Good News Letter

The Good News Letter

COULSDON METHODIST CHURCH

www.coulsdonmethodistchurch.org

Facebook: @coulsdonmethodist

No.370                                                                                                                    March 2025

From our minister

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

As we step into March, we give thanks to God for His grace that has carried us through the first two months of this year.  Time seems to be moving swiftly, but each day offers an opportunity to draw closer to God and to one another in faith and fellowship.

This month, there are several significant events that I encourage you to take part in.

First, on the evening of 5th March, we will gather for our Ash Wednesday Service, marking the beginning of Lent.  This season is a time of reflection, repentance, and preparation as we journey towards Easter.  It is a time to remember the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who bore our sins on the cross.  May we use these weeks to grow in faith, deepen our prayers, and walk more closely with our Lord.

Another significant event this month is the World Day of Prayer, which will take place on Friday 7th March.  This year, the service has been prepared by Christian women from the Cook Islands, and we are blessed to host this gathering in our church.  The theme for the 2025 World Day of Prayer is 'I made you wonderful', a beautiful reminder of God's love and purpose for each of us.  We will be joined by fellow believers from Churches Together in Coulsdon as we come together in unity to pray for the world.  I encourage you to set aside time to join us that morning as we lift our voices in prayer and worship.

Additionally, I would like to remind you of our Open Church gathering, which takes place every Thursday at 11:00 am.  This is a time for fellowship over coffee and tea, followed by a short time of prayer.  While personal prayer is essential, there is great power in gathering as a community to pray together.  If you are available, I warmly invite you to come and be part of this special time of connection and spiritual encouragement.

As we move through this Lenten season, let us be mindful of the ways in which God is working in our lives.  May we embrace His grace, seek His presence, and prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter.

Every blessing,

Revd Sang Wook Han

Beginning Lent – some thoughts about Ash Wednesday

On Ash Wednesday, the palm leaves and crosses saved from last year’s Palm Sunday are burnt into grey ashes.  They are then smeared in the shape of a cross onto the foreheads of Christian people.

It’s a powerful symbol – an unexpected image.  If you’re walking down the street or coming out of a shop and you happen to pass someone who has been to a church service and is marked with this prominent Lenten sign, you’ll look twice.  The cross makes a person stand out.

But not just the person. This sign, whether worn on the forehead or not, signals for all Western Christians the beginning of Lent.  A period of focussed reflection follows, as it did for Jesus when he spent 40 days in the wilderness prior to three years of itinerant ministry.

Often, we think of Ash Wednesday as a day of confession.  We may pray with St Augustine:

O Lord,

The house of my soul is narrow;

enlarge it that you may enter in.

It is ruinous, O repair it!

It displeases Your sight.

I confess it, I know.

But Ash Wednesday is not just about repairing ourselves as individuals.  It is also about re-establishing good and balanced relationships with those around us.

In the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox traditions, the beginning of Lent (known as "Great Lent") is signalled differently – not just on a different date but with a different day.  “Clean Monday” (or "Pure Monday"), a day of strict fasting, reminds Eastern Christians that Lent begins with good intentions and a desire to clean our spiritual house.  In Greece and Cyprus, Clean Monday is a public holiday, often celebrated with outdoor activities and the eating of traditional "fasting foods".  On this day, and frequently throughout Lent, Christians pray the Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian (image above), a prayer for self-awareness and of awareness of our brothers and sisters.

O Lord and Master of my life, keep from me the spirit of indifference and discouragement, lust for power, and idle chatter.

Instead, grant to me, your servant, the spirit of wholeness of being, humble-mindedness, patience, and love.

O Lord and King, grant me the grace to be aware of my sins and not to judge my brother; for you are blessed now and ever and forever.  Amen.

And should we choose to read or speak these words this year, will we also take note that these are the words of a Syrian man?  Will we picture in our mind other Syrians, who remain homeless or who have chosen in recent times to run from the places they know best because of war, oppression, and complex international relationships?  Will they and others like them be part of our Ash Wednesday reflections on the flawed behaviour of humankind, and our own involvement in decisions made around us ?

The Revd Norman Wallwork suggests that Alan Luff’s hymn God grant us words to speak (Singing the Faith 647) is one we should consider singing on Ash Wednesday:

God grant us words to speak

when words are all we bear

to ease the pain that others feel

and show our loving care.

The final two verses of Alan’s hymn evoke the example of Jesus hanging from a cross with thoughts still for “the ones whose pain he healed by words of love and life”.  The cross becomes a sign “beyond all speech” of hope through the pain and struggle.  It can help us, too, on this day of confession to look outwards.

From the Methodist Church Resource Hub: www.methodist.org.uk/for-churches/resources/

What is distinctive about Methodism? (Part 3)

“Living a holy life”

The longing for holiness is not about wanting to be ‘holier than thou’.  It is about wanting the love of God to permeate all of our life, and for that love to be shown through our lives to other people.

God gives us the Holy Spirit, and when we respond, there is no limit to what the grace of God is able to do in a human life.  John Wesley taught about ‘Christian perfection.’  He believed that a mature Christian can reach a state where the love of God reigns supreme in our heart.  We can’t be perfect in an absolute way, as God is.  But we can be made perfect in love.

However we do not become holy all on our own.  Methodists believe in what John Wesley called 'social holiness'.  It is vital to meet and worship with other Christians in order to grow in the Christian life and to understand what is God's will for us and for our community.

The Methodist movement began in the eighteenth century when John and Charles Wesley got together with like-minded friends in Oxford to meet regularly for prayer, Bible study and Holy Communion, and to visit prisons and workhouses.  It was called the Holy Club.

Holiness is not just about personal spirituality and prayer. It will also be expressed through a commitment to social justice and to enabling other people to become followers of Jesus.

World Day of Prayer: The Cook Islands

The World Day of Prayer service on Friday 7th March 2025 has been written by Christian women from the Cook Islands in the Pacific Ocean.  They were given the phrase "I made you wonderful" and from it they have shown how wonderfully God created man, giving examples from their own experiences.  Your local committee hope that you will join us at 10.30am at Coulsdon Methodist Church on Friday 7 March, and stay for refreshments afterwards, where we hope you will be full of praise for the "floral nation".

Contemporary service at Warlingham

On Sunday 23 March at 5.30pm there will be a contemporary service led by members of their congregation.  This a Circuit service, so we are all invited.  Warlingham Methodist Church is on Limpsfield Road about halfway between Warlingham village centre and Sainsbury’s.  Buses 403, 409 and 411 pass the door.

Ash Wednesday – Purley Circuit Service

There will be an Ash Wednesday Holy Communion service with imposition of ashes on Wednesday 5th March 7.00pm at Coulsdon Methodist Church. This service will be led by Revd. Stephen Mares.

Church diary

Sun 2 Mar.  10am           Holy Communion (Rev. Sang Wook Han)

Wed 5 Mar.  7pm             Ash Wednesday Communion (Rev. Stephen Mares)

Thu 6 Mar.   11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Fri 7 Mar.     10.30am      World Day of Prayer service (see above)

Sun 9 Mar.  10am           Morning worship (Rev. Graham Claydon-Knights)

Thu 13 Mar. 11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 16 Feb. 10am           Morning worship (local arrangements)

Mon 17 Mar. 10am            Craft Club (Easy teabag folding: paper kit)

Thu 20 Mar. 11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 23 Mar. 10am           Morning worship (Jill Gradon)

                     5.30pm        Circuit service at Warlingham (see above)

Thu 27 Mar. 11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 30 Mar. 10am           Morning worship (Rev. Stephen Mares)

Thu 3 Apr.    11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 6 Apr.   10am           Holy Communion (Rev. Sang Wook Han)

The Good News Letter

COULSDON METHODIST CHURCH

www.coulsdonmethodistchurch.org

Facebook: @coulsdonmethodist

No.368                                                                                                                    January 2025

From our minister

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

As we step into the year 2025, I want to take a moment to reflect on God's abundant grace and faithfulness that has carried us through 2024. Despite the many challenges and uncertainties we faced, both as individuals and as a church, we have witnessed the sustaining power of God's love. With hearts full of gratitude, we look back on His goodness, and we step into this new year with renewed hope and trust in His plans for us.

In 2025, my prayer for our church is simple: to become a healthier, stronger community of believers. As we continue our journey together, I believe God is calling us to grow deeper in our faith and live more fully in the mission He has entrusted to us. To be a healthy church is not simply about numbers or outward appearances; it’s about being spiritually vibrant, deeply rooted in Christ, and actively living out our calling to worship, serve, learn, and evangelise.

As a church, our foundation is built on four essential commitments that define our discipleship as Methodists: Worship, Learning and Caring, Service, and Evangelism. These are the areas where we are called to grow, both as individuals and as a community of believers. I believe that as we embrace these commitments in 2025, we will experience the growth and vitality that God desires for us as a healthy church.

Worship: A Healthy Church Worships God Faithfully

In 2025, we commit to praying daily and seeking God's presence in our lives. Prayer is the lifeblood of our relationship with God, and by cultivating a daily habit of prayer, we open ourselves to God's guidance and strength. We will also commit to worshipping with others regularly, coming together as the body of Christ to honour, praise, and glorify God. Our worship will be an expression of gratitude, reverence, and joy. In this new year, let us also look and listen for God in Scripture and the Word. Through the Bible, God speaks to us, and we must make time to hear His voice, allowing His Word to transform our hearts and lives. A healthy church is a church that worships together in spirit and truth.

Learning and Caring: A Healthy Church Grows in Knowledge and Love

In 2025, we will commit to caring for ourselves and those around us. A healthy church is a church where members are spiritually, emotionally and physically cared for. We will prioritise self-care, ensuring that we are well-equipped to serve one another and our community. We will also commit to learning more about our faith, deepening our knowledge of God’s Word and the teachings of Jesus. This year, let us challenge ourselves to grow in understanding, whether through Bible studies, prayer groups, or personal reflection. Additionally, we will commit to practising hospitality and generosity, welcoming others into our lives with open hearts and hands. A healthy church is a church that loves one another and cares for the needs of others, creating a culture of support and encouragement.

Service: A Healthy Church Serves Others

A healthy church is a church that serves its community and the world. In 2025, we will commit to helping people in our communities and beyond, looking for ways to meet the needs of those around us. Service is a key expression of our faith, and we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need. We will also care for creation and all of God’s gifts, recognising that we are stewards of the earth and all that God has entrusted to us. This year, let us be mindful of our responsibility to care for the environment, protect natural resources, and promote sustainability. Lastly, we will commit to challenging injustice, standing against the oppression of the poor, the marginalised and the vulnerable. A healthy church is one that is actively engaged in bringing justice, healing and hope to a broken world.

Evangelism: A Healthy Church Shares the Good News

Finally, a healthy church is a church that is committed to evangelism—sharing the love of Christ with others. In 2025, we will commit to speaking of the love of God wherever we go. Our words and actions will reflect the hope we have in Christ, inviting others to experience the transforming power of His love. We will also commit to living in a way that draws others to Jesus, allowing our lives to be a witness to the goodness, mercy and grace of God. Through our integrity, kindness and humility, may we reflect Christ in all that we do. And we will commit to sharing our faith with others, whether through personal testimony, inviting others to church or simply being a friend who listens. A healthy church is one that is always ready to share the gospel with a world in need of hope.

A Prayer for 2025

As we embrace these commitments, let us remember that our ability to live them out does not come from our own strength but from the power of the Holy Spirit working within us. In 2025, we are called to lean into the grace of God, to be faithful in our worship, learning, service, and evangelism, and to trust that He will equip us for all that He has called us to do.

May this year be one of growth, renewal, and health for our church. May we grow in love for God and for one another and may we be a beacon of hope and light to the world. As we move forward together, let us hold fast to our commitments and trust that, with God’s help, we will become the healthy, vibrant church He desires us to be.

Blessings to you all as we step into 2025 together. May God bless and strengthen each of you as we live out our calling to Worship, Learning and Caring, Serve, and Evangelism for His glory.

Every blessing,

Revd Sang Wook Han

At the start of the new year Methodists make a distinctive resolution

Next Sunday morning (5th January) our worship will take the form of the Covenant Service, This service, which we celebrate on the first Sunday of the year, is at the heart of Methodists' devotion and discipleship, and their dedication in working for social justice. In the service the Church joyfully celebrates God's gracious offer that "I will be their God and they shall be my people".

That relationship primarily involves the corporate life of the community of God's people. It is concerned with individuals within that group.

What God offers is a loving relationship. The Covenant is not a contract in which God and human beings agree to provide particular goods and services for each other! It is not something that we have to do to create a relationship with God. God has freely and graciously already made it possible.

Rather, the Covenant is the means of grace by which we accept the relationship and then seek to sustain it. It is therefore not so much about getting in to a relationship with God as it is about staying in it. It is not about acquiring a relationship with God, but living within the loving relationship that God has already offered us.

God's gracious offer to us is therefore simultaneously a challenge. If God is committed to us, are we prepared to accept that as reality and commit ourselves in return to God? Even if we do choose to accept it, how can we manage to live out our commitment adequately, frail and human as we are?

It is in Jesus Christ that we discover the supreme example of what it is to live in relationship with God. The New Testament suggests that as we join the group of those seeking to follow the way of Jesus, we respond to God's challenge with him and begin to share his relationship with God as Father. Within the group of disciples, this leads to his Spirit bubbling up in us as individuals, encouraging and enabling us to live out our side of the relationship (i.e. "writing God's ways on our hearts" as Jeremiah 31 describes the Covenant).

All are welcome…

All are welcome to share in a Covenant Service. You will be welcome, whether you are sharing in a Covenant Service for the first time, have done it annually for many years, or simply want to watch what others do without taking part yourself.

The service is a gift not a demand! And God will give you the grace to do it all. You are not alone!

Origins of the Covenant Service

This idea of Covenant was basic to John Wesley's understanding of Christian discipleship. He saw the relationship with God in Covenant as being like a marriage between human beings (both as a community and as individuals) on the one side and God in Christ on the other (cf. Ephesians 5.21-33).

His original Covenant Prayer involved taking Christ as "my Head and Husband, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, for all times and conditions, to love, honour and obey thee before all others, and this to the death".

Wesley recognised that people needed not just to accept but also to grow in relationship with God. He therefore emphasised that God's grace and love constantly prompts and seeks to transform us, and so we should continually seek and pray to grow in holiness and love.

Over a number of years Wesley gradually saw the need for some regular ceremony which would enable people to open themselves to God more fully. He looked for some means of helping them to hear God's offer and challenge ever more deeply, and to allow God to prompt and enable them to respond.

In 1755 Wesley created a form of service adapted from the works of Joseph and Richard Alleine. These works came from the Puritan tradition of pastoral and spiritual guidance. Wesley therefore insisted that the Covenant Service be located in a framework of pastoral care, preaching and guidance.

This framework dealt with the corporate needs of a particular society of Christian disciples, and within that with the needs of individuals within that group. It therefore linked personal devotion with corporate worship.

There would be a series of meetings about the Covenant involving sermons, explanations and exhortations. An invitation would then be issued for "those as will" to come to the Covenant Service. After a day's "Retreat" for people to prepare themselves in prayer, fasting, reflection and self-examination there would be the Covenant Service itself. This would be held in the context of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. Wesley thought that this Sacrament brought into the realm of experience and made real all that was said in the Covenant. He therefore urged Methodists to pay it the highest regard, to put it at the centre of their spiritual life and to share in it frequently.

The process did not end with the Covenant Service. People were encouraged to continue to work out the implications for their lives of the fact that their relationship with God had been renewed in and through Christ. It was accepted that people might find this difficult to do without help, and might "backslide". There would therefore be further pastoral guidance offered to both groups and individuals in the weeks that followed the service. 

from the website of the Methodist Church:

www.methodist.org.uk/about/what-is-distinctive-about-methodism/the-covenant-service

“Do you believe this?”  Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Sat.18 – Sat.25 January

The resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity are now available to download.  They were prepared by the ecumenical community at Bose in Northern Italy.  As we celebrate 1,700 years since the Council of Nicaea, the worship service has at its heart, the Nicene Creed.  Reflecting this, the scripture readings for this year focus on belief.  The title “Do you believe this?” invites us to reflect on the story of Martha’s confession of faith in Jesus as narrated in John 11:17-27.  We are called to sit with Jesus’ provocative question to Martha: “Do you believe this?”   See: www.ctbi.org.uk

Evening worship on Sunday 19 January

There will be a Contemporary Local Arrangements Circuit Service at 5.30pm at Warlingham Methodist Church, Limpsfield Road, Warlingham CR6 9LE.

Church diary:

Sun 5 Jan.  10am           Covenant service (Rev. Sang Wook Han)

Thu 9 Jan.    11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 12 Jan. 10am           Morning worship (Curtis Juman)

Thu 16 Jan.  11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sat.18 - Sat.25 Jan.            Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Sun 19 Jan. 10am           Morning worship (Rev. Sang Wook Han)

               5.30pm        Circuit service at Warlingham, see above

Mon 20 Jan. 10am            Craft Club (Raw edges – sewing kit)

Thu 23 Jan.  11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 26 Jan. 10am           Morning worship (local arrangements)

Thu 30 Jan.  11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 2 Feb.  10am           Holy Communion (Rev. Sang Wook Han)

The Good News Letter

COULSDON METHODIST CHURCH

www.coulsdonmethodistchurch.org

Facebook: @coulsdonmethodist

No.365                                                                                                                  October 2024

From our minister

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

As we transition from the heat of summer into the cool and refreshing breeze of autumn, I pray that you are all staying well and taking care of your health.   The changing seasons remind us of the constant faithfulness of God, who sustains us through every season of life.

I would like to remind you of a few important events happening this month.

Firstly, on 6th October, we will be celebrating our Harvest Festival Service.  This is a special time to gather together as a community and give thanks to God for His abundant blessings over the past year.  Let us come together with grateful hearts, acknowledging all that God has provided for us and remembering those who may be in need during this time.

Additionally, on 10th October, we will hold our Church Council Meeting.  This meeting is not only a time to discuss important decisions but also a chance for us to reflect on how we can serve our local community more effectively.  Please pray that God will guide us in making wise decisions that will allow our church to be a greater light and blessing to those around us.

As we move through this beautiful season of autumn, I encourage you all to reflect on God’s goodness in your life and continue to support one another in love and fellowship.  May we remain faithful in our service to Him and to each other.

Every blessing,

Revd. Sang Wook Han

 
Methodist Women in Britain Autumn Lunch

This will take place in our Church Hall on Wednesday 23 October, at 12.15 for 12.30.  The speaker is Revd. Jenni Kirby, talking about the charity which looks after 'Street Children in South Africa’.  The lunch consists of soup and rolls, followed by delicious desserts.  There will be a Bring and Buy stall and a book stall.  Cost of lunch is £6, tickets available from Dorothy Pearson.

Nightwatch

Nightwatch is a local voluntary organisation which is a powerful and dependable force for good in the lives of people who for whatever reasons find themselves without a roof over their head in Croydon.  Every evening of the year, whatever the weather, Nightwatch can be found in Queen’s Gardens handing out soup and sandwiches, providing a listening ear and trying to cater for the urgent needs of a (sadly) growing number of individuals.  Since the pandemic and changes in the Council’s approach to homelessness have meant that the churches of Croydon are no longer able to help by running the Floating Shelter through the worst of the winter months, we and the other churches of Coulsdon have been supporting Nightwatch by making and delivering sandwiches for distribution on certain nights.  This year the Coulsdon churches have undertaken to fulfil this role for eight Thursday nights - 7, 14, 21 and 28 November; 5, 12, 19 and 26 December.  If you are able to help, please let me know.

Jim Clower

The Armed Man - Choral Evening Service

This Remembrance Sunday, 10th November, all are invited to join Trinity Church, Sutton for a choral evening service, from 6.30pm to 7.45pm.  The service will feature a performance of The Armed Man by Karl Jenkins, given by the Trinity Festival Choir; drawing on a range of styles, it reflects on the passing of ‘the most war-torn and destructive century in human history’ and looks forward in hope to a more peaceful future.  Trinity Church, Sutton (URC/Methodist) - Cheam Road, Sutton, Surrey SM1 1DZ

Free Organ concert at Purley United Reformed Church

On Sat. 12th October’24 at 3pm, Purley United Reformed Church invite you to a free organ concert by Ian Le Grice to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the church’s Willis organ.  The concert will  include pieces by J.S. Bach, Edward Elgar and Andrew Lloyd Webber.  Refreshments will be provided afterwards in the church hall but, to have an idea of how many to cater for, you will need to register for your free ticket at www.ticketsource.co.uk/purc12oct24.  Purley URC is In the centre of Purley, next to the hospital.  Full details at www.purleyurc.org.uk

 Nightwatch Harvest Appeal and Bring and Share meal.

Nightwatch is having their usual Harvest Festival appeal over the month of October.  Donations for our Harvest Service on 6 October will include any foods with a long shelf life –canned soups, fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, packets of rice and pasta.  Toiletries and donations of blankets and sleeping bags are also welcome.  Following the service there will be a bring-and-share meal.

  A prayer for the needs of the world

 Loving God, we rejoice in the signs of your presence in the world:

for every child who has a home, we praise and thank you God;

for every war that has an end, we praise and thank you God;

for every wound that has been healed, we praise and thank you God;

for every debt that is no more, we praise and thank you God.

And for the dawning of hope for all people, we pray:

where there is hunger and there is need, your kingdom come, O Lord;

where there are walls and barriers of hate, your kingdom come, O Lord;

where the poor pay the price, and the rich take the profit, your kingdom come, O Lord;

and where the earth lies wasted, and the skies are polluted, your kingdom come, O Lord.

Amen

Richard Sharples, superintendent presbyter, Cleveland and Danby Circuit

Church diary

Sun 6 Oct.   10.30am      Holy Communion & Harvest Festival (Rev. Sang Wook Han)

                                             (followed by Bring & Share lunch)

Thu 10 Oct.  11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

                     7.30pm        Church Council (in Chapel)

Sun 13 Oct. 10am           Morning worship (Rev. Jonathan Dean)

(new Chair of the London District)

Thu 17 Oct.  11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 20 Oct. 10am           Morning worship (Rev. Sang Wook Han)

Mon 21 Oct. 10am            Craft Club (Christmas stocking – sewing kit)

Wed 23 Oct. 12.30pm      MWiB Autumn lunch (see above)

Thu 24 Oct.  11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 27 Oct. 10am           Morning worship (local arrangements)

Thu 31 Oct.  11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 3 Nov.  10am           Holy Communion & Church Anniversary (Rev. Sang Wook Han)

Sat 16 Nov.  11am            Circuit Way Forward meeting 

The Good News Letter

COULSDON METHODIST CHURCH

www.coulsdonmethodistchurch.org

Facebook: @coulsdonmethodist

No.363                                                                                                            July/August 2024

 From our minister

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

As we step into the vibrant month of July, we are reminded of the important public duty on July 4th, as the General Election takes place.  This is a crucial time for the nation, and I encourage everyone to prayerfully consider their choices and participate in this democratic process.  As we vote, let us seek God's wisdom and guidance, asking for leaders who will govern with justice, mercy, and humility.

Alongside this significant event, excitement fills the air with various sports events capturing the hearts of many.  Euro 2024 continues until July 14th, alongside the prestigious Wimbledon Championships from July 1st to 14th.  Moreover, on July 26th, the Paris Olympics will commence, promising thrilling competitions and moments of national pride.

For students, eagerly awaited summer vacations are finally here, offering a well-deserved break from studies.  Additionally, after a winter longing for warmer days, the sunny weather blesses us with its cheerful presence.

Amidst these exhilarating activities and enjoyable weather, I encourage each of you to remain steadfast in personal prayer and Bible reading.  Let us continue to walk closely with God, nurturing a deepened relationship with Him despite the season’s distractions.  Remember, amidst all these blessings, let us not forget those around us who need Christ's love and care.

May this month be a time of joy, growth, and spiritual renewal for all of us.  Let's seize the opportunities to share God's love and grace with those around us, making every moment count for His kingdom.

Every blessing,

Revd Sang Wook Han

Action for Children

Action for Children Sunday is this month and there will be opportunities to find out what the charity is doing for vulnerable children today.  If you are also interested to know about its foundation by a Methodist minister over 150 years ago, read on.  If you would like a home collecting box to donate your loose change, please ask Jim or Maggie Clower.

The early history of Action for Children

Revd. Thomas Bowman Stephenson was the founder of The Children’s Home, now Action for Children – which has grown from its first home at 8 Church Street in London to run 650 projects and work with over 250,000 children, young people, parents and carers, all over the UK.

Stephenson was a Methodist Minister, as was his father.  He was his parents’ sixth child, born in 1839.  He travelled around, due to his father’s vocation, and trained for the ministry himself at Richmond College, graduating from London University.  He then served at Norwich, Manchester and Bolton before coming to Lambeth in 1868.

When Stephenson came to London, he was shocked and moved by the plight of children living on the streets.  As a Minister, he visited many.  ‘There they were’, he said, ‘ragged, shoeless, filthy, their faces pinched with hunger and premature wretchedness, and I began to feel that now my time was come.  Here were my poor little brothers and sisters, sold to hunger and the devil, and I could not be free of their blood if I did not do something to save some of them.’

With two Methodist friends, Stephenson came up with the idea of a home for young boys, where they would be safe from poverty and crime.  They moved quickly, and within three months of meeting, the first two boys were admitted to The Children’s Home – on 9 July 1869.  They bought 8 Church Street, a disused stable, for the first home.  Lay Wesleyan Methodists such as John Chubb, Sir Francis Lycett and Sir William McArthur also provided support.

Stephenson was determined not to create another work house.  He wanted it to be a home, and Mr and Mrs Austin, who were first appointed to run 8 Church Street, were named ‘Father’ and ‘Mother’.  By January 1871, the neighbouring house had been taken over, and 29 boys lived at the Home.  George Oliver, the first ever child there, would sign himself ‘G Oliver No 1’ for the rest of his life.  The work of The Children’s Home would be Stephenson’s greatest calling for over 30 years.

In 1871, a new home was found at Bonner Road, East London, which could house 100 young people.  The Home also secured a rural base.  The Edgworth branch was built on the Lancashire moors in 1872.  Stephenson believed that the country environment, combined with protection from parts of city life, would help children who would struggle at Bonner Road.  The Home grew rapidly to meet the needs of orphaned and neglected children, with branches opening in Ramsey (Isle of Man), Chipping Norton, Farnborough and Birmingham.  Homes focussed on giving children the skills to earn a living in trades such as carpentry, printing and domestic help.

Stephenson’s exacting views on child care also found expression in the creation of the Sisterhood of the Children in 1878. Stephenson had been influenced by the approach to child care in Hamburg, Germany, with children in small groups – but was concerned by the lack of any female presence there.  He felt very strongly about the Sisterhood: this was to be a demanding, skilled role.  The Sisterhood remained an important part of the Home and continued right up to 1985.

Stephenson’s interest went beyond the Home, though.  He founded the Wesley Deaconess Order, wrote hymns and played a leading part in editing the Wesleyan Hymn Book of 1878. He was also one of the earliest supporters of the reunion of British Methodism.

Stephenson resigned as Principal of The Children’s Home in 1900 and became superintendent minister at Ilkley, near Leeds.  He retired in 1907 and died in 1912. By then, over 2,000 children were cared for by what had become the National Children’s Home and Orphanage.

Surrey Churches Ride & Stride

This year as usual we will be participating in this event to raise money for church restoration and repair.  To find out more visit www.surreychurchespreservationtrust.org

Farewell service for Rev. Nigel Cowgill

Rev. Cowgill, who is one of the Chairs of the London District of the Methodist Church, will be stepping down this Summer.  There is a Farewell Service at 6pm on Sunday 21 July at Hinde Street Methodist Church, Marylebone, W1U 2QJ.

Church diary

Sun 7 July   10am           Holy Communion (Rev. Stephen Mares)

                     4pm             Circuit tea at Sanderstead Methodist.Church, followed by…

5pm             Circuit celebration service

Thu 11 July  11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 14 July 10am           Morning worship (Jill Gradon)

Mon 15 July. 10am            Craft Club (Knitted lavender bag)

Thu 18 July  11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 21 July 10am           Morning worship at Whitethorn Avenue

                     6pm             Farewell service at Hinde Street (see above)

Thu 25 July  11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 28 July 10am           Morning worship (local arrangements)

Thu 1 Aug.   11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 4 Aug.  10am           Holy Communion (Rev. Sang Wook Han)

Thu 8 Aug.   11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 11 Aug. 10am           Morning worship (Curtis Juman)

Thu 15 Aug. 11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 18 Aug. 10am           Morning worship (Doreen Ridden)

Thu 22 Aug. 11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 25 Aug. 10am           Morning worship (local arrangements)

Thu 29 Aug. 11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 1 Sept. 10am           Holy Communion (t.b.a.)

The Good News Letter

COULSDON METHODIST CHURCH

www.coulsdonmethodistchurch.org

Facebook: @coulsdonmethodist

No.361                                                                                                                            May 2024

From our minister

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As May approaches, we anticipate a month filled with both joys and challenges.  Together with sisters and brothers of our church, we pray for wisdom and patience from God to navigate through these times.

Firstly, I want to express gratitude to all who tirelessly served in various capacities over the past year, as highlighted during the Annual Church Meeting in April.  It is through the collective efforts of many that our church has been able to grow and share in joy.  As evident from the reports submitted by each group, I hope we can continue to gather strength and move forward, inch by inch, towards becoming a more unified church.  I especially hope to see the commencement of small group gatherings.

In May, we have several events planned, including Pentecost Sunday, the Circuit Easter Offering service and the 40th anniversary service of Churches Together in Coulsdon.  This promises to be a slightly busier and more exciting month.  Additionally, the Open Church will continue every Thursday at 11am.  Please pray for the meetings and events of May.

This month, let us make a concerted effort to spend more time praying for our church and the local community.  It will also be an opportunity for us to reflect on how we experience and share God’s love.

Lastly, let us all pray that with God’s guidance and assistance, we may spiritually grow and support one another throughout this month.

I look forward to sharing a meaningful and joyful May together.

Every blessing,

Revd Sang Wook Han

 “Hidden Treasures”…

…a Study Day with the President and Vice President of the Methodist Conference on Saturday 18 May, 2pm-5pm.  The London District is delighted to confirm this year's Study Day, which will be focused on the presidential theme: "Hidden Treasures".  Please note that this event will be held at Hinde Street Methodist Church, 19 Hinde St, London W1U 2QJ.  All are welcome to attend.  Please do RSVP here to give an indication of numbers.

Unconscious Bias training - 8th June at Sanderstead

For those church stewards and others who have not yet completed Unconscious Bias training, if you do not wish to sign up to the online Unconscious Bias training on Friday, 7 June 2024 between 10am and 11.15am - Unconscious Bias Training Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite or the online Theology X course - Explore new courses | MCBX (theologyx.com), our Circuit Superintendent Minister, Graham Claydon-Knights will be leading face-to-face training on Saturday, 8 June at 2pm at Sanderstead Methodist Church.

If you would like to attend the training on 8 June, please let Graham know at purleysuper@yahoo.com so that we have an idea of numbers for refreshments and materials. This training is also available for all who would be interested, as we did for the Equality Diversity Inclusion training.

Quiz corner

For those of you have been wracking your brains all month over last month’s ‘Quiz corner’ question: “Which Durham town is named after a miner’s leader and Methodist local preacher (1864-1935)?”, the answer is Peterlee, a postwar new town named after Peter Lee.  It is one of the very few places in this country named after a recent individual and probably the only one named after a Methodist!

Churches Together in Coulsdon anniversary service

The churches of Coulsdon and Old Coulsdon will be joining together on Sunday 19 May at 6pm to celebrate both Pentecost and the 40th anniversary of the founding of CTC.  The service will take place at Old Coulsdon Congregational Church (opposite the Tudor Parade shops on Coulsdon Road), and will be followed by refreshments.

Rev. Sue Shortman…

…will be leading worship at our joint service with Whitethorn Avenue Methodist Church on Sunday 12 May at 10am.  For that morning, our two congregations will join together there, CR5 2PP (463 bus from Coulsdon South).

Prayer for wisdom to discern signs of God's kingdom

God the Holy Spirit, through the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us that the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.  Strengthen and deepen our commitment to revealing your kingdom through our lives and by our prayers.  Grant us, we pray, wisdom to discern signs of your kingdom in the world around us, wherever grace, mercy and truth are present.  Enable us to discover, even in unexpected places, the beauty of holiness revealed in personal acts of compassion and sacrifice.  Empower all people of goodwill to work towards establishing social structures and relationships that embody justice and peace.  Through the faithful endeavour of us and all your people, may your kingdom come your will be done.  Amen.

David Chapman, District Chair, Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire District

Church diary

Sun 5 May   10am           Holy Communion (Rev. Sang Wook Han)

                     4pm             Talk; Bring & share tea at S. Croydon

                     5.30pm        Circuit Easter offering service (at South Croydon Methodist Church)

Thu 9 May    11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 12 May 10am           Morning worship (at Whitethorn Avenue)  Rev. Sue Shortman)

Thu 16 May  11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 19 May 10am           Pentecost (Rev. Sang Wook Han)

                     6pm             CTC service (at OCCC, see above)

Mon 20 May. 10am            Craft Club (Accordion book; paper kit)

Thu 23 May. 11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 26 May 10am           Morning worship (local arrangements)

Thu 30 May  11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 2 June 10am           Holy Communion (t.b.a.)

The Good News Letter

COULSDON METHODIST CHURCH

www.coulsdonmethodistchurch.org

Facebook: @coulsdonmethodist

No.359                                                                                                                      March 2024

From our minister

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

As we step into the Easter month, a time of profound significance in the Christian calendar, I greet you with joy and anticipation.  This month, our hearts and minds are drawn to the pivotal events of Good Friday and Easter Sunday, which encapsulate the essence of our faith – the journey from darkness to light, from despair to hope, from death to resurrection.

Explaining Easter to children poses its challenges.  Despite our best efforts to articulate its meaning, children may struggle to grasp its depth.  Indeed, even some grown-ups may find the concept of resurrection difficult to fully comprehend or believe in.

Do you believe in the resurrection of Jesus?  If not, I earnestly hope and pray that you will come to embrace this truth soon.  The Bible conveys its importance with clarity:

“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins…  If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.”  (1 Corinthians 15:17, 19)

It is crucial to recognise that disbelief in the resurrection detracts from the authenticity of one’s faith journey.  To reject the resurrection is to embark on a journey of faith devoid of its essence.  Lent presents us with a prime opportunity to contemplate the significance of the resurrection and to embrace it wholeheartedly.

Good Friday serves as a poignant reminder of Christ’s sacrificial love for all humanity.  It is a day of solemn reflection, inviting us to contemplate the profound depth of Jesus’ suffering on the cross.  The darkness of Good Friday underscores the magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice and the extent of God’s redeeming grace.

In observing Good Friday, let us come together in prayer and contemplation. Let us humbly acknowledge our need for redemption and express gratitude for the immeasurable gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.  May this day serve as a solemn reminder of the lengths to which God is willing to go to reconcile us to Himself.

Yet, even as we dwell in the solemnity of Good Friday, we do so with the assurance of Easter Sunday drawing near.  For Easter Sunday is the day of triumph, the day when death is conquered, and new life bursts forth from the tomb.  It is a day of rejoicing and celebration, as we proclaim the victory of our risen Lord.

As we transition from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, let us do so with hearts full of hope and anticipation.  Let us embrace the promise of resurrection and renewal, knowing that through Christ, all things are made new.  May the joy of Easter Sunday permeate our lives and fill us with the assurance of God’s abiding presence.

As we journey through this Easter month, may we focus our hearts and minds on the profound significance of Good Friday and the transformative power of Easter Sunday.  Let us walk in the footsteps of our Saviour, following Him from the cross to the empty tomb, and may our lives be a testament to the hope and joy found in Him.

May God’s blessings abundantly shower upon you and your loved ones during this Easter season.

Every blessing,

Revd Sang Wook Han

A new hymn for Methodism

At Methodist Conference last June, Richard Mainwaring’s hymn Do all the good you can (‘The world is my parish’) went down very well, not least because of the ambitious and inspiring video that accompanied it and which features choirs and soloists from Methodist schools all over the world.  The hymn is also known as ‘The world is my parish’.  It draws on words attributed to John Wesley, and was written for the Transforming Lives Methodist Education International Conference last May.  The conference coincided with the 275th anniversary of John Wesley’s model school, Kingswood, in 1748.

(from Singing the Faith Plus, July 2023 update).

Good Friday

We will join with other churches in Coulsdon, beginning with a combined act of worship at 11am in St Aidan’s Roman Catholic Church, Chipstead Valley Road.  This will be followed by a united Walk of Witness back to the green outside our Church, where there will be a joint outdoor act of worship at about 11.45am.  Tea, coffee and hot cross buns will then be available in our Church Hall.

Easter Sunday

At 6.30am (please don’t forget that the clocks will have gone forward overnight for British Summer Time) we can again come together with those from other churches, to celebrate at the top of Farthing Down the dawning of this most important day in the church calendar.  Following the open-air service, people can adjourn to the Scout Hut, behind St John’s Church Hall, by Bradmore Green Pond, to share breakfast at 7.15am.

Easter Sunday worship at our Church at 10am will of course include Holy Communion.

Church diary

Sun 3 Mar.  10am           Holy Communion (Rev. Sang Wook Han)

Thu 7 Mar.   11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 10 Mar. 10am           Mothering Sunday (Rev. Stephen Mares)

Thu 14 Mar. 11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 17 Mar. 10am           Morning worship (Rev. Graham Claydon-Knights)

Mon 18 Mar. 10am            Craft Club (Plastic canvas; sewing kit)

Thu 21 Mar.. 11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 24 Mar. 10am           Palm Sunday (local arrangement)

Thu 28 Mar. 11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

                     8pm             Maundy Thursday Holy Communion  (Rev. Sang Wook Han)

Fri 29 Mar                            Good Friday (see above)

Sun 31 Mar. 6.30am        Easter sunrise service (see above)

10am           Easter Sunday (Rev. Sang Wook Han)

Thu 4 April   11am            Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 7 April  10am           Holy Communion (Rev. Sang Wook Han)

The Good News Letter

COULSDON METHODIST CHURCH

www.coulsdonmethodistchurch.org

Facebook: @coulsdonmethodist

No.357                                                                                                                          January 2024

 From our minister

 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Happy New Year!

The new year of 2024 has now begun.  I hope that this year will be a year filled with God’s grace and love within your families as well as in your workplaces.

Last month, we held the Circuit Carol Service at our church.  We enjoyed the tea served at the church before the service started.  I’d like to say thank you to everyone who helped in any way that night.  I’m sure your warm hospitality was appreciated by all who attended.  In addition, the choir's beautiful harmony, the organ and brass instruments, and our singing during the service made it a special time as we waited and prepared to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus.

Also, on 19th December, we had Carol Singing in front of Aldi in Coulsdon.  Despite the wet weather, as many as eighteen people gathered and sang carols and announced the coming of baby Jesus.  In less than an hour, we raised £126.50 for Nightwatch Croydon.

Above all, we had the Christmas Eve Holy Communion and the Christmas Day Services praising Jesus who came to save us, and we long for His second coming.

A busy December has passed and we are now in the new year of 2024.  We will hold our Covenant Service on the first Sunday of January.  We are people who have confessed Jesus as our Saviour and decided to live as his disciples.  I hope through our Covenant Service, it will be a time for us to once again commit to live as disciples of Jesus.

From 10th January, a new group called ‘Maths@Church’ will be held every Wednesday from 4:00 to 5:30 pm.  It is aimed at children in primary school, from years 1 to 6.  It will be a time to convey the love of Jesus to them, whilst focusing on mathematics.  We need your support and prayers.  Please pray for the children who will participate in this group, for the leaders who will guide them and for the volunteers who will support them.

I hope Coulsdon Methodist Church becomes a church full of love in 2024.  We must work harder to meditate on the Word of God and communicate with God through prayer.  I hope that we can share the love of Jesus Christ with the people around us.  I hope that the love we have received will be spread through us to our neighbours and our community.  I hope that 2024 will be the year in which we all take on these challenges with all our hearts and achieve them.

Let us praise the Lord all our days.

Every blessing,

Revd Sang Wook Han

 Candlemas and ‘Old Christmas’

Snowdrops, sometimes knowns as 'Candlemas Bells'

For most of us, Candlemas, celebrated on 2 February, is all that remains of “old Christmas”, the traditional period of 40 days between Christmas Day and the presentation of the baby Jesus in the temple.  There’s something still powerful about offering light in the darkness after all the twinkly fairy lights have been taken down from houses and neatly pruned trees.  And just as Mary and Joseph offer their child to Simeon in Jerusalem, our lights are a kind of question to ourselves: what will we ourselves offer into the darkness and into this new year?

Old Christmas, like Old Advent (the season leading up to Christmas Day) and the period of Lent preceding Easter, was a period of 40 days.  It began on Christmas Day and continued until the day on which Christians recall the presentation of the baby Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem by his parents, Mary and Joseph.  (This despite the quirk of our Lectionary regime of readings that has already raced ahead to the Baptism of Jesus and the beginnings of his ministry.)

The presentation by Mary and Joseph, described in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 2: 22-40), would have been timed to coincide with the end of Mary’s ritual purification after childbirth – a period of forty days.  For that reason, the day is also sometimes referred to as the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin.

There are several traditions associated with Candlemas (including the eating of crepes in France and the more widespread reference to snowdrops as ‘Candlemas Bells’).  However, for most Christians it is the idea of Jesus-as-light bringer that is uppermost on this day.  Candles may be blessed; a candle-lit procession may take place; and, on Candlemas night, many people place lighted candles in their windows at home – all actions that remind us that Jesus is often described as the “light of the world”.

Singing the Faith offers one hymn that explores in some detail the presentation of Jesus at the temple, and the encounter of the ‘holy family’ with the old man Simeon: “Through long years of watchful waiting” by Tom Wilkinson (StF 232).  The hymn writer leads us carefully from that first, critical recognition of God’s presence in the baby Jesus to the inevitable, loving but painful self-giving of Christ’s crucifixion.  He uses Simeon’s warning to Mary (‘and a sword will pierce your own soul too’) to bind these two events together: in verse 2, ‘Mary’s heart is crucified’; in verse 4 she recollects Simeon’s words ‘and her love dissolved in tears’; and, finally, ‘In Christ’s death outside the city God’s own heart is pierced with pain’ (v.5). In this way, Thomas addresses the idea that it is God who, out of love for us and for creation, endures the pain of crucifixion alongside and through Jesus.

Also see Andrew Pratt's hymn “Mary and Joseph came to the Temple” (StF 229).  This is a simpler text than Tom Wilkinson's.  It gives a more straightforward re-telling of the biblical narrative.  However, unlike Tom, Andrew devotes one verse to the older woman in the story, Anna, and his final verse alludes directly to the prayer that Simeon utters on seeing the baby Jesus.

*The information about Candlemas included here is based on the introduction to “Living Upside Down: four sessions for small groups Part 2 – The 40 days of Old Christmas”.  (Adapted from “Marking Candlemas” on the Methodist Church website)

Week of prayer for Christian unity 2024

A range of resources are available to download to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  They have been prepared by an ecumenical team from Burkina Faso facilitated by the local Chemin Neuf Community (CCN).

The chosen theme is “You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbour as yourself”.  The parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the best known passages of scripture, yet one that never seems to lose its power to challenge indifference to suffering and to inspire solidarity.  It is a story about crossing boundaries that calls our attention to the bonds that unite the whole human family.

In choosing this passage, the churches of Burkina Faso have invited us to join with them in a process of self-reflection as they consider what it means to love our neighbour in the midst of a security crisis.  Communities in the British-Irish context may be less vulnerable to acts of mass violence than in Burkina Faso, but there are still many living with the memory and/or the threat of serious violence, centred on issues of identity and belonging.  There are also groups within communities, including people from ethnic minority backgrounds and people seeking asylum, who feel particularly vulnerable to violence or being displaced by the threat of violence.

Churches Together in Coulsdon

The churches of Coulsdon and Old Coulsdon will, as usual, be marking the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity by holding an ecumenical service to which all are invited.  This year it will take place at 10.30am on Saturday 20th January at Old Coulsdon Congregational Church, opposite Grange Park and Tudor Parade (buses 60, 404 or 466).  The service will be preceded by refreshments at 10am.  All are welcome.

(See the article above about the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.)

Prayer day: the Way Forward

South Croydon United Church is holding a Prayer Day on Saturday, 20 January 2024 from 11.00am until 2.30pm to pray for the Way Forward.  It is an opportunity for anyone from our Circuit churches to drop in and join them to pray for the Way Forward for our church and also for the Circuit.

Church diary

Sun 7 Jan.  10am           Covenant service (Rev. Sang Wook Han)

Thu 11 Jan.  11am         Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 14 Jan. 10am           Morning worship (Rev. Stephen Mares)

Mon 15 Jan. 10am            Craft Club (in John Saunders Room)

                                             (Chinese folded gift card – paper kit)

Thu 18 Jan.  11am         Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sat 20 Jan.   10.30am       Week of Prayer for Christian Unity service (at Old Coulsdon

Congregational Church; see above)

11-2.30         Prayer day: the Way Forward (at South Croydon United Church;

see above)

Sun 21 Jan. 10am           Morning worship (Rev. Sang Wook Han)

Thu 25 Jan.. 11am         Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 28 Jan. 10am           Morning worship (local arrangements)

Thu 1 Feb..  11am         Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 4 Feb.  10am           Holy Communion (Rev. Sang Wook Han)

The Good News Letter

COULSDON METHODIST CHURCH

www.coulsdonmethodistchurch.org

Facebook: @coulsdonmethodist

No.355                                                                                                                      November 2023

From our minister

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Winter is coming, as the clocks went back an hour last Sunday.  I hope and pray that all of you at Coulsdon are well as you prepare for the cold winter, whilst continuing to share the love of Christ with those around you.

We had a Harvest Festival Service on the first Sunday in October and after the service, we had an opportunity to share a meal.  Many members of the congregation remained for this occasion and I certainly enjoyed having conversations over the delicious food from various cuisines.  I’d like to say thank you once again to everyone who spent a lot of time and effort preparing for that day.

On the evening of 12th October, I chaired my first church council meeting in the chapel.  We looked back on what had happened over the past few months and made plans on what to do in the future.  During the meeting, various opinions were discussed, and we will continue to share the gospel and the love of God, with our neighbours and the community.

The church will celebrate its 112th anniversary this coming Sunday, 5th November 2023.  I would like to share with you a brief history of our church.  The information I have used is from “Methodism in the Purley Circuit: A Brief History of the Circuit and Churches”.

In 1907, when the village of Coulsdon was growing rapidly, a few Methodists met together for fellowship in the home of Mr. Thomas E. Bond who may be regarded as the founder of the Methodist society in Coulsdon.

The first planned service was on 14th February 1909 and the plan for the last quarter of that year shows Coulsdon with nineteen members.  The society met spiritual needs of the neighbourhood as well as attempting to meet the needs of the community.

Meanwhile, the search for a suitable site for the church building was in progress and a site on Brighton Road had been purchased.  There is an interesting thing recorded about the first contribution to the building fund - it was an anonymous gift of one shilling from a passenger on a train to London.  Eventually, the construction of the church building project was completed and the building operations commenced.  On Wednesday, 5th April 1911, the stone-laying ceremony took place.

For a long time since then, many people have received comfort and been able to meet God through this church and their lives have been changed.

Have you thought about what path we should take now?  If you're immediately thinking of a grand plan, you may say that it's hard, that you don't have time or the money for it.  However, if we look back at the path we have taken and then think about the path forward, the answer may be a lot simpler than we had originally thought.  If we do our best on the tasks given to us today, every day, each day will become a month, a month will become a year, and a year will become a hundred years.

I hope and pray that the church and its members will be more excited about the coming year and the next ten years from now, than today.  I hope we can build such a church together.

Every blessing,

Sang Wook

In a world that God made good

let us pray

for people seeing things

   no human being should see

for people seized by terror

    no human being should experience

for people whose depths of suffering

    no human being should know.

God of unquenchable hope

Confirm our belief that

this is not how things should be;

Affirm our belief that

things can and will be different;

Strengthen our belief in

Jesus

who opens the way from

death to resurrection, and

Help us, as his disciples

to be your

agents for change

in our broken world.

Amen

Church diary

Sun 5 Nov.  10.30am      Holy Communion (Rev. Sang Wook Han)

                                             and Church anniversary service

Thu 9 Nov.   11am         Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 12 Nov. 10.30am      Morning worship (local arrangements)

                                             and Remembrance Sunday service

Thu 16 Nov. 11am         Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 19 Nov. 10am           Morning worship (Rev. Nigel Cowgill)

Mon 20 Nov. 10am            Craft Club (in John Saunders Room)

                                             (“Christmas decoration” paper kit)

Thu 23 Nov. 11am         Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 26 Nov. 10am           Morning worship (Rev. Eileen Poore)

Thu 30 Nov. 11am         Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 3 Dec.  10am           Holy Communion (Rev. Sang Wook Han)

The Good News Letter

COULSDON METHODIST CHURCH

www.coulsdonmethodistchurch.org

Facebook: @coulsdonmethodist

No.353                                                                                                                    September 2023

From our minister

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Shalom!

Greetings at the beginning of the Connexional Year.  Now, the Circuit has a new superintendent minister and I have come to Coulsdon Methodist Church with pastoral responsibility, as I continue with my role at Caterham and Whitethorn Avenue Methodist Churches.

Allow me to tell you a little bit about myself.  I was born and raised in South Korea as a minister’s kid and came to England in 2010 with my family - my wife Younie and two children, Hannah and Daniel.  My Wesleyan connection started in South Korea but my Methodist connection began at Kingston Methodist Church where we had been so warmly welcomed by the door steward.  We cannot forget her as she helped us to settle down in the church and blend into the community so well.

In the past, I had some opportunities to lead services at Coulsdon and to worship here at other times.  It is a great privilege for me to become a part of the Coulsdon Church community and I am looking forward to carrying on my journey with you, as disciples of Christ to love and serve the church as well as the local communities.  We could be like the door steward or like Abraham, who unknowingly treated an angel.  By continuing to share the love of Jesus, more lives will return to God.

Let us carry on doing "all the good we can", "by all the means we can" and "in all the places we can" to save the lost souls.

Every blessing,

Sang Wook

Purley Circuit staffing

Rev. Sang Wook Han, as well as becoming our minister, will continue to look after Whitethorn Avenue and Caterham churches.

Our new Circuit Superintendent minister, Rev. Graham Claydon-Knights, will have ministerial responsibility for Sanderstead and Warlingham churches.

South Croydon United Church (Methodist and URC) will continue to be looked after by Rev. Martin Knight.

Rev. Stephen Mares, though retired, remains a member of our congregation and will continue to preach throughout the Circuit, along with Rev. Ermal Kirby and local preachers.

Music at Sanderstead URC

The ‘23-‘24 season commences on Sunday 17 September at 3pm with a jazz concert given by The Ted Beament Piano Trio making a welcome return to Sanderstead.  Ted was the pianist with Humphrey Lyttleton's band and is joined by his brother Pete on drums and Pete Ringrose on bass.  We are guaranteed a most enjoyable afternoon of easy listening from these top musicians.  As always, tea and exceedingly fine cakes will follow the concert which lasts for around an hour.  Admission by programme at the door is £8 or £4 (18 or under).  Sanderstead United Reformed Church is on Sanderstead Hill (next to the library) CR2 0HB.  www.surc.org.uk

Creation Time

The ecumenical Time for Creation stretches from 1 September to the feast of St Francis on 4 October.  It is a period that, in the UK at least, incorporates the period of Harvest Festivals, traditionally a focal point of our autumn worship.  But we are encouraged to think more broadly still.  For example, we may wish to re-engage with the Methodist report Hope in God’s Future, which was adopted as an official Conference Statement in 2011 and updated in 2020.

Creator of All,

From your communion of love, life sprung forth like a mighty river and the whole cosmos came into being.

On this Earth of overflowing love, the Word was made flesh and went forth with the life-giving waters proclaiming peace and justice for all creation.

You called human beings to till and keep your garden. You placed us into right relationship with each creature, but we failed to listen to the cries of the Earth and the cries of the most vulnerable. We broke with the flowing communion of love and sinned against you by not safeguarding the conditions for life.

We lament the loss of our fellow species and their habitats, we grieve the loss of human cultures, along with the lives and livelihoods that have been displaced or perished, and we ache at the sight of an economy of death, war and violence that we have inflicted on ourselves and on the Earth.

Open our ears to your creative, reconciling and sustaining Word that calls to us through the book of Scripture and the book of creation.

Bless us once again with your life-giving waters so that the Creator Spirit may let justice and peace flow in our hearts and overflow into all creation.

Open our hearts to receive the living waters of God’s justice and peace, and to share it with our suffering brothers and sisters, all creatures around us, and all creation.

Bless us to walk together with all people of good will so that the many streams of the living waters of God’s justice and peace may become a mighty river all over the Earth.

In the name of the One who came to proclaim good news to all creation, Jesus Christ.

Amen

Fish and Chips Quiz

South Croydon United Church are organising a Fish and Chips Quiz evening on Saturday 9 September and would like to invite all Circuit members and friends to join them by putting together a team of up to 6 players or by asking to be allocated to an existing team.  They are raising money for Ukraine.  They will be fundraising for the White Eagle Club who are purchasing and sending out stretchers which can be lifted by one person, as opposed to the normal four, to transport a casualty; each stretcher costs about £700.  They will also be holding a raffle.  They hope that you can support this worthwhile cause.  The flyer and booking form are on the notice board at the back of the church.

Noah's Ark Art Festival and Autumn Fair

This will be taking place at St Andrew’s Church Coulsdon on Saturday 30th September between 11am and 2pm.  There will be a selection of stalls, games and a wildlife show.  All are welcome and admission is free.  For further information please see the poster on the notice board at the back of church.

Church diary

Sun 3 Sep.  10am           Holy Communion (Rev. Sang Wook Han)

Thu 7 Sep.   11am         Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sat 9 Sep.                            South Croydon United Church Fish & Chips Quiz (see above)

Sun 10 Sep. 10am           Morning worship (local arrangements)

Thu 14 Sep. 11am         Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 17 Sep. 10am           Morning worship (Curtis Juman)

Wed 20 Sep. 10am            Craft Club (in John Saunders Room)

Thu 21 Sep. 11am         Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sun 24 Sep. 10am           Morning worship (Revd. Ermal Kirby)

Thu 28 Sep. 11am         Open Church; 11.45, Thursday prayers

Sat 30 Sep.  11 -2            St Andrew’s Noah’s Ark Festival and Autumn Fair (see above)

Sun 1 Oct.   10am           Harvest Festival and Holy Communion (Rev. Sang Wook Han.)

Wed 25 Oct. 12.30           Methodist Women in Britain Autumn lunch, Sanderstead (details to follow)