Welcome to Earlsdon Methodist Church

Newsletter and Notices
Newsletter 246: 4th April 2025

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 resumes and includes events coming up in the near future. There’s a lot going on this weekend with the Church AGM on Sunday following morning worship and May Day festivities on Monday.
I hope that all members of the congregation on the e-list received church reports for our AGM. If you didn’t, please let me know.
Cakes and help in the church hall will be most welcome on Monday. It will be a busy day all round. Do drop in to enjoy the day if you can.
We also include as our usual feature, a hymn shared with us by Victor and a reflection on Resurrection which you may find helpful.

* * * * *

It has certainly been a memorable Easter, and we hope it was a good one for you. Perhaps you were away or at home? Maybe you worshipped locally or elsewhere?
Our family celebrated various birthdays along with recent and forthcoming weddings in a ‘get-together’ near Southampton. It was lovely to meet up with everyone in a happy and relaxed atmosphere – with cake!
Being away from home we were also able to worship over Easter in a less familiar church setting within a different denomination. It was good to share in traditions and practices that we might not otherwise have done.

And then of course, on Easter Monday, we woke to the news of the death of Pope Francis. It has been moving to witness how his final days, his passing and his funeral have touched so many people. Catholics, Protestants and those of other faiths or none seem to have warmed and been challenged by a man of humility, courage and by one who was willing to allow the world to see his frailty.

Our Roman Catholic sisters and brothers, along with the world, now wait to see who will be chosen next. Those of us who have seen the film ‘Conclave’ may have some insight into what might be going on behind locked doors next week!
Conclave – literally meaning ‘with the key’/ locked in. It made me smile to realise that until this week I hadn’t actually worked this out from my school-girl Latin. I can be a bit slow, you know!

Of course, a key can also unlock as well as lock. A key can release, it can bring about an opening, a new awareness.
Let’s prayerfully hope that all Christians, and those of good faith, might be released, freed, might come closer together in the resurrection spirit of Christ this Easter season. The great unlocking.
Ed

Sunday 4^th May
Worship with Holy Communion at 10.30am led by Revd Doreen Koffie-Williams
Church AGM follows morning worship. All are welcome.

Morning Worship is available via the usual zoom link.
Coffee and tea are available after morning service

Sunday 11^thMay
Worship at 10.30am led by Penny McAinsh with the Worship Band

Sunday 18^th May
Worship at 10.30am led by Hugh McCredie
Worship with Holy Communion at 6.30pm led by Revd Christine Crabtree

Sunday 25^th May
Worship with an Eco-theme at 10.30am led by Lorna Warrener and church members

Church Family News and Prayer:
We say ‘Happy Birthday’ in May to: Jan Nightingale (5^th), Tim Weller (13^th), Bill Holdforth (17^th), Judith Cule (23^rd), Rosie Grantham (23^rd), Betty Croft (23^rd), Sue Davies (26^th), Anni Louth, Enobong Nkantah (28^th), Jill Blackburn.

A bumper month for EMC Birthdays! Hope you all enjoy your day.

Have we missed anyone?

May Day Festival

On Monday 5^th May, the Church and Church Hall will be open to visitors as part of Earlsdon’s Festival. There will be many stalls and attractions in the street including our own ‘Dayspring’ steel band. Community groups and stalls will also have a presence in our buildings and refreshments will be available in the Hall.

Please do come along!

If you are able to volunteer to help on the day / providing cake, please sign up in the lists in Wellspring. All help will be very welcome!

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.

Meetings during the week:
Mondays
‘Come and Sing!’ 7.30pm in Church. Meeting,12^th May

Tuesdays
Morning Prayer and Quiet Reflection: 8.45am for 15 minutes online

Intercessory Prayer Group: 11am online.

Wednesdays
Wednesday Worship 7pm. A short act of worship held fortnightly. Coffee available from 6.45pm. Next meeting on 14^th May

Christian Aid Quiz Evening
As usual, St Barbara's is holding a Quiz in support of Christian Aid
It will take place in the Church Hall on Saturday 17th May (on the last evening of Christian Aid Week), and will start promptly at 6.30pm.
Tickets are £7 per person (or £5.50 for schoolchildren) and includes a hot meal (with 10 choices - including vegan).
Tickets must be obtained in advance from Ian Leitch at ianleitch094@gmail.com

WOODSIDE FELLOWSHIP
We are hosting a Coffee Morning at Woodside Avenue Church this Saturday, 3rd May, at 10.30am, in aid of Coventry Myton Hospice. It will also include a second-hand book sale with books kindly donated by Finham Library. Please come and join us and help us to raise as much money as possible for this worthwhile local cause.

We look forward to our next Fellowship Meeting on Tuesday, 13th May, when we will be entertained by our Playgroup children who will be singing to us. Make a note of the date and come and listen to their delightfull singing. Followed, of course, by tea and biscuits.

Eco-Corner

Caring for God’s World

Our stash of knitted dishcloths is now over 100 😊 115 in fact. Well done all!!
Yarn, needles and a pattern are available for anyone who would like to join in. It’s not too late. Have a word with Heather or Lois. We are hoping to include a grand circuit total in Circuit news in the coming months.

G is for ..Giveaway

The date of our ‘Green Giveaway’, has moved forward to June 14^th (see notice below in future events). If you are a gardener, perhaps you could reserve a few seedlings, plants, cuttings or garden produce to include.
Thank you!

This is not the only G – and we will resume our usual feature of eco-awareness through the alphabet next week.

Eco Tip: Spend time in nature
Spending time appreciating God’s creation can be an act of worship. Nature can be experienced when we notice an insect, hear a bird sing, feel the earth beneath our hands or even when we watch a documentary. There is strong evidence that nature is also good for our mental health. Try to immerse yourself in nature every day, even for just a few minutes and give thanks to God for His good creation. Further ideas can be found below.

Ideas to enjoy nature

Events coming up:
Service of Accreditation for Jo Hibbard as a Local Preacher. Saturday May 17^th, 3pm, at Woodside Avenue Church. All are welcome

Christian Aid Quiz Evening Saturday May 17^th, 6.30pm at St Barbara’s Church, Earlsdon, Tickets £7, including a hot meal, from Ian Leitch. Ianleitch084@gmail.com

Easter Offering Circuit Service Sunday 1^st June at EMC 4.15pm for tea and cake followed by worship at 5pm.

‘Great Green Giveaway’ Saturday 14^th June, 10am-12am outside church. We will give eco-friendly cotton dishcloths, seedlings, cuttings and any garden produce to our Earlsdon neighbours – with love.

Church website: http://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: http://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), 02/05/2025

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