Words from Bede Circuit
Dear Friends
Over the last couple of weeks I have read some notes I made whilst on a retreat called `Rhythms for Living’.
I began to reflect upon the different rhythms of life we encounter, the different seasons, the different seasons within our church life. For me personally I am about to start a new season in my life as a grandparent- just in case you haven’t heard!
I was all too aware of the changing seasons in my last appointment living and working within rural communities. Harvest, Lambing, planting, selling, buying.
Of course we are soon to enter the season of Lent. A time when traditionally we remember the time Jesus spent in the wilderness before he began his ministry. A time where we are invited to ask deeper questions of ourselves and our relationship with God. A time for spiritual cleaning.
The circuit ministers have been planning what we do together as a circuit during this time.
So….
The Methodist Church is inviting the people called Methodist to explore how we try to live our lives in response to God’s love made known to us in Jesus. Resources have been made available to help us to do this exploration. So over the weeks of Lent, both in the bible studies, the written resources sent out each week and the Sunday Zoom service we will be following the theme of A Methodist Way of Life - looking at the four areas of `Our Calling”, Worship, Learning and Caring, Service and Evangelism.
It is hoped that by exploring these issues it can provide for us a Rhythm for Living. A Rhythm living and serving God.
In his sermon last week, Rev Matt Sheard challenged us all to think about `not going back to our church buildings, not going back to what was before,’ but to `look forward to returning with new vision, new insights, new focus.’ The responses from the circuit review will also help each church community to do this thinking also.
This last year has been very difficult for us all and it has raised many different problems to have to work through. But it also has enabled us to reflect, learn, prioritise, seek God.
On the back of this letter are commitments we are asked to consider in our journey with God. These may raise questions for us to ask over the season of Lent.
As we consider these may we all be aware of Gods Spirit ministering to us and revealing to us how we can respond in new ways to the challenges of our world today.
As a circuit we would like you to be made aware of some free phone lines that are available from the Methodist Church. You can listen to a prayer on 0808 281 2514 which is updated every Thursday. You can listen to a pastoral message from the President and vice President conference on 0808 281 2695 which his updated every Monday. Or alternatively listen to the Methodist podcast on 0808 281 2478 which is updated on the 1st and 3rd Thursday in each month. These will be especially useful for those not on-line so please pass these on to those you may feel will benefit from this.
Sunday worship continues on Zoom at 10.30am
Zoom Bible studies looking at the Book of Proverbs on Monday evenings at 7.00pm and Thursday mornings at 10.30am
Zoom Wednesday Morning prayers are at 10am
There are also Sunday services using Why-pay telephone conferencing and a Sunday worship sheet.
Please contact the Senior Church Steward (Brenda Wallace) for more details: wesleymemchurch.pr@gmail.com
With good wishes and prayers on behalf of the Bede Circuit staff team,
Rev Jane Carter
A Methodist Way of Life As far as we are able, with God’s help:
Worship
We will pray daily. We will worship with others regularly. We will look and listen for God in Scripture, and the world.
Learning and Caring
We will care for ourselves and those around us. We will learn more about our faith. We will practise hospitality and generosity.
Service
We will help people in our communities and beyond. We will care for creation and all God’s gifts. We will challenge injustice.
Evangelism
We will speak of the love of God. We will live in a way that draws others to Jesus. We will share our faith with others.