Welcome to the 52nd edition of THE BUZZ.  I have at most one or two stories in hand for the beginning of 2007, so share your ideas around the Connexion and get a bit of publicity at the same time.  Just email me - rogerhutchings@methodistchurch.org.uk

Roger Hutchings, Buzz Editor 
  

Four more stories, briefly told, from around Methodism. The contacts will be happy to tell you more.

We’re on the 3rd edition of our Circuit Worship Directory.  We’re a widespread and culturally diverse circuit, and we feel it’s vital to ensure all involved in worship know enough about each other.  The ‘Who’s who’ section covers 10 ministers, 36 LPs and 12 worship leaders – including (if they’re willing) backgrounds, interests and motivation.  It makes fascinating reading.  The ‘Worship details’ section gives info about 17 different churches – location, how they organise worship and so on.  Ask for a copy if you wish!

We’ve recently hosted an exhibition to coincide with World Aids Day on December 1st.  The exhibition is of photos by Don McCullin, and is entitled Life Inter-rupted.  It’s about HIV/Aids in Zambia and South Africa.  It’s hard-hitting and made us aware of the links between Aids and poverty.  The exhibition is also online at www.christianaid.org.uk , and it’ll be back at St Martin’s college in February.

We’ve built on our success at Easter when over 500 school children shared our worship.  They were invited again in December.  The church was full, with standing room only in the aisles.  The team told the Christmas story by interactive games, readings and carols but the Mapperley Muppets stole  the show.  Dressed for the nativity, their performance was inspired!  We’ve shared the joy of Christmas with over 600 children.  Mapperley’s on the map!

We realised that a number of people in the circuit had once exercised their musical gifts by playing various brass-band instruments – but had given up!  Our minister wondered if we could get together to play for worship occasionally.  We raised some money with coffee mornings and bought second-hand instruments for those who no longer had them, invited people still in bands to join, and now we practice and play regularly.  We’ve given our gifts back to God, and feel blessed in doing so.  It’s also brought some people into church who wouldn’t otherwise be there.