New Logo for Methodist Women in Britain

When MWiB was launched in July 2011 it was decided to wait and allow a new logo for the movement to emerge. Initially, the new movement continued to use the logos of its constituent parts, Women's Network in the Methodist Church and the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women. After discussion, prayer, consultation and, eventually, taking ideas to a professional graphic designer, Sally Bamford www.little-betty.co.uk several designs were submitted to the MWiB Forum meeting in March 2013 and this enchanting, clever butterfly was selected (formed from the letters MWiB, gathered around the cross).

The butterfly image represents aspects of our Christian belief. The life cycle of the butterfly has four distinct stages.

The egg: Jesus still offers new life to all who believe in him. (John 3: 1-8)
The caterpillar: As we feed on the Word of God we grow as disciples. (2 Timothy 3: 15-17)
The chrysalis: Prayer is the powerhouse for the Christian who waits on the Lord. (Ephesians 3: 16)
The butterfly: A symbol of resurrection, new life in Christ, freedom and perfection. (2 Corinthians 5: 17)

The Story of the Butterfly One day a young woman came across a chrysalis and saw that it was just beginning to open. She decided to help the emerging butterfly on its way and so prised open the chrysalis. The butterfly emerged but its wings could never function. It had needed the time of struggle in order for the wings to be fully formed. We are sometimes tempted to try and force God’s hand. In our impatience, we forget that we learn from perseverance.

Beverley Against Poverty

Ian Merryweather, Volunteer helper at BAP writes:

Dear Friends

Beverley Against Poverty is planning to open a Foodbank to serve individuals and families in crisis. Toll Gavel Methodist Church has kindly provided storage facilities and a distribution point including a café facility. It is hoped that the Foodbank and Café will be open on Wednesday afternoon between 2.00pm and 4.00pm. We are aiming to open for business on Wednesday 18th September 2013.

Before the opening there are many tasks to complete and we are inviting local Churches to become involved. Volunteers will be needed to help in many ways.

A Foodbank offers food parcels to those in crisis. Parcels are only given to those who are genuinely in need and who have been given a voucher from an agency that can assess their need. We are asking a number of the caring agencies to hold vouchers for us. We hope these agencies will include Social Services, Children Centres, Cherry Tree Community Association and Community Health Care Bodies. We would also like to include Churches in this process so we are asking that a member of the clergy or an appropriate Church leader would take on this responsibility.

The Foodbank will be reliant for most of its food supplies on donations from individuals and groups within the town. We are appealing to local churches to help in this venture requesting that they ask their congregations for donations of food.

As our launch day is very near to Harvest time we wondered whether Churches would be willing to ask their congregations that Harvest gifts this year might be food that we could use in the Foodbank. As we will only operate on a Wednesday we will only be able to accept dried and tinned goods and we would ask that they be within their use by date.

We have included a list of items, which has been recommended to us by the Trussell Trust, which is a national body that has successfully established Foodbanks all over the country and is helping us to establish the Beverley Foodbank. Monetary donations will also be acceptable as we can use this to buy further items.

If you are able to help us as: Volunteers, an agent to distribute vouchers, or in supplying food, we would be most grateful. Contact can be made through: Jim Sharp Secretary email jis@sharp13.karoo.co.uk Tel: 01482868383, or Ian Merryweather email ian_merryweather@hotmail.co.uk Tel: 01482 867958

We have included a brief description of a foodbank, a form for Volunteers and a List of food items that we are able to use.

Thank you in anticipation.

Christian Aid partner project

John Turner summarises an update received from Toll Gavel Church’s Christian Aid Partner Project:

We have recently received an update from the project and I have written a summary. The two partner organisations will be directly helping 1000 people to access training and gain employment. They are also working with key government institutions, around 250 employers and alongside 20 other civil society organisations to improve the lives of, and opportunities for people with disabilities.

The wider picture in Lebanon is making things difficult. Lebanon borders Syria and more than half a million refugees have crossed into Lebanon. With such a high number of additional people trying to access public services the infrastructure has been placed under huge strain. Additionally the Lebanese government has been dissolved and elections. Planned for this summer, have been postponed. This is making it difficult for organisations to try and influence policy change at this level.

The YMCA partner has recently purchased a specially adapted vehicle which allows the team to travel around the West Bank carrying out employment assessments for people with disabilities.

Salah was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy when he was 10. He did well at school and achieved good grades. He received counselling from the YMCA which helped to boost his confidence. After finishing a course at university he applied for a job but was refused because they did not think he was fit enough to do the job. They did not take no for an answer and showed the boss all the grades he had achieved.

With the help they had received from the YMCA they knew that all employers were supposed to have 5% of their employees from the disabled sector. He has now been given a job.

Please pray fro a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Syria. Pray for the hundreds of thousands of refugees dispersed among neighbouring countries that their needs may be met and an end to the uncertainty they are now experiencing.


Next events:
1. Sponsored Cycle Ride September 7th. Proceeds shared between the church and the project
There are sponsor forms to add your support displayed in the Toll Gavel Church Centre

2. FASHION SHOW Wednesday September 25th 700 pm at M & Co. There will be a raffle and a cake stall. Contributions for these will be welcome. Tickets will be available from the Christian Aid team of John and Elaine, Ann Lynn, Jennifer Miles, Ann Bratley, David Powell.

Would You Like to Explore Prayer?

The Endsleigh Ecumenical Spirituality Team has put together two programmes over the next 12 months:

“Come to the Well and Drink”
A series of six Thursday evenings from Sept to Nov. Sometimes we want to pray, but are not sure how to go about it, or we want to find a new way. This course offers suggestions and opportunities for exploring different ways into prayer. The invitation is to "Come to the Well and Drink." Be refreshed, restored, resourced. The course covers:

What is Prayer? Who is God for me? Prayer Journaling. Mandalas. Ways into Silence and Stillness. Christian Meditation. Lectio Divina. Praying with Poetry. Contemplative Mindmapping. Praying with Music. Imaginative Contemplation. Praying the Labyrinth.

The cost is £5 per session and it is not necessary to do all the evenings, but you can pick and mix.


“Exploring Spiritual Direction”
An approach to faith accompaniment. This course lays the foundations for people wishing to accompany others in their journey of faith. It is a series of 14 Wednesday evenings and 2 Saturdays and costs £110.

The Course reflects different denominations and Christian traditions, and introduces spiritual direction as a specific discipline within Christian pastoral care. The Course is experiential and practical, and can also be used to explore one’s own faith journey.

The course includes: Theory and Practice of Spiritual Direction, Models of Faith Accompaniment, Theological Reflection, Ignatian Discernment, Sexuality & Spirituality, Personality & Spirituality, Good practice & Supervision
There are leaflets available containing all the details.


If you want to talk to someone about either of these programmes, please contact: David Jackson (872484), Linda Bosworth (868130), Brenda Smith (869481) or David Bosworth (868130).

Norwood Nites

Community Cinema

@ Norwood Church

Pop corn & refreshments provided

Free admission

PROGRAMME 2013

Thursday 19th September @ 7pm

‘the Pursuit of Happyness’

Thursday 24th October @7pm

‘Eat, Pray and Love’

Thursday 21st November @7pm

‘Skyfall’

Saturday December 14th @ 2pm

‘The Snowman’

&

‘Miracle on 34th Street’

Serving mince pies

A chance to see a film again or, missed at the cinema!

Please make a note in your diary.

The Carrivick Sisters

Performing at Toll Gavel Church

Sunday November 10th, 8pm - tickets £10

Bluegrass/Folk musicians who have played Glastonbury as well as lots of smaller bluegrass, Americana and folk festivals/venues!

All proceeds to Toll Gavel Church.

Editorial

Much has been said already by both Rev Stephen Caddy and Rev Stephen Burgess about new beginnings and it is, surely, with anticipation and joy that we welcome Stephen and Christine into the circuit, and we pray God’s richest blessing on them.

But, for my editorial slot, I thought I would introduce some ‘guest editors’ to contribute to Contact each month. This month, reflecting ‘new beginnings’ I have invited Lazarus to speak with us:

“I have no clue what happened to me. All I knew was that I was ill and fading away fast – I heard voices fussing around me. From his previous visit, I knew that Jesus would be at risk if he came back again; the religious authorities were already plotting against him, and would come here if there was any chance of closing the net on him. I prayed for his sake he would not come back – but I learnt later that Martha felt that was something that Jesus had to decide, so she sent word. The next few days are a complete blank – all I know is what I have been told, I was dead and buried. Four days after I died, I heard a voice call to me; it was Jesus. All he said was ‘Lazarus, come out!’ and I walked into the daylight. Whether I’d died (or simply appeared to be dead) I will never know – but if I wasn’t dead, I might as well have been. I cannot explain it – nor do I intend to; but it wasn’t just about being alive – I felt a new life in me.

Many people had come to console Mary and Martha, but amongst them were spies for the religious authorities, who returned to Jerusalem and told the Pharisees what had happened to me. I heard later that they tried to kill me in order to silence the truth, and disillusion Jesus’ followers. It was a dangerous time – but I didn’t care. Jesus’ new life had touched me, and I had a quality of living I had never had before. After Jesus’ resurrection, I realised that HE was the new life. My sisters and I came to see that what happened to me was less about coming back to life, but about having what we call ‘resurrected life’ – and having it in the here and now.”