News and Coming Up

The Preaching Plan did not allocate us a preacher for next Sunday (21^st). However, Lynda Stone and Joan Green have very kindly agreed to lead a service based on the Chatback idea that, some years ago, we used to use for evening services.

Unity Oldland Methodist Church is holding a series of Movie Nights on Friday's at 7:30pm. The films are:

Downton Abbey on 16^th September

West Side Story on 14^th October

Either Operation Mincemeat or 1917 on 11^th November

Polar Express (6:30pm) on 9^th December (at 6:30pm)

Unfortunately, we have not been very successful with distributing Gift Day letters and Envelopes. If you have not had one but would like one, please, please contact Peter

2 Fun Finders completed, 1 more to come, on Thursday (18^th). The one we have just held was on the theme of sport/ Commonwealth Games and again we had a mix of church and non-church people. It would be good, though, to see more of our own congregation there, from 10am to 12:30.

Are you aware that the Bank of England will be withdrawing legal tender status of paper £20 and £50 banknotes after 30 September 2022?

Sometime during the period of the evening of Thursday 4^th August and midday on Saturday 6^th August, a number of vehicles at our end of Grantham Rd were vandalised. If anyone has information on this, would they please contact Peter.

Carols & Steam 2022 - Can you help it get back on track? David and Liz Hardy are hoping to hold Carols & Steam on the Avon Valley Railway on the evening of Saturday 3^rd December. For this to happen one or more volunteers are needed to be responsible for bookings, allocating seats and receiving payments. Support for this role is available from David and Avon Valley Railway. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact David directly, davidandlizhardy@gmail.com 0117 969 3135 / 07557 430 365. As time is getting short, a quick response would be appreciated.  Thank you.

After a very busy Friday for the 2^nd week running, the Kingswood Foodbank has low stocks of most items.

On the 17^th and 27^th August, The New Room is offering a tour that provides a wonderful introduction to their museum collection and gives an insight into the fascinating stories behind the oldest Methodist building in the world. Step into the Preachers’ Rooms above the historic Chapel to see John Wesley’s bedroom and study, discover the earliest membership books, and try on costumes from the dressing up cupboard. Tickets are £7, £6 for concessions and £4 for children. It starts at 11:30.

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has joined with 56 faith groups (including the Methodist Church), charities and politicians to call on the government to take urgent action to bridge the cost of living gap faced by the lowest income families. The call responds to a report, written by poverty expert and Loughborough University Professor Donald Hirsch which reveals the gap between the support the government is currently offering to households and the anticipated rise in living costs. More details can be found here: Is Cost of Living Support Enough? - Joint Public Issues Team (jpit.uk)

Lectionary 14^th to 20^th August. Jeremiah 23.23-29; Psalm 82; Hebrews 11.29 – 12.2; Luke 12.49-56. An eruption of emotions. Jesus warns that following his way is likely to bring conflict and division, even within a family. He also encourages people to see and understand what is really going on in the world, just as they understand that a cloud usually means rain. There are powerful words in this week’s reading about the impact of the choice to align yourself with Jesus. And the potential to divide people who choose discipleship over familial loyalty leads to an eruption of emotions from Jesus. The emotions expressed allow us to see the humanity Jesus shares with us. He displays vulnerability and, as we think about how he felt, we can take a moment to look at our own vulnerabilities and strong emotions.

Circuit Welcome Service on Sunday 4^th September at 4pm at Horfield Methodist Church and on Zoom. A service to welcome Rev. Teddy Kalongo as our new Superintendent Minister and Minister at Westbury - on - Trym.

The Preaching Plan for September, October and November was announced in last week’s Newsletter. It said that there would Local Arrangements on 11^th September, but this needed to be confirmed. I am delighted that I can now confirm worship on that Sunday will be led by an old and good friend of KMC, Brenda Andrews.

The Birthday Basket will return in one of the September services.

Following last Sunday’s service, there was some discussion about how we could fill in some of the gaps in the Preaching Plan. Lynda Stone and Joan Green have very kindly agreed to lead a Chatback style service on 21^st August.

I know a number of you will recall Bob and Janet Mills who worshipped with us and lived almost next door, in Victoria Park. I have recently learnt that Bob, who had been ill for some time, has passed away. Our thoughts and prayers are with Janet and the family.

Around the World Activity Days at the New Room on Tuesdays 2^nd, 9^th, 16^th and 23^rd August, from 11am to 3pm. Suitable for children aged 5 to 11. “Have a look at George Whitefield’s suitcase and find out what he took on his travels to America. What would you take in your case? Make your own suitcase and design small items out of plasticine or paper to put in it. Flag making - did you know that flags became particularly popular at the end of 18th century? Have a look in our activity room and discover the different flags from around the world! What would yours look like? Design your own flag to take home! Colouring and Crafts for Younger Children.” Advance booking not required.

The political crisis in Sri Lanka is having devastating effects on the daily lives of the people as rising prices and shortages make essential goods, such as food, cooking gas and medicine, harder and harder to obtain. The Methodist Church in Sri Lanka is running the Samaritan Journey Project which aims to provide relief for the people who are suffering most seriously. You can donate to the appeal here.

You can now download a summary report for local churches about the business of the 2022 Methodist Conference. Download the Conference Business Digest here

When Covid first hit us, over 2 years ago now, a group called “We are BS15” was set up to help people in Kingswood and Hanham, in various ways, including working with the Foodbank. That group is still going and is expanding. It currently offers:

• The BS15 Kitchen, based in Holy Trinity Church, provides pay-as-you-can, hot meals to anyone living or working in BS15: no restrictions with free delivery to BS15 post codes. It is open on Thursdays but orders need to be placed by 6pm the day before. Find them on Facebook or here The Kingswood Kitchen – We are BS15
• The Beacon Café is a community café located in Hanham Methodist Church which also operates on a ‘pay as you wish’ basis. Their mission is to reduce food inequality, food waste and social isolation and is open from 9am to 3pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
• Trinity Garden. The group has a vision on allotments across BS15, providing fruit, veg & salad to the community via the Community Kitchen and Larders. They have acquired their first allotment plot and are looking for volunteers to help with planting and regular upkeep.
• The Kingswood Community Fridge is being set up in the ‘Library of Things’ in Kingswood but is still work in progress

We are hoping to hold a Christmas Fayre again this year, on Saturday 19^th November, from 10am to 1pm. If you and/ or your group would like to have a stall, please let Helen or Peter know. Sooner rather later would be good.  

An announcement from the New Room: ‘We are delighted to announce that John Wesley’s New Room is now available to host, officiate and celebrate same sex weddings! John Wesley believed in sharing God’s love with everybody and we hope that this step brings Wesley’s message of inclusivity into this century. We are looking forward to welcoming LGBTQ+ couples in our historic chapel and celebrating their unions!”

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.