Hello everyone and welcome to the latest edition of THE BUZZ.

THE BUZZ is a great resource that brings the whole Connexion together and allows us to share successful ideas between districts, circuits, churches and church groups. If you have any success stories you would like to promote and share, then please get in touch and let us know how God is working in your local area.

Alison Pollard
  

Four more exciting and encouraging stories from around Methodism. The contacts provided will be pleased to give you more information.

Around 70 people from different denominations and churches took part in ‘Praise in the Park’ – a song-filled Sunday afternoon led by a band of young adults and choir members. With the encouragement of park wardens and the local council our Worship Consultation group organised the event to be held around a recently renovated bandstand in the local park. This summer it was a beautifully hot day and refreshments were served by the Friends of Runcorn Hill.

Why should children be the only ones to enjoy a Holiday Club? That was the thinking behind our decision to run a ‘Fun Day for the Elderly' with an activity day and a separate outing. We offered a morning of handicrafts, music, local history, carpet skittles and a session of simple exercises. Then, after lunch together, entertainment and an epilogue drawing the whole day to a close. We later had an outing to the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean. Lovely weather, scenery and fellowship.

This year we have again responded to the needs of our local community and turned our worship area into an art gallery for the Saltaire Festival. Last year we housed the Methodist Art Collection, and this year, the sculpture, woodcarving and paintings of David Moore and Richard Smith, who portray their deep understanding of the Christian story with humour, imagination and a healthy scepticism. Over 500 visitors viewed the art, and as stewards talked to visitors, opportunities were created to tell Bible stories and talk of God to people who may never normally cross a church’s threshold.

The aim of the Ashford Worship Experience (AWE) is to bring worship out of the church and into the community. It’s a way of showing young people, who may never consider attending a Sunday morning church service, just how “rock ‘n’ roll” God can be. We have a lot of lively praise songs with a band, a short talk aimed at young people, free refreshments and a Fair Trade tuck shop. Our last event at Towers School in October was a resounding success and our next is scheduled for January 25.