Welcome to The Website for the Methodist Churches in the Pocklington & Market Weighton area
Welcome to The Website for the Methodist Churches in the Pocklington & Market Weighton area
As a minister in the Pocklington and Market Weighton Methodist Circuit group of churches may I welcome you to our website. You will find information on all of our churches and events taking place in the area. Please come along to any service or event of interest to you. We seek to provide all who come with a warm welcome and opportunities for faith and friendship. Our desire is to be an “Attractive, welcoming, church community transforming lives for God.”
If you would like to know what to expect on Sundays click here or contact me, the circuit administrator or the Community and Outreach Lay Worker for more information.
Best wishes,
Rev Neville Simpson
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic we are currently not meeting in most of our buildings. However, two of our churches re-open for public worship from 4 April 2021: Pocklington (weekly at 11am) and Sancton (fortnightly at 10am). These services will follow current government guidelines and numbers are restricted, so you must book a place in advance. Contacts: (Sancton) Tel 01430 827283 or (Pocklington) Tel 07812 414812.
We continue to hold worship services via Zoom: 09.30am on Thursdays & 6.00pm on Sundays. If you would like to join us please contact methnews@gmail.com for login details.
You can access Worship at Home sheets (see ‘Our Sunday Service – Worship at Home’ tab at the foot of this page) and our fortnightly newsletter (see 'Connected – Newsletter' tab at the foot of this page).
God knows best
It has been a year of challenge and uncertainty since we first went into national lockdown in March 2020 before last Easter. I don’t like uncertainty perhaps it’s my personality type. In particular I like to be in control of what is happening and that has been impossible for a whole year. I suspect at least some of you are the same.
Of course the Christian faith is no stranger to uncertainty. What we experience now is not new just Covid19 the reason for it. Easter is the ultimate example of uncertainty. Despite Jesus repeatedly saying to his disciples that he would suffer and die they didn’t truly believe it and are shocked and demoralized when it happens. I suspect because of their love for Jesus in their heads and hearts they thought that his death was not the way it should be. I can relate to that and I’m sure you can as well. For all the right reasons we think we know best and act for the best.
Yet the disciples were wrong. For God’s rescue plan to come to fruition and at odds to all worldly understanding Jesus had to die the worst and most humiliating and painful death on a cross. The Romans crucified people because it degraded them, took away their humanity and showed the power of Rome. Equally, to the Jews crucifixion did not fit in with their understanding of the Messiah. As Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 1: 23-24 “but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” The disciples, Romans and Jews were all wrong.
The power of the cross is that Jesus dies for our sins and three days later is raised to new life conquering death, rising from the tomb and offering new life for those who believe. It seems that God knows best not us human beings. So this Easter let us hold fast to the fact that God who has a rescue plan for humanity does know best not us. We seek his plan. Let us hold fast to the risen Jesus who says he will never leave us or forsake us and his plan for you and the church today. Let us hold fast to the risen Jesus who is at work and with us who believe in this place and time.
I pray we may be open to God’s plans for us as we come out of lockdown and not try to impose our plans on God. That is our Easter hope for today and the days ahead.
May I take this opportunity to wish you a Christ-centred and hope filled Holy Week and Easter blessings.
Rev Neville
