Circuit Service

On 30 December, people from churches around the circuit gathered at Great Ayton Methodist Church for a special service. Over the past few years, we have chosen to come together with family and friends to have one service at this time of year; the Sunday between Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

There were plenty of reminders of Christmas: the Christmas trees, the knitted nativity figures and the banner inviting one and all to the Christmas Day service. Alongside these, were signs of spring: a pot of brightly coloured flowers. In our service, we sang a number of traditional and modern carols as we continued to celebrate Christmas.

We heard the Bible story of Jesus as a boy going to Jerusalem with his parents. When they return home, he stayed behind without them knowing. They eventually found him in the Temple and ask him why he had left them. We were then invited to consider the question that Jesus asked his parents: "Why are you looking for me?"

As we being 2019, we are getting ready for the launch of Holy Habits in June 2019. During the two years of Holy Habits, we will be taking a closer look at why we are searching for Jesus and what difference that makes to our lives today. Look out for many more gatherings to come!