No. 507

When the outlook is bleak, try the up-look.—Anon.Faith is like insurance. It needs to be whollyin place before there's a crisis. —PamelaChristian.The will of God will not take us where thegrace of God cannot sustain us. I've read thelast page of the Bible, it's all going to turn outall right. God is still sovereign; He's still on thethrone. —Dr Billy Graham.If you can see God’s hand in everything, youcan leave everything in God’s hand. —Anon.

multi-coloured coat, and made models of

JUNE-JULY2020

PAUSE FOR THOUGHT

Church Posters

Heavenly Father, we thank you for yourpromise that in all things you work for thegood of those who love you. Help us to trustyou, even when we cannot trace you. And may

we never doubt your goodnessor your presence, especially whenwe face life’s trials and our faithis tested to the limit.In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

A PRAYER

Hope is never ill when faith is well. —JohnBunyan.

At the end of a very long sermon, the preacherfinally said: "I'm sorry I went on so long. I leftmy watch at home."A voice from the congregation muttered:"There's a calendar behind you!"

Boy to father: My Sunday School teacher wascross because I didn’t know what Armageddonmeans.Father: Don’t worry. It's not the end of the world.

A wife said to her computer programmerhusband, "Please go to the store and buy a loafof bread. If they have eggs, buy a dozen."He returned with 12 loaves of bread.

WestCamelMethodist

Our services areheld at

All Saints Church

An old lady asked her naughty grandson:“What kind of children go to heaven?”“All the dead ones,” he replied.

Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed thesnake. The snake didn’t have a leg to

stand on.

All services are different. We leavethe repeats to TV.

Let us help you study for your finalexams.

Free Coffee. Everlasting Life.Membership has its privileges

REGULAR ACTIVITIES: (Suspended until further notice)

Sunday: 2nd—5th Sundays 6pm. Evening worship.1st Sunday 4pm. “Sunday @ Four.” (United)

Wednesday: 7.30pm United Bible study. ----------------------------------------------------MINISTER: Rev. Craig Manley, Broadclose,

Station Road, Ansford, Castle Cary.(Tel. 01963 351598)

STEWARD: Mrs Elizabeth Chapman, Mead Farm,Downhead. (Tel. 01935 850838)

WORSHIP Mr Geoff Chapman, Mead Farm,CO-ORDINATOR: Downhead. (Tel. 01935 850838)

EDITOR: Mr Geoff Chapman.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assuranceabout what we do not see. This is what the ancients were

commended for. (Hebrews 11: 1-2)

Summer outings of the past: Some of us remember our annual outings to the seaside,when members and friends joined the Sunday School children for the day’s excursion.

Left: A Methodist“charabanc” outing

in the 1920s.Right: The start of anouting in the 1950s.

Some of us canrecognise the faces!

A pastor in Cameroon, who claimed he could heal sufferers of coronavirus by laying handson them, has himself died of the disease. Pastor Frankline Ndifor reportedly died just a weekafter contracting it. His house was mobbed by devoted followers who insisted that he wouldbe resurrected. This sad incident underlines the fact that Christians are never promisedimmunity from trouble, and it is foolish to put God to the test like that Pastor did. What weare promised is God’s strength and presence to help us through such times. e.g. “Even thoughI walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” (Psalm 23: 4). “Whenyou pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, theywill not sweep over you.” (Isaiah 43: 2). Although we can certainly harm our health by livingirresponsibly, the Bible doesn’t support the idea that sickness is sent by God to punish us. In the Bible’s oldest book we read about Job, a godly man who underwent a time of severetrial. Despite losing nearly all his family and possessions and being afflicted with a nasty illness,so much so that his wife told him to curse God, he was able to say, “Shall we accept goodfrom God and not trouble?” (Job 2: 10). Although he struggled to understand why this washappening, he recognised that God could use it to make him a better person: “When he hastested me, I shall come forth as gold.” (Job 23: 10). The coronavirus pandemic has been a very difficult timefor many. Some have lost loved ones, others have beenseriously ill and recovered, and the effects of enforcedisolation have yet to be fully revealed. Christians havecertainly not been spared. A dear friend who lives inYorkshire recovered from a nasty case of the virus, whichsadly took the life of her father. We recently received amessage from her, which we share with her permission:“I just looked in my Bible at random and read Romans 8:18—39 about what we are suffering now being nothing compared to the glory He will giveus later. And that nothing can separate us from His love. That overwhelming victory is ourseven when there is trouble, calamity, persecution, starvation or threat of death. And whenwe don't know how we should pray the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannotbe expressed in words. What a wonderful God.“ That illustrates the difference faith makeswhen we go through times of suffering, testing and trial, because it enables us to realise thatGod’s kingdom will triumph in the end. Not only is God with us, but if our faith is in Jesus, who died for our sins, rose from the dead,and ascended into heaven, we have the promise of future glory which will far outweigh ourpresent trials. Through faith we are sharers in His victory — a victory that will one day berevealed to the whole world. This is the hope which can sustain us in times of trial. Yes, faithreally does make a difference, and leaves no room for despair. Where is your faith?

SUNDAY SERVICES

news from THE PAST

EDITORIAL

[Jesus said:] “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. Inthis world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

(John 16: 33)

From The Western Gazette 50 years agoThe Methodist Youth Club held a cartreasure hunt on Saturday. Beginning atPodimore Cross, the route covered around trip of about 25 miles, and ended atLower Farm, where refreshments wereprovided. (22nd June 1970)

On Wednesday, special services wereheld at the West Camel Methodist Churchto mark the re-opening after redecoration.During the past month services have beenheld in the schoolroom while extensiveinterior redecorations have been carriedout and new carpet fitted. Mrs A Burch ofSomerton, wife of the minister, performedthe ceremony, and was presented with aniced cake in the shape of a key, by TinaBinding. The cake was made by Miss IReeves. Sarah Case presented a bouquetto Mrs Davies, wife of the Rev. PercivalDavies, a former minister, who conductedthe afternoon meeting, after which tea wasserved. Community hymn-singing was

followed by the evening rally, when thechurch was full. Mr D Cluett of Sparkfordwas the chairman, and the Rev. Burch ledprayer. Mr Brian Andrew of Yeovil was thesoloist and the speaker was again MrDavies. Mr Wiltshire, a steward, thanked allwho had taken part, and the friends whohad come from other churches. Supperfollowed, and proceeds of £39 were in aidof the redecoration. (29th May 1970)

Members and friends of the MethodistChurch and Sunday School pupils went bycoach to Swanage for their annual outingon Tuesday. (31st July 1970)

Sunday evening’s service at the MethodistChurch was conducted by young peoplefrom Somerton. After the service, a “get-together” was held at Lower Farm, markedby songs and a game of “Bible TwentyQuestions.” Mr Steve Roles of Yeovil gavea talk. (31st July 1970)

THE DIFFERENCEFAITH MAKES

In the meantime, services are available via radio, TV and online.Visit our Facebook page for details.

www.facebook.com/westcamelchurches

We were unable to celebratePentecost — the birthday of theChurch — on 31st May thisyear. However, the Holy Spiritis still at work in various ways,even when we can’t meet forworship.

Due to the coronavirus crisis all churches are currently closed,and our regular services are suspended. Restrictions may berelaxed in July, and if and when this happens we will considerthe best way forward. We have been sending regular reflectionsto our congregation. If you would like these, please contact us.