Welcome to Earlsdon Methodist Church

Newsletter and Notices
Number 283: 15.02.26

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 coming week we begin the season of Lent. Pancakes on Tuesday if we are lucky – and then Ash Wednesday marks the start of the season of reflection and preparation for Easter. It is a time of repentance, of shriving (hence the name Shrove Tuesday). Some people give up things, like chocolate or cake during this time as a form of fasting. Others like to introduce something new like more disciplined prayer or service. It is a good season to rethink how we live and to let some things go, or maybe even to develop some new holy habits.

(Adapted from ‘Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals, 2010)

With our newsletter this week we have a few different resources which you might find helpful in Lent. We also have our usual feature of a hymn offered by Victor.

One of our members has shared some thoughts for Lent (HERE), starting this week in preparation. They are written in the style of CS Lewis’ ‘The Screwtape Letters’, satirical writing from the stance of a senior devil.

University of Coventry Chaplaincy Team, offers reflections and guidance for both Lent and Ramadan which unusually start together this year. Their shared message highlights the significance of these sacred seasons for Christian and Muslim communities.

We also have, HERE, information on Lenten Reflections being offered by the Chapel of Unity at Coventry Cathedral.

On Ash Wednesday there are a number of services of worship, some including ashes, at Coventry Cathedral 8am, 8.30am, 12 noon, 1.30am and 7pm
Full calendar - Coventry Cathedral
You may be aware of other services in the area.

Ed

Sunday 15^th February

Worship at 10.30am led by Charlene Mukorombindo

Morning Worship is available to access via the usual zoom link

Coffee and tea are available after morning service

Sunday 22^nd February (First Sunday in Lent)
Worship at 10.30am including the baptism of Isaac Fox

(Not Eco-themed worship as in the circuit plan)

Church Family News

Could you offer transport for Colin & Rosie to get to church on a Sunday morning? Both have mobility issues and Ros Light who has helped in this way for many months, is currently in hospital. She is unlikely to be able to help for the foreseeable future.
If you are able to give them a lift on an occasional or regular basis, please contact Colin or any of the stewards – or earlsdonmcnews@gmail.com – and the message will be passed on. Colin is happy to contribute petrol costs. They would love to be able to worship in person with us again.

Ros continues to make progress with her treatment and is now walking regularly on the hospital ward. ‘On the up’!

Safeguarding
Please be aware that I am unavailable as Church Safeguarding Officer from now until the 23rd Feb. If you have any concerns, for yourself, or on behalf of someone else, please speak to the Rev Doreen or any of our stewards.
Any such conversations will be entirely confidential.
Thank you

David Mills

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. Prayer Shawl knitters meet on Thursdays

Mondays

‘Come and Sing!’ 7.30pm in Church. Next Meeting 16^th February

Tuesdays

Intercessory Prayer Group: 11am online

Evening Bible Study and Fellowship Group 7.30pm at Ray’s fortnightly. Next meeting 24^th February

Wednesdays

Prayers and Bears No meeting – Half-Term Holiday

Holiday activities for under 11s accompanied with an adult 10am-12noon. Crafts, story, songs and , snacks. Please see poster HERE. Wednesday 18^th February

Wednesday Worship 7pm. A short act of worship held fortnightly. Coffee available from 6.45pm. Next meeting 18^th February.

Praying for Church and Community: Fortnightly, and next meeting on 18^th February following worship from 7.45 to around 8.30pm. This meeting can be attended in Wellspring or online, using the usual Sunday worship link

Fridays

Earlsdon ‘3in1’ Youth Group meets in the Church Hall, 6- 8 pm for 5–18-year-olds.

(First and Third Fridays each month during Term Time)

Ash Wednesday Witness for Peace, 10.50am – 11.50am gathering at the steps of the Cathedral ruins, Wednesday 18^th February. (poster HERE)

WOODSIDE CHURCH FELLOWSHIP

We meet again on Tuesday, 24th February, at 2pm, when we welcome Phil Godfrey from Solihull Rotary who will give a talk, with pictures, about the Potters Village in Uganda, a project he has a special interest in. Followed, of course, by a refreshing cup of tea (with biscuits).
FUTURE DATES
10th March - "Who do you think I am?" - an Open Meeting sharing our memories
24th March - Musical Afternoon from a local Ensemble
14th April - "Susanna Wesley - the Mother of Methodism" - a talk by Rev Becki Stennett
28th April - a talk by our own Ken Holmes regarding the work of the International Children's Trust
12th May - we welcome the Rev Jill Marsh to speak to us
26th May (Bank Holiday Tuesday) - Open Meeting
Our Earlsdon friends are very welcome to join us at any of our meetings.

Kathleen Wykes

Eco-Space
Caring for God’s World

V is for Volunteering
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I imagine that many people reading this are already giving some of their time each week to voluntary work, either within the structures of church life or in other areas There are some interesting statistics about volunteering in Ruth Valerio’s book (2019 latest edition).

41% of UK adults regularly volunteer for an average of 1.5 hours each week, contributing £23 billion a year to the national economy. This has declined somewhat over the decade before, but increased in the 16 – 24 year age group, maybe having more time and wishing to enhance their CV.
There is a vast range of volunteering opportunities and it’s a great way to use our natural and learnt skills to other uses outside ‘regular work’. We also learn new skills and widen our experience.
Volunteering overseas can be particularly rewarding - for student ‘gap’ years, mid-career experience or in retirement. Tearfund and other organisations run specific volunteer programmes.
Some companies enable volunteering by releasing employees for a number of hours or days in which to engage in community projects. This can be beneficial all round, can lead to better employee recruitment, improved staff skills and confidence and greater morale, team building and public image. Win Win!
Furthermore, research by Oxfam found that 80% of employees preferred to see volunteering on an applicant’s CV. More wins!

Volunteering is a practical way of putting our beliefs and values into action.

What do you do already as a volunteer?
Is this within the church or in other areas – or both?
How does this benefit others? Your local community? Yourself?
Would you like to do more? less?
What are your skills and interests?
Does your employer encourage volunteering?
Has this made you think about volunteering differently?

Adapted from: ‘L is for Lifestyle’ by Ruth Valerio

Events coming up:
Church Council Thursday 26^th February 7.30pm in Wellspring (NB Date changed from 19^th )

Church AGM Sunday 19^th April after morning worship. This date has been chosen – a little earlier than usual – so that Revd Doreen can chair this last meeting with us.

Church Website

Church Facebook page
Church Office email: office@earlsdonmethodist.org.uk
Circuit Website
Circuit Office email: office@covnunmethodist.org.uk
District website
District Facebook page
District Instagram page
District YouTube page

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), 13/02/2026

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

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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