UPDATES AND USEFUL
INFORMATION
Dear All
PAUL writes, as promised,
in these strange times, supported by Lindsey and Nicola, I will send out regular,
probably weekly, emailings to keep information flowing around the Synod. My
previous such note said we would aim for Tuesday – but I meant to say
Wednesday!
One of the problems of
the moment is that there is just so much information out there – as so many
people are trying to be helpful. That’s great, and I encourage it. However, the
by-product is that it is not always easy to find what you want.
To try and help you find
some of the information you wish, I have established a blog – Eastern Synod:
Responding to Coronavirus. I will post all the general emailings we send out,
together with other identified useful documents. Hopefully, you can scroll down
the list of posts and find what you want. You might find it with the help of
google, but there are quite a few Eastern Synods around the world, so the link
might be best - https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/
Other resources I
can offer, (though recognizing that there is a lot out there, so just if you
want some Synod connections), include my regular blog which offers a variety of
brief reflections on being the church - http://gettingthechurchsorted.blogspot.com/
There is lots of online
Sunday (or whenever) worship, and I will get to making a few suggestions next
week, though we already highlight the Sunday Service now provided by the URC
Daily Devotions on the Synod website. I listened to the first podcast last
Sunday with Revd. Michael Hopkins, Assembly Clerk, as preacher etc. – and found
that an encouraging and helpful way of being part of URC Sunday worship. If
your church is doing something online, and you would like to be on my list,
could you email me and draw my attention to what you are doing, preferably with
a link?
I therefore think
that you don’t need Synod worship from the Synod Moderator, but I did think I
might post a brief video broadcast on YouTube two or three times a week. I have
uploaded the first – Psalm 137: A Reflection – and will post a second in
the next few days. You can do a search in YouTube on ‘paul r whittle’ – or the
link is - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOisCXiElqiJSYoq_EolF8w
Another continuing
source of information and interaction is our Mission Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/URC-Eastern-Mission-445556949575805/?epa=SEARCH_BOX
OFFICE
As you will have realised,
the physical office is now closed for the foreseeable future, though we will
keep that under review as the situation develops and in the light of government
advice. Our office team are therefore all working from home, so the best way of
making contact is by email, and email service should be as normal. If you need
to speak to someone, please ring my mobile – 07534 274668 – in the first
instance. You might get voice mail, though I will try to avoid that, but I will
certainly get back to you, and can pass on messages.
FOR FAMILIES AT HOME
Roots:
Roots are providing free downloads.
The links to these are:
Sing together
Read together
(a paraphrase of psalm 18 taken from
Psalms for Children)
God is like a rock
Strong and powerful.
God is like a warm, dry place during a storm.
He protects me from
things that might hurt me.
When I ask for Gods help
I feel safe
Make together
Decorate a Stone or pebble hopefully there will be some in the
garden.
It is helpful to have something to hold onto when we are praying and the stone is physical reminder of God’s
presence, a symbol of God being the spiritual rock we hold on to.
Pray together
Lord, when it is hard to believe you
are there, Jesus, help me.
When you feel a long way away…
When we are ill or in trouble…
When I feel sad…
When I feel alone…
Thank you, Jesus, that we can believe in you,
and trust you when life is difficult.
Amen.
When you feel a long way away…
When we are ill or in trouble…
When I feel sad…
When I feel alone…
Thank you, Jesus, that we can believe in you,
and trust you when life is difficult.
Amen.
Nicola adds: If
there are any resources that you would like to send to families please do get
in touch I will be very happy to provide them.
BUILDINGS, FINANCE
and CHURCH PROFILE (especially WEBSITES)
By now, I assume
that, for the time being, all acts of worship are suspended, and that most
buildings are closed. That is in line with is required of us. There is an
exception that any essential welfare or life-sustaining projects, eg foodbanks,
may continue but, broadly speaking:
·
Lettings:
current advice is that our buildings are now shut completely, and if you have
not done so already you are advised to contact all hirers asking them to stop
meeting. Some churches are offering refunds of hire fees paid in advance;
others are offering to carry them forward to the time when the buildings
reopen.
·
Insurance for Buildings: see advice posted on the
Synod website homepage.
· Church visibility: both members and the community
are more likely to be visiting your websites and social media pages: it is a
good idea to keep them updated on how your community is responding, how it can
be reached and with some reflection
· Gardens: Following last week’s tip to
have your garden open for fellowship / prayer / peace, it is now advised that
this is no longer possible.
· Does your church employ people? If you have concerns about
how to manage employment in the current climate, or feel you might as time goes
on, we have been offered a free Webinar on Thursday 26th March at
2-3.30pm about the issues. Contact Lindsey for the contact if you
want to register, training@urceastern.org.uk
The URC realizes this
has financial implications. To that end, a letter from the denominational
finance team is posted on the main URC website, but for ease of access it is
also posted on our Eastern Synod Coronavirus blog. You can go to the blog and
scroll down the posts but, in case it makes it easier, here is a direct link to
the blog posting of that letter –
And here is a link
to the blog posting about the use of premises –
SO, ALMOST TO CONCLUDE, A PRAYER:
Written by Ian Fosten and published in “Ordinary
Time”, the 2013 Prayer Handbook.
You seek us out and you find us wanting
-
wanting an answer
-
wanting hurt to be removed
-
wanting peace in place of strife
-
wanting to know what the future holds
-
wanting brokenness to be made whole
-
wanting a cup of suffering to be taken from us
-
wanting you to hear our cry and come to save us.
… and God says, ‘I know your wants
and I know what you need. And now
will you listen to me?
For the Kingdom, the Power
and the Glory are within you
and among you now and for ever.’ Amen.
Finally, just a reminder from Lindsey, Nicola
and myself that we are still there for you and, if there is anything you think
we might offer, or you just want a chat, then do contact us:
Our prayers and our best wishes,
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