Kingswood Foodbank needs are tinned spuds, veg & toms, cartons of fruit juice & long-life milk, crisps, pot noodles, children’s toothpaste, washing up liquid and washing powder. As always, your support is greatly appreciated.
It has been previously reported that some of our graveyard would have to be dug up in connection with problems the house next door was experiencing. The owner of that house has now decided, because of work we are going to have done on the trees, this will no longer be necessary.
VE Day (8th May) celebration in Kingswood Park from 6:30pm
“The Methodist Church in Britain receives with deep sadness the news of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis, and gives thanks for his life and Christian witness. Methodists join in prayer and sympathy with our Catholic sisters and brothers, who have lost their Holy Father, recognising the pain that this brings. Methodists will also offer prayers in the days ahead for the Catholic Church, as she navigates this period. As God receives Pope Francis into God’s arms of love, we pray that he may rest in peace and rise in glory.”
Tomorrow (Monday) is International Workers’ Memorial Day, also known as Workers’ Memorial Day or Day of Mourning. It is an annual event that commemorates workers who have died or been injured in the course of their work. The day serves as a reminder of the ongoing need to improve workplace safety standards and to prevent future tragedies.
Lectionary 27th April to 3rd May. Acts 5.27-32; Psalm 150; Revelation 1.4-8; John 20.19-31. Locking and unlocking. The disciples, frightened by the discovery of the empty tomb and Mary’s report that she has seen the Lord, are hiding in a house with locked doors. Jesus enters and shows them his wounds. Thomas does not see this and declares that he will not believe it is true unless he sees Jesus’ wounds for himself. Despite the doors once again being locked, Jesus enters the house – this time, Thomas believes that he is the risen Lord. The Gospel accounts of Jesus breaking through locked doors prompts us to ask what holds us back and what doors do we need to open? The disciples are witnesses commissioned to bring God’s forgiveness; can we help to unlock doors for others?
The Methodist Church’s Lebanon and Gaza Justice Appeal was set up to support projects that the Church has been involved with for many years. Supported by All We Can and the United Reformed Church, over twenty thousand pounds has been raised so far. They have published this message: “Thanks to the generosity of British Methodists our appeal has, and continues to, play a part in enabling this vital work to continue. Funding is a sign of love for those caught up in the devastation of 15 months intensive bombing.” How the money you generously donated is reaching vulnerable children and adults in Gaza and the West Bank”.
We ran the second of our 2 Easter Fun Finders on Thursday. Last week we had 7 families and 16 children. Some of them liked it so much, they told their friends and this week we had 14 families and 27 children. They ranged in age from under 2 to teenagers and, again, everyone seemed to have a good time. Amongst the activities was an Easter Egg hunt. Thank you Brenda for looking after the refreshments and washing up and thank you Mollie for again engaging with some of the adults. Thank you too Helen and Steffie for the incredible amount of time and effort you put into this event.
Two new films about Jesus have just been released. One is “King of Kings”, a cartoon story of our Lord Jesus Christ as told by Charles Dickens and seen through the innocent eyes of a child. Amongst the voices are Kenneth Branagh and Pierce Brosnan. The other is “The Chosen: Last Supper”.
On Saturday 10th May the BB are hosting a coffee morning which will be followed by a lunch. The menu and sign-up sheet will be available shortly: keep your eyes peeled!
Talking of coffee mornings, we have no one to host those for scheduled for 14th June and 12th July: any volunteers?
The Methodist Church in Britain is issuing a formal apology to anyone who has been hurt or abused in any of the Mother and Baby Homes that it was responsible for in the past. Peter can provide more details if you would like them.
On 8th May – the 80th Anniversary of VE Day - there will be a celebration in Kingswood Park, from 6:30 to 9:30pm at which time a lantern of peace will be lit, the same time as others will be lit across the UK. There will be live music during the evening.
The University of the West of England Brass Band and Choir are giving a concert at Staple Hill Methodist Church, at 7:30pm, on Saturday 10th May. Tickets are £10 on the door or can be purchased in advance from (0117) 937 3988.
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.