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 Community:
Jean Brookes
648 1130
Worship:
Calvin Wood
648 4466
Angela James
648 2900
Barbara Wood
648 4466
Liz Newton
648 6641
Resources:
Graham Griffiths
648 2233
Young People & Families:
Lynne Cowell
648 4447
Mission & Outreach:
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Irby Methodist Church
Irby Methodist Church
Other Roles Church Worship Leaders:
Church Admin Contact:
Dear Friends,
Angela James
648 2900
Sylvia Gaskell
648 7905
As this is the first newsletter of 2019 we wish all our readers a very happy new year. Unfortunately, Kim is still not back on duty as we prepare articles for the printing of our
Graham Griffiths
648 2233
February Newsletter but he intends to resume on the 3rd February when he will be preaching at Irby. We look forward to seeing him and Mary after a long and difficult period of illness.
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:
At the start of a new year, how appropriate to reflect on words from Revelation 21 v 5 Here, the Apostle John has a vision of the end of the age and the dawn of a new age when Jesus Christ shall rule over all the earth. John says, ' We hope and pray that God will bring his newness into our world and into our lives during 2019, for we see so much that is cruel and corrupt in the world and confess that our own lives are far from perfect and in need of forgiveness and renewal. We pray for world peace, and an end to war and conflict in the Middle East, Africa, and South America: political turmoil in the U.S and Europe, particularly resolving the issue of Brexit. Bring peace on our streets and in our homes, for we seem to hear daily of stabbings and shootings in our towns and cities and violence against women and children in the home. Let us all, nations, communities, families and individuals take on board those words of Jesus,
roy@royfisher.co.uk We shall be seeing changes in our own church and circuit during the year. Rev. Kim will be retiring and leaving us in July and Rev. Yangsun Yi will be taking up her appointment as minister of Irby, Greasby and West Kirby with effect from 1st September and the Rev. Heather Cooper as new Superintendent of the Wirral Methodist Circuit (these appointments are subject to confirmation by the Methodist Conference in June). The year, 2019, is a milestone in the life of Irby Methodist Church for we are celebrating our
We are pleased to announce that the Circuit Invitations Committee have unanimously agreed to offer Rev. Yangsun Yi to join the Wirral Methodist Circuit in September 2019. Yangsun has accepted the offer and is excited about joining us. She will have Pastoral Charge of Irby, Greasby and West Kirby Churches.
150th anniversary with a service of Thanksgiving to be led by Rev. Charles New on 27th October, a time to look back but also a time to look forward: a time of renewal and fresh commitment. There will be other special events throughout the year to mark this memorable occasion. We pray that 2019 will see a major step forward in our own life, the life of our church, our community, our nation and the world. Every blessing
This is subject to ratification by the Methodist Conference in June.
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Irby Methodist Church
Irby Methodist Church performed production. thoroughly enjoyed.
Dear Friends Happy New Year to you all. As I write this letter Christmas celebrations seem to be in the distant past. I do hope that you and your families enjoyed the festivities. It is such a special time of the year when family and friends get together to give and receive presents, just as God gave us the gift of Jesus Christ. Sadly, so often the true meaning of Christmas is lost amongst the hustle and bustle of shopping, preparing food, writing cards and the rest. Much as happened since our last newsletter issued 2nd December 2018. As a church we try to remember others who are not as privileged as ourselves. We started in November when we collected articles for Teams For U 'Love in a Box' gifts, given with love, to children in the 'third world' who have very little. Forum Housing is another way of sharing our love to the young people of Wirral who have found themselves homesless, due to a variety of reasons. These young people, aged 16 to 30 years old, receive a bag containing Christmas presents, gifts which they may not otherwise receive.
It was a privilege to have been invited and an experience we
Our Christmas Fair held at the end of November was a huge success, very well attended and a great atmosphere. The event raised ÂŁ1,000 for church funds. Thanks to Linda Renmans who spear-headed the event, and all who who helped make it such a success. Friday, 7th December, we held a carol service for the Luncheon Club following their Christmas Dinner. This year we invited residents from Gibbs Court, Thingwall Road, Irby to join the members of the Luncheon Club for their carol service. It was well received. What wonderful events we have had in fellowship with each other and sharing the Christian Story and God's love to all, whatever their age. I would like to mention how beautiful our church looked during the Christmas period. We give a big thank you to Jill Burton, Jean Brookes and Marjorie Reid for their inspirational floral displays. It was a pleasure to help Jean decorate the Christmas Tree this year, as Eric and Jean have decorated it for many years. We have excellent ecumenical links with St Chad's and St Bartholomew's and this year was no exception. This year, our United Carol Service was held here, at Irby Methodist Church, when we were joined by our Anglican friends and we joined them for mid-night communion (Christmas Eve), Christmas Morning Service and Sunday Morning Worship on 30th December.
Our Toy Service on 2nd December was led by Linda Renmans and the Junior Church team. All the lovely toys given that Sunday went to Charles Thompson Mission in Birkenhead. It was good to have Bernie Frost and his family with us in our worship and to say a few words about the Mission's outreach to the people of Birkenhead.
Once again, they came and joined us for our Annual Covenant Service on 13th January when Rev. Vivienne Gasteen and Rev. Jane Turner led our worship. We were all reminded that Christ has many services to be done, some are easy and others are difficult, yet we pledge together to love and serve God as and where he chooses. May this be our prayer for the coming year, that we grow together in unity and the love of Christ to the people living in our community.
Thank you to everybody who contributed in anyway to make these generous donations possible.
It's unfortunate Rev. Kim Goh was not able to share in our Advent, Christmas and Covenant
My thoughts return to welcoming the children from Irby Primary School to come and meet the 'Christmas Characters.' It was a wonderful experience and the children really enjoyed themselves learning the true meaning of Christmas. Each child made a Christmas card and we presented them with a knitted angel and a little book about the Christmas story. The following day, each child sent a letter individually written to thank us for their day at Irby Methodist Church and to invite the Hope Journey team to their Christmas Production a week later. Twelve members of the team attended their wonderfully
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Services due to illness. We look forward to seeing him and Mary on 3rd February. One of our members, Wendy McLean, will be leaving us in February to live near her son in France. We thank her for all her fellowship with us over the years. She has been a communion steward, member of the Hope Journey team, has helped with refreshments and many other tasks. We will miss her as she goes to pastures new and ask God to guide and bless her in all she does. This year, World Day of Prayer is on Friday, 1st March and will be hosted in the afternoon, 1.45 pm, at The Church of the Good Shepherd, Heswall and in the evening, 7.30 pm at Holy Family
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Irby Methodist Church
Irby Methodist Church
Weekly Activities
RC Church, Pensby Road, Pensby. The theme will be 'Come – Everything is Ready' and has been prepared by the Christian Women, Slovenia. As we all face the New Year together, personally, as a church and as a nation, it is up to us all to play our part in moving our spiritual life ever onwards. Our spiritual life is a pilgrimage and as we have a cockleshell, the anient symbol of the pilgrim, on our communion table to remind us of that very fact, perhaps we can look at it in a new light from now on.
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
2019 is a very exciting year for our church. We will be celebrating 150 years of the Methodist Church in Irby, starting in a simple way, in a farmhouse kitchen, in Mill Hill Road.
Tuesday: As part of our celebration we will be holding a Flower Festival, Friday 7th – Sunday 9th June, 2019. The theme will be 'Lord, for the year' celebrating 150 years of the Methodist Church in Irby. This will be a big venture when everyone will be involved in some way. Are you ready to help? Further details to follow shortly. Another very exciting event in September, when we shall be welcoming Rev. Yangsun Yi as our minister. She will have Pastoral Charge of Irby, Greasby and West Kirby Methodist Churches. We look forward to her ministry with us. So may this year, 2019, be a major step forward in all our lives; and opportunity for love and service undreamt of, and may it bring you great joy and peace. I leave you with this verse from a hymn which we can all use as a prayer to ask God to guide our future, personally and as a family of the church, here at Irby.
Wednesday:
Saturday:
-
May God bless you all. Barbara
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Irby Methodist Church
Irby Methodist Church
Wives & Friends Society Our first meeting of the New Year took place on 10th January 2019. Despite the cold, wet evening we welcomed thirty-six members to our Social Evening. In the absence of Ruth Brabin who is recovering from an eye operation, Liz Newton hosted the evening. Before the evening commenced Liz informed the meeting of the sudden death of Mo Getty who died before Christmas. Many Wives and Friends attended Mo’s funeral which was held on January 3rd. Mo was a long-standing member of Wives and Friends for many years and also served on the Committee, selling raffle tickets, washing dishes and any other tasks that needed someone to carry out. Mo will be very sadly missed. Flowers were sent to Mo’s family on behalf of Wives. The main event of the evening was entitled ‘Build a Snowman’ - a variation of a Beetle Drive. It proved to be a successful evening with everyone having fun and an opportunity to catch up on news following the Christmas break. Tea and home-made cake was served and the raffle was drawn. Our next meeting will be held on February 14th at the usual time of 8.00 pm. The guest speaker will be Claire Johnston who will be giving us information on the British Sign Language - BSL. On behalf of the Wives Committee we hope to see as many of you who are able to attend. Angela
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A Happy New Year to everyone from Women’s Fellowship. Our first meeting was most enjoyable, exchanging thoughts of our time over Christmas, testing our brains with a few quizzes and enjoying jelly and cakes with a cup of tea. What’s not to enjoy? By the time we go to print we will have welcomed David Casement to our meeting sharing his visit to the Danube. Thank you David for yet another interesting talk.
On Tuesday February 5th Mary Hambly will talk to us about the 23rd Psalm. Do come and join us for Fellowship.
Dates for your diary Tuesday February 19th - 1.00 pm Soup Lunch …. £3.50 Followed by Michael Murphy’ talk ‘Starting from Scratch, Dirty Britain’
God Bless - Jean
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Irby Methodist Church
WIRRAL METHODIST CIRCUIT FAMILY – Praying together for Kingdom Growth – PRAYER DIARY February 2019 Worship: Pray that we will let the Holy Spirit take control of our worship
Service: Pray for our churches’ involvement in community activities. Monday
Tuesday
Learning, Caring and Discipleship: Let daily Bible reading and prayer give light for our paths each day.
Prayer focus
Sunday
Wednesday
Thursday
Seeking to be Spirit-filled followers of Jesus
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Mark 10:14. We ask God to help us to show we are responding to the challenge from over 1100 Methodist children and young people at 3Generate to make 2019 a Year of Testimony. Are we listening to their Manifesto calling for us to be people who know, show and share God’s love and are ready to take action on homelessness and loneliness, on environment concerns, to break down barriers and build relationships as we listen and offer support, and are truly welcoming in a genuinely inclusive manner.
Willingness to recognise the need to deepen our faith
3rd Ask God to bless Neston Anniversary (110th), St Andrew’s Healing Service 10.30, New Song Worship at Hope Farm 7 p.m.
4th Pray for children who have lost one or both parents or needed foster parents to find God’s love for them is real.
5th Pray for the 7 p.m. Circuit Meeting at Claremount to enable God’s will for Birkenhead to be discerned.
6th Ask God to bless the Circuit Centre service, Worship Leaders’ Training and Local Preachers’ Meeting.
Seeking to ensure that our faith is translated into action
10th On Racial Justice Sunday pray for our children and young people and all who work with them.
11th Pray for adults who have become foster parents or adopted children to find God’s strength for their roles each day.
12th Give thanks for the Christian witness in Oxton through Trinity with Palm Grove’s monthly After-School Club.
Counting the blessings individuals bring to others
17th Ask God to bless Prenton Anniversary and Hope Farm 10.30 World Church themed worship and 6.30 p.m. Look Deeper.
18th Pray for all who have experienced bereavement to find God’s love for them is very deep and very strong.
Making a difference through serving others
24th Pray for Group 3 churches sharing 10.30 a.m. Holy Communion together at Hope Farm.
25th At the start of Fairtrade Fortnight pray for the people of poorer nations to be treated justly by richer nations.
Evangelism: We pray for a new sense of urgency about inviting people to meet Jesus. Friday
Saturday
1st Thank God for our Children & Schools Team as they offer training 10.30 – 13.00 at the Circuit Centre with using Publisher.
2nd Ask God to bless the leaders and participants in the Lent Worship Workshop 9.30 -12.30 at the Circuit Centre.
7th Pray for all who are at Little Neston for Lego Church after school today to hear and share the Christian message of God’s love for all.
8th Give thanks for all our church stewards, who faithfully discharge their duties on behalf of us all.
9th Thank God for the flowers lovingly arranged to decorate our churches each Sunday and for those who provide them.
13th Ask God to deepen our desire to learn more of His will for us through our daily Quiet Time with Jesus.
14th Give thanks for parents who set an example of Christian love for their children to follow and share with their friends.
15th Thank God for creative and varied worship, including the Little Sutton Sung Communion service at 7.30 p.m.
16th Ask God to bless the Ecumenical Prayer Breakfast at Neston Parish Church (8.30 a.m.).
19th Thank God for the Christian witness on Woodchurch estate through Woodchurch Methodist Church.
20h Give thanks for the very practical 6.30 p.m. Safeguarding Foundation Refresher course at the Circuit Centre.
21st Ask God to bless all worship leaders and preachers as they prepare to God-given insights in Sunday services.
22nd Ask God to show us how to invite others to join in activities which speak of God’s love for us being freely shared.
23rd Ask God to bless the Circuit Wave of Prayer breakfast at Little Sutton M.C. (8.30 – 10.00) as we come together to pray.
26th Thank God for all involved in God’s work centred in Trinity Ellesmere Port every day of the week.
27th Thank God for all who are inspired to provide helpful Bible reading notes for others to use.
28th Pray for blessing for all who attend Lego Church at Neston after school today. May seeds of Christian love be sown.
Love breaks down barriers. Pray that we may be instruments of God’s love and enabled to help those who do not know, or who feel cut off from, God’s love to find new purpose in their lives in the Name of Jesus.
Please note the closing date for sending prayer requests for the March Prayer Diary to daveandave@talktalk.net is Monday, 18th February.
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Irby Methodist Church
Irby Methodist Church
Many thanks for the flowers, prayers, cards and good wishes following my eye surgery. I'm pleased to say my sight is returning slowly.
Love - Ruth
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Irby Methodist Church
Irby Methodist Church
Monthly Charity Appeal
Tuesday, 12 February at 2.30 pm Meeting in Church Lounge
Raised in December -
Action for Children - £70.00 Raised in January -
Wirral ARK - £200
February Charity of the Month
Come, share in our fellowship over a cup of tea/coffee and see what the Bible has to say about issues relevant today If you require transport – phone Calvin 648 4466
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Methodist Women in Britain supporting the Barnabas Fund in Aleppo
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Irby Methodist Church
Funday Sunday
Irby Methodist Church
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. Toy Service is December 1st. Harvest and Pet Service dates to be added later.
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Irby Methodist Church
Irby Methodist Church
Making Melody to the Lord In Ephesians 5:15-21, we are given directions on how to properly live as Christians. One of these is to sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart. Come Join Rev. George Palmer and Alan Amoss and reflect on God's Glory, with morning thoughts and evening praise, come feel the presence of the Lord. At Thornleigh
Hotel,
Grange-over-Sands from the 4th — 8th March, D.B.B £260 If you wish to book Phone 01539 532733 or email office@thornleigh.com Wirral Circuit Wirral Methodist Centre 17 Seven Acres Lane Thingwall, Wirral, CH61 7XZ Tel: 0151 648 9846
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Registered Charity No. 1135375
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Irby Methodist Church
Irby Methodist Church 18 Hamilton Square Birkenhead Wirral CH41 6AX
OLDIES TEXT CODE My granddaughters kindly gave me a tea-towel for Christmas with the following 'Oldies Text Codes.' ATD …...................... At the doctors AGC …......................At garden centre BYOT …....................Bring your own teeth FWIW …....................Forgot where I was GGPBL …..................Got to go pacemaker battery low GHNR …....................Got heartburn need Rennies IYHAO …..................Is your hearing aid on? LMDO …...................Laughing my dentures out OMRC …...................On my reclincer chair TTML …....................Talk to me louder WMSL …...................Wet myself laughter BFF …....................... Best friend fell LMSA …................... Lost my specs again
11 January 2019 Irby Methodist Church 21 Mill Hill Road Irby Wirral CH61 4UB
Telephone: 0151 649 9718 E-mail: info@forumhousing.co.uk www.forumhousing.co.uk
Dear Congregation at Irby Methodist Church On behalf of Forum Housing Association and our young people, I would like to thank you for the kind donations that where so gratefully received towards our Christmas Appeal 2018. This year, thanks to your gifts, the team here at Forum were able to make up Christmas bags that were distributed out to over 300 young people who live with us. As you can imagine the Christmas period can be a particularly lonely and isolated time for some of our residents, with many of them spending it alone. As well as extra engagement activities taking place around our projects, your gift helped make Christmas special. We are also pleased to share with that we had enough donations left over to provide toiletries for any new move-ins we have at the beginning of the New Year, in the majority of cases young people arrive with nothing. You have made it possible for them to have access to the necessary items to make them feel clean and welcome until they can financially afford to get up on their feet again. Once again thank you for your generosity, kindness and support. Kind regards
Debbie
HUE (hope you enjoyed)
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Barbara
Debbie Thompson (Mrs) CHIEF EXECUTIVE
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Forthcoming Preachers
Intercessional Prayers – December/ January
Let us give thanks for:
Feb 3rd - Rev. Kim Goh Feb 10th - Own Arrangement
Baby Myles, grandson of Wendy and Brian Cropper and born to Hazel and Andy Kirkpatrick. Myles is making good progress.
Feb 17th - Rev. George Palmer Feb 24th - Rev. Kim Goh
Remembering those who are ill, anxious or bereaved: Mary and Kim Goh who are convalescing from illness. Rev. Jane Turner who has been poorly . The families of Tony Almond, Paul Emmings and Mo Getty who all died during December. Jean Brookes who was unwell before Christmas. Irene Bridges, Sue Foster’s mother, who is making slow recovery from pneumonia and is undergoing rehabilitation. Richard Ellison as he undergoes further treatment. Ruth Brabin who is recovering from an eye operation.
Mar 3rd - Own arrangement Mar 10th - Mr John Crowther Mar 17th - Rev. Vivienne Gasteen - Communion Mar 24th - Own arrangement Mar 31st - Mrs. Judith Stelfox United Services Feb 3rd - 6.30 pm West Kirby Rev. Vivienne Gasteen Mar 3rd - 6.30 pm
Please pray for: PRAY FOR THOSE IN POWER Leaders across our world are humans, just like us, who need prayer: “… for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” - 1 Timothy 2:2-3
AND ALL OTHERS KNOWN TO US WHO NEED OUR PRAYERS AT THIS TIME
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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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