UPDATES AND USEFUL
INFORMATION (13th May 2020)
Dear All
As we look for a
different time, whatever that may mean, we are clearly not there yet and it
looks as though it will be quite a while before our buildings are available to
be used in anything like what we have previously regarded as a normal way. In the
light of Sunday’s statement by the Prime Minister, the General Secretary, Revd.
John Proctor, has said, with the support of all the Synod Moderators, that “the United
Reformed Church holds to the position that all church buildings should remain
closed except for the provision of essential services (foodbanks, addiction
recovery groups, etc) or for one person to attend in order to record or
livestream worship.”
The statement is at - https://urc.org.uk/images/statement-110520.pdf
We continue to hope
that things may begin to change as we get into July, but it will not be earlier
and it will inevitably be gradual.
In particular, remember
that social distancing will probably be needed in early days of re-opening, as
will good cleaning regimes, and that may affect hiring and other usage. (That
small study group might need to be in the large hall, which has previously been
used by a dance class.)
In the meantime we also
hope that this circulation is helpful. 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
The worship roadshows or, as they have become,
mini ‘stay-at-home’ sessions have now begun with the first two posted on the
Synod YouTube channel and the third due to be there by 9 am on Thursday 14th. (Apologies that the second was posted late.)
Please do pass this information on to anyone
who might be interested and may not yet know. The advantage of doing it this
way is that it stays and you can catch up. In the first Paul offered an introduction,
in the second Lindsey helped us to consider how to structure an act of worship,
and in the third Nicola is offering an introduction to All-Age Worship. To find them, please go to the Synod YouTube
channel and look for the video you want -
We are also happy to email (or post) the
written script to anyone who would like to receive it, either inand stead 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.
Paul is supplementing some of this with
additional Biblical material, and that is posted on his own YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOisCXiElqiJSYoq_EolF8w
If you want to take a look at some of
Paul’s other musings, they are on his blog –
http://gettingthechurchsorted.blogspot.com/
and he has just revived a dormant blog on ‘Bible Stuff’ and is taking a ‘walk’
through Mark’s Gospel - http://paulsbiblestuff.blogspot.com/
WHAT NEXT?
(LIFE AFTER LOCKDOWN)
Last week I mentioned the *Ready for the new “normal”
document prepared by the Synod Moderators. It 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/
I
think this is a really useful resource, which has been welcomed by partner
denominations. Do let me have any thoughts/comments/feedback. Next week I will
begin a series of brief reflections of some of the matters raised – but it
would be good to be able to incorporate the comments of others and/or respond
to matters that you might want to bring to the fore.
BLESSINGS
Following
last week’s item on the UK Blessing, we hope you enjoy the one from Zimbabwe,
now on the UPCSA/Eastern Synod and Eastern Mission Facebook pages, https://www.facebook.com/URCGlobalLinks/
and https://www.facebook.com/URC-Eastern-Mission-445556949575805/.
There
is also a children’s version (also mentioned in the All-Age section) - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uiWZXLsdE9w&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3sjUPtqQX0v-oD8EWgY5WCly2-_ItJYR8Vk7bRKmnvOpkCW-ND705VVho
Both are great, a blessing indeed!
LOCKDOWN RHYTHM
Many of us in churches are extroverts,
outgoing people who get their energy and fulfilment from their contact with
others. All of us – extrovert or introvert – need this to some
degree. After 8 weeks of lockdown how are we managing with varying
degrees of isolation? Lots of people are alone in their households;
others are in family or house-share groups of varying sizes. All of us
will, in some form, have been in touch with others whether by phone or email,
or in groups on online video platforms. It is commonly agreed, however,
that This Is Not The Same. So how are we managing with our daily
rhythm? Experts say that maintaining a regular daily routine is helpful:
getting up at the same time, eating meals regularly, exercising as much as
possible. There are also all sorts of tips about the kind of activities
you can put into your daily routine: have at least one good laugh; clean one
thing or space; tend something growing; make time for people in your home;
reach out to someone outside your home; do one thing you’ll be glad you did
later; do one thing just because you want to; be spiritually present to a sound
or song, a sensory feeling, something you see; pray. However you are
managing, we pray that you are finding a rhythm that is working for you.
PRAYER
Lindsey is gathering people’s thoughts about
prayer. What is it? Where, when, why, how do you do it?
Please email her with your thoughts, or post them on the Eastern Mission
Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/URC-Eastern-Mission-
LINK TO ROOTS MATERIAL
VIRTUAL HOLIDAY CLUB
Are you interested in running a Holiday Club@home???
Nicola is writing a holiday club ‘The Great Bread Bake Off’ and
preparing resources for you to run a Holiday Club@home. It will include
interactive videos, stories music and at home activity packs.
Please contact Nicola to register your interest and she will be in touch
with updates. cydo@urceastern.org.uk
TRIALOGUE – DISCUSSION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
New weekly panel discussion for young people
Last Thursday evening saw the successful launch of ‘Trialogue’ a live
discussion for 16-25 yr olds. Every Thursday evening 7pm
Click here for more details
COMMON GROUND RESOURCE BOOK
The Common Ground resource book was sent to every church in our All
Church Mailing last month and this is now available as a PDF - you can obtain
us by contacting me - Lorraine. You can also
download it from our website or URCLE.
ALL-AGE WORSHIP RESOURCES (related to next Sunday – May
17)
Families at Home
A gathering prayer to say together
The world is the Lord's and everything in it.
We worship you.
The mountains are his, the rivers are his.
We worship you.
The trees are his, the flowers are his.
We worship you.
The animals are his, the pets are his.
We worship you.
The nations are his, the towns are his.
We worship you.
Every person, every breath, every word is his.
We worship you.
God loves us all, God keeps us all.
We worship you today.
We worship you.
The mountains are his, the rivers are his.
We worship you.
The trees are his, the flowers are his.
We worship you.
The animals are his, the pets are his.
We worship you.
The nations are his, the towns are his.
We worship you.
Every person, every breath, every word is his.
We worship you.
God loves us all, God keeps us all.
We worship you today.
Reading, watching and listening together
Bible reading Matthew 6:25-34Do not worry A
visual retelling of Matthew 6:25-34
A reflection with Psalm 139 with Nicola
Praying together
Bubble Wrap prayers
Using some bubble wrap. Take it in turns to tell God something that is
worrying you can do this quietly or say it out loud. Pop one of the bubbles and as you do give
your worry to God.
A prayer to say together
Hold your hands together in
prayer;
then hold your arms around yourself as if being hugged.
Thank you, Lord God, for your love.
Hold your hands together in prayer;
then stretch your arms in front of you.
Help us, Jesus, to love.
Hold your hands together in prayer;
then stretch out your hands towards a window or door.
Dear God please bless our family our neighbours and our friends
then hold your arms around yourself as if being hugged.
Thank you, Lord God, for your love.
Hold your hands together in prayer;
then stretch your arms in front of you.
Help us, Jesus, to love.
Hold your hands together in prayer;
then stretch out your hands towards a window or door.
Dear God please bless our family our neighbours and our friends
The Blessing Song Children’s version
Creating Together
Do not worry craft
You will need
- a paper cup or
very small flowerpot
- Paper
- Glue
- A small stone
- A heart
Take a small stone and glue the heart to
it. This reminds us that God loves us
even more than he loves the plants and the birds. The stone reminds us of Gods strength and how
he is always with us even in the worrying times.
Glue petals or feathers to the cup to turn it
into either a flower or a bird and this makes a safe place to keep the stone
and reminds us of the bible story.
You use the stone if you are worried. Hold it tightly and talk to God.
God cares for you card
Create a picture to remind you that God cares
for you. I used cake cases to make my flower,
but you could paint a picture or use any collage materials you have available to
create your own card.
You could make one to send to someone.
Playing together
Bird Feeders
Here is something you can make
to hang in the garden for the birds.
Each time you see a bird eating from it you can remember how God
provides for the birds and for us too.
You will need:-
- a toilet roll
inner
- a pipe cleaner or
string, some
- peanut butter and
some
- bird seed or
cheerios
Cover the toilet roll in peanut butter and
then roll the coated toilet roll in the bird seed until it is completely
covered. Thread the pipe cleaner through
the roll and twist the end together to fasten it. Fins a spot in the garden to hang the feeder
and wait and see how many birds come to eat from it.
(I made the one in the picture this afternoon
and have enjoyed watching the Blackbirds having a snack!)
Do not worry if you
have not got a toilet roll or bird seed.
You can make a feeder by threading Cheerios or hoop shape cereal onto a
pipe cleaner or string and hanging it in the garden.
RESOURCES FOR PENTECOST
A Lay Preachers’ Gift Day at Westminster
College in April was planned on the theme of Pentecost, which we will celebrate
on May 31st. Lindsey and Nicola have resources available which will be uploaded
onto the website later this week, you will be able to find it under ‘Help for
Local Churches’ – ‘Mission and Training’ – ‘Lay Preachers and Worship Leaders’
– ‘Resource Sharing’. We will also share a copy in next week’s Update
mailing.
SPRING SCHOOL 2020
Some of our ministers would have been at
Spring School in Northern Ireland this week. Please pray for the
refreshment of your minister at this time.
CHURCH LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME (for Ministers)
Please do have a look at the YouTube link for the new publicity video for
the 2020-21 Church Leadership Programme. Or go to the URC website.
GREEN ENERGY
The URC
Eastern Synod are delighted to share with you a new Green Energy scheme, GREEN
JOURNEY, tailored to fit the needs of our Churches. The Green Journey is now
the Synod's consultant of choice for electricity and gas supplies.
A
Christian firm called Green Energy Consulting is offering this service via the
name Green Journey. They procure 100% renewable energy suppliers for gas/electricity
for churches, with no upfront costs. They also provide a free energy survey of
your buildings.
The Synod
commend individual churches to contact Green Energy Consulting. Please
contact Craig Hogg at Green Journey or David
Smith, Synod Finance Officer, for further information, or
have a look at the website.
ORGANS
If relevant, to see some advice on organs and
their care while buildings are out of use - https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/2020/05/advice-regarding-organs.html
SCRUBBING UP WHILST HUNKERING DOWN
Alarmed at the lack of
PPE, and keen to support our wonderful NHS and other care establishments, a
group from Hutton and Shenfield Union Church, together with a few friends and
willing volunteers, set to making some scrubs.
Initial challenges
during the lockdown included: sourcing suitable materials, printing and
sellotaping patterns from sheets of A4 and transferring them onto Christmas
paper. A plea on Facebook resulted in a total stranger
spending the entire morning printing out the patterns for us free of charge and
friends at Lighthouse Furniture Project kindly sourced a sewing
machine and some serviceable flat sheets.
We then dusted down and
oiled our own (in some cases long-forgotten) sewing machines and several,
coincidentally, remarked that the eyes on the needles were oddly much smaller
than they used to be.
A very creditable 16
sets of scrubs were quickly assembled and the dressmaking skills of our
members, together with those of a delightful band of three young women
(including a Fashion and Design graduate and a 16 year old who had just been
given a sewing machine for her birthday) were most impressive. One pocket
might have been sewn on with the opening at the bottom, but….
A rainbow of laundry
bags was also produced and this first consignment was taken to Saint Francis
Hospice in mid-April. Frustratingly, we were not challenged by the police en
route!
As I write, several
more sets of scrubs are in the pipeline destined for the Hospice and many, many
more laundry bags - these may well be given to Brentwood Community Hospital or
local Ambulance staff. One of these sets will go to a nurse friend of a
volunteer who came off maternity leave early to return to duty. There are no
words.
Fortunately for the
NHS, larger and better organised voluntary groups have now tooled up with
professional cutters and industrial machines, delivering hundreds of sets at a
time, so we hope our services will no longer be required - just as we were
getting good at it too!
Revd
Paul Ellis Minister for Hutton & Shenfield, Pastoral
Committee Convenor
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 SYNOD MODERATOR
Living
God, in unusual times, remind us that you often want to surprise us with new
calls, new visions, new opportunities. Help us to listen for what you are
saying. Remind us that we often miss out because we didn’t notice what you were
saying. As we continue to struggle
through our locked down state, help us to begin to catch glimpses of that ‘new
normal’ that everyone keeps talking about; and show us how we can be your light
and offer your love in changed and changing circumstances. For your love’s sake
we ask it. Amen.
STAY SAFE AND KEEP WELL! GOD BLESS!
PAUL
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