Covid-19 

Dear Friends,
I hope that you all are keeping safe and well during this time and managing to enjoy the lovely weather.
This week we celebrate Aldersgate Sunday (Wesley Day) where we think of the conversion of John Wesley  during a Moravian Religious Society Meeting  on Aldersgate Street, London in May 1738. It was during this service that he felt his “heart strangely warmed” as he experienced God’s love in a personal and life giving way. It is believed that until then he had known God in his mind, but not in his heart. Aldersgate Sunday is an opportunity to celebrate the work of God in our lives, and to reflect on how we should respond to everything that God has given us.
As we remain in Lockdown but continue to see signs of hope and progress, during the week I came across this poem written by Brother Richard Hendrick, an Irish Priest, which I thought was very moving and that I would share with you. It is fitting for Methodists with a focus on singing!
Lockdown by Brother Richard:
Yes there is fear.
Yes there is isolation.
Yes there is panic buying.
Yes there is sickness.
Yes there is even death.
But,
They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise
You can hear the birds again.
They say that after just a few weeks of quiet
The sky is no longer thick with fumes
But blue and grey and clear.
They say that in the streets of Assisi
People are singing to each other
across the empty squares,
keeping their windows open
so that those who are alone
may hear the sounds of family around them.
They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland
Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.
Today a young woman I know is busy spreading fliers with her number
through the neighbourhood
So that the elders may have someone to call on.
Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples
are preparing to welcome
and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary
All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting
All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way
All over the world people are waking up to a new reality
To how big we really are.
To how little control we really have.
To what really matters.
To Love.
So we pray and we remember that
Yes there is fear.
But there does not have to be hate.
Yes there is isolation.
But there does not have to be loneliness.
Yes there is panic buying.
But there does not have to be meanness.
Yes there is sickness.
But there does not have to be disease of the soul
But there does not have to be hate.
Yes there is isolation.
But there does not have to be loneliness.
Yes there is panic buying.
But there does not have to be meanness.
Yes there is sickness.
But there does not have to be disease of the soul
Yes there is even death.
But there can always be a rebirth of love.
Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.
Today, breathe.
Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic
The birds are singing again
The sky is clearing,
Spring is here,
And we are always encompassed by Love.
Open the windows of your soul
And though you may not be able
to touch across the empty square,
Sing
 
If you would like to join the Sunday Morning Service by Zoom  just after 11.00am (Please use same links for Thy Kingdom Come services at 7.00pm from Ascension Day to Pentecost – except for Sunday 24 May) Apologies for the late start of the Zoom service last Sunday, it seems services on line are becoming more popular and technical issues created some challenges across the Country.
Join Zoom Meeting – just click on the link and you’ll be placed in a waiting area and Rev Linda will let you in. This is a safeguarding measure.
 
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8628647498?pwd=jq8dRt2RWHQT1VY9BkR4z8nAd1nEJg
Copy and paste into your brower or just click here.
Meeting ID: 862 864 7498
Password: 234308
 
OR FOR PHONE ACCESS ONLY
Dial one of the following:
0203 481 5237
0203 481 5240
0131 460 1196
0203 051 2874
If you are dialling into the services instead of joining them via Zoom online – please use one of the phone numbers shown above and enter the same Meeting ID and Password above.
You  are also very welcome to join a telephone act of worship each Sunday at 10am by calling the number below and using the codes  as shown.
Dial: 0333 0110 946
When asked enter the
Room number: 47927697 #
When asked enter the
Guest PIN: 1145 #
 As you pray, please think of  those who are ill with Coronavirus and the families of those who have died. Please also hold in prayer all those who are delivering caring and essential services  to help keep us safe and pray for those known to us in our Church family:
Frank & Barbara
Ken & Pat
Rev Alec
Don
Margaret
Ruth
Alan
Doreen
Pat
Danni
Beaulah
Please do continue if you are able to pray at 6.00pm each evening and join with others from our Church so that we can unite in the power of prayer.
You can find reflections and biblical stories on our Circuit you tube channel including  new material added weekly from Rev Linda at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBhbVptj0forVkUfmmsvd_w
 Copy and paste into your browser or just click here.
I hope these resources are helpful to you . Please continue to stay safe and know that you are surrounded by the love and prayers of your Church family.
With every blessing
Ian