Larkfield and East Malling
Methodist Church
Called to Love and Praise
Minister: Rev. Naomi Oates naomi.oates@methodist.org.uk
Updated 15/03/2024
Hide the Chocolates, its...Lent
Do You Want To Fast This Lent?
(In the Words of Pope Francis…)
Fast from hurting words and say kind words.
Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
Fast from worries and have trust in God.
Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.
Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
Fast from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy.
Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.
Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.
Daily Lent reflections
The Methodist Church's theme for this season of Lent is 'Unbounded Love,' taken from the Charles Wesley hymn 'Love Divine.' You can sign up to receive daily Lent reflections from the Methodist Church here.
Summary of Services over Lent
During Lent (starting Wednesday 14 February)
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Praise Before Lunch (12pm on Thursday 15 March, led by Naomi with meal prepared by Gwen)
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Lent liturgy at the start of services
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123GO! ecumenical Lent groups starting w/b 19 February :
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see below for details
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Breakfast Church (9am on Sunday 3 March)
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Messy Church (Wednesday 3 April, 1:30 for young children and their families, 3pm for all ages )
Palm Sunday (Sunday 24 March)
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Communion Service (10:00am led by Brian Tolhurst)
Maundy Thursday (Thursday 28 March)
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Meal (6pm, prepared by Gwen)
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Act of worship (7.30pm, led by Naomi)
Good Friday (Friday 29 March)
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Reflective service (9.30am, led by Naomi)
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Walk of witness (11am, starting at St Thomas More Roman Catholic Church)
Holy Saturday (Saturday 30 March)
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Ecumenical outreach in Martin Square (with prayers and briefing at the Methodist church beforehand)
Easter Day (Sunday 31 March)
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Ecumenical outreach in Martin Square (10am – 12pm, with prayer and briefing in the Sycamore Tree at 9.30am)
Easter Monday (1st April)
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Service (10am)
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Cover cross in flowers
Lent groups
Following the success of the 'Known & Loved' mission week in 2022, we are once again joining together with our friends from other churches in Larkfield to follow a Lent course called '123GO!'
The course is designed to encourage us to turn Easter from a 'private party' to a 'public celebration' - to share the good news of Easter in visible, engaging ways. We hope that this will lead us towards some public outreach on Holy Saturday (30 March) and an ecumenical, outdoor (weather permitting!) service on Easter Day (31 March).
I'd encourage everyone to sign up for one of these groups, which we hope will all include folks from the various Larkfield churches. The groups will start on Monday 19 and Wednesday 21 February. The options are:
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Monday evenings at 7.30pm at 56 Fielding Drive with Monica - contact monicawilding@outlook.com
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Wednesday mornings at 9.30am at the Dorcas Centre (Brookfield School Site) with Claire - contact admin@larkfieldcommunitychurch.co.uk
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Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm at the Dorcas Centre with Mark - contact markhayton55@googlemail.com