Worship & Notices for Sunday 24 05 2020
Once again, our Circuit Team have been working hard this week to provide ways in which we can share in Worship through technology during the coronavirus crisis. We have added a Notices Section at the bottom of this page to keep you updated of news at Castle and around the Circuit, and of activities that are taking place (usually online!). Please let us know of anything that should be included.
The YouTube channel for Colchester Methodists continues to have videos uploaded regularly. If you follow this link, it will take you there: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy1Oj6Fjruf2Z8jhx_WMpyw
- There is an initial video from Alan, explaining what’s planned.
- There are the Worship Services for each Sunday since lock-down.
- There are several short videos from our ministers bi-weekly under the heading Taking Stock.
- There is also a series of Meditations for Holy Week under the title Witnesses.
We are in the process of creating, editing and uploading a service for tomorrow, Sunday 24th May 2020. This should be available at a normal service time of around 10am.
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the You Tube channels for Castle and Circuit, also click on the NOTIFICATION BELL ICON, then choose “all” as an option. Then you will receive an email notification each time a new video is uploaded. You can unsubscribe at any time, by clicking on the Subscribe button a second time, and it is all free.
To encourage our ministers and the team, click on the Thumbs Up icon to give a like (or a thumbs down if you really didn’t like it) for each video.
You can also leave a message in the comments below each video, but PLEASE don’t forget that literally EVERYONE worldwide can see this, so don’t make any personal comments, or refer to people in a way that risks their privacy in any way.
Rev Joe Adams is again leading virtual worship at Wimpole Road on facebook live on Sunday at 11.00 am click on https://www.facebook.com/Wimpole-Road-Methodist-Church-Colchester-310296022510387
Alternatively, this page from the Methodist Church Website provides information about live-streamed services and has downloadable service sheets for this Sunday and the coming weeks for worship-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic. This includes resources for personal prayer and Bible Study.
As other alternatives there are Live-streamed services available from:-
Wesley’s Chapel in London which will be available at: www.youtube.com/channel/UCUAUqhmhevz5sqhh72LIMxA Service times are Wednesday 12:45; Thursday 12:45; Sunday 9:45 and 11:00.
Swan Bank Methodist Church in Burslem will also live-stream worship on Sunday at 10:30 the service will be available at www.youtube.com/user/SwanBank and www.facebook.com/swanbank/
Birmingham Methodist District at 10:30 there is a service at https://www.facebook.com/Birminghammethodistdistrict/
Hong Kong International Methodist Church https://www.michk.com the 11.00 am service in English will be live streamed at 3am our time, but should also be available by 11 for us to watch.
There is a digital Sunday school at https://disorganisedsundayschoolblog.com/digital-sunday-school
Public Broadcasting:-
BBC 1
- at 11:45 Sunday Worship – Sunday after Ascension: The The Very Rev Kathy Jones leads a service from Bangor Cathedral. This service was filmed before the closure of all church buildings. You can view the Order of Service here.
- at 13.15 Songs of Praise: Islands of Faith – Katherine Jenkins looks back on stories of faith from islands around our coastline, including Caldey Island in Wales and its 1,400 years of Christian history. Recorded before current restrictions were enforced. You can find out more here.
BBC Radio 4
- at 08:10 Sunday Worship Living well while waiting – Catherine Fox and the Bishop of Sheffield Pete Wilcox reflect on living well during this time of continued hoping and uncertainty. More details here.
24th May is Aldersgate Day or Aldersgate Sunday. You can find out more about this on Wikipedia here. Or on the Methodist Church website here.
From the Methodist Church Website:-
A Prayer for Aldersgate Sunday 2020
By the Revd Dr Martyn Atkins
Resourceful Holy Spirit of God,
We thank you for your servants, John and Charles Wesley.
That you fuelled their zeal
and tempered it with divine grace;
brought them through dark times,
enlightened and renewed.
That you warmed their needy hearts,
assured and shaped them by your active holiness.
That through their willingness,
you worked out Your purposes of hope, mercy, and justice.
Somewhat daunted, we stand today in their deep footsteps.
In a world of new challenges and old needs in a time like no other.
But undaunted, we humbly ask you to do in us,
what you did in and through them.
May we know both your infilling and outpouring,
that whatever our situation or condition,
we will serve and honour Christ,
and in these, our days, know and believe
that the best of all is, “God is with us.”
Amen.
Circuit Notices for Week Commencing Sunday 24th May 2020.
Drop-in Zoom Café
Now running “at” Wimpole Road every Monday from 2pm to 3.30pm.
Bring your own drinks and snacks! More details here.
Zoom Bible Study Groups
Bible studies are being led on Zoom by Ken and Joe on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. If you would like to join please contact them directly for details. Alan will start a group on Wednesday evenings if there is sufficient interest.
Sad News
We are saddened to hear news of the death of the mother of Sandra from The Well. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time. We also remember our ministers, and others in Colchester, who will be conducting funerals in these unusual times, and pray for all concerned.
Good News
We are excited to hear from Sinu that Anara and Livai from Castle have a new baby brother, Freddie. Mum and baby are doing well. Congratulations to you all!
Christian Aid News
Geoff has asked us to thank everyone who took part in whatever way in the ‘virtual’ Christian Aid Week. All their donations will be used to support some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in our world. If you haven’t got around to it yet here is a last chance to do so at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Geoff-Casey
HSBC and The Big Shift Campaign
During Lent 2019 over 60 people at Castle signed a Christian Aid petition calling upon HSBC to cease funding coal-based projects in Vietnam, Indonesia and Bangladesh. You will be pleased to know that at the AGM of HSBC held in April the decision was made to stop funding coal-based projects in these countries. Thank you to everybody who signed the petition. It shows that however much we feel like David in the face of a hugely powerful and wealthy Goliath like HSBC, campaigning can still make a difference! More details can be found on the Christian Aid website.
For more information about these activities, or to tell us about your news from around the circuit for inclusion next time, please contact colchester.methodists@gmail.com
Above all, keep yourselves safe and well.
Let someone know if you are struggling, if you need a chat, or just some shopping. Do contact your pastoral leader, or send someone an email: you may be in isolation, but you are not alone.