Doncaster Methodist Circuit 2024

Doncaster Methodist Circuit – A round up of 2024

It's been a busy year for the circuit. At Circuit Meeting, with Rev John leading us, we chose our Mission Statement – Discipleship and Mission in the name of Christ – the letters of Doncaster Methodist Circuit, and you've been living up to this all year.

SERVICES
Rev John has created a new CONNECT contemporary service at Tickhill Methodist Church.
Rev Tom has continued with his monthly weekday Holy Communion at SMC and Prayer time is held at Tickhill Methodist Church – 15 minutes of prayer on a weekday morning led by Rev John.

In May, Thorne Methodist Church held a Midweek Service Pentecost Rally with Churches Together. A time of Worship, Fellowship and eating together led by Rev Jonathan Gichaara.

The Easter Offering Service for World Mission held at Cantley Methodist Church in May and led by Margaret Crompton. The guest speaker was Inderjit Bhogal who gave an inspiring address.

In the summer we celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the RE Team and schools work of Aimee Roddam and the Open the Book team. A Circuit service was held at Bentley to celebrate this anniversary with a tea to follow and enjoyed by all.

In August, Rev Gichaara gave his last service at Thorne Methodist Church before sitting down. It was fantastic that so many people were there from other churches to bless him farewell and good luck for the future. We hope to see Rev Jonathan return as Supernumerary later in the year.

December started with an Advent Circuit service held at SMC (the first such service in a couple of years) for Mission in Britain. The address was given by student minister Jonathan Hood. It was well attended and enjoyed by friends from churches across the Circuit.

St Andrew's Methodist Church held their annual Candlelight Service giving thanks for the work of different churches in the Doncaster area, various charities and support groups. This year's theme was 'Listening' and the charity supported was The Samaritan's. The service raised well over £200 for the Samaritan's charity.

A week later the Circuit Songs of Praise – Carols took place at Cantley Methodist Church. We sang 12 carols!!! And raised the roof. With inspiring readings between the Carols, it was a very enjoyable afternoon. (Please let us know if you would like to host the next one.)

GOD'S WORK
At the beginning of the year, Aimee from the RE Team started a Blog on the Doncaster Methodist Website and Facebook to tell us all about the work she is doing in schools around the Circuit.

Baby Basics has continued to gather pace, helping vulnerable newborn babies around Doncaster. The have received 30% more referrals over the last year from 2023 and are set to start 2025 in the same way. They are very grateful for the continued help and support received from members around the Circuit. Grateful thanks to all who are involved.

Tickhill Methodist Outreach Team and volunteers from around the Circuit have continued to work closely with the homeless and vulnerable of Doncaster. The unfailing work of the team provides people with food and this year, with thanks to Circuit member donations, seventy-nine care bag presents were provided to those in need this Christmas. Huge thanks to all those involved.

Flintwood set up a new baby group to offer support for families/people with new babies. This has been slow to start but hopefully will continue to grow.

Rev Jonathan Gichaara held Lent Bible Study Courses using the resource 'Opening the Scriptures – Setting Our Hearts on Fire' by Clare Amos throughout his churches.

In June we held the second meeting for Church Stewards at St Andrew's where Neil Harland District Mission Enabler came as guest speaker. Neil did a workshop covering Spiral Dynamics getting churches to think about discipleship and mission.

June was also Bible Month covering the book of Genesis. At the conclusion of the month, Rev John held a Circuit Bible Study morning with Faith Lunch.

In October we welcomed our new Circuit Pastor Liz Worsley to the Northeast side of the Circuit providing pastoral and ministerial care for Barnby Dun, Dunsville, Hatfield Woodhouse, Stainforth and Thorne Methodist Churches. We wish Liz all the best in her new role and look forward to what the future brings for Liz and these churches.

Harworth held their annual Christmas Tree Festival inviting schools and businesses from the local area to decorate a tree in the church bringing the community together.

Many churches took part in the Shoebox appeal with Operation Christmas Child .

Churches across the Circuit have continued with Coffee Mornings, Spring Fayres, Summer Fayres and Christmas Fayres. I was privileged to attend 3 Christmas fayres in one morning! (This could have been four, but I wasn't aware of one.)
Sometimes there is criticism about the number of such events being held. However, they are an amazing opportunity for fellowship and discipleship, not to mention a place for people who may be on their own all week to have the opportunity to meet other people. You never know who might walk through the door and what that might lead to?

As we look back through 2024 – Thank You to everyone in our 17 churches – for supporting your church and supporting the Circuit and for all the hard work of your Church Stewards and office holders.
As we move forward into 2025 – May our Love for the Lord Jesus Christ and Faith in Him grow stronger day by day and pray that the Circuit is blessed in 2025 with a new year of opportunities to grow in our Discipleship and Mission in the name of Christ.

What would you like to see the Circuit doing in 2025?