The national Methodist Church meets each year for its annual Conference.  Lots of issues are discussed during the week, resolutions are proposed and voted upon.

One of the discussions followed the EU Referendum.  Below is the text of the resolution which was passed:

The 2016 Annual Conference of the Methodist Church passed a resolution containing the following text:

The United Kingdom, as a result of the referendum on 23 June 2016, has voted to leave the European Union. In this time of very significant change and uncertainty there is a need for leadership which seeks the common good and encourages people to work together, to respect one another and to uphold the dignity of all. 

The Methodist Conference believes that the British Isles are enriched by diversity and celebrates the contribution made by those who have come from other parts of the world.

The Christian tradition calls for respect, tolerance, love of neighbour and hospitality to the stranger. All bear the responsibility of speaking and acting for healing, reconciliation, and mutual respect.

The Methodist Conference abhors and deeply regrets those actions and words which incite hatred and lead to the victimisation of groups within society and notes with concern that such actions and words have been normalised in recent public discourse. Believing that racism is a denial of the gospel and that to stay silent when others are abused is to collude with those who seek to promote hatred and division, the Methodist Conference calls:

• on the Methodist people to challenge racism and discrimination
• for a political debate which neither demonises any nor leaves the vulnerable (the foreigner, the immigrant and refugee) in danger of victimisation.
• on political leaders to work together for the good of the whole community putting the needs of the nation before party politics.
• on all those in positions of power and authority to hear the voices of those who have been marginalised and alienated and to respond to them in ways which offer real hope for the future.

For more information, including suggested wording for writing to your MP, visit: www.methodist.org.uk/nationallife

The Prayer Group meets every Sunday at 9.30am before the worship service.  We also meet every fortnight on Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm for half an hour.  All are welcome. Prayers can be left in our prayer box at the back of the church.

Join us on the first Saturday of the month (January excepted) from 10 – 11.30 am for hot drinks – and toasted tea cakes!  Held in the warm and welcoming surroundings of the church.

Sunday Worship starts at 10.30am and lasts for about an hour, ending with refreshments.  Our worship services are led either by our minister, a local preacher or a group of worship leaders.  We celebrate Holy Communion about once a month.  During term-time there is a Sunday School available for our younger members and visitors; the first Sunday of the month is All Age Worship.  All are welcome.

Our House Group meets fortnightly on Tuesday evenings in the home of one of our members from 7.30pm to 9pm

It is a time for fellowship, studying the bible in more depth, and talking about and encouraging each other in our lives of faith and discipleship.  Over the months we follow different short courses from different sources; sometimes we’ll look in more detail at the readings from the Sunday service.

We always begin with refreshments and end in prayer.  All are welcome at this informal group. More details available on our Facebook page.