A Letter from Rev Linda 

Dear friends
Jesus said, ‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.  I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.  “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.’ John 15:9-12
At this time, every year, Churches across the world observe a Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  The theme this year is Abiding in Christ.  We usually gather with ecumenical friends to celebrate this time together, but this year is different.  We are not able to organise a physical gathering, but we can still pray knowing that Christians around the globe are praying with us.  Prayer has especially been a lifeline during these last months. 
It is a comfort and strength to know that we can just stop and pray:
- wherever we may be in our homes, our work places, our schools and Christ abides with us;
- as we tie symbols of prayer - angels, ribbons or stars - upon fences or trees, to remember
- someone loved and Christ abides with us;
- as we stand social distanced in a crematorium or by a graveside and Christ abides with us;
- as we share in a prayer on social media or through an email and Christ abides with us;
- as we gather in worship on Zoom or WhyPay and Christ abides with us.
Christ abides with us and we are one together as we abide in his love. 
I would ask you to remember, in particular, Rev Stuart Hickerman who is very poorly in hospital and his wife, Sylvia who is poorly at home. Please also pray for Harry Talbot who is also in hospital at this moment.
DIARY DATES:
You are ALL invited on Sunday 7 February at 11.30 am to
The Circuit Zoom Service to Celebrate the Admission of Local Preachers, Lee Thomas and Jo Powell. 
Zoom Link below. 
You are invited to join our Lent Study Course: A Methodist Way of Life.  This is a weekly course which will be run four times during the week: Monday TBA; Tuesday at 12noon on WhyPay; Wednesday at 2.00pm on WhyPay; Thursday at 7.00pm on Zoom.  You can choose which day is most appropriate for you.  It will begin the week of 15-18 February.  We will end by holding a daily reflection during Holy Week.  We will share contact/link details in our next letter on 4 February 2021.
Over this next month Sunday services will be at the following times:
ON WHYPAY
Please contact the Stewards or Ministers for the telephone nos. 
Sandford Hill: 9.30 am
Longton Central Hall: 10.00am and 6.30 pm
Blythe Bridge & Forsbrook/Lightwood: 10.00am
West End/Trentham: 10.00am
Broadway: 10.30am
ON ZOOM
Temple Street: 10.30am
Circuit Service for all: 11.30am
Zoom Link:   https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4775422768
or just click here.
Or tel no:
02034815237 OR 02034815240
followed by Meeting ID 4775422768#
 Fenton Park: 10.30am
We will ensure you are kept up to date with any changes to services and events.
If anyone has any questions or just needs to talk please contact your Minister or one of the Church or Circuit Leadership Team. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. 
God bless from Rev Linda on behalf of the CLT (Circuit Leadership Team)
Rev Linda:    Email: revlindcat@gmail.com  Tel: 01782 848699
Circuit Administrator, Glenn: office@stokesouthmethodist.org.uk  Tel: 01782 847489