Rev Chris update 24th Jan. 2021

Dear all,

As we continue in lockdown it may seem daft of me to ask, “have there been any highlights to your week?” For some each day may merge into the next, for many there may be concerns of future what the future may hold, for those working there may be significant extra pressure. But my hope is that each of us can look to a highlight of some sort.

With that in mind I thought it would be good to share some of those with each other as pictures, or stories, from lockdown. The picture of my highlight of hope for the week is Sourpatch sweets!!(not to be seen as product placement!);

I love these (my dentist doesn’t!). They make your mouth tingle with sweet and sour at the same time!! Sarah bought them for me as I slaved away at the computer – a real treat.

Send me in your ‘highlights’ so that I can share them with updates in the weeks to come to give a sense of collective hope. To quote the bible;

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” JEREMIAH 29:11

With that ‘hopeful’ thought in mind, on Wednesday we had our first ‘telephone’ based communion service that was aimed at those who had no access to the internet. This went well and I will certainly repeat it, probably on Ash Wednesday 17th February.

Also, on Ash Wednesday I shall aim to provide an evening Zoom service that will, in whatever way I can, present the traditional ‘ashing’ of those attending. How am I going to do that? I have no idea at the moment, but I’m working on it!!

The middle of February may seem a long way off and it is difficult to predict just what will happen in between now and then, however it is highly unlikely that I will feel comfortable enough to re-open our churches for public worship for some time to come, and possibly not before Easter.

Online services will therefore continue to be the ‘norm’ for now. This Sunday, the 24th, at 10am, I will broadcast a service on Facebook, and, at the same time, will provide a Communion service on Zoom (the code is on the Services & Events page attached). Then at 6.30pm you can tune into Facebook again as Jackie broadcasts Encounter Worship – here is the song link for the service (by the way, it is a great song);

The Heart of Worship – Matt Redman (Lyrics)
Background courtesy of Footage OasisYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/footageoasis
youtu.be

You can also Zoom into Worship Hub with Jackie on Wednesday 27th at 7.30pm – again the code is on the Services & Events page.

Don’t forget, send me those pictures, or stories, of the highlights of your week(s) that we can share as messages of hope.

Every blessing,

Rev Chris

p.s. please note that St Nicholas church will not be open for private prayer next week