Covid-19 

Dear Friends
I hope that you have all had a safe and peaceful Christmas and that you have perhaps been able to catch up with friends or family either with limited visiting or by telephone or using virtual technology. It has certainly been a very different Christmas that reminds us of the simplicity and isolation of the first Christmas. For some people it will be the first Christmas following a bereavement and we hold them in our thoughts at what will be a difficult time filled with sadness but also happy memories of times past. We think particularly of Arthur, Jane, Frank, Michael and Ralph and surround them with our love and prayers.
Our bible reading this week comes from Luke Chapter 2 verses 22-40 and gives us time to reflect in the period after Advent and Christmas on the infant Jesus as a baby taken to the temple for the purification as was the custom at that time. Here he is held by Simeon who had lived his life in patient expectation knowing from the Holy Spirit that before his death he would see the Messiah. At the same time Anna an elderly prophet was present and she also met and praised the baby who she recognised would redeem Jerusalem. The story is filled with the awe and wonder of Simeon and Anna who had each waited throughout their life with the promise of a Messiah and had the opportunity to encounter the baby Jesus. They had watched and waited in anticipation expecting the arrival of a great and powerful leader, yet were met be a baby and his parents. But in this moment they recognised this baby in line with the scriptures and they knew of what would come and what He would achieve in his life and ministry.
In this reading Simeon and Anna are both god fearing, elderly people who had spent their lives waiting for the arrival of the Messiah. They had not waited weeks or months but many years in patient reflection and prayer waiting for the promise of scripture. Simeon and Anna like us were only human, but we don’t read about their doubt we only read about their faith. I am sure they must have had many doubts and regularly questioned if during their life the scriptures would come true. Many people in the bible may have doubted God including Adam, Abraham, Moses, Job, Peter and Thomas. Doubting is real and is part of our humanity. Faith and doubt are strongly linked as often our faith grows following periods of doubt. Doubt is normal and helps our faith to grow. Doubts may not be negative but part of our spiritual growth. Simeon and Anna spent many years waiting and their perseverance was eventually rewarded but in the end this brought great joy. This reminds us that we too have to be patient and to wait, as prayer is not always immediate and sometimes it can take a while for light to shine in dark places. As we think about light we think of Jesus as the light of the world but He also says that each of us in Matthew 5 are the light of the world and this is a gift from God to us to share with others.
As we pause after Advent and Christmas we reflect on the joy that comes from the baby Jesus. How as a child he was placed on the earth in human form to show and share his love with others. It reminds us that in all situations as we follow in his image we are charged with showing love to others and have the opportunity in simple ways to share his light with those who may be in darkness.
Simeon and Anna were both well into their later life yet they had much to do. They had waited in great faith and in reflection and prayer for the Messiah. They found Him in a small baby and not in the leader and King they might have expected. The reading does not tell us of their surprise, but rather of their acceptance. It reminds us that as Christians it is normal to doubt, that joy can come from waiting and that we are able to share the gift because like Jesus we too have a light to share with others.
You can link 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.
We give thanks that Paul has been discharged from hospital after surgery and was able to spend Christmas at home with Moira and his family. Please pray for Val who has sustained a fall and is hospital over the Christmas period and awaiting surgery for a broken hip.
Please also pray for those on our prayer list.  
Barry, Linda and family
Ashley, Debbie and family
Frank, Sandra, Rosemary and families
Ralph and family
Lorraine and family
Ken & Pat
Malcolm, Anne and family
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