The Magazine of the Launceston Area Methodist Church September 2021 Edition 211 1 Dear Friends We start the next Connexional year and what a year we have had. We opened our chapels in the Autumn and then we had to close them again in January before we were allowed to open them again in the Spring. We have continued to explore new ways of doing Church; getting to grips with zoom and other online platforms as well as working out what the “new normal” will be. We have learnt new words and phrases like; zoom- bombing (hijacking a Zoom video call), quaranteams (online teams creat- ed during lockdown), WFH (Working from home) and who, this year, has been on a staycation? Other established words have increased in their use such as ‘self-isolating’, ‘pandemic’, ‘lockdown’, ‘key-workers’ and how many of us have said the phrase “you’re on mute”! Of course, there have been the normal challenges that every circuit goes through, Covid or not, along with a few more…, but we have been ably led through them by our superintendent Revd David Miller and guided by the Spirit of God. This will be my last year with you in the Launceston circuit and I would like to thank you all for the journey we have been on together so far. I very much believe that we learn from one another and are shaped by the experiences we have - good and bad; and that God, through his Spirit, helps us to take the life-forming bits of those experiences so that we can develop in our discipleship. After all, didn’t Paul say “even in times of trouble we have a joyful confidence, knowing that our pressures will develop in us patient endurance. And patient endurance will refine our character, and proven character leads us back to hope. And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us!” (Rom 5:3-5). I know that God has been with us throughout the challenges we have all faced this year and will continue to do so in the year to come, but it is good to remind ourselves of this fact. We can do this individually and/or as a community in our Covenant Service which will take place on 5th September at Central at 10:30 am. This service is a celebration of all that God has done, as well as an affirmation that we will live within the loving relationship that God has graciously offered us and seek to sustain it. The focal part of the ser- vice is the Covenant prayer, which we are encouraged to say together. It says: I am no longer my own but yours. 2 Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you, exalted for you, or brought low for you; let me be full, let me be empty, let me have all things, let me have nothing: I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal. And now, glorious and blessèd God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours. And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen. This prayer can be quite a challenge as it asks questions about our faith and demands that we examine our relationship with God. I encourage you to read through it and ask yourself the following questions: What would I find easy to say and what would I find difficult to say? What things might I think God is asking me to stop and what things would He ask me to continue or start? You may want to write down your thoughts in a letter to yourself and then end it with the words of Jeremiah; ‘I will be their God,’ says the Lord, ‘and they shall be my people.’ (Jer 31:33) You can then put your letter into an envelope, seal it, put your address on it and a stamp and then pass it to a trusted friend and ask them to send it to you in 6 months time. It will be an encouragement, and a reminder of your commitment to God. I look forward to journeying this next year with you and seeing where God is leading us as we are shaped by his Spirit into the “new normal”. May God bless you and equip you with all you need for doing His will. Jo Conference Business Digest A report for local churches about the business of the 2021 Methodist Conference Why not read this online or download from - www.methodist.org.uk/conference2021 The Digest covers various areas including: • Election and Induction of the President and Vice-President • Climate Change and Fossil Fuels • Holy Communion and online worship • Marriage and Relationships • The Theology of Safeguarding And many other things—well worth a look! 3 Trebullett Whilst talking about Covid and the affect it has had on people in general, both young and old, the young people have been an inspiration to many. The media has reported all over our country youngsters sleeping rough for many days raising money for those in need at this time. Niall Stephens, aged 10 at the time, decided he would run a half marathon in 7 days, 2 miles a day for a week from his home in Trebullett. He chose to raise money for Cornwall Air Ambulance; a wonderful charity for our county. Can you imagine running two miles at a time when the heat was really fierce. This is what he did! Niall raised £700 which was a tremendous achievement. Well Done Niall. 4 Bridge Church Summer is here and we are excited for what it holds. We have been able to open up more areas of ministry and have lots of events planned to bring people back together and continue to build the strong relationships that make us a church family. Bridge Kids and Shift youth have set a date to return on the 12th September but in the meantime Bridge Kids has continued to stream online and the youth have been meeting on a Monday evening as well as going out for a social evening of bowling and dodgems. Our Woman's Ministry, Chosen, have a tea party booked in for the 4th Sep- tember open to all ladies and we are praying for a bit of sunshine for that. We have just had our 24 hours of prayer which we run on the second Friday of each month and this month we met at the church in the morning to walk around the church praying for the physical building and the work we do out of it as well as the surrounding businesses around us. Coming up soon we are starting a new prayer group that will be dedicated to praying for the next generation. Our children and teenagers have been through a lot over the last year and we believe investing in them and their future should be a top priority so along side our children's work we will be coming together on a regular basis to pray intentionally in to them and what God has planned for them. Lucie Worth Coads Green Services at Coads Green are gradually coming back to normality and those who have felt it safe to return have enjoyed the fellowship. Thanks to everyone who has made these services possible. There have been a couple of outdoor services during July and August, one being on July 4th, when we were able to hold our annual Open Air Service. This year, it was in the chapel field, with people bringing their own seats. Rev Jo Smart led the service and reminded us all of the 10 Commandments. The congregational hymns (Great is Thy Faithfulness, Amazing Grace & And Can it Be) were sung unaccompanied. Youthful Spirit were in good voice, as they socially distanced themselves singing some of their favourites. Our Open Air services were started over 20 years ago, when Rev Chris Tomlinson was our minister. Rev Chris and his wife Janet were with us for this year's service and shared some of their memories, a few days before they left Cornwall to live up North. A plate was placed near the entrance to the field and as a result £135 was placed in it for Multiple Sclerosis. Margaret Venning 5 Wednesday Fellowship at Central Members of Wednesday Fellowship were delighted when restrictions were lifted and we were able to meet again. Meeting in the chapel entrance lobby and with hymns on CD we were able to hum along and latterly sing. Many thanks to our speakers for giving their time and effort to inform/ entertain us – these were Rev David Miller, Dorothy Davey, Eva Paynter, Pat Perkin and Sheila Burt. We had one afternoon when members participated with the theme being the sea – tales of Sunday School outings were shared and Joan Cottrell told us about her grandfather’s exploits and awards with Padstow lifeboat. Tea, coffee and biscuits followed the speaker and we had the chance for a natter – all at a distance – almost as we used to. Meetings are adjourned in August - however on Wednesday 11th we had a very enjoyable trip to Bude. The weather could have been kinder – the sea was a dark shade of grey and the Cornish mizzle interrupted our walk beside the canal – but the welcome in Bude Methodist Church more than made up for that.