ROYSTON METHODIST CHURCH, Queens Road

Notices for Sunday 23rd November 2008

Almighty God,

may your glory fill our worship

as we proclaim your Son

King of kings, and Lord of lords;

and accept the homage of your people

as we offer our lives in the service

of your eternal kingdom;

now and for ever, Amen

This week Royston & District Churches Together are carrying in their prayers the All Saints Church, Melbourn.

Weekly Bible readings:

23rd Nov: 2 Samuel 23: 1-7, Psalm 132: 1-12 (13-18), Revelation 1: 4b-8, and John 18: 33-37

30th Nov: Isaiah 64: 1-9, Psalm 80: 1-7, 17-19, 1 Corinthians 1: 3-9, and Mark 13: 24-37

Sunday 23rd November 2008 – Overseas Missions Sunday – Launch of UNCLE

10.00am Morning Service led by Revd Michael Hawksworth

During this service the JMA awards will be presented.

5.15pm Missions Tea – a chance for you to meet with Michael and Maureen

who have been working for the United Missions to Nepal in Kathmandu

6.30pm Evening Service led by Revd Michael Hawksworth and Revd Ian Smart

Everyone is welcome at Queens Road, especially newcomers; please sign the visitor’s book and take a copy of our preaching plan and church magazine. If you would like to have the weekly notices in Large Print Format, or any of our books in Large Print – Methodist Worship Book, Hymns & Psalms, Queens Road Song Book, please ask one of the Door Stewards. There is a crèche for the under 3’s in the office at the back of the Church for the morning service only, please ask a steward. Coffee is served in the Church Hall after the morning service. The church has a loop system, please turn hearing aids to the T position to use this facility.

This Week

Wednesday 26th November – Local Preachers Meeting - with a presentation by members of Chesterton Church

Thursday 27th November – 8.00pm – Thursday @ 8 – The Rise of Nonconformism – How did we get here and how on earth did we end up as we are? Where are we going and what does God want of us? This talk will be given by Revd Canon Wim Zwalf, the Rural Dean of Wisbech Lynn Marshland. It will be light-hearted but never the less a serious talk on the state of the worldwide church and is highly recommended.

Friday 28th November at 7.30pm at the Histon Methodist Church with powerpoint presentation by Leo Cheng and his daughter Kat – Leo and his 16 year old daughter, Kat, have had an amazing time on board the Africa Mercy, one of the Mercy Ships in Liberia for 2 weeks. It was like being half way to heaven. Kat did not want to come home because of the fellowship with like-minded Christian peers on the ship. Kat had many unforgettable experiences which she would like to share from a teenager's perspective. Leo did more surgery to change life and he has also developed further insight in the land-based projects, for instance, a well digging project and AIDS education projects. Come along and share Kat and Leo's life-changing experiences.

Next Week

Monday 1st December – Thursday @ 8 – Trip To St Ives

Tuesday 2nd December - 8.00pm – Emmaus 3 – at The Manse

Thursday 4th December – 8.00pm – – 6.00pm – Stewards to meet to decorate the Church, followed at 8.00pm – with a Stewards Meeting – at The Manse

Saturday 6th December – 9.30am-12 noon – JMA Coffee Morning - Beat the Credit Crunch – get your Christmas Gifts here – coffee and mince pies, stationery, books, toiletries, jigsaws, games, cakes and much, much more, everyone welcome.

Sunday 7th December – First Sunday – 10.00am & 6.30pm, discussion at 7.30pm

Sunday Lunch (roast beef) – 12.15pm – book tickets at £7.50 or £4 for smaller portions from Joan Munden or Jennie Harris. These lunches are held to raise money for our youth work fund.

We are invited to join with the singers from St John the Baptist Parish Church on the afternoon of 7th December to sing carols for the shoppers in Royston. Details to follow of where we will meet.

6.00pm – Thursday @ 8 Special - “Christmas Begins Here” - a visit to the West Road Cambridge Concert Hall to see the Cambridge Citadel Salvation Army Band.

7.30pm – First Sunday Discussion with Revd Tim Macquiban from Wesley, Cambridge, in the Eldon Room

General Notices

Please remember in your prayers everyone mentioned on our prayer list.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! - The 3rd Royston Methodist Guides would like to say a BIG thank you to members of the Queens Road Methodist Church (especially Church Council Members) for their overwhelming support at their recent coffee evening in aid of a school in Uganda. Goods from the Traidcraft stall amounted to over £70 and a profit of £104.22 was achieved from the sales of coffee, cakes and bring-and-buy items.

We have just heard - that this Christmas the Post Office are to issue both secular stamps and Religious stamps; but just like last year, you have to stipulate if you want Religious stamps!! Apparently each Post Office has been asked to send in to HQ the totals for each (possibly to say that there is no demand for the latter!) Please make everyone you know aware of this, and the Christians amongst us should ask for Religious stamps in order to keep Jesus at the centre of the event.

Dates For Your Diary

Christmas Services and Events
Saturday 6th December	4.00pm	Christingle Service at the Parish Church, Royston
Tuesday 9th December	8.00pm	Ladies House Group Christmas Carols – in the Eldon Room
Sunday 14th December	10.00am	Toy Service
	4.00pm	Christmas Tea followed by:
	5.15pm	Carol Service
		Please note there will be no 6.30pm service
Saturday 20th December	10.30am	Carol Singing at Tesco
Sunday 21st December	6.30pm	Candlelight Carol Service
Christmas Eve Wednesday 24th December	11.00pm	Midnight Communion Service
Christmas Day Thursday 25th December	9.30am	Christmas Day family Service

Wednesday 10th December – 8.00pm – Midweek Worship - “A Goth Communion” - to be held in the Eldon Room – using music drawn from Goth culture, such as The Fields of Nephilim, The Mission, All about Eve, etc, we will explore how God can speak to our inner darkness and bring light to these places.

Thursday 11th December – 8.00pm – Thursday @ 8 – Please note a change to the programme – Words and Music with John Baker

Tuesday 16th December – 10.30am – Come As You Are – at the Manse.

Thursday 18th December – 11.15am – Midweek Communion – Eldon Room.

Thursday 18th December – 2.30pm – Midweek Communion – at Meldreth.

Sunday 28th December – 10.00am – Morning Service – no 6.30pm service

2009

Sunday 4th January – 6.30pm – The Methodist Covenant Service 2009 – at The Parish Church, Royston – Preacher will be The Revd Graham Thompson, Chair of the East Anglia District of The Methodist Church, please come and join us for our annual Covenant Service celebrated in this ecumenical context.

Monday 5th January – 8.00pm – Stewards Meeting.

Tuesday 6th January – 8.00pm – Ladies House Group – Crafts – in the Eldon Room

Wednesday 7th January – 8.00pm – Midweek Worship - “On Jordan's Bank” - to be held in the Eldon Room – Worship with a great deal of movement as we explore the story of John the Baptist from the perspective of a person on the bank who is preparing to enter the river “Jordan” which will be “flowing” through our midst.

Thursday 8th January – 8.00pm – Thursday @ 8 – Hertfordshire Way - 2nd Leg – with Bert Richardson

Sunday 11th January – 4.30pm – OAP / Family Tea

Tuesday 13th January – Consultation On Worship Meeting – in the Eldon Room.

Wednesday 14th January – 8.00pm – Junior Church Meeting – at The Manse.

Sunday 18th January – 10.00am – Revd Les Harman (Pulpit Swap).

Tuesday 20th January – 10.30am – Come As You Are – at The Manse.

Wednesday 21st January – 7.45pm – Churches Together AGM – in the Eldon Room

Wednesday 21st January – Property Committee Meeting

Thursday 22nd January – 8.00pm – Thursday @ 8 – Antarctica – with Ian Richardson.

Wednesday 28th January – 7.45pm – Circuit Property and Finance Meeting – at Toft Methodist Church

Tuesday 3rd February – 8.00pm – Ladies House Group – Ian Smart – at Pam’s house

Thursday 12th February – 8.00pm – Thursday @ 8 – Play Reading – with Kath Wholley

Tuesday 17th February – 10.30am – Come As You Are – at The Manse.

Wednesday 25th February – 7.30pm – Consultation On Worship Meeting

Thursday 26th February – 8.00pm – Thursday @ 8 – Pickwick's Cambridge Scrap Book – with Mike Petty.

Monday 2nd March – Local Preachers Meeting.

Tuesday 3rd March – 8.00pm – Ladies House Group – Age Concern – in the Eldon Room.

Wednesday 4th March – 7.45pm – Pastoral Meeting – in the Eldon Room.

Wednesday 11th March – 7.30pm – Missions Meeting – in the Eldon Room

Thursday 12th March – 8.00pm – Thursday @ 8 – Music from the Meridian School.

Friday 13th – Sunday 15th March 2009 – Circuit Retreat Weekend – “The Joy of Text” - by Dr Jack Lawson – at High Leigh Conference Centre – Hoddesdon, further details are in INFORM

Thursday 26th March – 8.00pm – Thursday @ 8 – Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service – with Revd Barbara Johnson.

Thursday 9th April – 8.00pm – Thursday @ 8 join everyone for the Maundy Service.

Tuesday 21st April – 7.00 for 7.45pm – Circuit Meeting – at Toft

Thursday 23rd April – 8.00pm – Thursday @ 8 – Security at Marks & Spencer – with John Hurrell

Saturday 9th May – Safari Supper

Thursday 14th May – 8.00pm – Thursday @ 8 – Ramble with Ron Germany

Thursday 28th May – 8.00pm – Thursday @ 8 – Matthew & Sons Grocers' – with Judy Wilson

Thursday 11th June – 8.00pm – Thursday @ 8 – BBQ – with Dave and Tracy Aggett.

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Diary for 24th – 30th November 2008

Tuesday	25th	5.00-6.30pm	VESTRY HOURS – Ian is available, no need to make an appointment
Wednesday	26th		Local Preachers Meeting
Thursday	27th	8.00pm	Thursday @ 8 – see note
Friday	28th	7.30pm	Presentation by Leo and Kat Cheng – see note
Saturday	29th		Ian’s DAY OFF – please do not disturb him, unless in the case of an emergency
		10am – 12noon	Coffee Morning at Church
Sunday	30th	10.00am	All Age Worship Service led by Mrs Tess Maddin
		6.30pm	Evening Communion Service led by Revd Ian Smart

Rota for Sunday 30th November 2008 – 1st Sunday in Advent

	Cleaning Crèche Flowers	Alan Robinson Sheila Elcock Advent
9.30am	Steward Door Organ	Mel Cooper / Marion Oliver Sheila & Richard Elcock Sue Watson
6.30pm	Steward Door Organ Communion	Mel Cooper Ann Keep Nick Keep Gill & Geoff Grainger

Church Stewards: Paul Harris, Marion Oliver

Mel Cooper and Jenny Leonowicz

All Notices to Tracy Aggett by Monday evening please.

Minister – Revd Ian Smart, 68 Melbourn Road, Royston, Tel: 230210