Covid-19 

Dear Friends,
I hope you are all keeping safe and well as we continue in our national lockdown.
We continue to hope and pray that the measures taken will see a reduction in the transmission of the virus so that we can slowly start to again meet socially with others, particularly over the Christmas period.
I am sure that many of you will have heard the very sad news this week of the sudden death of Barbara Vaughan. Barbara has for many years been a valued and respected member of our Church and has been a devoted and faithful servant of the Lord. We will certainly miss her friendship and fellowship and her kind and caring nature along with her wonderful sense of fun. Our love, thoughts and prayers are with Frank, Rosemary, Sandra and the family during this time.
You will know that for many weeks we have been praying for Ashley, grandson of Rev Stuart who has been very ill in hospital. I am pleased to report that Ashley continues to make good progress and this week plans are in place for his discharge home. Stuart wishes to thank you all for the prayers, love and support that the family have received over the last few months.
I am also pleased to advise that Thelma and Roy have this week received the news of the safe arrival of a new Great Grandchild. Francesca gave birth to Benjamin George weighing 9lb 1oz. Mum and baby are back home and making good progress. Our love goes to all the family.
Our Bible reading this week comes from Matthew’s Gospel Chapter 25 v 14-30 and is the familiar story of the Parable of the Talents While on earth, Jesus used parables in explaining about the Kingdom of God to the people. These parables usually went unexplained except to His disciples or a select few.
Talents, in the parable related to coins or wealth and the opportunity to invest these for financial reward on behalf of the master. A talent was a unit of weight of approximately 80 pounds and was valued for that weight of silver. A talent was worth about 6000 denarii. A denarius was the usual payment for a day’s work. At one denarius per day, a talent was therefore worth 16 years labour. In the parable a master puts his servants in charge of his goods while he is away on a trip. Upon his return, he assesses the stewardship of his servants. He evaluates them according to how faithful each was in making wise investments of his goods and obtaining a profit. A gain indicated faithfulness on the part of the servants. The master rewards his servants according to how each has handled his money. He judges two servants as having been “faithful” and gives them a positive reward. To the single unfaithful servant, who “played it safe”, a negative compensation is given.
Traditionally, the parable is thought to remind the disciples not to use money wisely but rather use their personal talents or gifts in the service of God and to take risks to expand the Kingdom of God. It is suggested that God gives talents or gifts to every one of us. These talents vary from person to person. We are required however to give account of these gifts and talents to their owner. Since Jesus was referring to the Kingdom of God in the parable, we learn our lives are not ours to live according to our wishes. It could be suggested that we in fact owe our lives and gifts to the service of God. As Christians, we are waiting for the return of Jesus Christ to this earth. We could perhaps then be considered stewards, faithfully using our Masters assets while waiting for his return.
How then should we use the talents we have to venture out into the unknown. Our aim is to prosper and develop the Kingdom. Often however we can find excuses when things get difficult. We may forget that we have talents that equip us to the do the Lords work. In the parable two servants received positive greetings and were commended for their faithfulness. Whilst the third servant did not invest wisely or make a profit, in fact he disobeyed the simple instructions from his master. If we see the parable from the angle of faithfulness to the Master  it teaches us that God’s kingdom is accomplished not simply with talents, money or education but rather by our faithfulness to the Lord. It reminds us that we are delegated as stewards to care for and develop His kingdom.
As Christians, we hold a valuable resource – the Word of God. If we believe and understand Him and apply His Word as stewards, we will become a blessing to others and the value of the Word multiplies. We are trusted stewards of His resources and tasked to use them wisely. As you reflect on the reading this week think about how you have the opportunity to use the gifts and talents you have to further the word of God.
 
I am sorry that many of you were unable to join the Circuit Zoom service last week due to technical issues with the password. The password is no longer active on the account so to access the service you should now only need to use the meeting ID as shown below.
The service is on Sunday morning at 11.30am. The service tomorrow will be led by Rev Helen Kirk, Chair of the District.
If you don’t wish to join via computer you can phone into the service using one of the numbers below and entering the meeting ID.
Topic: Sunday Service 11.30am
Time: This is a recurring meeting
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4775422768
or just click here.
NO PASSWORD IS NEEDED
Meeting ID: 477 542 2768
Dial by your location
0203 481 5237
0203 481 5240
0203 901 7895
0131 460 1196
0203 051 2874
Meeting ID: 477 542 2768
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, Rosemary, Sandra and families.
Ken & Pat
Malcolm, Anne and family
Arthur
Rev Alex
Don
Margaret B
Karen and Chris
Alan
Doreen
Pat
Jean
Danni
Beaulah
Alan and Heather
Linda and family
Pam
Carol, Dave and Logan
Janet, Steve and family
Les, Olga and family
Roy
Charles
Lorraine and Terry
 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