Spring 2009

Following Easter, we have been very busy. Sunday April 19th was the first of our afternoon services. This was a "Cafe Church" on the theme of "Light". Appropriately titled "The Light Bite", a variety of activities were used to focus our attention on the imagery of light in the Scriptures.

Refreshments were available throughout and Susannah, our pastor, brought the afternoon to a conclusion.
Our midweek bible fellowship reverted to twice monthly now lent is over and we resumed our study ofWomen in the Bible.
On Thursday the 23rd of April, the first in our summer season of Supper Clubs took place. The menu was: Mock Crab and melba toast, Chicken Fricassee with seasonable vegetables, followed by Rhubarb sponge and custard. Tea, coffee and after dinner mints followed and then Sam Bown spoke to us.

Easter 2009

Our celebrations of Easter started at 8-00a.m. on Friday April 10th with our circuit service at St.Mary's Wesleyan Reform Church where Carole Parkinson led worship and holy communion for Good Friday.

Laterin the day, our pastor, Jonathan, led worship at 7-30p.m. at Mayfield. His text was the curtain in the temple being torn in two from top to bottom. The service concluded with a celebration of holy communion.

Saturday was oneof our coffee mornings, which was well attended. Jackie had done a lovely job of preparing the room for this event, and providing a table of activities for any children who came.

Easter Sunday started early when our pastor, Susannah, led 8-00 a.m. worship. Her theme was the walk to Emmaus and being recognised by our actions. The service concluded with a celebration of holy communion. Following the service, we ate breakfast in the back room. David and Elaine did a great job of preparing bacon and eggs for us all.

After the breakfast (and the clearing up!) Brian Kay led our morning worship at 10-30 a.m. and spoke on Matthew's account of the resurrection

Approach to Easter 2009

On Saturday April 4th we were visited by the Curbar and District United Churches Choir. They came to provide us with a presentation in words and music entitled "The Story of the Cross". The programme included readings, congregational items, solos and choral items. It was a memorable evening, and thanks are due to all members of the choir for their efforts. The retiring collection raised the sum of £80-00 for W.O.R.K. Ltd on Ringinglow Road.

Early 2009

As might be expected, since Christmas has been a relatively quiet time for us. The new year started with our annual covenant service led by our pastor Susannah.
The first coffee morning of the year was on January 17th and was exceptionally well attended, we ran out of cups!
At our church a.g.m. on January 22nd we decided on a number of activities for the coming year, details are on our website, on the "Events 2009" page. Follow the link on the left of the blog if you are interested. As the year progresses there will be others added.
The church party on January 31st was a great success when we invited the preachers from the previous year to join with us. Our carol quiz where people were invited to identify carols from a line in the text caused some head scratching.
The next coffee morning was on February 21st. Our bible fellowship meeting has started a Lent course. This year we are following a course from the Leprosy Mission "God's upside down world" For details see the website.
On March 1st, Mr Dave Tuckett led our annual Tear Fund Service, where we were encouraged to support and pray for the work of Tear Fund. Our offering was sent to Tear Fund and after the service we met for a simple meal in the back room.
Our heating has been giving us some trouble this month, but we hope that we have sourced the (obsolete) parts which we require and should be back to normal soon.

Carols

Our annual carolling events started on Monday December 15th when we met to go round the local area carol singing. About 24 of us met and sang for about two and a half hours. Then we gathered together at the house of a member of our congregation for snacks and coffee to get warm.
On Wednesday 17th December, the Ladies Fellowship group invited people to join and sing carols with the Salvation Army band. Around 40 people enjoyed the afternoon.
Thursday December 18th was our new event titled "Five Courses and Carols". The menu was: appetiser, angel biscuits and peasant's salad; crofters' soup; celebration chicken; figgy pudding with cream; mince pies and cheese with tea or coffee and turkish delight. Over 40 people gathered and sang carols appropriate to the courses.


Our carol service, led by our pastor, Susannah, was on Sunday December 21st at 3-00p.m. nearly 50 of us gathered to celebrate and sing traditional and local carols. We were introduced to a new carol written by one of our congregation, "A Mayfield Carol". Sung by Susannah to the tune "Cranham", this was used again the following Sunday. Afterwards we met for mince pies and coffee in the back room.


On Christmas day we met for a service led by our pastors Jonathan and Susannah. Ably assisted by Nathan, who burst out of a parcel when Susannah asked us what we would bring to Jesus, the service gave us chance to consider the message of Christmas once again.

Early Advent.

Our journey towards Christmas started in mid November (23rd). Our pastor, Jonathan, celebrated "Stir-up Sunday" by baking a cake during the morning service. This Sunday, another name for the Sunday before Advent, is so called because the set prayer, or collect, for the day begins with the words "Stir up, O Lord, the wills of your faithful people;". Comments were made about the "Cooking Pastor" and Jonathan asked the congregation whether they wanted to be stirred up. We ate the cake after the service with the coffee.
The "Fair Trade" coffee morning on December 6th was very well attended and the sales of Fair Trade goods were very encouraging. We hope that this attempt to improve trade justice will continue to grow.
December 14th was the date of our "Advent Carol Service" when we considered what we were preparing for as we approach Christmas as we sang a selection of hymns and carols related to the coming of our Lord. We also listened to what Jonathan described as one of the most profound things in a song. The Song was by Slade. The message was "So here it is, Merry Christmas, everybody's having fun; look to the future now, the future's just begun.

November 2008

Preparation for our bonfire started early. The sods had to be removed so that the bonfire did not damage our bowling green standard turf. This produced a self extinguishing facility for the bonfire as the hole filled with water. Fortunately this all ran to one side so the bonfire was built on the uphill side (against the tide!).
Bonfire night was mild and dry as we lit the fire at (about) 6-30p.m. Friends from other churches joined us, as did visitors from the area. The barbecue was a great success and the crowds started to gather in the back room for drinks with the food. Once most people were fed, there was a sudden rush into the room as the weather broke and the rains came down, which started to test the drainage, (see a previous entry)
Earlier in the month we had studied the penultimate "I am", namely "I am the resurrection and the life". This only leaves "I am the light of the world" for laster this month.