Notices
Notices for the week beginning
2nd October 2022
2nd October 2022
For further information about any of the items below, please email enquiries@templetaunton.uk
HOLY COMMUNION AT TEMPLE at 9.00 am:
Third Sunday of the month, followed by Iona style breakfast in the Hall.
STREAMED SERVICE at 9.30 am:
Each Sunday, taken by one of our other circuit worship leaders. Link here.
SUNDAY SERVICES AT TEMPLE at 10:30 am:
Every Sunday, with Holy Communion every first Sunday of the month.
ZOOM MEETING at 6.30pm:
On a Sunday twice monthly. Contact enquiries@templetaunton.uk for details on joining in.
AFTERNOON CHOIR:
Tuesdays at 2:00pm in the hall.
ZOOM BIBLE STUDY:
At 7.30pm each Tuesday. Contact enquiries@templetaunton.uk for details on joining in.
METHODIST WOMEN IN BRITAIN: “SECOND WEDNESDAYS”
The District Group are holding "Zoom" monthly coffee mornings - a mixture of chat and information online.
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.
POP-IN:
Fortnightly alternating with COFFEE-PLUS.
Next on Wednesday 5th October at 10:30am. Board Games.
COFFEE-PLUS:
Fortnightly alternating with POP-IN.
Next on Wednesday 12th October at 10:30am
MIDWEEK SERVICES:
Every Wednesday at 12:15pm in the chapel followed by a light lunch.
CHURCH LUNCH:
Normally on the third Wednesday of the month 1:00pm in the hall.
THURSDAY AFTERNOON GROUP (VIVARY & MEN'S FORUM):
Normally meetings take place on third Thursday of each month at 2:30pm in the hall.
PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND ANY EVENT IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OF RESPIRATORY ILLNESS
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.
HOME COMMUNION: For anyone who would wish to receive home communion please contact Anne Jordan or Rev. Deborah Kirk
CIRCUIT ADMINISTRATOR: Natalie Knight can be contacted at office@pilgrimpeople.org.uk.
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
YOUTUBE: Livestream services and previously streamed services can be found on our Youtube Channel
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
UPCOMING CHURCH MEETINGS:
TEMPLE ANNUAL CHURCH MEETING: We shall hold our ACM this year on Saturday 15th October, 10.30 - 12noon. This is for anyone in the congregation or in the wider life of the church to come along and share in the conversation. Please put the date in your diary, and look out for the booklet of reports in due course.
HARVEST FESTIVAL LUNCH:
Thanks to all who provided the beautiful lunch after the Harvest Festival and as a result of generous donations from those who enjoyed it, we have been able to send £330 to the Methodist charity, All We Can. Thank you.
MWiB MEETING:
The next meeting of Methodist Women in Britain representatives and friends will be on Monday 3rd October, 10.30am at Rowbarton Methodist Church. Any interested people would be welcome.
VISIT TO BRISTOL'S NEW ROOM, THE CRADLE OF METHODISM, SATURDAY 8TH OCTOBER :
When John Wesley took over the work begun by George Whitfield in Bristol, he was charged with organising the young religious societies that had been forming under the influence of Whitfield’s preaching. To do this Wesley advocated the formation of bands where members could pour out what was in their heart and seek comfort and advice for the furtherance of their Christian journey. So began the provision for fellowship which became the creative force that gave permanence to the Methodist Movement and transfigured the “Evangelical” into the “Methodist Revival”.
Under Whitfield’s direction, a society in Nicholas Street had opened a charity school in March 1739 and around the end of April a small delegation of men from that society and one in Baldwin Street met up with Wesley to ask for his help in building “a new room” where both societies could meet and where the school could operate. Land was acquired in the Horsefair and the building commenced largely thanks to a London stockbroker called William Seward who donated large sums of money. By the end of June the building was complete and so the World’s first Methodist building came into existence. In 1748 the new room was partially rebuilt and extended and it is that rebuild which still stands today. The 274 year old New Room: a church like no other, with a history like no other.
Come and discover what happened next and so much more on our visit to this Heritage Site on Saturday 8th October, when, at 11am, we shall have a talk and guided tour of the church, the opportunity to visit the excellent museum (entrance charge) situated high above the church in Wesley’s/preacher’s apartment, and the chance to have lunch together in their cafeteria housed in the 2017 Visitor Centre addition. After lunch it is only a short walk to Charles Wesley’s House (entry charge) for a group visit (a minimum of ten people needed!) after which the organised day ends.
We need to be at the New Room for the 11am talk and I envisage that most people would wish to drive up to the Park and Ride and use the bus into the Horsefair. We could arrange to meet at the P&R and travel in together. Car lifts can be arranged.
If this is for you, and I hope it is, please let me know that you would wish to go.
Many thanks. Tony Bell
PURSUIT (Prayer room for all ages and people in the centre of Taunton):
Pursuit meets weekly at North Street Church on Sunday nights 7:30pm weekly town-wide prayer and worship and Tuesday nights 7:30pm worship in the word and intercession. Tuesday 11th October 7:30pm - worship and prayer with guests from Ukraine and ECM (European Christian Mission).
HYMN-LEARNING & SINGING EVENT:
At Taunton Minster on Friday 14th October at 7.30 p.m. Organised by Somerset Organists' and Choirs' Association. An occasion for all those interested in singing traditional hymns, led by John Bodiley. This is an opportunity open to those who would like to learn some new hymn tunes by such modern writers as Wayne Marshall, Andrew Millington, Paul Leddington Wright and Paul Edwards, accompanied on the fine Minster organ. This will be an informal evening, and all are invited, whether or not you regard yourself as a singer! Refreshments will be served afterwards, and copies of the new hymns will be available to take away.
MWiB DAY CONFERENCE:
Wednesday 9th November, Rowbarton Methodist Church. ‘Walking With Micah’ to be led by Rachel Lampard. Coffee from 10.30 am, finish 3.30 pm. Ladies and men are welcome.
STAMP COLLECTION:
There will be a new box in the porch for your used stamps. We are now collecting for Weldmar Hospice, Dorchester which is where Lucy spent the last 24 hours of her life. So please start saving and particularly with Christmas coming up! Thanks Anne B.
ROOF FUND: Temple Roof Scheme
Thank you to all who have contributed to the very generous response to the roof fund appeal. Keep up to date with our scheme to repair the roof, improve insulation and install solar panels, and also our fundraising events towards this scheme.
VIOLIN AND ORGAN RECITAL: Sunday 9th October, 7.30 pm at Temple Methodist Church. There will be refreshments in the interval and a retiring collection in aid of Temple Methodist Church
SITUATION IN UKRAINE & EMERGENCY APPEALS:
There will be a 'prayer station' set up in Temple from Wednesday to pray for the people of Ukraine and Russia.
Following recent collections for the Ukraine appeal we have been able to send a cheque for £556. Thank you.
Prayers for Ukraine
Statement on Ukraine from the Methodist Presidency
ALL WE CAN and the Methodist Church in Britain have launched an emergency appeal in response to events unfolding in Ukraine. As communities face violence, upheaval, and the trauma of war, your urgent support is needed. Working together with the Global Relationships Team of the Methodist Church in Britain, donations will be used to support the response to the crisis unfolding in Ukraine, and ensure that critical humanitarian assistance is available to those who need it. https://www.allwecan.org.uk/donations/ukraine/
The DISASTERS EMERGENCY COMMITTEE have launched a Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal for families fleeing the conflict having left their homes with only the items they were able to carry. Funds are needed to help provide food, water, shelter, healthcare and protection. At Ukraine’s borders with Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Moldova, huge numbers of people are arriving with only what they can carry. In many places there are long waits to cross and scant facilities waiting for them on the other side, with temperatures dropping below freezing overnight. Donations can be made at https://www.dec.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-humanitarian-appeal
UNICEF is rapidly scaling up its multi-sectoral response to the increasing humanitarian needs in Ukraine and among refugees in neighbouring countries. Ensuring the protection and well-being of women and children is central to UNICEF's response efforts. Multi-purpose cash transfers will be undertaken to support vulnerable households with children. UNICEF will also provide safe water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as the resumption of primary health care and nutrition services and will work to enroll displaced children in local education programmes. Donations can be made at https://www.unicef.org/appeals/ukraine
CAKE AND CONVERSATION:
You may have noticed from the Plan or the Circuit Link that there is a new opportunity to attend a fellowship time on a Sunday evening at 5pm, similar to the 'Cake and Conversation' evenings that I used to lead over at Rowbarton. These will be held on the second Sunday of each month, and will be a time to which anyone across the Circuit is invited. I am basing the sessions on the 'Christian Communities in Conversation' model of sharing conversation. If you have not attended one of these sessions before, here is a short outline of what to expect: We shall meet next on Sunday 9th October at 5pm, and have a cup of tea and piece of cake during a period of about 20mins whilst we chat informally with one another. We shall then move to a different space in the room where we will use printed and visual resources to stimulate ideas and conversation around a theme. I look forward to seeing you. Deborah
PRAYER GROUP:
We are starting up a prayer group at Temple. If you would like to be part of the group, please let Hazel Jordan have your email address to add to the group. When a prayer request comes in, it will be forwarded to the group for a prayer response.
THE METHODIST PRAYER HANDBOOK:
This is published each year at the beginning of September, and provides a selection of prayers for each day of the month. In addition there is a section listing the lectionary readings for the year and a suggested structure for daily prayer. If you would like a copy or would like to glance through a copy please contact Kevin Rigg. Cost is £4.50 each.
HOLDING CROSSES:
I am just coming to the end of the lovely wooden 'holding crosses' that some of the church made for me to use in pastoral situations. If anyone has wood-working skills, and a little time and inclination, I wonder if you might be able to make us some more. I would be very grateful. If you need a template of the holding cross, I can supply one. Thank you in hope! Deborah
ENERGY BILLS SUPPORT SCHEME:
Households will start receiving £400 off their energy bills from October. Most households will see the non-repayable discount automatically applied to energy bills in instalments over six months. A £66 discount will be applied to energy bills in October and November, rising to £67 each month from December through to March 2023. If you’re on a traditional prepayment meter, you’ll receive a monthly voucher which you can redeem at a local top up point identified by your supplier. Beware of scams. You do not need to apply for the scheme, and you’ll never be asked for your bank details. Find out more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/energy-bills-support-scheme-explainer .
PEMD eNEWS:
This month the Plymouth and Exeter District eNews features our Circuit. Click here to view the eNews.
From Methodist News …
LIVING ON THE BREADLINE: "Responding to criticism of the Government’s historic tax cuts last week, a Treasury minister said they would not worry about the ‘politics of envy’. I’d challenge any Government minister to come to one of our churches this winter and seek out the envious. They will be hard pressed to find them." The Revd Graham Thompson addresses the needs the church is preparing to meet this winter in this heartfelt post. Read the whole blog here.
COST OF LIVING AND GAMBLING: Research published by Gamble Aware last week found that out of 1,6000 surveyed, a quarter of women aged 18-49 who gamble are expecting to gamble more in the coming months due to the cost-of-living crisis, with one in ten reportedly already having turned to gambling in an attempt to supplement household income. Rachel Lampard, part of the Joint Public Issue Team, spoke to Premier Radio about the rising number of women gambling and the need for more protections for all people who gamble. Read the full story or listen here.
CRUCIBLE: Church at the Margins is partnering with Crucible to offer the 6 session online module 'On the Edge' in Autumn 2022 and Spring 2023. On the Edge offers a space to think about the dynamics of mission and ministry in marginal urban and rural communities. This is for anyone who wants to develop their thinking about nurturing communities amongst people experiencing economic poverty either as a practitioner or as an advocate. Methodists can get a free ticket by using the code: MARGINS2022. You can find out more and book here.
THE FREEDOM PROJECT: “Jesus said, I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly”. Click here to watch the short film and find out how the Freedom Project in Bolsover helps local people to find joy in the world.
STRAEGY FOR JUSTICE, DIGNITY AND SOLIDARITY:
Being Christian, according to this strategy, means:
celebrating God who made each person in God’s own image
being disciples of Jesus who treated each person with dignity
rejoicing in the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to all people.
The 2021 Methodist Conference adopted a new strategy which explains why this is so important and spells out why it is vital to learn from one another so that we can recognise God’s presence more fully in our life together.
The strategy also includes some mandatory actions for local churches, circuits, districts and the Methodist Council. These will help us to live together with a culture of justice and respect for all people.
We are committed to becoming a Church that prioritises justice and dignity for all, especially those who have previously been excluded, and which stands in active solidarity with them.
You can find the full report here: www.methodist.org.uk/inclusive-mc-strategy and a free booklet here.
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.
PRAYING WITH HYMNS:
This booklet is intended as a guide for those who want to use hymns as prayers.
You might be preparing to lead worship at a church or event without music.
Maybe you've been asked to lead prayers and are anxious about what to say.
You might need help to find the right words in a pastoral situation.
Or perhaps you're someone who loves the poetry of the hymn book and wants to explore it further.
WORKING TOWARDS A FULLY INCLUSIVE METHODIST CHURCH:
A user Guide to the Strategy for Justice, Dignity and Solidarity. The Methodist Church is committed to ‘Justice, Dignity and Solidarity’. We believe that all people are uniquely made in the image of God, and we aim to live this out in the church and in our communities. This User Guide will help you engage with this work.
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.
Recent scams include recorded messages purporting to be regarding misuse of your online shopping account or internet service. Please hang up immediately and use call blocking if you have it (1572). Others try to get bank account or card details by purporting to be from warranty firms for white goods extending your protection or warranty. Some are calls impersonating the NHS, well-known government organisations, or law enforcement agencies - these will not call by phone or text and will never ask for bank or card details.
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. NEVER give out personal information such as bank details, bank card numbers, passport numbers, NHS numbers, National Insurance 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.