News & Updates (Page 3)
Lent Prayer Book
Our lent prayer book has sold out again and several people during this mornings service were asking for a copy. So here is a digital version! It is in PDF format so should work on most devices. Download PDF
All we can – Inspirational Women Appeal
The Methodist Relief and Development fund, now known as All We Can is encouraging churches to support their Inspirational Women Campaign during March. We felt it was particularly appropriate to do so on Mothering Sunday. This video was featured as part of our mothering sunday service. More information can be found here.
Because I am a girl – Plan UK
Jesus Christ is raging, raging in the streets, where injustice spirals and real hope retreats. Listen, Lord Jesus, I am angry too: in the Kingdom’s causes let me rage with you. – John Bell & Graham Maule In addition to information about benefit sanctions during the service(8th March) Ali also talked about the Plan UK campaign to end child marriage. Plan works with some of the worlds poorest children over their 76 year history they have found that young girls face…
Time to Rethink Benefit Sanctions
Love inspires the anger that curses poverty, preaches life’s enrichment, seeks equality. – Andrew Pratt During Sundays service (8th march), Ali talked about a recent Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT) report into the effectiveness and consequences of the sanctions currently enforced on state benefits. The report uncovers some startling statistics. The full report and more information can be found here. Once you have read it or watched the video below you can write to your mp from here.
Sandra Godley at Café Arts
I was at the Café Arts project at Hounslow Methodist Church a few weeks ago, watching Gospel singer Sandra Godley perform. Last time I came to the Saturday night project was during my final year at university. I studied Journalism and Spanish at Roehampton, and visiting Café Arts is one of my favourite memories, as it was a refreshing break from my final deadlines, and an easy story for a budding journo. It was good to be back. Sandra kicked…
Shelter Update
We have just three Thursdays left in this season and we are continuing to provide meals and a bed for a night for our guests. The project’s coordinator and case worker are working hard to help our guests to find accommodation, work or appropriate support. The good news is that two of the men have, this week, moved into their own accommodation. We wish them well, rejoice with them and hold them in our prayers. Please continue to remember the…
Shelter Update – 1st February
The shelter season is half way through! This last week the shelter was completely full – we had 14 overnight guests and provided an additional 11 meals for those turning up at the door (and volunteers were fed too!). Amazingly there was just the right amount of food! This week we served a meal of homemade chicken pie, potatoes & veg, followed by chocolate bread and butter pudding – all served by smiling volunteers at tables beautifully set by Ackhira…
New data: More than 100 people per day with mental health problems are having their benefits sanctioned
This is a news release by the Methodist Church about a new report to be published by JPIT. New data released today has revealed that benefits claimants judged as unfit to work due to mental health problems are more likely to have their benefits stopped by sanctions than those suffering from other conditions. Policy advisers for the Methodist Church obtained the data using Freedom of Information Requests to the Department of Work and Pensions. It shows that people who receive…
Shelter Update – Sunday 23rd January
The shelters are almost at capacity at the moment with new guests being welcomed this week. We are also providing meals only to some that just turn up at the door and are pleased that we are in the position to provide a hot meal and some company if only for an hour or two. Please continue to remember the project in your prayers.
A Word in Time – Bible Study and Prayer from the Methodist Church
Have you ever looked at the daily Bible Readings and reflections and the daily prayer posted online by the Methodist Church? It’s well worth a look. I (Margaret) use it regularly and one reason why I like it is because it is written by a different person each week which I find particularly refreshing. This week the reflections on the Bible passage are written by our very own Naomi Oates – so perhaps it’s a good week to start having a look at it! The Daily bible studies…
Shelter Update – Sunday 17th January
Please continue to pray for the homeless shelter – the guests and the volunteers. The nights are so cold at the moment and we are pleased we can do the little we do to bring some comfort to those without a warm place to sleep. This week we welcomed two new guests into the shelter. One guest has left having secured work and accommodation which we give thanks fo
Christmas isn’t over!
The decorations are down, the cards and letters read, diets started – but actually its still Christmas! Liturgically the Christmas season continues until Candlemas on February 2nd. That traditionally is when crib scenes are packed away and if you visit many churches and cathedrals you will see that they still have their crib scenes on display. So this year our nativity set is still on display on a windowsill, to remind us of the wonder of the very special gift of Jesus to the…
Shelter Update – January 11th
The shelter here at Bell Road remains open every Thursday night until the end of March and we are so grateful to all those who have volunteered to help in so many ways. We have had some good evenings so far and are getting to know our guests better. The evenings are happy with lots of conversations and often a game or two – even if rules are often disputed! Some of the men have begun to pick up a little work or are…
At journeys end….
On Christmas Eve, during the Christingle service, our Posada reached its last stop on the journey to Christmas. Posada is a South American custom of taking Mary and Joseph on a journey to different homes during Advent. Posada is a Spanish word meaning “inn”. It reminds us of the journey Mary and Joseph made from Nazareth to Bethlehem where Jesus was born. Beginning on the first Sunday of Advent, 30th November, nativity figures of Mary and Joseph travelled around the…
Faith in Politics
Our faith in politics event took place on Friday 5th December and was a great success with about 45 people there from several different churches and faith groups. The community atmosphere was good, supper appreciated, questions were challenging and answered fairly succinctly (for politicians!) with some good debate between them and John as question master kept them in control! You can download a list of all the questions submitted here. Theses have also been sent to the panellists so they…
Welcome to our new members
Last sunday morning we celebrated the welcoming into membership of three new members. Cedelle, Kadeem and Rosemary were all welcomed into membership during a special service led by our minister. All have been part of our church family for a while and we are delighted that they have decided to take this next step in their faith and in belonging to the church family. Please keep them in your prayers.
Shelter Update
Another good evening at the shelter this week again with almost a ‘full house’. It is good to be getting to know some of a guests a bit better. One guest started a job on Friday which is good news and we pray for success in this and that it may lead to a more settled future. The needs of the men are very varied; all are vulnerable in many different ways. Please keep them in your prayers. Thank you…
A letter from our minister
This post was originally part of the circuit newsletter. Dear friends, It was almost annoying to be bombarded with constant reminders via emails; texts; billboards; television and radio adverts about “Black Friday”, It didn’t surprise me when a twelve year old asked me to explain what “Black Friday” was all about. It is obvious that something had caught the attention of this youngster; also it was obvious that they youngster was very ignorant about what it was referring to. I…
JMA Service
In October at the annual Bell Road JMA service 21 children and young people were presented with their awards at a very special service led by Revd Barbara McIntivey. A grand total of over a thousand pounds had been collected – very well done! Even better was the news afterwards that 5 new collectors are now joining the group. There should be record totals next year!
Acting for Justice
This post was originally a guest post on the JPIT blog by Naomi. The original can be found here. Bell Road Methodist Church in Hounslow has a long history of social action; each year, members stuff envelopes for a local homelessness charity and join with other churches in the area to help run a homeless shelter during the winter months. But just over a year ago, the church family decided that it wasn’t enough simply to provide food and shelter…