News and Coming Up

The memorial service for Ray Slocombe will be on Wednesday 2^nd May, at the church, at 3pm. There will then be a short committal service at Westerleigh Crematorium at 4:15 after which the mourners will return to KMC for refreshments. Tea and coffee will be served at the church for those who do not wish to go to Westerleigh. If you want to send flowers they should be delivered to 14 Headford Ave BS5 8PF, by 2pm on the day.     Alternatively you could make a financial donation which will be shared between KMC and Cossham Hospital Dialysis Unit.

There is a Leadership Team meeting on Monday (23^rd). Please have a word with a member of the team if there is a topic you wish discussed.

Sunday 22^nd is Earth Day. It is a day of political action and civicparticipation. People march, sign petitions, meet with their elected officials, plant trees, clean up their towns and roads. Corporations and governments use it to make pledges and announce sustainability measures. Faith leaders, including Pope Francis, connect Earth Day with protecting God’s greatest creations, humans, biodiversity and the planet that we all live on.

Sunday is also Vocations Sunday. Alternatively known as the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, it is a Sunday set aside each year by various Christian denominations as a day for prayer and reflection in relation to the call to ministry and Christian service. ‘Pray the Lord of the harvest to send labourers into his harvest’ (Matthew 9:38).

It is with sadness that we have to report the passing of Brenda, the sister of Bob Fear and former member of the Thursday Group.

Holy Habits Film Club at the New Room, next showing is on Friday 4^th May and it is “Shadowlands”. It is the story of writer C S Lewis and his faith journey through experiences of love and bereavement. Showings at 2pm and 7pm and entrance is free although donations are welcome

The Easter Offering raised £138.70 for the World Mission Fund: thank you everyone who contributed.                     

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.

In accordance with new data protection regulations, we have had to seek permission from everyone on the Newsletter email distribution that they wish to continue to receive such emails. If you are currently on that distribution but not had such an email then please contact Peter Shears. If you have had the e-mail please reply in the affirmative by 3^rd May if you wish to stay on the list.

Hanham Methodist Church Flower Festival is being held on Saturday 28^th and Sunday 29^th April. On the Saturday it is open from 10am to 4pm with coffee and cakes served between 10am and midday and cream teas served between 2pm and 4pm. On the Sunday it is open between 2pm and 5pm with tea and biscuits available.

In August 2017, Cock Road Methodist Church became unsafe due to a ceiling collapse in the main worship area. The church could not meet the financial cost of repair and therefore church members have had no alternative but to close. The church has, since it was built in 1869 stood as an important presence in Cock Road and Kingswood with a very chequered and interesting history. A number of items of interest from the church are to be exhibited at the Kingswood Heritage Museum and a special celebration is to be held on Sunday 29^th April at Potters Wood Methodist Church. The church will be open for people to view an exhibition of photographs and other memorabilia portraying the life of the church and the Cock Road area through the years commencing at 2pm. Tea and cakes will be served throughout the afternoon and a service of thanksgiving and celebration follows at 5:30pm. Refreshments afterwards. Everyone most welcome. Although this service has been advertised as being held at KMC, it is now, as mentioned above, being held at Potters Wood.

As individuals I am sure we all do plenty of recycling. However, as a church the reverse is true as we put a considerable amount of plastic, paper and cardboard in the black bin. In an effort to change this unacceptable situation a crate has been left in the dirty kitchen. Please place items you would normally recycle at home in it, washing out items where necessary. Some members of the church will regularly take these items home to put in their own recycling bins.

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 Good Friday Retiring Collection for Christian Aid raised £63.50.

Wesley Cottage – home of Roz and Anthony Hick – Quiet Days will be held on 10^th May, 14^th June, 12^th July and 9^th August. For more details please see the downstairs noticeboard.

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.

With immediate effect the regular venue for the Thursday Prayer and Meditation Group is now to be Mollie Burnham’s house. If anyone would like more information see Lynda, Mollie, Brenda or Helen.

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..

A new Flower Plan has been placed on the noticeboard at the bottom of the stairs: please add your name to it if you can.

Soundwell Rd, between Two Mile Hill Rd andf just before Grantham Rd, is currently closed for for water pipe repairs.

Changes to Data Protection rules are being introduced by the Government in May. Exactly how these changes will impact upon us as a church remains to be seen as details have yet to be published. However, it is believed there will be some impact including e-mail newsletter distribution.

A Circuit leaving service for those Ministers moving on at the end of this Methodist year (including Barry) will be held on 15^th July at Hanham Methodist Church. A Cluster Service will be held a week later, also at Hanham.