UPDATES AND USEFUL
INFORMATION (20th May 2020)
Dear All
Life continues through
interesting and challenging times. Much remains uncertain. We might hope that
the lifting of some restrictions heralds further movement in that direction,
but that is dependent on how the virus (and people) behave. We need to wait and
see.
Meantime 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 ROADSHOWS
The worship roadshows or, as they have become,
mini ‘stay-at-home’ sessions continue.
Please pass the 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. 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 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.
This week’s, number 4, (available Thursday
21st) presented by Paul, explores pitfalls and practicalities in
leading worship.
BIG DAY OUT
Inevitably, 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) –
QUESTIONS ON EARLY YEARS PROVISION IN CHURCH
BUILDINGS
I would like to again refer to the “Ready for
the new “normal”” document.
As we look to what might move us into the future,
the question that I seem to be asked most just now is around the possible re-opening
of nursery school and playgroup provision. I have therefore prepared some
advice. This is to be found at - https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/2020/05/using-church-buildings-for-early-years.html
Beyond
that, unless you already have this under way, I would encourage you to begin
thinking about some of the issues raised in that document. I would suggest that
some thought around the first questions posed in the document would be useful.
So,
reproducing page 6 –
To
ponder and discuss during the lockdown days
In
terms of church life,
is
there anything:
•
Good/valuable that you would like to continue and develop through this phase?
•
That you have thought, ‘I wonder if we could try this…?’ as lockdown continues?
To
ponder and discuss as we prepare to emerge from lockdown
As
you look forward to lockdown being ended, how do you respond to the following
statements?
You
might like to indicate your strength of feeling, positive or negative, with a
score of 0 to 5 by the comment, or draw appropriate “smiley” faces to indicate
warmth or coolness towards the idea, or express your neutrality.
•
“We return to being church in our traditional/established ways as soon as
possible.”
•
“We recognise that health and social restrictions will be with us for a long
time and so we cannot do what we’ve always done at least for a long time.”
•
“Our return is governed by what is financially possible, appreciating that our
wider church life’s sustainability may have been stretched.”
•
“Our return, along with practical considerations on social distancing, will be
shaped by discerning God’s new mission for us in the post-lockdown context, (1)
locally, and (2) as a denomination.”
•
“We learn from the lessons of the lockdown days, mindful that some churches
have been able to reach parts of the community that traditional ministry didn’t
touch, including (but not only) through worship offered online.”
Can
we see the challenges and opportunities for ministry in each of these
scenarios?
And 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/
WORKING
WITH CHILDREN AND/OR YOUNG PEOPLE IN MINISTRY?
An
Invitation to anyone working with Children and young people in any aspect of
ministry.
Nicola
will be hosting a Zoom meeting Wednesday 27th May 2.30pm. A
great opportunity to have a chat and to share ideas.
I
look forward to seeing you. Nicola
Nicola Grieves is inviting you to a
scheduled Zoom meeting.
Meeting ID: 546 192 3407
Password: 0MSt4q
Password: 0MSt4q
ROOTS
LINK FOR THIS WEEK
ALL-AGE WORSHIP RESOURCES (related to next Sunday – May
24)
This week sees the start of
The Thy Kingdom Come Global wave of Prayer, journeying from Ascension to
Pentecost.
A gathering prayer to say together
As a sprinkling of notes can bring music to a
lonely silence;
as a sprinkling of words can bring warmth to
an empty heart;
as a sprinkling of rain can bring wonder to
the petal of a rose;
as a sprinkling of light can bring a rainbow
to a dark sky;
as a sprinkling of snow can bring magic to a
tired garden,
so may our sprinkling of prayers bring the love
of God into our world afresh.
Amen.
Singing together
A song to sing and dance to, you
might like to make up some actions
Saddleback kids - Lord’s prayer
Reading, watching and listening together
Bible reading Matthew 6:1-6
Matthew
6:9-13 International Children’s Bible (ICB)
So when you pray, you
should pray like this:
‘Our Father in heaven,
we pray that your name will always be kept holy.
We pray that your kingdom will come.
We pray that what you want will be done,
here on earth as it is in heaven.
we pray that your name will always be kept holy.
We pray that your kingdom will come.
We pray that what you want will be done,
here on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us the food we need
for each day.
Forgive the sins we have done,
just as we have forgiven those who did wrong to us.
And do not cause us to be tested;
but save us from the Evil One.’
[The kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours forever. Amen.]
Forgive the sins we have done,
just as we have forgiven those who did wrong to us.
And do not cause us to be tested;
but save us from the Evil One.’
[The kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours forever. Amen.]
Video
A visual retelling and reflection with Nicola
Praying together
Here is the Lord’s prayer signed
in Makaton
It is a great way to pray
together and if you are linked up by video you can say with the people who you
cannot be together with just now.
Emotion Stones
We can talk to God no matter how
we are feeling.
‘Do not worry about anything. But
pray and ask God for everything you need. And when you pray, always give
thanks. And God’s peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The
peace that God gives is so great that we cannot understand it’ Philippians 4:6
(ICB)
Draw the different feelings on some small
stones. If you don’t have any stones you
can draw faces on card circles
Place the stones in a bowl sitting together
take it in turns to take a stone from the bowl.
As
Prayers to say together
When we are worried,
Lord, teach us to pray.
When things frighten us,
Lord, teach us to pray.
When others are hurting,
Lord, teach us to pray.
When we want to thank you,
Lord, teach us to pray.
When we don’t understand what is happening to
us
or in our world,
Lord, teach us to pray.
Wherever we are, whatever we are doing,
Lord, teach us to pray. Amen.
Through acts of
loving kindness,
your Kingdom come, your will be done.
Through care for those in need,
your Kingdom come, your will be done.
Through friendship shown to lonely people,
your Kingdom come, your will be done.
Through keeping asking awkward questions,
your Kingdom come, your will be done.
Through never giving up on those who feel lost,
your Kingdom come, your will be done.
Through constant care, and persistent prayer,
your Kingdom come, your will be done.
Amen.
your Kingdom come, your will be done.
Through care for those in need,
your Kingdom come, your will be done.
Through friendship shown to lonely people,
your Kingdom come, your will be done.
Through keeping asking awkward questions,
your Kingdom come, your will be done.
Through never giving up on those who feel lost,
your Kingdom come, your will be done.
Through constant care, and persistent prayer,
your Kingdom come, your will be done.
Amen.
Creating Together
A reflective song to listen too
while you make your craft
Hillsong – The Lord’s Prayer
Five prayers I pray
You will need card and
coloured pens
Draw round your hand and cut
it out. Decorate your cut out hand and write the five
different types of prayers on the fingers.
Find somewhere quite to sit and hold the hand
you have made. Use this to help you talk
to God starting with your thumb and ending with your little finger.
Prayer chain
Cut out two small hands and make holes either
side of the cut-out hands. Taking the
one of
Playing together
Make and eat pretzels
together as a visual reminder to pray.
You will need: 1 teaspoon instant yeast; 1 tablespoon brown sugar;
3 cups all-purpose unbleached/bread flour; 1 teaspoon coarse salt; 1 cup warm
milk; 1 whisked egg and baking sheet.
Mix the yeast, sugar, flour and milk in a bowl
until it forms a ball. Take the ball out and knead by hand for 5-10 minutes.
Divide the dough into six
pieces and roll each of them into a long thin roll.
Cover the rolls with a
towel and let the dough relax for 5-10 minutes.
Take the ends of the rolls
and fold inwards to form a pretzel shape.
Place the pretzels on a
baking sheet and brush with the whisked egg. Sprinkle salt on top.
Bake in a pre-heated oven
(220 degrees /gas mark 7) for 15 minutes until golden brown.
Eat while warm.
© ROOTS
for Churches Ltd (www.rootsontheweb.com) 2002-2020.
JOINT
PUBLIC ISSUES TEAM
The
Joint Public Issues Team is doing significant work around public and social
issues. This is constantly changing, and they are regularly updating the
information they are providing. If you want to see the latest version, it is
available on the Synod blog - https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/2020/05/joint-public-issues-team-insights-into.html
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 CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND
God, our rock and shield, we pray for our
land, and all nations and places in our world, as many endure the effects of
the illness Covid-19 and the Coronavirus pandemic.
For those who are ill, grant healing;
for those who mourn the death of loved ones,
bring comfort;
for those who care for the sick, grant
strength and endurance;
for those who are isolated or whose
livelihoods are threatened, give courage and hope;
for all who take difficult decisions, from governments
to health practitioners, give wisdom and compassion to accompany the knowledge
and experience that they bring.
Deliver us from this disease, we pray, and
enable all nations and communities to grow in collaboration and unity as we
face this challenge together.
Grant a legacy of enduring common purpose in
facing all that threatens our global common good.
We pray in Jesus' name, in the unity of the
Spirit, Amen.
STAY SAFE AND KEEP WELL! GOD BLESS!
PAUL
No comments:
Post a Comment