Notices
As per Methodist Church recommendation some worship services and group meetings in Temple have been suspended or are restricted, operating in line with Government guidance during the coronavirus outbreak. In the mean time we will continue to bring you church news on this page.
Notices for the week beginning 20th June
For further information about any of the items below, please email enquiries@templetaunton.uk
STREAMED SERVICE at 9.30 am: each Sunday, taken by Rev. Deborah Kirk, Rev Tony Cox or one of our other circuit worship leaders (link here).
ZOOM MEETING at 6.30pm: each Sunday, taken by Rev Chris Brown and Rev Peter Thomas. Contact Chris chris@revbrown.co.uk for details on joining in.
ZOOM BIBLE STUDY: at 7.30pm each Tuesday. Contact Chris chris@revbrown.co.uk for details on joining in.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: Posted on the TDSS Circuit website , written weekly by one of our local preachers.
SUNDAY SERVICES: Every Sunday at 10:30am. If you wish to attend please book in with either Joanna Rossiter, or Liz Hartley.
MIDWEEK SERVICES: Every Wednesday at 11:15am. If you wish to attend please book in with either Joanna or Tony.
METHODIST WOMEN IN BRITAIN: “SECOND WEDNESDAYS”
The District Group are holding "Zoom" monthly coffee mornings - a mixture of chat and information online, we hope! If you are able to join us for 10.30 on the second Wednesday of each month, contact Anne Browse or Elaine Banks for more information.
Please be advised we are following COVID secure practices including wearing of face coverings, use of hand sanitizers, social distancing, and recording contact details (following data protection rules), which will be for all events in Temple.
PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND IF YOU HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS (more information here, details for attending services at Temple here).
CHURCH NOTICES: The weekly notice sheet will continue to be produced and sent to anyone who would like a copy by email, as will the monthly Circuit Link magazine. If you would like to be added to the mailing list or have items to be included, please contact Anne or Hazel Jordan.
CIRCUIT LINK: The monthly Circuit Link magazine will also continue to be produced and sent to anyone who would like a copy by email. If you have items for the next magazine or would like to be added to the mailing list please contact Janet Dickinson.
PASTORAL TEAMS: While we are unable to meet in person a new telephone contact list has been drawn up and circulated to keep us in touch. Please contact Anne Jordan for more information.
CHURCH FAMILY NEWS: Please note that although we cannot put personal details on the website, Church Family News can be found in the Notices distributed via email. If you wish to be added to the email list please contact Hazel Jordan.
FACEBOOK: You can follow us on facebook
TAUNTON URC MONTHLY CHURCH MAGAZINE: A copy of the monthly URC magazine can be found here.
RESOURCES FOR HOME WORSHIP: See our This Week's Services , Prayer Page , and Home Worship pages for home worship resources, as well as the following ...
Live-streamed Services: Wesley’s Chapel in London Wednesday 12.45, Thursday 12.45 and Sunday 9.45 and 11.00. Swan Bank Methodist Church in Burslem Sunday 10.30 Methodist Central Hall, Westminster Sunday 11.00. Methodist Central Hall Westminster have made their sermons available online as podcasts. Click here to listen.
Morning Prayers: 09:00 Monday-Friday - from Wesley House Cambridge. Resources for following the prayers and readings are available at: www.wesley.cam.ac.uk/prayer-space
Worship Resources: the Methodist Church website has links to worship and prayer resources for home as well as the latest news from the Connexion.
ROOTS is currently offering free resources to use at home every week on the ROOTS website. See www.rootsontheweb.com/
BBC LOCAL RADIO: BBC Local Radio, including Somerset, are broadcasting half hour virtual services on Sunday mornings at 8.00am on 95.5 AM / DAB and 1566MW. You can find how to listen to your BBC local radio station here.
ORDINATION SERVICE:
On Saturday 19th June at 3pm, Temple Methodist Church is hosting the Ordination Service for three Ordinands, who were received into Full Connexion at the Methodist Conference of 2020. Their Ordination Services were postponed until now because of the restrictions.
We are delighted that this special service is to take place within our Circuit, however because of the restrictions on numbers, we are unable to extend an invitation to you all to come and support the Ordinands as we would otherwise do. Many thanks to all who are involved in making this run smoothly.
I ask you to pray for the three Ordinands: Clare Anderson, Phillip Dixon, and Alexis Mahoney, and if you are able, to watch the live stream of the service here.
SCAM WARNING:
Churches are being warned about a scam whereby the Minister’s or Church Office’s email address is spoofed and texts or emails sent to people asking them to buy gift cards or Google Play cards on their behalf. If you receive such a request, please do not reply but contact Joanna (enquiries@templetaunton.uk) or Deborah to confirm.
If you have received an email which you’re not quite sure about, forward it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) at report@phishing.gov.uk. Suspicious text messages should be forwarded to 7726. This free-of-charge short code enables your provider to investigate the origin of the text and take action, if found to be malicious.
CLIMATE SUNDAY:
For Climate Sunday congregations are asked to consider committing to action, which might be to sign up to be an Eco-congregation, or for individuals to make commitments to a 'greener' lifestyle in other ways.
Perhaps you could take a look at this website https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/ and click on the 'Resources' tab at the top for lots of ideas.
There is also an encouragement to read and sign The Climate Coalition’s ‘The Time Is Now’ declaration as churches and as individuals ahead of the COP26 Summit in Glasgow later in the year.
ENGLISH CONVERSATION & COFFEE:
Where refugees meet up with English speaking volunteers to practice general conversation and to gain confidence in everyday encounters. This is a determinedly different approach to the English language classes that are organised by SCC and the teachers are fully supportive of this new scheme. Indeed they will be reminding and encouraging the refugees to attend! This is not a teaching session. We are aiming for a personal, one-to-one, quiet conversation period followed by coffee and social games together.
Every Thursday between 11am - 1pm at the Quaker Meeting House in the centre of Taunton - during school term times.
We launch on 24th June to coincide with the final lifting of lockdown restrictions. Then each Thursday 1st, 8th and 15th July. Summer break. Restart on 9th September. If there is sufficient demand for it we aim to start a Saturday afternoon option in the autumn as well.
If you do volunteer, we do not expect you to attend every session. There will be a WhatsApp group so we will just need your mobile number. You will need to attend a Preparation Session if you haven't undertaken any of TWR's volunteer training. We will send you links to TWR's Safeguarding and Confidentiality which you will be required to read and sign beforehand as well.
If you enjoy meeting people and chatting - we want you! Please respond to this email to register your interest and we will be in touch.
TEMPLE GIFT DAY:
Temple will be holding it's Church Anniversary Service on Sunday 27th June and will also be holding their Gift Day appeal for financial support for the work and infrastructure of the church. This letter about Gift Day is from our minister Deborah and treasurer Graham. If you wish to donate please contact us for details.
CIRCUIT METHODIST WOMEN IN BRITAIN - CREAM TEA:
The circuit MWiB invite you to a Cream Tea on Saturday 10th July 3 - 5 pm at the home of Dick & Diana Atkinson. We look forward to seeing many of you again after this long period of isolation. Donations invited for World Missions.
PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND - 2022:
A Pilgrimage to the Holy Land is being organised by Rev Bruce Thompson (Chair of Lincolnshire District, former minister at Temple), for 3rd -10th April 2022. There will be an Israeli and Palestine guide visiting all major sites in the Holy Land with 4 nights in Jerusalem and 3 nights in Galilee. Further details and booking form from chair@lincolnshiremethodist.org.uk .
FACEBOOK PAGE:
You can follow us on Temple's facebook page
PEMD eNEWS:
This month the Plymouth and Exeter District eNews features our Circuit. Click here to view the eNews.
A METHODIST WAY OF LIFE:
A Methodist Way of Life offers Methodists and all Christians a rhythm for responding to God's love in Jesus. It provides commitments and practices that refocus our faith. It deepens discipleship and spirituality. Order your resources here.
From Methodist News …
JOIN THE CONVERSATION AROUND CLIMATE JUSTICE:
Gordon Brown mentioned our young COP26 workers’ project Climate Justice 4 All in his lecture last weekend. You can keep up to date with the group, their work, resources and videos by giving them a follow on Twitter here. Take a look at our web pages on climate and the environment too, including all our latest news in this area.
ACTION FOR CHILDREN WEBINAR:
Action for Children invites you to an online webinar, ‘Childhood during coronavirus: protecting children from the effects of poverty’ on 7th July. Staff will talk about the impact of the lockdown on families drawing on research in their report, 'End Childhood Crisis' and their campaigning work. They will also explain what they are asking the Government to do and how you can add your voice. To sign up, click here.
ALL WE CAN UPDATE:
As we here in the UK begin to look toward the future, and tentatively think about a post-covid world, it is more important than ever that we don’t forget about our global neighbours, and that we walk alongside them on the road to recovery and resilience. All We Can have launched its Next Steps campaign. Find out more and how you can support it here. All We Can is delighted to welcome four new trustees to its board, pending the approval of Methodist Council later in the year. Find out more here.
TOLPUDDLE MARTYRS:
The New Room in Bristol are hosting a ‘Wes Talk’ on the Tolpuddle Martyrs: How does their story still speak today on Monday 21st June. You can register to join the event here.
CHRISTIAN/MUSLIM DIALOGUE:
The Revd David Butterworth spoke as part of a Christian-Muslim dialogue event on the theme, My Religion, My Life. Other speakers included Anglican, Sunni and Shi’a representatives. You can watch a recording of the event here.
The Methodist Church Learning Network
The role of the Learning Network is to equip and resource the Church through a wide range of learning and development opportunities. The Learning Network works together connexionally, on national projects, and in regional teams, in delivering regional training and learning events. The Learning Network comprises of 10 Learning Network regions. Each region has a regional coordinator and a team of Learning & Development Officers with a variety of specialist skills.
Information about the South West region can be found here, and you can sign up for the monthly newsletter here.
FREE TELEPHONE PRAYER AND NEWS
Prayers and news from the Methodist Church.
Listen to a prayer: 0808 281 2514
Listen to news: 0808 281 2478
Content is updated every Thursday afternoon.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER SCAMS
Please be aware that unfortunately in these uncertain and difficult times when we may be more vulnerable than normal, there are people who are taking advantage of our desire to communicate with one another via social media. Other routes used include cold calls on your phone, text messages or emails, and bogus websites. The following websites have advice on recognising and reporting scams, and what to do if you think you have fallen prey to a scam.
During the COVID pandemic unfortunately there are those who will try to exploit people at their most vulnerable, often pretending to represent the NHS or their representatives
Be assured that the NHS will NEVER
- ask for payment, NHS treatment including delivering the COVID vaccine is free
- ask for your bank details
- arrive at your home unannounced to provide treatment
- ask you to prove your identity by providing copies of documents with personal details
Information about the vaccine from the NHS can be found here Coronavirus Vaccination
Other recent telephone scams include recorded messages purporting to be from either Amazon or BT regarding misuse of your account or internet service. Please hang up immediately and use call blocking if you have it (1572).
If someone you don't know contacts you by phone, text, email, social media, or at your home unexpectedly
CHALLENGE - Could it be fake? It’s OK to reject, refuse or ignore any requests that don’t feel right.
DECLINE - Do NOT respond to electronic messages by following links or recorded phone messages by pressing numbers. Do NOT give out personal information such as bank details, bank card numbers or passwords.
CHECK - Only use official websites, postal addresses or phone numbers to contact people if you are unsure - do NOT use the contact details provided by those you are suspicious of.
REPORT - Let someone know. Especially if you believe you've become a victim of fraud, or you can stop someone else becoming a victim.
UK Government - Avoid and report internet scams and phishing
Citizens Advice - Check if something might be a scam
Age UK - Scams and fraud
National Cyber Security Centre:
If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up. If you are suspicious about an email you have received, forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk. Suspicious text messages should be forwarded to the number 7726 which is free of charge.
Action Fraud:
If you believe you have been the victim of fraud or identity theft, you should report this directly to Action Fraud either online; actionfraud.police.uk or via phone 0300 123 2040.
Crimestoppers:
If you have any information relating to vaccine fraud you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting Crimestoppers COVID Fraud Hotline online; covidfraudhotline.org or phone 0800 587 5030.