Covid-19 

Dear Friends,
I hope you are all keeping well and staying safe during this time. Again we see a further relaxing of the lockdown measures and some return towards a new normal. Please continue to hold in your prayers all who are affected by Coronavirus and their families and all who continue to work so hard to care for them, along with those who are working to deliver essential services to keep us all safe.
Many of you will be aware that unfortunately Barry (Rev Linda’s husband) has recently been taken ill and spent time in hospital. He is now home but has been diagnosed with stomach cancer so will need further investigations and treatment in hospital. Please continue to surround Barry, Linda and family with your love and prayers at this time. I know they really appreciate the support of their family and very many friends and are encouraged by the best wishes, prayers and support they are receiving as well as the professionalism and support from hospital staff.
Thank you so much for returning the Church questionnaires to help us plan the future of Church and Circuit activities. We are really grateful for the number received and for the feedback and comments you have provided. These have been really interesting and encouraging to read and I am so pleased that you value the support and care from your Church family. Many of you have commented that you are missing seeing your friends and hoping to be back at Church again soon.
 
 We have all missed seeing friends over the last few months, but I am sure that you have been keeping in touch by phone, facetime or social media. You may well have friends who are local and some who live much  further away, some you would have seen often and others you may only have seen occasionally. You will have friends who you know you can always turn to, even if you don’t see them often. When you think about your friends you may think about their qualities and how they have offered their love, support or a listening ear whenever it is required. Sometimes they may not say a lot but are prepared to listen. The qualities of a good friend may include honesty, acceptance, loyalty, respect, trust and a non-judgmental approach. Your good friends may ask for nothing in return other than your friendship. We often link with our friends for happy and sad times and they are usually the first to support us when things get difficult. Good friends often know what to say, how to say it and even when to say nothing !
As we think about the importance and value of friends we think about the care, support and friendship that is available to us through our relationship with God. Whilst he may not be physically present we are able to talk with him and turn to him through our conversation in prayer.  You may be reminded of a Sunday School or School favourite hymn “What a Friend we have in Jesus” which was written in 1855 by Joseph Scriven. He was born in Ireland, was educated at Trinity College in Dublin and was engaged to be married. On the evening before the wedding his fiancé drowned. Overcome with grief he left Ireland to start a new life in Canada. He later met and fell in love with Eliza but she grew ill and also sadly died. Joseph turned to his faith for support and turned to mission work. He took a vow of poverty and sold all his possessions and vowed to give his life to the service of others. Some years later he received news that his mother in Ireland was ill but he had no money to return home. He decided to write to her and sent the story of his life in three short verses. He commented later that he and the Lord had together written the letter. The verses were later set to music by Charles Converse. After over twenty years the American evangelist Dwight L. Moody came across the song and believed it to be the most touching hymn he had heard. Sadly Joseph Scriven drowned in a Canadian Lake in 1886 so never lived to see his song carried to every corner of the World. The words remind us of the value of friendship with Jesus and the importance of prayer.
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear !
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer !
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer !
Have we trials and temptations,
Is there trouble anywhere ?
We should never be discouraged:
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share ?
Jesus knows our every weakness:
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we wear and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care  ?
Precious Saviour, still our refuge
Take it to the Lord in prayer !
Do your friends despise, forsake you ?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In his arms he’ll take and shield you,
You will find a solace there.
(Joseph Scriven 1819 – 1886)
Please do continue if you are able to pray at 6pm each evening and join with others from our Church so that we can unite in the power of prayer.
Please pray for those on our prayer list.  
Barry, Linda and family.
Frank & Barbara
Margaret W
Jane
Ken & Pat
Rev Alec
Don
Margaret B
Alan
Doreen
Pat
Danni
Beaulah
Alan & Heather
Linda and family
Pauline, Jay, Maria & Eddie
If you would like to join the Sunday Morning Service by Zoom at 11am
Join Zoom Meeting – just click on the link (from 10.45am) and you’ll be placed in a waiting area until the host lets you in. This is a safeguarding measure.
Please note the contact details have now changed and the link is for a new Circuit Zoom Account
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84645113827?pwd=T3YxQ0pqbXk4YlNxVFgxZW1Lc1lTQT09
or just click here.
Meeting ID: 846 4511 3827
Password: 748997
Dial by your location
0203 481 5240
0203 901 7895
0131 460 1196
0203 051 2874
0203 481 5237
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 #
You can find reflections and biblical stories on our Circuit youtube channel including new material added weekly from Rev Linda, Rev Jeff and others at
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBhbVptj0forVkUfmmsvd_w
or just click here.
Please continue to stay safe and know that you are surrounded by the love and prayers of your Church family.
With every blessing
Ian