Covid-19 

Dear friends
Christian greetings.  I trust that you are keeping well in body and spirit. It continues to be a frustrating time for all of us as we wait for a greater degree of what we consider ‘normal’ to return. But the simple facts that we all realise are that we are facing an uncertain and challenging future as individuals and a group of people called church.
 Firstly, we are heading for a financial crisis it would appear. At the recent video Circuit Meeting we considered the Circuit's budget for 2020/2021, which naturally increases year on year, but has to be met by a smaller membership. The current assessment on churches to deliver the sum needed to finance the budget works out at £8.50 odd for every member each week. That is before churches pay any utility bill, insurance or repair. We hit those waters unable to fundraise in the usual ways or receive offerings at the level we would normally. The response that is needed to maintain the present and future of each church would be to make every effort to continue letting it receive your tithes and gifts, by bank transfer or a cheque / cash to the stewards or treasurer. I loathe asking for money or asking hard-pressed folks to give more but there are few options.  Perhaps you might have been unable to take your usual holiday or go to the theatre; could you consider helping from this saving? You might prayerfully give thought to how we might fundraise differently when circumstances change, mindful many groups might be in a similar place. My thought is that we could hold a monthly market at Longton Central Hall where every church had a stall and kept any money taken; a greater number of stalls in a town centre site could not only have mutual benefit but even say raising £40 would meet a rise in assessment. Only a small number of people will read this - but everyone needs to hear it.
Secondly, we are in danger of losing touch with people on the fringes. These are potentially those who might become members and workers. Some of our churches have lost members to Covid or other reasons; Longton for instance has lost four members and three people who attended the outreach Gospel Cafe. For any of our fellowships, very few people just happen to turn up one Sunday. It needs prayer and a personal invitation in most cases. And the welcome must be real and Christ-like! I remember a newcomer who started to attend a church being put off by a steward who ran people down as they walked home. She and her daughter went on to another church and became good workers there. We have been joined by people on our phone and video services who would normally not be in our church buildings; how do we retain their interest and bring them into relationship with our Lord? There are more Evangelism courses available now than ever before, some are tailored for reluctant Christians to share faith in a non-threatening way. The choice to be involved is ours but the outcome effects everyone and all of our communities. We need church and circuit prayer gatherings, we need mission and outreach to be a standing item on Church Council agendas, we need to have innovative means of being Church but above all we need to want so His Kingdom come.
Freely, freely you have received,
Freely, freely give,
Go in my name and because you believe
Others will know that I live
Every blessing
Jeff Short
On behalf of the Circuit Leadership Team
Rev Linda Email: revlindcat@gmail.com  Tel: 01782 848699
Glenn, Admin: office@stokesouthmethodist.org.uk  Tel: 01782 847489