Bethesda Methodist Church

Bethesda Methodist Church is an all-age worshipping community of ordinary people who strive to be open to God, open to life, open to the world and open to you! Bethesda is a Fairtrade church running a weekly 'Traidgreen Stall' and an award winning Eco-Congregation.

We hold two services on a Sunday and a wide variety of meetings and activities take place during the week. We run study groups, a toddlers group, welcome and luncheon clubs, a Backpackers walking group and several uniformed organisations - to mention just a few. For more information please check our weekly notices, read our church magazine or find out who is leading worship next Sunday (see links below).

And while you are online, why not take a look at the latest Methodist E-News, the work of our Relief and Development Fund (MRDF) or some of the decisions taken at the 2007 Conference (see links below).

If you find our web site helpful and useful why not come and join us for Sunday worship?
To find out where we are click here

Weekly Notices

To download the
Church Notices
with information on activities, and services

click here

Previous week's notices

Church Magazine

To download the
August Edition
of Outlook -
our regular church magazine

click here

Methodist Plan

To download the
Methodist Plan
for the Tewkesbury and Cheltenham area

click here

Download new plan

At a special environmental stewardship service on Jan 20th special guest speaker Local MP Martin Horwood presented Rev Mark Barrett with a plaque marking their second national environmental award. The church is just one of only 10 in England to have been recognised in this way.

Martin reminded the congregation that concern over the state of the planet in general and climate change in particular is no longer confined to strange "green" individuals with beards and sandals! He emphasised that we should all be taking sustainable development seriously and whilst he felt the church in general has been a little slow in recognising the need for urgent action, he was delighted to find a church in his own constituency so involved in actually doing something to address environmental issues.

He congratulated the young people for lobbying politicians and developing the "green" garden at the back of the church. At the end of his address he presented Minister Rev Mark Barrett with an engraved plaque.

Following the service Martin talked to some of the young people who have been involved in eco-action and then spoke to volunteers running the Traidgreen stall which is open every week following the service and has so far sold more than Ł14,000 worth of fairtrade goods.

To download the latest monthly electronic news bulletin of the Methodist Church in Britain click here

The Methodist Church will focus this Lent on how we follow Jesus in today's world, with a special emphasis on climate change. An alternative 'credit card' has been produced encouraging us to 'Buy Less: Live More'. The card cannot be used to make purchases,

but is designed to be placed in a wallet in front of other credit cards to remind people to think before they spend. The initiative is supported by a website - http://www.buylesslivemore.org.uk and a dedicated group on Facebook. During Lent people signing up will receive a daily email with two challenges or ideas for buying less and living more. These updates will also be available on the website and the Facebook group enabling people to share their experiences, swap stories, questions and advice.

There will be an emphasis on the impact of our behaviour on people around the world threatened by drought, flooding, and other consequences of climate change.
Buy less: Live More credit cards can be ordered in packs of 10 from mph for free, with a small charge for postage. Product code PA512. http://www.mph.org.uk

This year's Methodist Relief & Development Fund (MRDF)Lent Bible study pack also focuses on climate change. See http://www.mrdf.org.uk

With the Climate Change Bill due to be debated in Parliament in March, you will be able to follow its development and help to push for change. Keep track of all this and more this Lent at:http://www.methodist.org.uk

The Methodist Relief and Development Fund (MRDF) recently launched a colourful informative new quarterly newsletter which replaces 'Reflections'. To find out more about this important work click here.

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