Notices

Notices for the week beginning
14th September 

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.
PRAYER 45:
In the Chapel at 9:30am every 1st Wednesday of the month
and 7:30pm every 3rd Wednesday of the month.
POP-IN / COFFEE PLUS:
Every Wednesday at 10:30am.
Next on Wednesday 17th September. Join us for a drink and a chat.
This week's activity poetry reading
MIDWEEK SERVICES:
Every Wednesday at 12:15pm followed by a light lunch.
Next on Wednesday 17th September led by Rev Deborah Kirk.
CHURCH LUNCH:
Normally on the third Wednesday of the month 1:00pm in the hall.
THURSDAY AFTERNOON GROUP:
Meetings take place on third Thursday of each month at 2:30pm in the hall.
Next meeting will be in the autumn on Thursday 18th September, a talk by Debbie Birtwhistle from The Children's Hospice South West.

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

ALSO SEE  Upcoming Services , Church Life Activities , Upcoming Events 

CHURCH NOTICES: If you would like to receive the Weekly Notices by email please contact Hazel Jordan.
CIRCUIT LINK: If you would like to receive the monthly Circuit Link by email please contact Janet Dickinson.
PASTORAL TEAMS:  Please contact Anne Jordan or Rev Deborah Kirk with any pastoral concerns.
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. 

NOTICE

FOCUS

Because it was at the General Church Meeting last year that we agreed to focus on the image of God seen in the people around us and a new objective will be set for us at the General Church Meeting on 20 September, you will not be asked to Focus on others each month but it is still important to see the needs, joys, delights in others. Be kind, helpful and loving, even when things in your own life makes this difficult.

Temple Trekkers: (5-7 miles) continue to walk on Monday mornings and enjoy fellowship together. Recent walks have been based around Wiveliscombe, Crowcombe and Nynehead, Contact Kathryn Turner for information about future walks. All are very welcome!

POP IN:  Pop-in this Wednesday 17th September will be poetry reading; please bring along a poem to read. We were going to have a music session but we need to replace the CD player. Everyone is welcome to join us for coffee or tea at 10.30 am the poetry is optional! After the mid-week service at 12.15pm there will be a light lunch for the people who have been at Pop-In.

THURSDAY GROUP restarts on Thursday 18th September when Debbie Birtwistle will talk on the children's hospice SW beginning at 2.30pm in the hall. The hospice is the chosen charity for the group this year.

MWiB Day at Buckfast Abbey: We regret that the MWiB Day at Buckfast Chapel (17th September has had to be CANCELLED as the long-awaited disabled access is going to be put in.

General Church Meeting: Saturday 20 September: We are looking forward to the General Church Meeting which will start at 10 for 10.30 and will finish by 12 noon. Everyone is encouraged to attend to review the last Methodist year at Temple and discuss options for the next year.

TEMPLE GIFT DAY: This will be held with our Harvest Festival celebrations on 27th and 28th September. A letter about the Temple Gift Day from Deborah and Graham together with an envelope which can be given to Deborah at a coffee morning around the Harvest preparations on Saturday morning, 27th September, or may be placed on the collection plate at the Harvest Service or subsequent Sundays. The letter was included with hard copies of the Link magazines or, for those who receive the Link digitally, there are letters this week on the table in the vestibule - please look out for these. Many thanks.

Harvest Festival: Sunday 28 September. The church will be decorated on Saturday 27th September at 10am if you feel like joining us. I would love lots of berries, nuts and any other natural material that we can use. If you have some please could you leave in church by the Friday evening. Thank you. Anne B

The Harvest Festival will take place on Sunday 28 September at 10.30am and the service will be led by Rev Deborah. Please see the Weekly Notice Sheet for list of suggested items.) The service will be followed by a Harvest Lunch in the hall and it would help enormously for catering purposes if you would obtain a ticket (no charge!) from one of the stewards so that they have an idea of how many people to expect. Donations will be invited and any profits will also be given to a nominated charity. As always, everyone is very welcome.

Taunton Foodbank: Looking forward to the season of Harvest, I am writing on behalf of Taunton Foodbank to thank you for your congregation’s continued support of our work. Unfortunately, the needs of our local community continue to grow and, for various reasons affecting today’s society, donations are noticeably reduced. During the last year, Taunton Foodbank has provided food to 4,287 adults and 2,379 children in our local community. This required over 66.5 tonnes to provide these people with emergency support.
We believe that churches are vital partners ensuring that we can continue to provide our services and we would like to ask if you could help us again or for the first time by arranging a collection.
Our “Top Five” items on our priority list are:
- Pasta Sauces
- Tinned Fruit
- Tinned Meals (Meat & Vegetarian)
- Cup a Soup
- Savoury Snacks
Each complete foodbank box contains items which are designed to fit together to provide 3 days nutritionally balanced meals. The above list doesn’t reflect the full range of items given out, just the ones we are currently in need of.
We would encourage donations from our “Top Five” list to help us balance our stock levels. but any donations are much appreciated. If you would like any crates for packing your donations in then please let us know. We have plenty, but limited resources to deliver so would appreciate if you could collect. We are open each weekday morning until 12 noon, please let us know if and when you would like some.

Thank you for your time and support.

3Generate 2025, 3 - 5 October at the NEC, Birmingham: 3Generate is an event for children and young people aged 4-18 includes various activities, workshops, and worship sessions designed to help young people explore their faith, develop leadership skills, and make a positive impact in their communities. Our hope is that 3Generate will offer a wonderful opportunity to encounter God, gather together and be reminded of their vital place within the wider Methodist Church.
More information can be found here, or see Barbara

Green Temple - Climate Change Talk: There will be a talk on Thursday 20 November at 2.30pm at Temple. It is being held jointly with the Thursday Group and all are very welcome to come along. Our speaker will be Sigurd Reimers who convenes the local U3A Climate Change group. Sigurd will be giving us a global view of climate change and the effect it is having. There will be more detailed publicity nearer the time but please put the date in your diary now.

METHODIST PRAYER HANDBOOK is published each year at the beginning of September and provides a selection of prayers for each day of the year together with the daily readings. The 25/26 edition has a renewed look and style with a broader variety of prayers, prayer prompts and links to online content. If you have previously ordered a copy I will automatically order the new standard A5 edition for you. If you would like to make a change i.e. cancel, or receive a large print edition please let me know. If you have not had a copy before and would like one please get in touch. Cost will be £4.40 each. Thank you, Kevin Rigg

MONTHLY VIGILS FOR PEACE: Taunton Quakers extend an invitation to all people of faith and none to stand in silence on the 4th Wednesday of each month from 12.00 to 12.45 pm near the Tourist Information Office, to witness to our commitment to seek peace in the world.  

PRAYER 45: The 1st Wednesday of the month at 9.30am, and the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm, which may take the form of Compline. These times will be open to anyone and will initially be led by Deborah - (in time, those who come may like to lead). The time will be about 45 minutes, but you are free to come for as long or short a time as you are able, and if you come once, you will not be expected to come every time. During the time together we shall reflect on a portion or verse of scripture, then spend some time in prayer, silent or spoken. 

READERS NEEDED: We are looking for new people to add to our pool of people to read the Bible lessons on a Sunday. Please speak to Hazel Jordan if you are interested in reading on Sundays.

ORGANISTS: Does anybody know of any organist who might like to play at Temple for our Sunday worship services? I'm trying to uncover some new players who might like to play, either regularly or on an occasional basis. Fees and level of commitment negotiable. Please contact Kevin Rigg. Thank you, Kevin. 

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.

TAUNTON FOODBANK APPEAL: Stocks are at their lowest for 7 years and over the last few months we have given out over a tonne and a half more food than has been donated. Please check the website . https://taunton.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-food/ to find out what food is needed. 

From Methodist News …

REACH OUT IN PEACE:  As the political debate about immigration rages, and protests continue in some communities, we offer some reflections and practical suggestions for leading and responding, as people are called to welcome and pursue peace.

“The real danger today is not immigration. The danger is forgetting. Forgetting that asylum seekers are not statistics but human beings, loved by God, often with heartbreaking experiences of fear and suffering. Our default posture should not be to treat new arrivals as threats, but simply neighbours in waiting. Forgetting that inevitably leads to politics being driven by fear instead of facts, and cruelty instead of compassion.”

Show me the humanity: Why the UK needs a Jerry Maguire-style epiphany – Joint Public Issues Team

“When tensions rise in communities, churches can be agents of peace, compassion, sanctuary, solidarity and support. Here are five suggestions for ways that church leaders can prepare positively – to be ready to lead, respond and care well at times of unrest.”

Reach out in peace: Positive preparation for times of unrest – Joint Public Issues Team

You can find more resources, including a prayer and a film on what makes a good welcome, here: Refugees – The Methodist Church

 WORKING WITH THE METHODIST CHURCH IN ZIMBABWE -

PROVIDING LIFE-SAVING BOREHOLES:  The drought-prone region of Matabeleland has seen clean water flow thanks to boreholes provided by the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe, an initiative supported by the World Mission Fund.  Read more here.

 WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE PART OF A WELCOMING COMMUNITY?

REFLECTING ON THE EXPERIENCES OF WELCOME:                           

In this film, Christians from Britain and those who have sought asylum reflect on experiences of receiving and offering welcome. They tell their stories of pain, courage, action, transformation and friendship, and encourage everyone to take a first step of connection. Their stories are a reminder that hospitality is a clear challenge to hostility.  Watch here

EDUCATION SUNDAY  - LOST AND FOUND:  This Sunday is Education Sunday. Churches Together in England (CTE) have shared the following prayer on this year's theme, Lost and Found.  Find more resources for Education Sunday on the CTE website

Lord God,
We lose things all the time,
our sense of humour, our sense of proportion, our sense of the value of things.
Teach us to know what is of value and to hold it close.

Lord God,
We look for lost things all the time,
lost dreams, lost relationships, lost faith.
Teach us to keep looking and to recognise you, in the jewels that we find.

Lord God,
We find your love every day,
in the people we meet, in the sharing of stories and the growing in faith.
Teach us to be communities where people can find the compassion that they seek.

Amen.

SWPD eNEWS:
Follow this link for more information about the Newsletter, or visit the SWPD website 

From Methodist Publishing ...

New Products
Our Church's Future Story This pack aims to give you the guidance and resources you need to develop a really useful growth plan for your church, circuit or new Christian community. The booklet explains what a growth plan is, what it should include, and how to go about creating it together. The card pack offers activities for you to use as you work on your plan as a church. The cards have been written for use by anyone in a leadership role, such as a steward, lay employee or minister. Growth planning involves the whole church and wider community, but a smaller group of people will need to lead the process. This could be the church stewards along with the minister and lay employees or, if you are creating a circuit growth plan, the Circuit Leadership Team. We suggest each member of the group has a copy of this pack.

the connexion So much more In issue 36, you can read about Bea Hulme, the Youth President, explaining why young people need encouragement, and Phoebe Parkin, a past Youth President bringing stories of hope from Colombia, where she helped young people learn media skills.

A Methodist Way of Life Pocket Guide - Order here

Connexional Year 2025/2026 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 2025/2026 Prayer Handbook.
Our Story, Our Song calls upon the Methodist people to join in a soul expedition deep into the heart of our calling, journeying afresh into the story of grace and the vocation that God has placed upon us – learning to live, work, pray and play in ways both true to our roots and open to the presence of God in the songs and stories of others.
Pray with Our Story, Our Song to discover A Shared Story, A Shared Harmony, A New Song, A New Chapter. Ideal for individual prayer, small groups or church devotions, this new-look Methodist Prayer Handbook offers a broader variety of prayers, greater accessibility, easy-to-use prayer prompts, guidance to form your own prayers, QR codes and links to related online content, as well as prayers for every day of the year together with the daily lectionary for the year.

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. 

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.