Joan’s Jottings – August

One of the blessings through this pandemic has been the way in which our three churches have come together and supported each other. We worked together for four months on our joint Zoom Sunday Worship from January to April, with participation in the services from a cross section of people. We had a Zoom book study together and Museum Street Zoom Coffee mornings were open to all.

Our leaders have worked hard and have met frequently together by Zoom. They came up with the plans as to how to implement and follow the government COVID rules, so that we could safely open our churches. When the second COVID wave hit the country, we listened carefully to one another and took joint decisions about when to close and when to safely reopen. Your leaders have done a wonderful job and I am very thankful that we have not had a COVID outbreak in our midst.

Now that we are more freely able to meet in person, we are planning a joint BBQ so we can get to know each other better in person; this was initially going to be in July but due to some folk having to isolate, it was postponed to 28^th August.  We also have a joint Book Study on the Methodist Way of Life currently underway, and our thoughts are turning to what comes next.

As we return to doing more activities in person at our three churches, we want to maintain the close links that are developing between us. We will be holding a joint service at Landseer Road on Sunday 15^th August at 11 a.m. Alan Road and Bramford Road will also be joining us. Please note that there will be no worship services at Chantry or Museum Street on that Sunday. And then, beginning in October, we will be holding a monthly joint worship service on the last Sunday of every month.

God is moving in some new ways amongst us. As God told the prophet Isaiah to tell the people: See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:19)

Here is August’s preaching plan (*=communion). Or download the plan for the whole circuit.

	Museum St 10.45 a.m.	Chantry 9.30 a.m.	Landseer Rd 11 a.m.	Video from 6 a.m.
1st Aug	*Pell	R Sawyer	@Chantry	Gardner
8th Aug	Video	Vallow	Barclay	Sankey
15th Aug	@Landseer	@Landseer	Welbourn	Keeble
22nd Aug	LA	*Pell	*Pell	Yelland
29th Aug	Pell	C Finbow	Video	Jacobs

It was agreed at the last Joint Leadership Team meeting to have Last Sunday of the month Joint Services rotating around the three churches, beginning in October. Mark your calendars for the following dates:

• 15th August at Landseer Road at 11 a.m.
• 31st October at Museum Street at 10.45 a.m.
• 28th November at Chantry at 9.30 a.m.

The August issue of our joint magazine for the three churches has been published. Read it here.

The joint Get Together & BBQ for our three churches is on 28th August at 5 p.m. at Landseer Road Methodist Church. We will be serving meat and vegetarian burgers & sausages, salad and dessert. There will be live music with some outside singing. Tickets are available for a suggested donation of £5 each. Any profit will go to FIND.

Our study group on A Methodist Way of Life is on Thursdays from Noon to 1.30 p.m. in-person at Museum Street on 5th, 19th and 26th August. Members from all three churches are invited to come. Bring your lunch with you to eat as we talk. We will begin the first session by celebrating Holy Communion. A Methodist Way of Life provides a set of commitments and practices that encourage and equip people to better live a Christian life through Worship, Learning & Caring, Service, and Evangelism. The study book is free and will be given out at the group. Find out more here.