UPDATES AND USEFUL
INFORMATION (27th May 2020)
Dear All
Sunday is Pentecost,
and we remember the coming of the Holy Spirit in a new and special way. Let’s rejoice, even, or maybe especially, in
these times that we serve a great God and that uncertain times are in God’s
hands. Maybe we need to sing, as we used
to when I ministered in Panama, ‘O let the power fall on me.’
We hope that this
circulation continues to be helpful. We are
retaining all of the past ‘Coronavirus’ emailings, as well as associated and
relevant documents, on the Synod Coronavirus blog - https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/
WORSHIP
One of the joys of this time is the
opportunity to share in worship in all sorts of places. We mentioned some of the URC, and partcularly
Eastern Synod, opportunities in early emailings. As the weeks have passed, it seems worth
revisiting this and also posting on the blog a list, that can be updated, of
services. So, this information is
repeated at - https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/2020/05/online-worship.html
There is a long list of
URCs offering online worship posted on the main URC website – https://urc.org.uk/latest-news/3385-coronavirus-worshipping-digitally
This includes the
service produced each week by the URC’s Daily Devotions –
Churches from Eastern Synod on this list
include:
Cambridge,
Downing Place; recorded act of worship on YouTube
Colchester,
Plume Avenue URC; live streamed services on Facebook
Ipswich
and East Suffolk United Reformed Churches; recorded services on YouTube
Linton
Free Church, live stream of services on Zoom and recorded on YouTube. Details
on website
Norwich
and Area URCs; visual and audio recordings of services on website
Sawston
Free Church, Cambridgeshire; audio recordings of sermons on website
Witham
URC, video and audio recordings of services via website - https://www.withamurc.org.uk/ (Scroll down on home page for video and
scroll down worship page for audio only)
Other churches within the Synod offering
online worship – and this is not an exhaustive list – include:
Cambourne, recorded act of worship on YouTube
- https://www.youtube.com/user/CambourneChurch
Also, see the Cambourne version of ‘The
Blessing’
Chelmsford, Christ Church, video sermons
available via the website - https://christchurchchelmsford.co.uk/youtubesermons/
Herts and Essex Border Ecumenical Area –
downloadable resource available via the website - https://www.haebea.org/coronavirus-prayers-and-resources/sunday-worship.html
St Ives Free Church,
video worship available via the website – http://www.stivesfreechurch.org/ -
look for ‘Worship at Home’
West Suffolk United
Reformed Churches – recorded act of worship on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=West+Suffolk+United+Reformed+Churches
If you are not on this
list and would be happy to be added, please let the Synod Moderator know.
Other services from
other denominations are also readily available, as is worship provided by radio
and television.
WORSHIP ROADSHOWS
The worship “roadshows” continue, and we
want to continue to promote them as a useful resource.
Please pass the information on. The
advantage of this method is that the material is there when you want it. To
find them, please go to the Synod YouTube channel and look for the video you
want - 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.
This week, number 5, (available Thursday
28th) presented by Lindsey, focusses on prayer worship.
BIG DAY OUT
Just a reminder that we have now
postponed Eastern Synod’s Big Day Out, scheduled for June 13th. We are
currently exploring provisional dates for a re-scheduled event in 2021, and
will announce that over the next few weeks.
SYNOD MEETING
At the moment we are hoping to hold the
next Synod Meeting (10th October, Christ Church, Braintree). That
will be kept under review, but is the current intention.
WHAT NEXT?
(LIFE AFTER LOCKDOWN) –
THINKING ABOUT GETTING BUILDINGS READY FOR USE
I would like to again refer to the “Ready for
the new “normal”” document.
Mostly, we are not yet thinking of re-opening
buildings. The current advice remains that this might be the beginning of July
at the earliest. However, it is not too
early to begin to think through some of the implications. The document includes a lot of practical
tips. Please think about whether you
need to do a risk assessment in respect of any, or all, activities. (The answer is probably ‘yes’.) And please contact us if you think we can
offer any support or advice. We don’t
have all the answers, but we can help address any questions.
For ease of access, the document is on the Synod
blog –
- but if you want the ‘posh’ version (and a
downloadable pdf) it is now on the main URC website - https://urc.org.uk/images/Communications/New-Normal-2020.pdf
Also, if you would like it hand – and more
manageable – chunks, the South Western Synod have produced a helpful set of the
different sections - https://www.urcsouthwest.org.uk/preparing-for-the-new-normal-advice-from-urc-synod-moderators/
WALKING THE WAY RESOURCES
There are revised
versions of the Walking the Way Summer and Pentecost 2020 resources now available, with
corrections made and some more great images from Elizabeth Gray-King added to
the Pentecost resource to replace some of the more ‘bland’ ones.
ALL-AGE WORSHIP RESOURCES
(related to next Sunday – PENTECOST May 31)
Materials for Pentecost for All ages and
Families at home
A bible story for Pentecost Read and
Illustrated by Nicola from the Jesus Story Book Bible
Friends on Faith Adventures @home – Pentecost
Power
This is a weekly resource and this week is
focussing on Pentecost. It is packed
full of ideas for families at home with stories, crafts, games, prayers
activities and lots more.
The ‘Pentecost Power’ resource will be
published on Thursday following this link https://urc.org.uk/resources-for-children-and-youth
Roots materials
www.rootsontheweb.com/familiesathome31may
All Age worship for Pentecost
The Children and youth CYDO+ team have worked
together on All age worship for Pentecost and the service will be made
available from 9am on Sunday 31st May.
Join the Children's and Youth Work CYDO+ team in intergenerational worship at 9am on Sunday 31 May as we celebrate Pentecost together. The service will remain available to watch on our YouTube channel. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0dWr4cxnjTS-bWOvt-rUXVWWnyY_FEd5… #URC Youth
URC AND GERMAN
PARTNER CHURCH TO HOLD DIGITAL SERVICE FOR PENTECOST
A virtual Pentecost
Communion service, between the United Reformed Church (URC) and the
Evangelische Kirche der Pfalz (Protestant churches of the Palatinate
region of Germany), will be held on Saturday 30 May.
The service, taking
place via Zoom, will be led by both the Revd Philip Brooks, URC Secretary for
Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, and Pfarrer Martin Henninger, Minister of
the Lutherkirche in Frankenthal, who is also the Convener of the Friends of the
URC of the Evangelische Kirche der Pfalz.
The service will be
conducted in English and German and takes place at 5pm (BST, 6pm in Germany).
The Revd Philip
Brooks said: “Thanks to the long-standing partnership between the two churches,
this service offers a unique opportunity to share in fellowship between the UK
and Germany in the face of a global crisis. Celebrating Pentecost together in
this way feels particularly apt. We hope that members from German and UK
churches, regardless of whether they have a twinning arrangement or not, will
log on for the service.”
Choir members and
musicians from the Lutherkirche in Frankenthal, will be recording two
well-known hymns especially for the service, and the Revd John Proctor, General
Secretary of the URC will offer a Pentecost message, as will his counterpart
Manfred Sutter from the Evangelische Kirche der Pfalz.
As this is a
digital service, please have a small glass of wine (or juice) and a piece of
bread ready if you would like to receive communion. However, this is not compulsory.
You can simply observe if you feel more comfortable doing that.
People are also
invited to socialise after the service using the Zoom breakout room facility.
Take part in the
service here,
and use these log-in details when prompted: meeting ID: 949 1669 8036,
password: 941242.
ONLINE REFLECTIVE
GROUP FOR PEOPLE IN MINISTRY
Mondays
10.30-12.45, £15 per session.
Mark Argent and Lynsey Heslegrave are offering a series of online reflective groups for people in ministry in June and July 2020.
These draw on our backgrounds in spiritual direction and supervision and offer a space for people to reflect with others in ministry on their changing role in the world of Covid19, and on where God is in this.
As this is about reflecting on current experience, people will gain most from attending regularly. Each session is self-contained and people are welcome to attend for whichever sessions suit them. For more information or to book, please use the following links:
8 June: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/106517859786
15 June: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/106584836114
22 June: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/106585056774
29 June: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/106585383752
6 July: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/106585403812
13 July: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/106585696688
15 June: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/106584836114
22 June: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/106585056774
29 June: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/106585383752
6 July: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/106585403812
13 July: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/106585696688
We're offering six
sessions in the first instance, with the possibility of offering further
sessions.
The 2020 TRiM conference is hoped will go
ahead on 24 - 25 November 2020 at Belsey Bridge Conference Centre,
Ditchingham, Norfolk as usual. Obviously this isn't certain and so rather than
encouraging people to book their place, they are asking for expressions of
interest to be sent to me. Once it is confirmed that the conference will go
ahead, those on the list will be contacted and booking information sent so that
they can confirm and pay for their place.This year John-Francis Friendship will
(hopefully) be leading on ‘Flourishing in your vocation: ways to deepen your
calling’. Lindsey can send a booking form if you are intetested. Bookings
will be on a first come, first served basis.
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:
Our prayers and our best
wishes,
A PRAYER FROM THE WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
GENERAL SECRETARY
God of life,
you have promised to be with us every day,
also in difficult days, like in times like these.
Give us
clarity in our minds,
strength in our work and discernment,
rest as we sleep,
peace in our minds.
Be with those
who need help
more than we do ourselves
help us to see what we can offer
from your love. Amen.
you have promised to be with us every day,
also in difficult days, like in times like these.
Give us
clarity in our minds,
strength in our work and discernment,
rest as we sleep,
peace in our minds.
Be with those
who need help
more than we do ourselves
help us to see what we can offer
from your love. Amen.
STAY SAFE AND KEEP WELL! GOD BLESS!
PAUL
