Kingswood Foodbank needs are tinned potatoes, tuna & tomatoes, jam pasta & curry sauces, cartons of long-life milk, cooking oil, men’s deo and washing powder. Thank you all very much.
Church Council was held on Saturday 15th February. It was very well attended which was important given the 2 main items we had to discuss and take decisions on. It was agreed that work would go ahead on the trees and bushes at the front of the church and £2,000 was allocated to this work. The other subject matter – reallocation of many of Helen’s tasks – also had a successful outcome.
Warm Space Week ran every day last week. It was not the best attended but thank you everyone who did come along and helped out.
The church is being hired out on a number of Sunday afternoons starting next week (2nd) so do not be surprised if you pass by and see some activity.
Paper copies of the March, April and May Preaching Plan are now available.
Monday (24th) is the 191st anniversary of the start of the Tolpuddle Martyrs story. It is recognised as the start of the British Trade Union Movement. A number of the Martyrs were members of the Methodist Church. If you want to know more read https://www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk/story
Lent starts on Wednesday week (5th). On that day there is an Ash Wednesday Service at 9:30am at the United Church Longwell Green.
Next Sunday is Church Action on Poverty Sunday.
The first Saturday Coffee Morning of 2025 is on 8th March with the Monday Brownies.
Tomorrow (Monday 24th) is the 3rd anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. What does the future hold for the country after the recent utterings of the President of the USA? Please spend a little time praying for the country and its people
Lectionary 23rd February to 1st March. Genesis 45.3-11,15; Psalm 37.1-11,39-40; 1 Corinthians 15.35-38,42-50; Luke 6.27-38. Having a generous spirit. Jesus continues his teaching on how to behave as God’s children. He challenges his hearers to not only love those who treat them well but to go beyond this and to love their enemies. Jesus challenges us to think about how having a generous spirit benefits ourselves and others.
We have heard from the son of Val Jeanes, one of our former members. Val passed away on Monday (10th) after a spell in hospital with Alzheimer’s.
Hanham Methodist Church are holding a quiz night on Saturday 8th March, at 7pm, Cost is £8.50 per person which will include a light supper but it is bring your own drinks. Teams will be a maximum of 6 people but you can just turn up and join with someone else.
On Saturday 22nd March, at 7pm, also at Hanham Methodist Church, a concert by the Frampton Cotterell Male Voice Choir with the Frampton Shanty Men. Tickets are £8 with light refreshments served during the interval.
I have heard from Samaritans Purse about the shoebox appeal. Last year there was an increase in the number of shoebox gifts packed, both in the UK and globally. In fact, this past campaign resulted in the highest number of shoebox gifts packed worldwide in a single year – praise God! UK: 241,015 Global: 11,927,439. Those that we packed here at KMC went to central Asia.
The New Room Spring Programme is now out. If you have internet access, you can see what is on here: https://www.newroombristol.org.uk/whats-on/. Amongst the activities is Big Fish, Little Fish in half term week (18th & 19th), free drop-in craft sessions inspired by the wonders of water!
The latest Newsletter from Turnaround – formerly The Bristol Methodist Centre – tells us that “the beginning of January saw us return to work and go straight into Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP). We were running for six days (Monday - Sunday) where we continued our day provision and then each evening we would change the building into a night shelter provision. Previously we have only had space for 10 guests, this year and with some investment from the council and some rejigging on our part, we were able to offer 18 beds for those in need during this time.” It is wonderful news that they were able to do this.
Warm and well roadshows. Message from S Glos Council. “If you’re struggling to heat your home or with everyday living costs, pop along to one of our warm and well roadshows coming up in Kingswood. The roadshows take place at Kingsmeadow Made4ever, Kingswood on Thursday 30th January between 11.30am and 1.30pm and at Kingswood One Stop Shop on Monday 24th February between 9am and midday.”
February is LGBT+ History Month, an annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and non-binary history. The ‘plus’ sign after LGBT indicates that our identities are more diverse than labels can represent, so all are included.
The purpose of Kingswood Methodist Church is to respond to God's Love in Christ and to live out that love in God's world.