Encounter

What does it mean for me to follow Christ today?   What skills and gifts has God given me?
What part do I play in God’s mission?  What difference does it make to be a Methodist?
If these are questions that you have asked then perhaps Encounter is for you.

Encounter is a programme of exploration into discipleship and vocation developed by the Methodist Church in Yorkshire.  It is for those who have a desire to deepen their faith and increase their awareness of what being a Christian disciple means for their everyday lives and what God may be calling them to do.  Encounter aims to deepen understanding of vocation in a broad sense, exploring calling in your home and work context as well as possibilities for service in church and community settings.  Through a variety of approaches it aims to help people to know themselves better, to identify their gifts and to explore various possibilities for all types of ministry and service.

Encounter involves monthly meetings of 8-12 ‘explorers’ throughout the course of a year (these are held in the evening and last for 2 hours).  Between meetings explorers are encouraged to complete various individual activities of their choosing.  These will include practical experiences of Christian service or ministry and some type of structured learning, such as a short course, a study day or guided reading.  Explorers also meet regularly with a personal Accompanist to discuss and reflect on their journey.
Encounter begins this September in the new North Yorkshire Coast circuit.  It costs just £90, with £30 to be paid by the explorer, and the remainder funded by the Circuit and the District.

An Encounter Taster Session will be held at
Emmanuel St John Methodist & URC Church on 18th June at 7.30 – 9.00 p.m.

To book a place please contact Julie Fairweather
Email:   jm-fairweather@tiscali.co.uk

To find out more about Encounter contact Mark Haynes

Email:  Ministermarkph@aol.com

North Yorkshire Coast Methodist Circuit Prayer Safari June 29th -30th

Will you join us to underpin our new circuit with prayer, by setting aside 24 hours to pray for the coming together in unity of the 24 churches involved?

For those who have the stamina this will take the form of a physical progress calling to pray at the 25 buildings used by the circuit’s churches, beginning at 7.00p.m. on Friday 29th at Burton Fleming Chapel and finishing at 7.00p.m. at Fylingthorpe chapel on Saturday 30th. People are welcome to join in with as much or as little as they feel able to. Individual churches may like to have available information about their activities and any specific prayer requests and /or to set up displays or prayer centres which could be used on those dates and before/beyond. Local people, unable to cover the whole circuit, may wish to spend longer in their home church, but praying for the other churches, perhaps choosing to focus on an area of the new circuit which they know little about or ‘twinning’ with a church across a 12hr period as listed below. People will also be encouraged to pray in their homes throughout the 24hr period, so maintaining and re-enforcing the cycle of prayer.

The expected times of arrival at each worship centre are listed below.
It would be appreciated if the buildings could be open for prayer at these specified times, but if this is not possible prayer will take place outside.

During the 24hrs, it is also hoped to gather up pieces of a jigsaw puzzle which will be left at each church prior to the Prayer Safari. As each church is visited their named piece will be collected and fitted onto a board. The completed puzzle, with a map of the circuit and possibly photos of each place of worship on one side and the names on the other will then be ‘sealed’ between 2 pieces of Perspex or some such, so that both sides can be visible. This will be available for use on future occasions as a visible reminder of the importance of each piece to demonstrate the unity we have in Christ.

07.00 p.m. Burton Fleming
08.00 p.m. Hunmanby
09.00 p.m. Filey
10.00 p.m. Wolds Valley
11.00 p.m. Sherburn
12.00 midnight Snainton
01.00 a.m Ayton
02.00 a.m. Seamer
03.00 a.m. Cayton
04.00 a.m. South Cliff
05.00 a.m. Queen Street
06.00 a.m. Westborough
07.00 a.m. Emmanuel St John’s
08.00 a.m Wreyfield Drive
09.00 a.m. Northstead
10.00 a.m. Scalby
11.00 a.m. Burniston (Seeds café open)
12 noon St John’s (Staintondale and Ravenscar) St Hilda’s
01.00 p.m. Littlebeck
02.00 p.m. Briggswath and Sleights
03.00 p.m. Whitby (Mission to Seafarers)
04.00 p.m. Hawsker
05.00 p.m. Robin Hoods Bay
06.00 p.m. Fylingthorpe 

Please send the post code of your church premises to Julie at the circuit office so that these can be circulated and ‘sat-navs’ used to locate the buildings. Will you also please let Julie know, by the end of May, if you are willing to open up premises and if any refreshments could be available for those taking part.

Thank you for your help.