June 2025
For Room Bookings please phone the church on 020 8550 1518
For all other inquiries, please phone Sue on 020 8500 5386
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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
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Sunday worship plan - June​​
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1st June, 9.30am United service with Communion at Barkingside, conducted by Revd Jacqui Jones
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8th June, 10.00am Service conducted by Mr Alfred Mensah ​
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15th June, 10.00am Service conducted by Revd Jacqui Jones
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22nd June, 10.00am Service conducted by Mr Matthew Thorne
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29th June, 10.00am Service with Baptism conducted by Revd Jacqui Jones
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6th July, 10.00am Service with Communion conducted by Revd Jacqui Jones
A special event in July
We are delighted to announce that Matthew Walton-Thorne and Alfred Mensah have now completed their Local Preacher studies, and their accreditation service will be held at Gantshill on Sunday 13th July at 6.30pm. Please remember them both in your prayers, and keep the date free to join the celebration.
​​​Open Thursday
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.
Bible Study
June is Bible month and we will be studying the Gospel of John.
The first session will be on Thursday 29th May, on Zoom at 7.30pm and on four subsequent Thursdays,
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Zoom Link for Bible Studies:
https://zoom.us/j/92671098929?pwd=Qo0y70BupDEophgaqaBM9ysFSas9mi.1
Meeting ID: 926 7109 8929 Passcode: 212939
.​Ghanaian Appeal
As you are probably aware, Mmasape visited Ghana earlier this year as part of a group from the Ghanaian Fellowship of Churches, and information was also circulated a few weeks ago about another visit in 2026 with an invitation to anybody who would like to join her from the Circuit.
Whilst in Ghana, the group visited a number of Methodist projects, and ahead of the next visit, they are requesting donations of clothes (in good condition) and toiletries (including sanitary products) which can be sent to Ghana. All donations should be received before the end of July, and Mmasape is happy to arrange for the items to be collected from the churches if required. Financial donations are also welcomed.​
​​​​​Grange Hill Methodist Community Centre
The Foodbank is supporting 5 – 10 families weekly and free legal Advice is offered monthly by the local Councilor. Please continue to support the Foodbank if you are able – there is a box in the Vestibule at Gantshill.
Items most needed:
Dried noodles, long-life orange juice, shampoo, washing tabs,
cat and dog food.
Many thanks to those who contributed to the "40p for forty days" scheme during Lent in aid of the Food Bank. The total raised at Gantshill was £200
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​​​East London Model Railway Group
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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
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Circuit Letter for June from Andy
Dear Friends,
A few years ago, I was attending a ‘session’ of some description. I think it was online and we were asked to write down our three favourite books of the Bible. (maybe you might like to reflect on this)?
My Three were – in no particular order – Isaiah, Psalms and John. A bit later we were informed that when that question is addressed to Christians, Isaiah, Psalms and John are the three most popular choices.
I’ve always had a love of the ‘gospel as brought to us by John’ for many years. Note: I was gently corrected very early on in my Local Preachers Training that it is not ‘the Gospel (Good News) of John’ or ‘John’s Gospel’ but the Good News/ Gospel of Jesus Christ – as told for us by John!
The key verse for me is John 3:3 – ‘Jesus answered him [Nicodemus], “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again [or, from above] you cannot see the kingdom of God.”’
This verse came very much to my attention while I was listening to a musical called ‘The Witness’ by Jimmy & Carol Owens. As Peter sang the song, ‘Born Again,’1 it was this verse and song that contributed to a significant change in my life and me making a deeper commitment to Jesus Christ.
Another reason why I especially like these three books of the Bible is that I spent quite a while studying them at college while training for my Diaconal Ministry. The lecturers who taught on these books created an interest and intrigue at a deeper level and new truths which both challenged and encouraged.
As some of you will know, June is ‘Bible Month’ in the Methodist Church Connexionally (Nationally) and this year the book we are looking at is John. Our Preachers will be looking at a different theme from John over the four Sundays in June and the staff will be offering a weekly study on Thursday evenings, starting Thursday 29th May at 7.30. (Zoom details below)
It’s difficult to explain the message in this gospel as there are so many, and for each one John appears to be particularly passionate about it: The divine nature of Jesus and God with us, the work of the Holy Spirit, Loving God as a way of life, the ‘I am’ statements and our response to the call to discipleship – to name just a few!
My experience from studying John is that the more you discover, the more you want to know. The writer, John, is generally accepted to be ‘the disciple who Jesus loved’ and the brother of James, the sons of Zebedee; so, we know he was particularly close to Jesus and that offers us an insight that the other gospels might miss.
A helpful piece of advice that was given to me before studying a book in the Bible is to read the whole book from start to finish, if possible, in one go! (no, I haven’t!)
On the other hand, there is the option to read one chapter (or a few verses), reflect on it and then read it again and listen to what the Spirit is saying to you through the words you have read. There is always more to discover.
June promises to be an exciting month as together we study the Gospel as brought to us by John. May God’s Holy Spirit bless and guide us all as we discover new truths from His Word.
God bless
Andy
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1. The Witness – ‘Born Again:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv1Qt-faeZY
2. Zoom Link:
https://zoom.us/j/92671098929?pwd=Qo0y70BupDEophgaqaBM9ysFSas9mi.1
Meeting ID: 926 7109 8929 Passcode: 212939
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