Welcome to Earlsdon Methodist Church

Newsletter and Notices
Newsletter 272: 16.11.25

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,

A short introduction to our newsletter this week!

We hope you enjoy reading what is coming up and as Advent approaches, we become aware of events on offer which may help us to prepare for the season ahead. (Too soon yet to use ‘the word’?!)

We have a C19^th hymn from Victor, a C21^st Steel band concert locally, an invitation to a performance of Handel’s Messiah from the C18^th . We span the ages!!

We are also reminded in Eco-space of simplicity in living. In a world of materialism, busyness and pressure, that can feel quite a challenge. What might it look like in practice, for you, for me?

Ed

Sunday 16^th November
Worship at 10.30am led by Penny McAinsh. The service includes the baptism of Miley Blue Hill. (Please see below for more information.)
‘Pulse’/ Reflective worship at 6.30pm

Morning Worship is available to access via the usual zoom link

Coffee and tea are available after morning service

Sunday 23^rd November
All age worship at 10.30am led by Alison Gee

Sunday 30^th November (First Sunday in Advent)
Worship at 10.30am led by Revd Doreen Koffie-Williams
CTEC Advent Service, 6.30pm at St Mary Magdelene Church

Sunday 7^th December (Second Sunday in Advent)
Worship with Holy Communion at 10.30am led by Revd Doreen Koffie-Williams

Church Family News - Baptism

On Sunday 16^th November 2025 the Baptism of Miley Blue Hill will take place during our morning service.

Miley is the granddaughter of Eunice Smith (a friend of mine and many, long time member of this church) and daughter of Rachel Smith and Kevin Hill.

Both Miley and her brother Jake attend Earlsdon Primary, and it is a pleasure to welcome them and their families here as we celebrate this special occasion

Penny

We remember two of our readers who have (hopefully) had planned knee operations this week and wish them well in recovery. Thinking of you with love, Sue & Lynda.

Wellspring Café

Thursdays & Fridays 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. Saturday 9.00 a.m. - 12.00 noon

The usual menu of drinks and light food is available. Prayer Shawl knitters meet on Thursday

Mondays

‘Come and Sing!’ 7.30pm in Church. Next Meeting 17^th November

Tuesdays

Morning Prayer and Quiet Reflection: 8.45am for 15 minutes online (Zoom link is as Sunday morning worship)

Intercessory Prayer Group: 11am online.

Evening Bible Study and Fellowship Group 7.30pm at Ray’s next meeting on 18^th November

Wednesdays

Prayers and Bears 9.30am (open from 9am), for pre-school children and a parent or carer. Contact Penny or Helen if you feel you could help in any way.

Wednesday Worship 7pm. A short act of worship held fortnightly. Coffee available from 6.45pm. Next meeting on 26^th
Praying for Church and Community: Fortnightly, next on Wednesday 26^th November, 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)

‘Be More Steve’ Dayspring Concert , Friday 21^st November, 7pm at Sky Blue Tavern. See poster for more information. SteelPan

Do support our steel band and members if you can. The event is raising money for ‘Pancreatic Cancer UK’

“St Barbara’s is again hosting the Tearfund Big Quiz Night on Saturday, 22^nd November starting promptly at 6.30pm. Tearfund is an international Christian charity that currently works in around 50 countries, with a focus on supporting those in poverty, and donations to Tearfund are invited. The evening will include a meal (with ten different options, including vegan). Tickets are £7 per person (or £5 for a schoolchild). For tickets, which must be obtained in advance, or for further details, please contact Ian Leitch at ianleitch094@gmail.com. All welcome

Eco-Space

S is for Simplicity

Do you feel as if you are on the treadmill of life, working hard to pay for the choices you have made? Simple living is about stopping that treadmill and giving ourselves the space to choose how we want to live our lives. Many voices around us may tell us that happiness is to be found in good clothes and nice jewellery; in a prestigious job; in having a busy diary. Living simply involves taking time to sit and listen to the whispers inside us that we seldom have time to hear. We might then discover that happiness comes from having space for friendships, space for ourselves, space to live in a way that respects God’s earth and, importantly, space for God.

The prophet Micah asked ‘What does the Lord require of you?’ His answer was ‘To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God’. How can we do that? Perhaps it is to live more simply.

Our culture today is very much consumer-based. It is also profoundly self-centred and individualistic, placing value on what we possess. We have created a short-term, throw-away culture. Simplicity leads us to focus more on relationships – with God, others, the wider creation and ourselves.

How often do we say, ‘I haven’t got time for ….’? We measure our worth by our busyness and believe we are indispensable to all that goes on around us. Instead, perhaps we could take more time simply to be: to be with ourselves, to be with God.

Gerald May, in his article in the book Simpler Living: Compassionate Life: A Christian Perspective (Michael Schut ed.,Earth Ministry 1999) suggests that we can do this in three different ways:

Have moments in our days when we stop and are still
Have regular set-aside times dedicated to ‘just being’, such as going for walk in a green space
Just give yourself a day to be quiet or go away on a retreat if that appeals.

Action points:

Develop one practice that allows you to stop, and builds space for quiet in your life.
Develop a deeper appreciation for the natural world.
Buy things for their usefulness rather than their status.
Develop the habit of giving things away.

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

WOODSIDE AVENUE CHURCH FELLOWSHIP

REMEMBRANCE - We had a very meaningful afternoon last Tuesday (11th) when the Rev Graham Gee, and his wife Alison, gave us a thoughtful presentation for Remembrance Day. Together we were able to share stories and memories and were reminded of the cost of war and our enduring hope for peace, symbolised by the cross of nails and the dove. We were privileged that two of our local councillors attended - they were very impressed and placed an article on Facebook. Many thanks to Rev Graham and Alison for coming and leading the service.

We meet again on Tuesday, 25th November, at 2pm, when we will be delighted to welcome the children's choir from Stivichall Primary School. They come twice a year to entertain us with their lovely singing - they love being at our church and we always have an enjoyable afternoon. Our Earlsdon friends are very welcome to come and join us

Kathleen Wykes

Coventry City Mission – Christmas Giving Tree Project
Applications for our Giving Tree Project are live now
Please pray for this project and all those involved in it.

If you'd like to help with this project then please consider donating via our amazon wish list, our bank account or drop off new, unwrapped, gifts to Specsavers Canley or Cheylesmore or the Brooklands or Maudslay Pubs or to us at Coventry City Mission.

Events coming up:
Tearfund Quiz Night at St Barbara’s church. Saturday 22^nd November at 6.30pm. See notice above for details.

CTEC Advent Carol Procession. Sunday November 30^th , 6.30pm at St Mary Magdelene Church. A service of Lessons and Carols.(see flyer HERE)

Handel’s Messiah performed in Coventry Cathedral on Saturday 13^th December at 7pm. Coventry Cathedral Chorus, Coventry Boy Choristers. & soloists Tickets £20 in advance, £25 on the door Messiah information and tickets

Community Carols at EMC Sunday 21^st December at 4pm

Church website: https://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 web892site: https://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 (Edited for website by Tim W), 14/11/2025

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