Wellington Methodist Church and Centre

Cross Talk - November 2007
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Worship Diary

Sunday 4th November 

9.00 am          Holy Communion       Revd Peter Clarke 

10.15 am        Worship for All Ages  Mr John Parkin 

Sunday 11th November

Remembrance Sunday 

9.45am           Morning worship with Holy Communion Revd Peter Clarke

10.40am         At the Lych Gate 

Thursday 15th November

9.30am           Midweek Communion 

Sunday 18th November

10.15am         Morning Worship       Mr David Gee 

Sunday 25th November

Church Anniversary

10.15am         Morning Worship with Baptism Revd Peter Clarke 

Weekly Diary

Sunday

10.15am         Junior Church   Emmaus Crew 

Monday

6pm    Brownies 

Tuesday

6pm    Girls Brigade 

Wednesday

7.30pm Ladies Group

8pm    House Group 

Thursday

10am  Coffee Morning

12.15pm         Food for Thought

5.30pm           Boys Brigade (Juniors)

7.30pm           Boys Brigade (Seniors)

7.30pm           Guild 

Friday

1pm    Toddlers 

Saturday

10am  Coffee Morning & Chattabox 

Remember, Remember…

The season of remembrance is with us again. It’s not just the long evenings near the fire behind drawn curtains that puts us in reflective mood.  It is the time when we remember those who have died in time of war. Often this has been a time when we have looked back into our history, but we are increasingly aware that warfare is with us in the here and now - and service personnel still lose their lives or suffer serious injury in the theatre of war.

I believe that war always represents a human failure. Injustice, the breakdown of peace, and the oppression of people is always a profound tragedy. Most people agree, There are very few people who actually want war to take place, least of all those who serve in our armed forces. Yet, early in November we remember the price they so often pay for the failure of human kindness and the all-too-easy resort to violence. Their courage and sacrifice in the pursuit of freedom, peace and justice should always be remembered and never taken for granted,

Our morning Communion Service on 11th November will take up this theme. It is being held 30 minutes earlier than normal, so that we can join the wider community for the short act of remembrance at the Lych Gate outside All Saints Church when ministers from our town-wide Churches Together will lead the annual Act of Remembrance. As we do so we will also remember the one who invites us to remember him, the Prince of Peace who laid down his life that all might find eternal peace. 

Shoe Box Appeal 

Don’t forget the deadline for handing in Christmas Shoe boxes for ‘Operation Christmas Child’ run by Samaritan’s Purse. Boxes can be brought to church in the first few days of November, but they have to be on their way to start the first leg of their journey overseas following our morning service on November 4th. John Parkin leads a special All Age Service focusing on the work of ‘Operation Christmas Child’. We are aiming to send 150 boxes this year!  

JMA

Junior Mission for All is the children and young people’s window on the wider world. It is for anyone who wants to help make a difference in today’s troubled world. JMA members aim to learn, pray and serve the world wide church - and to encourage others to join them.

We were really pleased to welcome Rachel Murray as our new JMA officer at a special service in October. If you would like to know more about how to join JMA or maybe support one or children or young people, please contact Rachel. She will be delighted to hear from you.

At the same service, we presented ‘thank you’ awards to JMA members. Last year they raised £883 for the work of JMA -  a fantastic achievement. It was good to give some new awards out as well as longer service awards to other children.

Nationally, there are over 40,000 JMA members. It’s good to be part of something so big! 

Lighting up the town in time for Christmas 

Churches Together in Wellington, Hadley & Leegomery are pleased to be sharing in the annual switching on of the Christmas Lights. This year the countdown to Christmas begins at 6.00 p.m. on Friday, 30th November. Carols led by Wellington Town Band will be sung in the Market Square from 5,30 pm before the lights go on at 6.00 pm followed by the traditional visit from Father Christmas.

Last year an estimated 1000 people attended, many of them from the local churches who provided a great lead to the singing. Churches Together is producing a booklet with the words of the carols inside and an invitation to come to local church Christmas Services.

This year, we are hoping to have two candle lit processions, one from St Patrick’s and the other from the Methodist Church. These will both start at 5.15 pm and converge on the Square in time for the carol singing. Look out for more details of this great event later in the month,

After the event local shops and market stalls will remain open for people to browse and see all that Wellington has to offer for Christmas shopping. Look out for the new Christmas lights at Church too! 

Autumn Alpha Continues 

Alpha News

This month the Monday evening Alpha course  continues with sessions on prayer, the Bible, the Holy Spirit and guidance.

The format of refreshments, a DVD talk and then smaller  discussion groups is designed to be relaxed and informal. Come and just sit and listen, or bring your questions - especially the big questions about life and what it means! Come for just one session, or come for them all. Join tens of thousands of others all over the country on Alpha this autumn. Everyone welcome.

Sessions start at 7.30 pm and finish promptly at 9.15 pm .  

Focus on ‘The Guild’ 

The Wesley Guild meets every Thursday evening for much of the year. Part of a national  Methodist organisation begun many years with an emphasis on young adults, the Guild now caters for all ages and develops a programme based on a variety  of themes: devotional, social, literary, and service. Some of  the meetings are led by guest speakers, others by members of the group. Sharing friendship lies at the heart of every meeting.

Meetings start at 7.30 p.m. and last about an hour, ending with a drink and biscuits.

The programme for November includes:

1st: Devotional:Evening led by  John Lenton

8th: Speaker: John Parkin

15th: Speaker - David Corbett

22nd: Speaker - Shirley Baker

29th:Speaker - Roger Jones

The Guild also supports a world project, recently this was for a health care scheme in Nigeria.

The Guild’s official motto is ‘One Heart, One Way’ and seeks to draw together people of all kinds of background. Unofficially, its motto might be better described as ‘you are welcome’!

One church described their group as ‘youth club for oldies’. We’re not sure our group would describe themselves as ‘oldies’, but it is definitely for ‘the young at heart’. If you’ve always wondered what it is about, why not try it one evening. You’ll be sure to get a warm welcome. 

Church News 

October’s Church Council heard about a number of    developments for the future.

The Christmas programme was confirmed with special events to look out for:

7.30 p.m. 7th December

Nia in Concert. Nia is a     professional folk singer from Wales and will be presenting a programme of Christmas and other music.

7.30 p.m. 14th December

A Christmas Concert with    ‘Of One Accord’

6.30 p.m. 21st December

Christingle Service

6.00 pm 23rd December:

Annual Carol Service with Wellington Town Band.

Next year we share in ‘008 - Beyond the Impossible’. This Circuit-wide programme for outreach will be with us in January, June and October.

We have started to look at the possibility of improving access to toilet accommodation whilst securing the work of Preschool. This may lead a small but useful extension to the building. Look out for more details in coming months.

Please continue to pray for the developing life of the church.

 


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