Epworth and Scunthorpe Methodist Circuit Newsletter June 2018
A Note from Angy Some of you may have, from time to time, heard Helen, Paul or myself talk about going off to Launde Abbey on retreat. Launde is an amazingly beautiful place in a beautiful, bowl-shaped valley not far from Oakham in Leicestershire. It s history dates back to 1119 when it was built as an Augustinian Priory but it was caught up in the dissolution of the monasteries in the early 16th century when it caught the eye of Thomas Cromwell. The Abbey s website records: After visiting the priory in April 1540 he wrote in his Remembrances (a kind of personal journal) Myself for Launde, although he never occupied the house as he was executed just three months later for treason. The Abbey went instead to his son Gregory. After a number of other owners, the site was bought by a Leicester businessman, Cecil Coleman, in 1957, who gifted it to the Diocese of Leicester to be used as a retreat house. This task of being a retreat house it fulfils wonderfully well. Because of its location there is little mobile phone signal and sometimes interesting internet connection, although has recently improved with the fitting of some broadband boosters around the site. Sheep graze, birds sing, flowers bloom and a number of semitame cats wander about as if they own the place. There are crosses erected around the grounds, you come across them unexpectedly giving moments of grace or pause for thought, and there is a prayer labyrinth, a wonderful chapel and lots of garden benches or lawns to lie down on and be still. On my recent Superintendent s retreat we spent a day with Rabbi Debbi Young-Somers thinking about the Jewish tradition of interpreting Scripture and some of those Jewish
rituals which maintain their faith. We also had some time to ponder on questions of ministry in our communities, and time simply to chat. It was a wonderful and blessed time. After 3 days we may not all have been quite ready to return from our retreat from the world but we did so nourished and somewhat rested. The question that I find myself now pondering on is; what task do our buildings fulfil and do they fulfil them as wonderfully well as Launde does being a place of retreat? Places of worship, places of prayer, places of sanctuary, places of learning, places of care, places of welcome, places of challenge, places of empowerment, places of justice Of course, to fulfil any of them isn t just about the building or its location, although they are important. It is also about the people who make up the lives of our buildings and our communities; in other words; us as living stones (1 Peter 2.) How can we work with what we have to make a difference for others around us and what difference will we make? God bless, Angy
Methodist Women in Britain News I ve just returned from the annual conference at Swanwick where 250 women gathered to consider the theme Oceans of Justice, Rivers of Fairness. The keynote speaker was Rachel Lampard MBE, former Vice-president of the Methodist Conference and a member of JPIT, the Joint Public Issues Team. Her presentation was both inspirational and sobering as she considered the issue of hunger in the UK in 2018 and the rise in the use of Foodbanks, much of it relating to the roll out of Universal Credit. As a corporate practical response to Rachel s presentation we embarked on a craftivism project, each of us embroidering a napkin with a message for our local MP which we will send to them along with a letter asking them to write to the government asking them to include a measure of household food insecurity in the evaluation of the effectiveness of Universal Credit. My message to Nic Dakin, who ran the London Marathon this month raising funds for the Foodbank in Scunthorpe, was: Running is hard. Running hungry is harder. The District Away Day in March led by Rev Jennie Henshall was well attended. Five of us attended from this circuit and we were led in a biblical and creative way to consider how in many different ways we can Discover Joy throughout our life s journey. Our next District Day will be on Wednesday 20 th June at Trinity Methodist Church, Immingham. Starting with coffee at 10.30am the day will include the commissioning of our new District President, Mrs Ann Conn as well as a presentation by Catherine Schroter from Action for Children, Ann s chosen charity.
Looking ahead to the autumn our District day in Louth will be on Thursday 25 th October when the speaker will be Sandra Goodwin, national president of Methodist Women in Britain. Transport will be provided by coach from the circuit so please note the date in your diaries. Another date for your diary is our Circuit AGM, Thursday 11 th October at Gunness. We meet at 10am for coffee with the meeting starting at 10.30am. All ladies welcome. Bronwen Braisdell Circuit MWiB President
June 2018 District Day At Trinity Methodist Church Pelham Road Immingham DN40 1NB Wednesday 20 th June 10.30 to 3.0pm Morning Worship with Communion led by the Reverend Louise Carr. This will include the Commissioning of our new President Mrs Ann Conn Please bring a packed lunch Drinks and biscuits will be provided throughout the day Our afternoon speaker is Catherine Schroter of Action for Children This is to be Ann s presidential charity which Catherine will outline during the afternoon We end at 3.0pm There will be tea and cake to set you on your way Please do join us you will be made very welcome Further details from Diane Patrick Pdiane15@yahoo.co.uk Or telephone 01469 573638
A pastor is walking down the street one day when he notices a very small boy trying to press a doorbell on a house across the street. However, the boy is very small and the doorbell is too high for him to reach. After watching the boys efforts for some time, the pastor moves closer to the boy s position. He steps smartly across the street, walks up behind the little fellow and, placing his hand kindly on the child s shoulder leans over and gives the doorbell a solid ring. Crouching down to the child s level, the pastor smiles benevolently and asks, And now what, my little man? To which the boy replies, Now we run!
Music night Saturday 16 th June at 7:00 pm By Belcanto 5/= including refreshments
From Old Brumby United Church As church-going continues to decline and more pressures are put on the church by increasing legislation, regulations and rules; along with the problem common to most organisations today of filling the jobs; we, at Old Brumby United Church, are feeling the squeeze. We must not, however, look only at Sunday Worship as a measure of our effectiveness; we are extremely fortunate in our buildings and our physical location and we have church and community groups using our premises on a regular basis who bring, as well as much-needed income, a vibrancy and liveliness to our church life. The church has some links with each of these groups and some of them consider themselves to be part of our church community. As well as ABC (mother and toddler group) we have our Wednesday Club for older children, badminton, and a monthly Soup and Sweet club. The 16 th Scunthorpe Scout Group, (previously from Centenary Church) join us for Church Parade several times a year and then we host a range of other Groups including: Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Scunthorpe Musical Theatre Society, JOPSOX, WOLDS Singers, a painting group, Links Twirlers, Iron Maidens quilting group and Bottesford Belles sewing group as well as regular ad-hoc bookings for parties. In addition we have a weekly bible study group on a Tuesday night and a Coffee Shop that s open and busy each Saturday morning. Our premises are well used by the community and we are considering other ways to use our space and fulfil our Christian duty to be a faith presence in the community. We are a welcoming Church and our Worship Services are varied and inclusive, child AND adult-friendly, and we hope we make the most of every opportunity to spread the Good News in every way. Submitted by Lawrie Holtby
World Missions Coffee Morning There were some severe flurries of snow on the occasion of the Circuit World Missions Coffee Morning held at Epworth Wesley Memorial on 17 th March. In spite of the weather, there was a good turn-out. Conversation flowed over refreshments and the stalls cakes, parcels, Fairtrade and Christian goods did a brisk trade. The financial outcome was 214.37, for which thanks are extended to all who helped in any way. Muriel Jacklin Treasurer Circuit Lent Lunches The Circuit Lent Lunches, held on 5 Sundays throughout Lent, again proved popular. The various venues were Messingham, Epworth, Winterton, Haxey and Old Brumby United. In each case the hosts provided tasty food, appreciated by all. Donations for All We Can amounted to 374.56. Gift aid will be claimed back on 252.16 (an extra 25p for every 1.00 donated). Claire Welch, of All We Can, wishes me to thank everyone who contributed to this donation. I also express my sincere thanks to all who made this possible. Muriel Jacklin OBITUARY - We are sad to hear of the death of Dorothy Welch, wife of the late Rev James Welch, who was a minister in our Circuit from 1972 76. Dorothy had been in care for the past 2 years suffering from dementia. She died age 79. We have happy memories of the time shared together. From Marie Atkinson
Concert by Isle Community Choir To be held in Ealand Victory Hall at 7:30 pm Refreshments/Raffle Proceeds for the Victory Hall and Eland Methodist Chapel 4 per entry Garden party in Chapel grounds Wednesday 15 th August at 2 pm Various stalls and refreshments Eland Jubilee Chapel sends a warm welcome to all
YADDLETHORPE METHODIST CHURCH SATURDAY 28th JULY 7.00 PM CONCERT BY THE ELDERBERRIES FOLLOWED BY LIGHT REFRESHMENTS ADMISSION 5.00 TICKETS FROM CHURCH OR AT THE DOOR SUNDAY 29 th JULY 10.30AM REV ANGELA LONG 6.00PM REV PAUL BRAISDELL
Other events around the Circuit Church Event Date Time Remarks Althorpe Chat-a-while coffee morning 1 st Saturday of each month 10:00-11:30 am Proceeds given to various charities Fellowship meetings Wed 20 th June 2:00 pm Speaker Mrs Hazel Jackson Wed 18 th July 2:00 pm Speaker Rev Angela Long Gunness Coffee Morning, raffle etc Owston Ferry Pop-in Every Thursday morning Scotter Summer Coffee morning Cream tea afternoon Wed 19 th Sept 10:00am 12 noon Thursday 9 th Aug Saturday 16 th June 10:00 11:30 am 10:00 11:30 am 2:30 to 4:30 pm At St Barnabas Church hall, Station Rd. 1.50 per entry Proceeds for Gunness Methodist Church Coffee & biscuits In Coronation Hall. 2 per entry To celebrate the anniversary weekend of the Chapel 118 years Winteringham Coffee Morning 1 st Tuesday of each month 10:00 am to 12 noon In the Chapel