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Issue 181 June 2020
Minister:
Pastor Steve Mayo
1 Oakview Close Leigh-on-Sea Essex SS9 4JN Tel: 01702 483827
E-mail: [email protected]
Editor:
Mrs. Sue Spaull
Tel: 01702 521344
E-mail: [email protected]
Inside this issue:
B e l f a i r s M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h W h e r e o l d f r i e n d s m e e t a n d s t ra n g e r s f e e l a t h o m e
N e w s l e t t e r
Thought for the month
T he God of creation give you fullness of life
R edeeming Son, keep you safe in his care
I ndwelling spirit, abide in you always
N ow may the threefold blessing of God be
I n your heart and your mind and your spirit
T o fill you with love and peace and joy
Y esterday, today and forever.
www.belfairsmethodistchurch.org.uk
Ministers letter Sunday Services June Other dates for June Letters Page Future events Regular weekly meetings
Our mission is to provide an open, welcoming and accepting, living place of Christian worship and service
in our community, in which we seek to serve and follow Jesus Christ.
‘A man in his middle years was on a Caribbean cruise. On the first day out, he noticed an attractive woman about his own age who smiled at him in a friendly way as he passed her on the deck, which pleased him. That night he managed to get seated at the same table with her for dinner. As the conversation developed, he commented that he had seen her on the deck that day and he had appreciated her friendly smile. When she heard this she smiled and commented, “Well, the reason I smiled was that when I saw you, I was immediately struck by your strong resemblance to my third husband.” At this he perked up his ears and said, “Oh, how many times have you been married?” She looked down at her plate, smiled demurely, and answered, “Twice.” In the dictionary it says: HOPE: To desire that something good will happen. To have confidence, a reason for belief that the thing hoped for will happen. If I were to ask you what you thought hope meant, you would probably say something to look forward to, like; “I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow or I hope the train isn’t running late.”
But in the Bible, hope, is used in a much larger sense, a hope of life to come. Lamentations 3 verse 25 says; ‘The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him.’ [NIV] Sometimes in life, certain things happen to us, which at the time, devastates us. We see nothing but a very bleak future. But as we stay close to God, or become closer to Him, we start to see light at the end of the tunnel, and God brings us back into fellowship with Himself.
…………………../2
HOPE
- 2 - As we soldier on through this pandemic, it’s very easy for us to be dis-mayed. But focus on the thought that God is on our side and will see us through. We do have something, someone, to hope in! I leave you with the words of this hymn:
This, this is the God we adore, Our faithful, unchangeable friend,
Whose love is as great as his power, And knows neither measure nor end. 'Tis Jesus, the first and the last,
Whose Spirit shall guide us safe home; We'll praise him for all that is past, And trust him for all that's to come.
Joseph Hart (1712-68) Every blessings, Pastor Steve Tel: 01702 483827
E-mail: [email protected]
Letters Page/Church family news
SUNDAY SERVICES, ACTIVITIES, MEETINGS AND ORGANISATIONS AT THE TIME OF PRINT ALL OF THE ABOVE HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED DUE TO CORONOVIRUS. Please look at the website for up to date information or speak to your pastoral visitor or the group leader of organisations, who will be kept up to date with the life of Belfairs. We await further government instructions and the guidance of the Methodist Church before the Coronovirus situation changes.
It is with sadness that we announce the death of Lucy Elliott in mid April. The following are words shared by Pastor Steve at her funeral service. We hope to celebrate her life once we return to Belfairs. Lucy Margaret Elliott was born on 30th August 1939, to parents William and Annie North. Lucy sadly lost both her parents by the time she was 12 years old and was raised by Lucy and Albert Pond and grew up in Colnbrook village near Windsor. Lucy was always part of the Methodist Church and in her youth was a Sunday school teacher at Colnbrook Methodist Church. Lucy attended the church with her adoptive Mum Lucy Pond every Sunday without fail. Lucy's had a sister Rose, who sadly passed away in 1972. In 1959 Lucy married David Elliott at Eastwood Church and Lucy became a full-time housewife and they had two daughters Carol & Julie. Lucy went back to work once the girls were at senior school at MTE Electronics part time and met some lovely friends who up until very recently, she had been meeting for lunch and coffee.
It is my intention to keep the newsletter going during this difficult time. It will be available on line
and I also hope to be able to get copies to some people. Obviously any future articles will need to be emailed to me or alternatively posted to Belfairs Methodist Church, Eastwood Road North, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex SS9 4NG and please mark the envelope ‘Newsletter’. Stay well and keep safe Sue Spaull
Please remember you are free to put your prayer concerns on the board at the back of the church. They will be printed on the weekly notice sheet for two months and then removed though you may put them back if the need continues. Please add your name and date to the request on the white cards which are by the board. The church is always open on Saturday Mornings during 11.00 a.m. to 12 noon while the coffee mornings are in progress and you are invited to spend time there in quiet prayer or reflection. (This time is suspended during coronavirus) An up to date list of the family and friends of Belfairs who need our prayers will appear on the weekly Notice sheet.
Coronavirus at Belfairs As you are now all aware, under the government guidelines and guidance of The Methodist Church, all meetings and organisations at Belfairs have been suspended, that also includes Sunday services, until further notice. I hope that many of you are sharing in our Sunday services (via YouTube search: pastor steve mayo) and a huge thanks to pastor Steve for making this possible for us all. If any of you are not able to watch the services on line, we are making a DVD copy available as long as you have either a DVD or Blu-ray player to watch this with. Please contact Mike Spaull (01702 521344) to register your interest. We have the disks going back to the first Sunday in May. We have also just heard that BB/GB camp for our young people for 2020 has been cancelled and we are now in the process of making arrangements for camp 2021. I know that our Pastoral leaders continue to do a fantastic job by keeping in touch with their members and I encourage you all to keep in contact with each other, either by dropping someone an e-mail or give them a call on the telephone, it will help us all keep going from day to day. As a church, we will endeavour to keep everyone up to date with any change to circumstances, but in the meantime, let’s keep each other in our prayers and remember that God is with us all the time. God bless Mike Spaull Senior Church Steward
. A message from Rev. Teresa.
Rev. Teresa has a couple of projects on the go and would like to offer them to Belfairs. She has made cloth facemasks….washable… which she would like to provide for a donation
[suggested £5] to her charity for her son Jerome. They come in all colours and sizes
She has made some 2” square quilts which enclose a small cross which she is giving away as
a “cross in your pocket”, for reassurance during this time of isolation. These she would provide with a personalised message.
I have found a few people who are willing to get them from her house and deliver them, but not keen to handle money, so please contact me, Anthea [476140], if you would like to order either of these and I will tell you how to go about it.
Sam Monaghan is off on his bike again, this time cycling 375 miles from Surrey to Leeds over 5 days, to raise money for Methodist Homes MHA.
The funds will help pay for the chaplains in each of their 90 homes; music therapy across the 66 homes they run for those with dementia; and to support MHA’s community services helping those who are lonely find friendship and fun.
Sam will be leading a team of 10 riders, though clearly not out in front, over the weekend of MHA Sunday on 14 June 2020.
He and more particularly MHA would really appreciate your support. Please give donations via: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sam-monaghan-mha
Many thanks Sam
CHRISTIAN AID
Due to the lockdown of the Coronavirus the fund-raising I had planned for Christian Aid week was cancelled. Instead I was asked by Christian Aid to send out e-envelopes to people to make their own contributions which involved technology which I’m not comfortable with. However, I am now appealing to you all to give serious consideration to donate to Christian aid by sending your donations to – (Cheques to Christian Aid)
Christian Aid Coronavirus PO Box 100
London SE1 7RT
Corona virus outbreak threatens the health of our neighbours near and far. Together we must respond quickly to help the most vulnerable. Coronavirus has shown us that futures are bound together more tightly than ever before and is now spreading across the world’s poorest countries, putting people living in poverty at great risk. These people are already facing lack of water, food and healthcare. Many are homeless and others have underlying health issues. As Coronavirus infections rates speed up, they will feel the impact deeply. We must respond now. Christian Aid is responding quickly to limit the impact of Covid19 in the most vulnerable communities around the world. Together with their Partners and Faith-leaders, they inform people of the risks, offering hygiene and hand washing sessions, equipping health facilities with supplies and providing training to front-line workers. Christian Aid provides food packages to the most marginalised families as well as ensuring protection of women affected by domestic violence. At these testing times, we recognise that we are in this together.
Coronavirus impacts on all of us, but LOVE UNITES US ALL.
Neeltje Charles
Coronavirus and the financial impact on Belfairs - UPDATE Thank you to EVERYONE who has answered the call to set up a bank standing order or sent through a one-off payment, it really is appreciated. If you have not already set one up, please consider it as it really is extremely helpful. To set up a standing order either contact your bank by writing to them, or popping in if you ’re out on your daily exercise walk or, if you have online banking, you can set up a standing order via the website or app. The details you need are: - Beneficiary Belfairs Methodist Church Beneficiary Sort Code 40-28-11 HSBC Beneficiary account no: 50149209 Reference your name
All your details are completely confidential to me alone. Obviously, the sooner you can do this, the better it will be for Belfairs. Also, if you are a taxpayer, could you please consider Gift Aid. Please email me and I can send over a Gift Aid declaration form to be completed. This can then be emailed back to me. I can claim back a further 25% of your annual giving so, for every £100 you donate, you are actually giving £125. This year, I have been able to put in a claim for a further £5,747! If you have any questions, or need help, please contact me.
Keep safe & healthy Tina Gowers Treasurer 07713179111 [email protected]
On May 3rd Steve preached his sermon around the 23rd Psalm. Here is an interpretation of
its themes. It was distributed to the congregation at the time, transformed into rainbow
colours to reflect the theme of the caring NHS
Psalm 23. A Psalm of David. The 6 Ps.
Possession 1 The Lord is my shepherd,
Position
2 I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me be-
side quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul.
Promise
3 He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Protection 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are
with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Provision
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint
my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Prospect 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will
dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. [NIV-UK]
Blessing
Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me
Be thou a smooth path below me,
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me,
Today, tonight, and for ever more. AMEN.
(St Columba - 521 - 597)
WHAT AN AWESOME AND ORDERLY GOD! For example: the eggs of the potato bug hatch in 7 days; those of the canary in 14 days; those of the barnyard hen in 21 days. The eggs of ducks and geese hatch in 28 days; those of the mallard in 35 days. The eggs of the parrot and the ostrich hatch in 42 days. (Notice, they are all divisible by seven, the number of days in a week!) God's wisdom is seen in the making of an elephant. The four legs of this great beast all bend forward in the same direction. No other quadrupeds so made. God planned that this animal would have a huge body, too large to live on two legs. For this reason He gave it four fulcrums so that it can rise from the ground easily. The horse rises from the ground on its two front legs first. A cow rises from the ground with its two hind legs first. How wise the Lord is in all His works of creation! God's wisdom is revealed in His arrangement of sections and segments, as well as in the number of grains. Each watermelon has an even number of stripes on the rind. Each orange has an even number of segments. Each ear of corn has an even number of rows. Each stalk of wheat has an even number of grains. Every bunch of bananas has on its lowest row an even number of bananas, and each row decreases by one, so that one row has an even number and the next row an odd number. The waves of the sea roll in on shore twenty-six to the minute in all kinds of weather. All grains are found in even numbers on the stalks, and the Lord specified thirty fold, sixty fold, and a hundredfold - all even numbers. God has caused the flowers to blossom at certain specified times during the day, so that Linnaeus, the great botanist, once said that if he had a conservatory containing the right kind of soil, moisture and temperature, he could tell the time of day or night by the flowers that were open and those that were closed! Thus the Lord in His wonderful grace can arrange the life that is entrusted to His care in such a way that it will carry out His purposes and plans, and will be fragrant with His presence. Only the God-planned safe life is successful. Only the life given over to the care of the Lord is fulfilled .......Author unknown by way of Cup O’Cheer ([email protected]) and “Christian Voices” ([email protected])
Supplied by Charmaine Brown
Pam Ayres’s take on social distancing!! I’m normally a social girl I love to meet my mates But lately with the virus here We can’t go out the gates. You see, we are the ‘oldies’ now We need to stay inside If they haven’t seen us for a while They’ll think we’ve upped and died. They’ll never know the things we did Before we got this old There wasn’t any Facebook So not everything was told. We may seem sweet old ladies Who would never be uncouth But we grew up in the 60s – If you only knew the truth! There was sex and drugs and rock ‘n roll The pill and miniskirts We smoked, we drank, we partied And were quite outrageous flirts. Then we settled down, got married And turned into someone’s mum, Somebody’s wife, then Nana. Who on earth did we become? We didn’t mind the change of pace Because our lives were full But to bury us before we’re dead Is like a red rag to a bull! So here you find me stuck inside For 4 weeks, maybe more I finally found myself again Then I had to close the door! It didn’t really bother me I’d while away the hour I’d bake for all the family But I’ve got no flaming flour!
Now Netflix is just wonderful I like a gutsy thriller I’m swooning over Idris Or some random sexy killer. At least I’ve got a stash of booze For when I’m being idle There’s wine and whiskey, even gin If I’m feeling suicidal! So let’s all drink to lockdown To recovery and health And hope this awful virus Doesn’t decimate our wealth. We’ll all get through the crisis And be back to join our mates Just hoping I’m not far too wide To fit through the flaming gates! Supplied by Anthea Meek
We have had a recent change to our bird feeding station at home and now have the items below available to anyone who would like them for their garden. Please give me a call and I will drop them round to you. Mike Spaull (01702 521344)
A few of the images that our Daughter, Annetta has sent us while we have been in lockdown. Hopefully they will brighten your day as they did ours. Mike & Sue Spaull
…….. And one from Steve
BELFAIRS METHODIST CHURCH Eastwood Road North, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.
REGULAR WEEKLY MEETINGS - ALL MEETINGS SUSPENDED UNTIL
FURTHER NOTICE
SUNDAY SERVICES 11.00 a.m. (6.30 p.m. as announced)
9.00 a.m. Early morning communion followed by breakfast (3rd Sunday as announced) 10 O’clock Club 10.00 a.m. (except 3rd Sunday Parade Service)
MONDAY 5.30 p.m. Boys’ Brigade Anchor Boys
6.30 p.m. Boys’ Brigade Junior Section 7.30 p.m. Boys’ Brigade Company Section
TUESDAY 2.00 p.m. Indoor Bowls Club
7.00 p.m. Junior Badminton Club 8.00 p.m. Badminton Club
WEDNESDAY 10.00 a.m. Parent & Toddlers
5.30 p.m. Girls’ Brigade Explorers 6.30 p.m. Girls’ Brigade Juniors 6.30 p.m. Girls’ Brigade Seniors & Brigaders
THURSDAY FRIDAY
SATURDAY 10.00 a.m. ‘Open House’ Coffee Morning
MONTHLY MEETINGS Sunday Monthly Lunch 1.00 p.m. 2nd Sunday (Oct—June) Men’s Supper Club 7.30 p.m. 1st Thursday (Oct—May) Thirsty For?? 7.00 p.m. 2nd Thursday A.C.T.I.O.N 2.00 p .m. 4th Thursday House Groups 7.30 p.m. 2nd Tuesday ) Please speak to ‘Seekers’ Discussion Group 2.00 p.m. 3rd Wednesday ) Stewards for ) more details.
July Newsletter Deadline: Articles are welcomed at any time, but the deadline for last minute items is 21st June 2020. Articles can be e-mailed to [email protected] or posted (see previous article on letters page/family news). Thank you
