LEXDEN METHODIST CHURCH

Notices for Week Commencing 28th March 2021

Palm Sunday

‘Surely this man was the Son of God’. Mark 15 v 39

PRAYER

Prayer Requests – Please pray for all those who are suffering from mental health issues and for their families and carers.

Please pray for our empty Church Buildings and for our Circuit Ministers Rev Joe Adams, Rev Ken Chalmers and Rev Alan Jenkins.

Continue to pray for all others who are in any way troubled, lonely, unwell or bereaved and anyone else who needs our prayers.

NOTICES

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Colchester Food Bank appeal. We collected an amazing 48.95 kg of food and toiletries and £55 in cash. Thank you also to Alan who took it all to their new distribution centre in Tollgate.

At the recent Church Council it was decided to review the question of opening the Church in mid May. in the meantime if anyone has Church donations which they would like to pass on Geoff can arrange to collect them from you in a Covid safe way. Please contact him on 545083. Thank you for your continuing support.

If you need prayer or help in any way please contact your pastoral visitor or you can call Rev Joe Adams on 331413 or Alan Beesley on 766604.

The Donkey

When fishes flew and forests walked
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
Then surely I was born.

With monstrous head and sickening cry
And ears like errant wings,
The devil’s walking parody
On all four-footed things.

The tattered outlaw of the earth,
Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,
I keep my secret still.

Fools! For I also had my hour;
One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears,
And palms before my feet.

G K Chesterton 1874-1936

LEXDEN METHODIST CHURCH

Notices for Week Commencing 21st March 2021

‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified’. John 12 v 23

PRAYER

Prayer Requests – Please pray for a fair and even distribution of the covid vaccines so that no country will go without.

Please pray for our empty Church Buildings and for our Circuit Ministers Rev Joe Adams, Rev Ken Chalmers and Rev Alan Jenkins.

Continue to pray for all others who are in any way troubled, lonely, unwell or bereaved and anyone else who needs our prayers.

NOTICES

National Day of Reflection – This month we mark the anniversary of the first national lockdown to stop the spread of Covid-19. A national day of reflection is being held on Tuesday 23 March for people to come together to reflect on our collective loss, support those who’ve been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future. Marie Curie is leading activities. You are invited to join a minute’s silence at 12 noon, to shine a light at 8pm or to find a moment to reflect in your own way during the day.

At the recent Church Council it was decided to review the question of opening the Church in mid May. in the meantime if anyone has Church donations which they would like to pass on Geoff can arrange to collect them from you in a Covid safe way. Please contact him on 545083. Thank you for your continuing support.

If you need prayer or help in any way please contact your pastoral visitor or you can call Rev Joe Adams on 331413 or Alan Beesley on 766604.

As we consider our futures when we finally come out of lockdown it is worth remembering it is OK to sit quietly and contemplate the wonderful world around us. With that in mind I found this poem to be rather appropriate.

Leisure

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

W H Davies 1871-1940

LEXDEN METHODIST CHURCH

Notices for Week Commencing 14th March 2021
Mothering Sunday

As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you. Isaiah 66 v 13

PRAYER

Prayer Requests – Please pray for the people of Africa as the Covid vaccines gradually reach those people in need.

Please pray for our empty Church Buildings and for our Circuit Ministers Rev Joe Adams, Rev Ken Chalmers and Rev Alan Jenkins.

Continue to pray for all others who are in any way troubled, lonely, unwell or bereaved and anyone else who needs our prayers.

NOTICES

A very big thank you to those who have contributed to the Food Bank. We’ve had a most amazing response already. If you still anything you would like to donate please call us on 766604 and Alan will arrange a Covid secure collection.

While our church building remains closed we are arranging for it to be redecorated. So that when we meet again it will be bright and beautiful.

Worship from home – we will continue to deliver paper notices and a service sheet every week, God willing, until we can open our church doors once more. If you would like to receive a DVD of the weekly circuit service please call Geoff on 545083.

If you need prayer or help in any way please contact your pastoral visitor or you can call Rev Joe Adams on 331413 or Alan Beesley on 766604.

LEXDEN METHODIST CHURCH

Notices for Week Commencing 7th March 2021

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the skies proclaim
the work of his hands. Psalm 19 v 1

PRAYER

Prayer Requests – Please pray for the medics and all the volunteers at the Covid vaccination centres.

Please pray for our empty Church Buildings and for our Circuit Ministers Rev Joe Adams, Rev Ken Chalmers and Rev Alan Jenkins.

Continue to pray for all others who are in any way troubled, lonely, unwell or bereaved and anyone else who needs our prayers.

NOTICES

It has been suggested that we have a collection for the Colchester Food Bank throughout Lent. They are still very busy and would appreciate all manner of food and toiletries as well as donations of money. Alan can collect your contributions when he delivers your notices on a Saturday morning or call us on 766604 to arrange an alternative. Thank you.

Worship from home – we will continue to deliver paper notices and a service sheet every week, God willing, until we can open our church doors once more. If you would like to receive a DVD of the weekly circuit service please call Geoff on 545083.

If you need prayer or help in any way please contact your pastoral visitor or you can call Rev Joe Adams on 331413 or Alan Beesley on 766604.

Easter Wings

Lord, Who createdst man in wealth and store,
Though foolishly he lost the same,
Decaying more and more,
Till he became
Most poore:
With Thee
O let me rise,
As larks, harmoniously,
And sing this day Thy victories:
Then shall the fall further the flight in me.
My tender age in sorrow did beginne;
And still with sicknesses and shame
Thou didst so punish sinne,
That I became
Most thinne.
With Thee
Let me combine,
And feel this day Thy victorie;
For, if I imp my wing on Thine,
Affliction shall advance the flight in me.

George Herbert (1593–1633)

LEXDEN METHODIST CHURCH

Notices for Week Commencing 28th February 2021

If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Mark 8 v 34

PRAYER

Prayer Requests – Please pray for the medics and all the volunteers at the Covid vaccination centres.

Please pray for our empty Church Buildings and for our Circuit Ministers Rev Joe Adams, Rev Ken Chalmers and Rev Alan Jenkins.

Continue to pray for all others who are in any way troubled, lonely, unwell or bereaved and anyone else who needs our prayers.

NOTICES

Our very dear friend Eileen Mitchell sadly passed away last Friday. She’d had a fall at home and was recuperating in a care home when she quietly slipped away. Please remember her family in your prayers.

It has been suggested that we have a collection for the Colchester Food Bank throughout Lent. They are still very busy and would appreciate all manner of food and toiletries. Alan can collect your contributions when he delivers your notices on a Saturday morning or call us on 766604 to arrange an alternative. Thank you.

Worship from home – we will continue to deliver paper notices and a service sheet every week, God willing, until we can open our church doors once more. If you would like to receive a DVD of the weekly circuit service please call Geoff on 545083.

If you need prayer or help in any way please contact your pastoral visitor or you can call Rev Joe Adams on 331413 or Alan Beesley on 766604.

LEXDEN METHODIST CHURCH

Notices for Week Commencing 21st February 2021

A voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’ Mark 1 v 11

PRAYER

Prayer Requests – Please pray for the medics and all the volunteers at the Covid vaccination centres.

Please pray for our empty Church Buildings and for our Circuit Ministers Rev Joe Adams, Rev Ken Chalmers and Rev Alan Jenkins.

Continue to pray for all others who are in any way troubled, lonely, unwell or bereaved and anyone else who needs our prayers.

NOTICES

Many of you Clapped for Carers last year. Please will you consider signing this petition now? Social care workers deserve a living wage :-
https://www.livingwage4keyworkers.org.uk/
It asks the government to fund the increase in wages for care workers from the government’s living wage (£8.72 per hour) up to the Real Living Wage (£9.50 per hour). Our Circuit is a member of Citizens UK so you will be joining with Christians and other like-minded people all over the UK. Thank you.

Worship from home – we will continue to deliver paper notices and a service sheet every week, God willing, until we can open our church doors once more. If you would like to receive a DVD of the weekly circuit service please call Geoff on 545083.

If you need prayer or help in any way please contact your pastoral visitor or you can call Rev Joe Adams on 331413 or Alan Beesley on 766604.

Pronunciation Poem

I take it you already know
Of tough and bough and cough and dough?
Others may stumble but not you
On hiccough, thorough, slough and through.
Well done! And now you wish perhaps,
To learn of less familiar traps?

Beware of heard, a dreadful word
That looks like beard and sounds like bird.
And dead, is said like bed, not bead –
for goodness’ sake don’t call it ‘deed’!
Watch out for meat and great and threat
(they rhyme with suite and straight and debt).

A moth is not a moth in mother,
Nor both in bother, or broth in brother,
And here is not a match for there,
Nor dear and fear for bear and pear,
And then there’s doze and rose and lose –
Just look them up – and goose and choose,
And cork and work and card and ward
And font and front and word and sword,
And do and go and thwart and cart –
Come, I’ve hardly made a start!

A dreadful language? Man alive!
I learned to speak it when I was five!
And yet to write it, the more I sigh,
I’ll not learn how ’til the day I die.

Author Unknown

LEXDEN METHODIST CHURCH

Notices for Week Commencing 14th February 2021

Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." Matthew 22 v 37

PRAYER

Prayer Requests – Please pray for the medics and all the volunteers at the Covid vaccination centres.

Please pray for our empty Church Buildings and for our Circuit Ministers Rev Joe Adams, Rev Ken Chalmers and Rev Alan Jenkins.

Continue to pray for all others who are in any way troubled, lonely, unwell or bereaved and anyone else who needs our prayers.

NOTICES

Update on Eileen Mitchell – she is out of hospital and is staying in a care home for the time being.

Worship from home – we will continue to deliver paper notices and a service sheet every week, God willing, until we can open our church doors once more. If you would like to receive a DVD of the weekly circuit service please call Geoff on 545083.

If you need prayer or help in any way please contact your pastoral visitor or you can call Rev Joe Adams on 331413 or Alan Beesley on 766604.

How Do I Love Thee?

(Sonnet 43)

Elizabeth Barrett Browning – 1806-1861

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of being and ideal grace.

I love thee to the level of every day’s

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for right.

I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

LEXDEN METHODIST CHURCH

Notices for Week Commencing 7th February 2021

How good it is to sing praises to our God. Psalm 147 v 1

PRAYER

Prayer Requests – Please pray for the hospital chaplaincy team who have remained on the front line throughout the Covid pandemic.

Please pray for our empty Church Buildings and for our Circuit Ministers Rev Joe Adams, Rev Ken Chalmers and Rev Alan Jenkins.

Continue to pray for all others who are in any way troubled, lonely, unwell or bereaved and anyone else who needs our prayers.

NOTICES

Covenant Service at The Ark. Rev Ken Chalmers will be leading worship on Zoom from 6.15pm on Sunday 7th February. The service will begin at 6.30pm and it will last about 45 minutes. Please try and arrive on time if you can; if you arrive after 6.30pm you may need to stay in the waiting room until there is a suitable spot in the service to bring you into the meeting without disrupting the service. – Join Zoom Meeting –
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83263410324?pwd=SUFlSEx3YlExT25sa1ZZU21kcEU3Zz09
Meeting ID: 832 6341 0324 – Passcode: 797840

Worship from home – we will continue to deliver paper notices and a service sheet every week, God willing, until we can open our church doors once more. If you would like to receive a DVD of the weekly circuit service please call Geoff on 545083.

If you need prayer or help in any way please contact your pastoral visitor or you can call Rev Joe Adams on 331413 or Alan Beesley on 766604.

"I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" (also commonly known as "Daffodils"
by William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
and twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretched in never-ending line
along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not be but gay,
in such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
what wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

LEXDEN METHODIST CHURCH

Notices for Week Commencing 31st January 2021

Great are the works of the Lord. Psalm 111 v 2

PRAYER

Prayer Requests – Please pray for everyone delivering the vaccine. Please pray for all front line workers.

Please pray for our empty Church Buildings and for our Circuit Ministers Rev Joe Adams, Rev Ken Chalmers and Rev Alan Jenkins.

Continue to pray for all others who are in any way troubled, lonely, unwell or bereaved and anyone else who needs our prayers.

NOTICES

Eileen Mitchell had a fall at home and is recovering in hospital.
Lidia Berris was in the process of moving to a different care home but this has been postponed for the moment.
Pat Wesbroom sadly passed away earlier this month.
Please remember all our dear friends and their families in your prayers.

Worship from home – we will continue to deliver paper notices and a service sheet every week, God willing, until we can open our church doors once more. If you would like to receive a DVD of the weekly circuit service please call Geoff on 545083.

If you need prayer or help in any way please contact your pastoral visitor or you can call Rev Joe Adams on 331413

LEXDEN METHODIST CHURCH

Notices for Week Commencing 24th January 2021

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone. Psalm 62 v 5

PRAYER

Prayer Requests – Please pray for everyone delivering the vaccine. Please pray for all front line workers.

Please pray for our empty Church Buildings and for our Circuit Ministers Rev Joe Adams, Rev Ken Chalmers and Rev Alan Jenkins.

Continue to pray for all others who are in any way troubled, lonely, unwell or bereaved and anyone else who needs our prayers.

NOTICES

Please be aware – there are a number of covid scams doing the rounds at the moment. If someone comes to your door offering you the vaccine for money or contacts you by phone and asks for your payment card details they are thieves and should be reported to the police. The jabs are free of charge. God bless the NHS.

Worship from home – we will continue to deliver paper notices and a service sheet every week, God willing, until we can open our church doors once more. If you would like to receive a DVD of the weekly circuit service please call Geoff on 545083.

If you need prayer or help in any way please contact your pastoral visitor or you can call Rev Joe Adams on 331413

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley (1849–1903).