our Newsletter for Sunday 5th July 09

‘My grace is all you need, for my power is strongest when you are weak.’ (2 Corinthians 12 : 9)

We welcome all who have come to worship and praise the Lord our God, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. We especially welcome Rev David Haslam who will lead our morning service. David wrote the ‘Face to Faith’ article in The Guardian recently and was a former secretary for racial justice of Churches Together in Britain & Ireland. In the spring he participated in a global ecumenical conference in Bankok on justice for Dalits. There will not be a service this evening as several of our members will be going to David’s Ordination at Worcester Cathedral or attending the Conference Praise Service in Wolverhampton.

TEA/COFFEE DUTIES
5 July – Mirriam Mokhuoa & Janet Jones
12 July – Diane Alford & Gwen Roden
19 July – Pat Withers & Debbie Westwood
26 July – Chris Homer & Paul Westwood
2 Aug – Margaret & Malcolm Poole

CLEANING ROTA
4 July – Jane Edwards & Kath Johnson
11 July – Margaret & Keith Bradley
18 July – Nora Hill & Chris Homer
25 July – Debbie & Paul Westwood
1 Aug – Angus Alston

FLOWERS 12 July – Brenda Woodhouse

DOOR STEWARDS for – August Maureen & Tony Wildboar (am) & John Woodhouse (pm)

FORTHCOMING DATES:
1. Saturday 11 July – Circuit Ramble starting from Public Car Park, Church Road, Netherton – 10.00am
2. Thursday 16 July – Service at Valley Court Residential Home – 6.30pm
3. Saturday 18 – Monday 20 July – Young People’s Weekend Away
4. Tuesday 21 July – Lunch and Prayers – 1.00pm – led by Pat Withers
5. Tuesday 21 July – Meeting to discuss the results of the recent SWOT analysis – 7.30pm – Open to all members and friends

A PROPERTY MEETING will be held on Wednesday evening at 7.30pm. Will those members who are involved with this matter please make every effort to attend.

IF YOU ARE IN CONTACT with people who remember Trevor & Mal Pratt, or who were BB members at Trinity, could you please let them know that Trevor & Marilyn will be leading both our services here next Sunday to conclude their week spent at Conference.

THE VALE OF STOUR will be hosting the Autumn Synod at Christ Church, Lye on Saturday 12 September. Pat Withers is looking for people who feel they can contribute a home-made cake for the occasion. Please give your name to Pat Withers if you are able to help.

SUNDAY SCHOOL YOUNG PEOPLE’S WEEKEND AWAY – As you may be aware the Sunday School teachers and helpers are taking the older members of our Sunday School away for a weekend on Saturday 18 to Monday 20 July. Like last year we would welcome any donations of cakes to have with some of our meals. Please let Paul Westwood know if you are able to help

WE HAVE RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM REV DAVID – ‘I would like to take this opportunity whilst I am away on Retreat and then go onto conference and my ordination service at Worcester Cathedral, to thank you all at Overend for your love, support and prayers over the last two years. It as been a joyous time and a time of development in my formation as a Minister, for which you have all played a part. So when I step forward to have the laying of hands upon me and I become an ordained Minister in the Methodist Church, I will also carry all of you in my heart. May God bless you’.

SUNDAY 12 JULY is set aside as Action for Children Sunday. This year is the 140th Anniversary of the opening of the first children’s home by Rev Thomas Bowman Stephenson. Envelopes will be given out on this day and can be handed in over the following 2 weeks with your normal collection.

AS YOU ARE NO DOUBT AWARE Rev Devadas Matcha is leaving our Circuit in August. His farewell service will be held at Bank Street Methodist Church, Brierley Hill on Wednesday 29 July at 7.00pm. After the service there will be a ‘Bring & Share’ supper. If you are attending would you kindly take a plate of food. There will be a presentation to Devadas of behalf of the Circuit, so Overend Church Council have agreed to take a Retiring Collection on Sunday 5 and Sunday 12 July should you wish to contribute. There will be a plate for this purpose at the rear of the church.

FOR THOSE MEMBERS WHO took part in the Basic Food Hygiene Course three years ago the time has now come to renew their Certificate. In order that we continue to provide food for our various functions, it is essential that anyone who handles food in any way has an up-to-date Certificate. We are, therefore, trying to get a Course up and running in the near future which will be held on two consecutive Saturdays. Please see Janet Jones if you are interested in taking the course, by Sunday 12 July.

IT IS WITH SADNESS that we announce the death of Iris Farmer (Brenda Woodhouse & Julie Petford’s mother). The funeral will take place here at Overend on Monday 13 July at 1.30pm. Please remember Brenda & John and Julie & Terry and their families in your prayers at this sad time.

ALSO WE NOTE the passing of Dorothy Billingham who attended Grainger’s Lane Church. Her funeral took place last Friday. Again please remember her family in your prayers.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY for friends and members living in care homes – Mary Cartwright, Millie Green, Irving Billingham and Margaret Bretell. Also pray for Jack Deeley, Edna Weston, Reg & Sheila Evans, Margaret Brookes, Les Woodhouse, Prem Ramsagar, Madeline & family and Bill McBain. Remember too those of our members who are caring for friends & family and who are anxious for themselves or others.

Please let JANET have any items you wish included on the News Sheet by 6.00pm on Tuesday evening at the latest.

Mark 6 : 1-13
Jesus’ local community and family refuse to respond to him. He sends out disciples to share in his task of announcing the Kingdom and calling for repentance.
We remember in our prayers today those who will be ordained, especially David, and all who will be attending the Methodist Conference in Wolverhampton this week – that God may guide them in their decision-making.

Lord, you persevered in your mission and calling despite hostile critics of fickle crowds.
You moved as a pilgrim on the pathway of loving obedience to your Father even when friends deserted you.
Grant us grace to follow you through thick and thin in response to your call, ‘Follow me.’ (Edward Lacy)

Our online sermons:

we have here some of the recent sermons given at Overend. To see them click here.