News and Coming Up

It is with great sadness that we have learnt that Ruby Stone passed away on Wednesday (8^th) after a short illness (pancreatic cancer). The funeral will on 24^th August, details to follow.

Our 7^th Holiday Club is running from 9:45 to 12:30 each day this week. Please pray for the staff and the children that they all have a good week. Thank you everyone who helped by donating items for the junk modelling (which will take place on Tuesday). There are still a few places available.

What do you do on a Wednesday evening? Want to try something different? On Wednesday 22^nd August, at 7:30pm, at the Church, we will be holding a meeting to arrange parts for the next pantomime, which is Jack and the Beanstalk. You need to be 14 years to 90 (or even older as long as you are fit and active). If you want to take part in acting, singing and dancing or stage crew come and join in, rehearsals will start properly on Wednesday 19^th September and the 2 performances will be at the end of January 2019. If you would like to be involved but cannot make the meeting, please let Steve Yates know.

At the New Room on Wednesday 15^th August, from 10am to 1pm, for children of Primary School age, free drop in activities. Sandpit play, craft tables and deckchairs. All children must be accompanied by an adult. There is a café where refreshments can be bought.

Our new Minister, PJ Jackson, will have responsibility for Speedwell, Made For Ever and Fishponds as well as us. As a result we will move from the East Cluster to the North East Cluster (with Staple Hill moving in the opposite direction). Other churches in this Cluster are Yate, Hawksbury Upton, Shortwood, Watleys End, Winterbourne Down, Badminton Rd and Zion United Frampton Cotterell. Unfortunately it means we lose the services of Chris Spencer.

There will be a Circuit Welcome Service for new Ministers, including PJ, on Sunday 2^nd September at St. Andrews Methodist Church in Filton, at 4pm. It would be good if KMC is represented but Helen and Peter cannot be there. PJs first service with us will be 9^th September.

,000 Letters. 3Generate is an annual event for young Methodists (in the age range 8 to 23 years). We are being asked to write a letter to those attending and encourage them to be courageous in their faith by sharing our own faith story. The letters will help the children and young people feel connected to, and part of, the wider body of the Methodist Church. The letter you write will be displayed at 3Generate to be read by a number of those attending. Please don’t put your address, or any personal contact details, on the letter nor your surname: simply sign it with your first name. Ideally your letter should be one side of A4. Send your completed letter to 3Generate 1000 Letters, 6th Floor, Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5JR, by the end of October please.

There will be no Junior Church again until 2^nd September. It is expected that some activities will be provided for young children in the back room, alongside the crèche.

Copies of the Preaching Plan for September, October and November are now available at the back of the church.

Thanks to another very generous donation, the Gift Day total has now risen to £4121.65 – last year’s total was £3407. However, the joy of this will be tempered when you realise our weekly collections are averaging £50 less than last year (that is £2600 in a year)

The Chaplaincy at North Bristol NHS Trust and University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust are running a training course this Autumn. This will give you the opportunity to see if you might be suited to becoming a Chaplaincy Volunteer visitor on the wards at one of their hospitals. Course dates are every Wednesday from 5^th September to 17^th October 2018 (inclusive), meeting between 10am and 1pm at Gate 30, Brunel Building, Southmead Hospital. If you are interested please contact the Reverend Brenda Dowie on (0117) 414 3700

Methodist Conference met recently. The Reverend Michaela Youngson was inducted as President for the year, succeeding the Reverend Loraine N Mellor. It is the first time in the history of the Methodist Church that a woman has been elected to succeed a woman President. Mr Bala Gnanapragasam was inducted as Vice-President. Michaela has chosen ‘Radical Grace’ as her theme for the year whilst Bala has chosen ‘Transforming Hope’.

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

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

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: Monday 30^th July, 18^th August and 3rd September. 

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.

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..