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 outgoing 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 1st November)

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 new Vale of Stour Preaching Plan for the September to November 2025 quarter
can be found on the Links / Preaching Plans page here.

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New Superintendent for the Vale of Stour Circuit

We are delighted to welcome Rev Jem Hawkins and his wife Wendy, who has joined us as our new Superintendent Minister. We are thrilled to begin this new chapter and look forward to sharing in his ministry among us. Rev Jem now has a page on this site where you can read all about him !

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Please keep Luke Denley in your prayers. He is unwell and needs time and space for recovery.  Please also pray for his family, especially Jo and the children. All enquiries to be made through Elaine. - Rev Jem
 

Melanie Walters – Local Preacher on Trial

We are pleased to announce that Melanie Walters has successfully completed her Local Preaching Training portfolio and will be attending her formal interview at the next Local Preachers meeting in November. We hope that her accreditation service will follow soon afterwards. Congratulations Melanie !
 

WOLLASTON METHODIST CHURCH - Sue and Sheila would like to thank everyone who supported the Macmillan coffee morning at Wollaston. With your help we raised an incredible £800. Thank you. 
 

Stourbridge Methodist Church (Gig Mill) – Reflective Worship – Sunday 2nd November at 6pm – Led by Rev Michael Payne.
 

Tree of Lights Appeal - At Brierley Hill Methodist Church, we’ve launched our 2025 Tree of Lights appeal. This is a chance to remember loved ones during the Advent and Christmas season - a difficult time of year for some. For £5, you can dedicate a light on our tree to someone who you'd like to remember. Dedication forms are available from the church, or you can print the linked form, fill it in and get it back to us. All money raised will be split between our church and All We Can. Please support us by dedicating a light.
On Sunday, 7th December at 4pm, we'll be holding our annual Tree of Lights service at church. This is a community worship where we’ll share the message of Christmas, think about those loved ones and what they mean to us. All are welcome to join us.
 

Shine Church – Saturday November 1st - 3.30pm to 5.30pm at Brierley Hill
 

CHRIST THE KING – CIRCUIT SERVICE – Sunday 23rd November at 6pm at Brierley Hill
 

Community Tea

Stourbridge Methodist Church - Gig Mill continue their new Community Tea initiative, Time For Tea - on Tuesday 4th November from 2:30pm – 4pm and monthly thereafter on the first Tuesday of the month.  A poster is attached.
 

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'Anchored' Kinver Youth Group

Kingswinford Methodist Church have begun a new Youth Group – Anchored – for secondary school aged young people. Friday evenings, from 5:30pm - 7pm – See the attached flyer.
 

Thanks for the Memories - Music and Singing for our Wellbeing

The circuit is delighted to continue Monthly afternoon singing of favourite songs from the past and from the musicals.  This will be at Amblecote Wordsley, the next event being on Sunday 26th October, with tea from 3:30pm and singing from 4-5pm.  All are welcome - see attached poster.
 

Toddler Group in Stourbridge

Stourbridge Methodist Church - Gig Mill are proud to announce to all Moms, Dads, Grandparents, Guardians, that you are all welcome to pop in with babies and toddlers to a new Toddler group !  The group is held weekly on Fridays, from 9:30am to 11:30am.  
We look forward to welcoming you. A poster is here.
 

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

Amblecote Wordsley also announce their CHRISTMAS TOY APPEAL. As in previous years we will again be collecting brand new toys and gifts needed for children in vulnerable families across the Black Country.  Toys can be dropped off at Amblecote Wordsley any Tuesday afternoon between 2pm and 4pm or Sunday morning between 11.30am and 12 noon.
 

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.

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 Jem 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.