All posts by VickyD

Advent Knitalong 2024

Victoria Methodist Church, Bristol is excited to be hosting another Advent Mystery Knitalong this year!

Over the course of Advent participants are invited to knit a square table mat in DK weight yarn, which can be used/displayed or given as a present on Christmas Day. The exact design of the table mat is a surprise, as it’s a Mystery Knitalong, and will be revealed as you knit, but it will feature a design in lace and textured stitches…!

Knitters may prefer to work a smaller square in 4ply/fingering weight yarn which would be perfect as a Christmas dishcloth if worked in a cotton yarn. The pattern is worked the same, regardless of yarn weight.

The Knitalong will follow the format of previous Advent/Lent Knitalongs: the pattern will be laid out across 24 days (1st – 24th December) and each daily chunk of knitting will be accompanied by a Bible verse for reflection as you knit.

What you will need to take part

To take part, you’ll need approximately 40 – 60 grams (90 – 160 metres) of DK yarn in a solid (Christmassy?!) colour and 4mm needles – these should ideally be 20 – 30 cm in length, or knitters may choose to use a circular needle.

Knitters who choose to work the square in 4ply/fingering weight yarn will need approximately 30 – 45 grams (100 – 160 metres) of yarn and 3.5mm or 3.75mm needles.

The pattern requires knitters to cast on and off, work the basic knit and purl stitches, and some simple lace stitches: K2tog, SSK, YO and CDD – these will be explained in the pattern (and there is always help available in the Facebook group – see below – if these are new to you!). The knitting should take an average knitter 10 – 15 minutes each day.

Accessing the Pattern and Reflections

The pattern/verses will be released as one document (with a large print option) on Thursday 28th November, ready for the knitting to start on Sunday 1st December, and you can receive this document in a variety of ways:

We hope that you’ll join us!

Jacqui Parkinson on Threads through Revelation

It was a delight to welcome Jacqui Parkinson to Vic on 21 September 2024 to talk to us about her Threads through Revelation artwork which has been on display since the start of September. A recording of her evening talk is now available on our YouTube channel:

Threads through Revelation Events

We’re very excited to be hosting Jacqui Parkinson’s Threads through Revelation artwork at Vic from 4 September to 14 October. See our exhibition page for more details on going to see the exhibition.

Alongside the exhibition we will be hosting some related events:

Saturday 21 September 2024, 3.30pm and 7pm

Talks by Jacqui Parkinson on her work. A recording of the evening talk on our YouTube channel and website.

Saturday 28 September 2024, 7pm

Metal Compline: prayers for the end of the day exploring Metal and Hard Rock music that uses imagery from the book of Revelation – led by Revd James Morley, the Metal Methodist. More information. Free tickets available on Eventbrite.

Saturday 12 October 2024, 7pm

And I Saw A New Heaven: A Meditation in words and music based on Jacqui Parkinson’s Threads through Revelation. Free tickets available on Eventbrite.

Sundays, 1 September – 13 October 2024, 10.30am

Services using readings from Revelation and focussing on different panels from Threads through Revelation each week.

1 September 2024 10.30am
Rev David Deeks
Setting the scene of Revelation in advance of the exhibition

8 September 2024 10.30am
Vicky Davies
Prayerfully reflecting on art using panels 4 (Pregnant Pause) and 12 (The Last Judgement)

15 September 2024 10.30am
Clare Campion-Smith and Christine Stones
Panel 7 (The Great Battle) in context with the Gospel

22 September 2024 10.30am
Rev Patrick Stonehewer
Panel 6 (Two Witnesses)
Communion Service

22 September 2024 6.30pm
Vicky Davies
Taizé service
with chants and readings based on Revelation

29 September 2024 10.30am
Rev Patrick Stonehewer and Rev James Morley (founder of Metal Methodists)
Connecting with God through Heavy Metal music using panels 3 (Horsemen of the Apokalypse), 10 (Armageddon) and 11 (Beauty and the Beast)

6 October 2024 10.30am
Ken Luxon and Rev Pearl Luxon
Panel 14 (New Creation)
Communion Service

13 October 2024 10.30am
Bring & Share: what impact has Revelation had on you and what questions has it raised?

Lent Knitalong 2024

a large bunch of yellow roses

We’re excited to be hosting another mystery knitalong this Lent!

This year we will be knitting a prayer shawl (or blanket) over the course of Lent: the exact design of the shawl is a mystery, and will be revealed as knitters progress through the project!

We will cast on together on Ash Wednesday (14th February) and knitters will have their shawl finished in time for Easter day on the 31st March.

Knitters will receive daily knitting instructions by email each week; these will be accompanied by daily reflections/meditations which have kindly been written by eight different Ministers and worship leaders from the Bristol & South Gloucestershire circuit and beyond.

You can now download the Welcome letter (or the Welcome letter in large font), which includes general information (such as yarn/needles needed etc) and the pattern for a practice swatch. The weekly emails will go out from the beginning of Lent.

The pattern has been designed to be accessible to knitters of all abilities: if you can cast on and off, and can work the basic knit and purl stitches you should be able to join in! Less confident/experienced knitters may like to take a look at our accompanying video which explains the cast on and talks through some of the other features of the knitting.

If you’re not already on the mailing list you can sign up on our Knitalongs webpage.

Facebook users would also be very welcome to join the group Victoria Methodist Bristol Knitalongs, where a lovely community of knitters across the world share progress, ask questions and chat about the reflections (and all pattern/reflection documents will be posted on there too).

The pattern and reflections are also available from the Ravelry Crafting website.

Download the Pattern and Reflections:
Week 1 Pattern and Reflections
Week 1 Pattern and Reflections in Large Print
Week 1 Reflections only

Week 2 Pattern and Reflections
Week 2 Pattern and Reflections in Large Print
Week 2 Reflections only

Week 3 Pattern and Reflections
Week 3 Pattern and Reflections in Large Print
Week 3 Reflections only

Advent Knitalong 2023

Once again, following on from our mystery Lent Knitalong (or in preparation for the next mystery Lent Knitalong?), we will be hosting a (smaller!) mystery Advent Knitalong.

Starting knitting on 1st December and leading up to Christmas, participants will be invited to knit a large table mat and use the accompanying reflections.

You can download our Welcome Information (or the Large Print Welcome Information) which has all the information you need to prepare for the Advent Knitalong: yarn and needle information, a swatch pattern you can use as a warm-up and to test your gauge and details of how to sign up to receive the pattern (if you are not on our mailing list already).

The whole pattern for the table mat, as well as the accompanying reflections will be released in one single document on Monday 27th November via email and on the Vic Knitalongs Facebook Group. There will be a suggested schedule of which rows to knit each day for those who’d like to knit along each day and finish on Christmas Eve, but of course knitters can work at their own pace (more experienced/quicker knitters/those with more time might like to knit more than one to give as Christmas presents).

We look forward to many of you joining us for another devotional mystery knitalong!

 

Haydn’s Creation Recordings

A great time was had by all at our October 2023 Come and Sing Haydn’s Creation event. Many thanks to all who were involved from singers, musicians, behind the scenes organisers and front of house and refreshments team to Lyn, our conductor.

We recorded the event and are making videos of it available via our YouTube channel. So far, the first six movements are available, but the others will be added over time, too. Many thanks to our tech team for making this possible.

Exhibition and Sale of Sri Lankan Children’s Art

On Saturday 30 September 2023 and Saturday 14 October 2023 we will be hosing an exhibition of Sri Lankan Children’s Art. This amazing vibrant and colourful artwork has been produced by children attending a project in Sri Lanka and is being sold to raise money for the charity. Refreshments will be provided both mornings. More details below:

Information about the Sale of Sri Lankan Children's art with four pictures showing a family eating, children playing, animals around a pond and some elephants in the countryside

 

West Bristol Arts Trail 2023

On Saturday 14 October and Sunday 15 Vic is hosting 8 artists as part of the trail. They are a diverse group working with in different artistic media. We are eagerly anticipating seeing all the different work and offering hospitality to visitors who come to experience the trail.

Opening hours

Saturday 14 October: 10am to 5pm

Sunday 15 October: 12 noon to 5 pm

List of Artists exhibiting at Vic during the West Bristol Arts Trail, including a single thumbnail image showing a piece of art for each artist

 

More information about the Arts Trial on the West Bristol Arts Trail 2023 website.

What to expect: Taizé-style services

Our Taizé-style services are based on the Christian worship practised by the ecumenical Taizé community in France (www.taize.fr). This is characterised by the repetitive singing of simple harmonised tunes (or chants), often in various languages, interspersed with readings, prayers and periods of silence.

At Vic we have a music practice half an hour before the service starts, so if you arrive early do feel free to join in if you would like to – and don’t be concerned that you are late. There is usually a short pause after the practice followed by a short welcome and introduction to start off the service.

We provide order of service handouts (large print copies are usually available for those who need them) which also include all the words to the chants and sometimes a Psalm which we may say together. An example order of service is provided below.

If you are able to read music, then you can find the music to the chants in the orange booklets:

Taizé chants booklet cover

The words of the chants, have been written in a variety of languages and we often sing chants in other languages, such as French, German or Latin. The booklet provides translations into a variety of languages including English. A little musical note symbol indicates that the translation can also be sung to the tune. Please feel free to sing the chants in the original language, in English or in another language – just as you wish.

The chants are repeated numerous times to help quieten the mind and enable reflection. Our conductor, Lyn, will give a bit of a lead and towards the end of the last repetition the musicians will slow down to indicate that this is the end. Please feel free to join in with the singing or drop out at any point.

Part way through the service there is usually a 10 minute period of silence. During this time you may wish to pray, to meditate or to reflect on the Bible reading. There is no right or wrong – this is simply a quiet time for you to spend in God’s presence as you find helpful. The first time this can seem a little daunting, but after a few services, you will hopefully find yourself becoming more comfortable with the silences.

At the front we have a candle stand where you can light a candle at any point during the chants. We tend to request that candles are not lit during the silence, as this can be distracting for others.

When we are invited to say the Lord’s Prayer together in our mother tongue people may be speaking a in number of different languages – to share both our diversity and our unity.

There are usually a couple of stewards on duty – do ask if you are unsure about anything.

Example Order of Service

Welcome
Chant 10  Laudate Dominum, laudate Dominum,
Omnes gentes, alleluia! (x2)
(Sing, praise and bless the Lord.
Sing, praise and bless the Lord.
Peoples! Nations! Alleluia!)
Chant 118  In resurrectione tua, Christe, cœli et terra laetentur. (x2)
(Let heaven and earth rejoice in your resurrection, O Christ.)
Prayer
Psalm 30 begun and interspersed with:
Chant 74  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
1          I will exalt you, Lord,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
2          Lord my God, I called to you for help,
and you healed me.
3          You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;
you spared me from going down to the pit.
       Alleluia, alleluia…
4          Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;
praise his holy name.
5          For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
       Alleluia, alleluia…
6          When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.”
7          Lord, when you favored me,
you made my royal mountain stand firm;
but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.
       Alleluia, alleluia…
8          To you, Lord, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy:
9          “What is gained if I am silenced, if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
10        Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me; Lord, be my help.”
       Alleluia, alleluia…
11        You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12        that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
Lord my God, I will praise you forever.
       Alleluia, alleluia…
Chant 7 Notre âme attend le Seigneur.
En lui la joie de notre cœur. O—, O—.
(Our soul is waiting for God.
Our hearts find joy– in the Lord. O—, O—.)
Reading 1 Corinthians 15:1-8
Silence  Ten minutes
Chant 40  O— Surrexit Christus, alleluia!
O— Cantate Domino, alleluia!
(The Lord is risen alleluia.
Sing out and praise the Lord, alleluia.
Chant 106  See, I am near, says the Lord.
See, I make all things new. O—, O—.
Prayers of Intercession begun and interspersed with:
Chant 79  Kyrie, Kyrie eleison. Kyrie, Kyrie eleison.
(Lord, have compassion.)
Lord’s Prayer in own mother tongue
Chant 5  Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God’s holy name.
Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.
Chant 33  Nunc dimits servus tuum Domine,
secundum vergum tuum in pace.
(Let your ser-vant now— go in peace, O— Lord,
now go in peace ac—cord-ing to your word.—)
Blessing