UPDATES AND USEFUL
INFORMATION (8th July 2020)
Dear All
Amid the easing of
restrictions there are the inevitable reminders that great care is still
needed. Globally, we are told, that the pandemic has a long way to go. In some
places, like Leicester, restrictions are no sooner lifted than they are back. Please
be careful. Please stay safe.
WHAT ARE YOU READING AT
THE MOMENT?
The other day I saw an
interesting Facebook thread in a ministers’ group because someone had asked the
question: what are you reading at the moment (any genre)? I found it fascinating
to scroll through the answers, mostly a mix of fiction and religion. I wonder
what is being read around the Synod … If
you would like to share a recommendation (or even one to avoid) do drop Paul an
email – moderator@urceastern.org.uk
– and we can share what some of us are reading and a line or two of what we
think of it in the next couple of briefings.
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY GOES DIGITAL
The short
United Reformed Church (URC) General Assembly meeting on Saturday 11 July takes
place from 10.30am to 12pm.
The main
business of this meeting of Assembly is worship, within which the new Assembly
Moderators and new General Secretary will be inducted to their roles.
The service
will be available on the website www.urc.org.uk
or on the URC's
Facebook page. British Sign Language interpretation will also be available.
The papers
for the meeting can be found at www.urc.org.uk/july-2020
Essential
business will be considered at a meeting of Mission Council the previous day.
RISK
ASSESSMENTS
This
week’s Synod session on risk assessments highlighted the need for churches to
make review and evaluation an ongoing process, whether you decide to
reopen soon or not. There is no ‘full stop’ after the decision. It
is also important to remember that deciding that your church either doesn’t
want to reopen, or finds that it simply can’t open safely at the current time,
is not a failure or even a negative: continuing to offer alternative ways to
pray and worship together, and continuing to adapt these, is the best option
for the church at this time. All the documents you need are on the Synod
and URC websites, but please do not hesitate to ask Lindsey or Paul if you have
questions about your particular church situation.
CONTINUING
WITH CHURCH DIFFERENTLY …
This
week we’ve heard of mailouts from children to whole congregations; daily
reflections on Facebook; an ecumenical team planning a weekly market stall,
offering encouragement and prayer to the community. Don’t forget to share
with us stories and pictures of how your church members are currently
supporting each other in your prayer and study lives, and in your
worshipping!
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY:
ISRAEL-PALESTINE
DISCUSSION PANEL
The
work of General Assembly has been moved to extraordinary Mission Council
meetings, but there were many panel discussions scheduled for the
weekend. Two of these, hosted by Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations,
will go ahead online. The first is next Tuesday evening, when participants from
the visit will be answering questions from a live audience online about their
visit. It comes at a time when the region is even more in the news than ever,
with the possibility of annexation of large parts of the West Bank.”
Follow the link for more information on URC website, and for details about how
to sign up (it’s also on the URC Facebook page): https://urc.org.uk/latest-news/3519-take-part-in-digital-discussions-about-israel-and-palestine.html
DO
BLACK LIVES MATTER IN THE URC?
Global
and Intercultural Ministries are hosting a forum with Patricia Akoli and Wale
Hudson-Roberts on July 14 from 2pm via Zoom. Contact Veronica.Daniel@urc.org.uk to
join.
LOCKDOWN PHOTOS
What some have been saying about themselves
and the gospel – more next week!
Sawston
Whittlesford – impromptu foodbank
North Avenue, Chelmsford – Little Food Pantry
Dovercourt – Food parcel gang
ALL-AGE RESOURCES FOR THIS SUNDAY (12th
July)
Families at
home - The parable of the sower
Story time
for Under 5’s Scattering seeds
Reading listening and watching together
Open the Bible at Matthew 13.1-9,18-23: Jesus tells simple stories,
called parables, to help people understand an important message.
The parable of the sower with Nicola
Singing together
Listen to the story and sing along , You could make up some actions or
dance along
Rocky Wocky Song
Praying together
A prayer to
say together with actions
Rain from
heaven, sent by God
Rain from
heaven, sent by God,
‘Rain’ fingers down.
gives seed for the sower
Mime planting seeds.
and bread for the hungry.
Mime eating.
‘Rain’ fingers down.
gives seed for the sower
Mime planting seeds.
and bread for the hungry.
Mime eating.
Words from
the Bible, sent by God,
Write in the air.
give food for our hearts
Make heart shape with hands.
and help us to grow.
‘Grow’ hand upwards.
Write in the air.
give food for our hearts
Make heart shape with hands.
and help us to grow.
‘Grow’ hand upwards.
Lord Jesus,
Point to palms with middle fingers.
help us to grow as your disciples.
‘Grow’ hand upwards.
Amen.
Point to palms with middle fingers.
help us to grow as your disciples.
‘Grow’ hand upwards.
Amen.
Seed prayers
You will
need: Kitchen paper, a
saucer and mustard and cress seed.
Think of
something to give thanks for and sprinkle some seeds.
Say a prayer
together
Thank you for
all the good things you give us.
Help us to share what we have with others.
Amen.
Help us to share what we have with others.
Amen.
Keep the
seeds damp, and by next week you will have some mustard and cress to make
sandwiches with and be reminded of your thank you prayers.
Creating Together
Using Pipe cleaners
or modelling clay recreate the four parts of the story see if you can remember
what each one means.
Seed and herb
flowers
Draw the
outline of a flower onto a sheet of card or strong paper. You will need some
bird seeds or garden seed and some herb, spices, or rice. Put glue on to different areas of your
picture (PVA glue works best) deciding where you want the different things to
go in the flower. Sprinkle on the seeds
etc and then shake the picture over a tray to get rid of the loose seed rice and
spices. Not only will you have a flower
picture to remind you that God helps you grow but it will also smell
interesting too!
Playing
together
Make a garden
in a tray or on a plate or foil tray.
Use it to retell the story to your friends and family.
CELEBRATING CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE URC
Children’s
and Youth Work Committee and URC Youth invite you to Let’s
celebrate: children and young people in the URC Wednesday 15th
July 7-8pm
Come
and share in an uplifting hour focussing on all that has been happening with
0-25s, thanking God and praying for the next steps.
This
is a General Assembly online fringe event open to everyone – please secure your
free place by booking here.
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 UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
In
this time of COVID-19, we pray:
When
we aren't sure, God, - help us be calm.
when
information comes –
from
all sides, correct & not, help us to discern.
when
fear makes it hard to breathe,
and
anxiety seems to be the order of the day,
slow
us down, God.
help
us to reach out with our hearts,
when
we can't touch with our hands.
help
us to be socially connected,
when
we have to be socially distant.
help
us to love as perfectly as we can,
knowing
that "perfect love casts out all fear."
Help
us, O God, that we might help each other.
In
the love of the Creator,
in
the name of the Healer,
in
the life of the Holy Spirit
that
is in all and with all, we pray. Amen
STAY SAFE AND KEEP WELL! GOD BLESS! PAUL
No comments:
Post a Comment