Gloucestershire Circuit of the Methodist Church

The Circuit affirms Our Calling from God within the Methodist Church: enabling Christians and congregations, individuals and communities,to recognise and fulfil their calling by encouragement, support and by the exploration of new visions in God’s world.

The Circuit is committed to support and promote Fairtrade,to further encourage the use and sale of Fairtrade products and to serve only Fairtrade coffee and tea at meetings for which it is responsible.

Prayers

We ask you to remember in your prayers this week the worship, work and witness of the congregation at Apperley.

Superintendent’s Lunch Club

The Superintendent's Lunch Club takes place every Thursday at 12.30 p.m. at the venues below:-

19th January - The White Hart, Broadoak, on the A48, left-hand side, just after the A4151 turn-off for Cinderford and just before Newnham-on-Severn

26th January – McKenzies, Castle Street, Cirencester

3rd February – Fromebridge Mill, Whitminster

10th February – The Moon Under the Water, Bath Road, Cheltenham

17th February - The White Hart, Broadoak, on the A48, left-hand side, just after the A4151 turn-off for Cinderford and just before Newnham-on-Severn

EVERYONE is welcome to come along to eat, drink and natter about all sorts of things and nothing in particular.

Wotton-Under-Edge

On January 9th and 10th we presented Experience Epiphany in St Mary's Parish Church, Wotton under Edge, to all the local junior school children - about 450 - class by class, not all together! Members of Wotton Churches presented the story of the Magi by inviting the children to go on a journey following the magi with a star carrier as their guide. The journey started in the observatory(church porch) and then the children went to the 'desert'; visited a very angry Herod; lit candles of memory or repentance and wrote prayers of thanksgiving and sang songs - a significant Christian witness to the schools, their teachers and assistants. The journey concluded at Bethlehem where Joseph welcomed everyone to see Jesus who was no longer lying in a manger but a real lively little one year old who clapped his hands in all the right places! After presenting their prayers, with the gifts of the magi, the children were urged by an angel not to go back the same way - the teachers did not relish a detour back to school! New stunning costumes were made for the event as we needed three sets of identically dressed magi accompanied by three haughty looking camels. The whole programme was written and devised by Sue Marsland from Wotton United Church and Sue Plant from St Mary's Parish Church.

‘Singing The Faith’

Details of 'Singing the Faith plus', the web-based resource designed to complement and support the new hymn book, ‘Singing the Faith’, are available from the circuit office on request.

Gloucestershire Churches Environmental Justice Network – talk by Gloucestershire Community Energy Co-op

This is just a final reminder that the next meeting of the Gloucestershire Churches Environmental Justice Network is taking place next Thursday (January 19th) 12.00-2.00pm at St Andrews Church, Station Road, Churchdown, GL3 2JT. There is parking at the church and direction details are available on their website www.standrewschurchdown.org.uk

Richard Walter, a director of the Gloucestershire Community Energy Co-operative, will be giving a presentation about the GCEC and the recent installation of PV panels by GCEC at the Gloucestershire Resource Centre. He will also be talking about their plans for the future in the light of the changes to the feed-in tariff.

Please do invite anybody else you think might be interested to the meeting.

The meeting will also provide an opportunity for networking and the sharing of information about forthcoming events, campaigns, activities etc.

As usual, please bring your own sandwiches – tea and coffee will be provided.

Best wishes,

Simon Topping

Environmental and Rural Affairs Advisor

Diocese of Gloucester

stopping@glosdioc.org.uk

01452 712476

07584 126240

Tom Roberts Adventure Centre (TRAC)

Queen's Diamond Jubilee Wood Tree Planting Day on Saturday 18th February from 10am to 4pm.

Come when you can, go when you must. Please bring your own spade if possible. If you are staying over lunch please bring your own sandwiches or whatever—we will supply tea/coffee.

The Tom Roberts Adventure Centre is on the B4215 at Malswick, Newent, GL18 1HE

For extra details ring John Ettle on 01531 - 822606

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The Methodist Circuit of Gloucestershire

Circuit Office Address: Northgate Hall, St. John’s Lane, Gloucester, GL1 2AT

Telephone: 01452 415769 Email: gloscircuit1@btconnect.com