Good News! 

GOOD NEWS STORIES FOR THIS WEEK - 25 July 2020
 The Methodist Church, Stoke-on-Trent South Circuit
Collected by: Hil Hands (Local preacher)
Dear friends,
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
(J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring)
This is one of my favourite quotes: it reminds me to be grateful for health and well-being and to offer God each new day, such that it would be used wisely.
From 25 March (two days after Lockdown), my husband has been recording song intros which he has played on his guitar. Each morning he has put several onto a WhatsApp we share with friends – a bit like Pop Master which is on Radio 2. We have been encouraged to try to name the song, the original artist and the theme for the day. It has been fun and challenging. Friday was the last day, 122 days and 625 intros later!
How have we measured time during these last four months? Having spent my working life in a classroom, I made a timetable early on reminding me when online occasions were available. I have enjoyed regular worship, bible study, prayer, Zoom Zumba and Zoom Body and Soul. We also have a dog and have benefitted from daily walks around our local area – a time to reflect away from home.
Key workers have provided essentials throughout Lockdown, and we thank God and continue to pray for them.  Many of us will have set aside time to contact friends and family, time to deliver food or medicine, time to ensure that our wider church family are OK or to listen to the heartbreak of those who are not.
We will be turning our calendars to August next Saturday! Let’s continue to pray for guidance so that our God-given time is spent well.
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 (NIV)
A Time for Everything
1 There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2  a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3  a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
4  a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5  a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6  a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7  a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8  a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.
God bless
If you have good news, please let me know: email - hands.hilary@yahoo.com Please send news to me by Friday 31 July, ready for next weekend
From Alison - Centre Manager West End Centre & Café West End
Can you please add to the Good News that we are now open Wednesday - Friday 9.00am -3.00pm at the Café?
From Stuart and Sylvia
Update on Ashley
From last week, you will know that Ashley went down to theatre on Wednesday 15 July to drain the cyst on his pancreas.  He has been under sedation since then but Tuesday afternoon this week they started to wake him up and Wednesday morning removed his breathing tube, so he is now breathing for himself.  We do praise God for this development.  The morphine he is on makes him drowsy so although he is now awake, he is not able to communicate too much, partly because of the morphine but also his throat is quite sore through having the breathing tube in for so long.  I had the opportunity yesterday of going to sit with him for 41/2 hours to give Deb a break.  I had mixed emotions because I was stressed seeing my lovely grandson on a bed with tubes coming from everywhere and yet what a joy to be able to talk to him just a little, re-emphasising that God truly has answered prayer. Thursday morning, they got him out of bed into a chair and the surgeon has told him that if he can mobilise himself to get on a commode, they can remove the catheter.  So once again, small steps but proof that God is looking after him. They are wanting to move him to an adult ward, but Deb has been re-assured that this won't happen until they can get him somewhere where she can stay overnight with him, because of his vulnerability.
So, keep praying and thank you all so very much. God bless, Stuart x
Prayer time
Lord Jesus,
when you walked with us on earth
you spread your healing power.
We place in your loving care
all who are affected by Coronavirus.
Keep us strong in faith, hope and love.
Bring relief to our sick,
console our bereaved,
protect those who care for us.
We lift our prayer to you Lord,
and trust in your infinite mercy,
as we wait for the daybreak.
Amen
We can use our fingers to pray for everyone:
Little finger - for safety for children during the summer holidays and courage as they prepare to return to school.
Ring finger - for peaceful relationships across the world.
Middle finger - for all Church leaders, as they guide our way through easement of Lockdown rules.
First finger - for all those who have helped us during Lockdown.
Thumb = for ourselves, that we show love and patience.