A Member of the Wirral Methodist Circuit www.irbymethodist.org Ministers:
Rev. Kim Goh
tel: 0151 739 8525
Day off: Monday (please honour) email: kimgoh2603@gmail.com Rev. Vivienne Gasteen - Pastoral care 0151 648 2637
email: revviv1948@btinternet.com
Day off: Friday (please honour)
Superintendent Minister:
Rev. Ann Rigby-Jones
tel: 0151 342 6324 Day off: Fridays (please honour) Church Leadership Team Church Family & Community:
Worship:
Mission & Outreach:
Resources:
Jean Brookes
648 1130
Lynne Cowell
648 4447
Calvin Wood
648 4466
Angela James
648 2900
Barbara Wood
648 4466
Liz Newton
648 6641
Graham Griffiths
648 2233
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Irby Methodist Church
Irby Methodist Church
Other Roles Church Worship Leaders:
Angela James
648 2900
Sylvia Gaskell
648 7905
Graham Griffiths
648 2233
Dear friends, Church Admin Contact:
email:
gnmg1971@gmail.com
Church Treasurer
Ian Hall
648 3344
Pastoral Visitor Co-ordinators
Ruth Brabin
648 1069
Alison Fisher
648 7671
Booking Secretary
Graham Griffiths
648 2233
Hymnal Plus
Angela James
648 2900
Funday Sunday Leader:
Linda Renmans
648 7652
Newsletter Editor
Roy Fisher
648 7671
& Church website:
email:
Representatives to Circuit Meeting
Liz Newton
648 6641
Angela James
648 2900
roy@royfisher.co.uk
There was a Methodist Minister who was very fond of cherry brandy. However, he kept this fact from his church members but 2 church stewards discovered his secret. They gave him a case of cherry brandy but made a condition that he must formally thank them for the case of cherry brandy in the monthly newsletter! The Minister agreed to do this so that month, he wrote his thanks in the newsletter as follows:-
Lent and will soon be drawing to a close, next week on Palm Sunday Palm Sunday we shall remember Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. How the crowds welcomed Him! and surely the disciples were glad to be there as folks waved their palm branches and shouted Hosanna!! All too soon the mood begins to change and the plotting of Scribes, Pharisees and religious establishment grows stronger and more determined. He, Jesus, will have to go! We shall move into Maundy Thursday and share with our friends from West Kirby and Greasby in the sharing of a meal and worship in remembrance of that Last Supper and ponder all that lay ahead. As Friday morning dawns our thoughts turn to the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus as He paid the price of our sinfulness and redeemed us. We wait through the dark hours of the night and through Holy Saturday until that glorious Easter Morn we can shout with joy, “Hallelujah, Christ is Risen, He is Risen indeed! Glory to God the Father! May Holy Week be a time of prayer and meditation for us all and may we rejoice together that Christ is alive! Hallelujah Praise be to God. May blessings abound Love from Rev Viv
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Submitted by Sue Foster
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Irby Methodist Church
Irby Methodist Church
We are invited to share a Maundy Thursday with Greasby Methodist Church on Thursday 18th April at 7.0 pm and are also invited on Good Friday to attend St. Chad’s at 10.0 am.
Dear Friends Welcome to the April Newsletter, as we journey through Lent - a time of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. By observing the forty days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for forty days. The days are lengthening and signs of spring are all around us. British Summertime began on March 31st as we celebrate Mothering Sunday. It is a celebration honouring the mother of the family as well as motherhood, maternal bonds and the influence of mothers in society. We celebrate Mothers’ Day on the fourth Sunday in Lent. The tradition started back in the 16th century when poor children were given a day off work to go home and honour the Virgin Mary. As they walked along country lanes children would pick flowers to take to the church or give to their mother as a gift. At the beginning of March, the Wives and Friends Society arranged the Sunday service to celebrate the 57 years of its existence. The theme this year was friendship. Following the service coffee and cake together.
Jean Knott will lead our Easter Service on Sunday 21st April at the usual time of 10.30 am. Following Easter, preparations will be well under way for our flower festival to be held on the 8th - 10th June. It is planned to serve morning coffee, lunches and afternoon tea. The organisers will shortly be looking for volunteers to help with the event. Please keep these dates in your diary. The celebrations will continue into the Sunday when the Rev. Margaret Fletcher and Calvin Wood will take the Sunday morning service. Finally, our Annual Church Meeting will take place following the Morning Service on 28th April. Do try to keep the time free and attend if you can. At Easter Jesus humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on the cross. During Easter we focus on the climax of God’s divine Love. He gave his only Son that we might have Everlasting Life. The Resurrection of Jesus comes with these words - Peace be with you. This peace was paid for in full by the one who pronounced it - Jesus of Nazareth. May you all have peaceful celebrations Angela
The Rev. Margaret Fletcher also took a Sunday service focusing on Lent as a time of preparation and the wonder of nature in all its glory as the days lengthen. The children from Funday Sunday joined us at the end of the service and shared with us what they would give up for Lent. A sign of the times when along with the usual giving up chocolate and crisps they pledged to spend less time on their phones and tablets
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Irby Methodist Church
Irby Methodist Church
Weekly Activities
Our first meeting in March was led by Mary Goh, who gave a talk about her life before and after meeting Kim. Thank you Mary for sharing your thoughts whilst having a difficult time. We welcomed Joyce Ratcliffe to our next meeting when she explained how she became interested in china painting. Her display of china plates and vases etc. was exquisite to say the least. Kindly, she donated a few plates and the proceeds went to MWIBs charity and our own Flower Festival Fund.
Sunday:
Morning Worship
10.30 - 11.30
Monday:
Funday Sunday Rainbows
10.30 - 11.30 18.00 - 19.00
Guides
19.00 - 20.30
Toddlers (School term time)
09.30 - 12.00
Women’s Fellowship (alternate weeks)
14.00 - 16.00
Badminton
20.00 - 22.00
Toddlers (School term time)
09.30 - 12.00
Brownies
18.00 - 19.30
Thursday:
Pilates not a church run class, it is an external hirer. Wives & Friends (Monthly - 2nd Thursday)
10.00 - 11.00 20.00 - 22.00
Friday:
Lunch Club (Joyce Edgar)
11.00 - 15.00
Country Dancing (alt weeks Sept - May)
20.00 - 22.00
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Saturday:
-
We have these meetings in April April 2nd - Beryl Goodall April 16th - Easter Service in Church April 30th - David Casement - “Budapest” If you would like to join us at any of the above meetings you will be most welcome - Time: 2.0 pm
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God Bless - Jean
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Irby Methodist Church
Wives & Friends Society
Irby Methodist Church
take her jacket off, fetching her bag and pushing up the foot plates on her wheelchair. It proved to be a fascinating demonstration and a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
At our March meeting we welcomed thirty wives and friends. Ruth opened with notices and read out a thank you letter from Action for Children for our gift of £126-00 donations given at our Christmas Carol service. Our annual summer outing this year is to Adlington Hall in Cheshire. Ruth has made a provisional booking for Monday 13th May but we need twenty people to make it viable. The outing price covers admission into the hall, a guided tour and afternoon tea. Since our last meeting two of our members, Linda Fisher and Avril Bodger, have become grandmothers again and Marjorie Reid a great-grandmother. Congratulations given for the safe arrivals. Ruth then introduced our featured speaker - Mary Lamb together with her working dog, Jan. Dogs for Good was officially registered in 1988 and received Lottery funding of £2000. Dogs for Good provide dogs for children with a diagnosis of autism and recently, Dementia Dogs. These are taught to nudge their owners to remind them to do things. There is no official Government funding so monies are raised through donations and fund raising activities. It costs the organisation £25000 to train each dog intensively before they can be matched with a client. When a prospective dog and client are matched they attend a residential training course. The dogs are taught four basic commands - pull, push, retrieve and talk (bark). This is in the form of play. Once the client is matched with a dog they receive regular follow-up visits to ensure everything is running smoothly. There have been 895 successful partnerships in 31 years. All assistance dogs retire at 13 and a half but most of the owners keep the dog as a family pet and then apply for another dog. Following the talk Jan demonstrated his skills, assisting in helping Mary
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Our next meeting will be on April 11th when Matt Thomas will give a talk on Hilbre Island. On behalf of the Wives’ Committee, I look forward to meeting you - Angela On 20th March a group of Wives and Friends made a trip to Roberts Bakery in Northwich. Roberts Bakery is a family-run business and the modern factory is built on the original site. On arrival we were given protective clothing to wear, including shoes, a hairnet and an overall - (the height of fashion). We split into two groups and first we were shown the sweet treats. This part of the factory produces biscuits including shortbread and gingerbread men. They also experiment with new varieties, looking at size and shapes of biscuits. Following the tour of sweet treats we visited the bread making section to see the process from the dough being mixed to the loaves being sliced and wrapped. From here the bread is dispatched to various supermarkets and food outlets. In a week the factory produces 2.4 million loaves of bread. We returned to the main building and were served afternoon tea with biscuits from their own factory. A short film was shown which gave a history of the bakery from its founding to the present. Roberts also get involved with a number of community projects, including a local hospice. After a very enjoyable afternoon we were also presented with a goody bag containing a loaf of bread, four teacakes, gingerbread men and chocolate krispies. A thank you to Joan and Ruth for organising the outing and for once we were blessed with good weather. - Angela
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Irby Methodist Church
WIRRAL METHODIST CIRCUIT FAMILY – Praying together for Kingdom Growth – PRAYER DIARY April 2019 We honour the faithfulness Worship: Pray that we will let the Holy Spirit take control of our worship Prayer focus
Service: Pray for our churches’ involvement in community activities.
Learning, Caring and Discipleship: Let daily Bible reading and prayer give light for our paths each day.
Evangelism: We pray for a new sense of urgency about inviting people to meet Jesus.
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Seeking to be Spirit-filled followers of Jesus
As we approach Easter, pray for Christian values of caring for our environment and our neighbours to shine.
1st Pray for continuing commitment to helping all who have suffered –and will continue to suffer from Cyclone Idai.
2nd Pray for St Luke’s and Hope Church preparing to combine strength for a joint community clean-up day [on 13th April].
3rd Ask God to bless the Worship Leaders’ Training (5p.m.) and Circuit Stewards’ meeting (7.30 p.m.) at the Circuit Centre.
4th Thank God for the inspirational stories from Glorious Ghana at Circuit Centre (7.30 p.m.) from Messrs Cooper and Lovelady.
5th Give thanks for the growing impact of Food and Friends each Friday at St Luke’s and the honesty of What’s the point? afterwards.
6th Pray for all our church leaders and for blessing through the District Synod at Leyland Road, Southport today.
Willingness to recognise the need to deepen our faith
7th Give thanks for all unseen heroes in our churches and the love of Jesus shown in their different ways by Martha and Mary.
8th Pray for greater acceptance and understanding of people with different life experiences than ours.
9th Pray for greater willingness to support and learn from newcomers in our midst.
10th Pray for openness to learning lessons for life on the *Safari of Hope with hearts ready to accept God’s amazing love.
11th Give thanks for the regular Christian witness on Thursday evenings in Lent at Costa Coffee (CH65 3AA) 7.30 p.m. and open to all.
12th Pray for willingness to receive and to give hospitality without the insistence that it must be paid back.
13th Ask God to bless Neston’s ecumenical prayer breakfast and the 7.30 p.m. showing of The Shack at Little Sutton.
Seeking to ensure that our faith is translated into action
14th Pray for deeprooted faith in Jesus that means we are not just Palm Sunday Christians.
15th Ask God to bless all our work with children as the Summer Term starts for many of them.
16th Pray that God will bring blessing for all involved in Cross Factor at Little Sutton today.
17th Thank God for the Christian witness of Claremount Cross Factor and TPG’s Easter in the car park today
18th Maundy Thursday Jesus washed the feet of the disciples. Pray for Lego Church at Neston M.C. to spell out His love.
19th Good Friday Pray for blessing through the Walks of Witness, Vigils, Sung Communion, Film The Passion of Christ.
20th Holy Saturday Ask God to bless the Community Activities Day for Families at St Luke’s.
21st Easter Day Celebrate! Jesus has risen from the grave! He lives! The joy of knowing this is to be shared. 28th Pray for worship that inspires us to feel God’s love and to share it with others.
22nd Spring is in the air. Pray that we will show that New Life is available to all of us, whoever we are.
23rd Give thanks for the respect accorded to JPIT (the ecumenical Joint Public Issues Team) on big social issues. 30th Pray for us all to be willing to make personal sacrifices in loving service in our communities.
24h Christians facing persecution need our prayers every day. May they know their amazing courage inspires us.
25th Thank God for our leaders: President (Rev Dr Michaela Youngson) and Vice-President (Bala Gnanapragasam).
26th Pray for the patience to listen to those who feel nobody has time to appreciate them as individuals.
27th Pray for blessings through the Circuit Wave of Prayer Breakfast at Greasby (8.30 – 10 a.m.).
Counting the blessings individuals bring to others Making a difference through serving others
29th Ask God to help us to work with others to bring hope to those who have lost all hope of a better life.
“My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord has given me.” Acts 20:24 On our *Safari journey of life, let us be sensitive to the needs of others and pray that people making dangerous journeys will find safety and a better future, pray for those who have tiring journeys every day as they seek to look after their families, and also pray for faithfulness to follow God’s leading and for readiness to draw our strength from him. [From *”Travel Lightly” – guide for Lent produced by All We Can]
Please note the closing date for sending prayer requests for the May Prayer Diary to daveandave@talktalk.net is Monday, 22nd April.
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Irby Methodist Church
Irby Methodist Church
WIRRAL METHODIST CIRCUIT
DISCIPLESHIP and EVANGELISM DAY “Enjoying and sharing our faith”
REV DR NEIL RICHARDSON Former President of the Methodist Conference
GREASBY METHODIST CHURCH SATURDAY, 5�� OCTOBER
*Rev Dr Neil Richardson’s acclaimed books include
God in the New Testament, John for Today, Paul for Today, and also Who on Earth is God? Making Sense of God in the Bible in which Dr Richardson engages with the difficult questions posed by contemporary issues and the “new atheism” pioneered by popular writers such as Richard Dawkins and provides an indispensable guide for people with or without faith.
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Irby Methodist Church
Irby Methodist Church
Roll up! Roll up! Monthly Charity Appeal Calling all helping hands!!
We are hoping to have a big spring clean 9.30 - 3.30pm in on preparation for our Flower Festival weekend.
ÂŁ110 was raised in March for WIRRAL MENCAP
If you could spare a few hours during this time or all of it that would be great. Please put your name down on the sheet in foyer and rough idea of time so we can plan for maybe organising some of bigger jobs.
April Charity of the Month
See you all with your rubber gloves in tow!!
Many thanks
Linda
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Irby Methodist Church
Irby Methodist Church
Funday Sunday Dates for 2019 January - 6th, 20th February - 3rd, 17th March 10th, 24th April 21st, 28th May 12th, 19th June 9th, 23rd July 7th, 21st August September 8th, 29th October 13th, 20th November 10th, 24th December 1st, 15th, 22nd We plan to meet on these dates. Some may change due to unforeseen circumstances. Pet Service is May 12th. Toy Service is December 1st. Harvest date will be added later.
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Irby Methodist Church
Irby Methodist Church
FLOWER FESTIVAL - VOLUNTEERS PLEASE From Friday 7th to Sunday 9th of June we will be celebrating 150 years of Methodism in Irby with a Flower Festival. This is a wonderful opportunity to welcome people into the church to see the magnificent displays of flowers and enjoy the fellowship and hospitality which we offer. To this end we need volunteers to help in the kitchen and with serving and clearing on Friday, Saturday and on Sunday afternoon. We envisage volunteers working in 2-3 hour slots. We would also like
donations of loaf cakes (these are easier to cut ) and fairy cakes or buns.
The more volunteers we have the easier it will be for everyone. Please let Liz Newton( 648 6641) or Margaret Griffiths ( 648 2233) know if you are able to help in anyway to ensure that this event will be a pleasurable success. Thank you Margaret
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Irby Methodist Church
Irby Methodist Church
Summary of main Findings from Quinquennial Survey
5.4. Category B - Attention within the Next 12 months
5.1. Overall the property is in reasonable condition for its age, with indications that
Rainwater fittings – comprehensive overhaul of cast iron rainwater goods related to the Church hall, ad hoc repairs to rainwater goods elsewhere. £500
a robust programme of repair and maintenance have been implemented. In terms of current condition there are damp patches and staining to internal surfaces -
External walls – brickwork and pointing repairs. £1,000
generally there is evidence of both historic and recurring penetrating damp. Whilst
Fire precautions £500
we understand for the most part roof repairs and rainwater goods repairs have been carried out (and confirmed by inspection), remedial works are required to the external fabric to improve weather tightness, where recommended (see main body
Internal walls – damp plaster repairs £500 5.5. Category C - Attention within the Next 18-24 months
of the report). There is evidence of nail fatigue, particularly on the Sanctuary slatework and ongoing repairs can be expected during next quinquennium. In terms of improvements the internal accommodation has been upgraded – the toilet facilities have been altered and refurbished during the last quinquennium.
5.2. Recommendations for Further Detailed or Specialist Investigations Roof space - roof space inspection of church hall, inspection of structural roof timbers over kitchen. £150 Annual Gas Safe inspection.
£200
Electrical Installation – inspection and test.
£500
Provide Asbestos Register. £500 Inspect and report on coping stone fixity – allowance for carrying out holding repairs. £400
5.3. Category A - Of Utmost Urgency 1. Carry out slate repairs to selected areas to maintain weather tightness, reform lead flashings. £500
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None recommended. 5.6. Category D - Attention within the Next 5 years Renewal of damp perished plasterwork. £500 External joinery and decorations - joinery and glazing repairs and routine redecoration of the outside of the building. £1,000 Ceilings - renewal of defective mineral fibre ceiling tiles in central corridor £100 Unblock waste water / surface water gullies. Rod through to ensure that drains are running effectively (Church to carry out). Grounds - masonry wall repairs £500 Grounds - patch repair bitumen macadam to selected areas £2,000 Coping stone repairs £2,500 Category E - Desirable Improvements (no timescale) 1. Disability Discrimination - provision of portable access ramp to £500 means of escape exit doors. Category M – Routine Maintenance None recommended – procedures in place.
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Forthcoming Preachers
Intercessional Prayers – December/ January
Let us give thanks for:
Apr 7th - Rev. Margaret Fletcher Apr 14th - Calvin Wood : Palm Sunday
A lovely wedding of David Higginson and Ellie recently.
Remembering those who are ill, anxious or bereaved:
Robert Gray, nephew of Sylvia Gaskell. He has cancer of the tonsils.
Apr 21st - Mrs. Jean Knott : Easter Day Apr 28th - Mr. Mark Thomas May 5th - Rev Kim Goh (Communion) May 12th - Rev Kim Goh
Pat & Geoff Crick, neighbours of Margaret Higginson, who are both poorly. One is in hospital and one is at home.
May 19th - Mr Peter Colyer May 26th - Mr Calvin Wood
The Anstiss family on the sudden loss of Rachel’s brother and nephew.
Easter Services AND ALL OTHERS KNOWN TO US WHO NEED OUR PRAYERS AT THIS TIME
Thursday 18th April – 7.00 pm Greasby Methodist – United Maundy Thursday Service
Prayer of the day:
Good Friday, 19th April – 10.00 am St Chad's Easter Day, 21st April – Mrs Jean Knott From the Editor: If you would like to have an item included in our Newsletter it must get to me just after the service on the last Sunday of the month. Contact me by phone or email ( 0151-648-7671 roy@royfisher.co.uk ) Roy
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