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.

All sorts of God’s creatures came to be blessed at this year’s “Blessing of the Animals” service. The church was packed with dogs, cats, rabbits and their owners and we had a presentation from the Cheshire Dogs’ Home and treats provided by the local pet shop. The theme of the service was taken from Jesus’ words – “Five sparrows are sold for just two pence, but God does not forget one of them” and the purpose was to allow pet owners to thank God for the companionship of their animals and the joy they bring.

After returning from work in the village of Njoro in Kenya with the Karibuni Trust, Muriel

The outside pump house

Priest, a member of our congregation, challenged us at our annual church meeting to raise money to try and get the village’s nursery school connected to the nearest water supply. The children of the Wesley Nursery School were constantly infected by worms because the only water available to them came from the local river.

So we took up the challenge and managed to raise over £20,000 by direct giving, money raising and one church member writing a book about his life and requesting donations went towards the water fund.

Children at the well

Wanting to better serve our older members and realising that many had little contact other than in Sunday services, we put our heads together and ‘Carols and Company’ was born. At this afternoon event (with personal invitations and organised transport) we sang carols, shared fellowship and had afternoon tea. The event was so popular that a month later, we organised ‘Tea and Company’ where we sang hymns, listened to readings and gave a birthday cake to a lady who had apparently never had one! Another afternoon is planned for this month and word has got around with existing attendees asking if they can bring a friend.

Inspired by an idea from our Texan minister, Revd Bob Monk, we erected three life-sized crosses outside our church one Easter and, on Easter Sunday, decorated the centre cross with flowers – a popular American tradition. The final effect was quite impressive and after receiving much encouragement from the local community, the display has been repeated each year since.