Methodists have the opportunity to make a difference.
Greetings to you all and welcome to LMC. I have thought of looking at how we can make a difference as church and what came into my mind was an article on walking with Micah produced by our church. May you please read this document and be blessed.
Through campaigning, being with those experiencing injustice and offering support, building relationships, or striving to tell a different story of a just world, churches will be able to engage with Priorities that are most relevant in their context – through existing involvement or through actions that reflect their gifts.
Practices for justice
The Practices for justice challenge people to consider both our ways of doing justice and our ways of being just, and how they can be consistent with each other.
Our ways of doing justice involve bringing about change in the systems that hold problems in place. Beyond short term practical help, this can include action to change structures, to build relationships, and to transform understanding.
Our ways of being just enable us to be ‘at our best’ when seeking justice. They enable sustainable, transformative and rooted action for justice to develop in churches and communities, and keep our actions grounded in and guided by our faith.
Using these Practices helps us to examine our current and planned justice activities, making sure that they contribute to change and are consistent with our beliefs about God’s justice.
A two-year process is proposed to embed this new framework for justice in the Methodist Church, and enable local churches to engage with and act on the Principles, Priorities and Practices for justice.
This will help the Methodist Church to explore what it means to be a justice-seeking Church. It draws on Methodist history, theology, current concerns and practice, and recommends a framework of principles for justice which underpin our understanding of God’s justice and what it means to seek justice. The report recognised how much is being done in churches to tackle injustice and recommends a two-year programme to embed these principles, priorities and practices in order to support and encourage this work. The Conference commended the report for prayerful study and action throughout the Connexion. You can read the ‘report in three minutes’ at methodist.org.uk/our-work/our-work-in-britain/ social-justice/walking-with-micah/a-justice-seekingmethodist-church-the-report-in-three-minute
I wish you all the best as we prepare for an advent season with a difference.
SATURDAY 2 DECEMBER @ 10.00 am – Working party. Any help to do small repair jobs around our premises will be welcome.
OFFERINGS
The average for the first 2 months of the year was £644.35 per week against our target of £669.
BENEVOLENT FUND
The amount given in October was £12.50
DAILY BIBLE READING BOOKS FOR 2024
‘Fresh from the Word 2024’ is written to support all readers of the Bible, from new Christians to those seeking to deepen their faith and relationship with God. There is a weekly theme, a daily reading and prayer, and a daily action to bring God into your everyday life. If you are interested in seeing a copy of ‘Fresh from the Word’, please see Elisabeth Osborn, who can give you information about ordering one for next year (with a discount!)
LONGBRIDGE PENS
Once again, our personalized Soft Touch Stylus pens are on sale in the Foyer. This year, due to demand, we have bought 200. First come gets their choice of colour. They make good presents for family or friends.
ONLY £1.50 each (which is the cost price).
SHOEBOXES
We are supporting the Samaritan's Purse charity in making up Christmas shoeboxes of goodies and essentials for children around the world who are in need. If you would like to make a box or donate, please see Hazel. Please return all boxes by 19th November.
JUNIOR MISSION FOR ALL
Thanks to everyone who supported the recent Junior Mission for All sale which raised £142 . This included the sale of tomato plants and marmalade.
BARBARA WALKER
My family and I would like to express our sincere gratitude for all the cards, flowers and messages of condolence which we received following Barbara's death.
ALL NOTICES FOR THE NEXT SHEET (SUNDAYS, 3 AND 10 DECEMBER) SHOULD BE GIVEN TO REMI OLATUNBOSUN OR SENT TO info@longbridgemethodistchurch.org BY WEDNESDAY EVENING, 29 DECEMBER.
1654/8 Bristol Road South Rednal Birmingham B45 9TY