WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE AND THERE

Carrs Lane Worship, Events & News

  1. 27 February – 12 March is Fairtrade Fortnight 2023. Read more about it here:
  2. https://www.fairtrade.org.uk/get-involved/current-campaigns/fairtrade-fortnight/ 
  3. FAIR TRADE STOCK. Joan says “I need to sell my remaining stock; I will send the money I get for it to Transform Trade. Amongst other items I have biscuits, sugar, mixed dried fruit, Coconut milk, cards and crafts. I will print a list to include the prices. If you know what you want, it would be very helpful if you could pre-order with me so that I can bring enough of each item to church on Sunday. Bring cash to church if you think you might buy something.  I know that most of us will miss the high quality and variety of Traidcraft, however there are a few stockists of products which we used to buy through the Traidcraft catalogue.  The Traidcraft website is now showing a list of their suppliers if you would like to order direct from them: https://www.traidcraftshop.co.uk/
  4. What you can do to support fair trade in your everyday life. Read more here.
  5. Sunday 19th March Church Meeting. Discussion focus will be the space the church needs in the redevelopment. The outcomes of this will be shared with the redevelopment group and architect, so do come if you are able. We aim to finish by 1.45pm or earlier. You are welcome to bring a packed lunch. More details available soon.
  6. Would you like to volunteer with the church’s Publicity Group? We are seeking new people to join this. Meetings are currently on zoom in the daytime, but this could move to an evening. Please contact Liz Cummings if you are interested. Thank you to Derek Duffield who has served on the group for many years, and to Lindsay and Ruth who will be moving on in March and July respectively. If you are social media savvy, or have experience of WordPress websites, we’d also like to hear from you as we have Facebook and Instagram accounts to maintain in addition to the church website. Open to everyone with an interest in the church at Carrs Lane!
  7. We are looking for a Church Representative to attend two Birmingham Methodist Circuit Meetings per year and to feed back information to the Church Meeting. Please email clerk@carrslane.co.uk if you are willing to attend on the church’s behalf. The next meeting is on Saturday 25 March 2023.
  8. Wednesday lunchtime prayers/services: Please contact Jill Veitch if you would like the link for the lunchtime prayers on zoom. Prayers on 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month are in church. 1st, 3rd (and 5th) Wednesdays are on Zoom. Email: jandaveitch@talktalk.net  Download the rota.
  9. Postage Stamps are still being collected in a box in the church lobby. Please bring all your stamps from Christmas post, especially picture stamps, to add to the collection as Joan hopes to send them off soon. Thank you!
  10. Aston and Nechells Foodbank – Some items are needed urgently! Download the January update and thank you message. Please leave items in the marked box at the back of church. Cash donations are also acceptable to the foodbank directly at https://astonnechells.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-money/
  11. Transform Trade: We need some coins to make the parcel heavier! Please remember to bring your items for recycling for good causes to church. We support Transform Trade (formerly known as Traidcraft Exchange). You can donate watches, jewellery, mobile phones, cameras and coins. Please place them in a clear plastic bag and then in the box at the back of the church. We hope to send a full box before Lent.

Online and other events

  1. Pilgrimage of Reconciliation: The British Trust for Tantur are offering an amazing opportunity for young Christian adults in the UK (aged 21-35) who are active and adopting leadership roles in the lives of their churches to take part in a fully funded 12 day pilgrimage to Israel / Palestine in April 2024. The trip will include opportunities to explore Christian reconciliation, visit historic sites and meet with local leaders and chance for discussion and reflection. Applications are now open and people have until the 30th April to apply. Details are attached and you can find out more and apply at http://www.tanturbritishtrust.org.uk/2023/01/pilgrimage-of-reconciliation-2024/
  2. Read the annual report for Stories of Hope and Home.
  3. Invitation to join a visit to Italy, organised by the URC Waldensian Fellowship, which is to take place this coming May. Download the invitation now. 
  4. 27 February 2023: Living Lent Hopefully: This event is being held in the Queen’s chapel (and live streamed) and will last one hour. We encourage groups to continue the conversation immediately after in their own Zoom meetings, for approximately 30 minutes, and we will provide questions to facilitate this. Tickets are available for a suggested donation of £8 to cover some of our costs. Please note that free tickets are also available. More information about the event and booking can be found on our website: https://www.queens.ac.uk/events/living-lent-hopefully-lent-course-2023
    Booking form: https://queens.jotform.com/230054349764963
    For any queries or for help with booking please don’t hesitate to contact us at dlstudies@queens.ac.uk.  Andrew Hayes (He/Him) – Director of the Centre for Discipleship and Theology
  5. Job Vacancy: Oswestry Outreach Worker for Christ Church URC/Presbyterian Church of Wales. 18 hours p/w. 3-year contract. 
  6. The Saltley Trust has vacancies on its Trustee and Advisory Council. Interested in volunteering? Please visit Trustee and Advisory Council Vacancies – Saltley Trust
  7. Birch is a small Birmingham charity which supports asylum seekers and refugees. One of their projects is to offer short and medium term hosting to people whose immigration status has left them destitute and homeless. Birch would love to be in touch with anyone who is interested in finding out more. Visit their website now.
  8. See Christian Aid’s Daily Bible Readings here.
  9. Read the latest issue of Moving Stories about FairTrade from the URC’s Commitment for Life (November/December)
  10. Read this week’s Birmingham Methodist Circuit news
  11. Read the latest news from Birmingham Churches Together
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Notices

We publish News from church groups and members on a weekly basis, and we might also include relevant information from the Birmingham area. If you have a notice or would like to advertise an event in Birmingham that you think is of interest to people who attend Sunday worship, please send it to clerk@carrslane.co.uk for consideration. We do not guarantee that we will include it but we will consider your request.

See information and events from the Churches Together in Birmingham

See information and news from the Birmingham Methodist Circuit, to which we belong

The Church at Carrs Lane is a Local Ecumenical Project bringing together former Methodist and United Reformed Churches. It also belongs to the Birmingham Methodist Circuit, where you can find details of Circuit and District Events. Visit the Circuit Website now.

Latest items from the national United Reformed Church is available to see. Click: United Reformed Church

Read the latest from the British Methodist Church