Words from Bede Circuit

Dear Friends

I write firstly to you with news I am so pleased to share- yes I’ve become a Grandma to William George born 11th March 2021. I am now counting the days down to when I can travel and go and meet him.

Also this last week we met as the Circuit Meeting on Zoom. It was exactly one year ago that we last met, the eve before lockdown. What a year it has been. Within the meeting we agreed the financial statements of the circuit to 31st August 2020, we heard reports regarding our circuit project, Grace Place ( formally known as `The Shop’ in South Shields), Methodist Women in Britain, the circuit review, the selling of the Hardman Centre. The circuit meeting also agreed to purchase a new manse for the superintendent minister in the Hebburn area. Hebburn has been chosen because it is the place central within the Bede Circuit. This will complete hopefully over the summer months.

Within the opening devotions of the meeting I shared words written reflecting on a year of pandemic.

Waiting for sunrise, the dawn of a new day.
Slow in coming, what will it bring?
Will it herald change-
For me, for all damaged by the pandemic, for our country, for the world, for our church?
What possibilities does it hold? Ease of grief? New jobs? Renewal of community?
An end to loneliness, anxiety, pain? A holiday? New mission?
There have been many new days, will this one be different?
How do I believe? How can I grow trust?
How do I welcome this new day’s promise?
God, help me, lift me as and who I am, from the
Depths of darkness into the light of this new day.

An occasion to look forward to is the ordination of Rev Matt Sheard. In February Matt met with the District Probationers Committee who unanimously recommended that he be sent forward to ordination ( subject to the Oversight Committee) this year on 27th July 2021 at Coventry Central Hall. This occasion will be an all ticket event and tickets can be ordered from the Methodist Church from Monday 29th March https://www.methodist.org.uk/about-us/the-methodist-conference/conference-2021/ordinations-2021/. A District Testimony service will be held on May 29th and more details will be available nearer that date.

Other special services coming up are during Holy Week on Zoom. Maundy Thursday ay 7.30pm, Good Friday 12 noon to 3pm on the hour every hour for 10-15 minutes, and then Easter Sunday at 10.30am. The log in is the same code for Sunday morning worship.

Sunday worship continues on zoom at 10.30am.
Zoom Bible studies on the Methodist Way of Life , Mondays at 7pm and Thursdays at 10.30am.
Wednesday prayers at 10am continue as well on zoom.

There are Why-pay Sunday services and service sheets for use at home. Please contact the Senior Church Steward (Brenda Wallace) for more details: wesleymemchurch.pr@gmail.com

With good wishes and prayers

Revd Jane Carter on behalf of the Bede Circuit staff team

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Fifth Sunday in Lent, Passion Sunday

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Fourth Sunday of Lent, Mothering Sunday, 14 March 2021