Christian Aid faces a huge dilemma this year. For decades, it has relied on the generous donations of the general public to fund its overseas aid and development programmes aimed at alleviating poverty and addressing crisis situations. Last year the total raised was in excess of £8m and engaged around 57,000 volunteers. This year, due to Covid-19, there are no door-to-door collections but we are still being encouraged to donate. This year’s focus is on Kenya, which is experiencing its worst drought in living memory, and now has Coronavirus to contend with too. The prospect is extremely worrying. What were we all told to do to combat Coronavirus? “Wash your hands”. Well, that’s not difficult if you have soap and water. Christian Aid is helping Kenyan’s to build water traps and dams, without which many will die from a basic lack of water and hygiene. We remember from Holy Week how when Pontius Pilate could not find any fault in Jesus he ‘washed his hands’ claiming to be “innocent of this man’s blood” (Matt 27:24). Please let’s not “wash our hands” of the plight of our Kenyan brothers and sisters. If you can, please donate a little something to Christian Aid this year. You can do it via Christian Aid’s Just Giving page. . Alternatively, all profits from the sale of the music CD ‘Michael Gough … in the Gallery’ are being donated to this cause. Please donate on-line, or buy the CD which is available via PayPal. Michael Gough
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In 1971, John and I went out to Kenya to work, John for a firm of consulting engineers designing water and sewerage treatment plants, myself to teach in a state primary school. We fell in love with Kenya from the very beginning: the wide open rolling plains teeming with wildlife; the forests and hills of the Aberdares and Mount Kenya; the salt lakes with their vast flocks of flamingos; the fine white sandy beaches and coral reefs of the coast – and the people, especially the children! This was just eight years after independence, and there was a sense of freedom and optimism for the future. Sadly not all those hopes and dreams have been fulfilled. Development has been patchy and there are still huge problems, not all of their own making. Indebtedness to Western governments and organisations has hampered growth. The rush to the cities in search of the ‘streets paved with gold’ has spawned the slums of the shanty towns. The effects of climate change have resulted in degradation of the coral reef and prolonged and serious periods of drought inland over several years (they are currently in the midst of the longest and most severe drought in living memory). The north of the country has been overrun with refugees from neighbouring Somalia, and there have been terrorist attacks both there and even in the capital, Nairobi, itself, which has hit the main foreign currency earner, the travel industry. And now, Coronavirus. Imagine trying to self-isolate if you live cheek by jowl with hundreds of others in a slum, or on a village compound with several generations of your extended family. Imagine trying to wash your hands several times a day when your only source of water is the village stand-pipe, or a river bed a couple of miles away. I was pleased, therefore, to see that Christian Aid is focussing on Kenya this year for Christian Aid Week, which runs from May 10th – 16th. They want to support the country as best they can, through their local partners on the ground, to mitigate some of the effects of the pandemic, to provide clean water to help halt the spread of infection. It will, of course, be a very different fund-raising appeal this year. In normal times, many of us would now be steeling ourselves to set off door-to-door with our envelopes, a task which we often dread but which is much more pleasant when it happens. And there would be fund-raising events, like the Big Breakfast, or sponsored walks, to boost the funds. In a normal year Christian Aid raises about £8 million in this week alone. As a church, we are unable to make a collective response because of the lockdown. However, if you would like to give something, however small, as an individual, you can do so via Christian Aid’s ‘Just Giving’ page. Also, all profits from the sale of the music CD ‘Michael Gough … in the Gallery’ are being donated to this cause. Michael is a member of Norley Methodist Church and is training to be a local preacher. He is also an excellent guitarist and composes much of his own material. Please donate on-line, or buy the CD (via PayPal). Elizabeth Holmes Churches Together in Frodsham will once again be Carol Singing outside Morrisons on Friday 13th December from 10am to 4pm. We will be raising funds to support the Salvation Army's Fund for the victims of human-trafficking and modern slavery. If you are able to join, do speak to one of the Church Stewards!
Frodsham Methodist Ladies Group Charity Afternoon will be held on Monday 22nd July 2019 from 2pm until 4pm in the Church Hall. There will be entertainment by Frodsham Sings.
TICKETS: £2.50 including refreshments. Raffle and Tombola proceeds to Memory Lane Project, Ward 50/51 Countess of Chester Project. LADIES GROUP CHARITY AFTERNOON will be held on MONDAY 16th JULY 2018 from 2pm until 4pm in the CHURCH HALL
TICKETS £ 2.50p ( includes refreshments ) CAKE STALL, TOMBOLA, AND RAFFLE Proceeds to Ronald McDonald House, Alder Hey Liverpool. RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE provides a home from home for families of sick children being treated at Royal Liverpool Children’s N H S Trust Alder Hey. We have 85 rooms and are open 365 days a year families stay with us free of charge. Join us to celebrate the charities and voluntary organisations that work so hard in our community.
Fun afternoon with activities, food tasting, a walk ans a talent concert. More details to follow. The Easter Offering service this year is at Christleton Methodist Church at 6.30pm on
Sunday 22nd April. Our evening service will not take place on this Sunday. If anyone would like a lift to this service please speak to a steward. On Tuesday 24th April 2018 at 7.30 pm the 4 members, Gareth, Gill, Dick and Moira, are giving a talk about their charity, KRDP (Kimbuta Rural Development Programme) that we have been supporting.
Following the talk there will be a chance to ask questions, look at their crafts which will be on sale and eat cake with tea/coffee. Please support this event. Once again local singing group Equinox will be here at Frodsham Methodist Church to entertain you with an evening filled with Christmas music.
Thursday 21st December at 7.30pm. Tickets £10 includes tea and mince pies. Tickets from Valarie and Frank Ball, Dandelion Gifts, Church Street, Frodsham or Ian Tickle Estate Agents. Ladies Group are having a Cream Tea on Monday 17th July 2017 from 2pm until 4pm .Tickets £2.00 includes refreshments, tombola raffle and a cake stall. Proceeds to Salvation Army Homeless (Warrington Branch). We would be pleased to receive any prizes to put on the tombola and raffle stalls, also home made cakes.
Christmas Wreath Making at Frodsham Methodist Church In aid of: The Chester & Delemere Forest Circuit Charity: Cheshire Search and Rescue Come and join us to make a Christmas wreath to hang outside your home this Christmas. Its easier than you think!
On Tuesday 6th December At Frodsham Methodist Church Time: 7.30—9.30pm Cost: £15. Limited places available: ring 07739877823 for details (payment required on booking) On Monday 11th July 2016 from 2pm until 4pm in the Church Hall, Kingsley Road, Frodsham Methodist Church Ladies Group will be holding a Cream Tea.
TICKETS £2.00 (includes refreshments) -- Cake stall, Tombola and Raffle -- Proceeds to The Opal Club This annual popular annual event will be taking place on Tuesday 22nd December 2015 at 7.30pm. Tickets £8 includes tea and mince pies. Proceeds will go to Church funds and local charities.
****** Tickets are now available (again it will be ticket only due to a high demand in the past we will not be selling on the door) contact Valarie or Frank Ball on (01928) 735922 or available from Dandelion Gifts on Church Street.
A small shoebox can have a big impact. What goes into the box is fun, but what comes out of it is eternal. At our Gift service on the 15th November 2015, we will be dedicating Christmas Shoe Boxes which will be transported to children around the world. Take a look on the Operation Christmas Child Samaritan's Purse website for details about what you can put in a shoe box. You can help in different ways:- 1) Finding a shoe box. 2) Collecting items to fill a box and either fill one yourself or bring items to Church to fill boxes together. 3) Use the knitting patterns on the website to make something for the boxes. 4) Donate £3. Each box needs £3 to help with transporting costs. 5) Come on Wednesday 4th November at 3.30pm and Thursday 12th November at 7pm to help decorate and fill boxes. Friday 25th September: Decorating the Church and setting up the exhibition of memories
Saturday 26th September, 10am-4pm Harvest of Memories A display of memorabilia covering the decades from the . Come and reminisce, share your memories and maybe learn something new. Listen to or join in with some of the old favourite songs and hymns, look at old photos, maybe do the quiz. Then join friends over refreshments. Sunday 27th September 9.30am 0930live!: The usual lively, informal celebration for families (and others!) 10.45am Morning Worship led by Elizabeth Holmes: a mix of traditional and more modern hymns, special readings and participatory worship. After this service there will be a ‘Bring and Share’ lunch, to which all are invited. You don’t need to provide superb home-cooked fare – a supermarket offering is just as acceptable. Our church family lunches are always very much enjoyed by those who come – if you’ve not been before, why not join us? 6.00pm Songs of Praise, a traditional service led by Local Preacher Mr Mark Smyth Gifts of non-perishable foodstuffs and simple toiletries will be received at these services, to be taken to Frodsham Foodbank and Chester Aid for the Homeless. Tinned food with ring-pulls is especially useful for the latter. There will also be a basket for gifts of money. Monday 28th September 2.30pm Afternoon Praise: a short act of worship led by Edgar Gregory, followed by afternoon tea. A service especially, but not exclusively, for our older friends who find it more difficult to come regularly to Church. All are welcome. Do come and share in our Harvest celebrations – and why not invite a friend? Hannah Flint from the International Justice Mission (one of our church charities for 2015) will be joining us for both morning services on 22nd March to talk about the charity's work against human trafficking. I am sure you will find her presentation both informative and inspiring.
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ReflectionsThe reflections here are written by members of our congregation.
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