Covid-19 

Dear Friends
I hope that you are all keeping safe and well. As you are aware the national Covid restrictions end next week and are replaced by local control measures according to which tier of restrictions the area is placed in. Due to increasing infection numbers, above the national average both Stoke and Staffordshire have been placed in Tier 3 which is the highest level. This means that meeting people outside of your household indoors is not permitted. Whilst worship activities are permitted we discussed this at length at our Church Council this week. In view of the infection risks locally and the increasing age of many of our members we have decided not to reopen Church for worship activities until after Christmas. As the national and local situation is reviewed we will revisit this but for the next few weeks worship activities will take place by either telephone or computer using Zoom. This means we sadly will not be able to meet together as a Church in person over the Christmas period but will have to use alternative methods to keep in touch and follow the wonders of the Christmas Story.
It is fair to say we are all uncertain about what Christmas is going to be like this year – and perhaps we are feeling a bit anxious about this. As Christians more than ever this year we need to reach out to others. The Christmas message of Emmanuel – the good news that God is with us, is more pertinent this year than ever before. The Methodist Church Christmas Campaign seeks to share the good news of people who have experienced God with them. The campaign name, which ties in with our Presidential theme for the year, comes from John Wesley’s words as he approached death “the best of all is, God is with us” which reminds us that even in the times which feel most uncertain, we can be certain of God. I have enclosed a poster in support of the campaign that you might like to print and display in your window for others to see over the Christmas period.
As we make our preparations for Christmas, Action for Children are hosting a virtual Carol Concert on Tuesday 8th December 2020 where you can join with celebrities who will bring the magic of Christmas to you on line. Tickets are £10 per household and I enclose information with the website details if you would like to register to join this event.
Why not join Action for Children’s Starry Night?
Tuesday 8 December 2020 from 6.30pm to 7.30pm
A virtual carol concert bringing the magic of Christmas into your home.
Join us and help make sure more children and young people have a hot meal, a present or a safe place to sleep. Tickets: £10 per household
Go to: starry-night.co.uk
#StarryNight2020
I am sure that you will have all received this week the latest package from our Church Events team with a range of Christmas activities to keep you busy. I would again like to record our sincere thanks to the Events Team for their ideas and hard work to ensure we are able to connect in fun and fellowship.
This Sunday we enter the season of Advent – a period of anticipation and waiting, a time to prepare as we think about the promises of Jesus.
Our Bible reading this week is Mark Chapter 13 v24-37 which reminds us that the “Son of Man is coming with great power and glory and he will gather his followers throughout the World”
This is a really important message – Jesus Christ is coming back and his return will not be secret. He will return in the midst of chaos and in power and glory. The reading however starts with significant uncertainty  “But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken” It is clear that this portion of the gospel starts with challenges but builds to an absolute assurance that the followers of Jesus should anticipate. As we reflect on the reading, the chronology is clear and follows a pattern of suffering, darkness, the return of the Son of Man followed by the gathering of those chosen.
This provides us with great hope that the followers of Jesus continue his work until all is accomplished.
Whilst the reading is challenging we can relate this to our lives today. The reading provides no explanation of suffering but is clear that suffering occurs but that in this suffering is a promise.
Some may see this as a story with a happy ending – but the Bible story does not end rather it provides us with eternal hope. It reminds us that the world belongs to God and it can and will be changed. It will be changed so radically that one day people will speak of a time when “heaven and earth pass away”
In our busy lives, given the time of the return of Jesus is not known, I suspect we often don’t think much about it, but Mark draws the opposite conclusion. Since the time of His return is unknown, we should be ready and waiting and should focus on His coming all the time. Despite the current difficulties facing our World we have much to be thankful for. Mark describes a time for fasting as well as for feasting and that during these times we may be aware of the absence of our Lord in person. The reading tells us that Christ is not with us as he once was, and he is not with us as he will be. It provides us with certainty in our anticipation because better things are to come. The season of Advent invites us to wait in hope, longing to know God as fully as we have been known, not to see Him in darkness but face to face, to love as we have been loved; to experience Jesus Christ as he is, and in so doing, to become like him.
You can join with friends from the Church and Circuit by joining the weekly Zoom Service at 11.30am each Sunday morning (by either computer or telephone) using the links below.
Topic: Sunday Service 11.30 am
Time: This is a recurring meeting
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4775422768
or just click here.
Meeting ID: 477 542 2768 (No password is currently required)
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.
On Monday the funeral will be held for our dear friend Barbara Vaughan. Please hold Frank, Sandra, Rosemary and the family in your thoughts and prayers.
Please pray for those on our prayer list.  
Barry, Linda and family
Ashley, Debbie and family
Ken & Pat
Malcolm, Anne and family
Paul and Moira
Val
Kevin
Arthur
Eileen and Carl
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