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 Saturday 26th 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 2025 quarter
can be found on the Links / Preaching Plans page here.

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Dear Circuit Family

Following up from last week's message, we begin a new routine that we hope will fit in better with those churches that have magazines and newsletters.  From now on, the weekly email will contain notices that you can share as relevant to your congregation and will provide the full text service attached.   Alongside this a monthly circuit letter will be issued 'mid-month' - hopefully early enough for you to incorporate in the following month's magazine or church newsletter.

We pray that one letter a month will be more helpful to you and easier for you integrated into your local church communications than weekly letters that end up being both too much to share.

With this in mind - we attach a mid-April issued circuit letter intended for May magazines, although you are of course also welcome to issue this now by email if you wish.  Whatever is best

With prayers and blessings for Easter.

Rev Alan and the Circuit Team

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New Superintendent for the Vale of Stour Circuit

Following the Stationing Visit on Saturday 16th November, we are pleased to confirm that Rev Jem Hawkins has been offered and accepted the position from September 2025. We are thrilled and delighted, and we look forward to sharing in his ministry with us. This appointment will now need to be ratified by Conference in June. Rev Jem knows the area well having been stationed in the Dudley and Netherton Circuit some years ago and most recently in the Hidden River Circuit (Walsall combined with Brownhills and Willenhall). Thank you to all the Circuit Invitation and CLT Reps for their work and support. Elaine Panchal and Jill Martin
 

Rev Alan’s Circuit leaving service

Rev Alan’s Circuit leaving service has been arranged for Saturday 12th July at Kingswinford (originally the 13th ; please note change of date). There will be a tea from 4pm, followed by a Circuit Service at 6pm. Further details will be made available in due course.
 

District Chair Finishing Her Term of Office

Rev Rachel Parkinson will be finishing as District Chair this summer after many years of faithful and caring service. Her leaving service will be on Saturday 26th July (location to be confirmed).
As part of a surprise gift for her a quilted blanket will be created by Sue Culver and will contain single sentence prayers of blessing or greeting that have been offered by folk across the district (approximately three per circuit).   So - if you would like to offer a sentence of thanksgiving / prayer / greeting for Rachel, please email Rev Alan.  We cannot guarantee it will be included but we will gather up offerings and send them on.  Thank you.

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Women of Holy Week

At Kinver Methodist Church during Lent, we will be exploring Paula Gooder’s imaginative and inspiring book Women of Holy Week. Paula is one of the leading biblical scholars in the UK and is Canon Chancellor of St Pauls’ Cathedral.  Paula uses her extensive biblical expertise to retell the events of the Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension through the eyes of nine female characters she imagines accompanying Jesus during these momentous days. Paula has kindly recorded an exclusive introductory video for us. We also have audio recordings of her reading each of the short stories that we will use at the evening studies. We will be exploring seven of the women in the book at Sunday Services (10am) beginning on March 9th and Tuesday evening studies (7:30pm) beginning on March 11th. You would be most welcome at any or all of these. Paula’s books are available now for a suggested donation of £6 a copy. For more information, please contact Rev Andrew Roberts.
 

Thanks for the Memories - Music and Singing for our Wellbeing

The circuit is delighted to announce the launch of Monthly afternoon singing of favourite songs from the past and from the musicals.  This will be at Amblecote Wordsley beginning on Sunday 30th March and 27th April with tea from 3:30 and singing from 4-5pm.  All are welcome - see attached poster.
 

Circuit Concert - Scratch Choir singing 'Solomon the Peaceful King'

Come and join a scratch choir to sing 'Solomon the Peaceful King' on Saturday May 24th - 7pm at SMC - New Road

Rev Alan and the team invite you to attend, enjoy, sing / contribute to a circuit wide concert... Churches / groups are invited to offer an item or two of entertainment!

So... This is an extra appeal to anyone or any group who might like to offer an 'item' to the proposed summer concert!  Poetry, comedy, music - all offers would be welcome... And of course, WHY not join the circuit scratch choir (you don't need to read music but there are parts to learn if you do!) to learn and sing the centre piece of the concert: 'Solomon the Peaceful King' by John Pantry.   Rehearsals will be on Sundays 4, 11 & 18 May from 3-5pm at New Road. 

Let's make something special together - offering in aid of Ukraine. 

Please contact Rev Alan directly to let him know church offerings and if you will join the choir.

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Stourbridge Methodist Church Open Mic Night - We're thinking about doing an Open Mic Night, venue to be decided, but we want to see if there’s enough interest to make it happen!
Whether you’re a musician, poet, comedian, or just someone who loves a good night of live performances, we’d love to hear from you.
If you’d be up for performing, please take a moment to fill out this quick form: https://forms.gle/E1NGZuhDMUBNaw4P6
It’ll help us gauge interest and decide if it’s something worth putting together.  Feel free to share with anyone who might be interested!
Looking forward to seeing what you think.

Liam Hodgetts
liam.hodgetts212@gmail.com
 

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

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 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.

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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.