The Messenger
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THE MESSENGER MARCH 2015 www.moulshammethodist.org.uk Welcome to the Messenger with news, views and information about the activities of Moulsham Lodge Methodist Church. We are here to offer Christ’s Life to Our World: Our values: Respecting the dignity and worth of all Demonstrating love, forgiveness and healing Calling out the best in all Practising integrity of life and faith Being a safe place for struggle and engagement Church Information For information about baptisms, weddings and funerals Please contact: Rev Mike Crockett 01245 262595 e-mail: [email protected] Important Editorial Information Internet The Messenger will be displayed, in full, on our web site each month. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have obtained the correct permissions when you submit items written by a third person, and that we acknowledge them, or items that include personal contact details or photographs. However, we will always accept Christian names only, or none, for photographs of children. When you send items for publication please ensure they are in Word (A4 size) as an attachment or embedded into an e-mail so I can cut and paste accordingly, as other formats are not easily transferable. Thank you. From the Editor, Happy Birthday! Moulsham Methodist celebrates its 53rd birthday on March 1st! Please note the changed date for the Church Council (page 5) This edition is thinner than usual because of the lack of items you wanted included! Please think what you can send for the April Messenger. Personal news, news of your organisation, Lent group thoughts, Easter thoughts and poems?? Editor: Clive Pickett [email protected] 01245 267459 The deadline for items for the April edition is March 17th. 2 Mikes Message The story goes that there was once a thriving monastery in the mountains of Italy that had now all but ceased to exist. Bitter internal squabbling and dissention had led to its almost total demise. There were but four monks left, living past each other in semi isolation. One day a passing rabbi knocked at the door of the monastery seeking a place to spend the night. Over supper he asked questions about the history of the monastery and it was not long before the sad tale was shared. The rabbi was troubled during the night by the story of the failed monastery. Around the breakfast table the rabbi broke the silence. “Your circumstances kept me awake last night. There was something in the way you all spoke that moved me to pray for you. I fell asleep and in a dream God came to me saying, ‘one of these four monks is the Messiah’. “I asked which one and God replied, ‘That is for them to discover.’” The rabbi went on his way leaving the four monks puzzled. At first each one assumed he was the messiah, but as time went by they began to wonder about each other. Soon a strange thing happened. They began to be more respectful of one another, more helpful to each other, more careful to listen to what the others had to say. Slowly the word got down to the little village that something had changed in the monastery. Villagers started to attend services once more and the monks were more often seen on the streets of the village. Within a few short years the monastery was back to its former vital and loving community. If we are to link our community to Christ we must first begin to discern Christ in one another. I have had opportunity to sit with many of you now, listening to your life story. The joyful moments, the sadness, the projects, the struggles. I have been amazed at the courage you have shown, the sheer character that has brought you through and that now keeps you going. I am discovering Christ in you and it is humbling and deeply moving for me to see. We become a congregation of Benediction when we see Christ in each other and address one another accordingly. Paul says, “Christ in you the hope of Glory.” Colossians 1:27.In the midst of our distress may we discover the Christ in each other and treat each other in that way? Mike 3 Lent House Groups. Do be part of one of our Lent House Groups. Each group will meet four times, the first has now happened but it is not too late to join in others. The four studies are as exciting as they are profound. Don’t miss this opportunity to make new friends, engage with others and grow in your own understanding of the life God has blessed you with. The studies are Tenderness, Fruitfulness, Hopefulness and Joyfulness, and are drawn from the concluding events of Jesus’ life. The venues are below,; if you have missed the first one, please contact the host of the meeting you want to join in with just to make sure they have enough seats! Monday Evenings 23rd Feb; 2nd, 9th & 16th March at 7:30 pm Lorainne and Paul Smith 146 Beehive Lane Tuesday Mornings 24th Feb; 3rd, 10th & 17th March at 10:30 am Susan and Terry Wade, 83 Linnet Drive. Wednesday Afternoons 25th Feb; 4th, 11th & 18th March at 2:30 pm Jean Brown, with Peter and Joyce Robb. 556 Galleywood Road Friday afternoons 27th Feb; 6th, 13th & 20th March at 2pm Varuni Mendis with Mary Fox "Charnwood" East Hanningfield Road, Howe Green. Live Below the Line! Jeff’s service a couple of weeks ago challenged me to do something I have been putting off for some time. I have signed up to the ‘Live Below the Line’ challenge. This will mean that for 5 days, from 27th April to 1st May, I will eat and drink for only £1 a day. The money I raise through sponsorship will go to Send a Cow’s work in Burundi which I am told is the world’s hungriest country. This is going to be a struggle for me as I like my food, but I am determined to do it and am enjoying looking at the really appetising things one can cook, mainly, it seems involving beans and rice! I’m hoping that I will also lose some weight in the process. I will tell you more nearer the time, but please consider sponsoring me; I’m aiming for £200 but more would be good. Thank you!! Jean Brown 4 Wedding news! Claire Lovelock, a former Sunday School and Girl’s Brigade member is to be married to Jeremy Court on Saturday May 30th at Ingatestone Hall. We wish them every blessing on their special day and on their future life together. “Spring ?” Important Notice Who puts the clocks in daffodils, Please take note that the That tells them when to grow? The bulbs in our back garden, Church Council Even pushed up through the snow. What switches on the bare brown trees, that was scheduled for February 26th has As winter turns to spring, had to be changed to And sprays their branches with bright green buds, Wednesday March 4th Signs of new life to bring? starting at 7.30pm What tells the birds it’s due to an unfortunate clash for time to sing, accommodation at the church Or time to build a nest, Who wakes the dor- We apologise for any inconvenience that mouse from its sleep, this might have caused. The hedgehog from its rest? All members of our congregation are invited to attend any Church Council In winter months the to share in the the meeting grass stayed green, but in the event of a vote, But didn’t seem to grow, only elected Church Council members But now the cold gives way to warmth, may record a vote. There’s fresh blades from ‘neath the snow. The dead damp leaves have rotted, Back into the lifeless earth, Providing food and nutriment, To give the plants new birth. Nature’s clock ticks on for ever, Times the seasons every year, To show that God’s Creative force, Brings spring and sunshine near. Written by Peter Robb; Jan 2010 5 Latest news…….. THANK YOU! Chelmsford Foodbank continues to serve those most in need in our city with the generous donations we receive. Thank you MLMC and Gloucester Ave, Co-op for being part of this “Christ in action” project. However, at present we are inundated with food of all varieties, with estimates of around just over 10 tonnes of food in our warehouse! Presently we are donating around half a tonne per week to clients across the city through our 4 food distribution centres, so as you can see we have around 20 weeks or more stock! So, in March, to help us cope with our stocks, why not take a break from Take a donating food for just a month! It will not harm those we are trying to donor’s help, but it will help our warehouse staff to move what we have and make room for when you start again in April! holiday! Your co-operation will be greatly appreciated as your donations of food have been for the past two years; thank you. Meanwhile, have a giggle at a recent newspaper article (below) copied from the Daily Mail! (Thank you Peter) Clive Pickett MLMC Foodbank co-ordinator. 6 Moulsham Lodge Men’s Club The Vikings – Traders, Invaders, Raiders & Explorers! Steve Mortimer brought an inspiring, detailed and captivating talk to the Men's Club on Thursday 5th February. A wonderfully, illustrated, and interactive talk, as Steve, dressed in his Viking costume, with authentic helmet and sword, took us through the fascinating world of the myths, legends and real history that the Vikings played in formulating and influencing not only our own country, involving the then seven Kingdoms, but so many of the countries, mainly of western Europe.