Teamspirit is the monthly newsletter of  Cheswick Green, Earlswood, Shirley and Trinity Methodist Churches.  The name reflects the close cooperation of the ministerial staff and congregations of the four churches.  The newsletter contains a letter from one of our ministers, items of news about people and organisations, articles of interest about Christianity, Methodism and areas of social concern, a diary of events and the listings of preachers at the four churches for the next month.  Teamspirit is distributed  within the local region by pastoral visitors who will stop and chat if you wish.  

Many of the items of news and events from Teamspirit can be found in these web-pages.  However if you wish to receive a paper or e-mail copy of Teamspirit please contact us giving your postal and/or e-mail address

Items from the current TeamSpirit

From the Methodist Church website:

Methodist app for iPhone

The Methodist Church in Britain has created a free app for the iPhone - now available from the App Store ( http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/methodist-church/id369862307?mt=8  ).

The app offers free daily prayers and Bible studies. The popular Word in Time Bible study features a different author each week, every week of the year, with a short reflection on the day's passage and questions to consider for your own life. It's available to read every day, or you can listen to it as a podcast. And a brief but challenging prayer helps you to focus on God in the middle of your busy day.

The app also offers you the latest news, topical podcasts and tweets from the Methodist Church.

The Bible readings are based on the Methodist lectionary but Christians from all backgrounds will find this app inspiring, informative and uplifting. 

We are currently working on making the app available on other smartphones.

(See http://www.methodist.org.uk )

Jazz Church

On June 20th 2010 Shirley Methodist Church will see the launch of a new venture called Jazz Church. This fresh expression of worship will take the form of a usual Sunday evening service but with a few exciting differences including fresh arrangements of traditional hymns, a different style of preaching and opportunities to respond in a number of different ways.

To reflect the creativity of God, and the diversity of the Church Jazz Church will be a musical experiment drawing together the Methodist tradition of hymn singing and the rhythmic complexities of jazz music. Carefully worked arrangements will support congregational singing and will bring a new perspective and fresh approach to the hymns we love to sing. The sermon will be a celebration of the great preaching tradition in the Methodist Church and will draw on contemporary metaphors from jazz music demonstrated with live examples in addition to drawing on other disciplines of study. The message will include personal encouragement but will also challenge the congregation to take an active role in the community, the city and the world at large. After the service the congregation will be encouraged to respond by prayer in chapel, conversation over a meal in the coffee shop, or reflection through listening to the music of a gospel choir or other solo artists.

We hope that this model will being challenge and encouragement, celebration and worship. It is not a replacement for “traditional” sunday worship, but simply a fresh expression reflecting the increasing diversity of our culture. As you can probably see from the content described above, the event will be most appropriate for people aged 18+ and there really is no upper limit! Our prayer is that other groups will spring up from this larger, less frequent, event which is for the whole church.

For more information, to make suggestions, or to offer your skills / time then please get in touch with Jayne or myself, or visit the Jazz Church website at www.JazzChurch.org.uk .

We look forward to welcoming you to the first Jazz Church gathering on 20th June and hope that you will join with us in shaping this new expression of worship through discussion, feedback and comment after the event.

Adam Sanders,

Shirley Churches Together

The churches in Shirley pray for one another according to a regular cycle.  In June we shall be remembering particularly the people and leaders of the following churches:-

Sunday, 6 June 2010

thethirdplace network of home-based churches

Leaders – Tim and Tammy Aho

Sunday, 13 June 2010

St. James, Shirley, St. Patrick’s, Earlswood, St. John’s, Tidbury Green, Christ the King, Widney School

Rev. Canon Michael Caddy

Rev. Susan Height

Rev. Iain Robertson

Rev. Kate Stowe

Sunday, 20 June 2010

Shirley Baptist Church

Rev. Paul Campion (Senior Minister)

Rev. Jennie Dobson (Youth Minister)

Sunday, 27 June 2010

Dickens Heath Village Church

Caleb Mallard, Leader

Gloria and Bernard Close, Pastoral Workers

Sue Kelley

EARLSWOOD

METHODIST CHURCH

Corner Wood Lane and Rumbush Lane

GRAND

FÊTE

MINIATURE TRAIN RIDES, AERIAL GLIDE,

LOTS OF STALLS AND SIDE SHOWS

MUSIC PROVIDED BY THE BIRMINGHAM

CONCERT BAND.

ARENA EVENTS INCLUDE DANCING DISPLAY

& DOG DISPLAY TEAM.

HOMEMADE REFRESHMENTS & TEAS

SERVED ALL AFTERNOON

SATURDAY 3RD JULY 2.00pm - 4.30pm

In aid of Breathe Easy, part of the British Lung Foundation

& Church repairs

Calling all ‘crafters’

The local warehouse team from the Shoe Box appeal (OCC) are holding :

A ‘doing’ / craft day

On:  Monday, 7^th June, 2010

At:  Earlswood Methodist Church

Wood Lane / Rumbush Lane corner, Earlswood  B94 5JH

From:  10.30 am – 2.30 pm

Come, see and take part in some of the ideas for Shoe Box Fillers.  Also meet up with other volunteers.

Do bring your ideas with you and then take more ideas home with you.

Bring your own lunch if you are likely to be there over the lunch time. 

Tea/Coffee will be provided.

Contact Alison Exton or Suzanne Walker

As we have done so well in the past years, we hope that these craft ideas may inspire you with other ‘filler’ items.

This is the second day to be held this year, the first was well received and we hope you will feel able to come along at some time to see and be involved, even if you haven’t been before.

We are in need of wrapping paper – both Christmas and other – toothpaste tube boxes, ribbon and other fabrics for peg dolls, bags and pencil cases.  Please keep knitting hats, scarves, mittens, hand puppets and purses.  Donations of flannels, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, small toys, balls, crayons, pencils and notebooks are welcome.  They do not need to be expensive – supermarket basic or economy items are very acceptable.

Please pass to Alison Exton or leave at reception for her to pick up.

Thank you.

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