News and Coming Up

Services in the cluster for Holy Week:                                                                                                                                          Tuesday 26th, at 7:30pm, a Meditation, at Hanham                                                                                                                          Thursday 28th, a Maundy Thursday Service, at 7:30pm, at Hanham (incorporating foot /hand washing stations for those who want this).  Good Friday (29th), at 9:45am, Hanham Walk of Witness Service with hot cross buns and at                                                                  10am, worship at PottersWood, and at                                                                                                                                         2pm, at Longwell Green, a service of Reflection and at                                                                                                                       3pm, at Unity Oldland, a Walk of Witness followed by Service of reflection                                                                                             Easter Sunday (31st), at 8am, at Unity Oldland, a Sunrise Service with Communion and full breakfast                                   

Easter Offering. Each year, the Methodist Church holds an ‘Easter Offering’, a tradition which dates back to 1883, when women in Manchester collected £32 for missionary work overseas from 'Christmas pennies' at family gatherings on Christmas Day. Since then, each successive Methodist women’s movement has encouraged donations in support of God’s mission. Envelopes for this year’s Easter Offering can be found around the church.

The Kingswood Foodbank is in need of washing up liquid, cartons of fruit juice, sponges, cleaning products and male & female deodorant.                     

Spread the news please, Fun Finders will be held at the church on Thursdays 4th and 11th April, from 10 to 12:30 on each day.

The New Room has teamed up with Broadmead BID, SPARKS and the Methodist Church’s Ark Bus team to present Woodland of Wonder – a celebration of the natural world. They are joining forces to run a series of events during the Easter school holidays, including nature-themed craft workshops, photography walks, and even performances from stilt-walking trees! The Easter school holidays start on 1st April. See their web site for more details.

On the music front, the New Room is offering the following:                                                                                                            Mainly Slow Organ Music. Love the sound of organs in chapels? Join people at the New Room for a thrilling experimental concert led by Huw Morgan. Discover new composers and the expressive power of the organ. Just drop in and enjoy the start of your weekend. On Saturday 13th April, from 11-12noon. Free for all but donations welcome.                                                                                    And                                                                                                                                                                                                 Community Choir Spring Concert. The New Rooms delightful choir is putting in a lot of practice for the upcoming concert. Get ready to flow with them in melodies. Fasten your seatbelt and prepare for a musical journey like no other. On Wednesday 27th March, from12-1pm. Free for all but donations welcome.

Did you know that our Boys’ Brigade Company is open to new members! The 11th Bristol is a small but mighty Company, who thrive on having fun and inspiring our members to live happy fulfilling lives.  They meet each Thursday in term time at three staggered times based on age here at KMC.  Sessions cover a magnitude of topics and activities plus they get together with other BB groups throughout the year for trips too. Do get in touch with our Company Captain, Sue Blower via suejblower@btinternet.com, if you know someone who would like to join or can help the Company promote their offering. 

Leaders from across the Methodist Church have responded to the Chancellor’s budget on 6th March. They have highlighted the lack of acknowledgement of people struggling against poverty in our communities. “A 2p cut in National Insurance offers the bottom fifth of households around £350m a year, but the top fifth of households will receive over 10 times more – more than £4Bn. This cut represents a long-term choice to target resources on those with the most rather than those with the least." Paul Morrison, Policy Advisor for the Joint Public Issues Team.

Just published by Methodist publishing is “We have voices”. It is a book of prayers on peace and justice and helps us to cry out against injustice; aids us in speaking for and with others; allows us to complain at God and confide in God; propels us to tell truth to power. It costs £6.99 – if you would like Peter to purchase a copy for you, please let him know.

Coffee Mornings. We have volunteers to host the next 2 (April and May) but no one yet for 8th June and 13th July: any offers?

Lent in days gone by. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday were “black fasts.” These consisted of taking only one meal per day of bread, water, and herbs, after sunset. On other days of Lent: no food until 3pm, the hour of Our Lord’s death. Water was allowed, and as was the case for the time due to sanitary concerns, watered-down beer and wine. After the advent of tea and coffee, these beverages were permitted. Not permitted were animal meats or fats, eggs and dairy products.

Lent Traditions. What does the term ‘Mardi Gras’ mean? What does the word ‘carnival’ mean? How are they connected to Lent? In the Middle Ages, fasting during Lent often meant that only one small meal a day was eaten, and that meal did not contain any animal products. The day before Lent, as the last day of indulgence, even over indulgence, until Easter, took on a festival atmosphere and came to be known in French as Mardi Gras (which literally means “Fat Tuesday”) or in other languages as Carnival, from a medieval Latin phrase meaning “taking away the meat”.

Pussy Willow plays an important part in Palm Sunday celebrations around the World.                                                                          In Bulgaria, willow branches are a big part of the celebration along with flowers. Palm Sunday is more often called Flower Day because of all the springtime blooms. People will make wreaths of pussy willows and flowers and decorate their homes, often having big family dinners on the day.                                                                                                                                                                            Trick-or-treating isn’t just for Halloween! In Finland, kids dress up as Easter witches and go round to houses offering willow branches in exchange for sweets.                                                                                                                                                                        Pussy willows are a lot easier to find in Latvia than palms, so the day is known as Pussy Willow Day.

Lectionary 24th to 30th March. Isaiah 50.4-9a; Psalm 118.1-2,19-29; Philippians 2.5-11; Mark 11.1-11.  What kind of king is Jesus? Jesus sends two of his disciples to fetch a donkey on which he will ride into  Jerusalem. As Jesus rides towards Jerusalem, bystanders greet him with shouts of acclamation. Some spread their cloaks, and others leafy branches, on the road as he passes by. When he reaches Jerusalem, Jesus goes immediately to the Temple. After looking around, he and his twelve disciples withdraw to Bethany for the night. This week consider whether or not Palm Sunday is more than a carnival, a holiday from the serious business of Lent. Think about the importance of Jesus, both as one who draws people to him and one who commands. How is his leadership to be characterised?

‘One You South Gloucestershire’ is a healthy lifestyles and wellbeing service for adults. They offer a series of events from art to Tai Chi to creative writing and more. Some online, some in person. For more details visit One You South Gloucestershire Events - 13 Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite. If you do not have access to the internet, please ask Peter for more details.

Have you heard that the Friends of Kingswood Park have secured National Lottery funding of over £2.6M to help restore the park to its ‘former glory’?

Work is currently being performed on the roof the part of the building that juts out into the car park which has involved the erection of scaffolding.

On 31st March, at 3pm, Made for Ever will hold its last service before closing.

Did you know that a Film Club operates at the Park Centre every Tuesday, from midday? There is a different film every week and the cost is £4.50 which includes a light lunch.

 

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.

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