Worship & Notices for 30 05 2021

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.

 

You can find Bible Stories and Activities for Young People on the Young Sunday page of the Circuit Website, 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 30 May 2021

 

Throughout this latest Lockdown, the Government has not banned churches from opening for Worship, and with the easing of some lockdown restrictions our churches are beginning to think about in person Worship again. At Castle we opened for worship last Sunday, and were delighted to welcome around 40 people (masked and socially distanced!) to our Worship & Communion service. As part of our Covenant with St Botolphs we will be joining with them this week, and back to Castle on 06 06 2021.

 

Re-opening Churches for Worship

A Circuit Plan is currently being drafted for the coming months. This will include online and in-person services at our churches, and will be made available on our Downloads page.

We have dates when several Circuit churches are hoping to reopen for in person worship:-

Wimpole Road and Mersea opened for in-person worship on 18 04 2021

Castle opened on Pentecost Sunday/Aldersgate Sunday 23 05 2021

The Ark will open on 27 06 2021

The Well will open on 04 07 2021

Wivenhoe, Lexden and Tollgate have yet to confirm when they intend to reopen, but it is likely to be 27 06 2021 or 04 07 2021.

All dates above are assuming the Government Roadmap out of Covid Restrictions is followed as anticipated.

We will continue to upload content to YouTube every Sunday until all of our churches have resumed in-person worship. We will then review what online activities should continue, and your comments would be welcome.

We had our first experiment with Live-Streaming the 10:30am Pentecost Sunday Service from Castle. It is now available on Castle’s YouTube Channel here, or you can access the service directly here. To join future services live from home, please Subscribe to that channel (and click the Notification Bell icon) to be notified when this service is about to go live. The next one will be 06 06 2021.

 

Taking Stock is now back, with a new video on YouTube every week – usually on Wednesdays.

 

We now have Zoom evening services for the whole Circuit on most Sunday evenings, hosted by various Churches. Your local email Hub Co-ordinator will send you an email with a link to join these. (If you haven’t received an email please contact one of your church stewards).

 

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 on the Circuit Website.

 

 

Please continue to remember all of our Circuit Ministers and Lay Preachers in your prayers.

Rev Ken Chalmers is still not back to full time working. Rev Joe Adams remains unwell, and unable to carry out his usual duties for several weeks. Any pastoral concerns should be directed to our Superintendent Rev Alan Jenkins by email or telephone. Please pray for Joe, but do not contact him at this time.

 

Remember in your prayers folk from across the circuit who are suffering from various health problems at this time, any members and friends who have recently tested positive for Covid-19, and those known to us who are NHS or other keyworkers.

Zoom Bible Study Groups:

Alan’s bible study sessions for Castle will be on the last Wednesday of each month. Our next session will be looking at Psalms. The Zoom meeting will open at 7.15pm for informal chat with Bible Study commencing at 7.30pm.

Ken’s bible study sessions for The Ark are weekly on Tuesday’s. The Zoom meeting will open at 7.15pm for informal chat with Bible Study commencing at 7.30pm. We are on to the second week of our study of the Book of Ruth on Tuesday 01 06 2021. If you would like to join in this study please send an email to  thearkhighwoods@gmail.com .

All are welcome to join the Bible Study Groups above, but let Alan or The Ark know you are interested, so that he can send you details and a Zoom invite.

 

Details of Bible studies and other activities based at Wimpole Road are available on their website here.

 

 

Zoom Church Services:

(Zoom Services will “open” 15 minutes before the start time to allow everyone to join and settle in before beginning Worship together).

 

Invitation from The Ark:

We will be hosting a monthly service on Zoom at 6.30pm on the FIRST Sunday of each month, and a mid-week morning Reflections Service on Zoom on the SECOND Wednesday 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.

Invitation from Wivenhoe:

We will be hosting a monthly service on Zoom at 3pm on the SECOND Sunday of each month. Anyone from the circuit wishing to join is very much welcome to do so, but you will first need to email Alan for a Zoom invite.

Invitation from Castle:

We will be hosting a monthly service on Zoom at 6.30pm on the THIRD Sunday of each month. Anyone from the circuit wishing to join is very much welcome to do so, but you will first need to email Alan for a Zoom invite.

 

Invitation from Wimpole Road:

We will be hosting a monthly service on Zoom at 6.30pm on the FOURTH Sunday of each month. Anyone from the circuit wishing to join is very much welcome to do so, but you will first need to email Joe for a Zoom invite.

 

There will be no evening Zoom service when there is a 5th Sunday in the month.

 

Invitation and News from St Botolph’s:

At Castle we enjoy a Covenant with friends at St Botolph’s in the town centre. When they re-opened for Worship – with certain Covid-19 restrictions in place – many Castle friends have joined them in recent weeks, and we will all be joining together with them again this week, as it is the 5th Sunday in the month. Click here for News from St Botolphs for 30 05 2021.

 

 

Job Vacancy

The Colchester Methodist Circuit is looking to appoint a part-time Circuit Administrator. If you, or someone you know, would be interested in this part time work, click here to find out more details about the Circuit Administrator Job Vacancy.

 

 

 

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 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.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *