Covid-19 

Dear Friends
I hope that you continue to keep safe and well during this time. We shortly come to the end of August and soon the summer will be over and we move towards Autumn, sadly the weather is already starting to change with the temperature dropping, but it seems unusually for a Bank Holiday weekend we may have some sunshine! We are also approaching the start of the new Methodist Year and we are pleased to welcome Rev Pam Roberts who will be joining the Circuit with responsibility for the Churches at Broadway, Blythe Bridge, Forsbrook and Lightwood. Pam’s virtual welcome service takes place this Thursday evening via Zoom or telephone using the usual link as below. An order of service is attached should you wish to join the service. Please hold Pam and her family in your prayers as she settles into the Circuit.
You may have seen that unfortunately due to rising numbers of Coronavirus infections locally, Stoke-on-Trent has now been placed on the national watchlist. We have sadly seen a rise in new cases mainly in younger people in some areas of the local community. Please do continue to take all the necessary measures including frequent handwashing, maintaining social distancing and wearing a face covering where this is required. These measures really do make a difference and help minimise the spread of infection. Please hold in prayer all those affected by Coronavirus and their families throughout the world. We also remember and give thanks for the those who have sadly lost their lives as a result of the virus.
This week we have an additional Church Council meeting where we will be reviewing the risk assessment which outlines the control measures we have in place to enable the Church and meeting rooms to reopen. When the risk assessment is approved we will be able to gather again for worship on Sunday 13 September 2020 but this will take a different format than usual. The service will be limited to a maximum of 25 people in the Church, if more than this attend they will be seated socially distanced in the school room and the service will be relayed by speaker. Face coverings will be required together with the use of hand gel on entering and leaving the building. Entrance will be via the main door but you will be asked to leave via a different route to avoid prolonged contact with others. Sadly for the foreseeable future no refreshments will be available after the service. We will not be sharing the peace in the usual way during services and the offering will not be collected during the service. The collection plate will be placed near the exit and you can place any cash donations into this on leaving the service. In order to avoid cash management we would ask if you are able, to consider setting up a direct debit or standing order directly to the Church collection account. If you wish to arrange this please contact either Barry Catlow our Treasurer or one of the Stewards. In addition to the face to face service, zoom and telephone services will continue for those unable to yet return to Church in person.
 
This week I came across a short story about new recruits joining the army and the induction they received from their Chaplain. He was allocated seven minutes for his sermon and was faced with a group of young people who were likely to be unimpressed with an enforced audience with the Chaplain. Many years later one of those recruits recalled how he became a Christian based on this encounter. The Chaplain used his army boots as a visual aid calling one “Trust” and the other Obey” The teenagers listened attentively as he described the importance of these words talking about the left and right boot being the foundations of Christian life. He reminded them that these two short words were all they needed to remember to walk with God. They could use the words to guide them throughout their life. He reminded them that obey was not about saluting or following orders but rather following the simple commandments set by God which are practical rules for life and focused on reverence, respect, justice and love. Trust and Obey may be strange words but powerful when facing trials, struggles, temptation, worry, anxiety, fear or failure.
 
Trust and Obey are the basis for the well-known hymn written by Rev John H. Sammis in 1887. The hymn reminds us of the rewards of trusting God’s word and obeying God’s will. The basis for the hymn came from a young man who stood up in a testimony meeting and said “I am not quite sure – but I am going to trust, and I am going to obey” The words were jotted down and passed to Rev Sammis who was a Presbyterian minister. The music was composed by Daniel B. Towner and the hymn used at many of the Moody & Sankey renowned revivals. As you read the words of the hymn or perhaps choose to sing it, reflect on the words and the importance of the message. Two small words that can change your life.
When we walk with the Lord,
In the light of his word,
What a glory he sheds on our way !
While we do his good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil he doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss,
Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove
The delights of his love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favour he shows,
For the joy he bestows,
And for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at his feet,
Or we’ll walk by his side in the way;
What he says we will do,
Where he sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
 
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 #
The weekly Circuit Good News produced by local preacher Hilary Hands will change to become a monthly Newsletter in the near future. Please do send your news or messages to Hilary for inclusion.
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