Links


Latest News from the Methodist Church
https://www.methodist.org.uk/

Latest News on Justice and Public Issues
https://jpit.uk/

Questions on the Christian Faith
https://www.christianity.org.uk/

 

A Pastoral Message on facing Changing the Church - YouTube link
courtesy of our District Chair, Rev Rachel Parkinson

Methodist Church centrally provided resources - to help nourish your spiritual life on a daily and weekly basis

A Green Recovery - a call from Methodist Faith Leaders 

Justice for all - take a look at the Church's perspective on Justice in the light of recent events across the world…

(Links updated Friday 19th April)

Please click on any of the links below, to go to...

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Please be aware that some of the links on this page may take you to external sites, and although they have been checked,
the Vale of Stour Circuit is not responsible for their contents.

CIRCUIT NEWS

The Vale of Stour Preaching Plan for the March to May 2024 quarter
can be found on the Links / Preaching Plans page here.

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Dear Circuit Family

I had the huge privilege of attending the wedding of a young couple last weekend and the thing that struck me was how so many other people - bridesmaids, friends and the best men - all stood up to tell stories of how wonderful this couple were, individually and together, at being faithful, supportive, loving friends.  One even said: I don’t know how you put up with me, but I am glad that you do…!

It reminded me of how our actions can ’speak’ to people in powerful ways and how reputations can be established and spread.  It is our prayerful goal that as churches we might be known this way - that the fruits of our lives of love and service might ‘be known’ in the communities around us. 

A Prayer for This Week

God of mystery and imagination,
help us to see you in both the unexpected and the familiar,
for surely you are present in all things.
The stranger who, from nowhere, stops to help;
the beloved friend who speaks a word of comfort;
the stone when lifted reveals the life beneath; the child who marvels at such a world of tiny beings,
unnoticed and essential – all these display the wonders of your love, ever present if not always known.
In these times of uncertainty and doubt, enable us to lift our eyes to heaven.
Remembering the stars are always there but that it takes the darkness to reveal them. Amen.

Sheryl Anderson, District Chair, Liverpool District

And please pray for District Synod - meeting on Saturday.

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The latest Newsletter from Claire Biggs, our Childrens and Family Worker, is attached.

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DUDLEY PASSION PLAY 2024

It’s finally here! The Dudley Passion Play 2024 is happening this week!
See you at 12:30pm in Dudley Town Centre, starting at Duncan Edwards' Memorial DY1 1PJ. Find parking on Dudley Council's website.
Friday 19th & Saturday 20th April
12:30pm – 2pm
Starting at Duncan Edwards' Memorial
Ending at Evolve Theatre
 

Dudley Wood Coffee Morning

Dudley Wood Methodist Church are holding a Coffee Morning on Wednesday 1st May at 10:30am, and all are welcome.  Ian Bott will be giving an illustrated talk on the Zeppelin Air Raids of World War 1.
 

Wollaston Ladies' Circle

Wollaston Ladies Circle are holding their 1000th meeting on Monday 13th May !  Congratulations to them !  Please note this event is fully booked.

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Activities at Brierley Hill Methodist Church

Brierley Hill Methodist Church begin a weekly Men’s Fellowship Group, on Tuesdays from 2:00pm-3:30pm.  Initial activities are Chess, Dominoes, Local History or Current Affairs, Music, Poetry, Quizzes, Bible study and Bible meditation.  A leaflet is attached here with more information !  "All are welcome in this place."
 

Activities at Providence Methodist Church

Providence Fellowship Group extend a very warm welcome for anyone to come along and share time together, held on alternate Mondays from 10.30am till 12noon. There is normally a speaker. Refreshments are available. For more information please contact Judith Morris 01384 561020.

Providence Brunch Club will be restarting again in March 2024, weather permitting. See the attached poster for more details.
 

Activities at The United Church Lye

First Tuesday of the month - 2-3 pm Tuesday Club, informal gathering with different activities each month. Cost is £2 : contact Jacqueline Hill for details 0780 1030844 or Elizabeth Long 07928 808772.

Third Tuesday - Discussion Group 7-8pm (very informal, Bible based) contact Revd Chris on 07708 750142

The Luncheon Club now meets each Friday at 11am, 3 course meal plus friendship all for £5. Contact Margaret Mullett on 07904 514764.

Events are open to all.
 

Amblecote Wordsley Methodist Church are now holding Foodbank Collections – Tuesdays from 1:30pm till 4pm.

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VOS Virtual Platform - Please Make Use of the Circuit Online Meeting Space - It's free, funded by the circuit...

Alongside VoSWorship, the Circuit Platform has been undergoing an update thanks to the CTC team and I encourage churches to use this FREE resource - funded by the circuit for online gatherings such as Bible Study, Prayer, Games Nights etc.  It's a fantastic and easy to use environment and there are many folk already trained across the circuit who can open a room for you to host your event / meeting.
 

God bless you all and may you know the sustaining presence of God in your lives.
 

Rev Alan Combes

ONLINE Service

We are no longer providing a weekly pre-recorded circuit service.  However, for anyone unable to attend church or access online services; we attach a full text version of a service for you to use at home.

We also recommend any of the following for those of you still unable to get to church :
 

ONLINE Service Live-streamed from Kinver.

This will be the first video (on the left) under UPLOADS > PLAY ALL at the following site :
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZnnIcxNLSP5VXyOGBeuxMA

The most recent online services are the other videos found on the same page.

The dates of all the Kinver services are shown beneath each video thumbnail.
 

Wesley's Chapel’s YouTube channel has a livestreamed service at 11am on Sundays and Morning Prayer services the rest of the week at 10am.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUAUqhmhevz5sqhh72LIMxA
Again, this will be the first video (on the left) under HOME > Past live streams, and the most recent online services are the other videos found on the same page.

The dates of all the Wesley services are shown beneath each video thumbnail.
 

All previously archived live-streamed and recorded services can be found on the Circuit Website Virtual Player: 
https://www.valeofstour.org.uk/virtual-church/player
 

Order of Service
For anyone unable to attend or watch any services in person, this week's full Order of Service is here.
 

Coffee and a Chat

If you are interested in online coffee on a Sunday, please talk to any of the circuit staff and let us know what time would work for you and we can look at a time that would suit the majority of people.

Thanks to all those working in the background.

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday as we continue to pray for our communities, the church and ourselves.

God bless

Rev Alan and the Team


 

NEW LINKS

Ministers' and Preachers' Reflections, Sermons, and Orders of Service
~~updated~~

For earlier Worship Resources and Reflections, see the archive page here.