RAYLEIGH METHODIST CHURCH
SERVICES
Sunday Services 10:45 am and (6:30 pm2nd and 4thSunday)
Junior Church 10:45 am
Mid-Week Communion
With the exception of August it is held on the third Tuesday of each month in the WESLEY ROOM at 10:30 am.
REGULAR WEEKLY MEETINGS
Monday
1:15pm Sunbeams Parent and Toddler Group
2:30 pm Women's Fellowship
Tuesday
Wednesday
1:45pm – 3:15pm Ladies Club
4:15 pm-5:30 pm Rainbows
5:45 pm -7:15 pm Brownie Guides
7:00 pm-8.45pm Guides
Thursday
10:00 am Care and Share
5.15 pm- 6.15pm Beavers
6:30 pm - 7:45 pm Cubs
8:00 pm – 9:30pm Scouts
8:00 pm Wesley Guild (Sept to May only)
Friday
4:30 pm-5:45 pm Rainbows
5:30 pm-7:00 pm Brownie Guides
7:15 pm -9:00 pm Guides
7:15 pm -9:00 pm Guides Senior Section (fortnightly)
Preschool
Mon and Friday 9:15 am to 11:45 am
Tues Weds and Thurs 9:15-11:45 & 12:30-3:00 pm
Editors John and Sue Ward 9 Sheridan Close Rayleigh SS6 8YR Telephone 01268 742847 ()
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RAYLEIGH METHODIST CHURCH
PRAYER GROUP MEETING DATES
2015
January 28th
February 11th & 25th
March 11th & 25th
April 8th & 22nd
May 6th & 20th
June 3rd & 17th
July 1st,15th & 29th
August 12th & 26th
September 9th, & 23rd
October 7th & 21st
November 4th & 18th
December 2nd & 16th
ALL MEETINGS ARE ON
WEDNESDAYS, COMMENCING
AT 9.30AM, FOR ABOUT 45MINS.
FROM THE EDITORS WE NEED YOUR ARTICLES
March 2015 EDITION
The deadline for this edition of the Newsletter is Sunday
15 February 2015 ( in Welcome Area) or Wednesday 18 February (through our letter box). You can email your article to us,
email address
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Dear friends,
Caroline and I would like to say a big thank you, firstly for all the love, care and concern whilst Caroline has been unwell, and also for all your loving Christmas Cards and even some presents. Thank you.
As we have come back down to earth after Christmas, and lots of travelling around, (Even a quick visit to Nottingham for Jessica’s 21stBirthday), we feel we have been brought back to earth, and grounded as I have shared in the three Covenant Services for Rochford, Hockley & Hawkwell and Rochford.
The Covenant Service has been around for quite some time, John Wesley wrote the first form in 1755. The Methodist Church website reminds us that “This idea of Covenant was basic to John Wesley’s understanding of Christian discipleship. He saw the relationship with God in Covenant as being like a marriage between human beings (both as a community and as individuals) on the one side and God in Christ on the other.”(The website also suggests we look at Ephesians 5.21-33 to see where John Wesley got this idea from). “His original Covenant Prayer involved taking Christ as “my Head and Husband, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, for all times and conditions, to love, honour and obey thee before all others, and this to the death” (To read more on this see
I did particularly like the bible reading about us being intertwined with Jesus in the vine, (John 15:1-10) and as we move through this year, and consider our discipleship together, it would be good to remember, that we all depend on each other, and we all depend on Jesus.
This year we used covenant promise A from our service book, and it is not an easy promise to make. I have copied it here for us all to reflect upon.
I am no longer my own but yours.
Your will, not mine, be done in all things,
wherever you may place me,
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in all that I do
and in all that I may endure;
when there is work for me
and when there is none;
when I am troubled
and when I am at peace.
Your will be done
when I am valued
and when I am disregarded;
when I find fulfilment
and when it is lacking;
when I have all things,
and when I have nothing.
I willingly offer
all I have and am
to serve you,
as and where you choose.
Glorious and lessed God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours.
May it be so for ever.
Let this covenant now made on earth
be fulfilled in heaven. Amen.
If you were not able to be at one of the covenant services, you can make this promise yourself, or I can share this promise with you on a visit.
As we reflect on the promise, let us remember to listen out for God’s call upon our lives, and remember at all times to support and encourage each other in God’s love.
Keep an eye out in the notices in the next few weeks for information about our Lent courses.
Every blessing for 2015. Phillip
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ASH WEDNESDAY (18 February) – mourning our sins
Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. But why ‘Ash’ Wednesday? The reason has to do with getting things right between you and God, and the tradition goes right back to the Old Testament.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites often sinned. When they finally came to their senses, and saw their evil ways as God saw them, they could do nothing but repent in sorrow. They mourned for the damage and evil they had done. As part of this repentance, they covered their heads with ashes. For the Israelites, putting ashes on your head, and even rending your clothes, was an outward sign of their heart-felt repentance and acknowledgement of sin. (See Genesis 18:27; 2 Samuel 13:19; Job 2:8, 30:19; Isaiah 58:5; Jeremiah 6:26; Jonah 3:6)
In the very early Christian Church, the yearly ‘class’ of penitents had ashes sprinkled over them at the beginning of Lent. They were turning to God for the first time, and mourning their sins. But soon many other Christians wanted to take part in the custom, and to do so at the very start of Lent. They heeded Joel’s call to ‘rend your hearts and not your garments’ (Joel 2:12-19). Ash Wednesday became known as either the ‘beginning of the fast’ or ‘the day of the ashes’.
The collect for today goes back to the Prayer Book, and stresses the penitential character of the day. It encourages us with the reminder of the readiness of God to forgive us and to renew us.
The Bible readings for today are often Joel 2:1-2, 12 – 18, Matthew 6: 1-6,16 – 21 and Paul’s moving catalogue of suffering, “as having nothing and yet possessing everything.” (2 Corinthians 5:20b – 6:10)
The actual custom of ‘ashing’ was abolished at the Reformation, though the old name for the day remained. Today, throughout the Church of England, receiving the mark of ashes on one’s forehead is optional. Certainly the mark of ashes on the forehead reminds people of their mortality: “Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return...” (Genesis 3:19)
The late medieval custom was to burn the branches used on Palm Sunday in the previous year in order to create the ashes for today.
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CHURCH FAMILY NEWS
Birthday greetings to Jessica Warrey, who celebrated her 21st on January 10th. Amy Othen reached her 18th birthday onNovember 24thand belated good wishes are sent to her.
Keith and Marion Dann have now moved to their new home in King George’s Court and we wish them much happiness there.
It was good to see Daphne Watson at the Carol Service. We send love to Roland and to other friends we have missed seeing recently, including Dennis Goodman and Pat Hilton. Val Pells and Christine Vincent are back in circulation after illness. Please remember also Caroline Warrey as she copes with health problems.
The death has occurred of Joan Ibell, for some years a member of this church. Sympathy is sent to her family and friends who cared for her.
If there are any special family anniversaries or other news items please send them in or give to a steward to pass on.
Val Tyler
WESLEY GUILD.
Our programme for the forthcoming weeks is:
29 January“Carry on up the Amazon”
John Harrison.
5 FebruaryJane Fulford.
12 February“An old fashioned night at the pictures”
David Groves.
19 February“Rochford Council Recycling”
21 FebruaryCoffee Morning (See separate notice)
26 FebruaryRevd. Chris. Reeve.
All friends most welcome to join us on Thursdays at8p.m.
Pat Oatley.
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SERVICES and PREACHERS for February 2015
[S] Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper [P] Parade [B] Baptism
01 February(Education Sunday) / 10:45 am
6:30pm / Local Arrangement
NO Service
08 February / 10:45 am
6:30 pm / Youth Workers Dedication Service.
Rev Phil Warrey [P]
Rev Phil Warrey [S]
15 February / 10:45 am
6:30 pm / Sue Sigfrid
NO Service
22 February
(1st Sunday of Lent) / 10:45 am
4:00 pm / Kathy McCullough
United Service Messy Church
Rev Phil Warrey
COFFEE MORNING
We welcome you to the next Coffee Mornings which will be on
Saturday, 21 February 2015
Essex Air Ambulance.
Apart from coffee, tea and cakes
the following stalls will be available:
Books, cards, Bring & Buy.
Plus a Raffle
Contributions of Raffle Prizes will be greatly appreciated
Thank you for your continuing support
January’s raised £191.00 for Teenage Cancer Trust.
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A PILGRIMAGE TO ROME & ASSISI
Rev Anne Brown (our district chair) is offering places on a Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi on 2-9thMay 2016. This is four nights in Rome and three in Assisi, combinging worship and sightseeing. The pilgrimage is being offered in association with McCabe Pilgrimages.
Anne writes:- “After I have been to Jerusalem, I must also see Rome” (Acts of the Apostles).
In this pilgrimage we encounter some of the great saints who have shaped Western Christianity. We begin in Rome with four nights in the Eternal City where we focus on the city’s patron saints, Peter and Paul. A comprehensive programme of sightseeing is included featuring the major sites of ancient and imperial Rome and the Vatican City and we will have the opportunity to participate in the weekly papal audience.
We then head north to Assisi stopping about half way to visit the hilltop town of Orvieto. We spend three nights in the medieval walled city of Assisi, home of St. Francis, set amidst the peace and tranquillity of the Umbrian countryside. The bustle of Rome is contrasted with the peace of Assisi where visits include the famous Basilica of St Francis, the church of St Clare, Santa Maria degli Angeli and other pilgrimage sites in and around the town.
The cost of this 8-day tour is £1,345 per person sharing a twin-bedded room and includes many items normally extra on a holiday. In Rome we stay at the four star Park Hotel de Massimi which is in a residential area of Rome about 20 minutes drive from the city centre.
We stay in the middle of Assisi at the Casa del Terziario Convent. All rooms have private facilities. The tour is on a half board basis with continental breakfast and evening meal being served either at our hotel or at a nearby local restaurant. We will travel around Rome in our own air-conditioned coach and our Italian tour manager will meet us on arrival and stay with us throughout our journey.
All entrance fees are included as well as British air passenger duty, all other airport taxes and gratuities. Flights are with Monarch Airlines from Luton Airport to Rome (return).
For a copy of the brochure, please ask Phil, or one of the stewards.
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BEH METHODIST WOMEN IN BRITAIN DISTRICT DAY
A Day with Linda Crossley
National President of MwiB
‘India and the Dalits’
Tuesday 24 February 201510.30 am – 3.00 pmTrinity Methodist Church,Rainsford Road, Chelmsford, CM1 2XB
Bring your own lunch – soup, tea and coffee providedBring-and-buy and other stallsLimited parking at the church
(Further Information from Sandra Hyslop)
Dear Friends at “Rayleigh Methodist”. How kind of you to take time and expertise to make and send lovely Christmas presents to the residents at ‘Westerley’.
A delightful surprise gift, thank you very much, my ‘Blanket’ in white mauve and purple – gorgeous – I am so pleased.
Thank you to everyone who ‘put a stitch in’. You have given great Christmas Day pleasure and long – term warmth!!
Every blessing and good wishes for 2015.
Love from Brenda (Drew) at Westerley, Westcliff.
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FINANCIAL SITUATION
The income from collections is still down and now averages £680 per week, including payments by standing orders. Our main expense is the Circuit Assessment which is now about £793 per week!
The cost of maintaining the Church and grounds continues to rise, the drive is due to be repaired and the Nash Hall overdue for decorating.
When making your offering I would ask that you consider alternative means, such as the envelope scheme (see Ivan Kinseth) or standing orders, please see me. With these schemes we are able to claim from the tax man 25% through Gift Aid, if you are a tax payer.
On the positive side income from Lettings continues well and thanks to Margaret Flintham for her work on this.
Pat Harrison
Treasurer
PHOTOCOPIER
The Church Photocopier finally reached the end of it’s life, bought second hand 10 years ago and it was considered obsolete. The replacement has auto-feed, colour, a stapling facility, and coded monitoring. The maintenance charge for black and white copies is about a third of the previous cost. However the charge for colour is high therefore please consider whether you really need this.
The cost of the machine was largely funded by a bequest from the estate of Lily Hilton.
John Harrison
Miscellaneous observations on life…
Some cause happiness wherever they go. Others, whenever they go.
I sat up all night thinking about the sun. Then it dawned on me.
It is said that if you line up all the cars in the world end to end, someone would be stupid enough to try to overtake them.
Be nice to your kids. They’ll choose your nursing home.
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LADIES CLUB
Our programme for the forthcoming weeks is as follows:
4 FebruaryAnniversary lunch venue to be confirmed (whether I do it at churchor we go out)
11 FebruaryGames afternoon
18FebruaryHalf Term
25 February coffee afternoon – charity to be agreed
4 MarchHook a necklace – bring a crochet hook
11 MarchSpeaker (to be confirmed)
18 March Easter Lunch TBA
25 MarchEaster Service
Elizabeth Ellis
WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP
Our programme for February is:
2 February Speaker – Brian Carline“Tripe and Trotters”
9 February Speaker – Terry Hiscock –“Save the Children”
16 February Speaker – Janet Warner –“Women’s World Day of Prayer”
23 FebruarySpeaker – Janet Fox –“Hopeworx”
Elaine Blades
Miscellaneous observations on life…
You can’t have everything – where would you put it?
Latest survey shows that 3 out of 4 people make up 75% of the world’s population.
If the shoe fits, get another one just like it.
Love is grand. Divorce is a hundred grand.
The trouble with referees is that they just don’t care which side wins.
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ECG (Heart for the Nations)
Over recent weeks and months I have heard Methodist Colleagues say that they had either never heard of ‘ECG – A Heart for the Nations’ or didn’t know how to find information about it. (
So we thought it would be good to let you know about it, just to make sure that ECG 2015 had not passed you by.
ECG is an event within the Methodist family. Its aim is to support and equip a church seeking to be a discipleship movement shaped for mission, exploring Biblically and practically how we live in our varying contemporary contexts and offering resources, training, encouragement and support for local ministry and engagement.
This year we will again gather in Scarborough (this will be our 8thgathering) for 5 days (April 7th-12th) and we are so excited about our theme which is ‘Together’. This will be an opportunity to explore together what it means to be a Christian, a disciple and how we can all be part of God’s mission. Recognising that sometimes being ‘together’ is a struggle – but a struggle worth pursuing.
Working directly with leaders of the Methodist Church and drawing from expertise beyond it we will be blessed with a great wealth of wisdom and an ability to discern the movement of God’s Spirit for today’s church.
Why not consider coming to share with us or passing this information to those within your congregations who would benefit from this amazing experience.
If you would like to know more then simply take a look at the website ( or drop us anemailand we will get back to you. With every blessing for your ministry,
Rev Ashley Cooper (on behalf of the ECG Exec)
Guests include:
Rev Dr Martyn Atkins – General Secretary of The Methodist Church
Artists on site :-
Paul Field - Paul works as a Songwriter, Composer, Producer and Performer in the UK and around the world
Kristyna Myles - British singer-songwriter who is currently based in Manchester. Originally from Leicestershire, she came into prominence after winning Busk Idol, a 2005 nationwide singing competition organised by BBC Radio 5 Live.
Tony Vino - has been touring the comedy scene since early 2005, performing across the UK and internationally.
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What does your family life reveal about you?
Most of us love ‘people-watching’, but have you ever stopped to observe complete families in action? What a contrast you will find! Some are super-clean and organized – everything is pressed and ironed, the house immaculate and the lawn beautifully stripy. Then there are families who are a hotch-potch of chaos and disorder: the kind whose pet hamsters escape and move in to the piano, with nobody much bothering. There are serious families, silly families, academic families and practical families, outdoorsy families and indoor families – we are all different, and each of us will bring different strengths and weaknesses into the melting pot of the family identity that we are shaping.
Family life is a precious gift, and yet we all know that it brings immense challenges too. Whatever the challenges and pressures that our particular family may be facing, God uses families of all shapes and sizes to grow his Kingdom and share the love of Jesus with those who don’t yet know him. We are all called by God to be and do different things, and our diverse families have a part to play as we share his love with a broken world.
Consider the wise and foolish builders, described by Jesus in Matthew chapter seven. “The wise man built his house upon the rock” runs the song about it. That points to a fundamental truth: a life that is patterned on the teachings of Jesus is a life with a firm and sure foundation.