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Welcome to The Buzz!
The Buzz is a great resource that brings the whole Methodist Church in Britain together by sharing good news from the Connexion. The stories below illustrate different ways in which the Church is working out the four aspects of Our Calling: Worship, Learning and Caring, Service and Evangelism.
If you have any stories to share, why not get in touch?
Have a blessed month!
Rosie Winn
Media Officer
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WORSHIP – Church welcomes refugees
The Church at Carrs Lane, Birmingham
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The Church at Carrs Lane in Birmingham City Centre organised ‘Coming Together’ to welcome refugee groups from around the city during Refugee Week.
The event included poems and stories written by refugees. A local rabbi introduced a film clip of her father and a Syrian boy, both refugees at different times. This brought a moving silence.
‘Choir with No Name’, a group of local singers sang and there was also a scratch choir made up of choir members, refugees, and church folk.
Refugees from at least nine countries, and at different stages of the refugee process in the UK, attended the event.
The Church at Carrs Lane and Birmingham Progressive Synagogue regularly run a welcome afternoon for refugees living in central Birmingham, at which they eat and practice English together.
Deacon Ruth Yorke said: “It was a really positive, interesting and moving event which celebrated the contributions of refugees to life in the UK and heard their voice.”
www.carrslane.co.uk
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LEARNING AND CARING – A new hope for jobseekers
Pollokshaws Methodist Church, Glasgow
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With continued pressure on services in Glasgow, one church in the city has stepped forward and has already helped 1,000 people in their journey towards finding work.
Pollokshaws Methodist Church partnered with award-winning charity Christians Against Poverty four years ago to open a job club.
Phil Haggis, who manages the Job Club, said: “For a job club to have such a great success rate is very rare, particularly in the current climate of unemployment.
“The beauty of local churches is that they are a great resource in the community. We are seeing all our members graduating with a renewed confidence and fervour to put themselves forward for jobs.”
Jill Baker, former Vice-President of the Methodist Conference, recently visited the job club. “We were very impressed with the work we saw at Pollokshaws Job Club, which is living out the good news of Jesus in real, practical ways,” she said.
www.capuk.org
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EVANGELISM – Thank God for football
New Cross LEP Community Church, Sutton
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People enjoyed a day of World Cup fever and worship when a group of churches joined together to celebrate the tournament.
‘Thank God for Football’ was held at New Cross LEP Community Church in Sutton, in the Nottingham and Derby Methodist District.
The Revd Peter Taylor led a presentation based on the Christian roots of football, including the team Aston Villa, a famous football club with Methodist links.
The day was well attended and fun-packed. People enjoyed a World Cup quiz, football-style chants, and a documentary, ‘Hallowed be thy game’. They ate football snacks, sang football-related hymns such as ‘O when the Saints go marching in’ and ‘Abide with me’. Children played table football, designed flags and received a Scripture Union sports booklet.
The Revd Peter Taylor said: “What has been pleasing for me is that since the event a number of people from the ‘11 Alive’ Cafe Church (at New Cross LEP-Methodist and Anglican-Community Church) have wanted to meet up to watch the England games. It has created a great atmosphere of friendship.”
www.methodist-nd.org.uk
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SERVICE – Church music group supporting runners
with songs and water
Four Oaks Church, Birmingham
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Members of Four Oaks Church in the Birmingham Sutton Park Circuit supported participants at the Great Midlands Fun Run.
In previous years, members from the church’s music group have wished runners on with singing and playing music. This year, the church was appointed an official watering station.
Members of the church handed out almost 2,000 cups of water to the grateful runners. They also offered them use of the church’s toilet facilities.
www.fouroaksmethodist.org.uk
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280 years ago, John Wesley wrote about his heart being strangely warmed. These additional Buzz stories focus on “the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ”.
#heartwarmed – Grand Opening of Spiritual Sanctuary
Richmond Methodist Primary School, North Yorkshire
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A Spiritual Sanctuary has been built at a school for children to use as a space for calmness, prayer and reflection during their play times.
The whole school gathered on the school field in the sunshine to enjoy a very thoughtful act of collective worship, looking at different aspects and traditions of prayer and reflection.
Volunteers from the North Yorkshire Dales Methodist Circuit and beyond shared prayers and took part in reflection activities.
Children were invited to walk a prayer labyrinth, to think about how they had changed with thank-you butterflies, to pray for others by making pipe-cleaner people, and to reflect on calmness with glitter jars and on forgiveness by wiping out impressions in a sand tray.
Children and teachers enjoyed all the activities and sent a big “thank you” to all the wonderful Church members who made Reflection Week such a special time.
Schools and Families Worker Rachel Pinkney said: “The Spiritual Sanctuary is providing all children with a permanent space to be still, to think, pray and take time out from the rush and business of the school day. It is an oasis of calm in the playground.”
www.richmondmethodists.co.uk
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