1001 - January 2010

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www.stivesmethodistchurch.org.uk

January 2010 Newsletter

Sunday Services

3

rd

January 10:30am

Matt Finch

Covenant Service

10th

January 10:30am Ruth Horton

17th

January 10:30am Simon Oliver

24th January 10:30am Colin Webber

31st

January 10:30amMatt Finch

All Age Worship

7th

February 10:30am Simon Oliver

A loop system is in use in this church.In order to use this please put your

hearing aid to the ‘T’ position

.

St Ives Methodist Church

27, The Waits,

St Ives,

Cambridgeshire.

PE27 5BY

Minister: Rev Matt FinchTel: 01480 462293

Mobile: 07968 692390Email: [email protected]

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A warm welcome to anyone who is visiting

St Ives Methodist Church for the first time. Please stay for

a free cup of tea or coffee in the church after the service.

Children’s corner Activities are available at the back of church. Please

feel free to join us at any time during the service.

Church MeetingsSt Ives Methodist Church (SIMC) run various groups that meet on

different days of the week. For more details of a specific group’sevents, please pick up a leaflet from the leaflet rack in the

corridor opposite the kitchen.

Day Time Meeting

Mondays(alternate weeks)

2-4 pm House GroupFellowship and Bible

Study

Tuesdays 9:30 – 10am

Morning Prayers /Communion

A special time of reflection

Tuesdays10-

11:30amToddlers Group

Meet other parents,

have a chat

Tuesdays10 -12

noonOpen Door

Drop in for a cup of

tea and a chat

Tuesdays 2 pmAfternoon

Fellowship

Hymns, prayer,

various speakers.

Thursdays(1

stand 3

rd)

7:30 pm Open CircleVarious speakers on

topics of interest

Sundays 7:30 pm Phos Young Adult group

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A letter from the Minister...

So here we are 2010! The trees, tinsel and

turkey seem to be gone so quickly and we

are back to work, school or the everydaypatterns of life. Let’s hope however that

we do not pack away the good news of

Jesus with the Christmas decorations for

another year.

I love the phrase in the Iona communion service, ‘God comes to

us, so that we might come to God’. In the Christmas just past wehave celebrated that God becomes one of us, is within our grasp

and all can know his love. The Christmas story tells us that God

breaks down every barrier so that we might come to him. The

challenge of Christmas will always be to encounter that love for

ourselves and not be a bystander to the hope born in a stable.

With a new year comes a fresh challenge which is to believe in

Christ’s words and become his follower.

The Christian faith, like no other faith, has a low mark for

believing. God takes the initiative to be made known. However,

the challenge to become a disciple is both costly and demanding.

There are very few who would reject the love of God, in the past

we have got carried away with making ‘converts’ to Christianity.The difficult part is making disciples (that’s you and me) who live

Godly lives every hour of everyday.

The folk called Methodists are a funny lot. If you were to ask

someone what we bring to the worldwide church, in amongst

mainly blank faces, one answer would be ‘the covenant service’.

For those of you who find the Methodist church a mystery let meexplain. It is a service which the Methodist church has always

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held. In it, the church and individuals pledge themselves to follow

God for another year wherever their path may lead. It recognises

that when life is good we must follow, when life is hard we must

still follow. It is also a time to remember that we are God’s and

this may lead us to unexpected horizons. The other importanthalf of the covenant is the one which God makes with his people

as he has done for every generation from Abraham to today. The

creator of the heavens and the earth says to us, ‘I am yours’.

As this year begins we do not know what lies ahead, as a church

we have the challenge of the foyer project, the need to continue

responding to the needs of our community, to strive for a richand varied worship life and importantly to continue being and

making disciples of Jesus.

Have a wonderful New Year,

Matt Finch

Church Events

Afternoon Fellowship

The Tuesday Afternoon Fellowship welcomes everyone to their

meetings each week. Meetings resume on Tuesday 5th

January

with a New Year Lunch. You can pick up the new programme

(which runs from now through to Easter) from the leaflet racks in

the corridor, or visit www.simc.co.uk/fellowship For further

information, contact the President, Pat Wass, on (01480) 351462.

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Circle of Light

The monthly Music Therapy sessions provided by Peter Shearer

will continue this year on the third Tuesday of each month in

2010 (moved from the second Tuesday). Drop in between

3:30pm and 5:00pm to the Small Meeting Room on Tuesday 19th

January. For further information, contact Peter on 07879 637607

Monday Housegroup

The Monday Housegroup will reconvene at 2pm on Monday 18th

January at 3, Clare Court. There will also be an informal meeting

at 2pm on Jan.11th at the home of Marion Rutherford (7, Langley

Way, Hemingford Grey) for those who wanted to see the openingT.V. episode of 'The History of Christianity'. Please advise

Marion if you are planning to be there.

Good News Library Van

The Good News Library Van will be visiting the church on Tuesday

26th

January from 10:30am to 11:45am. Enjoy a cup of tea whilst

browsing through the Christian books and resources available toborrow, free of charge.

Church Family NewsWe would like to extend a warm welcome to those who haverecently joined us. It is good to see new faces in our midst and we

look forward to getting to know you more in the coming weeks.

Do speak to Matt, or one of our Stewards, if you would like more

information about any of our Church activities. If you have news or announcements that you would like to share

with the church family in a future Newsletter please contact Stuart Wilkinson or email [email protected] .

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Please Pray...As a church we believe that prayer makes a difference because

God listens and answers.

Your prayers are asked for those of our Church family concerned

about their loved ones-particularly we think of Sheila Birkert and

Stuart Wilkinson, both whom have their fathers in hospital. We

also remember David Turner, Bill Purvis, John Crawley, Mary

Hindley, Bob Ketley, and others of our congregation unwell at the

present time.

We give thanks that Nan Duplessis and Margaret Harris are both

making satisfactory progress now they are back home again.

As we begin a new year, with new challenges, we pray that God

may be at the heart of all that we do. We pray to seek His will for

our lives over what He wants for us in 2010.

May we be challenged to understand how each one of us can

share God’s love with each other, with our families and amongst

our community in this new year.

Please also pray for our Leadership Team, the Church Council and

all those involved in decision making for the Foyer Project.

If there is anything that you would like to be prayed for please

write it in the Prayer Book at the back of the church, let the

Leadership Team know or contact [email protected] .

If you’d like to receive a weekly free prayer from The Methodist

Church to your mobile, text PRAYNOW to 82088 and join with

hundreds of others praying for topical and personal issues.

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Notices

Foyer Project Update...

Thank you to everyone who has taken a Foyer Project booklet

and filled in the blue feedback form. All the comments are

gratefully received and show a willingness to express honest

opinions about the project and an openness to find God’s will for

us in this next step as a church.

The leadership team have been advised that members of theTuesday Afternoon Fellowship have committed themselves to

praying that the right decisions will be made and that God’s will

be done. It is indeed essential that prayer is at the heart of this

process. Please pray for all those involved in this process.

There is still time to reflect back to us; either by returning your

blue form or coming to the meeting on the 20th January at7.30pm at the church. This meeting is open to all to pray and

discuss the plans further.

If you want information about the progress of the Foyer

redevelopment then please approach a member of the

leadership team. Also, the feedback and entire project will be

discussed at the church council on the 25th January so please ask

church council members to report back or raise a question for

you. Or if you are interested in what goes on the meeting is open

to all so you could come and listen for yourself.

Christmas Tree Festival

The Christmas Tree Festival at Huntingdon Methodist Churchraised just over £2,000 for local charities. Many visitors came to

look at the 45 trees on display. Many thanks to all involved.

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The Black Bin

Thank you for the overwhelming support shown for The Black Bin

appeal in the run up to Christmas, supporting local families

struggling this Christmas. These gifts have made a real difference

to many lives in our locality. This current appeal as now ended,but we will continue to seek to be creative in our future giving.

You are welcome to contact the Leadership Team with feedback

about The Black Bin appeal to assist us going forward.

Action for Children

Thank you to all of you who signed the card at the back of church

last month. It has been lovely to read your Christmas messages. If you haven’t seen the card, please feel free to have a look over

the next couple of weeks.

Together, the Christmas Card and the Afternoon Fellowship

Service on 1st

December raised a total of £136 raided for Action

for Children. Thank you for your kind donations. Your generosity

enables Action for Children to continue their valuable work with

over 155,000 vulnerable children and their families. Thank you!

Open Circle

The Open Circle group would like to invite you to come along.

Open Circle meet on the first and third Thursdays of the month,

are open to both men and women. They would be delighted towelcome new members. For more information please pick up a

new programme from church or contact the President, Audrey

Hedger on 01954 200418.

Craig Alden

Christmas Greetings to the Church have been received from

Maureen Alden, Craig's mother. She says " With grateful thanksfor your continued support and prayers. Sadly there has been no

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progress in Criag's case but he is well and getting some

translating work ". Mary Gatehouse sent a Christmas Card to

Craig on behalf of the Church to show that he is not forgotten.

Newer members to the church may wish to speak to Mary or visit

www.freecraigalden.co.uk for further information..

Christmas Thanks

A few people worked very hard to make our Christmas services

meaningful and special :- the Remembering Service, the 'Cats'

carol service, the service for Action for Children, our Church Carol

service, and especially mentioning the spectacular Nativity for

Children on Christmas Eve which brought around 50 children andtheir parents to our straw-filled church and a very special stable.

Thank you to Matt and all who helped in the organisation of

these events, not forgetting those who took care of practical

concerns; putting up the Advent star and the Christmas tree,

serving the refreshments, and vacuuming up straw!

Church Council Meeting

The Church Council, the governing body of the church, will be

meeting on Monday 25th

January at 7:30pm at the church. The

meeting is open to all. Brief feedback from the meeting will

appear in the February newsletter, and minutes will become

available on the noticeboard in the corridor.

Christian Aid’s Response to Copenhagen

Christian Aid believe that the world’s poorest countries have

been let down by the Copenhagen Climate Change summit and

have called it a “tradegy for millions.” You can watch a video

response to Copenhagen and read more about what can be done

next at simc.co.uk/climate.

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January :feature

Each month the newsletter will include a special feature about one

particular part of our church. This month, our Steward with

responsibility for communications, Stuart Wilkinson, updates us on twonew church publications heading our way soon.

There are very many people that make up our church. We know some

people better than others. Over 250 people are in some way connected

to our church family! Would you recognise them all?

This year, the launch of cafe-style services and family services may

provide a chance to get to know some people that we otherwise might

not, and build up fellowship with one another.

But sometimes we may need to try to find someone from church –

perhaps to ask about a church event, or to find out when something is

happening – and we might not know who that person is or how tocontact them. There have been several requests for contact information

recently and the Leadership Team have decided to address this matter.

One new leaflet, called Getting In Touch has already been produced and

will be available this month from the leaflet racks in the corridor. This

includes contact information for the Minister, the Leadership Team and

certain named contacts within the church. This leaflet designed to bepublicly available to all, and therefore includes contacts that may be of

interest to visitors or newcomers to the church.

Later this year, we also hope to publish a Church Directory. This will not

be designed to be a publicly available publication in the way the Getting

In Touch leaflet is. The directory will include contact details for everyone

who is part of the church in some way and wishes to be included within

it. This publication will provide names, addresses, phone numbers and

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email contacts of those who wish to appear. Certain pieces of information

can be omitted (such as phone numbers) or some people may prefer their

privacy and not wish to appear at all.

This new document will aim to be data-protection compliant, so aconsent form will need to be signed by everyone who wishes to be

included in the new directory. This will also be a chance to make sure

your details are correct – and choose what you would like to be included.

In order to follow Safeguarding best practice, the directory will not

include information relating to anyone under the age of 18.

In order to be fully data protection compliant, we need explicitpermission to give out so much as just a name or telephone number, so

signed consent forms from those who wish to take part will ensure the

church is handling personal data in a legal manner.

Once produced, named copies of the directory will be available to those

who are involved in the life of the church.

If you have any questions about the creation of the new Church

Directory, please let your Leadership Team know.

Printed on non-bleached 100% Recycled Paper

Forthcoming notices:

If you would like a notice to go into the next monthly

Newsletter, please contact Stuart Wilkinson.

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 01480 389623

Write in the purple notice book at the back of the church.

Deadline for the next issue: 11am Tuesday 2nd

February.

Next issue available Sunday 7 th February.

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Sun 3rd 7:30pm Phos

Tues 5th

9:30am Morning Prayers / Communion

Tues 5th

10 – 11:30am Parents and Toddlers

Tues 5th

10 – 12 noon Open DoorTues 5

th2:00pm Afternoon Fellowship: New Year Lunch

Sun 10th 7:30pm Phos

Mon 11th

2pm Watch The History of Christianity programme

(7 Langley Way, Hemingford Grey)

Tues 12th


Tues 12th


Tues 12th 10 – 12 noon Open Door

Tues 12th

2:00pm Afternoon Fellowship: Deaconess Sue Roberts

Sun 17th

7:30pm Phos

Mon 18th 2pm House Group (3 Clare Court)

Tues 19th


Tues 19th


Tues 19

th

10 – 12 noon Open DoorTues 19

th2:00pm Afternoon Fellowship: Marion Rutherford

Tues 19th

3:30pm-5pm Circle of Light (drop in session)

Wed 20th

7:30pm Foyer Project Prayer and Discussion meeting

Sun 24th

7:30pm Phos

Tues 26th


Tues 26th


Tues 26th 10 – 12 noon Open Door

Tues 26th

10:30-11:45am Good News Library Van visit

Tues 26th

2:00pm Afternoon Fellowship: Own arrangements

Sun 31st

7:30pm Phos

Mon 1st 2pm House Group (3 Clare Court)

Tues 2nd


Tues 2nd

10 – 11:30am Parents and ToddlersTues 2

nd10 – 12 noon Open Door

Tues 2nd

2:00pm Afternoon Fellowship: Derek Newton

Documents

1001 - January 2010