Forest Circuit Notices 35/33

Monday 14th April – Community Lunch from 12:00 noon until 13:30pm. All are welcome.

Thursday 17th April – Maundy Thursday at 6:00pm – in the Haven. A time of reflection led by Revd Oseias da Silva.

Steward: To be Confirmed.

Friday 18th April – Good Friday at St Mary’s at 10:00am. Service followed by refreshments prior to the Walk of Witness to George Lane.

Sunday20th April – Easter Day Service of Celebration and Holy Communion

10:30am led by Revd Oseias da Silva and Mrs Kath Leckey.

Stewards: Kate and Kathy

Communion: Kath Leckey

 3:30pm – 5:00pm – Messy Church  

Christian Aid Appeal Following on from the earthquake in Myanmar, we are receiving donations for Chirstian Aid. If you are able to donate via Bank Transfer to Woodford Methodist Church Account – details as follows:

Sort Code: 40 02 06

Account: 50023914

Alternatively, there will be a plate at the door to receive any cash donations.

Easter Flowers If you would like to help with the cost of or help with the Easter flowers please see Kate.

Announcements (including any changes) to Phyllis Lloyd by Friday at 6:00pm email: palloyd23@gmail.com or 07960 855716.

Prayer List:

We remember all communities affected by gun and knife violence, both in the UK and throughout the world. Be with these communities, as they come to terms with these events, those who mourn loved ones and their community leaders as they support those who have been affected by these incidents.

We continue to pray for peace throughout our world. We continue to pray for peace in Ukraine, and for the ending of hostilities between Israel and Gaza, Israel, Syria, and Lebanon and across the Middle East as a whole. We remember the people of Myanmar, Ethiopia Somalia where there is ongoing unrest.

We continue to pray for all communities affected by natural disasters throughout the world. We think especially of areas in Myanmar and Thailand following the recent earthquake. We remember parts of Great Britain that have been affected by wildfires due to the recent dry weather.

We pray for our minister Revd Oseias and his family.

We pray for our incoming minister Rev Kong Ching Hii and his family.

We pray for our own church that we have the resources to continue the work of outreach and worship in the local area. We especially need people to help with our Community Lunch.

We remember those members of our congregation and others who are known to us who are unwell at this time.

We pray for those who mourn, both known in our local communities as well as further afield.

We also remember those who are struggling with the on-going Cost-of-Living crisis, especially as schools have just broken up for the Easter break putting a strain on family finances. For the local Food Banks who many rely upon for their weekly groceries.

We remember those who are homeless or currently placed in hostels or Bed and Breakfast accommodation awaiting to be rehomed.

Message from Kate:

You may or may not know that the Forest Circuit archives are stored in the gallery of our church, and that I, as Circuit Archivist am in charge of sorting them out and deciding what to keep and what to throw away. In the sorting process, I acquire a fair amount of rubbish – all sorts of odds and ends, which cannot go in the wastepaper. Our church is counted by the local council as a business, so we would have to pay for the dustmen to collect our rubbish. Until fairly recently I have bribed the local dustmen (lovely men, my best friends) with tea and biscuits when they collect the local shops’ rubbish, to take mine too. But now (something to do with Broadmead Road bridge – wouldn’t you know?), they no longer come our way, so I now have a collection of filled black sacks. If I had a car there would be no problem, but they are tricky to take on the bus. I would be eternally grateful if car drivers could take the occasional sack from the foot of the gallery stairs and add to their own rubbish. They are not heavy and not messy, just bulky. Thank you

Announcements (including any changes) to Phyllis Lloyd by Friday at 6:00pm – palloyd23@gmail.com or 07960 855716.

Gift Day 2024 – The total raised was £1870.  Thank you to everyone who contributed to this appeal.

***** 

 Message from Mick Higgins - Treasurer - 28th July, 2024

“Hello everyone. Anniversaries are regular and totally predictable. This year is the 148th birthday of Woodford Methodist Church and, with God's grace, in 2 years time we will be achieving a momentous 150! But what sort of world will it be in 2026? Cynthia Bonds led our Sunday Service last week and made me realise that change was absolutely essential to adapt to the demands of today's world. Personally, I am disappointed that BB at Woodford is to end in a few weeks and many other activities that depend on volunteers are also in danger of terminating. I have been your Treasurer since 2000 and I feel it is time for change and hand over the books of account to someone younger. But the real and largely ignored dangers of Climate Change hitting the planet (that God has provided for us to care for) and society in general is frankly not doing a very good job. My ambition over the next two year years is to drive the initiative at Woodford Methodist Church to make us carbon neutral and energy efficient for the tasks of making us a truly community Church. I will be submitting an initial grant request of £28,000 for phase one of this project, representing two thirds of the expected £42,000 budget. I ask that you dig deep in your pockets, if you can, to finance our contribution to this worthwhile project that I've called SAVE THE EARTH AND OUR CHURCH TODAY TO SURVIVE TOMORROW. God bless you all, Mick Please make your gifts to Woodford Methodist Church, HSBC account 50023914 sort code 40-02-06 Thank you”

Message from Mick for our Gift Day 2024.

Anniversaries are regular and predictable. This year is the 148th birthday of Woodford Methodist Church and, with God's grace, in 2 years’ time we will be achieving a momentous 150! But what sort of world will it be in 2026?  

Cynthia Bonds led our Sunday Service the other week and made me realise that change was absolutely essential to adapt to the demands of today's world. Personally, I am disappointed that BB at Woodford is to end this coming Tuesday and many other activities that depend on volunteers are also in danger of terminating. I have been your Treasurer since 2000 and it is time for change and hand over the books of account to someone younger. But the real and ignored dangers of Climate Change hitting the planet (that God has provided for us to care for) and society in general is frankly not doing a particularly excellent job. My ambition over the next two-year years is to drive the initiative at Woodford Methodist Church to make us carbon neutral and energy efficient for the tasks of making us a truly community Church. I will be submitting an initial grant request of £28,000 for phase one of this project, representing two thirds of the expected £42,000 budget. I ask that you dig deep in your pockets, if you can, to finance our contribution to this worthwhile project that I have called

SAVE THE EARTH AND OUR CHURCH TODAY TO SURVIVE TOMORROW.

Please make your gifts to Woodford Methodist Church, HSBC account 50023914 sort code 40-02-06

Thank you.

God bless you all, Mick