UPDATES AND USEFUL
INFORMATION (29th April
2020)
Dear All
Hoping you remain well
as we continue to navigate the challenges of the Coronavirus lockdown. Perhaps it is worth beginning to think about
the positives as well as the negatives, so that we can consider what we would
benefit from retaining out of this unusual and unexpected period. None of us want (nor expect) to contain the current
restrictions, though it remains difficult to anticipate just how long some will
remain in place. It also seems inevitable,
and right, that there will be a ‘new normal’.
Some things clearly won’t be the same, and it would be good to begin
imagining what that might mean for the church, including your congregation(s).
Meantime, may you feel
God’s blessing as we continue towards the joy and challenge of Pentecost.
We continue to retain
all of the past ‘Coronavirus’ emailings, as well as associated and relevant
documents, on the Synod Coronavirus blog - https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/
WORSHIP ROADSHOWS
As mentioned over the last couple of
weeks, one of the training plans for May was a series of roadshows around the
Synod around the theme of worship and worship leading. We are now offering these as a series of mini
‘stay-at-homes’ (rather than roadshows.)
There will be nine, and they will be posted weekly as YouTube videos (15
minutes each). MINISTERS AND CHURCH
SECRETARIES, please make this known to anyone who might be interested, especially
those who may not see this emailing. The
videos will be posted on YouTube late Wednesday or early Thursday, and the
first will be posted this week, by 9am Thursday 30th April. They will be on the Synod YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtYncbpZJ4PKBBrjrcXBHrw
We are also happy to email (or post) the
written script to anyone who would like to receive it, either instead of
watching, or to accompany the watching.
If you would like to receive the emailed script, please email Lindsey to
request it – training@urceastern.org.uk - If you, or anyone you know who doesn’t have
email, would like a posted script, please let one of us know by phone or
email. The first session will be
presented by Paul – “A Brief Introduction to Worship and the Theology of
Worship.”
WORSHIPPING ONLINE TOGETHER
A helpful guide, prepared by the URC’s
CYDO+ Team (Children’s and Youth Development Officers) is available on the
Synod blog - https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/2020/04/worshipping-online-together.html
The current situation has made lots of our
churches take the plunge and start worshipping together online. This guide
offers tips and ideas to help make your online worship more intergenerational.
The church is already looking very different. Let’s make sure we can look back
on this time in years to come, as a time when we made real progress in all ages
worshipping together.
GUIDANCE ON CHURCH MEETINGS AND DECISION MAKING
We are currently exploring what useful advice we
can give on this, as Church Meetings cannot take place at the moment. Some may, and are, managing online elders’
meetings, but that is unlikely to be practical for a church meeting. Where possible, and in most cases, we advise
simply postponing decisions. In some situations,
elders may be able to take decisions on behalf of the Church Meeting, though
that would depend on the nature and importance of the decision. The Synod Clerk, Keir Hounsome, is happy to
talk this through with any church officers who have particular concerns – clerk@urceastern.org.uk
Alternatively, contact Paul as Synod Moderator,
contact details at the end of this emailing.
We will include any further thoughts next week.
WALKING
THE WAY
- The Walking the Way resource map
has been relaunched and gives you the chance to browse resources
thematically, as well as using the Venn diagram. It also gives a brief
explanation of each resource, with room for reviews and comments. The new
map can still be accessed at www.urc.org.uk/wtw-resource-map
- The Walking the Way steering group
has released resources in preparation for Summer,
looking at pilgrimage and our journey of faith in simple and accessible,
yet relevant and meaningful ways, regardless of whether we are able to
physically move around our communities, or not
- There are also resources for
ministers, lay preachers, elders, and other worship leaders as they
prepare to lead congregations through Pentecost
- Our friends at the Bible Reading
Fellowship, who are responsible for publishing Holy Habits and associated
resources, have a ‘Holy Habits House
Group’ which meets virtually every week to enable people to share in worship,
fellowship and learning together, especially in lockdown, when we cannot
meet physically or perhaps live out the Holy Habits in the ways we are
used to.
The current sessions are looking at the
Holy Habit of Sharing Resources, which is particularly important at this time.
CHRISTIAN
AID WEEK 10-16 May
Christian
Aid Week is the biggest fundraising period in the year for the charity, and
this year will be very different as many of the usual activities and events
will have had to have been cancelled. Consider ways in which your church
could replace its normal event with something a bit different this year https://www.christianaid.org.uk/about-us/christian-aid-week/coronavirus-guidance
REFUGEE
WEEK 14-21 June
Asylum
seekers, recent refugees and migrants are some of the most vulnerable in our
communities during this crisis. We will be bringing out resources
including fact sheets and action points to help churches serve these members of
our communities in the coming weeks.
CWM CHILDREN’S ART PROJECT
The
United Reformed Church is a member of the Council for World Mission - a
partnership of churches all over the world.
They meet together every year to represent the people in their churches
(22 million in 50,000 congregations), and they like to have pictures up to
decorate their meeting spaces. Their meeting in June was cancelled
this year, but instead they will be sending messages out all across the world,
and they would like your pictures on them.
This
year we are asking if you could produce artwork for the Assembly theme “Rising
to Life with Jesus.”
The art can be in any medium e.g. paint, crayon, pencil etc but please ensure it is on an A4 size paper. The intention is to use the artwork in CWM publications over and to display the art at the 2021 Assembly.
The art can be in any medium e.g. paint, crayon, pencil etc but please ensure it is on an A4 size paper. The intention is to use the artwork in CWM publications over and to display the art at the 2021 Assembly.
Here
are some ideas to get you started
What do you think “rising to life with Jesus” means?
What do you think “rising to life with Jesus” means?
- Think about the stories
of Jesus’ resurrection at Easter.
- Think about the people
Jesus met who he gave new life to e.g. Zacchaeus or Lazarus.
- What does “rising to
life with Jesus” mean in your place?
- Think about your place
and some of the things you would like to change. Where would “rising to
life with Jesus” make a difference in your place?
What
does “rising to life with Jesus” mean for our world?
- Think about our world
and some of the things that threaten our lives, where would you like to
see change e.g. environment, pollution etc?
- How does “rising to life
with Jesus” make a difference to our world?
Completed
artwork will then need to be posted to the CWM UK office: 11 St Georges Circus,
London, SE1 8EH. The deadline for entries is 30th
June
ALL-AGE WORSHIP RESOURCES (related to next Sunday – May
3)
Roots resources are available at:
Roots
Links
For Families together at home - Easter 4
The Good Shepherd
A Gathering Prayer
Father,
we don’t all look the same,
but you call us with the same love.
You call us each by name.
We don’t all think the same,
but you call us with the same love
we don’t all look the same,
but you call us with the same love.
You call us each by name.
We don’t all think the same,
but you call us with the same love
You call us each by name.
And we gather, each of us.
We gather together, all of us.
You call us with the same love
And we gather, each of us.
We gather together, all of us.
You call us with the same love
You call us each by name.
Amen.
Amen.
Singing together
The Lords my shepherd – Stuart Townend
Jesus shepherd
(Tune: Baa baa black sheep), words by Emily Hoe-Crook)
Jesus shepherd,
helping me to grow,
follow, follow, show me where to go.
If I turn away from him, Jesus loves me back again.
Jesus shepherd, helping me to grow,
follow, follow, show me where to go.
follow, follow, show me where to go.
If I turn away from him, Jesus loves me back again.
Jesus shepherd, helping me to grow,
follow, follow, show me where to go.
Reading and Listening Together
Read together
John 10.1-10: Jesus tells us he is like a shepherd: he loves and
protects us, so we can live a full and happy life.
Jesus said, ‘I am just like a
good shepherd who takes care of his flock of sheep. He knows the names of all
his sheep. When he calls them, they follow him into the safety of the
sheepfold. And when he calls them out, they follow him wherever he goes, because
they know and trust him. But if a stranger gets into the sheepfold and calls to
the sheep, they refuse to follow, because they do not know the stranger’s
voice. The gatekeeper only opens the gate for the good shepherd. Thieves and
robbers try to break into the fold to steal the sheep, but the shepherd
protects them from danger.’
The people listening to
Jesus still did not understand what he was saying, so he said to them, ‘I am
just like the gate of the sheepfold. All those who went before me were thieves
and robbers who wanted to lead the sheep astray, but the sheep did not listen
to them. I am not like a thief who comes to steal and kill and destroy. I am
the gate: whoever enters by me will be saved and will come in and go out and
find pasture. I came that the sheep might have a full and happy life.’
© ROOTS for Churches
Ltd (www.rootsontheweb.com) 2002-2020.
Reproduced with permission.
Reproduced with permission.
Watch and listen to a story about Psalm 23
and the Good Shepherd
A reflection on the good shepherd
Praying together
Overflowing with thanks
‘You honour me as your guest,
and you fill my cup
until it overflows.
Your kindness and love
will always be with me
each day of my life’.
Psalm 23:5-6 (CEV)
Cut some strips of paper
and decorate them with words, and pictures that represent things that you would
like to say thank God for. This might include places, people, natural
objects, just let your imagination go.
Place the strips inside a
cup so that they overflow over the edges.
When everyone has placed their strips inside the cup say thank you
together mentioning some of the things you have written or drawn. End with loud joyful Amen.
Bubble Prayers
This is a fun way to pray while blowing
bubbles in the air.
If you do not have bubble mixture you can
make your own.
To make bubble mixture.
·
Get a large cup.
·
Pour 1/2 cup of washing up
liquid into the cup.
·
Add 1 1/2 cups of water.
·
Measure 2 teaspoons of
sugar and add it to the water/soap mixture.
·
Gently stir your mixture.
·
You are ready to blow
bubbles!
Bubble prayers are ‘breath’ prayers you say
when you are blowing bubbles. Each bubble is
A prayer to say together
Jesus, you love
us and want for us
all that is good.
Bless us;
bless our families and our friends;
bless all whom we love
and all who love us,
and keep us always in your care.
Amen.
all that is good.
Bless us;
bless our families and our friends;
bless all whom we love
and all who love us,
and keep us always in your care.
Amen.
Playing together
Challenge your family and friends to a game of
flip the sheep into a pen.
Cut sheep out of newspaper or thin paper and
create a pen. Flap the sheep with a
magazine or folded newspaper. Agree a
starting point and have fun!
How
many sheep can you get into the pen in 2mins?
ECO CHURCH
Are you interested in your church
becoming more environmentally friendly? Why not try the Eco-church scheme run
by A Rocha which guides churches in England and Wales towards expressing care
for creation. Its really simple and easy to do and can help your church make
significant changes even if your congregation is small or your building is old
there are still things you can do that will have a positive impact on God’s
creation and witness to our communities. Go to https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/ to
discover what the scheme entails and how it works. Many churches in our area
have signed up and are achieving awards, including Emmanuel Church, Bungay and
you can read about their eco journey on the Synod blog - https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/2020/04/our-eco-journey-so-far-emmanuel-church.html
SYNOD COMMITTEES
May and June sees the next scheduled round of
Synod committees. Though a final decision
is yet to be taken, it seems unlikely that physical meetings will be
possible. However, plans are in hand for
online meetings, assuming that remains the case. If you have any questions, comments, or, in particular,
grant applications, please submit these in the normal way (and in good
time). Acknowledgements of anything
submitted may be slower than usual, but committees will respond to requests and
applications.
URC ADVICE
Just
a reminder that the coronavirus advice page on the URC website is being updated
with resources and advice on a daily basis:
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:
And - Follow us on: facebook.com/URC-Eastern-Mission
Our prayers and our best
wishes,
A PRAYER OFFERED BY THE
CATHOLIC AGENCY FOR OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT (CAFOD):
Lord God, we
entrust to you the families and communities affected by Coronavirus, wherever
they may be.
We pray
especially for health care workers, that you may guide and protect them.
We pray that
your Spirit might inspire those researching new medicines and treatments.
And in the
midst of this, keep us strong in faith, hope and love. Grant us the
courage and perseverance to be good neighbours.
May the words
of your Son Jesus Christ in the ‘Our Father’,
be our prayer
as we entrust ourselves and all of us who are affected
to your
infinite power and love. , Amen.
Adapted
from an Ebola prayer by
Caritas Guinea
STAY SAFE AND KEEP WELL!
PAUL
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