Covid-19 

Dear Friends
I hope you are keeping safe and well during this strange time. I am sure many of you are now making preparations for what will certainly be a very different Christmas where we will remain distanced from extended family and friends due to the ongoing issues associated with Coronavirus. Locally the number of positive cases are beginning to reduce, but sadly are still much higher than the national average and the West Midlands average so we still have more work to do to bring the virus under control. This week however we have seen a great step forward in the approval and release of the first vaccine which is now gradually being introduced for those most vulnerable. Over the next few weeks it is likely that further vaccines will be approved and this will make the vaccination more readily available, but it will take a few months for this to be effectively distributed. In the meantime we all need to keep safe by maintaining social distancing, washing our hands regularly and wearing face coverings when in public places.
Diane wishes to pass on her thanks to all who have donated filled shoe boxes in support of vulnerable children this Christmas. Diane has taken these to our friends at West End Methodist Church where they will join with their donations and sent to support children overseas. I am sure that many children will be happy to receive their gift and know that others are thinking of them at Christmas.
Sadly this week Ralph’s wife Danni has been promoted to glory. She had been unwell for some time but her condition had further deteriorated and she sadly died in the care of staff in her nursing home. Danni had led an amazing life as a wife and mother and as a friend to many. She was a well-respected Maths Teacher who devoted herself to developing and educating others. She will be very sadly missed by Ralph and his family and their many friends including those at Ashley Methodist Church. We give thanks for the life and witness of Danni who is now at peace with the Lord. Please hold Ralph and family in your thoughts and prayers.
Please also hold Lorraine and her family from Lightwood Methodist Church in your thoughts and prayers following the death of her husband Terry this week.
As we continue on our Advent Journey we now move to the third week in Advent where our reading comes from the Gospel of John Chapter 1 v1-6 and 19-28.
This is a familiar reading that reminds us that “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”
We think here of Jesus as the Word, which is a link back to the Old Testament where the word of God is spoken through prophets.
The Word is eternal – present with God the Father from the beginning and participating fully in every step of creation. God sent this word into the World as God’s ultimate revelation of himself. If we want to know God, we can see him in the face of Jesus. The cross provides us with an example of the grace of God but our assurance of the future comes from the empty tomb.
Our reading then moves to the subject of John the Baptist, but identified only as John in the text, as if he is already known to us. John like Jesus is sent from God but is described as lesser than God.
He is sent to testify about the light, but he was not the light, but was sent from God. Jesus is that light and comes into the world that all might believe.
John’s work and mission is to testify to others and to prepare the way for the Lord. John will have been famous for his ministry and will have had followers and disciples but his work was to make clear that he himself was a messenger – a witness to Jesus. The Gospel makes it clear that John has a supporting role in preparing others for Jesus.
In many ways this reminds us that our Christian mission is not to focus on ourselves, but to point others to Jesus by proclaiming his work.
John was asked by many priests and Levites who he was, he was challenged and tested but replied “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord, as Isaiah the prophet said” This would not have been a polite discussion but perhaps an interrogation with one question after another intended to probe and perhaps test John. They ask John if he is Elijah or a prophet but John clarified he was not the Christ. John it seems was placed in a difficult and frustrating position, he is tested but fails to give the priests and Levites a clear answer. With John’s answer we move past what he is not and move to what he is. He replies with a link to Isaiah (Ch40 v3) The priests then seek to establish John’s authority and purpose and he replies that “I baptise in water, but among you stands one you don’t know. He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loosen”
During this hostile questioning, John stands firm. He speaks boldly and as a witness even though he may himself be in danger. In our reading John is not as identified as the forerunner of the Messiah, but as the primary witness to Jesus. His courage and testimony serve as a model for us today. God calls us to witness to Christ by word and deed, in good times and in bad, when it is convenient and when it is not, perhaps when it is dangerous and when it is not. Sadly still today throughout the World many Christians live in fear of their lives and are in danger because of their witness and their faith. In many ways we are lucky to have freedom of speech and the ability to talk openly about our faith. Whilst we are able to do so, many Christians remain quiet and do not testify about their love of the Lord. As we continue on our Advent journey the reading reminds us that like John, we are all called to be a witness to the Lord. Like John, God commissions us to bear witness to the truth of Gods promise of salvation and to share this with others in our everyday encounters.
 
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 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
We also have a telephone service each week using WhyPay at 10.00am on Sunday morning.
If you wish to join this the number is 0333 0110 946 and the Room Number is 47927697# and the Pin is 1145#
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, Sandra, Rosemary and families
Ken and Pat
Malcolm, Anne and family
Paul and Moira
Val
Arthur
Eileen and Carl
Rev Alex
Don
Margaret B
Alan
Doreen
Pat
Jean
Beaulah
Alan and Heather
Linda and family
Pam
Carol, Dave and Logan
Janet, Steve and family
Les, Olga and family
Roy
Charles
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