LOOP is
operating / LONGBRIDGE METHODIST CHURCH
Sundays, 7th & 14th January, 2018 / CRÈCHE facilities available
WORSHIP TODAY - SUNDAY, 7th JANUARY - SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
11.00 a.m. Rev. Cleopas Sibanda - Covenant Service & Holy Communion.
6.00 p.m. New Year United Service at St. Stephen's Church, Rednal.
Everyone welcome.
WORSHIP ON SUNDAY, 14th JANUARY
11.00 a.m. Maureen Foxall.
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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Gone are thedaysof “Watchnight Services”, when we gathered in Church late on New Year's Eve and ended the Service as we welcomed the New Year in. There could be mixed emotions. As well as good wishes, there were tears and regrets as we thought of sad times and things left undone, and fear and uncertainty about what lay ahead.
There could be a lot of that in this New Year. So what words might help us? There's a hymn that says "My faith, it is an oaken staff, O let me on it lean”, and as I now use a walking stick, I think of how that can help to keep me steady. But faith is more than that, it's our foundation for life: "All my hope on God is founded" – “me through change and chance He guideth".Down theyears, another hymn has meant a great deal to me, not just at New Year but throughout the year:"This, this is the Godwe adore, our faithful unchangeable friend, whose love is as great as His power, and neither knows measure nor end.Tis Jesus the first and the last, whose Spirit shall guide us safe home.We'll praise Him for allthat is past and trust Him for all that's to come". (Hymn 67,Singing the Faith).
Stan Webb
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BENEVOLENT FUND There is a plate at the back of church this morning, 7th January, for donations to this fund.
CHURCH COUNCIL A few copies of the Draft Minutes of the November meeting of the Church Council are now available from the trolley. Please take one if you are interested.
FLOWERS IN CHURCH The flower rota for 2018 is now on the board in the foyer and you are invited to sign againstadate when you would like to remember someone or celebrate a special occasion. Suggested donation of£10 please.For further information, please see Evelyn Jones.
A MANSE STEWARDis required for 16, Meadowbrook Road to work with Rev. Cleopas Sibanda to ensure his manse is maintained to a good and adequate standard.The Circuit Property Team will give training and advice as needed. Full details from Barry or Philip.Please consider whether you can support our minister in this way.
TUESDAY 9th JANUARY 9.00 a.m. The Coffee Pot re-opens.
TUESDAY 9th JANUARY 11.30 a.m. The Bible Study Group will meet in the chapel for an hour.All welcome.
TUESDAY 9th JANUARY 12.30 p.m Ladies' Tuesday Luncheon Group to meet.
FRIDAY, 12th JANUARY 2.30 p.m. Choir Practice.
SATURDAY, 13th JANUARY 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at The Church at Carrs Lane - Vocation and Calling day.An opportunity to explore how you could use your time, gifts, skills and strengths in church life.All invited to this Circuit event.More details on red cards on the trolley.
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SUNDAY, 14th JANUARY Some of the books from our Lending Library will be on display in the foyer during coffee time after worship. Do take a look.
CMM CHOIR presents the musical ‘Stargazers' by Roger Jones at 6.00 p.m. at Holy Trinity Church, Rose Hill, Lickey on Sunday, 14th January. No charge for admission. See poster on foyer notice board for more details.
TUESDAY, 16th JANUARY 7.30 p.m. House Group at Anthony & Hazel's home – ‘Signs and Wonders in Discipleship' led by Bright & Betty Obeng.
ART/CRAFT GROUPre-starts on Wednesday morning, 17th January, weather permitting.
SATURDAY, 20th JANUARY 9.00 a.m. Ecumenical Prayer Breakfast at which we welcome members of other CTB45 churches. This is our contribution to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
OFFERINGSDecember 2017
3rd - £746.9824th - £691.77
10th - £303.4531st - £920.86
17th - £809.05
The average for the first 4 months of the year was £670.17.
Benevolent FundThe amount given was £7.00. Expenditure was£58.00.
MEMORIAL BOOKAll the new names have now been entered into the Memorial Book. If you wish to view a page, please see Elisabeth Osborn.
COFFEE AND CAROLSThe choir thanks all those who supported this event, which raised £123.58 for the Charity Fund.
KNITTED ITEMS TO ORDERRose Phillips will be pleased to knit tea cosies, children's clothes, 'sausages’ for doors, toys (including Teddy bears), scarves, etc..If you would like Rose to make any of these items, please let her know ( or Elisabeth Osborn).All proceeds to the Alzheimer's Society (the Church Charity).
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ADVANCE NOTICES
'ROBINS0N CRUSOE' PANTOMIME
Longbridge Players are staging ‘Robinson Crusoe’ at February half-term.
Friday, 23rd February & Saturday, 24th February.
The pantomime is suitable for all the family and tickets will be available soon.
BOOK THE DATE! Saturday, 3rd March – Vision Day at Barnes Close, including lunch.Looking at the future for our church.
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WORSHIP ON SUNDAY, 21st JANUARY
11.00 a.m.Rev. Peter Wakefield.
6.00 p.m.Rev. Cleopas Sibanda - Taize Service
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ALLNOTICES FOR THE NEXT SHEET (SUNDAYS, 21st & 28th JANUARY) SHOULD BE GIVEN T0ELISABETH OSBORN BY WEDNESDAY EVENING, 17th JANUARY, 2018.
PLEASE NOTEThe evening Covenant Service will be on Sun. 25th February.