LOOP is
operating / LONGBRIDGE METHODIST CHURCH
Sundays, 21st & 28thJanuary, 2018 / CRÈCHE facilities available
WORSHIP TODAY - SUNDAY, 21st JANUARY - 3rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
11.00 a.m.Rev. Peter Wakefield.
6.00 p.m.Rev. Cleopas Sibanda - Taize Service & Holy Communion.
WORSHIP ON SUNDAY, 28th JANUARY - 4th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
11.00 a.m.Elizabeth Mafusire.
No Evening Service.
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Everyone is invited to stay after each morning service for coffee/tea and biscuits in the foyer.
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FLOWERSThe flowers in church on Sunday, 21st January are in memory of Barbara & Rex Walker's parents.
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Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works on our behalf! Psalm 66: 5.
To me, one of the biggest pieces of evidence to prove the existence of God is all around us, in the beauty of the earth, the sea and the skies.Today I have watched our bog fir trees blowing in the wind, seen woodpigeons flying in and out of the branches, seen the sky go from angry clouds to pale blue and back to clouds - tinged with salmon pink as the sun starts to set. Bare branches of trees stretch up to the sky, forming patterns against the ever changing sky.I have heard bird song from many different beaks, and seen foxes playing in the fields and bushes backing onto our garden.
The beauty of dew in the morning and the chorus of birds in the trees,
The thrill of a new day dawning, the hum of life on the breeze;
So much within creation enthuses and uplifts.
O Lord, you bring elation through all your many gifts.
Through the peace of twilight falling, the sun setting low in the sky,
The sound of a blackbird calling, the sparkling stars on high;
Through these, 0 Lord, you bless us, your power in each displayed.
Receive my praise and worship for all that you have made.
'Poems to help you Pray' by Nick Fawcett
May the glories of God’s creation instill in us all a true sense of awe and wonder at all he has given to us.Amen.
Penny Bowden
BENEVOLENT FUND There will be a plate at the back of church this evening (21st January) for donations to this fund.
CTB45 WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITYcontinues at the following venues:
Sunday, 21st January- 5.00 p.m. Evening Prayer at St. Leonard's Church.
Monday, 22nd January- 7.00 p.m. Holy Communion at St. Stephen's Church.
Tuesday, 23rd January- 11.00 a.m. Holy Communion at St. Chad's Church.
Wednesday, 24th January- 8.00 p.m. Half hour service of prayer at St. Chad's.
Thursday, 25th January- 10.00 a.m. Mass at Our Lady's Church.
TUESDAY, 23rd JANUARY- 11.30 a.m. The Bible Study Group will meet in the chapel for an hour.All welcome.
TUESDAY, 23rd JANUARY- 7.00 p.m. Longbridge Ward Meeting at our church. You are invited to come and find out what is happening in our area.
WEDNESDAY, 24th JANUARY A representative from the Alzheimer's Society will be coming to speak at the Wesley Guild and anyone wishing to hear about it will be very welcome to come along to the Lounge at 2.00 p.m.
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COFFEE POTOwing to unforeseen circumstances, Cavell will shortly be going home to St. Helena for six weeks and, unless we can get help, it will mean having to temporarily close the Coffee Pot. If anyone has a Food Hygiene Certificate, or knows someone who has, and is willing to run the Coffee Pot for a few days or even a few hours a week, if only to serve snacks, please speak to Philip Osborn or Cavell Gasteen.
THANKS Janet and Simon Walsh would like to thank everyone for their prayers, thoughts and offers of help during Simon's time in hospital. He is slowly getting better and hopes to be back with you all soon.
PANTOMIME 2018 Longbridge Players present this year's grand pantomime ROBINSON CRUSOE on Friday, 23rd February at 7.00 p.m. and Saturday, 24th February at 5.00 p.m. There will be fun and excitement for all the family, with proceeds going to our Church Charity, the Alzheimer's Society. Tickets are on sale now from Anthony Atwell - adults £6 and children £5.
Do come and support our main fund-raising event of the year.
If you can help us in any way, please see Hazel, David or any member of the CATT team.
CTB45 PEACE PRAYER GROUP will meet on Monday, 29th January at 7.30 p.m. here at Longbridge Methodist Church.
THANK YOU! Avery big thank you for the love you showed to me through your prayers, cards, phone calls, text messages and visits during the week I was in hospital.Prayers do work; I would not have survived without them, and I felt sustained and my spirit lifted knowing that I was constantly being prayed for by family and friends all over the place. It is great to belong to a church family like ours at Longbridge. Thanks again and God bless you all.
Sefena Olatunbosun.
CHURCH COUNCIL A few copies of the Draft Minutes of the November meeting of the Church Council are available from the trolley. Please take one if you are interested.
BOOK THE DATE! Saturday, 3rd March - Vision Day at Barnes Close, including lunch.Looking at the future for our church.
NEWS FROM THE B30 FOODBANK AT COTTERIDGE CHURCH During the week ending 13th January, 2018, the food-bank received 1 ,172kgs of food, and gave out 1 ,765kgs of food, feeding 230 people - 125 adults and 105 children on 85 vouchers. The food-bank is running short of fruit juices, long-life milk, macaroni cheese, jam, rice and instant potato. Carrier bags are also needed please.
A certificate for donations made by us here at Longbridge during the periodOctober 2017 to December 2017 is on display on the foyer notice board. Thank you for your continuous support.Your donations make life bearable for lots of families in Birmingham. God bless you.
FLOWERS IN CHURCH The flower rota for 2018 is now on the board in the foyer and you are invited to sign against a date when you would like to remember someone or celebrate a special occasion.Suggested donation of£10 please.For further information, please see Evelyn Jones.
MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING
Saturday, 10th February- Dementia Awareness.
Saturday, 24th February- Mental Health Awareness.
Please take a card from the trolley if you are interested.
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WORSHIPON SlJNDAY, 4th FEBRUARY
11.00 a.m.Ruth Tissington. No Evening Service.
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ALLNOTICES FOR THE NEXT SHEET (SUNDAYS, 4th & 11th FEBRUARY) SHOULD BE GIVEN T0ELISABETH OSBORN BY WEDNESDAY EVENING, 31st JANUARY.