Fulwell Methodist Church
NEWSLETTER
Rev. Gareth Phillips
4 Macmerry Close
Sunderland
SR5 3DY
0191 548 1688
Dovedale Road
Seaburn Dene
Sunderland
SR6 8LN
Sunday Service Times
10.30
Morning Service & Sunday Club
18:00
Evening Worship
Please note that Evening worship
will be held at Fulwell on the 2nd
and 4th Sunday of each month
and at East Boldon on the 1st and
3rd Sundays of each month.
Special Sunday Services
Holy Communion
See the Preaching Plan inside for
dates of Holy Communions
All Age Worship
Taking place on the morning of
the 3rd Sunday of each month
Welcome to our
Sunday Services
Our church is fitted
with a loop system
Hearing aid users
should switch to
setting „T‟
Information
All Baptisms and Weddings can be arranged
with the Minister
For all other bookings please contact Mr.
Colin Short on 5487824
Embracing our Community
Embracing our Families
Embracing our Lord
March 2012
Morning Service at 10:30 Evening Service at 18:00
Sunday 4th March Rev Gareth Phillips
Sacrament
Rev Andrew Palmer
(at East Boldon)
Sunday 11th March Mr James Kirkland LA
Sunday 18th March Rev Kathryn Stephens
All Age Worship
Mr Alan Stirling
(at East Boldon)
Sunday 25th March Mr Chris Stephens Mrs Susan Wake
As I write this introduction I am aware that we are approaching the period of Lent,
indeed by the time you read this we will be into the season, making our journey with
Christ to the cross. I wonder whether you have decided to give anything up or whether
you are taking something new on at this time of year. Personally I have decided to
take on a more serious training regime for my triathlon, (unfortunately my idea to give
up church services for lent was knocked back by the leadership team).
In all seriousness though this time of year gives us an opportunity to focus on the
journey that Jesus took and also to look at where Jesus is leading us, as individuals, as a
church and as a circuit at this time. You will by now probably be aware that from
September I will be taking pastoral charge of another two churches and this provides
us at Fulwell with an opportunity to examine our relationship with those churches
around us. It is my hope that we can work together in some form of federation with the
other two churches, closer co-operation leading to a greater understanding of how
we can serve the communities which we belong to.
I hope that we can see this as an exciting time, opening ourselves up to God‟s calling
on each of our lives and eagerly joining in with the mission that God has already
started within our cluster of churches and indeed the whole of Sunderland.
God Bless,
Gareth
Services & Preachers
Our Sunday Services this month will be led by the following preachers:-
Foreword
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
11:00
Baby Sensory
Heidi, 07939269122
9:30
Scallywags
Rosalind, 5484057
10:00 (fortnightly)
Prayer Meeting
Olive, 5490409
10:15
Zumba Gold
14:00
Sisterhood
Doris, 5489625
10:00 (2nd in month)
Communion
Alison, 5484238
13:30 (3rd in month)
U3A
Linda, 5495693
11:00 (2nd in month)
U3A History Group
Linda, 5495693
18:30
Karate
14:00
Tai Chi
Linda, 5495693
14:00 (monthly)
Blood Donors
13:30
Afternoon Club
Eunice, 5168417
19:30
Alpha Group
Diane, 5362248
17:00
Drama Activate
Junior
18:15
Blastoff Bootcamp
Nathan, 07929125952
18:30 (term time)
Boys’ Brigade
Nigel, 5295433
18:00
Drama Activate
Senior
17:00
Slimming World
20:00 (monthly)
Communion
Ruth, 5483715
19:30 (fortnightly)
Women’s Fellowship
Val, 5160540
19:00
Slimming World
Friday Saturday Sunday Additional Activities
11:15
Keep Mobile
Barbara, 4176779
10:00 (monthly)
Coffee Morning
10:30
Sunday Club
Dorothy, 5226294
18:30 (term time)
Girls’ Brigade
Liz, 5484317
19:30
Sunday Night Extra
Gareth, 5481688
Our Regular Activities
For further information on any of our activities, please use the contact details below:-
The Women’s Fellowship will meet as usual, fortnightly on Tuesdays in March
Notice Board
Girls’ Brigade is 50..
Special Features
The last few years have been busy in the Girls‟ Brigade and we have seen a lot of
change; new uniforms, new programme material, new ideas and new challenges. But
the essence of the Girls‟ Brigade has remained strong over the 50 years we have
worked and continue to work at Fulwell Methodist Church. We are still today a
uniformed organisation that is working with girls and young woman to provide a fun &
inspiring group where they can find a sense of belonging, achievement and discover
more about themselves and Jesus whilst engaging in a variety of activities.
In our fiftieth year Girls‟ Brigade has had many achievement; we continue to be strong
with over 40 girls and young women each week enjoying our activities. Highlights during
the year have included an activity weekend away, Bronze & Silver Duke of Edinburgh,
young leader training for 5 young woman and 3 new officers being commissioner,
parties, and new materials for company nights.
1st Sunderland GB started its life 50 years ago as a Girls‟ Guildry Company; it was
founded by Mrs Joyce Welsh & Mrs Hilda Robson. Quickly establishing itself within church
life the numbers grow exponentially with numbers each week in the nineties. Three years
later the Girls‟ Guildry joined with the Girls‟ Life Brigade and Girls‟ Brigade of Ireland, our
programmes changed to suit the new organisation. It was still popular with girls in the
area and numbers continued to grow. In 1968 Mrs M MacIver took over, our work with
the Church and with our Girls‟ Brigade companies in the area strengthened.
1982 saw a new captain, Mrs Dorothy Hitcham, along with many opportunities for
weekends away to Royal Albert Hall, District Camps, an exchange trip to Denmark &
the programme of activities each week developed strongly. The company continued to
grow and Mrs Karen Brewis took over in 1993 and although we saw a drop in numbers,
we were still very active getting involved activity weekends away, along with duke of
Edinburgh and trips to firm foundations. Our recent history (over the last ten years) has
seen Liz Russell leading the Girls‟ Brigade, numbers have fluctuated and we have seen a
great deal of change. There have been changes in uniform and new programme
material. 3 years ago a number of young woman and leaders were heavily involved in
a trip to Zambia; building a school in the Northern Province.
We welcome all girls and young woman from the age of 5, to come along each Friday
from 6:30pm and we are always grateful for new helpers. Call Liz Russell if you are
interested in joining on (0191) 5484317.
We will celebrate 50 years of Girls‟ Brigade on Friday 16th March from 7pm with our
annual awards evening including a display of photographs from the last 50 years and
also looking forward with our Enrolment Service on Sunday 18th March with Rev Kathryn
Stephens. Please join us to celebrate.
If you have any photographs or memorabilia you would like to share with us over our
Anniversary weekend please speak to one of the leaders
Showtime Five-0
Special Features
At 2:30pm on the 7th January 2012 the long awaited Drama Event took place. This was
originally scheduled for 29th October 2010 but had to be postponed. The demand for
tickets was above expectations and we almost ran out of linkable chairs
This year we included a very short extract from the play A Man Dies - an interpretation,
in modern dress and dialogue, of the life of Jesus. We were pleased that two of the four
soloists from our original full length 1967 production - Linda Craig and Marjorie
Donnegan - were able to take solo parts.
The closure of the Dramatic Society in 1999, and the subsequent disposal of an
extensive range of costumes, props and scenery, did cause concern to many of the
devotees both off and on stage. To produce the lavish scenery, costumes and effects
was clearly out of the question and any settings had to be very basic using what little
was left of the stage facilities.
The 7th January 2012‟s production therefore took to the stage with very little scenery,
and only half of the stage, but fortunately this was compensated to a large degree with
enhanced lighting provided by Dave and Andrew Russell. The enthusiasm of the
choreographer - Helen Wilson, and the many players and helpers, made light (no pun
intended) of the enormous amount of work required getting the show on the road. A
special accolade must be given to Enid Jones who took over the production spot from
me (due to circumstances outside of my control), with less than three weeks to go.
A booklet relating to the Society “Forty Years on the Boards” published in 2005, (see also
www.dramabook.co.uk) has a very pertinent comment in it by our Alan Robson:
“Looking to the future it would be very sad indeed if the stage facilities at our Church
was to continue to stand idle. I am not suggesting any attempt to resurrect a sort of
carbon- copy of the Society as it was. We must accept that time has moved on, but we
should welcome any move, from whatever direction, to restart drama in some form”
The past is frozen in time. The future is more flexible. May we be able to look back in a
few years time and note that Drama was reintroduced on a structured basis in the
Church‟s 51st year?
Where do we go from here? Any volunteers?
Ron Middleton
Thanks...
Sunday Night Extra
Lord, our light in darkness, our hope in despair,
our peace in struggle, our joy in sorrow, our way when we are lost,
May your light shine in the very darkest places,
of our hearts and of the world.
May your hope touch the hearts of those in despair,
May your peace reach individuals
and countries torn by war,
May your joy be known to those who mourn,
May those who are lost know your the Way,
And may we be channels of your light,
your hope, your peace, your joy,
And lead others in the Way of your Love.
Amen
Prayer
Special Features
Marjorie, Christine, William and families would like to thank you for your
wonderful support following the loss of our treasured mam Olive.
The many cards, visits, flowers, phone calls and donations to the church have
helped us all at this sad time.
God Bless
Sunday Night Extra is a modern Church Service in the chat show style with
interviews and discussions and debates.
There is no set pattern to these services, some weeks may see us looking at
video documentaries with a Christian theme. Other months may see us
discussing current affairs with a direct effect on the life of the church.
Worship is carried out on big screen allow small groups to experience the
emotion and feel of big venue worship.
Why not join us to see a new style of worship?
Sunday Night extra will be the 11th March 2012.
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