Covid-19 

Dear Friends
It has certainly been a challenging week with sadly a significant national increase in those testing positive for Coronavirus and many more deaths. The new strain of the virus is affecting many people and seems to be more transmissible. It is also affecting children and young people which increases the rates of transmission. This is resulting in significant pressure for NHS Services and has resulted in the government imposing national restrictions and the closure of schools and colleges. This is a difficult time where people are being advised as far as possible to stay at home and to leave only for essential work or health activities. These new restrictions could increase isolation for many and increase anxiety. At such difficult times it is important that we hold onto our faith and the hope this provides. Please pray for all those affected by Coronavirus and their families, for all those delivering care, support and research and for our leaders who are tasked with making difficult decisions to help to keep us safe. Please also where you can keep a watching eye on neighbours and friends and ensure they know they are valued and respected and that friends are supporting them. This community spirit and remote friendship is an important and vital ministry at this time. During these challenging times it is important to remember that God is with us. Whilst the church buildings may be closed the community of the church remains open and it is vital that our networks and communication channels demonstrate our love, support and prayers for others.
I know many of you are enjoying the activities and messages from our Events Team. I wanted to record our sincere thanks for all their valiant work in not only keeping us busy and our minds active, but also in keeping us connected and sharing their love and kindness with us all.
Our Gospel reading this week is from Mark Chapter 1 v4-11 and will be familiar to you. We explored part of the same reading a few weeks ago during Advent. At that time we heard John the Baptist talk about the coming of Jesus and the baptism that He would provide – the baptism of the Holy Spirit. John saw Jesus as both mightier than him and more worthy than him, and Jesus said that no one greater than John had ever lived. John saw himself as not being worthy enough to unite the sandals on Jesus’s feet, and that was a task that was dirty and considered lowly in the culture of the time. In the reading today we hear about Jesus’s baptism and the coming of the Holy Spirit on Him. John proclaimed Christ’s superiority by distinguishing between his own baptism with water and the baptism that Christ would provide with the Holy Spirit. Jesus’s baptism with the Holy Spirit supplies us with supernatural power just as the Holy Spirit revealed its power at Jesus’s baptism. All three members of the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit were present at Jesus’s baptism.
Mark is the only book of the Bible that announces itself as a “gospel” meaning the good news about Jesus. There is no word in Mark about the birth or youth of Jesus but the story begins with the good news of Jesus’s baptism as the beginning of his ministry. Baptism even today signifies the end of an old life and the beginning of a life lived in God’s grace and forgiveness. As we continue in the New Testament, our understanding of what baptism means for us continues to unfold. It always follows faith of either the person being baptised, or the faith of the parents presenting children for baptism. The promise in baptism of a new life with Christ has sustained Christians throughout many centuries. Baptism is more than an individual act, in baptism we become part of the people and body of God. The reading reminds us that in baptism we move to something new – a state of change. The act of baptism may be small and for some insignificant but is provides a “means of grace”
Whilst the act may be only a small splash or immersion in water, it marks the beginning of a new life. An opportunity of cleansing and forgiveness and the presence of the Spirit and our union with Jesus. It marks the beginning of our connection with the body of Christ through the Church. God claims us through baptism and promises new life.
Jesus’s baptism was necessary in order to fulfil the requirements of the Old Testament law, which required repentance from sins. Jesus had to be baptised because He was born and died under the law. The Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus commissioned him for unique service. Jesus carried the Holy Spirit and shared this with those receptive to his message. The Holy Spirit empowered and equipped him to do God’s work. Baptism with the Holy Spirit equips us to do Gods work. It allows us to be merciful to those needing forgiveness and to offer God’s love to those in need.
Baptism means that God has broken through the barrier between him and us. In return we have to  break through the challenges and difficulties we face with the knowledge, love and support of God and the knowledge that our sins are forgiven and we are enabled for a life with God. In the reading when Jesus was baptised he was on the move. He was called to service and to action. Our baptism gives us the power to be the hands, voice and presence of God but we need to use these gifts to show the love of God to others in every way we can.
Sharing that love is important but in the current difficult times it becomes vital. 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.
Please also pray for those on our prayer list.  
Ashley, Debbie and family
Frank, Sandra, Rosemary and families
Ralph and family
Val and family
Lorraine and family
Pat
Paul, Moira and family
Ken and Pat
Chris and Dianne
Malcolm, Anne and family
Arthur
Eileen and Carl
Rev Alex
Don
Margaret B
Alan
Doreen
Jean
Beaulah
Alan and Heather
Linda and family
Pam
Carol, Dave and Logan
Janet, Steve and family
Les, Olga and family
Roy and Thelma
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