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 our buildings, but please see the Connected – Newsletter tab at the foot of this page for our fortnightly newsletter which has details of events taking place.
We are continuing to hold worship services via Zoom: 09.30am on Thursdays & 6.00pm on Sundays, and other activities also continue. If you would like to join us please do contact methnews@gmail.com for login details, in addition we distribute Worship at Home sheets (see ‘Our Sunday Service – Worship at Home’ tab at the foot of this page).
We will be running a Lent Course called, ‘Extravagant Generosity and Unexpected Acts of Kindness: walking God’s stepping stones of love,’ on Wednesdays at 10.30am (from 17 Feb) and Thursdays at 7pm (from 18 Feb) via Zoom. This is a six-week bible study for Lent, written for us by Rev Dr David Perry, which helps us explore and practice generosity and kindness as disciples of Jesus. If you would like to register for the course please contact helencurriepmwc@gmail.com
Join us for Messy Church on Zoom - Tuesday 16th February at 10am. We will share birthdays, a story, song, prayer and jokes. It is half term week so we hope you're able to take part. Please contact me for the Zoom link: helencurriepmwc@gmail.com.
“Walking God’s Stepping Stones of Love”
We are in the season of Lent and part way through our Lent Course entitled “Extravagant Generosity and Unexpected Acts of Kindness – walking God’s stepping stones of love”. I am delighted that so many people are taking part. In the first week of the course, we discussed these bible verses “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John13:34-35. Of course there are people that are easier to love than others and times when it is easier love than other times but this isn’t what it says. There is no get out clause we love everyone and at all times.
We are in a place and time now when that really matters in Methodism both nationally and locally. This week our District Synod discusses a report on which there are many and varied strongly held views. It is the report of the Marriage and Relationships Task Group “God in Love Unites Us”. Whatever our individual views of the content of the report or the decisions that will ultimately be made at Conference this June the heartfelt plea is that we can disagree in love and be united in love. At the same time, we are going into a difficult and challenging period as we seek to set the circuit budget for the coming year and each church offers a contribution to cover the costs. This year for the first time, mainly because of the financial impact of Covid19, there is a massive gap of over £30,000 between what churches have initially felt able to offer and what is needed.
With both situations there is potential for conflict, fall out and division but that is neither God’s way nor part of our Methodist DNA. Methodism was founded on a principle of “watching over each other in love”. We care for each other and respect each other and love each other as God loves us even when we disagree profoundly. There are times in the bible we hear the words “do not be afraid” often, if not always, they are followed by assurance that God has his hand on the situation. Now is a time for prayer and discernment not division, a time for love that conquers fear and drives out hate. Now is a time to trust God and seek his ways not ours. Please pray for God’s guidance and an outpouring of his love in the Methodist Church, the circuit and each church and keep “walking God’s stepping stones of love”.
Rev Neville
