Larkfield and East Malling
Methodist Church
Called to Love and Praise
Letter from our Minister, Naomi Oates
Updated 18/10/20
Dear friends,
It might surprise you to know that the book that has me hooked this week is not, in fact, a detective story, but A Rabbi Reads the Torah by Rabbi Jonathan Magonet, a British Jewish theologian and scholar. It's fascinating to revisit the familiar stories of the Five Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) through the eyes of someone from a different faith tradition - but someone for whom they are every bit as precious as they are to me.
This year has, in many ways, forced us to try and read the world through the eyes of other people. People with whom we might have a great deal in common, but whose life experience is nevertheless very different from our own. In deciding whether or not to reopen our churches for worship, those of us who were desperate to see each other face-to-face tried to put ourselves in the shoes of those who were still extremely cautious about leaving the house, and vice versa. Today, the Government is continuing to try to balance the needs and desires of those for whom the virus is the top priority, with those for whom economic recovery is paramount. Being willing to read the world through the eyes of another, so that we might be kind, gracious and generous in our decision-making, is more important than ever.
Here are the news and updates for the coming week...
Worship 'in person' - Sunday at 10am
This week's service at church will be led by our very own David Newell. As always, if you would like to join us, please don't forget to book a space with Dave (07867884043) before Friday evening, either by:
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sending Dave a text message anytime between 4pm on Wednesday and 6pm on Friday, or
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phoning Dave between 6pm and 8pm on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.
My grateful thanks to all those who worked hard behind the scenes to ensure that we could share Holy Communion safely last week. I know that many of you appreciated Canon Derek Carpenter's homily on prayer, and I'm pleased to say that he'll be returning to lead our Remembrance service on Sunday 8 November.
NKMC online service - Sunday at 10.30am
I'm delighted to be leading this week's online circuit service at 10.30am, with help from a few familiar faces! All the information you need to join the service, including the service sheet (with or without the sermon) and the link for Sunday morning, can be found here: https://www.nkmethodists.org.uk/news/invitation-to-worship-from-home.html
Those without the Internet can dial in and listen to Sunday's service using the following instructions:
Step 1: Dial 020 3481 5237 (alternative number 020 3481 5240) - these numbers are charged at the standard national rate
Step 2: When requested, enter the Meeting ID (7429588134) followed by #
You don't need a 'Participant ID' - just press #
Coffee after the service
Wherever and however you choose to worship this Sunday, your friends from Larkfield would be delighted to see you for 'virtual coffee' over Zoom at 11.30.
Here's a reminder of the Zoom details:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85078200322?pwd=akdzZWpPTlpzM2tCZmM5SW80QzdLZz09
Meeting ID: 850 7820 0322
Passcode (now required): 636209
Quiz night for All We Can - Wednesday 28 October 7.30pm
Just a reminder that if you'd like to join us for the quiz night on Wednesday 28 October over Zoom, you'll need to register with me by Sunday 25 October. You can register as an individual (in which case, you'll be allocated to a friendly team) or as a team of up to six. The suggested donation per entrant is £5, and you can donate here: www.allwecan.org.uk/give/bike
You can find out more about All We Can's Harvest Appeal here.
I've attached a poster - and I'm looking forward to seeing you there!
Dial-in service - Thursday 22 October at 10am
Our next fortnightly dial-in service will take place on Thursday 22 October at 10am. As always, we'll start at 10am with 10 minutes of chat and introductions, followed by a simple act of worship led by a small team and lasting for around half an hour. Here's a reminder of the details for dialling in:
Step 1: At 10am, dial 020 3481 5237 from a mobile or landline
Step 2: When requested, enter the Meeting ID (826 1364 7836) followed by #
Step 3: When requested, enter the Passcode (544773) followed by #
You do not need a 'Participant ID' - just press #
Service of Remembering - Sunday 1 November at 4pm
Some of you may previously have attended a 'service of remembering' for those who have lost loved ones, particularly over the course of the previous year. As many churches in our circuit are not yet open for worship, the circuit has decided to offer an online service of remembering via Zoom on Sunday 1 November at 4pm, led by the Revd Dr Bonni-Belle Pickard.
During the service, there will be an opportunity for all those joining via Zoom or by phone to say something about their loved one who has died and to light a candle in their own home. You are invited, if you wish, also to bring a picture or a small object that reminds you of your loved one.
I will be sending invitations to a number of those in our church family - if there is someone you think would appreciate receiving a letter of invitation, please do let me know.
If you have any questions about the service, please contact Bonni-Belle on bonni-belle.pickard@methodist.org.uk or 0759056447.
Here are the details for service:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83991095174?pwd=SUJpays4dTJ0Y3h0clNYOUFHTlRaZz09
Meeting ID: 839 9109 5174
Passcode: 224821
Or dial 020 3481 5237 from a mobile or landline and enter the Meeting ID and Passcode when requested, followed by #
CAP online
The CAP Money Course is a revolutionary money management course that teaches people budgeting skills and a simple, cash-based system that really works. This course will help anyone to get more in control of their finances, so they can save, give and prevent debt. The CAP Money Course is a course devised by the award-winning debt counselling charity, Christians Against Poverty.
The course is being run by our friends at West Malling Baptist Church, and will run over three Tuesday evenings in November 2020: 3, 10 and 17 November from 7:30pm – 9pm.
Further details are available at www.wmbc.org.uk or go to www.capmoney.org and prospective students can register via www.wmbc.org.uk or by contacting by email: john.gledhill@freeuk.com
Every blessing,
Naomi
For details of services check out our Services page, for news and updates for the coming week check out our Notices page