May Update
Dear friends,
I'm often struck by the words of Jesus in John 15:5 'apart from me, you can do nothing'. It's a stark reminder that the work we are engaged in is His work first and foremost and if we press on trying to do it regardless of His life and power flowing through us, we will soon become unstuck. It's important then to spend time ensuring we draw near to Jesus and maintain connection with Him. Taking some time out, such as our week of prayer coming up, can enable that to become more of a reality in our lives. Daily drawing near to God through His word is another vital way of remaining connected to the True Vine, who gives us life.
But the opposite of Jesus' words are also true. With Him, we can do anything! In the previous chapter (John 14:12), Jesus makes clear that we will do even greater things than Him, if we are His disciples. The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is alive and at work in us. That means that there is an unstoppable life-force within the people of God, if we were to draw on it. Therefore stepping out in faith, joining in the litter pick on 18th May, or joining the praying on the streets team, or making a bold act of faith in another way, are means of putting us outside of our comfort zone, where we find we need to rely on the power of God, the very life-force of the universe.
It is both this waiting on God, and stepping out for God that we see in the Ascension-Pentecost narrative, which makes it a great time to seek God afresh for the outpouring of His power across the world in revival, in His Church for renewal, and in ourselves for bold service and witness.
'Come, Holy Spirit'.
With love,
Gareth
Prayer meeting
The next church prayer meeting is on Wednesday 1st May at 7:30pm, and will be led by Gareth
Thursday 02 May 7pm
Come and join us for the monthly Men's Curry Night, for more information please speak to Nigel Morris or call the church office
PMCH Gift Day
Last Sunday we launched our annual Anniversary appeal. All of the details can be found here. Thank you for all that you continue to do in the life of our church practically and prayerfully and for your ongoing financial support. Please to prayerfully consider how you might respond to this years appeal.
Prayer Week
We are excited to join with Christians around the globe in ten days of prayer under the banner 'Thy Kingdom come'. This is a global movement of prayer from Ascension to Pentecost where we pray for God's Spirit to be poured out freshly on the earth and for people we know and love to come to faith themselves.
We are opening our prayer chapel from 9am - 9pm from 9-17 May and joining with other churches on 18th and would love people to sign up to pray for an hour sign up here or at church on Sunday
Some resources to aid prayer will be available from Sunday 5th May
Love South West
As well as joining to pray for 10 days, we are focusing our prayers and outreach around the weekend of 17-19 May. We are thrilled to host the city-wide worship and prayer event on Friday 17th May. Tickets are £5 which all go towards the costs of running and promoting the event.
On Saturday 18th May at 9:30am we will be outside the church grounds and in jigsaw park clearing litter as a sign to our city that we want to serve and bless the people of our city. Please do come along and join in!
Sign up to serve and buy tickets here
Baptism Sunday
We are so glad to have at least three people going through the waters of baptism at church on Pentecost Sunday - 19th May. Do come along and show your support to these dear folk and encourage them with your prayers leading up to the day.
Saturday 11th May
Conference with Simon Ponsonby
Sign up here
Foodbank Sunday
Thank you to everyone who donated items last Sunday. We'll be back on 26 May and the item we are asking people to bring along this month is tuna or other tinned fish.
Church Council Update
Our church council met in February and carried over some business to an extra meeting in April. The meeting:
voted in favour of the District amalgamation with Cornwall & Isles of Scilly
received an update on church finances, noting that many income streams had risen, but also had some expenditure
In the light of the discussion on finances raised the commercial parking fees and created one additional commercial parking space
Gave notice of a rise to church members for parking space
decided to sell the premises at Keyham
approved Maria Mills to be fully recognised as a Local Preacher
approved many new members and welcomed the re-instatement to membership of two people
approved additional tithed gifts
discussed and approved a re-design of the welcome area in a phased project and committed itself to a prominent cross at the heart of the design
gave permission for grants to be sought from funding that may have originated from the National Lottery
approved the creation of volunteer, unpaid internships within the family work of the church
and much more…
GCM - 9th June 12:30pm
Our general church meeting - a chance to celebrate the work of the church and discuss our future plans - will be held on Sunday 9th June. All are welcome.
At this meeting we appoint members of the Church Leadership Team and new representatives to the Church Council for the coming year.
Nigel Morris (Foodbank Hub), Julie Morris (Youth & Children) & Paul Courtney (Worship & Prayer) will stand again for a further three year and final term. John Stephens (Faith in Action) and Gill Rolfe (Fellowship) are not standing for another term.
We have been in conversation with folks in the life of the church to invite them to stand in vacant areas. If nominated, they require a majority vote of the General Church meeting to be elected or to continue in their post.
There are between six and fifteen spaces for people wanting to serve as church representatives to the Church Council/Circuit Meeting. Anyone who is a member of the Methodist Church at Plymouth Methodist Central Hall is welcome to be nominated. If more than 15 people stand there will be a ballot.
Nomination forms for these roles will be out shortly or they can be downloaded here
Nomination forms should be returned to the church office no later than 1pm on Sunday 26th May.
A note from Veronica
Dear friends, I just want to thank everyone for your words, gifts and encouragement as I retired from church administration in April. I felt incredibly blessed by everyone's generosity and kindness. I'm looking forward to all that God has in store for the future and feel very ready for the next phase. It's strange to feel so free knowing I'm not responsible for anything, i keep reminding myself...this holiday is forever now... God bless you all and thank you again, Veronica xx.
Coming up this month…
Wednesday 1st May - 7:30pm Church Monthly Prayer meeting
Thursday 2nd May - 7pm Men's Curry evening - The Mannamead, Mutley Plain
Sunday 5th May - 11am Morning Worship - Rev Gareth Higgs
Sunday 5th May - 7pm Evening Communion - Rev Martin Earl
Saturday 11th May 9:20am Messy Church
Saturday 11th May 10am Conference with Simon Ponsonby - Plymouth Christian Centre
Sunday 12th May 11am - Morning Worship Anniversary Weekend & Gift Day - Rev Dr Steve Emery Wright
Sunday 12th may 7pm - Evening Worship Anniversary Weekend & Gift Day - Rev Dr Steve Emery-Wright
Monday 13th May 7:30pm - Local Preachers' Meeting
Friday 17th May 7:30pm Love South West Prayer & Worship Gathering
Saturday 18th May 9:30am - Litter Pick and Prayer on the Streets
Saturday 18th May 12:30pm Wedding of Emma Graham
Sunday 19th May 11am Communion for Pentecost Sunday (with baptisms) - Rev Gareth Higgs
Sunday 19th May 7pm Evening Worship for Pentecost Sunday - Rev Gareth Higgs
Monday 20th May 7:30pm Leadership Team
Thursday 23rd May 7:30pm Finance Team meeting
Sunday 26th May 11am - Morning Worship and Foodbank Sunday - Rev Gareth Higgs
Sunday 26th May 7pm - Evening Worship - Delarre Irving