WORSHIP - Easter trail unites villagers
From: Skelmanthorpe Methodist Church, Denby Dale and Clayton West Circuit
The picturesque village of Skelmanthorpe was the
setting for our hugely enjoyable Easter trail with an
enthusiastic band of organisers managing to get the
whole community on board. Having successfully cajoled
all 43 of our village shops and pubs to display eyecatching cards in their windows detailing the moving
Easter story, local families flocked to join in.
Everyone had a fantastic time racking their brains to find
answers to our fun-packed Easter quiz. Up for grabs
were traditional prizes, generously donated by the local
© Sylvia Lodge
Co-Op, including yummy Easter eggs and, for the
runners up, deliciously gooey mini creme eggs. Sevenyear-old Edward Sephton, along with Lois Chapman, also seven, were joint
winners of the first prize.
Our deacon, Jane Paine, said: "I was delighted that every one of the shops and
businesses in the village wanted to be involved with this venture. It was a fun
way to communicate the Easter Story to people who otherwise wouldn't hear it.
Families enjoyed the opportunity to spend time together in the Easter holidays
and we were glad to be able support our local businesses, bringing them extra
custom at this economically difficult time."
E-mail contact: Frances Priestnall davidpriestnall@hotmail.com
Telephone contact: 01484 862572
LEARNING AND CARING - Learning for Pleasure is top class
From Sharnbrook Methodist Church, Bedford Circuit
Looking for a way to get more people involved in
your local church? Why not follow our inspiring
lead and set up a Learning for Pleasure
initiative?
Since 2006, we’ve been running the popular
scheme, for older people. It boasts an array of
classes including gardening for the green
© Steven Blyth
fingered, digital photography and art for those
with a creative bent. For fitness fanatics, there are also sporting options such
as table tennis. The scheme has 60 members, from all sections of the
community, with an outreach project attracting 90 eager participants. And it’s
fantastic value for money at only £10 for a yearly membership!
As Jenny Deacon, chair of our Learning for Pleasure management committee,
says: "Learning for Pleasure has been, and continues to be, a resounding
success. The groups meet in Methodist premises and so we have an important
link with a very diverse group of people who, if not worshipping with us, may
subliminally be aware of the work our church does in the village and beyond."
E-mail contact: Jenny Deacon jennydeacon742@btinternet.com
Telephone contact: 01234 4822143
Church website: www.sharnbrookonline.co.uk
SERVICE - Buzz promotes an international friendship
From the Derby (Derwent Mission) Circuit
© Jean Parton
A church service with a difference led to
international friendships after a special
Christingle service, the brainchild of deacon June
Harrison, was featured in The Buzz in 2007. It
was seen by Carolyn Huntsman, lay pastor of the
First United Methodist Church in Loveday, Texas,
USA. She was so impressed with the initiative
that she got in touch and invited us to become a
sister church.
Jean Parton, church steward of St Thomas's Road Methodist Church said:
"Since then, we’ve been awash with emails, gifts, newsletters and prayer
requests from our American friends. And, we were delighted to share in each
other’s joy as we both celebrated Centennial events; one of our circuit
churches, St Thomas’s Road, marked its Century of Witness in January 2008
and, in January 2010, our Texan colleagues commemorated 100 years of
sanctuary and 140 years in Loveday." Jean felt honoured to join them for their
celebrations. The visit was enlightening, showing her the different ways in
which the Southern American church worshipped.
Jean said "It is hoped that my visit will be the first of many exchange visits
when the two churches will learn more of each other and share ways of
proclaiming the good news of Jesus."
Christingle services are held from Advent to Epiphany. This festive celebration
communicates the Christian message in an inspiring way to adults and children
alike.
E-mail contact: Jean Parton jean.newlyn@tiscali.co.uk
Phone contact: 01332 769015
EVANGELISM - Lewes Passion Play takes the message to the streets
From Christ Church United Reformed and Methodist Church, Lewes, East Sussex
"You’ve heard the expression, 'Two heads are
better than one' so, with that in mind, several of
our churches put their proverbial heads together
to produce a spectacular four act Passion Play to
mark Holy Week 2010," explains Tony Law,
Methodist local preacher.
Lewes Churches Together treated the assembled
crowds, who had gathered in the town’s historic
© Ruth Martin
streets, to a powerful re-enactment of the
Passion of Christ: the trial, suffering and death of the Christian Messiah. Our
Easter Sunday performance of the drama, staged in Lewes’ s Grange Gardens,
drew an especially large crowd consisting of both devotees and curious
passers-by.
Tony continued, "Our message of resurrection and renewal really seemed to hit
home. The event was inspired by our first Passion Play performed a whopping
10 years ago to celebrate the Millennium. We have vowed that it won’t be
another decade before we stage the next one!
The play brought together members of many of our churches to prepare, learn,
act and think together. We all made new friends. We were simply one in Christ
Jesus."
E-mail contact: Tony Law tony@informationspan.com
Telephone contact: 01273 488237
Website: www.Christ-church-lewes.org