We welcome you to all our services and activities Autumn at Llangollen Methodist Church

Transcription

1 9 th September 2012 Number 682 We welcome you to all our services and activities Autumn at Llangollen Methodist Church The flowers today are provided by David & Catherine in Memory of Aaron Sunday 9 th September Morning Worship Rev Richard Hall Monday 10 th September This n That Traditions & Customs of the North American Indians Sunday 16 th September Harvest Festival Carl Squire Monday 17 th September Harvest Supper and Auction Our Congratulations and best wishes to all who are celebrating: David Davies celebrated his Birthday last Thursday. Rachel Horne celebrating her Birthday on Monday. Jeanette Robinson celebrating her Birthday on Monday. Dorothy King celebrating her Birthday on Thursday. Mark 7:24-37 Page 40 in New Testament section of the pew Bible Today s Readings James 2:1-17 Page 219 in New Testament section of the pew Bible Do join us for tea, coffee and a chat after this morning s worship.

2 Sunday 9 th September: 9:30 Singing Group Practice 10:45 Bible Club Memorial Hall 11:00 Morning Worship Rev Richard Hall Our music today is provided by Ted Blackman. Today s refreshments are provided by Keith & Janet Scott, and the books were given out by Marion Blackman. Sheila Spedding greeted you at the door. Keith Scott & Gill Newbrook will be reading the scriptures. Today s steward is Margaret Davies Sunday 16 th September: 11:00 Harvest Festival Carl Squire Organist Ted Blackman Books Nan Edwards Refreshments Roy & Edna Smith Door John Newbrook Readings Bridget Jackson & Kate Collins Joan thanks everyone for their love and prayerful support this past week since her Mum s death. Your prayers have carried us through in such a real way Harvest Festival Weekend Saturday 15 th September to Monday 17 th September Sunday 16 th at 11:00 Come along and bring a friend to give thanks for the harvest. Preacher Carl Squire. Harvest Supper & Auction Of Produce on Monday Evening in the Memorial Hall 7:00 If you are able to donate a sweet for the supper please see Gill. Gill would also like names in by Saturday 15 th September to assist with catering. There is a list in the foyer or ring ( Gill & John) Information for Riverside Weekly should be sent to the editor, Page 2 Cost of supper 4.00 adult, Children under 12, no charge Norman Pybus (01978) editor@llangollenmethodist.org.uk

3 TheComingWeek Monday 10 th September 10:00 till 4:00 Jan & Don s art sale for the homeless and needy in the Memorial Hall Run your Rags Round to US Jan & Don welcome all your old textiles (table clothes, sheets, curtains, towels, old clothes) ripped or torn as long as they are clean. Good clothes both for men & ladies (we are very short of clothes for young men) All will be used to help the Salvation army provide food and clothing to the homeless Please bring them along to Jan & Don at the Hall on Monday 7:30 This n That Fran. Many Rivers Maddox Traditions & Customs of the North American Indians. Tuesday 11 th September 10:00 Coffee Morning in the Memorial Hall for Cancer Research 7:30 Instrumental Group Practice in Church 7:30 CytÛn AGM The Upper Room, St Collen s Community Centre see page 5 for details Wednesday 12 th September 10:00 Prayer Group in the Vestry 7:30 Meeting to discuss the future of BB in the Memorial Hall Saturday 15 th September 10:00 Decorating the church for the Harvest gifts of Fruit, vegetables & Flowers welcome. Action for Children Boxes These will be collected and counted during September, please give your box to Catherine as soon as possible. Riverside Weekly is online at: Page 3

4 Songs of Israel Mark 7:24-37 Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. (vv ) Background This passage from Mark s Gospel records what we would call an exorcism and a healing, although both involve healing, one of an affliction explicitly caused by demonic possession. Both stories involve people who are outsiders, and whose lives are transformed by an encounter with Jesus. But while it is possible to read these stories as accounts of literal healings, they serve to highlight Jesus inclusive mission to bring about the kingdom of God. The Syrophoenician woman was a Gentile (non-jew), a Greek from the region of Tyre, northwest of Galilee. Jesus fame had already spread to that region, as we see in the story of the crowds coming to him earlier in the Gospel (Mark 3:8) for healing and exorcism. This time, there is no crowd, only a foreign woman who dares unconventionally to approach a strange man, thus bringing shame upon herself and her family. But the story shows that Jesus himself learns that social conventions should not stand in the way of doing good for those in need, and are an indication that the kingdom of God goes beyond the borders of Israel into the rest of the world. The second story, the healing of the deaf man with the speech impediment, emphasises his exclusion from his community. Like the foreign woman, he is an outsider, in his case because of his disability. Healing him by giving him the ability to hear and understand, as well as to communicate normally, enables the man to be reinstated in to his proper place in society. In both cases, Jesus actions transform the lives of those who encounter him. This was an age when disability and illness could prevent a person from fully engaging in the religious life of the community. But as the healing of the deaf man shows, the problems created by disability are no longer barriers to inclusion in the kingdom. God s transforming power and love are for all, and no one is excluded. To Ponder We commonly speak of people as outsiders, people who for whatever reason are socially excluded. If Jesus does not consider anyone beyond the pale, what needs to change in order for outsiders in our society to be socially included? How do social conventions in your church result in the exclusion of certain people from participation? How has the Paralympics changed your perception of people with disabilities? What effect will it have on the way you treat others? Page 4 Bible notes author: The Revd Dr Susan Graham

5 It s Shoe Box Time Again How can you help? Make up shoeboxes this can be done as individuals or you may wish to consider this as a group activity. Boxes can be collected by Rachel to take to the local Wrexham Depot. Volunteer The Warehouse will be open during November and early December. We are looking to strengthen our existing volunteers and there are opportunities to serve in a number of areas. The opportunities are such that you can help even for an hour or two. Shoebox Checking Packing Shoeboxes into cartons Loading Lorries We are also looking for people who can give more time in the areas of: Transport Collecting shoeboxes from schools, churches and drop off points Presentations Presentations to Schools, Churches and Community groups about the shoeboxes This is a real opportunity to serve those less fortunate; most of the children have never had any kind of gift in their life. You will also have and enjoyable and rewarding time. To find out more If you wish to express an interest in volunteering, get more information, or arrange a presentation about Operation Christmas Child to your local group please feel to contact myself. Dave Rowland Operation Christmas Child district co-ordinator dave.rowland@samaritans-purse.org.uk Web: Tel: Llangollen Cytun (Churches Together) A.G.M. Tuesday September 11 th At 7:30 At The Upper Room, St. Collen s Community Hall Prior to the business section of the meeting, there will be a presentation from the organization Hope for Justice a national charity working to uncover and abolish the hidden crime of human trafficking. The average age of a victim is 14 and 1.2 million children are trafficked every year. It is the world s fastest growing crime. What could WE be doing about it? Everyone is welcome. Light refreshments will be served. Page 5

6 Prayer & Praise Ephesians 6:18 Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. (The Message) Praise & Thanks: = = Rejoice in all the blessings we have from the Lord = = Praise for the continual support of our friends in the Church = = Praise for the answers we see to our prayers. Prayers & Requests: = = Card Squire as he prepares for our Harvest Festival next Sunday. = = Rev Una as she prepares for worship at Rhosymedre next Sunday. = = Pray for the leaders as they consider Boys Brigade for this year. = = Pray for everyone returning to school after the summer break. Pray for those staring at a new school. Pray for teachers, other staff, governors and pupils and students. = = Bob Bell Norman & Dorothy King Helen Evans and family Enid and John Margaret Davies Bernadette Maxwell Cath Critchley = = Joan & Alan following the death of Joan s Mother. = = Those who are homeless, or in need of help for the daily need of living. = = Those who are sick, or have sick relatives and those with needs in their lives. = = The effects of the proposed closure of Llangollen Cottage Hospital. Circuit prayer focus this Sunday: Caergwrle Almighty God we are conscious of your guiding hand upon us, and so we pray that you will continue to lead us forward. We especially pray for our children s and young people s groups within this church. For the Sunday School as it welcomes new youngsters and for the Boys and Girls brigades for all the work they do in our community. Particularly we pray that you will bless Stephen Gould the new President and Gareth Jones as he trains to become the Boys Brigade Captain. Amen Page 6

7 As I wrote Joan s comment about the effect of our prayers it makes me think that we must be even more persistent in prayer for one another, so we can support each other through the difficulties of life. Gratitude how easy it is to forget to thank people, They will know I appreciate it, but I think that God wants us to always be grateful; first to Him for our salvation and all His goodness to us each day, second to all those who do those things we appreciate they will only know our appreciation if we tell them! When only one from ten cured lepers returned to thank Jesus, he asked where are the other nine? Can they not thank God for their healing? (Luke 17:11 17) Please note that Sunday Half Hour will be later tonight following Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park 2012 from 3:30 till 10:30! Harvest pictures for the next weeks harvest edition please. Norman BBC1 16:00 today (Sunday 9 th September) Grandparents Pam Rhodes meets the granddaughter of Call the Midwife author, Jennifer Worth, who s been inspired by her grandmother s example, and introduces hymns from Coventry Cathedral with music by Peter Howarth from the Hollies. Radio 2 10:30 this evening (Sunday 9 th September) Sunday Half Hour Diane Louise Jordan celebrates God s creation as proclaimed by the stars and planets of our universe. Hymns and songs include The Lord s My Shepherd to the tune Crimond, God is Love: Let Heaven Adore Him to the tune Blaenwern, and Haydn s anthem The Heavens are Telling the Glory of God from his oratorio Creation. With featured musicians: the Coventry Singers, directed by Paul Leddington Wright, accompanied by Laurence Lyndon-Jones Page 7

8 Word for Today Living for Others Through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13 Jacques Cousteau, the famous French explorer, said, If a man for whatever reason has the opportunity to lead an extraordinary life, he has no right to keep it to himself. Jesus lived that way. He said, I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep (John 10:11 NKJV). To be like Him, you must live for something greater than your own interests. In his book Half Time: Changing Your Game Plan from Success to Significance, author Bob Buford says, The first half of life has to do with getting and gaining, learning and earning. The second half is more risky because it has to do with living beyond the immediate. By that he means living for a cause greater than yourself, and for others beyond yourself. The great men and women in Scripture were not great because of what they earned and owned; they were great because they gave themselves to people and causes that lived beyond them. Their dream was to do something that benefited others. Only a rare minority of people are able to hold closely to their dream to make a difference, and are willing to give up everything to make that dream come true. Of people like that it will never be said that when they died, it was as though they had never lived. Their dream lives on after them, because they lived for others. And it was in living for others and not for self that they found their greatest joy and fulfilment. The poet wrote: Others, Lord, yes others; Let this my motto be. Help me to live for others, that I may live for Thee. Published by UCB, Stoke on Trent For free daily readings see Elisabeth or Norman