NOTICES FOR THE WEEK COMMENCING SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2025
SUNDAY 12 JANUARY
10.45am We welcome Tom Dodds, from Hexham, who is appointed to lead our worship this morning.
Refreshments in the form of coffee or tea will be served immediately after this service. Do stay for a while if you can.
4.00 to 5.30pm Another monthly Wylam and District Churches “Messy Church” will be held here. This is a family event for children up to 11 years of age, accompanied by a parent of guardian. Suggested donation £1 per child. There’s no need to book, just come along for a mix of crafts, games, bible stories and music, with a very simple meal for the children and refreshments for adults. This month it’s a “Celebration – New Year” theme.
WEDNESDAY15 JANUARY
7.30 to 9.00pm The Wednesday Evening Fellowshipmeetings continue this evening in the foyer here. This week the group will be looking at the first week of a new study, based on a book by Rev Bryony Wood with the title “The Sound of Musings”. If you would like a link to the free study guide, please speak to Ruth or Brian, and please remember that these meetings are open to anyone, from any church or none, and all are welcome.
THURSDAY 16 JANUARY
9.15 to 11.30am “Soft Play” for pre-school children, accompanied by a parent or guardian, resumes today in the hall after the short break. Just £3 per family. Come at any time and for as long as you wish. We apologise that this “re-start session” was previously advertised for last Thursday.
SATURDAY 18 JANUARY
7.00 to 9.00pm The Wylam and District Churches Youth Club and Gathering continuesherethis evening. From 7.00 to 8.00pm, it’s a more traditional youth club with a wide variety of games including board games, pool, table tennis and badminton and then, from 8.00pm, for all who wish to stay, The Gathering will take place upstairs with some food, perhaps a more quiet game and some chat and discussion about Christian faith and life issues – or if you wish you can just come at 8.00pm for this session. Anyone from school year 6 and above is welcome and there’s no need to book. Weekly sub. remains at £1.
SUNDAY 19 JANUARY
10.45am We look forward once again to welcoming Rev Tony Buglass, from Hexham, who is appointed to lead our worship this week.
As usual, refreshments will be served immediately following this service. Do stay for a while if you can.
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COMING SOON
Saturday 25 January8.15 for 8.30 to 10.00am The next “Perspectives” Men’s Breakfast will take place as usual in the Hexham Abbey Priory Building. The after-breakfast speaker this month will be Rob Fame, talking about “Serving God where you are”. Rob served for several years on the staff of the newly planted Holy Trinity Church, Gateshead, then with a similar planted church in the West End of Newcastle. He now works as a civil servant whilst an active member of another church plant, St Joseph’s in Benwell. The inclusive charge is £14, payable on the day or by bank transfer at booking. Pre-booking is essential. Please speak to Brian Japes if you are interested but haven’t been before – a lift might also be available.
Thursday 23 January 11.30am The Church Resources Group will meet, together with Church Stewards, chiefly to discuss finance and property matters. If you have any questions or suggestions on these matters please have a word with Brian Japes who acts as Secretary.
Sunday 2 February – after church service A meeting of the Church Council will be held. Please make a note of this date.
CHRISTMAS AND CHARITIES It was wonderful to see a packed church here for the Village Carol Service on 22 December and another full church on Christmas Day. Donations for charity were taken at each of these services resulting in £140 given for the work of the Wylam and District Churches among children and young people at the carol service and £92.40 for “Action for Children” on Christmas Day.
PREACHING PLAN & ROTAS A copy of the current Circuit Plan of preachers for the period to February 2025, along with a rota of Sunday duties in this church, can be seen on the notice board.
“LIVING WATERS” The Winter 2024/25 issue of this Circuit Magazine is now available and can be seen on-line via the Circuit website at www.tynedalemethcircuit.org or you can pick up a copy from the table in the atrium. As usual, lots of interesting stories about things going on around our fairly vast circuit.
“THE CONNEXION” Even some Methodists are perhaps puzzled by the use of the term “Connexion” to define the wider structure and governance of the Methodist Church. The British Methodist Connexion is made up of 27 Districts, covering England, Scotland and Wales, along with the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and Shetland. This old spelling of the word connection is at the heart of the Christian community as the ‘body of Christ’. Just as a human body contains different limbs and organs that depend on each other so we, as people of the church, should be close and caring enough to feel each other’s pain and delight. When presbyters or deacons are ordained in the Methodist Church, we say they are “received into Full Connexion.”
The reason the compiler of these notes has gone somewhat “out of the box” with this note was inspired by the belief that copies of the quarterly Methodist magazine, titled “The Connexion”, which can be seen on the publication rack in the atrium, often appear to go unread. Do have a look. Copies of the two latest issues are there today, with stories from around the Connexion, many of them describing inspiring ways in which churches are responding to what, for many places of worship, are described as ‘challenging times’.
PRAYER FOOTNOTE Forgive us, Lord, when we are too cosy and comfortable, safe in our own little corner and unaware of the needs around us. Open our eyes and enlarge our minds. Forgive us when we fail to speak or take action to defend or protect others in need and when we would rather leave it to someone else. Give us courage to speak and act for justice. Forgive us when we only love our neighbour when they are “our sort of people”. We are sorry if we are subconsciously selective about who is welcome in our churches and communities. Help us to be inclusive and welcoming to all. Amen Margaret Littlecot
Information to be circulated? You can contact Brian Japes
Tel:- 01661 852151 or email [email protected]