News and Coming Up
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The chairs in the Church have been rearranged so there is no longer a need to book your seat. However, please ensure that, wherever you sit, you leave 2 empty chairs between you/ your group and the next person/ group. Did you know Advent originated as a period of fasting? Advent from the Latin word adventus, meaning arrival, refers to the arrival of Jesus Christ. Although scholars aren’t sure exactly when Christians began observing Advent, we do know that monks in the 5th century CE began fasting thrice weekly in November, either to prepare for Christmas or Epiphany, during which new Christians were baptized each year. Similar to Lent, in which Catholics fast and pray for 40 days before Easter, Advent encourages Christians to fast so they can focus on repentance and prayer. A big thank you to all our JMA collectors - Eloise, Abi, Megan and Lily – who have collected a total of £340.57 in the past year and to the people who donated the money. Marion. Thank you, too, Marion, for continuing to organise JMA for us. From Tuesday 30th November, Peter will be sending out daily Advent emails. If you would prefer not to receive them just let him know. Bristol Passion Play. Togehter4Bristol are putting on a Passion Play at 5 locations around Central Bristol on Good Friday, Friday 15th April 2022. Volunteers are needed for the street performances and supporting roles leading up to the Play and on the day. More information can be found here: https://mcusercontent.com/bcf1bde8bc4a29dae7362b02a/files/e41a4e8b-7230-2278-37bf-f33cd056e6d7/Passion_Pitch_Engagement.pdf Jean Mary Stone. Lynda, Jen and Liz would like to thank everyone who have kindly sent their condolences over Mum’s passing away. We have been overwhelmed by the kindness and support shown to us following Mums death and wish to thank everyone who attended the thanksgiving service for her life last Friday. The retiring collection raised £250.20 for the British Heart Foundation’s research into vascular dementia. This comes with our sincere thanks. 100 Shoeboxes were collected for the Operation Christmas Child appeal: a wonderful effort. Thank you very much everyone who contributed. On Thursday 11the November, our Boys; Brigade Company had Remembrance as their theme for the evening. One of the activities they performed was painting poppies on stones which were subsequently varnished. These stones are now on the war memorial. There is a proposal that Kingswood should have its own Town Council. There is too much to it to describe it all here so visit Kingswood Town Council Consultation - South Gloucestershire Online Consultations (southglos.gov.uk) for more details. Lectionary for 28th November to 4th December. Jeremiah 33.14-16; Psalm 25.1-10; 1 Thessalonians 3.9-13; Luke 21.25-36. Heads up - This week we explore looking for small signs of hope. The Gospel reading is set in Holy Week, a day or two before the arrest of Jesus. He had caused uproar in the Temple and spoken to the crowds. Both sets of religious leaders, the Sadducees and the Pharisees, tried to trap Jesus in arguments. At first glance this passage can seem full of big, threatening images. Yet, if we keep reading, we see the signs of hope: the buds on the tree heralding summer; the signs of God’s kingdom; and the encouragement to ‘raise your heads’ (v.28). Sometimes it can be hard to see the joy that awaits, that will come…in time. But even in the most hostile of environments, there are signs of life. Indeed, life often eeds a tough start in order to grow – e.g. a hard winter or a forest fire. Perhaps it’s the same for us, too. In tough times, we need to look for those little signs of hope. The postponed Church Council will now be held on Thursday 9th December. P. J. is seeking your help with a personal research survey. This is not a circuit or district sponsored survey, but as mentioned it is a personal research survey. The survey takes no more than 3 minutes to complete and all information is confidentially stored with P. J. Thank you for your help! The link to the survey is Who Are We? (a survey by Rev P. J. Jackson) Advent and Christmas. This year the Circuit is journeying towardsChristmas using daily reflections to explore connections between Advent and homelessness, and the wonder that God moved into our neighbourhood at Christmas (John 1: 14, The Message). These will be posted on the Group Facebook page: Home: Journeying towards Christmas. If you like would like to receive these as a daily email, please email your request to Adam Biddlestone circuitengagement@bsgc.org.uk I have been asked to include this in the Newsletter. The Bristol Methodist Centre needs your help. The Circuit is urgently seeking to recruit volunteers to join the Bristol Methodist Centre’s Management Committee to further develop the essential support the Centre offers to those affected by homelessness in Bristol. Please contact Janet George janetcircuitsteward@bsgc.org.uk if you think you can help. At the New Room, Craft and Chat is a group for creative people of all abilities to gather together over tea and cake to inspire and learn from one another in an informal and relaxed setting. The sessions take place in the café on the third Thursday in the month, 2:30 to 4:30pm. £3 subs per session. After much consideration and discussion, it has been decided that it will not possible to put on a panto next January/ February as originally planned. However, instead, a Drama Club will meet fortnightly, (from Wednesday 10th November), running from 7:30 to 9pm. The club is open to anyone and everyone, all are welcome. Covid restrictions will be adhered to. It maybe that the Club will be able to put on some sort of performance later in 2022, again having regard to any Covid restrictions. At the New Room, in the Café, a collection of art from older people, featuring the works of enthusiastic amateurs who joined Bristol Age UK’s ‘Art on Zoom’ club to bring themselves joy and relaxation during the pandemic. As has previously been reported, Speedwell Methodist Church is now down to just a very small number of members, the majority of the congregation having felt that they could not continue following the Conference vote on ‘God in Love unites us’. Those left are continuing to worship but would appreciate the support of members of other churches. On those weeks we do not have a service here, would you consider joining in worship at Speedwell (at 10:30)? P. J. is on a sabbatical. She will no be available until to 30th November. Morning Prayers. 10am, Monday to Friday, from Wesley’s Chapel in London: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUAUqhmhevz5sqhh72LIMxA Every Friday the New Room share a reflection – details can be found here: Latest News Archives - The New Room Bristol, John Wesley’s Chapel There is a live service from Methodist Central Hall Westminster each Sunday at 11am - https://mchw.live. And also from Wesley's Chapel London at 11am www.youtube.com/channel/UCUAUqhmhevz5sqhh72LIMxA a present DailyHope, is a free national telephone line which offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England at the end of the phone. The line – which is available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044 – has been set up particularly with those unable to join online church services during the period of restrictions in mind; to provide comfort and spiritual nourishment to the most isolated in our society.
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. |