News and Coming Up

No service on Sunday (17th) as originally planned due to the ‘stay at home’ lockdown message. There will be a zoom service instead with P. J.. The service will start at 10:45 and the code is 82072685897. The hymns to be song are ‘Open the eyes of our heart Lord’ (StF 451), ‘When the music fades’ (StF 437) and ‘Will you come and follow me’ (not in StF). Anthony Hick will lead a zoom service next Sunday (24th).

Please be aware of this scam. Health leaders in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire are warning people to be on their guard for scams linked to the COVID-19 vaccination. Bogus text messages are in circulation, which claim to be from the NHS that tell people they have been identified as eligible for the vaccine and then ask them to provide payment details. Please be aware that the NHS would never ask anyone for their bank details, vaccinations are free to all in eligible groups. All those who are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination will be contacted by the NHS when it is their turn to be vaccinated.

From the main Methodist web site. You are invited to a special Methodist Covenant Service online on Sunday 17th January at 4pm. Led by Revd Dr Roger Walton, the preacher is Revd Dr Calvin Samuel and it promises to be a special occasion as we renew our covenant with God at the beginning of 2021. Join in with a Covenant prayer by voices from our official international development agency, All We Can, as we are led in worship by Matt Beckingham, Gareth Moore and others. This act of worship will be live on our YouTube Channel at 4pm on Sunday - you won’t want to miss it! www.youtube.com/methodistchurch

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 

There is a page on the Methodist web site that offers spiritual sustenance when in isolation. During this time of 'lockdown' this page signposts you to resources to help nourish your spiritual life. The page can be found here: Spiritual sustenance when in isolation (methodist.org.uk)

Over all of the calendar year 2020 the Kingswood Foodbank fed 3,083 people which is a 92% increase over 2019.  1,114 of the people fed were children. In the 7 days before Christmas Day we also able to send out over 100 special Christmas parcels which included items such as Christmas pudding and cake, mince pies, selection boxes & other chocolates and biscuits. Vouchers for Argos and Sainsbury were also included. Members of the Avon Fire and Rescue Service did the delivering for us. Those who came in to the Foodbank during that time were given a present for each member of their family. All of this was possible thanks to the incredible generosity of the local community including members of this church: thank you all very much.

Lectionary for 17th to 23rd January. 1 Samuel 3.1-10, (11-20); Psalm 139.1-6,13-18; 1 Corinthians 6.12-20; John 1.43-5. Come, see, hear. Today we hear about two friends who have an unexpected encounter with Jesus and initially react in very different ways. Together, Philip and Nathanael help each other to understand who Jesus is and they begin a journey that will redefine who they are. Nathanael is surprised that Jesus knows not only his name, but much about him too. Jesus knows each of us as individuals but sometimes, like Nathanael, we can wonder ‘Why would God be interested in me?’ Some of us will be, like Philip, keen to follow straight away. Some of us will be more like Nathanael – full of questions and concerns. This story shows that wherever we are, Jesus finds us and knows us. Are we looking and listening out for him – and helping others to do so? Think about how we can help each other to hear God.

Fishponds Methodist has taken the decision to close permanently. Their last service will be on 30th May.

A recent article on a Christian web site looked at positive stories from 2020. Included was the fact that many UK churches saw a surge in interest. A study found that 70 per cent of church leaders saw a rise in the number of people ‘attending church’ who normally wouldn't when the service was zoomed. Right at the end of 2020, a report came out confirming that coronavirus had brought out increased kindness in people. The poll, which surveyed 2,090 UK adults online between the 4th and 6th December, found that 27 per cent were writing more notes to people they don’t see often, and 25 per cent are saying hello to strangers in the street more than they did before. Finally, the Bible verse quoted most often during the pandemic has been Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” The popularity of the verse goes to show how much people were, unsurprisingly, looking for hope during a year marked with uncertainty and fear,

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.

If you would still like to make your offertory during lockdown, there are a number of ways of doing this. One way is to send Peter a cheque, made payable to Kingswood Methodist Church (the bank will not accept just KMC). Another way is to set up a monthly direct debit, Peter can provide the details. A 3rd way is to ask Peter to call on you and collect your envelopes – he can then also deliver your new ones.

 

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.