Diary Dates February 2019 4th Circuit Leadership Team meeting 9.30am at Lifton. 12th The Bible Course begins at Coads Green 6.30 -9pm (see page 16). 14th Service at Cedar Grange 2.15pm. 18th Circuit Meeting 7.30pm at the Bridge (please note change of date) 19th MWiB Committee 10.30 at Central. 23rd Marie Cure coffee morning at Trebullett hall10.30 -12noon The Magazine of the Launceston Area Methodist Church February 2019 Edition 186 Please note change - Spotlight Articles Please send all articles to [email protected] Editorial Team: Viv and Evelyn Sandercock, Mary Cole, Marion Allen, Pauline Daniel and Elaine Shillaber. Collator: Richard Wright. Production & Distribution Assistance: David & Joanna Harley, Leighton Penhale and Sally Harvey. All articles for the March issue to [email protected] or by post/hand to the Circuit Office no later than 15th February 2019. Items submitted after this date may be withheld or used in a subsequent edition. Please ensure items are clearly marked for Spotlight and include contact details. Whilst every effort is made to print forwarded material, its inclusion cannot be guaranteed. All items are printed at editorial team discretion. Contact Information: Revd Malcolm Jones Tel: 01566 776603. Email: [email protected] Revd Jo Smart Tel: 01566 782921 Email: [email protected] Pioneer Sam Beazley Tel: 07540 107655 Email: [email protected] Circuit Office, Mrs Caroline Sivyer, Dingley Hall, Castle Street, Launceston, PL15 8BA. Tel.: 01566 772797 Email: [email protected] Office open Tue.and Thur 9.30 am to 1pm Spotlight articles email address: [email protected] 24 1 .ME A0D E01.2 PA0 A3ES A0D A 4EET6E DRI9E F.R .MI RE6IEF SAT:RDA2 2nd MAR H AT 7PM AT TRE4:66ETT HA66 Since its launch in 1988, Red Nose Day has become something of a British Dear Friends institution. It's the day, every two years, when people across the land can get I have had several conversations lately when we have been planning together and raise money at home, school and work. which have come up with the phrase, ‘Easter’s late this year!’ This is Comic Relief spends the money raised by Red Nose Day to help people true but also has the consequence that the season of Epiphany is living tough lives across the UK and Africa. longer than usual and stretches throughout February! It begins with So please join us at Trebullett Hall for an evening of fun and delicious the story of the gifts offered by the Wise Men, expensive objects pancakes and help us to raise funds for Comic Relief. with symbolic significance, which they were prepared to offer to the baby Jesus, and then ends with Transfiguration, where the disciples are given a new vision of how they picture Jesus. "It takes Two to build a lasting marriage" A recent article I read from an organisation called ‘Word on the Event by 'Care for the Family' Streets’ suggests that when we interact with our community, we at Plymouth Christian Centre PL4 9HP ought to begin by focusing on the gifts of the community rather on Tuesday 19th March @ 7.30pm. than starting with what the community lacks, and specifically, to notice the gifts of individuals. An American church had been using a questionnaire designed to tease out people’s individual gifts , but as www.lamc.org.uk they realised they had failed to receive people as the gifts they Your Circuit website - have you checked it out recently? are, this led to an important change in how they interacted with the The circuit website at www.lamc.org.uk is a great way for the Launceston area people who came along. They asked whether folks could offer simple to keep up to date with everything that is going on in the circuit’s churches and chapels. To take advantage of the site please send items to David Rogerson, caring tasks or had particular talents. Glebe House, Lezant, Launceston PL15 9PP (01579 370412). Better still, if you And each interviewer asked three more questions at the end of the have access to email please send them to [email protected] survey: 1. What three things do you do well enough that you could teach C!""## M!%&'&() F#*%+,%- 2019 them to someone else? 2. What three things would you like to learn that you don’t already 5th Central 10am -12noon - Cancelled know? 6th Lifton 10.30am - 3. Who besides God and me [the interviewer] is going to go with you 6th Trebullett 10.30 12 noon along the way? 9th South Petherwin 10.30 -12 noon - They asked the last question because when people came along, they 12th Central 10am 12noon hosted by Action for Children seemed to be feeling isolated and alone. People often answered that 13th Polyphant with Book Club 10.00 -11.30am. question with some version of “There’s no one.” The interviewer 19h Central 10am -12noon hosted by Memory Cafe followed up such an answer by asking, “Who celebrated your last 26th Central 10am -12noon hosted by Bible Society birthday with you?” and as people named friends, they began to sit 2 23 T'&?,- R#@%#,@), 6'"@!&, D#B!&. up and you could see light come into their eyes. People remembered they weren’t alone. inhay Retreats is a small retreat centre and the home of Rob and Suzy Weston, where we seek to support people in their everyday walk with We can all probably think of people who are struggling in their lives TJesus. Now in our second year we have a monthly programme of Day for various reasons, but nonetheless they have gifts that they Retreats, in addition we can cater for visits by groups, so if your home group could share given the right encouragement. It is also our would like a day or an afternoon please do get in contact. responsibility to harness and organise those gifts so they can be Coming up on 14th February we have our popular day retreat on the theme of targeted or directed to the right place or situation where their 'The Bread of Life' and each participant will be able to take home some freshly talents can be used. baked bread or rolls. At this point it may be easier to quote Jesus and his parable of the On 12th March we have an opportunity for anyone who feels in need of some talents but I feel this one from John may be more appropriate as peace and quiet to draw nearer to God with our day retreat on the theme of we realise we are not only Jesus’ friends but also chosen to bear Drawing Deeply. We still have places available if you'd like to book onto either fruit as his disciples. ‘I have called you friends, for everything that day, please phone 01566 784990 or email us [email protected]. I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not Lunch is provided and we can cater for vegan, vegetarian and gluten free choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go diets. Our website gives further information, including directions, we are a 20 and bear fruit – fruit that will last.’ John 15:15-16. Jesus travels minute drive from Tavistock. www.tinhayretreats.com with us along the way, we are not alone, and we can offer our gifts in his service. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Malcolm Wordsearch Answers Please note change - Spotlight Articles Please send all articles to [email protected] 22 3 S!+@? P#@?#%C'& The Chapel was beautifully decorated for the Christmas season. There were also delightful angels displayed in the windows which were hand made by the pupils from South Petherwin school. They also held their end of term Christingle service at the chapel on 19th December . The Christmas coffee morning was held on 8th December when mince pies were served and the proceeds of which were passed on to the Launceston Food Bank. On Monday 17th December our Lunch club members sat down to enjoy their Christmas lunch and tucked into roast turkey and all the trimmings. This was followed by a choice of Christmas pudding, fresh fruit salad or trifle, tea and mince pies. All was prepared and served by our willing band of helpers, and a token of appreciation was presented to each of them by Rev Jo Smart. A short carol service followed led by Rev Jo Smart accompanied by Gordon Maunder on the keyboard. A hearty rendering of ‘We wish you a Merry Christmas’ concluded the afternoon. Donations were invited for the Cornwall Air Ambulance and a total of £120.00 has been passed on to them. Mrs Muriel Parsons led the service on the final Sunday in December 2018 and the congregation were invited to choose their favourite carols and this was interspersed with poems and other readings. Mrs Valerie Hosking was the organist. We were saddened to hear the news of the passing of Mrs Chris Richardson just before Christmas. Chris came to live in the village in 2001 and became a regular worshipper at chapel, where she held various offices during her time with us. This included helping at the monthly lunch club, coffee mornings, youth club and chapel secretary. Chris also held various offices within the Launceston Circuit. Her strong faith shone throughout and she will be fondly remembered by those who were fortunate enough to have met her. Mary Stoneman 4 21 Wordsearch S!+@? P#@?#%C'& —T#, ,&D T!,)@ The Christmas 2018 Tea and Toast session was held in the normal venue on the 13th December and was extremely well attended by a jolly group of mums and children.