​Dear Friends,
 
Please find below the new strategy for our Church, which we are launching today. This is an exciting document which sets out the new vision and mission statement for our Church, and how we hope to deliver it over the next five years. Please take time to carefully read it and let Mr. John Holmes, Mr. Alan Carter or any of the Leadership Team know if you have any queries or want more information. Please use the sign up sheet in the Church Hall, or e-mail enquiries@frodshammethodist.org, if you would like to:-

• Be involved in/take part in a bible study/cell group
• Be involved in developing prayer within the church
• be involved in helping with the children and youth work
• Be involved in developing publicity within the church and wider community

Many thanks,
 
The Leadership Team

On Wednesday 28th October at 7.00pm in St Laurence's Parish Church, Harry Leather, our Deputy Organist, will be playing his own organ accompaniment to two Charlie Chaplin films. There are no tickets, just donations towards St. Laurence Church funds. Ice cream will be available.

The evening is scheduled to finish at 8.30pm. There will be suitable organ music played prior to the films with Ken Fayle, St. Laurence's own organist, at the console.

​UPDATE from Rev'd. Michael Mills, 1st November, 2015: A really successful evening enjoyed by a large audience. Thanks to everyone who supported this event and to those who helped – ice creams were very popular! Special thanks to Harry Leather for both organising the films and playing the organ to accompany them. Also thanks to Ken Fayle for starting the evening off with an overture of organ pieces while we watched pictures of old Frodsham. And over £300 was raised too.

Every year 5,000 organisers and church groups help to raise £700,000 in voluntary income for Action for Children. Individuals give to Action For Children through collecting boxes for our church. It is time again for me to collect the boxes for counting. Please bring them to Church by Sunday 25th October. If you would like to give a contribution to Action For Children you are welcome to do so or if you would like to have a box please see Andrea Ellams (andrea.ellams@frodshammethodist.org).

Lance Yates, one of our Church members, together with daughters Helen and Louise, managed to complete a walk across Morecambe Bay recently, and in doing so raised £200 funds for Action for Children. Lance joined 100 other people also walking in aid of Action for Children, and was part of a larger group of around 800 walking for many other charities. He said,” It was quite an experience! But luckily we didn’t get stuck in the quicksand and finished our journey in about four hours”.

Starting out from Arnside and finishing at Kents Bank, the group was led across the dangerous sands of the bay by Cedric Robinson MBE, the Queen's Official Guide since 1963. Cedric goes out on a tractor on the morning of each walk, to place holly bushes to guide the way along a safe route once the tide has receded.

Are there Bible passages that you have never understood, or Christian history that you know nothing about?

What about stories that are in the news, and how Christians might view these? Are there any differences in Christianity today from previous generations? Are you interested in discussing Bible passages, or listening to other people having these discussions? Why not join the discussion group that meets on the third Sunday of each month at 9.30am? All over a cup of tea of course!

In response to the recent church Survey comments, there are also plans to start other midweek study groups, so if you can’t make 9.30 then watch out for notices about dates and times for these in the near future.

​Patricia Barnard

Below is a Pastoral Letter regarding the current refugee and migrant situation in Europe from The European Methodist Council.

We have met, as the European Methodist Council, in recent days in Bulgaria near the crossing-point with Romania. As Methodist representatives from all over Europe, much of our time has been spent in conversation on migration in light of the reality of hundreds of thousands of desperate people crossing the borders of Europe, fleeing conflict and persecution and seeking the possibility of a future for themselves and their children. We have prayed together and been strengthened in our fellowship in the Methodist family. We have drawn hope and inspiration from stories of Methodists working in many places to assist migrants and refugees. Often these are small groups of our sisters and brothers tirelessly fulfilling our common commitment to Christian hospitality and care.  We give thanks to God for their vision, courage and continuing service in the name of Christ. May we all draw inspiration from their example. 

 In renewing our fellowship, we have recognised our differences and drawn strength from the knowledge that our primary identity comes through our union with Christ which transcends ethnicity and nationality and is always open to receive those who differ or disagree. We have been reminded, through study of the Scriptures,that the people of God have often been on a journey and frequently known what it is to be outsiders and even refugees. We have been challenged to recognise the neighbour rather than fear the stranger. However, the experiences we have shared show our tendency to forget the commandment to love when God unexpectedly gives us new neighbours.  

We know that migration raises a complex set of issues that cannot be solved with simplistic solutions. We struggle together as Churches whose members continue to hold a variety of political and theological views. We seek to move beyond a sterile discussion about the rightness of migration to engaging with the many complicated issues involved in the crisis affecting our continent. In all this, we are aware of our own limitations and the need of the help of others.  

The following general principles are offered as a basis for further conversation and action as Churches seek to formulate a co-ordinated response from their members. We are called to:

• renew our understanding and practice of the obligation to radical Christian hospitality to all, recognising the practical implications for congregations and individuals

 • acknowledge that migration has and always will be a part of the human story

• recognise that we experience and interpret the reality of migration to and within Europe in different ways, depending on our context

• resist false narratives, generalizations and negative stereotyping and challenge those who would play on people’s fears

• reaffirm our Christian commitment to honour Christ in the face of the stranger regardless of religious background or the prevailing political situation

• encourage and support those who dare to open their doors and offer hospitality to those in need

• pledge both our continuing solidarity with those parts of world from which migrants and refugees come and our active engagement to achieve a just and peaceful world.  

God calls us to continue our journey together. We believe that God also calls us to welcome those who arrive as our fellow pilgrims. We commit ourselves to immediate actions and the long-term perspectives that the issues raised by migration require. With a united voice, the European Methodist Council calls on our fellow citizens across the continent to join us in reflection and action. 

May Christ bless us all, as we seek to faithfully express and reflect his love and mercy in our lives and ministry.

Don Kerr and Christian Alsted
Co-chairs of the European Methodist Council