Page 15 - June 2016 Issue 303

JUNE 2016
THE NEW COUNTESTHORPE HERALD 15
Countesthorpe Methodist Church Notes from Sheila Howell & Angie Skerritt
In our last Herald article we quoted from a verse written by Harriet Ann Jacobs, ‘the human soul’ is certainly ’apt to revive’. Isn’t it amazing how, with the warmth of the sun, our hearts are warmed too - everyone seems more cheerful; smiling, friendly, greetings are passed between both neighbours and strangers.
SPRING ACTIVITIES
Our Methodist Missions Service was well supported and we were able to send an increased contribution to central funds. The coffee morning in aid of Leicestershire Autistic Society was extremely well supported and we do thank all those who contributed to the success of this event. Well over £500 was raised for this most worthy cause.
At the end of April we held our ‘Patriotic Tea’ to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday. We decorated the room with lots of red, white and blue, and sandwiches and cakes were served on Union Jack plates with matching serviettes.
Our annual Spring Fayre was held on 21st May; as always this was a most enjoyable event. The following day we celebrated the Young People of our chapel with a special service led by our minister David.
May 22nd was also Aldersgate Sunday, a special Sunday in the Methodist Church when we remember the events of the 24th May 1738. In 1738 our founder, John Wesley, was almost in despair; he decided to give up his ministry as he didn’t feel he had sufficient faith to continue to preach. A Moravian friend advised him to ‘Preach faith ‘til you have it’ but he continued to feel uncertain, finding little motivation to even pray. On 24th May he reluctantly attended a Christian meeting in Aldersgate. Whilst there someone read from Luther’s Preface to the Epistle to the Romans and he later wrote, ‘While the reader was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation’.
He continued his preaching with renewed confidence and enthusiasm; wherever he preached lives were changed.
Methodists are challenged to live out their faith with renewed confidence and enthusiasm with our hearts warmed, not only with the warmth of the sun but with our trust in the love of God for all.
We were interested to read that when tea was introduced to this country Wesley called for people to ‘abstain from imbibing it’. He later changed his mind and in 1761 Josiah Wedgwood presented him with a gallon tea pot! The wording on the side of the tea pot was;
“Be present at our table Lord Be here and everywhere ador’d
These creatures bless
and grant that we
May feast in Paradice with thee”.
It was, we think, most fortunate that Wesley changed his mind about tea - goodness knows what all the Methodist chapels would have done if they were not able to offer a cup of tea and sandwiches at any and every opportunity!!
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