Last week’s newsletter mentioned some of the subjects covered at Methodist Conference. Also discussed were:
- Reparative Justice - the Methodist Church is undertaking a series of research initiatives and collaborating with Partner Churches in West Africa, the Africa Methodist Council, and the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas as the Church seeks to listen in deep solidarity, walk alongside and honour those processes that some of our partners have in place to consider these questions. The Conference made its annual commitment to the Commitments and Expectations of that covenant relationship.
- Net Zero (the move to cut emissions) - the Conference received an update on the Methodist Church’s Action for Hope work and aspiration to become net zero by 2030. Although progress has been made across the Connexion, many parts of the Church have struggled to develop a robust strategy to meet the target.
- Online churches - the Conference received a report on how it should make provision for predominantly online churches within the Methodist Church.
Today (12th) is Action for Children Sunday. Action for Children is the children's charity of the Methodist Church. It was founded in 1869 by Methodist minister Rev Thomas Bowman Stephenson in response to the poverty and danger faced by vulnerable and destitute children and young people living rough on the streets of London. Today, Action for Children, has grown to become a leading children's charity running over 500 projects and working with more children and young people affected by poverty, disability and abuse than any other UK charity. Regrettably this is another charity we no longer have anyone able to lead on collecting for. Also regrettably, it comes at the time of year when a number of other worthy causes are being collected for. Maybe we can do something later in the year?
Today is also Sea Sunday. Churches are being encouraged to pray and give thanks for international seafarers and the work of the QVSR, the Seafarers Mission of the Methodist Church, which supports them. And it is Rural Mission Sunday, celebrating those individuals in our rural communities whose care and service often goes unnoticed.
The Kingswood Foodbank is in need of tins of meat, veg & toms, toilet roll, shampoo, long-life milk, fruit juice, coffee & flour Thank you all very much.
The next Local Arrangement is on 26th July and the theme will be ‘Prayer’. What does prayer mean to you? Have you a favourite prayer? Is there something you want us all to pray about? Has there been a time when your prayers were clearly answered?
Lectionary 12th to 18th July. Genesis 25:19-34; Psalm 119:105-112; Romans 8.1-11; Matthew 13.1-9,18-23. Choosing well. Isaac and Rebekah experience infertility before God grants them twins. There’s a struggle between Esau and Jacob that starts in the womb and is stoked further by their parents’ favouritism. Esau is tricked into giving up his inheritance for a bowl of Jacob’s stew. As the different characters take and give up opportunities, we can question if they chose well. Think abut the story and reflect on what we can learn about choosing well in our own lives.
The purpose of Kingswood Methodist Church is to respond to God's Love in Christ and to live out that love in God's world.