Services for February

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2 Services for February 3 rd Holy Communion Rev Andy Clark 3 rd Evening Worship (parlour) Rev Andy Clark 10 th Morning Worship Rev Dr Stan Brown 10 th Holy Communion (parlour) 17 th Contemporary Worship 17 th Evening Worship (parlour) Rev Dr Karl Rutlidge 24 th am Family Service Ms Lorraine Webb 24 th No Evening Service Children sit with their families for this service. There is a crèche area at the back of the church where a member of our crèche team will welcome families with babies & young children. Toys and books available. Pushchairs can be left in the vestibule entrance. If your child is fractious, don t worry, but if you need to take time out, you can follow the service on the screen in the vestibule entrance. There is a Korean speaking service every Sunday at pm For info Contact Rev Paul Han Mondays Weekday Church Activities (For further information the magazine at the address on the back cover) Conversation Group. For English as 2nd Language at am Tuesdays Friendship Group at am Badminton at 7.30 pm Ladies Open Group 2nd & 4th weeks at 8.00 pm Wednesdays Toddlers at am Women s Fellowship monthly on 2nd week at 2.00 pm Guides term time at 7.00 pm Marys & Marthas Home Group alternate weeks at 8pm Thursdays Messy Church term time monthly on the 3rd Thursday at 3.30 pm Made by Hand Craft Group 2nd Thursday of the month at 8pm Fridays Informal Bible Study and Prayer at 9.45 am Toddlers term time at am Rainbows (Girls 5 to 7) term time at 4.30 pm Brownies term time at 6.30 pm Korean Fellowship at 8.00 pm 2

3 A message from our Minister... When I was younger I had a summer job working for Methodist Homes for the Aged and one of my jobs was to attend the Sunday service with the residents. Now we had one old lady in the home called Jane, and she often attended the service. She was a very quiet person and had grown confused in her old age. It was uncommon to hear a sound from her, and she often didn t seem to engage with the services very much, but it was during one of these services that she taught me something. After the final hymn, and after struggling through a sermon in which he spoke as loudly as possible for the benefit of the hard of hearing, it came to the time for the preacher to give the blessing. As he did so a loud sound, so loud that the preacher faltered, emanated from the congregation initially it sounded like a shriek but as the sound continued it sounded too beautiful to be a shriek. And sure enough as the sound subsided it was followed by another sound another note someone was singing as loudly as they could! In the middle of the blessing! I looked around the room to see where the noise was coming from. It was Jane! Not only was she singing she was looking the preacher in the eye and smiling! Everyone was now looking at Jane; she rarely made a sound and she rarely smiled but here she was doing both by now the preacher had stopped mid-sentence as Jane sang. Then, as quickly as the sound had started it ebbed away and there was silence Jane stopped singing but continued to look at the preacher. Well this is a bit awkward, I thought to myself, couldn t she have sung when everyone else was singing that would have been far more orderly! Looking back now though I do wonder what if her outburst was the sweetest sound of all? As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. I tell you the truth, he said, this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on. (Luke NIV) Andy 3

4 Diary Dates Mon 4 Feb 8.00 pm Pastoral Meeting Parlour Thurs 14 Feb 8.00 pm 'Made by Hand Craft Evening Small Hall Thurs 21 Feb 3.30 pm Messy Church All rooms Wed 6 Mar 7.45 pm Ash Wednesday Service St Pauls Between Friends A Message from our Circuit Steward, Margaret Turner - Rev Andy Clark has been directed to take a long over-due sabbatical by the Stationing Advisory Committee. He and his wife Liz, want to explore their future and possible ministry together, so this is an opportunity for Andy to reflect and find out what is God s will for his future. It is possible that Andy could leave the Kingston Circuit a year early, in Following discussion within the Circuit leadership team and the staff, the sabbatical will begin towards the end of February and last for three months. This is short notice but is the best option within the Circuit and gives Andy and Liz the maximum time to consider their future. The Circuit will be exploring future options. Arrangements are being put into place for a Sabbatical support group. The preaching plan will be a challenge, but Stan is asking for ministers and preachers (possibly from outside the Circuit) to be supportive during this time. For the 3 months, Rev Dr Karl Rutlidge will have pastoral care of New Malden and Kingston churches, with Rev Dr Stan Brown pastoral care for Surbiton and Chessington. You are asked to pray for all elements mentioned here and especially Andy, as he discovers God s purpose for his future. Sharon H shares a thank you for all the prayers and best wishes for our family. It has helped greatly. At any one time a number of our members are suffering with ill health, incapacity or challenging circumstances. Church family help & support where they can. If anyone does need help please let the Minister/ Superintendent Minister or a Steward know in the first instance. During Andy s sabbatical, our Superintendent Minister Rev Dr Stan Brown (office) will be holding the fort. God, you are our help and comfort; you shelter and surround us in love so tender. May we know your presence with us, now and always. Amen 4

5 National Nest Box Week: 14 th 21 st February If you like birds, now is the time to help the next generation get started. And so this month will see thousands of us shakily climbing ladders against the sides of our houses, garages and trees, to install cosy nest boxes. And soon our tenants will arrive: blue tits, robins, nuthatches, pied wagtails, sparrows, to starlings, tawny owls and even great spotted woodpeckers. National Nest Box Week was started by the British Trust for Ornithology in order to encourage the conservation of our breeding birds. Nest boxes are desperately needed, as natural nest sites for birds such as holes in trees or old buildings are disappearing fast, as gardens are tidied and old houses are repaired. It really is worth the trouble to put up a nest box. If you hang one within sight of your kitchen window, you will have hours of fun in observing the young feathered families. The Bible verse of 2018 A Bible app, YouVersion, has named Isaiah 41:10 as the most popular verse of That verse has been posted, bookmarked, and highlighted more times than any other on the app (which has been downloaded more than 350,000 times around the world). Isaiah 41:10 reads: 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 verse also came top in Chile, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Peru, South Africa, Spain and the United States. But in the UK, for 2018, we preferred Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Tim Lenton pays tribute to Buddy Holly and friends The day the music died The day the music died according to Don McLean in his epic song American Pie was 60 years ago, on 3rd February 1959, when rock-and-roll star Buddy Holly died in a plane crash in Iowa. With him were two other singers, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. Charles Hardin (Buddy) Holly, who was 22 when he died, was born in Lubbock, Texas, at the heart of America s Bible Belt, and he and his family were closely associated with the Tabernacle Baptist Church there, though he himself was seen as something of a rebel. His style was initially influenced by gospel and country music, and he formed groups with friends from his high school. After opening for Elvis Presley in 1955, he shifted to rock and roll. With his new band, The Crickets, he achieved international success with songs such as That ll be the Day. Immensely talented, he wrote, recorded and produced his own material and is often thought of as the man who defined the traditional rock-and-roll line-up of two guitars, bass and drums. He was a big in fluence on such major artistes as Bob Dylan, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton and was one of the first artistes inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 5

6 CHRISTMAS 2018 Planning and preparation all came to fruition with nativity dramas, wonderful songs, displays, food, fun and friendship as we joined together to celebrate once again the birth of Jesus. It was a time to reflect, give thanks, and take stock. Messy Church celebrated in messy style and finished with a Christmas dinner for forty. We have a number of families who attend regularly with children s ages ranging from toddler to teenager There was a good crowd for the Toddlers Christmas Praise Service when the children from the nursery next door came to join us. It was lovely to welcome to our Christmas services, new faces and old friends returning. We hope to see you all again before not too long. ACTION FOR CHILDREN A crisp sunny morning saw a good contingent of supporters for this annual event. The box openers were kept busy and the bring & buy stall did a steady trade. Thanks to all helpers. HYMNAL PLUS MUSIC PLAYER We have purchased a music player for use when we do not have an organist. This amazing piece of technology stores several thousand hymn and worship song tunes which can be played in a variety of instruments sounds and styles. It is small enough to be used in the Parlour for evening services if needed, and can also be played through our sound system in church to give an authentic sound of live music. All those who are interested in learning how to operate this simple piece of equipment should let Douglas know Flower Rota Each week, our communion table flowers are paid for by a member of our congregation. There is a rota at the back of the church. If you would like to provide & arrange flowers for a week, or just cover the cost of the flowers, please sign your name against your chosen date. There are lots of spaces! Made by Hand Craft Group Thursday 14 th February 8-10pm in the Small Hall We are celebrating our first year so come to a mini AGM and learn how to make felt brooches. 6

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8 Contacts: Minister: Rev Andrew Clark Tel: & in Andy s absence Superintendent Minister Rev Dr Stan Brown (SHMC office) Church Office (for room bookings): (answerphone) Magazine: Please place in pigeon hole, or hand or news & articles to Douglas, Daphne, Kath or Geneen. address: magazine.chessingtonmethodist@gmail.com Church Website: Join us on Facebook Copy Deadline: (for Mar 19 edition) Sunday 17 February 8