Malcolm Fife
It was something of a shock to discover recently that our minister Malcolm will be leaving Nottingham at the end of February and moving to Liverpool.
Malcolm has been our minister since we formed the Burton Joyce Community Church two and half years ago.
We
wish Malcolm every success in his ministry with his new churches in the Haydock
/ Newton le Willows / St Helens area. One of these churches is also a
Methodist/URC local ecumenical project like BJCC.
Tuesday 20 December 2016
Wednesday 7 December 2016
Foodbank
Foodbank
We collect items at BJCC for the local foodbank based at Main Street Methodist Church, Carlton. There are outlets at both Main Road and at Phoenix Farm Methodist Church staffed by churches together in Gedling.
Burton Joyce Methodist Church is open Sunday, Thursday or Friday mornings for you to bring items for the foodbank. There are collection boxes in the church hall and in the church or porch. Thank you for your support.
Information about the foodbank on the All Hallows Gedling website.
Webpage for Main Street Methodist Church
Vouchers for the foodbank available at The Ark community cafe, Wollaton Avenue
We collect items at BJCC for the local foodbank based at Main Street Methodist Church, Carlton. There are outlets at both Main Road and at Phoenix Farm Methodist Church staffed by churches together in Gedling.
Burton Joyce Methodist Church is open Sunday, Thursday or Friday mornings for you to bring items for the foodbank. There are collection boxes in the church hall and in the church or porch. Thank you for your support.
Information about the foodbank on the All Hallows Gedling website.
Webpage for Main Street Methodist Church
Vouchers for the foodbank available at The Ark community cafe, Wollaton Avenue
Thursday 1 December 2016
Advent
It is Advent
Traditionally, today, 1st December, is the day we open the first door on the Advent Calendar. What is behind the first door? These days it is probably a chocolate, which is OK. Chocolate is good. But it's not the whole story. In fact, it's not the story at all.
The story of Advent is about waiting, looking forward, expecting, hoping.
Christmas is a celebration of all the above. It all happened when Jesus came.
He came that first time as a tiny baby, of course, but he still comes to those who wait and hope. He comes as a friend and he comes as someone who understands.
In the Old Testament, Isaiah says:
The "stump of Jesse" is Jesus.
Jesus says: I am the vine. You are the branches
That is worth waiting for and we can experience it, every day, in our own lives
Traditionally, today, 1st December, is the day we open the first door on the Advent Calendar. What is behind the first door? These days it is probably a chocolate, which is OK. Chocolate is good. But it's not the whole story. In fact, it's not the story at all.
The story of Advent is about waiting, looking forward, expecting, hoping.
- Waiting for God to come into our lives
- Looking forward to seeing things put right
- Expecting something wonderful
- Hoping for something good
Christmas is a celebration of all the above. It all happened when Jesus came.
He came that first time as a tiny baby, of course, but he still comes to those who wait and hope. He comes as a friend and he comes as someone who understands.
In the Old Testament, Isaiah says:
A shoot will sprout from the stump of JesseThe picture is of a vine in a vineyard. It has been pruned hard but when the time is right - in the spring or after the first rains - it will start to grow again and, in time, it will bear fruit and, in time, those grapes will yield juice and wine.
and, from that rootstock, a branch will grow and bear fruit.
The "stump of Jesse" is Jesus.
Jesus says: I am the vine. You are the branches
That is worth waiting for and we can experience it, every day, in our own lives
Christmas is coming
Christmas publicity
We are now in Advent and it will soon be Christmas.
We have ordered leaflets and posters to advertise services and other events at BJCC during December. Posters should start to appear around the village in a couple of weeks time.
Look out for something like this:
Our publicity material is being produced for us by CPO in Brighton
We are now in Advent and it will soon be Christmas.
We have ordered leaflets and posters to advertise services and other events at BJCC during December. Posters should start to appear around the village in a couple of weeks time.
Look out for something like this:
Our publicity material is being produced for us by CPO in Brighton
Next Sunday
Second Sunday in Advent
Our morning service starts at 10.30am.
We welcome Tim Coleman our newly ordained deacon from Nottingham East Methodist Circuit to lead our service for Advent 2. Tim is always worth hearing and is guaranteed to lead us in a good time of worship. There may be carols (No pressure, Tim.)
Not cream teas this month but Mince Pies & tea at 3pm on Sunday afternoon. Come along for a time of good company and warm fellowship.
See other details for Advent and Christmas here
Our morning service starts at 10.30am.
We welcome Tim Coleman our newly ordained deacon from Nottingham East Methodist Circuit to lead our service for Advent 2. Tim is always worth hearing and is guaranteed to lead us in a good time of worship. There may be carols (No pressure, Tim.)
Not cream teas this month but Mince Pies & tea at 3pm on Sunday afternoon. Come along for a time of good company and warm fellowship.
See other details for Advent and Christmas here
The Cross (2)
The cross is back!
The cross from the side of the church tower has been renovated and put back in position.
Apparently, it took quite a bit of work to get it into shape so well done everyone who helped to get it working again. It's looking good and shining out bravely.
I saw it as I walked home through the village this evening.
Excellent work.
Thursday 24 November 2016
Study Day (2)
Circuit Study Day
The study day took place last Saturday at Emmanuel Church, Bestwood.
Values Based Discipleship.
On a cold, bright morning, Laurence Singlehurst was among the first to arrive having driven from Harpenden to lead us through the day. Very soon there were twenty or more people ready to go. What sort of values were we talking about? The values we are looking for will be found in Jesus himself and Laurence based his opening remarks on 2 Peter 3,18:
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The day divided into four sessions:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength ... (and) Love your neighbour as yourself.
In this context, he encouraged us to have:
People say: Love your neighbour ... but I say: Love your enemies.
Mission is about connecting with people but it is not so much something we do as something we are. We need to be a big-hearted people, warm, welcoming and hospitable, living a life full of forgiveness, generosity, faithfulness, encouragement and integrity. As such, our values based mission will be about creating spaces for people using, among other things, the rhythms of the church year - Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, Harvest - as well Messy Church, Buggy, Toddler or Family Services, social media, Alpha and other resources - opportunities to invite people to explore what a values based life is all about.
The study day took place last Saturday at Emmanuel Church, Bestwood.
Values Based Discipleship.
On a cold, bright morning, Laurence Singlehurst was among the first to arrive having driven from Harpenden to lead us through the day. Very soon there were twenty or more people ready to go. What sort of values were we talking about? The values we are looking for will be found in Jesus himself and Laurence based his opening remarks on 2 Peter 3,18:
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The day divided into four sessions:
- The Big Picture
- Four Key Values
- Values for Mission
- Values for Daily Living
- After the Saxons (AD 450-550): The Celtic church and its mission
- After AD 1066: Wycliffe, the Lollards, the Reformation
- After the abolition of the monastaries: Puritan revival
- In the eighteenth century: the Methodist revival, the Wesleys
- Now: the second half of the twentieth century/in progress
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength ... (and) Love your neighbour as yourself.
In this context, he encouraged us to have:
- a high view of God
- a high view of other people
- a high view of yourself
- a high view of love
People say: Love your neighbour ... but I say: Love your enemies.
Mission is about connecting with people but it is not so much something we do as something we are. We need to be a big-hearted people, warm, welcoming and hospitable, living a life full of forgiveness, generosity, faithfulness, encouragement and integrity. As such, our values based mission will be about creating spaces for people using, among other things, the rhythms of the church year - Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, Harvest - as well Messy Church, Buggy, Toddler or Family Services, social media, Alpha and other resources - opportunities to invite people to explore what a values based life is all about.
Tuesday 22 November 2016
Development Project
Development Project
We are hoping soon to make some alterations to the inside of the church and arrangements in the church hall (The Schoolroom) - but it is not going to happen immediately. Plans are with the architect but various permissions still have to be obtained before we can begin.
Briefly, we intend to install a new toilet and a kitchenette area in the back corner of the church to facilitate the use of the church as an independent space apart from the church hall.
Once that has been done, we plan to take out the kitchen that presently serves the church hall and install a completely new kitchen in the room next door (now used as the vestry). This will upgrade the kitchen facilities to be more in line with modern requirements. *
* In a change of plans, the kitchen has now been replaced in situ (August 2017) to avoid the long delays in the approval process for alterations (a consequence of the buildings Grade 2 listed status). All cupboards and appliances have been completely renewed.
The toilets at the far end of the hall will also be upgraded.
When these changes have been made, we should have two independent function spaces each with their own modern toilet and, at least, basic kitchen facilities. Then, two groups can use the premises at the same time without disturbing each other. That's the idea, anyway.
We hope that, by making these changes, the building can be made more useful both for the church members and for the various community groups that hire the space for their week to week activities.
We are hoping soon to make some alterations to the inside of the church and arrangements in the church hall (The Schoolroom) - but it is not going to happen immediately. Plans are with the architect but various permissions still have to be obtained before we can begin.
Briefly, we intend to install a new toilet and a kitchenette area in the back corner of the church to facilitate the use of the church as an independent space apart from the church hall.
Once that has been done, we plan to take out the kitchen that presently serves the church hall and install a completely new kitchen in the room next door (now used as the vestry). This will upgrade the kitchen facilities to be more in line with modern requirements. *
* In a change of plans, the kitchen has now been replaced in situ (August 2017) to avoid the long delays in the approval process for alterations (a consequence of the buildings Grade 2 listed status). All cupboards and appliances have been completely renewed.
The toilets at the far end of the hall will also be upgraded.
When these changes have been made, we should have two independent function spaces each with their own modern toilet and, at least, basic kitchen facilities. Then, two groups can use the premises at the same time without disturbing each other. That's the idea, anyway.
We hope that, by making these changes, the building can be made more useful both for the church members and for the various community groups that hire the space for their week to week activities.
Monday 21 November 2016
The Cross
The Church Cross
The illuminated church cross on the front of the church building on the corner of Meadow Lane is not as illuminated as it once was. Only a handful of the lights still work, so the cross will be removed early this week (Monday) so the lights can be replaced and other repairs carried out. Hopefully, the cross will be back in place and working within a few days.
If you see a cherry-picker parked outside the church sometime this week, this is the reason. We apologise for any inconvenience this work may cause local traffic and pedestrians.
Thinking about the cross: It is a widely used symbol, used in churches and by people who never go to church, but what does it mean? It refers to the fact that Jesus was executed by the Roman authorities by being nailed to a wooden cross in about AD 33, i.e. almost two thousand years ago.
That's both pretty grim and a very long time ago.
So, why should we care?
We remember that event every year on the day we call Good Friday, the Friday before Easter Sunday. But why call it "Good"? Because that event, the execution of Jesus, tells us about God's love. That might seem hard to believe but, in the death of Jesus, God is saying in effect: "I'll go through anything for you, even this." It shows how much God cares.
That's why people wear the cross and have it, illuminated or not, on their church buildings: it reminds them about love.
And if God cares that much, perhaps we should too.
The illuminated church cross on the front of the church building on the corner of Meadow Lane is not as illuminated as it once was. Only a handful of the lights still work, so the cross will be removed early this week (Monday) so the lights can be replaced and other repairs carried out. Hopefully, the cross will be back in place and working within a few days.
If you see a cherry-picker parked outside the church sometime this week, this is the reason. We apologise for any inconvenience this work may cause local traffic and pedestrians.
Thinking about the cross: It is a widely used symbol, used in churches and by people who never go to church, but what does it mean? It refers to the fact that Jesus was executed by the Roman authorities by being nailed to a wooden cross in about AD 33, i.e. almost two thousand years ago.
That's both pretty grim and a very long time ago.
So, why should we care?
We remember that event every year on the day we call Good Friday, the Friday before Easter Sunday. But why call it "Good"? Because that event, the execution of Jesus, tells us about God's love. That might seem hard to believe but, in the death of Jesus, God is saying in effect: "I'll go through anything for you, even this." It shows how much God cares.
That's why people wear the cross and have it, illuminated or not, on their church buildings: it reminds them about love.
And if God cares that much, perhaps we should too.
Friday 18 November 2016
Christmas services
CHRISTMAS @ BJCC
Nativity & Gift service
Sunday 11th December 2016, 10.30am
Gifts for The Friary, the Nottingham charity for the homeless
(See leaflet on notice board in the hall)
Carols round the crib
Saturday 17th December 2016, 4.30pm
Churches Together event
Carols by Candlelight
Monday 19th December 2016, 6.30pm
Christmas Eve communion
Saturday 24th December 2016, 4pm
Christmas Day
Sunday 25th December 2016, 09.30am
This short service begins at 9.30am
....
Nativity & Gift service
Sunday 11th December 2016, 10.30am
Gifts for The Friary, the Nottingham charity for the homeless
(See leaflet on notice board in the hall)
Carols round the crib
Saturday 17th December 2016, 4.30pm
Churches Together event
Carols by Candlelight
Monday 19th December 2016, 6.30pm
Christmas Eve communion
Saturday 24th December 2016, 4pm
Christmas Day
Sunday 25th December 2016, 09.30am
This short service begins at 9.30am
....
Open Church
Every Thursday morning from 10am to 12noon
Drop in for a look round or come in for a few moments quiet in a busy day
There is always someone around if you need a chat
OPEN CHURCH: a place for everyone
Drop in for a look round or come in for a few moments quiet in a busy day
There is always someone around if you need a chat
OPEN CHURCH: a place for everyone
Thursday 17 November 2016
Study Day
The Nottingham East Circuit Study Day is tomorrow, Saturday 19th November 2016
Values Based Discipleship
led by Laurence Singlehurst
Values Based Discipleship
led by Laurence Singlehurst
- Arrive 9:30am for a 10am start
- Emmanuel Church, Bestwood
- Church View Close
- off Bewcastle Road
- NG5 9QP
- Bring a packed lunch
- Drinks provided
- Donations towards the cost of the day would be welcome
- Should finish about 4pm
- More details here
Sunday 13 November 2016
Art Show
The Burton Joyce Art Society will hold an Art Exhibition in the church hall (aka The Schoolroom) of Burton Joyce Community Church next Saturday: 19th November 2016.
In support of the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance. Please come along and support this good cause and enjoy the art and the tea and cakes.
Here is a YouTube video of the Art Exhibition held in the church hall on 15th November 2008: Art Show 2008
- Time: 10am - 4pm.
- Free entrance.
- Tea, Coffee & Cakes.
In support of the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance. Please come along and support this good cause and enjoy the art and the tea and cakes.
Here is a YouTube video of the Art Exhibition held in the church hall on 15th November 2008: Art Show 2008
Autumn Lunch - 2
The Autumn Lunch on Saturday 12th November was a great success. Many thanks to all those involved in any way. The sale of knitted Christmas tree novelties raised almost £50. The total raised so far is almost £300, a very useful contribution towards regular church expenses. Thankyou to everyone.
Thursday 10 November 2016
Autumn Lunch
The BJCC Autumn Lunch
This Saturday!
In the church schoolroom. Entrance in Meadow Lane
Come along. Bring a friend.
This Saturday!
In the church schoolroom. Entrance in Meadow Lane
- Saturday 12th November, 12 noon to 2 pm
- A selection of warming soups and a range of sweets
- £5
- Raffle
- Christmas novelties stall
Come along. Bring a friend.
Tuesday 8 November 2016
Young People
Fresh ideas about church from the URC Synod
Extracts from a report from the East Midlands Synod of the URC" On Saturday 8th October 2016, the young people who gathered at our Synod meeting discussed what their hopes and dreams for the church were ... "
" ... there does need to be some structure to times and types of worship so that people know when worship is happening and what type it is. For example, cafe church on the same day each week / month. "See the full report here: Hopes & Dreams
Roll up! Roll up!
Check out the events planned for November and December at BJCC
It is nearly Christmas and lots of new events have been added to our Events page.Please take a moment to look, check what is going on and put them in your diary.
Please note: Most of the November events are at the bottom of the page because the church's year begins with Advent which covers the four weeks running up to Christmas.
Look out for the Autumn Lunch, mince pies, carols and more carols. There is a Nativity service, Christmas Eve communion and a service on Christmas morning.
All the details are on the Events page.
In addition, we are very excited to know that there will be a wedding in the church on Saturday 3rd December at 1 pm. We would wish every blessing to Amy and Nick.
What Price a New Minister?
The Methodist Church: Stationing
Those of you who are Methodists by upbringing or accident may understand what stationing is all about. It is the way the Methodist Church decides which minister to send where. The stationing itself, the actually going somewhere, happens at the beginning of September each year but the process of considering and deciding begins well over a year before and decisions tend to get made in the autumn of the previous year - like now.You may be aware that at this moment, the Nottingham East Circuit of the Methodist Church (and that includes us at the Burton Joyce Community Church ... just) is actively seeking a new minister to take on the role of Superintendent Minister in the Circuit (Ask me sometime). This process is well under way and a little bird has told me that a suitable candidate - if that is the right turn of phrase; possibly not - has been identified by those charged with this task (representatives of all the churches in the Circuit).
What we can all do is pray.
It is a tough process for all those involved. Let's hold them up to the Lord in love.
To illustrate what it can mean for the ministers and their families, I thought I would share with you this blog post (see link below), from eighteen months or so ago, from someone intimately involved in the process. It is, I think you will agree, thought provoking and a stimulus to our prayers.
Stationing, a personal view: Flight of the Skypilot
The Friary
Working to end homelessness
Many of you will know that The Friary is a Nottingham based charity working on behalf of the homeless. The charity is based in West Bridgeford. At Burton Joyce Community Church, we support The Friary and its work by collecting various household, personal and general items as specifically requested for the use of the users of the service. If you have goods to donate, you can leave them in bags on the choir stalls in the church and they will be taken over to The Friary. There are some leaflets available in church or on the notice board which list the kind of things that are needed.We also support the work financially.
You can learn more about The Friary and its work here: The Friary
East Midlands News
News from the United Reformed Church in the East Midlands
The United Reformed Church in the East Midlands Synod publishes a regular newsletter. You can find all the info here: URC e-lettersThursday 27 October 2016
Discipleship day
Circuit Retreat and Discipleship Day
- Saturday 19 November 2016
- at Emmanuel Church, Bestwood Park
- with Laurence Singlehurst
- Laurence is Director of Cell UK and former Director of Youth with a Mission, England.
- He is a regular speaker at national events such as Spring Harvest and cell conferences worldwide.
- His particular passion is equipping churches to reach their communities, with an emphasis on network evangelism empowered by cell church structure.
- Laurence is the author of several books including Loving the Lost, Sowing Reaping Keeping, and The Gospel Message Today.
LP&WL meeting
The Local Preachers & Worship Leaders meeting for the Nottingham East Methodist Circuit took place last night at Sherwood Methodist Church.
Our new probationary minister, Moses Agyam, led the devotions at the start of the meeting.
Moses has responsibilty for three churches within the Nottingham East Circuit: Mapperley, Phoenix Farm and Gedling Road in Carlton.
He described how, as a child of the manse, he acquired a love for the scriptures at an early age through family devotions and how, on moving to Britain, he became involved in South Harrow Methodist Church. At that church he found an inspiring local preacher who, in time, became his mentor as he trained to become a local preacher in his turn. Moses emphasised how love for the scriptures underpins any preaching ministry and warned of the dangers posed by the busyness of our lives and by a sense of over-familiarity with the scriptures themselves, both of which may undermine our ministry. He urged us to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly (Colossians 3 v16).
The business discussed at the meeting included the progress of the two people training as local preachers and a recent training course for Worship Leaders. We also welcomed a student minister, Judith Lincoln, who will be attached to the Arnold Methodist Church.
There is a Circuit discipleship day in November to which all are invited (see next post).
Our new probationary minister, Moses Agyam, led the devotions at the start of the meeting.
Moses has responsibilty for three churches within the Nottingham East Circuit: Mapperley, Phoenix Farm and Gedling Road in Carlton.
He described how, as a child of the manse, he acquired a love for the scriptures at an early age through family devotions and how, on moving to Britain, he became involved in South Harrow Methodist Church. At that church he found an inspiring local preacher who, in time, became his mentor as he trained to become a local preacher in his turn. Moses emphasised how love for the scriptures underpins any preaching ministry and warned of the dangers posed by the busyness of our lives and by a sense of over-familiarity with the scriptures themselves, both of which may undermine our ministry. He urged us to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly (Colossians 3 v16).
The business discussed at the meeting included the progress of the two people training as local preachers and a recent training course for Worship Leaders. We also welcomed a student minister, Judith Lincoln, who will be attached to the Arnold Methodist Church.
There is a Circuit discipleship day in November to which all are invited (see next post).
Wednesday 26 October 2016
BJCC Website
As you can see, I am busy creating a website for Burton Joyce Community Church. This is inevitably a bit experimental at this stage but it will get better as time goes on. At least, I hope it does. So far, I have created four pages: About, Activities, Events and People. This page, the Blog, will show posts (like this one) that relate to things going on in and around the church. It is, in effect, a kind of diary in which we can note down our thoughts on what's going on day by day and week to week.
About
The About page is about the church and what we think we're here for. It gives a brief history, where we are coming from as it were, and sums up our hopes for the future. It will also have a location map (when I get round to it) and directions for finding the church which is conveniently situated in the centre of the village.
Activities
The Activities page gives details of our regular groups and meetings including, of course, the time of Sunday worship - although this keeps changing at the moment so watch that space. If you are confused, we have been experimenting with a 10.15 am start on Sunday morning to make it easier for some of our congregation. This is for three months: September, October and November. It turns out that the earlier start makes it more difficult for others in the congregation and, on reflection, we have decided to revert to a 10.30 starting time from December. So, 1015 at the moment, and until the end of November, then 10.30.
Events
The Events page is intented as a place to give details of less frequent meetings, for example, irregular, seasonal or annual things, if 'things' is the right word. I have organised it in the form of a calendar for the year: Advent, Christmas, etc. etc. This is experimental, it could change and probably will.
People
Ah, here's the thing. Who are these people who call themselves the Burton Joyce Community Church? The People page lists the people who, foolishly or otherwise, have some responsibility within the setup at BJCC. You will see our minister, Malcolm Fife (because there is a photo of him - which I filched from the East Nottingham Circuit website. Acknowledgement, Apologies and Many Thanks). You will also see the members of the leadership team and their various responsibilities. There are contact numbers and email addresses where appropriate. Finally, you will find contact details for both the Circuit Office (Methodist) and the Synod Office (URC) which, it looks to me, are practically round the corner from each other. So they can easily pop in and see each other should the need arise. In theory anyway.
That's it so far and that's enough for now. Thank you for your patience. PC
About
The About page is about the church and what we think we're here for. It gives a brief history, where we are coming from as it were, and sums up our hopes for the future. It will also have a location map (when I get round to it) and directions for finding the church which is conveniently situated in the centre of the village.
Activities
The Activities page gives details of our regular groups and meetings including, of course, the time of Sunday worship - although this keeps changing at the moment so watch that space. If you are confused, we have been experimenting with a 10.15 am start on Sunday morning to make it easier for some of our congregation. This is for three months: September, October and November. It turns out that the earlier start makes it more difficult for others in the congregation and, on reflection, we have decided to revert to a 10.30 starting time from December. So, 1015 at the moment, and until the end of November, then 10.30.
Events
The Events page is intented as a place to give details of less frequent meetings, for example, irregular, seasonal or annual things, if 'things' is the right word. I have organised it in the form of a calendar for the year: Advent, Christmas, etc. etc. This is experimental, it could change and probably will.
People
Ah, here's the thing. Who are these people who call themselves the Burton Joyce Community Church? The People page lists the people who, foolishly or otherwise, have some responsibility within the setup at BJCC. You will see our minister, Malcolm Fife (because there is a photo of him - which I filched from the East Nottingham Circuit website. Acknowledgement, Apologies and Many Thanks). You will also see the members of the leadership team and their various responsibilities. There are contact numbers and email addresses where appropriate. Finally, you will find contact details for both the Circuit Office (Methodist) and the Synod Office (URC) which, it looks to me, are practically round the corner from each other. So they can easily pop in and see each other should the need arise. In theory anyway.
That's it so far and that's enough for now. Thank you for your patience. PC
Tuesday 25 October 2016
BJCC Leadership Team
Stewards meeting
- The leadership Team met at Dinah's: Tuesday 25th October 2016
- Malcolm read the story of Zachaeus from Luke's gospel and commended it to us as being relevant to today's world where many people find themselves outcasts for one reason or another.
- We shared what we knew of the needs of people associated with BJCC and prayed.
- Malcolm mentioned a new initiative from the URC East Midlands Synod to train and equip lay leadership within the churches. There is an impending crisis in numbers of the ordained ministry.
- Christine reported on matters to do with the building: preparations being made for new flood defences at the two lower doors and new carpeting in the entrance hall and in the kitchen. There was some discussion about priorities in the forthcoming building work: a new toilet and coffee making facility to be installed at the back of the church and then a new kitchen installed in what is now the vestry.
- Dinah reported from the Worship Committee: to help in the task of filling preaching appointments for Sunday mornings from March 2017 onwards, we will experiment with a new Fellowship Worship on the first Sunday in each month for three months (March-May) in which stewards and members of the congregation will lead worship incorporating readings, songs and prayers. Phil has offered to explore the possibility of inviting a Nottingham based Gospel Choir to come and give a concert at BJCC.
- Various other matters were discussed.
- A date was set for the next meeting: 27th November at 2pm.
Local Preachers and Worship Leaders
Nottingham East Circuit, The Methodist Church
- Local Preachers and Worship Leaders in the Nottingham East Circuit of the Methodist Church will meet at Sherwood Methodist Church at 7.30pm on Wednesday 26th October 2016.
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