October 2026
For Room Bookings please phone the church on 020 8550 1518
For all other inquiries, please phone Sue on 020 8500 5386
Links for Sunday live-streamed services
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Gantshill (9.50 for 10.00am service) https://bit.ly/3bzMP4D
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Goodmayes (11.20 for 11.30am service) https://bit.ly/3eXHhml
Sunday worship plan: October
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4th Oct, 9.30am United service at Barkingside conducted by Revd Jacqui Jones
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11th Oct 10.00am Service with Communion conducted by Revr Chris Sandy
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18th Oct 10.00am Service conducted by Revd Prashanth-Babu
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25th Oct 10.00am Service conducted by Revd Jacqui Jones
Gantshill’s Harvest Festival 2026
Our Harvest celebrations this year will be spread over the month of October. Gifts to the Whitechapel Mission will be welcomed on any Sunday in October and we shall have the opportunity to praise God with more Harvest hymns than usual. Please refer to the list of items which are most needed by the charity.
They need:
Any dried or canned foods IN DATE
NEW or CLEAN men’s clothing:
Mans’ Underwear T-shirts
Socks Shoes/trainers
Jeans Shirts
Jumpers Outdoor coats
Hats Gloves
Linens
Towels Face cloths
Sleeping bags, but no pillows or duvets
Toiletries
Shower gel Shampoo
Razors Soap
Toothpaste Toothbrushes
Deodorants Shaving foam
Thank you!
Newsletter Teaser
Over the coming months, Gantshill Methodist Church will journey together through Listen, Dream, Act — a preaching series shaped by Faith Rooted Community Organising and Our Church’s Future Story. Each month will invite us to listen more deeply to God and our community, dream with hope about the future God is calling us into, and take faithful steps of action in worship, service, mission, and everyday discipleship. Look out for each month’s theme in the newsletter as we reflect, pray, and respond together.
Monthly Themes
Monthly Themes:
September - Listen
Preaching Focus: Creating space to hear God, one another, and the needs of the community.
October - Listen
Preaching Focus: Continuing the focus on listening deeply to God, the congregation, and the local community.
November - Dream
Preaching Focus: Imagining what God may be calling the church to become and do.
December - Hope in Action
Preaching Focus: Connecting the Advent story with practical love, service, and witness.
January - Act Preaching Focus: Beginning the new year with faithful steps, renewed commitment, and shared responsibility.
February - Living the Journey
Preaching Focus: Reflecting on what has been heard, dreamed, and started, and discerning next steps.
All are welcome to our Thursday Café between 12 noon and 4pm. Come and enjoy real coffee and snacks, join in a game of Scrabble – or just come and chat.
Grange Hill Methodist Community Centre Food Bank
The Foodbank is supporting 6 - 17 families weekly and free legal advice is offered monthly by the local Councillor. Please continue to support the Foodbank if you are able – there is a box in the Vestibule at Gantshill. The following items are needed at present: - dried noodles, Long-life orange juice/ orange squash, shampoo, washing tabs, cat and dog food, sweets.
East London Model Railway Group
The Group meets in the Church Parlour on Tuesdays and Thursday from 10am to 5pm.
Bring your own models to work on, work on the Club layout, or just enjoy tea and a chat. New members are most welcome. For more information contact John 07414755365
Letter to the Circuit October 2026 from Revd Jacqui Jones
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Dear friends,
It is a joy to write as we enter autumn and celebrate the life of the Barking, Dagenham and Ilford Circuit. After a wonderful summer, I hope the sunshine has blessed you. As the light softens, I pray that the Michaelmas term will bring warmth and celebration,
Since returning from our autumn Synod, I have been reflecting on its focus: Faith-Rooted Community Organising. It recalled my time in South Africa in the late 1980s, as the struggle against apartheid moved towards its end. Faith organising played an important role across the country, and listening was at its heart.
In recent weeks, I have enjoyed reflecting with our churches on how, why and to whom we listen—and what distracts us. During October, traditionally Black History Month, we will honour the people, stories and everyday contributions that sustain Black life in our communities, recognising Black history as part of our shared British and Christian story throughout the year. This connects with the London District’s commitment to Faith-Rooted Community Organising (FRCO): listening deeply, building relationships, sharing lived experience and acting together for justice. Following the District’s recent FRCO training day, the monthly “Rooted with Renée” gatherings will explore power, justice, spiritual grounding and practical organising, with autumn sessions on 28 September, 26 October and 30 November. As we discern the new work God has laid before the Circuit, I invite you to consider: whose voices are we hearing, whose stories have been overlooked, and how might our listening help us become a more inclusive, justice-seeking Church?
On a personal note, I am grateful that my grandchildren are well. One of the babies has been unwell, but everyone is now safely at home. My house has been full of family this summer, and I am looking forward to visits from special friends. It has been a full and wonderful season, and I pray that, as the leaves fall this autumn, our souls will be enlivened.
Wishing you all every blessing,
Revd Jacqui