What’s happening in Ely and the surrounding villages in the next few weeks?

ELY

Ely Bahá’í Community

“Happy the soul that shall forget his own good, and like the chosen ones of God, vie with his fellows in service to the good of all”.

November 9, 7.30pm: Discussion on unity, at Ely Museum, all welcome.

Every Saturday, 3-40pm: Junior Youth Programme for those aged 12 to 14 provides a fun and meaningful way to help them transition into adulthood and aims to help them bring about positive change in the world – takes place in Larkfields Resource Centre, High Barns, Ely, CB7 4SB.

For more information call/text 07746 761519 or email elybahais@gmail.com

Ely Methodist Church

Colin Nickless led morning worship on Sunday on the theme of ‘Saints’. In the afternoon, it was time for all ages to join in craft activities, reflection and worship led by Rev Joanne Sherwood who encouraged us all to shine like stars.

Prayer Group and Coffee Club met during the week.

Today, Thursday November 3: lunch is served at 12.15pm; come and join us for good food and a warm welcome for just £5.

Open Fellowship meets at 2.30pm.

Friday November 4, 7.30pm: John Heaps will talk to the Guild about Village Life between 1962 and 1972.

Sunday November 6, 10.30am: Worship led by Rev. Joanne Sherwood

6.30pm: Memorial Service led by Rev. Bernard Arnold - a service in which space is given to remember those loved ones who have died. This is followed by refreshments.

Inner Wheel Club

President Mary Rone welcomed members to the first of her guest speakers on the theme of “this is me” on Wednesday evening. Members listened to weekly columnist Rosemary Westwell who spoke on how to be an ‘Ozzie’.

Rosemary grew up in Tasmania, which is an island, two-thirds the size of England with a population of half a million. So this resulted in a lonely existence when Rosemary excelled in photography and music. She showed photos of the indigenous animals. She eventually went to a boarding school but she was not happy so became a day pupil.

Later she gained a PhD in music and learnt Spanish, formed a choir and bought a property in Spain. When she eventually married she had two daughters but her husband has early onset dementia and she wrote a book entitled ‘John dementia and me’. She said you need to learn to be sarcastic, bluff your way through, laugh at yourself, how to gamble and speak to a new person everyday.

Mary thanked Rosemary for her interesting talk and presented her with a cheque for ‘dementia’.

After a coffee break a business meeting took place and the raffle was won by Constance Heald. The next meeting is on November 23 when fish and chips will be served to raise money for the local Christmas Parcels Scheme.

For more information call 01353 667944.

New Connexions

Our Sunday sermon focused on a study of Micah Chapter 4 and was led by Gordon Lowman. In this chapter, which is prophetic, God gave the people of Jerusalem a promise; He portrayed a picture of calmness and happiness for His people. He would establish for them at Mount Zion a place of peace and safety where…”every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree and no one will make them afraid” (Verse 4).

Gordon explained that just as in Micah’s time this prophecy is relevant to us today. God required His people to stand firm and to follow His commandments. We too need to show trust and to remain faithful to God’s laws. In tricky times let us be assured that God’s plans are perfect and that He will never leave us nor forsake us. In the middle of any troubles or difficult times we can call out to a loving God who longs to call us son or daughter.

We would love to welcome you to our services. We are a small, friendly church family who meet each Sunday at 10.30am at the theatre in St Mary’s Church. As well as the main church service there are also Sunday morning clubs running for young people and children to learn about the bible and God’s love. There are also weekly house groups and prayer groups to enjoy. For more information visit www.newconnexionschurch.org.uk or email keith@newconnexionschurch.org.uk

St. Mary’s Chuch

Today, Thursday November 3: 9.15am coffee morning, open to all for refreshments on market day; 9.30am market day communion.

Tomorrow, Friday November 4: 9am toddler group; 7pm pathfinders youth group.

Sunday, November 6: 9am Holy Communion, traditional service with hymns and prayer; 10.30am all age worship - a family friendly service

Both services will continue with our sermon series ‘Questions Jesus Asked’ this week ‘What do you want me to do for you?’

Monday November 7: 8am morning prayers – all welcome to come along and start the week with prayer; 2pm Monday Club - all welcome to join us for a social afternoon

Tuesday November 8: 9am refresh, Mums and Toddler Group.

St Peter’s Church

Sunday, November 6: The celebrant and preacher at the 9am Sung Eucharist will be Canon Nigel Abbott.

LITTLEPORT

The Vine Community Church

At the morning service at 10.30am on Sunday November 6 the speaker will be Colin Cresswell. A celebration of communion will be included. No evening meeting is planned.

On Sunday November 13 there will be no morning service at The Vine as it is Remembrance Sunday; the congregation will be at St George’s Church for the joint service which begins at 10.45am.

The church will be running another of its popular holidays at Sizewell Hall on the Suffolk coast from August 12 to 18 in 2017. There are already many bookings for this, but there is plenty of room for others to join us and we welcome folk from other churches, or from none. Please contact Nigel or Anne Ovens if you would like to know more.

The Vine is a lively, friendly Christian church. The Sunday morning congregation is around 45 and there is a wide variety of ages. Services begin at 10.30am and last around an hour-and-a-quarter; they tend to be informal, including praise and worship, prayer and Bible-based teaching. Children leave part-way through the service for their own activities in the schoolroom. Afterwards there are refreshments, with plenty of time to talk.

Weekday activities include a parent and toddler group on Mondays from 10-11.30am; the 4 Women Group on Tuesdays from 10.30am-1pm; and Coffee Break on Thursdays from 10.30am-12.30pm, where you can come to enjoy a free cup of coffee (or tea) and a cake, make new friends and have a chat. Smaller groups meet at various locations on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, some fortnightly but most weekly. There is a Prayer Meeting every Friday from 7-8 pm.

Call Nigel Ovens on 01353 968810, Arthur Bartram on 01353 860070, or Ken & Angela Hobday on 01366 501504 for more information. The church is on Facebook and on Twitter @vineccl. The Vine website address is www.vineccl.org.uk

LITTLE THETFORD

St. George’s Church

Our service of morning praise was taken by Rev Stephen Leeke on the theme of ‘Run the race to Christ’ for All Saints Day.

Tuesday, 6-7pm: informal hymn singing and band practice.

Wednesday, 9-11am: pop in for coffee, chat, cake and friendship, then Messy Church for families starts at 3pm.

Thursday, 6-7.30pm: brigade meet for school age boys and girls.

Monday November 7, 7.30pm: PCC meet at the church.

November 6-13: Remembrance tree at St. George’s; we invite anyone to take a night light from inside the church and hang on the tree to remember someone precious to them. These will be lit each night and we will pray for them.

Next Sunday our service of morning praise will be led by Rev Julia Chamberlin with Scott Eversman preaching.

SOHAM

Heartbeat Health Walk

Twenty-one walkers took part in the three-mile walk around Soham on Monday October 24. On this occasion their walk took them from the church through the church alley to Clay Street, College Road and the college campus, along the perimeters of St. Andrew’s school, The Butts, the allotments, Cherrytree Lane, Fordham Road, Martin’s Fields, the woodlands, Blackberry Lane, Brook Street, The Causeway, Brook Dam Lane and High street. A stop was made at the local eateries for refreshment.

Scrabble Club

Members of the scrabble club met in the Soham library on Thursday afternoon. Thirteen members enjoyed two games of scrabble. Tea and cakes were served during the afternoon. The next meeting is on Thursday November 10 from 2.30-4.30pm. Entry costs £1, including refreshments. All welcome

Over 60s Club

Ruth Ginn welcomed everyone to the meeting in the comrades club on Friday afternoon. Peggy Gibbon collected names and fees for the college lunch and entertainment on Thursday December 8. Diane Wheeling gave out menus and collected fees for the Christmas lunch at The Brook on December 16.

Ruth welcomed the speaker for the afternoon, Eleanora Gardener, who gave an interesting, illustrated talk on ghosts, witches and demons in the Fen area. Many stories going back hundreds of years in various parts of the country here and abroad were told. Eleanora also spoke about the many superstitions from around the world. Ruth gave the vote of thanks. Sheila Knight gave out the notices, the ladies served refreshments and Richard Badcock organised the raffle. The meeting closed with the singing of the club hymn.

Bowls Club

On Saturday a family bingo event was held in the club room. Carolyn Dockerty was the caller, assisted by Charlotte checking the books. During the break Pam Hall and Daphne Trinder organised the raffle. Helen Fordham thanked Carolyn and Charlotte and everyone who had donated prizes for the raffle and all for supporting the bingo.

WILBURTON

Wilburton Community Baptist Church

This Sunday we talked about Elizabeth - John the Baptist’s mum - to share knowledge about her. We then looked at the second session on Elijah from Jeff Lucas. It was interesting to learn how Elijah had to learn to trust God in lots of situations to ensure that he had a strong faith.

Today (Thursday), 9-11am: Café Church; 9.30-11.30am: baby and toddler group.

Sunday November 6, 10.45am: service led by Rev Richard Lewis, Regional Minister for the EBA. Lunch will follow the service - all welcome.