Dear Friends,
This email is going out on the special bank holiday to commemorate the 75th anniverary of VE day. We hope you have been able in some way or other to appreciate the significance of the day. It is especially poignant of course in the midst of the current crisis. The keynote attitude of the day is thankfulness - thanks for the sacrfice of those who gave so much in the Second World War, and thanks for the era of relative (though sadly not complete) peace we have been blessed with since. Thankfulness is at the heart of Christian discipleship. It is the beginning of faith as a we realise what God has done for us - giving us life, providing for us, coming to be with us in Jesus Christ, loving and forgiving, and through the work of the Spirit placing us in the community of the church. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 sums it up: 'Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.' Thankfulness is also the beginning of a desire for justice and transformation. As we are thankful for the end of war, so we are resolved to work for peace; as we are thankful for the efforts of so many on the frontline in dealing with the coronavirus, so we are resolved to do what we can to help.
Just One Question - This week the church Leadership Team are launching the first step in a new initiative for Oakwood Church. The new mission action priority is to develop the ways that we learn and grow together as followers of Jesus. One of the ideas which the church council commended in early March was to encourage everyone to commit with 2 or 3 other people to have regular intentional conversation together about the joys and struggles of our life with God. It is up to you to do this in a way that suits each of us best - some plans and possibilities will emerge as the lockdown eases, and there are lots of resources to think about using. In the meantime, the lockdown has pushed us to rethink and deepen many of our relationships and the ways we stay in touch. For now, the Leadership Team would like simply to invite everyone to find a way each week to ask each other one simple question:
'How are things with God for you this week?'
Who you ask, and where the conversation goes is entirely open and up to you. Let's just make sure we are asking the question and talking about it with someone. Please let us know how it goes!
Regular worship and events - please join us on Zoom for worship on Sunday from 10.15, the Eee Baa Gumm Cafe on Wednesday fom 13.30 and morning prayer on Thursday from 09.00. The meeting ID (724 766 6207) and password (316316) stay the same.
Giving - During May we are missing the car wash and breakfast event for Leprosy Mission, and Christian Aid Week. If you would like to give please make an electronic transfer to the bank account the treasurers are using for this and label the transfer ‘Charity’:
Account name – ‘Roundhay Methodist Church’
Account number – 55860060
Sort code – 30-98-93
Transaction name - ‘Charity’
We will divide the gifts given during each month of the lockdown between the charities which we had planned to support with events and collections. If you are eligible to claim Gift Aid, for some of the charities we support it may be possible for you to decide to give direct (online or otherwise), allowing them to claim Gift Aid – please do this instead if you prefer, using the links above. If the gift is given through the church it is not possible for us to claim on the charities’ behalf. Thank you everyone who is maintaining regular giving to church electronically or by storing up cash/envelopes to be collected eventually. We are sorry that the next batch of blue envelopes had been delayed - they are now in the post to you.
Resources for children - Roots material for children and families for this Sunday is available here.
Phone lines - The Church of England Daily Hope freephone line is 0800 804 8044. The Methodist Church now also has a similar Dial-a-Prayer freephone line - for a prayer, phone 0808 281 2514, and for news, phone 0808 281 2478. Why not have a go at them all!
Yours in Christ, George, Kathryn and Debbie
8th May 2020
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 Contact us:
Rev’d George Bailey
Tel. 0113 266 2066 george.bailey@methodist.org.uk
Rev’d Kathryn Fitzsimons
Tel. 0113 225 6702 cofepriest@oakwoodchurch.info
Rev’d Debbie Nouwen
Tel. 078500 86702 debbie.nouwen@leeds.anglican.org
[Church Administrator: Naomi Polson
Tel. 0730 517 0979 office@oakwoodchurch.info]
The Church Office, along with the administrator's phone and email, is currently closed. Please contact the ministers with any enquiries.
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