Dear Siblings in Christ,
I hope that you had a blessed Christmas season and that 2022 will be a better year for all of us. Adrian and I would like to thank you for the many cards that we received.
The new calendar year is a time to begin afresh. At our Covenant worship services this month I am again giving out Star Words as a reminder that the magi followed the star to find baby Jesus, bringing their gifts. Trusting that God can and does use many signs or stars to guide us closer to Christ’s presence, may the word that you received guide you through 2022 and may your searching bring you closer to Christ. Last year the word I received was ‘contentment’. It is attached to the wall above my desk by my phone. As we started the year locked down, it was a good reminder to not be fearful and also to not bemoan what I wished it could be and to be content and find the blessings in what we could do. As the year went on, it was a word that also caused me to ask the question: “When should I find contentment, and when is contentment the wrong answer?” It was a reminder to me that sometimes God uses our discontent to speak to us and nudge us towards new ways to be light for the world. If you were not at the Covenant Services, then you can use the star word generator here; this page also has some prayers and other thoughts about how to use your star word.
I came across a cartoon the other day that said:
Character 1: Aren’t you terrified of what 2022 could be liked. Everything is so messed up.
Character 2: I think it will bring flowers.
Character 1: Yes? Why?
Character 2: Because I am planting flowers.
As we begin the new year and wonder what it holds, let’s take sensible precautions but leave our fears behind reaching out in love to others. Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. (Galatians 6:9). What are you going to plant?
ZOOM coffee morning (contact us for the code) is on Wednesdays at 10 a.m.
Friday Coffee Morning at Chantry is taking a break now until February.
Landseer Road mid-week activities resume on Thursday 6th January.
Museum Street members and friends are invited to attend a study on the theology and other considerations around same-sex marriage on Thursdays 6th, 13th and 20th January at 10 a.m. to 11.15 a.m. in the Coffee Room at Museum Street. At our February 2022 Church Council meeting, the members of the Council will be voting as to whether to register Museum Street Methodist Church building as a location where same-sex weddings can be performed. You are invited to attend this three-week study to understand why some Christians support same-sex marriage and why some Christians do not. We will look at scripture and theology, church tradition, reason and experience.
In 2022, beginning on 2nd January, we will be offering online communion to those watching the Museum Street Livestream of our worship services when we celebrate Holy Communion. This will only be available to those who watch the livestream live, as the service is actually occurring. Also, in the event of a return to ZOOM worship because of COVID, then we will offer Holy Communion over Zoom. You will need to provide your own bread and wine and any leftovers should be disposed of reverently. Methodist stipulations say that the wine should be from the juice of the grape and should not be alcoholic. You might like to put your plate and cup on a small table and cover it with a white cloth until we reach that point in the service, when we will uncover the elements together, participate in the Great Thanksgiving and the blessing of the elements and then we will eat them together. For the privacy of those attending in-person, we will not film them coming forward; you will hear the music and see a picture. Please note that if you watch the livestream later in the day, then you will be unable to see or participate in the Holy Communion portion of the service. This paragraph is the brief summary, find the full details here.
Here is January’s preaching plan (*=communion, LA=local arrangement). Or download the plan for the whole circuit. We fully understand that some of you will decide to stay at home for you or your loved one’s safety, and we encourage you to prayerfully consider what the right thing is for you. We will continue to mask and sit socially distanced and we will stop serving refreshments after the service. We also ask that, if possible, you take a Lateral Flow Test before coming to worship.
Worship at Chantry is cancelled for the month for COVID reasons. Instead the church will be open for individual prayer at 9.30 a.m. for 45 minutes.
| Museum St 10.45 a.m. | Landseer Rd 11 a.m. | Video from 6 a.m. | |
| 2nd Jan | *Pell – Covenant Service | Pell | |
| 9th Jan | Walker | *Pell – Covenant Service | Welbourn |
| 16th Jan | LA led by B Lindsay | I Gardner | |
| 23rd Jan | Pulpit Exchange – Rev. Tom Mumford (St Mary-le-Tower) | Sankey | |
| 30th Jan | Video Service | Cope |
The January issue of our joint magazine for the three churches has been published. Read it here.
Wishing you all a Happy New Year.
In Christ
–Pastor Joan
Joan’s Jottings are written to the churches at Museum Street, Landseer Road and Chantry where Joan is the minister, and a monthly summary is shared here for all to read.