News and Coming Up

Our Gift Day has raised £3,596.65 so far. I say ‘so far’ as I am hopeful a few more donations will come in. Even if this is the final figure it is a good amount, above both last year’s total and expectations. Thank you very much everyone who donated.

Our Minister Barry is currently out of action due to an arm injury he suffered whilst working at home. He is on strong painkillers and, as a result, the Church Council meeting planned for Wednesday (20^th) is off.

The Leadership Team met on Monday (11^th). Items discussed were Gift Day, Church Council, P J Jackson’s diary, work on the boiler, Pre School new chairs, the microwave oven, the toaster in the kitchen, safeguarding, Circuit Directory, Holiday Club, the gas radiators, the KMC calendar and the Christmas Fayre. The next meeting is scheduled for 23^rd July.

There has been an incident in the last few days where a tap was left running overnight in the back Ladies toilet. It did cause some flooding. If you are involved with a group that uses the premises or are ever the last person out, please include the back toilets in your exit checks. A new checklist has been produced and sent to everyone on the Newsletter email distribution. There will also be a copy in the kitchen.

Very advance notice. The KMC Christmas Fayre will be held on Saturday 17^th November (and not the 24^th which is the corresponding Saturday to last years event).

The July Saturday Lunch is scheduled for 14^th. However, we have no one to host it – any volunteers?

Please remember to save and pass to Helen or Peter Shears items we can use for junk modelling at our Holiday Club.

Monday 18^th to Sunday 24^th June is Refugee Week. It is a week of celebrating the contribution that refugees make to this country and aims to promote a better understanding of why people seek sanctuary.

Each year the Methodist Church has a ‘Bible Month’. Bible Month is an opportunity for churches and circuits to spend 30 days focused on a single biblical book. The aim is to help all in church engage more deeply with Scripture. June is Bible Month and this year’s book is Jonah. What do you know of Jonah apart from him being swallowed by a big fish? There are 4 chapters to the book of Jonah, why not take the opportunity this month to read all 4 (it is only 2 pages).

Wesley Cottage – home of Roz and Anthony Hick – Quiet Days will be held on 12^th July and 9^th August. For more details please see the downstairs noticeboard.

An urn with the ashes of Ray Slocombe will be interred in church grounds on Tuesday 3^rd July. Regrettably this will have to be the last time we will be able to allow such a procedure. Due to a lack of space only ashes without an urn can be accommodated from now on.

As you may well know, new data protection rules came in to force on 25^th May. As a result restrictions have been placed on our ability to pray for named individuals. If, for example, you wish to write someone’s name in the prayer book you need to have their permission to do so. We can no longer publically pray for a named person without their permission.

Potterswood Methodist Church Flower Festival is on Saturday 30^th June, from 10am to 4pm, and on Sunday 1^st July, from 2 to 4pm. The theme is ‘Musicals’. On the Saturday the Kingswood Community Choir will be performing between 2 and 2:45pm and there will be other musicians at intervals during the day. Refreshments will be available.

Grains of Truth, an exhibition of sculpture from 4^th to 29^th June is being held at Victoria Methodist Church (1a Whiteladies Road, Clifton, BS8 1NU). It is open Monday to Friday from midday to 2pm and 10am to 2pm on Saturdays. Work by Richard Smith & David Moore, Santiago Bell and Arun Ways is being shown.

Have you visited the New Room since it was refurbished? It really is worth a visit.  A Summer Special offer is now available for local groups. If you pre-book a visit for 10 or more people to the new museum between 1^st June and 30^th September, admission costs just £2.50 per person (usual price for adults is £6, seniors £5). Make a day of it and enjoy lunch or afternoon tea in the award-winning cafe. If you are interested in knowing more, please ring them on (0117) 926 4740 or email info@newroombristol.org.uk, quoting the code BRISTOLSUMMERSPECIAL

A reminder: As we begin to shake off Winter and see temperatures rise a little, the grave yard grass is beginning to grow.  This means that we have to start cutting it again. If you feel you can commit to cutting the grass once between April and November inclusive, please could you let Lynda Stone know as she is drawing up a rota for a monthly cut.  Many thanks.

It is with disappointment that it has to be reported that The Wesley Guild has taken the decision to close, due to falling numbers. They will, however, still be holding their Summer Coffee Evenings. The dates for these are: Mondays 18^th June, 2^nd, 16^th & 30^th July, 18^th August and 30^th September. The first one – on 14^th May – will be at the home of Joyce and Alan Tarbard.

KMC is now a designated Trussell Trust Foodbank Referral Agency. This means that if, someone comes onto the premises looking for food, they can be given a voucher to exchange at the Foodbank located in the Bourne Christian Church, just down the road. Or it can be exchanged at any other Trussell Trust Foodbank. There are strict rules on the issue of these vouchers and the only people who can do it are Liz Marks, Lynda Stone and Peter Shears.

Our annual Holiday Club will run from Monday 13^th to Friday 17^th August, 9am to 12:45 each day. We have a problem, though, in that our likely staffing number will be at its lowest ever, at least 2 people less than last year (and maybe more than that). Can you help for even 1 day? It is with direct contact with the children that we need the help, we have enough people to look after the refreshments.

There are two leaving services for our Minister Barry. One is a Circuit Service for all Ministers stepping down, the other is a Cluster Service just for Barry. Both are at Hanham, on 15^th July and then 22^nd July.

Weekly giving envelopes scheme. There is an envelope for each Sunday simply so that, if it helps, you can put money aside each week even if you do not attend. But you don’t have to do this. Those counting the money after worship do not have to have envelopes, or parts of envelopes, which you have not put money in.

The New Room Community Choir meets each Wednesday during school term time, from 12:15 to 1pm. No auditions, no need to be able to read music, everyone welcome.

Available at the back of the church are a few copies of a booklet called “Holiness and Justice”. The booklet is an invitation through words and art to consider how you might make a difference both in yourself and in the world..