Elvet Church Groups
Prayer Meeting
Lunch Stop
Traidcraft
Women’s Fellowship
Arts and Craft Workshop
Thursday Club
Junior Church
J.M.A.
Church Pantomime
Methsoc
Crèche
 Prayer Meeting
The Elvet Methodist Church Prayer Group has continued to meet each alternate Mondays at 2pm for an hour of discussion, prayer and meditation throughout the year. We have only a small number of members. Considering the church membership, but we have the privilege of bringing before the Lord, not only the life and worship and witness of Elvet Methodist Church, but also the individual needs of those people who are ill, bereaved or passing through times of testing and trial, as well as being thankful for those blessings which our church and people have shared.
Looking ahead, we hope there will be some who, on reading this, will join us in this important part of the church’s life after we re-start on 8 September. You will be most welcome.
We are always open to requests for prayer on behalf of anyone who is ill, bereaved or facing difficulties; or a disability, or problem in their personal life. Please email us.
Lunch Stop
Lunch Stop came into being as a result of a Stewardship Renewal in 1996. The lunches are open to anyone and are served on Wednesdays between 12 noon and 1.00 pm.
The 2008 sessions are as follows :- 23rd January - 5th March
16th April – 11th June
24th September – 26th November
A team of volunteers serve a two course lunch with tea & coffee for £2.50 and are glad to welcome old & new diners and to share our fellowship and excellent facilities.
Traidcraft
 On September 1 2004 the Traidcraft stall started in Elvet Methodist Church. Gillian Dundee, Naomi Woodfield and Pam Scott, with the co-operation and support of the Church as a whole, and with Junior Church supplying the willing helpers, organised and ordered all the goodies.
John Major prophesied that it would "take us two years to discover what sells and what doesn't". That was quite correct. It was understood that any excess income generated would be given to the Elvet Overseas Project. At the end of our second year we were unable to donate anything but at the end of August 2008 it is hoped that the Traidcraft stall will be able to contribute to the "Children of Cambodia" project.
As well as the stall we also collect computer ink cartridges and old mobile phones. The money thus raised goes to Traidcraft. Unfortunately there is no way of knowing how much we have raised by this means but it must be well over £100 by now.
Naomi is now attending University but still helps out when she is at home and the help of Katy Woodfield is always appreciated. Janelle Dundee helps when Gillian cannot because of work commitments.
The stall is a success because of the support of the church which is greatly appreciated and long may it continue.
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Elvet Women’s Fellowship
Our membership consists of approximately 20 members;
and we welcome women who belong to other Churches or faiths, or to none.
Our Women’s Fellowship meet on the first and third Wednesday of each month.
We meet at 2.00p.m. and commence with our business matters, then our devotions. This is followed by a talk lasting 20/30minutes.
We aim to vary our programme of talks. However a regular fixture is a talk about the Church’s annual fund raising for a nominated charity.
New members are always welcomed and we keep in touch regularly with all our members who cannot attend because of illness and other commitments, assuring them of our prayers and best wishes.
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Christ, the Good Shepherd
by Bob Raymond Arts and Craft Workshop
The Art and Craft workshop meets on Thursday mornings during school term time from 10 am till 12 noon, in the upper room at the back of the church in Old Elvet.
It is a self-help group in two parts:-
1. Following handicrafts, such as quilting, embroidery, patchwork, knitting, etc.
2. following drawing, painting and related topics – working mostly in watercolour, pastel or acrylic
The group supports the annual church Christmas Fair and occasionally has Art Exhibitions which contribute to the charity project being run at the time.
Just over half the attendees are members of the church. We have an approximate attendance of 20 -25 people – mostly retired! but all ages are welcome.
Enquiries contact Bob Raymond
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Thursday Club
There are approximately 20 members in the Thursday Club, all women. We meet once a fortnight on a Thursday evening in the Upper Room of the church hall. The evening begins at 7.45 pm with opening hymn, devotions and any announcements.
We have a varied programme, beginning in September and ending with the AGM in May. We aim to cover a variety of topics from looking at different cultures and techniques, e.g. “Origami, The Japanese Art of Paper Folding” to local interests, “Our Northern Heritage” as well as religious, musical and other informative talks.
All our meetings are open to anyone who wishes to attend and new members are always welcome.
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 Junior Church
Our Junior Church meets at 10.45am each Sunday morning.
On the first Sunday of each month we meet in the upper room before going into individual groups and join the congregation in the church at the end of the service for Holy Communion. The rest of the month we join the church for the first part of the service then go into our own groups in junior church for our own sessions.
At the moment we have 18 youngsters aged from 3-17yrs and 6 teachers . Within junior church we use various ways to teach the children the Christian message of Gods Love for them, these include story telling, drama, art, cooking, music and dance. The children also take part in some of our all age worship services – these usually involve music, drama, prayers or bible readings.
All of the teachers are CRB checked and play a large part in the nurturing of our children within our church.
We also contribute towards our church project each year by the children usually doing something is fun and that they enjoy – this year we hope to do a Car Wash and a sponsored walk.
All children and parents are very welcome and if you wish to have any more information please feel free to contact me.
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J.M.A.
 Our Church has for many years enthusiastically supported the work of Junior Mission for All, which is a small branch of the Methodist Overseas Division. Its aims and objects, established over a hundred years ago, remain the same; they are to encourage our young people and their families to lean, pray and serve the world church and its work with people in the poorest parts of the world. The dedicated work of Mission Partners (missionaries) is funded. By financial giving at home, and they take practical expertise as well as the message of Gods love to where it is needed and that has been J.M.A.‘s purpose for over century.
The Methodist Church supports the work of Mission Partners (missionaries) who, at present, are working in over 60 locations. Practical skills (engineering, medicine, agriculture, etc)as well as the message of God's love is for all are being shared today with some of the worlds poorest because people at home have generously supported this work. Collecting boxes and information are always available as well as the J. M. A. magazine "Rainbow".
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Church Panto
The Elvet panto group (or Carry on Elvet as it is called) meets from September to the performance dates in December, [3rd, 4th & 6th Dec] this year we are doing Dick Whittington written by our resident script writer Walton Straus, and produced and directed by Christine Higham.
The group is made of some the youngest members of the church from Junior Church right through to our more mature members, creating a good mix of people all joining together with one common goal that is to have a good time and to raise money for the church project.
We have found that this group has built bridges between the generations, created a positive atmosphere and brought people together who may not have really got to know each other.
We would encourage any budding thespian, or backstage worker to come along and join us. If interested, contact Stuart Lawson
MethSoc
MethSoc is the oldest student Christian society in Durham and welcomes members of all Christian denominations. We are a close knit and friendly group of Christians who support one another in our spiritual journeys, coming to know God more closely through prayer, meditation, Bible study and discussion held throughout the week. We are also involved in community service projects and regularly hold charity events.
Come along on Sunday evenings to hear one of our diverse weekly speakers discussing issues from homelessness to the Trinity or drop in at one of our mid week groups.
Further details of all our events, how to contact us and where to find us are available on our website: www.dur.ac.uk/methodist.society
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Crèche
The Crèche is available every Sunday morning from 10.40 am and is run by a small, willing and enthusiastic group of ladies on a rota basis.
The Crèche has a variety of toys, books, etc which will appeal to babies/toddlers up to the age of 3. This facility gives parents the opportunity to have peace of mind whilst they are in the service, knowing their child is being well cared for and happy in Crèche.
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Elvet Methodist Church 
