Newbury Methodist Church · This is the Gospel of all inner meaning, The heart of heaven opened to the earth, A gentle friend on Jesus’ bosom leaning And Nicodemus offered a new

January 2020 Newsletter Page 1

NewburyMethodistChurch

January 2020


Day of Refreshment – Keep the date.

We are planning to hold a day when we can gather togetherfor spiritual refreshment in preparation for Easter next year.This will be on Saturday March 28th 2020 from 10am to 4pmand will be held at Silchester Methodist Church about 25minutes or so from Newbury. The day will include time to bequiet, to listen to God and to share thoughts together.

Silchester Methodist Church is on the edge of Pamber Heathand there are many easy level walks from the building. It alsohas a garden designed to enable quiet reflection. Whetheryou have been to a day like this before or not please considercoming along this time. A simple lunch will be provided as willtransport if you need it. If you are interested or have anyquestions please have a word with one of us. There will be asign-up sheet in due course.

Peter, Val and Muriel.

Church Website : newburymethodistchurch.org.uk


A surprise skateboarder

Glancing out of the window recently I was surprised to see a man, who I wasconfident wasn’t going to see his fortieth birthday again, on a skateboard. Hewas clearly not highly proficient and wouldn’t be heading for the skate parkany time soon but he stayed upright. I suspect he would have been ratherembarrassed if he had known I was watching him. The novelty drew myattention which would not have happened if he had been 12 years old exceptthis was in the middle of the school day.

My distracted mind quickly ran to wondering what was going on. Had hediscovered his old skateboard in the back of the garage and just wondered ifhe could recapture that adolescent thrill? Had he always harboured a secretdesire to try out a skateboard but hadn’t until recently had the opportunitynow provided by commandeering a younger relative’s equipment during itsdowntime? Had he been practising and now felt sufficiently competent toventure out where he might be seen? Whatever the reason I’m sure he gotpleasure and enrichment from this new or renewed experience, whether arecapturing of youth or a risky new adventure.

Perhaps with the arrival of January we also may gain enrichment from a newor a renewed experience. Skateboarding may not necessarily be advisablebut what about spiritual enrichment for a new year? Is there something youcan do for the first time or again to refresh your praying, worshipping orBible reading? Have these disciplines being neglected or become routine?Ask God to show you or remind you what to do. Pop in to Shoemakers andsee which of the many books and Bible reading notes on offer might help.Sign up to receive a regular blog post from a Christian organisation. Committo pray for the work of a Christian charity using their prayer diary. Ask meor a trusted friend for an idea. The possibilities are many. Why not take to aspiritual skateboard and see where God takes you?

May God’s blessing and comfort be with you in 2020.Peter


Nat, Joanne and family would like to express their thanks for your prayers,messages, care, love and support for Sylvia and us throughout her illnessand passing. It has been invaluable and we are very grateful.

From our family to our church family, thank you.

Joanne

Christmas Services 2019

A very big thank you to Rev Peter Bennett forleading our Christmas Worship this Christmas.

The Carol Service was a beautiful service ofreflection, encouragement and challenge.Christmas Eve Communion, a service of lovelyreflective worship full of anticipation and wonder.the Christmas Day Worship was full of fun, praise, joy andthankfulness.

Another wonderful thing about these acts of worship wasmeeting up with so many of our Church Families who we mightnot see so regularly. Those who live or work away, returninghome for Christmas.

It was good to welcome many visitors over the Christmas periodalso.

To all of you please come and join us again very soon if youpossibly can, not just at Christmas. We miss you and lovemeeting up especially worshipping together .


AV Screens in ChurchThe long awaited flat screens are due to be installed during the week

commencing Monday 13th January and may take up to 3 days to be fullyinstalled. If everything goes to plan the first service they will be in use

will be Sunday 19th January when Jeff Britt is leading our service.

Please note that there will be no church parking available forMonday 13th, Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th before 6.30pm as

the spaces will be needed for the screen engineers

Worship and Prayer for the New Year – Sunday 2nd Februaryat 7pm in the church

Why not start off the New Year by joining with friends from BridgeChurch in contemporary worship and prayer? The service will provide arelaxed and informal opportunity to worship together and to pray forourselves, for our churches and for the town. I trust it will also enable usto meet new friends and see how we might support and learn from oneanother.

We are planning to meet at the same time on the first Sunday evening ofthe month and see where God leads us.

I hope to see you there.

Peter

Service at Gracewell Care Home

We continue to organise and run on the first Sunday each monthan afternoon service for the residents and staff at Gracewell CareHome on the A4 / London Road.

This Karen, Rosie and Peter are taking it in turn to lead worshipwith Billy playing. Please support this outreach work and if you feelcalled to volunteer to assist in anyway please let Peter know


Thanks to those who donated goods and cakes for the coffeemorning on Thursday 19th December, when about £400 was raised.

Date for your diary: Downe House School are giving a concert in St John’sChurch on Sunday 8 March at 7pm. Free entry with a retiring collection forChristian Aid. Rosie

Christmas Tree

Thank you to the Greenkeepers at West BerkshireGolf course, Chaddleworth for supplying theChristmas tree.

Also thanks to Sid for organising this and delivering

Thanking all those thatcame to the Pizza & Praise,Christingle Service and/orcontributed to TheChildren’s Society.

We raised £100.00Alan



Shell Group & Youth Club

January 10th Games evening for both groups 7pm-8.30pm & 8.30- 10.00pm

January 17th 7pm Beetle Drive (Fund Raising Evening) Evening with Refreshments is £4 per person Parents & Friends invited.

January 24th Challenge Evening for both groups 7pm-8.30pm & 8.30- 10.00pm

January 31st Being creative for both groups 7pm-8.30pm & 8.30- 10.00pm

February 7th Skittles Competition for both groups 7pm-8.30pm & 8.30- 10.00pm

February 14th 7.30pm - 9pm Friday Church-Theme “Love and Care” All together

February 21st No Club - Half Term

February 28th Pancakes for both groups 7pm-8.30pm & 8.30- 10.00pm

March 6th St David and all things Welsh (Food and games) both groups -7pm-8.30pm & 8.30- 10.00pm

March 13th Cooking together for both groups 7pm-8.30pm & 8.30- 10.00pm

March 20th No ClubMarch 21st (Saturday) 3.30-5pm Celebration of Mums with afternoon tea.

March 27th Games Evening for both groups 7pm-8.30pm & 8.30- 10.00pm

April 3rd Easter Celebrations


Sunday Roast dates for 2020

January 12th,February 9thMarch 29th (Change of date)May 31stJune 28thJuly 26thAugust 23rdSeptember 13thOctober 11thNovember 22ndDecember 13th.

All are very welcome tojoin us for a time at12.30pm for good food andfellowship at The BritishLegion.

Doris

J.O.Y dates for 2020

18th February - Speaker Evening21st April - Activity Evening

23rd June - Summer Meal18th August - BBQ

20th October - Speaker Evening15th December Christmas Meal

Any requests or suggestions please let me know.All ladies and friends welcome.

Book the dates now in your diary.

Doris




Wednesday Bible GroupWe shall meet for four sessions in early 2020 to finish our study of ‘John’sGospel: exploring the seven miraculous signs’. The sessions will run onWednesday evenings at 7.30pm at 5 Donnington Park RG14 2DZ, on thefollowing dates: 15th January; 22nd January; 5th February; 12th February.Come and deepen your understanding of our amazing Saviour. All welcome.Please contact Rosie (01635 31231) if you will need transport.Malcolm Guite gives an overview of John’s Gospel in the lovely sonnet below.You may remember that the four gospel writers are often linked with the fourliving creatures in Ezekiel; John is linked with the eagle

JOHN

This is the Gospel of the primal light,The first beginning, and the fruitful end,The soaring glory of an eagle’s flight,The quiet touch of a beloved friend.This is the Gospel of our transformation,Water to wine and grain to living bread,Blindness to sight and sorrow to elation,And Lazarus himself back from the dead!This is the Gospel of all inner meaning,The heart of heaven opened to the earth,

A gentle friend on Jesus’ bosom leaning And Nicodemus offered a new birth. No need to search the heavens high above, Come close with John, and feel the pulse of Love.

Rev Peter Bennett hopes to lead a four session Lent Course on Wednesdayevenings from 4th March to 1st April (omitting 11th March). More detailsnearer the time, but please reserve the dates now.

Rosie Greenhalgh


In aid of J.M.A (Junior Mission for All)£5.00 for Adults (£2.00 for children) Family Price available

to include either a Bacon Butty or a Hot Dogwith a Hot Drink. (Cakes will be on sale also)

Friday 17th January - 7-9pm

This is a Family Event.

This is a fun evening, just come along and enjoy the evening


November update on currents needs at WestBerks Foodbank

Urgently Needed

Shaving Foam

Flour SR 500 gram bags

Low in Stock

Please continue to donate some basic foods fromour list

Well Stocked

Please, no Pasta, Beans or Soup

Thank you.

(As at 01/01/2020)


WORSHIP

Diaconal Ministry, Trinity Farnworth and Kearsley Mount Church

Farnworth and Worsley Circuit

A joint church council meeting of Trinity Farnworth and Kearsley MountChurches in the Farnworth and Worsley Circuit looked at possibilities forfuture ministry. To encourage participation, a two course meal prepared bythe host church enabled people to chat and share fellowship beforeDeacon Michelle Brocklehurst from the Bury Circuit addressed themeeting.

Michelle shared the story of her own response to God’s call to diaconalministry before describing the characteristics of diaconal ministry and thenature of the Order.

The large number of questions demonstrated interest in the potential of adeacon being stationed in the churches’ section of the circuit.

Minister Revd Stuart Wild said that all the church councils at both churcheswere open meetings to which all were welcome and that they alwaysbegan with food. Revd Stuart commented: “It's not just that it helps peoplewho are working if they don’t have to prepare a meal before coming out, italso enhances the atmosphere if we have broken bread together first.”

LEARNING AND CARING

And Can It Be? - Kent College, Canterbury

Kent College, Canterbury has produced a unique musical depicting the lifeof the founder of Methodism, John Wesley.

Over 300 pupils took to the stage and orchestra pit to take part in theproduction called 'And Can It Be'. The production took more than threeyears to plan, featuring a dozen scenes from the life of Wesley, with wordsby the school chaplain the Revd Dr Paul Glass and music by the ExecutiveHead, Dr. David Lamper.

Methodist Buzz


Children from all year groups were represented, including the whole ofthe Junior School, and there were pupils from sister school, Lorenden,and Kent College, Dubai taking part. Five students played John Wesleyat different parts of his life.

Paul commented: 'Our aim was to tell the story of the founding ofMethodism in a fresh and exciting way to people who had not heard thestory before.'

The audience were thrilled with the production, and one of the highlightswas when the cast and audience of 400 rose to sing Charles Wesley's'And Can It Be' complete with new full orchestration and descants writtenspecially for the production.

Methodist Buzz

SERVICE

Debate on Assisted Dying- Lansdowne Crescent Methodist Church, Malvern

Over ninety people attended a moving and compassionate 'Question Time'style debate entitled ‘Assisted Dying, Right or Wrong?’ which was held atLansdowne Crescent Methodist Church, Malvern.

The debate was sensitively chaired by Bishop John Inge and the panelconsisted of Dr Helen Stanton, a tutor in Ethics and Doctrine from theQueens College, Birmingham; Dr Hugh McMichael, a retired hospiceconsultant; Dr Michael Harper, a former Medical Director of the St Richard’sHospice and Dr James Howley, representing the Campaign for Dignity inDying. The debate was hosted by the Revd Nigel Coke-Woods fromLansdowne Crescent Methodist Church.

After hearing the views of the panel, there were wide-ranging questions fromthe audience. These included the rights of frail, but otherwise healthy people;‘Do Not Attempt Resuscitation’ instructions and the availability of hospiceplaces.

The evening finished with the thought that we should feel freer to talk aboutdeath in our families, often a taboo subject, and that we should all makemore of our life while we have it!


It’s not always easy to bring faith into conversations. What will peoplethink? Will they be offended? Will you say the wrong thing andappear insensitive or intrusive? Will they have difficult questions thatyou simply cannot answer?

Talking of God with Other

Sharing your Faith

The interactive sessions of this course will help you understand howto share your faith readily in daily conversations, allowing you tospeak of faith with people wishing to know more about Christianity.

With Talking of God with Others – Sharing your Faith, you willbecome more comfortable and confident in sharing your faith withpeople outside your church.

Order your copy now

Cromwell Singers makev a welcome return for a Concert inthe church on Sunday 29th March at 3pm.



Newbury Family Counselling Service

2 course Lunch held in Wesley Hall every other month commencing at 12.15pm in a relaxed environment. Profits go to support the Family Counselling Service which is an independent charity based at our church. Pre-booking of lunch is preferred - menu slips are usually available 2 - 3 weekends before the lunch date to book your choice.

This years lunch dates are :

25 January

· 28 March

· 30 May

· 25 July

· Provisional 26 September but maybe altered to 03 October

· Provisional 05 December –

Saturday Coffee RotaThere are still some vacant dates available on this quarters rota.

If you would like to book one of the vacant dates please do so assoon as possible.

Please also note that the price of a cup of tea or coffee is now£1.00 which is the first time we have increased the price in avery long time. David


Letter recently received from RoyalCounty of Berkshire Churches Trust


Domestic Abuse

Today, Refuge has launched a new digital platform providingsupport to women experiencing domestic abuse, and we want toask for your help in telling as many people as possible.

Refuge is proud to have run the 24-hour National DomesticAbuse Helpline as a sole provider since 1 November (having runthe Helpline in partnership with Women’s Aid for over a decade).This life-saving service answers around 250 calls a day and ourexpert women only team provides free, confidential support towomen experiencing all forms of domestic abuse. Our teamlinks women to emergency accommodation, as well as to otherforms of domestic abuse support that exists across the country.We provide emotional support and empower women withinformation about their rights and options, helping them increasetheir safety and that of their children – and begin to rebuild theirlives.

Since launching the service last month we have increased thenumbers of experts answering calls – and today, during 16 Daysof Activism for the Elimination of Violence against Women, weare delighted to share details of a new digital Helpline platform:www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk

The web platform has been developed and informed by theneeds of the women who call us, as well as our Helpline expertsand international experts. It has been built with safety andaccessibility at its centre.


Created by an expert global digital agency,www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk is a beautifully designed andeasily-navigable space where women (and friends, family andprofessionals supporting women) can:

Find out about their rights and options - for example, in relation tohousing, child contact, criminal and civil remedies

Contact Helpline workers via a secure web contact form, that putsthe power in women’s hands to decide the best time to talk to us.The webform is a safer alternative to emailing, and the first step ingiving women more ways they can reach out for support

Find support to recognise the signs of domestic abuse and beginto process their own experiences

Gain reassurance about what it is like to call the Helpline and whatthey can expect

There are three ways we would love you to spread the wordabout Refuge’s new Helpline website:

If you work somewhere that supports women who experiencedomestic abuse, ensure any Helpline messaging is updated andnew information is shared across your digital and social channels:‘the Freephone, 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline 08082000 247, run by Refuge - and wwww.nationaldahelpline.org.ukare here to provide support to survivors every day of the year’

If you want women to know they are not alone, and that Refugecan support them, tweet from your personal and work accounts –‘If you are experiencing #DomesticAbuse, you are not alone. Youhave rights and options, and Refuge can support you. Find outmore at http://bit.ly/2pRssuS, or call the freephone, 24-hourNational Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 inconfidence’

You can also re-share our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posts


February 2020 NewsletterAny information or articles for inclusion inthis edition should be with me

No later than Sunday 26th January 2020Email information should be sent [email protected]

Contact details:Rev Peter Bennett-Email : [email protected] StewardEmail : [email protected] Email addresses can be found on our website.

Electronic Version of the NewsletterNewsletter is now available and distributed inelectronic format in colour. As we currently do notprint the entire magazine in colour this is a great wayto enjoy the it. If you have not already told me butwould like it electronically instead of in paper hardcopy format please let me know and I will add you toE-Mail distribution list

On our WebsiteYou can now read the current and previous newsletters onour website at:

www.newburymethodistchurch.org.uk/newsletter


10.30am Covenant Service Rev Peter Bennett includes Holy Communion2.30pm Service at Gracewell Care Home Rev Peter Bennett7.00pm Contemporary Worship with Bridge Church

12.15pm Midweek Communion Rev Peter Bennett followed by a light lunch

10.30am Morning Worship Rosie Greenhalgh

10.30am Morning Worship Jeff Britt

10.30am Morning Worship Tessa Bennett

Documents

Newbury Methodist Church · This is the Gospel of all inner meaning, The heart of heaven opened to the earth, A gentle friend on Jesus’ bosom leaning And Nicodemus offered a new