The August Local Arrangement, on the 23rd, will have the theme of Gods Beautiful World: contributions welcome, in fact desired.
The Kingswood Foodbank served 39 clients on Tuesday, feeding 59 adults and 38 children: the most this year. Stocks are therefore low, with a particular for tea bags, tins of toms, meat, fruit & fish, washing up liquid, washing powder, rice pudding, toilet roll, custard and rice. Thank you all very much.
Anthony Hick is running a pilot of a peer support group at Wesley Cottage during the summer. Starting on Wednesday 29th July, 2.30-4pm it will run for 6 weeks and he is looking for people who would be willing to take part and provide constructive feedback. He then hopes to launch the group formally early autumn. It will ultimately be mainly for those who have had their lives turned Inside Out through loss - loss of loved one; loss of identity; loss of job etc. He will be looking at characters in the Bible and what they teach us about loss. Please contact him on 07726 342744.
News of Central Kingswood. “The scheme will include repair and improvement works to 37 shopfronts and seven upper facades along Regent Street, helping to enhance the appearance of the town centre while supporting wider regeneration.” And “From Monday 3 August, the works (on the roof of Kings Chase) will become more visible as activity takes place on canopy and roof areas above the shopping centre. Every effort will improvements are carried out. The works are schedule to last until early October.”
The UN’s day against trafficking is this Sunday; this year it’s calling for greater cross-border law enforcement to disrupt organised crime groups. Around 40 million people worldwide are trapped in exploitation.
On Wednesday 12th August, a partial solar eclipse will be visible across the UK when around 90-96% of the Sun will be covered by the Moon. It starts around 6:15pm and goes on for around 2 hours. The next one will not be until 2081. Please note looking directly at the Sun without the right protection can cause permanent damage to your eyesight. One way of doing it safely is: Hold a kitchen colander out with your back to the Sun. The holes will project a grid of crescent-shaped shadows onto the ground.
Lectionary 2nd to 8th August. Genesis 32.22-31; Psalm 17:1-7,15; Romans 9.1-5; Matthew 14.13-21. I will not let you go. Jacob is dreading meeting his estranged brother, Esau. He has all his belongings sent ahead of him so he can meet Esau in peace. At night, he wrestles with a mysterious figure, refusing to let go until he receives a blessing – a powerful encounter that leaves him permanently changed. Jacob’s encounter reminds us that God knows the journey we’ve been on and invites us to bring every part of ourselves to him, so that, ultimately, we can be close to God and he can bless us.
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