New year's resolutions - think big!

If you are thinking about your resolutions and what you might do differently with a whole fresh new year stretching out before you, consider these inspiring words by Nelson Mandella and don't be afraid to think big!

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?

Actually who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightening about shrinking so other people won’t feel insecure around you.

We were born to manifest the Glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some; it’s in all, everyone. And as we let our own light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."


photo (c) copyright Leo Sharp

Happy New Year, Jayne

A Poem

Today I am feeling a bit sorry for myself as I am in bed with a bout of something nasty along the lines of flu. I have been under the weather for the last week and am glad to have got through the Christmas period but now I have crashed and am keeping warm and cosy with the dog for company. I am not being totally unproductive though, I am using the time to plan the covenant service. As I was thinking about this I was reminded of a poem by Adrian Plass entitled 'When I became a Christian' it is about commitment to God. It is well worth a read - you can see it at the following link http://tiny.cc/brepk.

Christmas Morning

A great service was enjoyed by many at Earlswood yesterday as we celebrated Christmas morning. It was good to see so many and to meet the families of many of our regular congregation. It was also very good to welcome members and their families from Cheswick Green. We enjoyed carols, shared stories on the the theme of giving and receiving. Some opened presents, this teddy was a particularly welcome gift for one of the younger members of the congregation, and I was especially impressed with the very glam earrings given to Barbera's daughter by her husband. Anyway a good time of celebration was had by all as we thanked God for his greatest and most precious gift - His son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas everyone Jx

Christingle

Just back from the Christingle service as Shirley. It was a really great service, lots of fun and sharing of the familiar story in a new way. This year we decided to base the whole thing on the loose women show in which the various characters from the nativity story came into the studio to be interviewed by the loose women team.

Everyone did really well including all the techie people who had to cope with a loose wire, never mind loose women, but they got us through it and everyone said how much they enjoyed the service.

My thanks to everyone who was involved both as characters and behind the scenes, too numerous to mention but you know who you are.

I am afraid the pics were not too good but here is the best of the bunch.

J x

The Weather

Well I do hope you are all coping with the weather, keeping warm and not making unnecessary journeys. Annie went into Solihull yesterday to finish her Christmas shopping, left there at 4.00pm and arrived home at 6.40pm, thats just over two and a half hours to make the 2 mile journey!

So far we have had to cancel 2 events, both at Earlswood. One being the Nativity service on Sunday Morning and the other being our stories around the christmas tree which was scheduled for last night. Any further changes to the published programmes will be published here as soon as I am aware of the change.

In the meantime I took a few pictures of life at the manse in the snowy weather.

Keep safe, J x


The back garden looking like a winter wonderland.


The birdbath




Phoebe watching the snow through the window















Daisy trying to dig her ball out of the snow.

Candlelit carols at Shirley

I just wanted to report on the great candlelit service at Shirley this evening. Despite the bad weather and the difficult driving conditions many people turned out to join in this fabulous, last Sunday of Advent, tradition at SMC. At the end of the service many people thanked me for what they thought to be an exceptional service. However, I had to fess up that the entire service had little to do with me at all even though I got to do the welcome, prayers and a final blessing. No, the service was put together by the very talented Graham Lowe who did an outstanding job on deciding the choices of music, the running order and on rehearsing the choir who were really on fine form this evening. Following the service we enjoyed mince pies and coffee. I would like to express my thanks to Graham and the choir for once again, making this such a great service. I particularly enjoyed the arrangement of O Holy Night - always a favourite with me. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get too many pics to show you, the candlelight wasn't easy to photograph, but here is the best of the few that I did take.

Brilliant new cluster venture

Hi everyone - I hope you are coping with the weather - definitely '...deep and crisp and even' I would say.

You will notice that we have a new page on the blog entitled 'cluster youth'. This is becasue, I am thrilled to announce, that as of last night we have a new cluster youth group. It began with our first event at Earlswood - a Christmas party - and was well attended by young people from Cheswick Green, Earlswood and Shirley. We had a fabulous time, with great games, yummy food and new friendships made. I am soo pleased that this went as well as it did and there is now a programme in place for the next few months, (Check the cluster youth page for more information).

In the meantime here ar a few pictures from last night. If you now of anyone who would like to join the new group then please point them in my direction.

Best wishes, and please keep warm and safe. Jx

Digital Nativity

Someone sent me this link this morning. Love it! for all you fans of social media it is a must see. Jx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkHNNPM7pJA

News, dates and updates.

Finally a few minutes just to bring you up to date with what has been happening and what will be happening over Christmas.

Last Sunday we had two great services in the cluster. In the morning there was the gift service at Shirley in which members of the congregation brought gifts in support of the Action for Children project in Chelmsley Wood. This project supports vulnerable families. The gifts, which were all for children, will go to ensure that those families are able to support their children and help to make their Christmas and enjoyable experience. The project leaders will hold parties and fun days and will ensure that all the children concerned ( some 200 in this particular project) will share in an enjoyable time over Christmas.

This band were on fine form as usual and we are very grateful to Tim Lowe for all his hard work and effort. As I said at the start of the service, I am really proud of the band and they just seem to go on getting beter and better, well done guys. Also at the service we gave out badges and certificates to our JMA collectors who raised a sum of £250 - so well done to them. On the whole it was a joyful and lively all age service and I thank everyone for their generosity in bringing along their gifts.

On Sunday evening we had the candlelit service at Earlswood. This was a quieter and more reflective service than my morning service but every bit as enjoyable. It was, as ever, very well supported by the church and the local community and following the service we all enjoyed coffee and mince pies. Again, my thanks to all those who worked hard to make this such a great service. I look forward to the stories around the tree next Monday evening.

Talking of looking forward, here are the up and coming services and events.

Sunday 19th December

Shirley 10.30 am Worship led by Mr A.Wildbur,

6.30 pm Carols by Candlelight led by Rev J.Webb
Earlswood 10.00am Nativity service led by Rev. J. Webb
Cheswick Green 10.00am Worship led by Mr K. Dennis
Trinity 10.00am Worship led by Rev K. Hawkins

Monday 20th December

Earlswood 7.30pm Stories around the Tree

Christmas Eve Shirley

4.00pm Christingle Service led by Rev J. Webb
11.15pm Service led by Rev. J. Webb

Christmas morning

Shirley 10.30am Service led by Mr K. Dennis
Earlswood 10.00am Service led by Rev.Jayne Webb

Sunday 26th December

Shirley 10.30am Service led by Rev. A. Clark
6.30pm No service
Earlswood No service
Cheswick Green No service
Trinity No service

Sunday 3rd January

Shirley 10.30am Covenant service led by Rev. J. Webb
6.30pm Covenant service led by Rev. J.Webb
Earlswood 10.00am Covenant service led by Rev. J. Ashplant
Cheswick Green 10.00am United at Earlswood
Trinity 10.00am Worship led by Rev. K Hawkins

I hope this answers all the queries I have received and I look forward to seeing you if you are planning to come along.

One other snippet of news is about the write up in the Methodist Recorder about Jazz Church. It was an excellent article, if you haven't done so yet do try to get a look at it, there is a copy on the notice board at Shirley.

Well its time I got back to planning my services but I will check in with more news, reports on our various services and events and hopefully post some pics too.
Seasons Greetings, Jayne

In haste

Just to let you know that I have not dropped off the face of the planet. Christmas planning has kept me busier than ever. We have so much going on over the Christmas period in the cluster that I am struggling to get to my blogs at the moment! Anyway, later today I will post on the two services we held over the weekend, a great gift service at Shirley and a Candlelit carol service at Earlswood. I will also post details of all the services across the cluster up until covenant Sunday. However I need now to dash to a meeting so watch this space and I'll see you later today.

Jayne

Flash Mob Hallelujah

I am very grateful to my friend Patti for sending me this flash mob video. I adore flash mob pranks and this one is just amazing. I Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Jayne

Please support Annie

Hi everyone, I am about to indulge in a little promotion here. As you know Annie, my daughter, is a very keen photographer and has entered a competition on pet photography. She would love as many votes as possible for her pictures so if you would like to give her some support please go to this link http://tinyurl.com/39tay5q and then click the thumbs up sign. Thank you, Jayne