News from the Square

News from Beyond

Below, you will find news items concerning the Square Methodist Church, and the groups that are associated with it.

Items are arranged in date-received order, newest first, so once you reach something you have already seen, you can stop reading! 

Below, you will find news items received from external organisations, that may be of interest.

Items are arranged in date-received order, newest first, so once you reach something you have already seen, you can stop reading!

29 July: Britain in Bloom visits The Square

After many years of success in Anglia in Bloom, Dunstable has this year been entered into Britain in Bloom, and the judges visited on Friday 29 July. The recently revamped gardens around The Square were one of the stops on the judging tour. Here are some pictures of the Britain in Bloom judges visiting The Square, along with ourselves and Kathy Doyle from Dunstable Town Council, as part of Dunstable’s entry in the ‘Large Town’ category representing Anglia Region. Click a picture for a larger view:

  
and a couple of pictures of the garden itself...
 

28 July: Sunday School Teacher Training at Sarenga

The Square has links with the KSN hospital at Sarenga, India, about which you can read on our KSN page. We have some new photos of the training given to the Sunday School teachers at the Sarenga Central Church, which you can find on a new page here.

22 July: Faith in unexpected places

An interview with Richard Branson triggered these thoughts from Ivor.

19 July: Bereavement

It is with deep regret that I inform you that Patrick’s sister, Nancy Kandeh, has passed away last night 19th July in Sierra Leone at the age of 58 surrounded by friends and family.

Please may I ask that we all uplift, Patrick, his family, and Nancy’s family in prayers during this difficult time.

Despite his current bereavement, Patrick will remain working until the near future when he attends her funeral. If you see him over the next few weeks, please do show kindness, and extend a happy thought, I am sure he will appreciate your sentiments.

It is just a reminder of how precious life is and to enjoy every day with your loved ones!

18 July: Dunstable - a new perspective

A film by Central Bedfordshire Council showing the Dunstable High Street improvements and what Dunstable has to offer residents, visitors and businesses. It's a celebration of Dunstable showcasing its many assets and attractions and providing a new perspective on the town. And it features our very own Ivor Mitchelmore and the Square.

9 July: Dunstable Fun Day -
Help requested

There will be a fun day in Ashton Square/Middle Row on Saturday, 16 July, and we are looking for volunteers to come and help out in stewarding the church, making tea, giving out lollies & putting up bunting.

If you are able to help at some point on the day or bring cakes that are to be sold for Cancer Research please contact Wendy Armiger.

And if you can't help with this one, there's another chance with the Ashton Square Day on 6 August.

30 June: Church Banking

Three people are required to join the Church Banking team. Two people work together for banking Sunday collections, the collections having been counted on the Sunday. Generally the banking is done on a Monday morning and takes about one hour.

With a further three people the duty required will only be once a month.

More details? Contact Derek Hart, John Smith, Ann Buchanan

30 June: God In Love Unites Us

At the meeting on Monday June 20th, the majority of church council voted in favour of registering for same sex marriages to be held at The Square and to enable services of blessing for those same sex couples already married elsewhere in a civil ceremony.

This followed on from our discussions in our God In Love Unites Us meetings to which all of our church family were invited and encouraged to share their views.

Thank you to all those who in any way contributed.

30 June: Priory Housegroup al fresco

On 28 June, Priory Housegroup had an evening out at Whipsnade Tree Cathedral. You can read of their visit in this short report by Ivor.

17 June: Ministers' Radio Interview

On Sunday 12 June, Nina and Patrick – the Circuit superintendent minister – were interviewed on 3 counties radio. The interview starts at around 1 hour 11 minutes into the programme.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0c8gfy5

27 May: The Value of Gift Aid

Ivor Mitchelmore, our Gift Aid Secretary at The Square, has provided two useful documents this week:
An explanation of how our plate collections benefit automatically from Gift Aid, and
A Gift Aid Declaration form - if you are a UK taxpayer, you make a financial contribution to the church, and haven't already done so, please fill in this form.

6 May: Garden Growth

Ivor has kindly written this update on progress with the gardens around the church.

11 Mar: New Minister

It is with huge delight that we are able to announce that Rev. Claudia Lupi has joyfully accepted the invitation from our circuit stewards to serve as our minister at The Square and Harlington from September 2022.

Claudia is married to Pierre and they have three girls aged 10-17 who will all also be joining us; Claudia's mother, an ex-minister herself, will also be living with them.

We met Claudia and Pierre last Saturday and they are a lovely couple. Claudia has a warm and positive approach that draws you to her and Pierre is obviously a huge support to her. She lists her strengths as pastoral and mission.

Thank you to all those who gave up part of their weekend to come and meet with her and Pierre.

If you wish to get a glimpse of our future minister, she has her own channel on YouTube.

4 Mar: Easyfundraising

A reminder that shopping online can bring rewards for the Square (without costing you anything), if you do it through Easyfundraising. To start, just go to our Easyfundraising page.

22 July: Conference Business Digest

A report for local churches about the business of the 2022 Methodist Conference can be read online at:
www.methodist.org.uk/conference

7 July: Pray for Youthscape

is doing everything it can for young people.

In particular, it is helping churches to start youth work from scratch. Here is a document that explains in more detail what they are doing, and asks for your prayers to support their work.

30 June: Ordination of Rev Margaret Newman

Rev Margaret Newman was ordained at St Chad's Church, Shrewsbury, on 26 June. There was an issue with the live stream of this service, but if you wanted to see it, the recording is now available here on YouTube.

27 May:
Letter from Angela Brydon, District Discipleship Enabler

Angela has written this open letter, covering a number of upcoming opportunities to participate in Discipleship.

27 May: Mission Planning

The Methodist Church has produced three documents to assist in mission planning for churches and circuits:
Mission Planning Process
Mission Planning Workbook
South Beds Re-imagining

20 May: Volunteer Opportunity

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire are recruiting for volunteer Independent Custody Visitors to join their scheme.
Please see this document for full details.

13 May: Books by Stephen Poxon

Wesley Day, or Aldersgate Day, is observed by Methodists on 24th May, recalling the day in 1738 when John Wesley attended a meeting in Aldersgate and received a special blessing. To commemorate that spiritual landmark, I am delighted to announce the availability of two of my books: 'Through the Year with John Wesley' and 'Through the Year with Charles Wesley'. Both are available, internationally, in bookshops and online: ISBN 978-0-85721-823-0 (John) and 978-0-85721-928-2 (Charles). (Both are published by Lion Hudson/Monarch.)   Stephen Poxon

6 May: Christmas in May

A grand charity concert featuring the Vauxhall Male Voice Choir, Cantata Ladies Choir and the Festival Ensemble, at St. Mary's R. C. Church, on Saturday 14 May at 7:45pm. Click the poster to enlarge.

6 May: Annual Circuit Service

On the 12th of June at 11.00am the Circuit will be holding our service of worship at The Downs. You are invited to attend and to volunteer your help. Please see our What's On page for more details.

29 April: Luton Asian Christian Fellowship

LACF currently meet at Mount Pleasant, Saturday’s 11am – 3pm, but as their congregation increases they’re outgrowing the space.

They are looking for a larger facility they can use as a sanctuary for worship and a hall for food/refreshments. They do not cook onsite and instead bring precooked food to serve after service.

If you can accommodate LACF or know a church that can, then please do contact Tehseen at your earliest convenience.

tehseen.gul@gmail.com

14 April: Working Out Worship

Are you involved with organising, planning for worship, or leading worship? Join 1 or all 4 of our Zoom training sessions on 'Working out Worship' - each session focuses on each element of worship, key aspects of worship, and different styles and
approaches to leading worship.
More details here.

14 April: Sunday Nite Live

The Circuit Worship Team are planning to relaunch Sunday Nite
Live on Sunday 10th July at Farley Hill at 6pm. Further details will be made available in due course, but the proposed theme is Healing &
Reconciliation - What has Covid meant for us. More details here.

23 Mar: Local Church, Global Difference

This document from Tearfund describes ways in which local churches are responding to the global effects of Covid, the conflict in Syria, injustice, the climate challenge, and also provides some free Lent resources.

11 Mar: Aid for Ukraine

You can donate through the Methodist relief and development organisation All We Can, by visiting the web page for the Ukraine Emergency Appeal. There is also a page for more general worship and prayer resources and ideas for helping