Monks Road Methodist Church

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Monks Road Methodist Church

Spreading the good news of Jesus Christ throughout Lincoln and helping our community on Monks Road

25/12/2025

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Today's theme is, of course, "The Greatest Gift". Throughout Advent we have considered how we are all gifts from God, but today we celebrate the reason for Christmas - Jesus.

Luke's account of Jesus's birth is rich with imagery that tells us how precious this gift is. How well do we know the line "you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger"? It is such an iconic image - this child who had no place to sleep except a feeding trough is still wrapped so lovingly by his parents.

Swaddling a baby is a common practice, to help them feel secure and calm. They have spent nine months in the snug environment of the womb, and coming into this world must be a shock. So swaddling is an act of care, and Luke's decision to include this detail shows us that this gift is wrapped in love.

And this imagery is included with the Angel's message to the shepherds. In amongst the fanfare of their proclamation of the good news, is this incredibly human response. Can we hold that same juxtaposition today, as we treasure the gift of Jesus within all the bright and noisy festivities that Christmas brings?

Christmas is a time of great celebration for many. It is also filled with a lot of grief and pain for others. But at the heart of all of it is this gift we have been reflecting on over the past few weeks. So as we draw this series to a close, how might we continue to hold that gift close and share it with the world throughout the coming year?

When the busyness of the festive season ends, what small, everyday acts of love can we gift to others? And how can we continue to receive the gift of Christ into our lives each and every day?

21/12/2025

This week's theme is "With Love from God" and asks us to consider how every life is a gift from God.

The scripture from Matthew this week draws attention to two names - Jesus and Immanuel. Jesus means "God saves" and Immanuel means "God with us". Both of these names point us to the knowledge that God's love isn't distant or abstract, it draws ever near, providing forgiveness and healing.

The birth of Jesus is the ultimate gift, one which remains with us today. And his miraculous conception reminds us of the ultimate creative power of God. He who hovered over the waters and breathed life into dust, has bestowed gifts upon us with every birth.

As we draw closer to Christmas Day, perhaps we can take some time to reflect on what this means. How might we learn to see every life - including our own - as a gift from God? And what might it look like to treasure such a gift?

Is there anyone in your life who may be questioning their value? Could you write them a card, send them a text, or give them a call to let them know what a gift they are? What a wonderful Christmas gift that would be for them.

Or perhaps you need to remind yourself of all the ways in which you are also a gift. Life can be so hard, and self-compassion can be difficult. But maybe, just maybe, you can take this week’s theme as a reminder that you too are God’s gift.

20/12/2025

Just a quick reminder that our service tomorrow is at 3pm, not 10.30am.

14/12/2025

The theme for the third week in Advent is "Give Hope". This is so important in a world that often feels as hopeless as it does today.

The scripture in today's image comes from Matthew, when John was in prison and had asked whether Jesus truly was the Messiah. This was Jesus's response, to list prophesies from Isaiah, something which John would know well. Seeing this list is like seeing what had come to pass through his life and ministry.

How can we bring that same sense of peace to those living through injustice, oppression, and poverty, all things which psalm 146 notes as part of God's plan:

"Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith for ever;
who executes justice for the oppressed,
who gives food to the hungry."

We've previously thought about practical ways we can help through giving ourselves and our communities as gifts, but how do we give hope? What might someone facing oppression need to feel hope rather than despair?

It can be hard for us to put ourselves in situations we have not been in, and so our well-meaning messages may easily fall short. Perhaps this week we could spend some time actively listening to those who are crying out in the darkness, to find out what they truly need. And then doing what we can to meet that need.

If we want others to believe in the good news, then we need to show them that hope is warranted.

11/12/2025

Just a quick reminder that we'll be having our annual Folk Carols service at 3pm on Sunday 21st December this year. It is always a jolly occasion and a great way to celebrate Christmas. Come along and learn some old yuletide carols - led by Jonathan Nowell and the Folk Carols Band.

07/12/2025

Our theme for this second week in Advent is "the orange in the stocking" and it asks us to focus on ways in which we as a community can be a meaningful gift. After all, as individuals we have a certain amount of power, but as a church we have even more.

The scripture included in today's image was prompted by the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to John to be baptised. And John calls them out, telling them that the fruit they produce shows whether they are good or bad, not just their beliefs.

Perhaps we could pause for a moment and consider where we might also be bearing bad fruit which needs cutting away to allow the good fruit to grow. Both as individuals and a community. Where might we have fallen into complacency, or failed to use the power we have to show love and peace where it might be lacking in our world?

We have our annual gift service today, raising funds for charity, which is something we try to do throughout the year. We are also an eco church, and include reflections on the environment in our monthly newsletter. These are wonderful gifts and make a difference. But might our branches be big enough to bear even more fruit?

What other gifts could we bring to those living in our community who may not realise that the true gift of Christmas is a God who came to live among us, not as a powerful King but a tiny baby. A God who chose to experience life as a human, with all the pain and suffering that comes with that, and still chose love above all.

30/11/2025

The theme for this first week of Advent is that *you* are a gift. So let's take a few moments to reflect on what that might mean.

First of all, who are we gifts for? Our family and friends, maybe. Perhaps our neighbours and local communities. But what about the stranger? Do they deserve the gift of us too?

We are reminded in the parable of the sheep and goats (Matthew 25: 31-46) that we should see Christ within all people, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

But what does this mean? And how can we be gifts for all in a world that is so full of division?

It's impossible to open the news without hearing about conflict somewhere - Ukraine, Gaza, Congo, Sudan. We're also seeing a rise in hatred towards those who are different within our local communities, whether that be through race, ethnicity, gender, disability, or religion. And it can be so easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to begin.

So perhaps, this Advent, we can make some small steps towards creating more peace. We are all unique and the gifts that we bring will be different. For some it might be donating to local causes like a food bank or refuge. For others it might be writing to their MP, or raising the voices of those speaking out for peace. It might even be as simple as writing a Christmas card for a neighbour, or inviting someone who may be struggling for a coffee. Whatever it looks like for you - be the gift that you are.

20/04/2025

HAPPY EASTER!

Today is such a joyous day, as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. But we are told that on that first Easter, when the women found the empty tomb, they didn't understand what had happened. Not until they were reminded:

'While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words.'

So today, we join in those powerful words - He has risen!

If you'd like to join us in church today, our service begins at 10:30am. All are welcome.

18/04/2025

Today is a very heavy day for Christians. It marks the time in which Jesus was betrayed, arrested, and crucified. It's sometimes hard to imagine the fear and despair that those who knew him must have felt, because we know what happens next. They didn't. But even knowing what Easter Sunday brings, it is still a hard day.

Remember that we have our Good Friday service starting at 10:30am this morning, and there is a walk of witness leading to a short service by the war memorial in town. All are most welcome to join either one.

17/04/2025

Today is Maundy Thursday, and we remember how even knowing what was ahead, Jesus spent his time showing his disciples the love he had for us all and how we could love one another.

Community is so important, and so we want to remind you that we have a service tomorrow and another one on Sunday, both starting at 10.30am. All are welcome to join us.

Address

279 Monks Road
Lincoln
LN25JZ

Opening Hours

9am - 5pm

Website

https://www.monksroadmethodistchurch.org.uk/

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