Covid-19 

Time is certainly moving on and it is again time to write the weekly newsletter. I hope this finds you and your family safe and well. It has been a challenging week for many with the unsettling issues around exam results and the distress and anxiety this has created. We hold the young people, their families and teachers in our prayers this week as they plan for their future moves to college, universities or employment and we hope that their results will enable them to progress as they had planned.
This week unfortunately we have seen a increase in Coronavirus cases in Stoke-on-Trent and this again reminds us that the virus is still with us. Whilst the overall national position is improving we are still seeing local and national outbreaks so we need to continue to follow the guidance  and maintain social distancing. It is clear that a few people are becoming complacent particularly with social distancing and this is resulting in further challenges. Sadly some of the travel corridors to and from Europe have closed this week due to an increasing number of cases  in some  countries.
Please continue to hold all those affected by Coronavirus throughout the World in your thoughts and prayers. Despite our challenges we are fortunate to have access to healthcare, shelter, food and water which sadly many other parts of the World do not.

This week we have been able to plan the reopening of our Church. A small group of  us have completed the risk assessment and this will be considered in the near future by the Church Council and then submitted to Circuit for approval. Providing this is approved we plan to open the Church meeting rooms for external use from 1st September and commence Sunday morning services on the  13th September 2020. The services will be shorter and will not currently be able to include singing. Unfortunately to maintain social distancing the numbers able to attend services will be restricted to 25 people and chairs have been arranged to ensure social  distancing is maintained. Those attending worship will need to use the hand gel and wear a face covering. We ask that the Church is filled from the front seats first and a steward will direct you to vacant seats. No refreshments will be available after the  service and to prevent  informal gathering  we  will  use the vestry door to exit Church and the current main doors for entry.  We recognise that many people will remain worried and may not wish to attend Church services in person initially. Arrangements for telephone and zoom services will continue so that you have a range of methods to join services and stay connected with your church family.

Our bible reading this week is taken from John Chapter 4 v1-14 and is the familiar story of the  Samaritan Women at the Well. This reading, in a similar way to the reading last week, sees Jesus in an challenging location of Samaria, a place that for many would be so dangerous it would  be off limits. Whilst on the journey and in the heat of the day, Jesus sits by Jacob’s well. It is likely He was tired and hot when He was approached by a Samaritan  woman who came to draw water from the well. Jesus asks the woman for water to drink.  At this time Jews and Samaritans would not routinely communicate, and a man would not directly approach a woman. Here not only is Jesus speaking to a stranger but He is speaking to a woman from a background and culture that would have been frowned upon. Socialising and certainly eating and drinking between a Jew and Samaritan would have been unacceptable and against the Jewish customs.  In the reading, Jesus is breaking the rules, He respected the woman and shared his thirst with her. The  woman challenges Jesus and asks him why he is requesting a drink from her. Jesus answers her with “If you knew the gift of God,  and  who it is that is saying to you, give me a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water. The woman replies  that the well is deep and Jesus has no bucket so she is not sure how he will get the living water. Jesus replies that everyone who drinks the water from the well will be thirsty  again, but those who drink the water that He gives will never be  thirsty as the  water will become in them a spring of water gushing to eternal life. With this the woman says “Sir, give me the water, so that I may never be thirsty”
As  we reflect on the reading  we are again  reminded that Jesus reaches out to all. He interrupts them when they least expect it. The woman thinks in a practical way that Jesus has no bucket so cannot draw water. Jesus pushes the woman out of the literal and talks about living water. The woman is not talking to a stranger but to Jesus. She was not expecting the meeting, she was going about her daily business but something happens and the offer of living water becomes real. The living water is just that, something that is moving,  bubbling and constantly changing.  This living water is the gift of the Holy Spirit which moves among us and inspires us to a  new way of living. We don’t need a bucket, faith is not something we consume but rather something that consumes us. Just with a  brief encounter at the well the life of the woman is forever changed. The woman is a witness to Jesus and a reminder that Jesus is available to all. She then races away to share her experience with others. When we are tired and thirsty in our everyday lives, the living water of the Holy Spirit is available and we can share it with others!

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.
Please pray for those on our prayer list.  
Barry, Linda and family.
Ashley, Debbie and family.
Frank & Barbara
Margaret W
Jane
Ken & Pat
Rev Alex
Don
Margaret B
Alan
Doreen
Pat
Danni
Beaulah
Alan & Heather
Linda and family
Brenda
Pam
Mary W
Carol, Dave & Logan
Janet, Steve and family
Les, Olga and family
Harry and family following the sudden death of Shirley

If you would like to join the Sunday Morning Service by Zoom at 11.00am
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.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4775422768?pwd=ZDB3UXhyZmtJVFhqNXlLbEZhd3gvZz09
or just click here.
Meeting ID: 477 542 2768
Password: 909013
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 as above.
You are also very welcome to join a telephone act of worship each Sunday at 10.00am 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