Category: Activities
Find a regular activity under the headings below
Adults and Community
Circuit supports FUSS and FUPS
FUSS/FUPS is an acronym for Free Uniforms for Secondary/Primary Schools and has been a mission project of St. Luke’s, Hoylake since 2012. The vision has been to make outgrown school uniforms, which otherwise would go to landfill, available to those who could not afford them.
From small beginnings the project has grown rapidly year on year and last year supplied a massive 1700 uniform items throughout our circuit area. The main outlet is a shop in the Pyramids which dealt with around 60% of the requests, and there are also seven church hubs where uniforms can be collected.
Apart from the many in poverty across the borough, there are also those who fall upon hard times unexpectedly and can find the cost of uniforms overwhelming. For all of these the availability of such a lifeline from a Methodist Church, true to its strong tradition of caring and serving, can be as vital as a Foodbank.
This mission is carried out by volunteers overseen by an administrator, Andy Kemp. Andy’s grant funding ran out in 2017; he has kept things moving voluntarily until now, but this is unsustainable for a continually growing organisation. The Circuit Meeting has responded to the project’s appeal for help, , and unanimously approved funding of £11,000 per annum for two years to employ a part-time administrator. This will allow Andy to concentrate on finding sources of external income to secure independence for the project again by 2021.
Can you help?
Whilst the circuit is committed to underwriting the costs to keep the project afloat, alternative funding would make it easier to continue to support our other missional activities. Just as Foodbank is generously supported by individual donations within churches, perhaps you would consider a personal financial contribution.
Every church will be receiving an appeal letter for their Church Council to consider their response as a church. If you feel you might wish to contribute as an individual please speak to your senior church steward.
Stephen Pillow, Senior Circuit Steward
Irby Wives and Irby Ladies
IRBY WIVES & FRIENDS SOCIETY
Irby Methodist Church Wives and Friends Society has served the needs of its members and friends for over 56 years. It was founded by a group of church members, mostly young, stay at home mums who wanted to meet together as a midweek fellowship. Originally called Irby Methodist Church Young Wives, the society has had 17 different presidents, numerous members serving on the committee and many members (now mostly retired) attending the meetings over the years.
It now meets at 8.00p.m on the second Thursday of the month. The notices may have changed from announcing the birth of a child to a member, to the safe arrival of a grandchild or even great grandchild, but the aim has stayed the same, to share in fellowship, love and friendship.
Some of the early members still come regularly to the meetings and the group was delighted to celebrate the 90th birthday of one of its founder members in September while a number of 80th birthdays have been celebrated over the last few years.
Our yearly programme consists of speakers talking about their experiences in their work life or their special interest or hobby, social evenings and outings possibly to the theatre or places of interest. The membership has increased over the last few years to 57 with around 36 attending each meeting. Today the group is made up of ladies who worship at Irby Methodist Church or other local churches and ladies who live in the surrounding areas of Pensby, Greasby, Heswall, and Barnston. All are made very welcome.
Every meeting begins with the Wives Prayer thanking God for the blessings and joy he gives the group. Members of the group plan and participate in two more acts of worship throughout the year. In December the coming of Christmas is celebrated with a candlelit service held café-style in the hall and on the first Sunday in March an anniversary service is held in church with a guest preacher to lead the worship.
Care and support is given to wives and friends who have been unwell, bereaved or required hospital treatment by sending a card, giving flowers and having a visit. Besides supporting each other the group likes to support a local charity choosing a different one each year. Nowadays there are few “stay at home mums” but we are delighted that the tradition continues and a new group known as “ Irby Methodist Mums” now meets in our church lounge (work and families permitting) to share in fellowship and support each other.
In the words of part of the Wives Prayer “may we find that each meeting makes us more fit for one another and for Thee, through Jesus Christ Our Lord.” Amen
Ruth, Wives President
LADIES FELLOWSHIP
We also have a Ladies Fellowship which has been meeting together for many years and now is an ecumenical fellowship with ladies from the Mothers Union of our local parish church of St. Chad’s with St. Bartholomew’s. We meet fortnightly and manage to have a varied programme with speakers and not too many “ Own Arrangements” meetings. We also hold a twice yearly soup lunch with proceeds going to MWiB’s charity for the year. We offer a warm and friendly welcome to all who wish to join us for fellowship.
Jean, President
Irby Methodist and Irby Luncheon Club
The relationship between Irby Methodist Church and Irby Luncheon Club goes back over more than 10 years, when The Luncheon Club first started to use the church hall.
Irby Luncheon Club was set up 35 years ago to provide a meeting place and a 3-course hot lunch once a week for anyone in need. It provides a social time for the elderly who have mobility problems, for newcomers to the area who have moved to be near their children and grandchildren and for the bereaved and widowed. As a result, many friendships have been formed. The club provides days out for the less mobile and short holidays for the more able.
It provides a stepping stone for people who want to volunteer before returning to work, whether they be mums when their children have gone to school or those who have been away from work with long term illness. Some Church members are also volunteer helpers at Luncheon Club
The Club has had links with the local schools, both primary and secondary and has much support from the Methodist Church where it meets. In turn, the club supports the Church and runs a cake stall at the Christmas Fair. Many members and helpers support functions that are arranged. The Club is very appreciative of the great support and excellent facilities provided by the Church
As the Club approaches its 36th year its aim is to encourage younger people to volunteer. Only 3 of the original helpers are left, one of whom is in her 80’s and well qualified to be a recipient herself!
Judy Tyson, Luncheon Club Volunteer
A Meal with a Message
OASIS is a lunch club run by a team of volunteers at Greasby Methodist Church. We meet fortnightly on a Wednesday serving home made soup with a roll, sandwiches, fruit, cake and a cup of tea. During the meal a Christian message is given by one of our team – Rev. Ken Owen, our local Anglican vicar, our own ministry team, Rev. Kim Goh and Judith Stelfox, and other invited speakers. During the 6 weeks of Lent we met each week and followed the “I am” sayings of Jesus. We had 50 people attend each week and were able to send £400 to Christian Aid.
Throughout the year we have an average of 30 people attending and it is a wonderful time of sharing food, fellowship and a Christian message with our church members, our Anglican friends and the wider community.
Families and Young People
Cross Factor at Easter
Cross Factor presentations took place last month in Claremount, Little Sutton, Greasby, Bromborough, Moreton and Trinity with Palm Grove. Many Year 5 students attended these events, at which the story of Easter was powerfully presented.
Why is it that old geezers love dressing up?
Grossus Stomachus (Peter Roche from Moreton) and Maximus Posterior ( Pete Wildman from Little Sutton)
Circuit supports FUSS and FUPS
FUSS/FUPS is an acronym for Free Uniforms for Secondary/Primary Schools and has been a mission project of St. Luke’s, Hoylake since 2012. The vision has been to make outgrown school uniforms, which otherwise would go to landfill, available to those who could not afford them.
From small beginnings the project has grown rapidly year on year and last year supplied a massive 1700 uniform items throughout our circuit area. The main outlet is a shop in the Pyramids which dealt with around 60% of the requests, and there are also seven church hubs where uniforms can be collected.
Apart from the many in poverty across the borough, there are also those who fall upon hard times unexpectedly and can find the cost of uniforms overwhelming. For all of these the availability of such a lifeline from a Methodist Church, true to its strong tradition of caring and serving, can be as vital as a Foodbank.
This mission is carried out by volunteers overseen by an administrator, Andy Kemp. Andy’s grant funding ran out in 2017; he has kept things moving voluntarily until now, but this is unsustainable for a continually growing organisation. The Circuit Meeting has responded to the project’s appeal for help, , and unanimously approved funding of £11,000 per annum for two years to employ a part-time administrator. This will allow Andy to concentrate on finding sources of external income to secure independence for the project again by 2021.
Can you help?
Whilst the circuit is committed to underwriting the costs to keep the project afloat, alternative funding would make it easier to continue to support our other missional activities. Just as Foodbank is generously supported by individual donations within churches, perhaps you would consider a personal financial contribution.
Every church will be receiving an appeal letter for their Church Council to consider their response as a church. If you feel you might wish to contribute as an individual please speak to your senior church steward.
Stephen Pillow, Senior Circuit Steward
INSPIRE 2018 @ Liverpool Parish Church
On Friday 9th November the Children and Schools work team along with volunteers from across the circuit co-led a service for peace at Liverpool Parish Church.
During the service pupils were encouraged to think of ways in which they could spread peace within their own communities. Prayers for peace were written on poppies and each child brought a peace butterfly which was suspended from the ceiling of the church.
Throughout the day three services were held with almost 1000 children plus their staff and parents in attendance.
This was the first time that our team have worked with Liverpool Parish Church, but through planning and leading this service a great ecumenical relationship has been forged.
Nicola Langton-Miller, Wirral Circuit Schools worker & Hope Journey Co-Ordinator
Funday Sunday at Irby
Our children have enjoyed a variety of activities on Funday Sunday – many of which included getting messy and eating, alongside learning about the life of Jesus and what the Bible can teach them.
In June we had our Pet Service and thankfully once again God’s little creatures behaved themselves – and the animals did too! 😊
Summer started with a Funday Sunday at Thurstaston including games hunts and pond dipping followed by a BBQ. During the summer holidays we had the “Singing the Faith with a Bacon Butty” service – not to everyone’s taste, but a different way of presenting the Christian message. Parents and church rallied round to help. One of the rainbows brought a tear to the eyes, singing “What a wonderful world”.
Our Toy Service was again very well attended – with many bleary eyed following the Brownie and Guide Sleepover. This was followed by a Christmas Party in the hall, with donated cakes and a hot butty (thanks to Margaret Griffiths for the idea and to the generous donor who bought the beef!). I know that those there enjoyed their time in fun and fellowship and it was very poignant to finish by singing “Auld Lang Syne” together.
We had Breakfast with Santa which ended in Church. We had games, heard more about the very first Christmas and – of course – bacon butties with the mandatory “Tommy Ketchup”.
On Palm Sunday we had “Messy Church” which we went through Holy Week with different crafts and stories and finished with the Easter Egg Hunt courtesy of Kim and Mary who donated the egg money.
Recently our young people’s groups have assisted with the parents and leaders to fundraise for Church and have raised just over £350 through two table sales.
We look forward to the next year and hopefully encouraging other families to come along to Irby for friendship, fun and fellowship. Many thanks to all who have helped or contributed in anyway supporting the young people on their journey through life.
Linda Renmans and the Funday Sunday Team
Irby Methodist Church Uniformed Organisations
1st Irby Rainbows
We have a very active and varied programme planned during each term. Last year the Rainbows earned various Rainbow Roundabout badges and took part in challenges including the Claire House Challenge and Superhero Challenge.
The Rainbow leader stepped down after nearly 30 years and another leader who had finished university took over as leader with 2 new leaders in training to support her. We have 20 girls meeting each week making new friends and learning about the Guiding family.
We have joint sessions during the term with the other local Rainbow unit including trips to a pantomime and local farm. Christmas Activity day was spent making crafts, reindeer food and receiving a gift from Santa after sending him our letters by special delivery.
2nd Irby Brownies
During the past few months the girls had a weekend away in Shrewsbury and just prior to Christmas a visit to the lanterns at Chester Zoo followed by a sleepover in the Church Hall with some of the Guides. They have covered many badges and enjoyed several outings including Claremont Farm, Riverview Park, The Butterfly Park and pond dipping locally at Thurstaston Country Park. We look forward to making more memories for our young people.
2nd Irby Guides
Our Guides have been involved with many nature activities including making bird feeders, woodland art and games by torchlight in the local woods. (Very well supervised and risk assessed! 😊)
We visited Chester Zoo for the lanterns prior to Christmas, followed by a sleepover. We have not long completed the Clever Clogs Engineering Programme which included many activities such as an Drop Challenge and making “Slime”. Recently we covered our Thinking Day theme of our “Impact” on others around us and on our environment. Very thought provoking. Since Easter we have been “getting active” and looking at water safety.
