Good News! 

GOOD NEWS STORIES FOR THIS WEEK - 15 August 2020
The Methodist Church, Stoke-on-Trent South Circuit
Collected by: Hil Hands (Local preacher)
Dear friends,
What do we consider to be ‘Good News’?
Whenever I speak on the telephone with our family who live away from Staffordshire, we share good news. This might be about our children and grandchildren as we talk about how well they are getting on, thank God. It might be about our church services, and how they have been greatly blessed by God. It might be about places that we have visited or being out and about locally in creation, including in the garden! Our good news includes the Dahlia’s, which my father-in-law gave to us, now thriving in their yellow and orange beauty - I haven’t killed them yet! The good news I have heard this week includes answered prayer, or indeed the belief that asking in God’s name will bring about a sense of peace.
For some in our world, Good News will include:
•          Reaching safe sanctuary after leaving war zones
•          Finding employment to enable food to be put food onto the table
•          Fetching clean water from a tap rather than contaminated water from a river or pool
•          Hearing the voices of loved ones from hospital wards or care homes
•          Achieving exam results which mean that they can take the next step in a planned career
These are but a few that come to mind – you will know more when taking the time to reflect.
My sister once shared how, following a very blessed Christmas day with her family, she gave thanks to God and was aware that she could have done so much more rather than wait for that particular evening.
John 10: 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
My ‘Good News’ bible, presented to me on 17th December 1978, tells me the whole story: that Christ came and shared and died that we can have life, in all its fullness.
A grateful heart knows this truth – it is called faith?
God bless
If you have good news, please let me know: email - hands.hilary@yahoo.com Please send news to me by Friday 21st August, ready for next weekend
 
From Stuart and Sylvia
Update on Ashley
We really appreciate as a family the support and concern that is being shown for Ashley from various sections of the circuit.  I am aware that some weeks there will be good news and some not so good but people are kindly expressing a desire to constantly be updated on Ashley that I continue to include these snippets on the Good News sheet.
Ashley went into hospital on 1 June which means that this coming Monday he will have been in hospital for 12 weeks.  Last week as I reported, he had a good week.  This week he has slipped back a bit.  He has had to have two blood transfusions and they are not sure where he is losing the blood as they are certain he does not have internal bleeding.  Apparently, his copper reading in his blood is twice as high as it should be.  Didn't even know we had copper in our blood.  Also, both his lungs are compromised with fluid.  On the brighter side, he now has a paediatric consultant who is prepared to try and get to the bottom of everything and she has arranged a Multi-Disciplinary Team meeting for next week.  So hopefully we will know something.  I spent four hours with him on Thursday afternoon and he was tired, even after having slept all morning, and then perked up in the afternoon but then went tired again.  But just before I left, he suddenly started a conversation.  So do please keep him (and Debbie) in your prayers.
One bit of good news to finish on.  Our granddaughter Jess, whom many of you know, got engaged last Saturday night up Mow Cop to Connor, with whom she has been going out for four years this week. God bless you all and thank you for your support and prayers, it means a lot to us as a family.
 
From Richard and Maureen
I remembered that I had a "letter from God" whilst listening to a service about having faith last Sunday and thought you might like to include it in the Good News.
"Good Morning. I am the Lord and today I will be handling all your problems.  Please remember that I do not need your help. If life happens to deliver a situation that you cannot handle DO NOT attempt to resolve it.  Kindly place it in the "Something for God to do" box.  All situations will be dealt with in MY TIME, not yours.  Once the matter is placed into my box do not hold on to it worrying about it.  Instead focus on the wonderful things that are present in your life now.  If it is a situation you think are capable of handling please consult me first to make sure it is a proper solution.  Remember I neither slumber nor sleep, so there is no need for you to lose any!  REST IN MY PEACE, and remember I am only a prayer away." (Source unknown) 
With love and blessings, The Crewe Two
 
Prayer time
Thinking especially of all students receiving examination results and all those involved in school as they prepare to return in the new academic year.
A Prayer for Teachers and Educators during the COVID Crisis
Father, This is the day You have made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. It doesn’t look like we thought it would look, nor will tomorrow and the days to come likely be executed in the way we expected and prepared for. Help us to see the good in each day. Help us to find reasons to rejoice and ways to be glad. Litter our lives with moments of laughter and light-heartedness, even in these extremely dark and trying times. Birthdays are still be celebrated each day. The sun keeps coming up, and You remain the same. We are created in Your image, God, to do good and great things to bring glory to Your name. Each one of us, both teacher and student, were created with specific purpose. Help teachers to have confidence in their craft. They were meant to teach, educate, coach, counsel and lead. They are needed, appreciated, and loved. Their work and their efforts are never in vain. When it is hard to see the good, grab our attention, Father. When we are sad and miss school, our normal routine, and our friends and teachers, encourage our spirits. Sustain us through our very real fear of what is and will happen in our world, God. Remind us we are not alone, even when we feel isolated.
Amen
 
Pray for Hope and Endurance
Many students have lost their Senior year “last” moments, possibly graduations ceremonies, results days and proms for some, if not all. Father, we know there are grave events happening, lives lost and many others on the line or fighting to breathe—but we also know that You grieve with us over every loss. Help both teachers and students to grieve losses looked forward to in a healthy and honest way, and then help all of them to rally in gratitude for all of the things that have not been lost. This crisis may be longstanding, but it will not last forever, Father. Help our teachers come alongside their students in this moment of loss, fear, and crisis.
Our youth do not have the years of wisdom many of their teachers have. Our prayer today, Father, is that our teachers will comfort and spur on our students. May the hope of Jesus Christ be with every teacher and student. Because it is through the hope of Jesus, we can be assured somewhere, sometime, somehow, there is light at the end of this dark tunnel.
You know our needs, Father. You know the heart of every teacher. You know the needs and challenges of every student. Be their guide, Father. Show them who needs help, how to help, and sustain and provide for us all, Father.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
(Meg Bucher - Writer and Author)