LOOP is
operating / LONGBRIDGE METHODIST CHURCH
Sundays, 8th & 15th April 2018 / CRÈCHE facilities available
WORSHIP TODAY - SUNDAY, 8th APRIL - 2nd SUNDAY OF EASTER
11.00 a.m.Sefena Olatunbosun.
No Evening Service.
WORSHIP ON SUNDAY, 15th APRIL – 3RD SUNDAY OF EASTER
11.00 a.m. Rev. Peter Wakefield and Baptism - Rev. Cleopas Sibanda.
No Evening Service.
Everyone is invited to stay after each morning service for coffee/tea and biscuits in the foyer.
FLOWERS The flowers in church today (8th April) are in commemoration of Arthur Price's birthday, father of Wendy.
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Alleluia!Christ is risen.
The Easter season lasts for fifty (50) days, Easter Day until Pentecost. The resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus, gives us all hope and new lives. This Easter period is a time for us to reflect and to really understand what Jesus did for us 2,000 years ago. John 3:16-17 says 'For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that every one who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its Saviour'.
Jesus died to free us from our sins; He came back to life in fulfilment of God's promise and He will come back in all His glory at a time only known to God, our Father, to rule the earth. There are people in our homes, community and our world, who still need to hear the good news of the Gospel. Jesus gave His disciples the authority to spread His message to all people on the earth. This is the challenge for us as church during this Easter season and always as we seek ways of being 'Church without walls'. Jesus wants us to open our hearts to others; to love them and to give them the good news of the Gospel. We, as believers, are Jesus’ disciples and our responsibility is to make Him known to others so that many too may believe and become Jesus' disciples. In doing this, Jesus promised that He will be with us always - to the end of the age.
May God bless us this Easter season and always.
Sefena
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MINUTES Copies of the latest Church Council minutes are available from the trolley. Please take one if interested.
EASTER OFFERING (Methodist Women in Britain) Envelopes are still available on the trolley. Please hand them in as soon as possible.
TODAY - SUNDAY, 8th APRIL Library books will be on display in the foyer after the morning service - also greetings cards are available. Do look!
TUESDAY, 10th APRIL 11.30 a.m. The Bible Study Group will meet in the chapel for an hour. All welcome.
THURSDAY, 12th APRIL 2.30 p.m. Coffee Pot Committee meeting.
SATURDAY, 14th APRIL 10.00 a.m. District Synod at Quinton.
COOKING SESSION Thursday, 12th April 2.00 p.m. - 4.00 p.m. run by the Eco-Centre, at our church.If you would like to go, ring Jackie on 0121-448-0119.
CHURCH COUNCIL SECRETARY This post will become vacant in June 2018. If you are interested in being Church Council Secretary, please speak to Evelyn Jones for more information, as soon as possible.
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CALLING WOMEN OF LONGBRIIDEWOMEN & THEATRE and Friends of Longbridge
Open Spaces (FLOS) are developing an exciting outdoor theatre piece to be performed in the Centre of Longbridge in June 2018.
WOMEN OF LONGBRIDGE will be a high quality production that shares the stories of local women through drama, movement and song. We want to put the stories of women of Longbridge centre stage and celebrate their lives while looking at their hopes for the future.
We would like local women of all ages and background to share their stories with us to inform our theatre piece.
If you are interested in this project and have a story to share, please join us at one of the following sessions:-
MONDAY, 9th APRIL, 12.45 p.m. - 2.30 p.m. at Frankley Library, Balaam Wood Academy (light lunch provided). TUESDAY, 10th APRIL between 10.00 a.m. and 12 noon at Cafe Bar, Longbridge Extra Care Village.
For further information, please see the poster on the foyer notice board.
CHURCH VISION DAYNew date - Saturday, 9th June, 2018 at Barnes Close.
WOMEN'S WORLD DAY OF PRAYERlocal service at the Beacon Church Centre and postponed because of snow, has now been cancelled as it has not been possible to fix a suitable date. However, if you would like a copy of the printed order of service booklet, please see Sefena Olatunbosun.
JUNIOR MISSION FOR ALL (JMA) Please let Janet Sly have any unwanted gifts for the next JMA fundraising stall. Thank you.
WEDNESDAY, 18th APRIL 7.00 p.m. Church & Community Group meeting.
SATURDAY, 21st APRIL 10.00 a.m. Working Party - please note change of date
OFFERINGS - March 2018 / 4th - / £661.26 / 18th - £369.4111th - / £729.95 / 25th - £688.54
The average for the first seven months of the year was £651.68 which was well down on our budget of £688. So if you haven't increased your giving lately, would you please consider doing so?
There are still some spare sets of envelopes available. Please see Philip if you would like a set.
Benevolent Fund The amount given was £12.00.We spent £75 using our minibus to transport a Syrian refugee family to their new home.
WORSHIP ON SUNDAY, 22nd APRIL - 4th SUNDAY OF EASTER
11.00 a.m. Keith Dennis.
No Evening Service
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ALL NOTICES FOR THE NEXT SHEET (SUNDAYS, 22nd & 29th APRIL) SHOULD BE GIVEN T0 ELISABETH OSBORN BY WEDNESDAY EVENING, 18th APRIL.
ALSOThe Craft Group will meet in the morning on Wednesday, 18th April.