Covid-19 

Dear Friends
I don’t know about you but I am always surprised at how quickly time passes, a week has passed since Easter Day and the wonders of the resurrection in the Easter Story.
Whilst our Church building was closed we were able to present a wonderful sign of hope to our local community in the form of a radiant flower filled cross. Thanks so much to David, Arthur, Chris, Dianne and Margaret for all their efforts in organising this and special thanks to all who placed flowers on the cross. The cross demonstrated not only that Easter is a sign of hope but also that our Church remains alive and hopeful as we move to the future.
 
As we move to the next stage of the Coronavirus Road Map of recovery, from next week many shops and sports facilities are able to reopen. Next Thursday we will be holding a special Church Council meeting to explore our plans for returning to worship in Church. This will require a review of our risk assessments and further discussion and considerations. Please hold the members of the Church Council in your thoughts and prayers as they focus on these discussions.
I am sure we are all saddened to learn of the recent death of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh peacefully whilst in the presence of his family at Windsor.  The President and Vice President of the Methodist Conference have written a short prayer for us to use at this time.
Lord God
We give thanks for the long life of Prince Philip, for all that he has contributed to our nation and beyond, and for his support of our Queen. We pray that he will be at rest trusting in the grace of God. We remember before you Her Majesty the Queen and her family praying that they will know your comfort and strength in the days to come. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Please continue to hold Thelma, Elizabeth, Helen, David and their families in your thoughts and prayers as they prepare for the funeral of Roy. Due to the Coronavirus restrictions unfortunately the numbers of mourners is restricted. The funeral will be held at Church on Monday 19 April 2021 at 11.00am prior to burial at Keele Cemetery. The service will be conducted by Rev Jeff Short. We thank God for the life, love, faith and fellowship of Roy and all his kindness to his family and many friends.
I am pleased to report that following his extensive surgery, Barry is on the road to recovery and is now back home from hospital. Please continue to surround Barry, Linda and the family with your thoughts and prayers. I know they appreciate this and the ongoing love from their Church family.
 
Our reading this week continues our journey of Easter in John’s gospel Chapter 20 v19-31. It’s been just one week since the excitement and amazement of the empty tomb. It is one week since the resurrection and in our reading today the disciples can be found in the same place they were on Easter night. They are found in an upper room behind locked doors for fear of visits from the Jews. Jesus appears to them saying “Peace be with you.” Jesus then shows them the wounds on his hands and side and the disciples rejoice. Jesus then repeats his words “Peace be with you,” but adds, “As the father has sent me, so I send you.” At the time of Jesus’ appearance Thomas was not in the room. On Thomas’ return the other disciples tell him, “We have seen the Lord.” Thomas replies, that unless he has seen and placed his finger in the mark of the nails in his hands and put his hand in the Lords side, he will not believe.
A week later when Thomas was with the disciples again behind closed doors, Jesus came and stood amongst them. Again, he greeted them with “Peace be with you.” Jesus then invited Thomas to place his finger in his wounds saying to him, “Do not doubt but believe.” At this Thomas replied with, “My Lord and my God.” Jesus asked Thomas if he had believed because he had seen him and then continued, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet come to believe.”
The final section of our reading describes the purpose of John’s gospel in a short and powerful summary.
“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.”
Often many people think of Thomas as doubting. The reading does not tell us that Thomas doubts the risen Lord, rather he doubts the account and witness of his friends. Once Thomas sees the Lord a week later he is filled with faith. It is only John’s gospel that provides for us a few accounts of Thomas. He is mentioned in Chapter 11. Lazarus has died and Jesus has been summoned to return to Bethany. Some of the disciples are fearful of the journey as the Jewish leaders were seeking an opportunity to put Jesus to death. At this point it is Thomas  who declares “Let us go to die with him.” In this account Thomas could be described as fearless, loyal and loving. Thomas is willing to stand with Jesus even to the point of death.
A few chapters later as John records Jesus prayer at the last supper, Jesus is trying to prepare them for his suffering but perhaps in a guarded and complex way. Here Thomas in deep despair asks, “We don’t know where you are going. How can we possibly know the way?” Thomas spoke out, but it is likely all the disciples were equally confused and perplexed. Thomas boldly speaks up. He did not understand and he wanted to know how best to follow Jesus. Thomas was direct, realistic and questioning. He was trying to understand the way.
When the Lord appears to the disciples for the first time in the locked upper room, Thomas is out. He is not locked in the room with the others. We don’t know where he is or why. He could be on an important visit or mission, but despite the fear of the Jews he is out. Perhaps here Thomas is bold and brave ? When Thomas returns he doubts the account and words of his friends. The disciples remains locked in a room. He did not notice or sense their excitement or wonder. He could not sense they had seen the Lord. Thomas could not read the presence of the Risen Lord on the faces of his friends. He was not doubting the Lord rather the account of his friends.
This Easter how would our friends tell of our joy, wonder and excitement of the risen Lord – is it showing in our words, actions and on our face? Would they doubt us – or believe?
The empty tomb is important but the focus is on the resurrection. This is what changes the story and changes lives.
Thomas died in India. He was the apostle to the people of India. He died as a martyr killed by five soldiers having brought the gospel to the people of India. Thomas confesses, “My Lord and my God.” With this he recognises and names a new relationship with a living Lord.
Between Doubting Thomas and Confessing Thomas is the story of resurrection in his life.
In our reading today Jesus leaves a powerful message to his anxious followers. They were fearful and locked in a room, Jesus arrives and says, “Peace be with you.”  Later he repeats the same words recognising that perhaps they may have missed the message. This peace is his gift for us all. Victory over death is peace and that is the power of Easter and the resurrection. The risen Christ gives the disciples a clear instruction, one that remains for us today in the ‘Great Commission’. “Peace be with you. As the father has sent me – so I send you.”
 
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 – Our Service this week will be led by Mr Glenn Parkes
Time: This is a recurring meeting
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4775422768
or 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
Stuart and Sylvia
Frank
Ralph
Pat
Kevin and family
Robert & Jocelyn
Beryl
Karen
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
Carol, Dave and Logan
Janet, Steve and family
Les, Olga and family
Charles
You can find reflections and biblical stories on our Circuit YouTube channel including new material added weekly from Revs Linda, Jeff and Pam 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.
Ian