Dear Friends
This letter contains Mike Peck’s Bible Study notes (Click this link) ; a heart template for Valentines Day , a mediation called “Fathers Love Letter”, produced with permission and the booklet we will be using for this year’s Ipswich Circuit Lent Course book, entitled “Woven – A Lent Course”. This particular course has been chosen as it is possible to use the material independently.
A weekly Zoom course will be made available on the Ipswich Methodist Website – methodistic.org.uk and advertised on Seaton Road’s and Trinity’s websites. This Course will be run on Tuesday nights at 7pm starting on 23rd February for six consecutive Tuesdays. Please use the booklet enclosed in the way that suites you best. The readings follow the set lectionary readings for the period.
Outside Decoration of Churches for Valentines Day
Many thanks to all those currently involved in making hearts to decorate some of our churches and/or the windows of our own houses. Following on from the District initiative of “January Light” we are seeking to offer “February Love”. Many of the hearts being produced contain the simple message God Loves You or God Is Love and the aim is to share our Faith with local communities, whilst providing an uplifting message.
A simple Heart template is included in this mailing for you to decorate your windows with, if you so wish. Also included is an article called “Father’s Love Letter”. This contains many wonderful and uplifting quotes from scripture.
Mark 1 verses 29-39 is our set Gospel reading for this coming Sunday 7th February. It is one in which Jesus show us his priorities. He knows what he must do and demonstrates this by healing and proclaiming the Good News. However, Jesus also takes time out to get away from the crowds and to be alone in prayer – he knows what he must do to care for himself and stay true to his mission.
It is challenging that in our call to love God and love our neighbours we are called to also love ourselves. It is good to share by via post, telephone and Zoom, those things that we are finding helpful. Like many of you I find the Prayers from the Methodist Prayer handbook a great inspiration. Here is one from the 2018/2019 edition written by Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)
“Fill our hearts with your grace, O Lord, our souls with your love and our lives with your glory; thorough Christ our Lord Amen.”
Mission Area – One Church – four locations ?
Regarding arrangements after I retire at the end of July 2021, several individuals in the Mission Area churches are starting to think about what God’s plan is for you as a group of Methodist people in the Felixstowe area. Their thoughts are, do you continue as 4 separate Churches or do you look for ways in which you might come together more, in order to make maximum use of your available resources in a positive way. The online meetings being held to talk about some of the practicalities are important but there is a feeling that you should take this opportunity to explore some new ways of working in, maybe, a more radical way – possibly the concept of “One Church – 4 locations”. There is a separate Zoom meeting being planned for those interested in contributing to these thoughts, on Monday 22nd February at 7 p.m. If you would like to be involved then please email meeting@felixstowema.org.uk and the link will be sent to you. In any case, if you have a comment to share about this subject then please do send it to the same email address and it will be shared at the meeting (or contact Stephen Wyatt, 4 Tower Road, Felixstowe IP11 7PR (07903 295 128) or Robin Pattinson, 4 Thurmans Lane, Trimley St Mary, Felixstowe IP11 0SR (07857 559047).
Finally, can we remember in our prayers, all those in hospital at this time and those who have lost loved ones during the pandemic, especially the family of Ewart Walls, who sadly died on 22nd January and the family of Debbie Peck, whose father has passed away.
Stay Safe and Keep the Faith
Love and God Bless
Rev’d Diane