Welcome to Earlsdon Methodist Church

Newsletter and Notices
Newsletter 252: 15th June 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,

EMC weekly news arrives again!

Last Sunday’s barbeque proved to be successful and enjoyable, and at times, even sunny!. Several local people stopped by for a burger and a chat. It was good to engage with our neighbours. Particular thanks go to Dayspring for providing great music and to the team on the barbeque – Mike, Dave & Lynda, Steve….and all who helped out.

On Saturday, (14^th) we have our ‘Great Green Giveaway’. We will be outside church from 10am, offering produce with an ecological theme – sharing good things and hopefully raising awareness of our need to nurture the planet. Do drop by.

Victor offers us a hymn which he describes as ‘an old friend’.

Please note that there will not be an email newsletter for Sunday 29^th June or 6^th July. Any notices or news you would like to be included before then, please submit by Wednesday 18^th June, for publication on Friday 20^th. (A busy week, so this earlier deadline will help me)

* * * * *

You will probably be aware of the UN Ocean Conference taking place this week in Nice. https://sdgs.un.org/conferences/ocean2025 We know of high-profile figures like Sir David Attenborough who passionately promote the cause of preserving the planet. His latest film ‘Ocean’, which I haven’t yet seen, draws our attention to the need to respect this vast and often ignored mass of our threatened planet.

Coincidentally, in our romp through the alphabet in ‘Eco-corner’ of the newsletter, this week the focus is on fish. It has certainly given me food for thought and awareness of how I do my shopping. If I make one small change in the coming weeks, it will be a step in the right direction I trust.

Ed

Sunday 15^th June
Worship at 10.30am led by Revd Ian Coates

Worship at 6.30pm is a service of Meditation and Hymns on the theme of Pentecost

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

Sunday 22^nd June
All age worship at 10.30am led by Revd Richard Wilde

Sunday 29^th June
Worship at 10.30am led by Bill Holdforth

Saturday 14^th

Great Green Giveaway 10am -12 noon outside church.
We will be distributing hand knitted dishcloths, plants, garden produce, seedlings….all part of God’s abundant giving to us. Do support with either produce or your presence!

Mondays

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

Tuesdays

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

Intercessory Prayer Group: 11am online.

Wednesdays

Prayers and Bears . meeting at 9.30am (open from 9am),

Wednesday Worship 7pm. A short act of worship held fortnightly. Coffee available from 6.45pm. Next meeting on 25^th June

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)

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.

Church Garden News

Hi all, thank you to everyone who has donated flower seeds for the Church garden. Hopefully it will make it look amazing.

I have another gardening related request. Does anyone have a spare water butt, or large container which could be used, to store water in, to facilitate water in the garden. And any spare compost or top soil, for the trays? I can collect if you let me know.

I have now fitted a code bolt to the gate, so anyone can gain access to do a little pruning, watering.
Please ask Steve Fox, or any of the Stewards, for the code if you wish to 'do a bit'.

Thanks Steve

Wellbeing Walk on Thursday 19^th June, 5.30pm (see poster HERE). Organised by the Sherbourne Valley Project.

Nexus Tour and End of Year Show

Nexus are ‘on tour’ including a date in Coventry – just down the road! – on June 21st.
https://nexus-ica.co.uk/the-seasons-tour/

Let me know if you would like to know more
Joe Harris

EMC / CTEC Rep.
As a church we express our sincere thanks to Alison Lawn who has faithfully carried out the role of representing Earlsdon Methodist on the Churches Together committee in this area – for 16 years! She is now stepping down from the role. Lorna continues to be actively involved in CTEC and we do now need another representative from our church.

Is this something you would consider? Maybe not for 16 years, but perhaps as a one year rolling appointment? Do speak with Lorna, Alison or Revd Doreen if you would like to know more.

Volunteering
There are a number of areas where volunteers in our church life are always welcome:

A few more people on the Wellspring Café rota would help ease the pressure when regulars are on holiday or unavailable. Speak with Helen or any of the team.

Counting church offering You may be willing to be on the rota to occasionally count the offering. Speak with Chris Fisher.

Coffee after service Making drinks and washing up is a valued service to help everyone feel welcome after service. Speak with Ruth Fox

Reading in worship New voices are always welcome. Speak with Steve Fox

Eco-Corner

Caring for God’s World

K is for Kippers 050125image

Well, fish in general to be more accurate.

Many of us enjoy eating fish and it can be a healthy alternative to meat in our diet. We are told that ‘oily fish’ is particularly good for us.

We also know that fishing and the fishing industry is a political and environmental pandoras box of controversy and damaging practices. However, there has been some good news!

Campaigns to protect threatened fish stocks in the North Sea may have come to your attention in the past. Due to pressure and a ‘Cod Recovery plan’, the North Sea cod fisheries were awarded the MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) Gold Standard in 2017. Pressure from consumers and cooperation with industry and government does work!

Sadly, it’s not all encouraging and the sustainability of fish stocks and the impact of fishing worldwide has raised great cause for concern. We have recently heard more of the widespread practice of ‘bottom trawling’ where metal structures are dragged across the ocean floor to catch prawns and seabed dwelling fish. This destroys the natural layer of plants, corals and young fish trying to survive. Many are tossed back into the sea, dead or dying.

Over half the fish we eat now comes from ‘fish farms’ rather than the natural ocean or rivers. This is more efficient and has brought economic benefits to Scotland, Norway and Chile, for example. Salmon used to be a luxury food and is now one of the cheapest. There are consequences.

I love salmon and have recently learned two disturbing facts.
Wild Atlantic salmon is often firm and pink or red in colour. Farmed salmon can be grey and the familiar pink colour is induced artificially by chemicals.
Secondly, the farming is so intense, the breeding area can become ‘toxic toilets’ and again chemicals are used to kill off the lice and disease.

Prawns are also intensively farmed and this has a negative environmental impact. A one pound bag of prawns can have a carbon footprint of one tonne of CO^2., ten times higher than beef (2019).

What can we do?
Enjoy eating fish as a luxury and be prepared to pay a little more.

Look for MSC (sustainability) labels. There is an MSC pocket guidebook app https://www.mcsuk.org/ocean-emergency/sustainable-seafood/the-good-fish-guide/add-the-good-fish-guide-to-your-phone/

Check in supermarkets and restaurants to ask where their fish comes from.

Be aware. Be willing to make a change in our shopping and eating.

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

WOODSIDE AVENUE FELLOWSHIP
We had a lovely afternoon last Tuesday afternoon, when the Stivichall Primary School Choir came to entertain us. The children sang beautifully, a selection of old and new songs, and we all enjoyed their performance.
We meet again on Tuesday, 24th June, at 2pm, when we look forward to a talk/demonstration by our own Margaret Adler, who will show us how she came to be so skilled at craft work, especially embroidery, sewing and knitting. Followed, of course, by a cup of tea and biscuits, and lots of friendly chatting. Our Earlsdon friends are always very welcome to join us.

Kathleen Wykes

Events coming up:
Concert at All Souls RC Church to commemorate their Centenary. Coventry Philharmonic Choir will perform Fauré's Requiem. Saturday 21^st June, 5.30pm. Tickets £8 in advance or on the door

City of Coventry Male Voice Choir
We are hosting a joint concert with Rugby MVC & Loughborough MVC at 7.30 on Saturday 21st June at Baginton Rd URC. With two visiting choirs and a varied program, it should be a really good concert.
Tickets may well be available on the night, but to be sure, please get your ticket beforehand!
Ray Williscroft & Mike Spokes are choir members who would welcome your support, and would be able to get tickets for you.

Eco-Worship planning meeting on Monday 23^rd June, 2.30pm in Wellspring (for service on July 27^th)

Circuit Great Green Gathering Online: Sunday 6^th July 4pm – 5pm.

Great Green Gathering zoom meeting 4pm – 5pm Sunday 6^th July 2025
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/96602964035?pwd=naGcx2YYToBKbCj5vObb1sDxW4Xpa2.1
Meeting ID: 966 0296 4035
Passcode: 905397

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), 15/06/2025

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

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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