Worship & Notices for 20 12 2020
Please refer to the new “Online Services” page on the Menu for details about all of the Online Services, and other regular activities in the Circuit.
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/ColchesterMethodists
The service for this Sunday can be found by using this shortcut link.
The Young Sunday story about the birth of Jesus (called the Nativity Story), can be found on our YouTube site as above, or by following this shortcut link.
You can also find an activity pack for young people linked to the Nativity story on our Circuit Website on the Young Sunday page, or by following this shortcut link.
When you leave a church service would you usually shake the hand of the Minister and thank him for the service? If so, please encourage our ministers and the team, by clicking on the Thumbs Up / LIKE icon for the video. This also helps our videos to be promoted to others, and spreads the word of God.
You can also leave a brief 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.
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the You Tube channel. It is FREE. Also click on the NOTIFICATION BELL ICON, then choose “all” as an option to receive an email notification / link each time a new video is uploaded. You can unsubscribe at any time, by clicking on the Subscribe button a second time.
Circuit Notices
Week Commencing
Sunday 20th December 2020
Fourth Sunday in Advent
Your local Methodist Church website will give more details about groups and activities which are taking place there – click on that Church in the Menu.
Rev Ken Chalmers is currently unavailable due to ill health: If you need to speak to a Minister please contact Rev Alan Jenkins or Rev Joe Adams, or contact your Pastoral Leader.
Please remember Ken in your prayers, together with other folk across the circuit who are suffering from various health problems at this time.
We are pausing our series on Taking Stock, but it will be returning in the New Year.
The Jesse Tree is a daily series of Bible Stories for all ages throughout Advent, so don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel to receive an email notification for these. There will also be a “bauble” to download from the Circuit Website and print each day. These can then be coloured in and hung on your Christmas Tree or in your windows during Advent as a reminder of the stories.
You can access the Jesse Tree page on the Circuit Website. There you can find more information and download the baubles by following this shortcut link.
You can access the Jesse Tree videos on our YouTube Channel by following this shortcut link to the Jesse Tree Playlist.
Zoom Bible Study Groups:
Alan’s bible study sessions for Castle will be on the last Wednesday of each month. The next one is scheduled for Wednesday 30th December. The Zoom meeting will open at 7pm for informal chat with Bible Study commencing at 7.30pm.
Ken’s bible study sessions for The Ark are weekly on Tuesday’s. They are currently being led by Janet. The Zoom meeting will open at 7pm for informal chat with Bible Study commencing at 7.30pm.
All are welcome to join these groups, but let Alan know you are interested, so that he can send you details and a Zoom invite.
Details of Bible studies and other activities at Wimpole Road are available on their website here.
Invitation from The Ark:
We hold a mid-week Reflections Service on Zoom on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, and a monthly service on Zoom at 6.30pm on the first Sunday of each month. Anyone from the circuit wishing to join either of these is very much welcome to do so, but you will first need to email thearkhighwoods@gmail.com for a Zoom invite.
20 12 2020 : The Ark Zoom Carol Service at 6.30pm – A service of carols and readings, led by the people of The Ark.
We would love to see as many as possible at our evening Carol Service – we will gather at 6.15pm and begin worship at 6.30pm. We hope we can make this a candlelit event, so if you are able to dim the lights in your room and safely have some candlelight instead, please do so. If you have not already received a Zoom invite, please use the Ark email address to let us know.
Invitation from St Botolph’s:
At Castle we enjoy a Covenant with friends at St Botolph’s in the town centre. While they are able to open for worship under Covid-19 restrictions, there is an ongoing invitation for any Castle friends to join them, and details of their upcoming services are contained in the News from St Botolphs for Sunday 20 12 2020.
Engage with AllWeCan activities and events this Christmas.
The AllWeCan website (Methodist Relief and Development), has resources for an Extraordinary Christmas that you can find here.
Christmas Services and Activities.
We will continue to publish a new Jesse Tree story each day until Christmas.
20th December 2020
10:00 Service on YouTube for the whole circuit.
11:00 Service on Facebook for Wimpole Road.
16:00 Carol Service on Zoom for Wivenhoe. (Contact Alan for an invite).
18:30 Carol Service on Zoom for The Ark, and those who wish to join from around the Circuit.
24th December 2020
18:00 Circuit Carol Service on YouTube for the whole circuit.
25th December 2020
10:00 Christmas Day Service on YouTube for the whole circuit.
Audio CD’s, and DVD’s, are being made available to anyone unable to view the online service. If you know of someone who would benefit from this please let one a Minister or pastoral leader know.
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
Be sure to 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.
