For many years before and after our marriage, I was blessed by having a Christian father and a Christian father-in-law. They were so different in character but both demonstrated their relationship with God in various ways. One example would be when they visited us, on separate occasions, on a Sunday to spend the day or…
Elmsett leadership team recently took the decision to set up a “Free Little Pantry” outside the church to support those in our local community who struggle to buy food for various reasons. Our local village shop and Post office has recently been forced to closed down and public transport is very limited in rural areas.…
Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B 2nd June 2024. Lectionary Readings: Deuteronomy 5 v12-15; Psalm 81 v1-10; 2 Corinthians 4 v5-12; Mark 2 v23 – 3 v6. Radical interpretations. Mark tells of an encounter between Jesus and a group of Pharisees. The action takes place at a Jewish ‘meeting place’ in the region…
We had a wonderful Circuit service on the evening of Sunday 28th April 2024 during which we welcome two of our colleagues from the United Reformed Church to work with us as Associate Ministers in the Ipswich Methodist Circuit. I invited Father John a colleague minister from The Church of England to preach during the…
I enjoyed reading Sue’s Thought for the Day on Wednesday. She mentioned that Zacchaeus was not very tall and pondered what it was like to be short. Well, I’m one of the short people. At the minute I’m about 4ft 10ins. I used to be about an inch and a half taller but the difference has…
When it was my birthday recently, small granddaughter rushed to meet me at the door, ‘Grandma, Grandma, I’ve got a card for you!’ she shouted, her eyes flashing with excitement and her hand waving a large pink envelope. ‘Wow!’ I gasped as if I’d never seen a card before,’ What’s this?’ ‘It’s a CARD Grandma!’…
Whenever an old wireless or early television broadcast is replayed it is obvious how much the use of language and valuing of accent and dialect have changed over the years. When we listen to or watch a news broadcast we no longer hear, or even want to hear the same stereotypical ‘BBC voice’. We are…
Seaton Road at Felixstowe Methodist Church have held Godly Play sessions Sunday afternoons throughout the winter months. The visual presentations help us to think and “wonder”. At our last session the story of Zacchaeus was played out. The long road (vinyl wallpaper) was laid out between Jericho and Jerusalem (shoe box) with the crowds gathering…
This week, our 10 minute service reflects on Psalm 27:8
I recall a meeting I had with a Bank customer and, as part of our conversation, he told me he was an advertising executive. Our chat side-tracked to TV adverts, and I mentioned the one I thought was, at that time, the worst on TV. He then made an interesting comment, that “the makers of…