The Methodist Church
		Stroud and Dursley Circuit
		Bristol District

Holy Trinity Church, Amberley

Description

The congregation was formed by the union of Littleworth Methodist Church with Holy Trinity Parish Church, Amberley. Some of the old Methodist buildings have been kept and converted for use by the united Church: Littleworth Hall, and The New Room; and worship is still offered from time to time in them.

Location

Amberley

Gloucestershire

Services:

The services which usually are Methodist led are the 8.00am Communion in even months and the 10.30am Communion in odd months. A Covenant Service is held in September.

Hymnbooks and Other Worship Resources

For Methodist services the Methodist Holy Communion Worship book isavailable.

For Anglican services Amberley have produced a series of booklets coving the different Seasons of teh Church Year.

Hymn books: Hymns and Psalms: Hymns Ancient & Modern New Standard: Songs of Joy (a mixture of traditional and modern hymns/songs produced by our organist, Steve Goodwin).

Preferred Style of Worship

Naturally, the communion services reflect the formal traditions of the celebrants; but the Church is open to fresh ideas.

For example, the evening services at 5.30pm on Sundays are of varying forms, including choral Evensong, Methodist Worship, Taize, meditative, Celtic and Praise services.

Other Activities:

These are too numerous to list here; but one particular aspect is worth detailing.

There are six groups in the parish, led by lay people, each of which is responsible for the development of a different area of mission of the church in Amberley. These groups are:

The Children's & Young People's Ministry Group

- a group of all those involved in any way with the youngsters of our church, to co-ordinate our work with them and to give each other encouragement and support in this important area of ministry.

The Communications Review Group

- a group concerned with improving the way we communicate our faith, our activities and our vision to the rest of the community, and with keeping under review the practicalities of doing this.

The Education & Spirituality Group

- a group concerned with encouraging the growth in spiritual awareness of individuals and of the worshipping community as a whole, and in our understanding of the Christian faith and how this relates to everyday lives.

The Pastoral Group

- a group of those who share in the pastoral care of the sick, the bereaved, the housebound and anyone else known to be in need within our community, and who extend a welcome to newcomers to our village.

The Peace & Justice Group

- a group charged with formulating an appropriate parish response to the disadvantaged locally, nationally and internationally, and to recommend a policy for planned giving by the parish.

The Worship Review Group

- a group concerned with improving where possible the existing forms of service within the parish, and with introducing and developing new and experimental types of worship.

All these groups are open to anyone in the congregation.

Other Information:

A Welcoming Church

Just as Jesus commanded us that we should love one another, we seek to be a church community which enjoys a strong fellowship and extends a warm welcome to all who come to our services and activities. It is our aim that both our buildings and the things we do together are accessible to all-comers, including those with disabilities who have special needs. We also strive to help parents with young children to participate fully in church life.

A Church for All

Although Holy Trinity has been the Anglican church in Amberley since its dedication in 1836, it is our vision that it should become the community church for all Christians. As part of that vision, Anglicans and Methodists have enjoyed a formal yet lively covenant relationship since 1989, and our membership includes Christians from other denominations as well. We welcome all who love the Lord to share the sacraments with us at any of our Holy Communion Services.

A Learning Church

We believe that all scripture is inspired by God, and that its meaning can only be grasped in all its richness through study, placing Bible passages alongside our own experience and the wise teaching of Christian writers ancient and modern. We seek to do this through housegroups and study days, as well as through the teaching within our worship.

A Praying Church

We believe that God answers the prayers of his people. We are therefore always trying to encourage one another to develop and broaden our prayer lives, and also to join in the prayer ministry of the church on behalf of those in need, either near to us or far away.

A Serving Church

We believe that God is calling us to put our faith into practice, both through visiting and befriending the sick, the bereaved, the elderly and those new to our community, and through our support of the life of the village as a whole. We also look beyond the parish to supporting people and projects elsewhere, both in this country and abroad.

A Church Reaching Out

Through our witness, such as our involvement in community affairs, our caring for others, our concern for the world's suffering, our work with schools and young people and our offering to those outside the church the chance to examine the basics of the Christian faith, we aim to transform the lives of others by their encounter with Christ.

To contact us:

Email:

circuit@stroudanddursley.fsnet.co.uk

Addresses:

Rev John James johnjames@stroudanddursley.fsnet.co.uk

Rev Roger Bayliss bayliss@stroudanddursley.fsnet.co.uk

Rev Dilwyn Edwards edwards@stroudanddursley.fsnet.co.uk

Rev Jonathan Froggatt froggatt@stroudanddursley.fsnet.co.uk

Rev Mike Martin mikemartin@stroudanddursley.fsnet.co.uk

Last revised: September 2005.