Notices

Notices for the week beginning
17th March 2024 

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.
CAKE & CONVERSATION at 5:00 pm in the hall:
Every second  Sunday of the month.
ZOOM WORSHIP 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 CIRCUIT BIBLE STUDY:
At 7.30pm 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month. Contact enquiries@templetaunton.uk for details on joining in.
ZOOM CIRCUIT PRAYER MEETING:
At 7.30pm 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month. Contact enquiries@templetaunton.uk for details on joining in.
PRAYING TOGETHER:
In the Chapel at 9:30am every 1st Wednesday of the month
and 7:30pm every 3rd Wednesday of the month.
POP-IN / COFFE-PLUS:
Every Wednesday at 10:30am.
Next on Wednesday 20th March. This week's activity is kerling.
MIDWEEK SERVICES:
Every Wednesday at 12:15pm in the chapel followed by a light lunch.
Next on Wednesday 20th March, led by Rev Annie Deche.
CHURCH LUNCH:
Normally on the third Wednesday of the month 1:00pm in the hall.
AGE UK INDOOR KURLING:
Takes place weekly, on Thursdays, from 10:00 – 12:00 noon.
THURSDAY AFTERNOON GROUP:
Meetings take place on third Thursday of each month at 2:30pm in the hall.
The next meeting on Thursday 18th April, Life in an Amish Community – Anne Cattoor

PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND ANY EVENT IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OF RESPIRATORY ILLNESS
AND WE WISH YOU A SPEEDY RECOVERY

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.
PRAYER GROUP: 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.

CIRCUIT ADMINISTRATOR: Natalie Knight can be contacted at office@pilgrimpeople.co.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

GREEN TEMPLE

THE BIG PLASTIC COUNT 11TH – 17TH MARCH 2024

By counting and recording (almost) every piece of plastic that we throw away for one week we can help build vital evidence about what really happens to our plastic waste. This will help to convince UK ministers, supermarkets and big brands to lead the way at global talks that could finally phase out plastic production for good.
The best way to find out more and take part is register online but if that isn’t possible, please ask Christine for a paper copy of the counting guide. https://thebigplasticcount.com

Please submit your results by the 31st March.

WWF EARTH HOUR:

Saturday 23rd March, 8.30 – 9.30 pm. Give an hour to Earth – connect with nature, your community and with people around the world. It’s the moment millions of people around the world show they care about the future of our planet. During this time see if there are any non-essential lights or equipment that could be turned off. Save the planet and save money as well. 

TRANSPORT: We realise many people can no longer get to church easily but often feel they do not want to ask for lifts. Is there someone in the congregation who would be willing to coordinate, able and willing drivers to be available to give people lifts to church? If so, or you are willing to give lifts, please contact Anne Jordan.

SAFE SPACE TRAINING: There is an in person Advanced Module Safer Space Training taking place on Saturday 16th March 10-4pm at Rowbarton. If there is anyone who requires the training and can attend, please contact Kathryn Turner, our Church’s safeguarding officer. 

LENT EVENINGS:
Lent is early this year, and through our 3 churches partnership, we are again offering three Lent evenings, all at Taunton URC, all at 7.30pm.
The evenings will be: Thursday 22nd February, Thursday 7th March, and Thursday 21st March. We look forward to seeing friends from Temple there. Please ask if you require Zoom details.

BIBLE STUDY - LENT ON ZOOM:
Looking at the Sermon on the Mount, Tuesdays at 7.30 from 20th February – 26th March for joining details contact Peter Thomas.
Lent is often a time when Christian people are encouraged to spend a bit more time reflecting on their faith. This is often done through a short Bible Study course - and this year we will be looking at the central sermon of Jesus ministry (the Sermon on the Mount). 

This will be on the Tuesdays in Lent at 7.30 - i.e. starting on 20th February and lasting for 6 weeks. 

We will be holding a prayer time this coming Tuesday 6th February at 7.30 - then have a week-off for Shrove Tuesday on 13th February. 

The first session will be a general overview of the book at
What Jesus Taught in the Sermon on the Mount (Youtube Visual Commentary by Bible Project)
then we will unpack what it means for us over the following 5 weeks.

EASTER AT TEMPLE:

Holy Week Prayer Stations:
As a preparation for Easter, we invite you to come to the Temple Sanctuary for a Walk through Holy Week with PRAYER STATIONS AND REFLECTIONS ON THE EVENTS OF HOLY WEEK 

The Sanctuary will be open from 10:30 – 12:30 on Tuesday 26th  March, Wednesday 27th March, Maundy Thursday, 28th  March 

A Pop-Up Easter café will operate during these times.

Good Friday:
There will be a Service in the Sanctuary at 10:30am to reflect on events surrounding the Crucifixion, led by Rev Deborah Kirk. The doors will be open from 9:30 am with the prayer stations still in situ and available to access until 10:25 am only (no refreshments).

At 12 noon Churches Together will meet outside Taunton Minster for an Act of Worship.

Easter Saturday the church will be decorated ready for Easter Day. 

Easter Day:
At 8.00am - A Sunrise Communion in Vivary Park, followed by Breakfast in the church Hall with eggs, (naturally!) - both hens and chocolate - along with North Staffordshire oatcakes with ham and cheese. (And Sunday papers!).

This will be followed by an Easter Communion Service in the Church at 10.30am, to be led by Rev Deborah. Everyone who wishes to do so is invited to bring a few bright flowers to transform the empty cross during the service. Tea/coffee/biscuits will be available in the hall after the service.

FILM NIGHT: The next film night will be on Friday 12th April at 6.30 for pizza and pudding, followed by the film Wonka at about 7.30 pm. Wonka (PG) is the recent prequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and introduces a young Willy Wonka, whose dream is to own a chocolate shop. The film stars Timothee Chalamet, Hugh Grant, Olivia Coleman. 

ROWBARTON CHURCH AWAY BREAK: This year we are again going to the Padbrook Park Hotel in Cullompton from Tuesday 21st May – Thursday 23rd May. We have 20 rooms booked, two of which have disabled facilities. This is the third year we shall be coming here as we have been well impressed by the friendly, helpful way we have always been catered for. The price this year has only gone up by £10 per person for our stay with the total cost being £183 per person if you are require a double or twin room and £223 per person for a single room. This includes breakfast, dinner in the evening, coffee/tea and biscuits the two mornings we are there and tea and cakes when we arrive. The only extra we need to pay for is any lunch that we might require. I am delighted to say that again this year our time together will be lead by both our circuit ministers, Rev. Deborah Kirk and Rev. Annie Deche and the actual programme will be organized in due course. We are always delighted when people from other churches join us and hope that more will do so again this year. I shall need to know final numbers by the end of March. If you are interested and require more information please contact Merlyn Brown.

CHURCH WEEKEND AWAY at The Ammerdown Centre, Radstock. BA3 5SW, Friday from 4pm to Sunday 21-23 June, departure after lunch. The cost for full board will be: £220 for a single room, £200 each for shared occupancy. The price for children is 0-3 years: no charge, 4-12 years charged at 50%, 13-15 years: charged at 75%, 16 years + are charged in full.

There will be an introductory session on Friday evening, Reflections with Revd Deborah Kirk on Saturday morning, free time in the afternoon and a social activity of some kind in the evening. On Sunday morning there will be a final reflection and service of Holy Communion, before lunch and departure.

If you would like to come please let Diana Oldham know as soon as possible, application forms and details available in the foyer.

ROOF FUND UPDATES: See Temple Roof Scheme 

Celebration Sunday 17th March 2024, we are celebrating the completion of our new roof in our morning service. We are grateful to all who have helped to complete this project so successfully: our architect Mark Taylor, our building contractor, Wrencon and specialist solar panel installer, Jowett and Jowett. Grants have been given in support and we are hugely grateful to those who have given the grants.
These were:
• Valencia Community Fund
• Garfield Weston Foundation
• National Churches Trust
• Benefact Trust

Our congregation and members of the community groups who meet here have been wonderfully generous with their support and giving so that we are on course to achieve the financial target which we set ourselves for this project. We are very grateful for the bequest which will be used towards paying for the cost of the roof scheme. Thank you to all who have been involved in the successful completion of our new roof. We give thanks for the vision, the skills and the hard work which have supported the task. And most of all we give thanks to God for his faithfulness throughout the years as he has guided and enabled the work and witness of this church to the present day.

PEMD eNEWS:
This month the Plymouth and Exeter District eNews features our Circuit. Click here to view the eNews.

From Methodist News

STATEMENT ON ANTISEMITSIM AND ISLAMOPHOBIA: The President and Vice-President of the Methodist Conference have released a statement expressing their concern and sadness at the increase in antisemitism and Islamophobia in the UK. They are calling on Methodists to challenge discriminatory speech and behaviour. Read their statement here.

A RESPONSE TO VIOLENCE IN HAITI: As violence continues in Haiti, Sandra Lopez, MCB Partnership Coordinator for the Americas, has written a prayer of solidarity with the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and Americas, Haiti District. Read the prayer here.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES GRANT FOR THE METHODIST CHURCH: A £10,000 grant has been received by The Archives and Record Advisory Group (ARAG), part of the Methodist Heritage Committee. The Resilience Grant from The National Archives will go towards ARAG’s project ‘Ministry of Memory’. “Our volunteer archivists are a dedicated and committed group of people and this funding will enable us to develop new guidelines and resources to support the valuable work that they do.” Discover more here.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY: This year marks 50 years of the ordination of women as presbyters in the Methodist Church. Watch this film that was shared for International Women’s Day. Watch the video here.

EXPLORE PROGRAMME: Explore is an opportunity for any member of the Methodist Church in Britain to take a breath, step back, and consider how they are called to respond to God's call through worship, learning & caring, evangelism or service. A taster session is taking place on Thursday 11th April, 7.00pm-9.00pm, before the next main course on 9 May. Sign up here

From Methodist Publishing ...

Easter Offering 2024 'Let Justice Roll'
This Easter Offering 2024 service tells stories of people standing for justice, persisting in the face of setbacks and taking up the challenge anew as circumstances change. Some stories show how people now have hope because justice has 'rolled' into their lives.
Let Justice Roll offers churches, circuits and districts a celebration of God’s just purposes across the wider world. It includes the dedication of the Easter Offering donated to the World Mission Fund of the Methodist Church in Britain, working with over 100 Partner Churches and organisations around the world. More here.

Connexional Year 2023/2024 resources
Essential resources in the Methodist Church to fulfil Our Calling of responding to God’s love in Christ and living out its discipleship in worship and mission.

METHODIST PRAYER HANDBOOK: The theme for the 2023/2024 Prayer Handbook is ‘The Greatest Commandment’: Matthew 22:37-39. Further inspiration for the prayers comes from Acts 2.
Imagine the Church filled with a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and completely dependent on the sovereign work of God. Imagine the Church filled with people wholly focused on loving God, loving our neighbours and loving of ourselves.
This year's Prayer Handbook contains prayers calling for the Methodist Church to be the Church that God desires; and that explore how we should live out Our Calling, as we respond to the gospel of God’s love in Christ through discipleship, worship and mission.

New releases from Methodist Publishing and other products of interest to Methodists can be found 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.

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.