We are grateful to Revd Doreen for starting and maintaining this group and to the volunteers who gave their time, energy and support.
Your Church Needs You
Hi all,
As you will know, we are down to four stewards for this coming year, instead of six. So I need you help, so that stewards can also get a break. For safety and safeguarding we need to have at least two people to be around to unlock and lock the Church on a Sunday for worship. There are other roles that may also be able to help with, such as turning on/off the light, setting up the front and rear of church, hymn boards,
I have just drawn up the rota for the next quarter plan, and consider whether there are dates that you could partner up with one of our lovely steward team. Then let one of us know what date and we can put your name on the vestry copy.
Without your help, we may have to look at opening up later when there are more people available.
Also please give prayerful consideration to next year, when Bill will be standing down as steward. He has very graciously agreed to continue for this extra year, and not step down as normal. If there are no more volunteers for the role of steward, we may need to consider, not having services some weeks, or joining with other churches to cover the shortfall, because with only three stewards, that’s what will have to happen, and we all know where that ends.
Thankyou
Steve
Church Offering Counters
After the morning church services every 2 weeks we count the offertory & would very much like to ask if there would be anyone who would be willing to be trained to assist in this. We have a rota of very willing volunteers at present & we would welcome more to help out. It takes about 20 minutes & we would look after you with a drink & a biscuit during your count.
Please see Chris Fisher as he will be able to discuss the details with you.
THANKYOU
May Day Festival
Penny would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who baked, served, cleared tables washed up or took cash.
Particular thanks go to Lynda and David Pinks, who helped us decorate the hall.
Thanks must also go to Gill and Tim Richard and Alison, Bill, and Lois and Ian who were our ‘putting to bed team’.
I cannot name everyone, but the Church is grateful to you all.
The money raised will be used to support Church mission and will be posted at a later date.
Our motto is a fair slice for a fair price
God bless you All, Penny x
The worship band would like to make their commitment a little more visible together with an invitation to anyone who enjoys singing or playing to join them.
The dates that they have currently agreed are below. From time to time they occasionally need to be adjusted or even an extra practice squeezed in!
Wednesday 20 May 8.00pm
Wednesday 3 June 8.00pm
Wednesday 17 June 8.00pm
Wednesday 15th June 8.00pm
Wednesday 1st July 8.00pm
Wednesday 15th July 8.00pm
Wednesday 29th July 8.00pm
Heather
(These dates will be included in the newsletter weekly meetings)
Simon Cooper’s Fundraising event for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
“I chose that charity because having lost people to dementia, I’ve seen the devastating effect it has on not just the person but their partners and families, and the NHS does not really support this sort of illness so it’s up to the family to fund the care during the decline.
So at the end of April I hiked round ‘A Coventry Way’ footpath as part of the Cyril Bean Challenge which is to complete the entire 42 miles in one go, within the 16 hour time limit.
I went round with my younger son Michael in 14 hrs 15 mins and have the blisters to prove it!!
WOODSIDE CHURCH FELLOWSHIP
Last Tuesday we welcomed the Rev Clive Fowle and listened to a thought-provoking talk about the mediation work being done in the former Yugoslavia, including Croatia. He explained about the "Touch of Hope" mini workshops that are held to help those still affected by the civil war in the 1990s, and showed us his book "In Spite of our Differences, Healing the Hurts of War".
We meet again on 26th May (which is Bank Holiday Tuesday) at 2pm. This will include a talk, with short video, by our own Christine Short, a dedicated supporter of hedgehogs, and the work being done to save them from extinction. It was Hedgehog Awareness Week at the beginning of May and we are collecting used stamps for this cause. We will, of course, enjoy a refreshing cup of tea (with biscuits).
Everyone is welcome to our mid-week Fellowship - why not bring a friend?
Kathleen Wykes
Eco-Space
Caring for God’s World
“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
Events and meetings coming up:
Eco-Meeting online Monday 18th May at 7.30pm. The zoom link is the same as for Sunday worship
Vision Group meeting. Wednesday 27th May,7.30pm following Wednesday Worship. This will be in Wellspring and also run on Zoom
We will look at The Big Lunch 7th June, and revue recent events
Also, looking at ways our church family can help our very depleted steward team to manage running Church. An open meeting to which anyone is welcome.
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), 15/05/2026
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