Kenley & Purley Methodist Church, Sylverdale Road, Purley
MINISTER: Marion West email west_marion@googlemail.com
Senior Steward: Barry Wallbank barrywallbank@blueyonder.co.uk
Church Lettings: Carole Short
We are a small but friendly congregation and a warm welcome is given to all.
Items for Monthly sheet to Trevane Wallbank by 14th March please.
Flower Secretary: (March) Trevane Wallbank.
Mission:
Our mission as The Church in this area is to:
Worship God and proclaim the Gospel of Christ through prayer, music, hospitality and openness; nurture everyone in the Christian faith; challenge injustice wherever it is found and care for the environment through recycling and conserving energy.
Services in March all services at 10.30am unless otherwise stated
March:
7th Mrs. Marion West
14th Mr Tom Osborne - Mothering Sunday
21st Passion Sunday - including two baptisms - Mrs Marion West followed by Mission Lunch
28th Palm Sunday - Rev. Robert Lovell
Circuit Service(s)/Meetings/Events/Matters:
9th May - Evening Circuit Service at Kenley starting at 6.30pm when Easte Offerings will be dedicated.
Church Leadership: Following the recent reallocation of responsibilities in our Circuit, we welcome Tom Osborne, who is now working with Marion here at Kenley. Our prayers are asked for him, and all the Circuit Leadership Team at this time of change.
Network Events: Our annual MISSION LUNCH is on Sunday 21st after the service. Speaker will be Rev Brian Skinner. Tickets are available from the Network Committee: Muriel Brooks, Rosemary Carlton, Wendy Heslop, Pat Jackson, Ann Jones, Judith Parfitt, and Ann Willis.
WEEKLY ACTIVITIES:
Monday Fellowship 2.30pm Room 4.
March:1st,8th,15th,22nd and 29th. Please see weekly notice sheets for details
Open Church - Our Church is open every Wednesday from 10am until noon for all who would like to pop in for a chat, and a cuppa, for private prayer or to share in our informal worship which starts at 11.30am. You are also welcome to come and talk about future services
If you are unsure about whether open church is taking place due to snow please contact Trevane trevanewallbank@blueyonder.co.uk
Monthly Activities:
Reading Group - Next meeting Wednesday 17th 9( note day change) Book: The Suspicions of Mr Whicher at 2.30 at 67 Pampisford Road, Purley. Please contact Martin Day martin.r.day@talk21.com for details of future meetings.
Open to Question - Monday 15th start 7.45 Room 4. Please note early start. Part of the last film in the series "The History of Christianity", will be shown and then discusssed.
Network Coffee Mornings - 2nd April
NOTICES:
Communications!!! We have joined the 21st Century!!!!! If you are away or unable to get to Church would you like to receive electronic copies of the weekly notices and the monthly newsletter? Please let Trevane or Carole know by email if you are interested - carole@churchestogetherpurleykenley.org.uk trevanewallbank@blueyonder.co.uk
Important Dates:
KAG and Stewards next meeting will be on 7th April at 7.30 start for KAGS, 8.15p for Stewards in Room 4. If you have anything to raise with either group please speak to a steward or Ann Jones, Judith Parfitt, or Trevane Wallbank for KAG.
The next General Church Meeting will be held on Sunday 18th April following the 10am service. Plase note change of date and the early start to our service that day.
The next Church Council meeting will be on Sunday 26th September after morning service. Please note service will start at 10.00am. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Our next musical extravanganza "Yet MORE Musical Allsorts" is on 24th April. Please make a special note of this event and invite family and friends to come along. If you know of anyone who can sing, play an instrument or who can speak a monologue in fact anyone who has a musical talent please let John Hoskins know as the programme is already under consideration.
Our church family: Melissa Salami and her son, Aidan Telstad are to be baptised on March 21st. We hold them in our prayers. Peter Jeffries has moved to live with his daughter. Marion can provide his new addess to anyone who would like to keep in touch.
Lent Groups: This year's Lent study groups will be held at Church in Room 4 on Thursdays - 18th, 25th February, 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th March. Everyone is invited to any or all of these sessions. Marion is offering an opportunity to look at different ideas in an informal relaxed atmosphere.
Church history - did you know that in the Croydon Museum there is a bible on display that was presented to our Church when the new building was opened in 1906? The bible is on loan and is on view with an explanation about Methodism in Croydon. If you are interested to look at this piece of our history, you can visit the Museum in The Clock Tower, Katherine Street.
Vine and Branches - a quiet morning at St James Riddlesdown on Saturday 20th March from 10am-1pm offeres reflections, personal space and creative space. Leader Jane Hoskins and cost is £6 which includes teas and coffees. For more information or to book contact Jane on 020 8660 7796 or email j.hoskins233@btinternet.com
Holy Week and Easter
Maundy Thursday - 1st April - services will be at 8pm, please see local notices for one nearest. Good Friday 10am Gathering service at St John the Baptist Dale Road, procession to Tesco, service starting at 10.30 and Service here at noon. We will be decorating the church for Easter on Saturday 3rd April at 9am. All are welcome to come and join the fun. Donations of money or greenery to help will be gratefully received.
Think of the Lillies: they neither spin or weave; yet I tell you even Solomon in all his splendour was not attired like one of them. - Luke Ch. 12
Dear Friends,
What made me think of the above quote from Luke 12 was the sight of the snowdrops that have popped up all over my garden. They are so beautiful and so delicate, it's amazing how they have withstood all that this foul weather has thrown at them and they still look as fresh as when they first appeared.
How is your faith?
After the many bashings and doubts and wobbles it must have had over the years, is it still standing firm like the snowdrops? Is God in Jesus as real to you today as he was when you first believed? How has the series of themed preaching that we have had affected you or has it passed you by? Did you manage to hear all of them or only a few?
When soemthing like that is planned and executed it is not for the preachers' amusement or gratification but because we believe it will help us all mature in our faith and it is a shame when it seems not to have reached most of the membership.
How will we be arrayed as the Lillies of the field or like the snowdrops, all in white when we meet with our Lord unless we really mature into his likeness and take all opportunities to grow when they are offered?
The next series is "The Image of God" for 4 weeks starting 18th April, try not to miss it
Love in Christ
Marion