UPDATES AND USEFUL
INFORMATION (9th September 2020)
Dear All
As we hear news of
spikes, the need to isolate and so on, and as restrictions are reviewed and
change, do keep an eye on what needs to happen as we engage in church in all
sorts of ways.
We will keep this
weekly emailing going until – at least – the end of the calendar year. If you
have good news or anything you want to share, do let me know – though inclusion
cannot be absolutely guaranteed.
Meantime, be careful and stay safe. Best wishes
Paul
SYNOD MEETING
The October Synod meeting is moving online as it is clear that we would be able to gather sufficient people in one geographical location. However, it is going ahead – by Zoom – on the designated date, Saturday 10th October, and will run from 10am to 1pm. All welcome, as Synod meetings are not restricted to those who are members of the meeting. More information, including how to join the meeting and what’s going to be happening as we get closer to the day.
HOLY HABITS ROADSHOW – OR
(AS IT WILL BE) ONLINE TRAINING
… Starting next week –
with some Biblical thoughts on the Holy Habit of Fellowship – presented by
Paul. The first of this series of twelve
mini-videos should be uploaded to the Synod YouTube channel by early (9am) on
Thursday 17th September.
MINISTERS ONLINE
Just a reminder for ministers of the online gathering with Susan Durber next
week, Monday evening to Wednesday lunch-time.
If you haven’t registered, it’s not too late – and if you want another
form or more information, contact Lindsey or Paul.
SAFEGUARDING TRAINING
Face to face Safeguarding training is still not possible in our church buildings. However, it is possible for it to be delivered via Zoom. It is available in three 1.25hr sessions that can be delivered either during the day or in the evening over a three weeks period or on consecutive days in a week. For more information please get in touch with Nicola Grieves cydo@urceastern.org.uk (Synod Safeguarding Officer)
WELCOMING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE:
CONVERSATIONS WITH NICOLA VIA ZOOM
Welcoming Children when Junior Church and youth groups are not possible
Wednesday 23rd September 2.30pm
Connecting and staying in touch with Toddler
groups
Thursday 24th September 2.30pm
Messy Church
Wednesday 30th September 2.30pm
If you are interested in joining Please
contact Nicola Grieves cydo@urceastern.org.uk to book a place and Zoom links
will be sent out for each event.
ALL AGE WORSHIP
RESOURCES
Families at home
Story time for the under fives
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRqn1g6j1-k&t=50s
Singing together
A Little Bit of Love by Graham Kendrick
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auwgDr2BA7E
Praise God who
forgives us.
Praise God who loves us.
Praise God who is kind and merciful.
Praise God now and for ever.
Amen.
Reading watching and listening together.
The story of the unforgiving servant – Nicola
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCUOhtQLluE
Matthew 18:21-35
As you read the story, encourage everyone to
cheer loudly when someone is kind or forgiving, and to boo when someone is not.
‘How many
times should I forgive someone who has done something bad to me?’ Peter asked
Jesus. ‘As many as seven times?’ This seemed very forgiving to Peter. ‘Let me
tell you a story about two slaves,’ Jesus replied. ‘The first slave owed his
king 10,000 talents, more money than he could ever pay back. The king came to
him, saying, ‘It’s time to pay up. If you don’t have the money, you’ll have to
sell everything you own – your house, your possessions, even your wife and
children.’ The slave fell to his knees and begged him for more time. Seeing his
distress, the king said, ‘I have changed my mind. You are released from the
debt.’ (Cheer!) ‘Straight away, the man went out and met another slave. This
second slave owed him a smaller amount, just 100 denarii. ‘Pay up what you owe
me,’ the first slave demanded. ‘The second slave begged, just as the first one
had, ‘Please have patience. I need more time to pay.’ There was no pity in the
first slave, though. He had the man who owed him money thrown into prison, saying
he wouldn’t be set free until he had paid his debt. (Boo!) ‘Of course, all of
this was reported back to the king, who was extremely angry. ‘I had mercy on
you!’ he shouted at the first slave. ‘Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your
fellow slave?’ Then the king handed over the man to be tortured until he had
paid everything he owed. (Boo!) Jesus looked at Peter and his other disciples.
‘So you must forgive more than seven times. Let’s say seventy-seven times.
(Cheer!) You really have to forgive people with your hearts, not just your
mouths. If you don’t, my heavenly Father will punish you, like the king
punished his slave.’
At the end of the second paragraph Imagine
that they are the first slave. How do you feel? Now read to the end of the
third paragraph and imagine you are the second slave. How do they feel? At the
end of the fourth paragraph, ask the children to imagine being the king. How do
they feel?
Exploring forgiveness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWWIzCg0bhA&feature=youtu.be
Praying togetherSaying Sorry
Water Painting is great fun especially if the sun is
shining as you paint with water your picture is transformed and then disappears
as the water dries.
God wants us to talk to him and we can say sorry to
God for things that we have done.
Write, draw or make hand prints and as you watch the
image disappear say sorry to God and know that God hears you and forgives you
because he love you and takes away those things that you are sorry for.
Loving one another
This activity will help to pray for those we find it
hard to love.
Jesus taught us ‘Love one another as I have loved you’
even those we find it hard to love.
You will need some
- strips of kitchen
paper
- water soluble
pens
- A small glass with about an inch of water
in it
On the strips of paper about two inches from the bottom
draw a heart and above the heart write the initials or draw the face of someone
you want to know Gods love and who you
find hard to love.
Put the end of the strip in
the water and pray that God will help you to show that person that you love them,
and that God loves them.
Watch as the water slowly
climbs up the paper and the ink in the heart spreads out to cover and absorb
the initials. This is a symbol of how you want your love and God's love
to reach out to that person.
(Adapted from an Idea from the Flame creative
kids Blog)
Letting Go
Sometimes we need to be able to let go of the things
that stop us forgiving one another.
Write on a piece of A4 paper the things you need to let go of and the people you need to say sorry to. From the A4 sheet of paper make a paper aeroplane
Holding your paper aeroplane say together
Help us to let go of the things that keep us from focusing our hearts more fully on you.
Help us to ...
let go of fear,
let go of anger
let go of jealousy
let go of lying
let go of hatred
let go of selfishness
Help us to let go and say sorry
Amen
Draw a heart on your place
and get ready to let go of your plane ask God to be close to you. Watch you plane fly as an Amen!
Creating and playing together
Pollock painting
Take a plain piece of paper and place it inside a tray/box lid
Choose your paint colour and put a marble in the paint (you can use anything that rolls such as playdough, grapes or sprouts)
Using a spoon, life the marble out of the paint and place it on your paper
Now start to roll your marble around the page making lines as you roll
When you are ready, pass your tray to the next person
They will add their lines in their colour
Continue until you have drawn on every paper with your colour
Sit back and look at your creations, Notice
how the lines cross over and mix.
Can you follow the line of your paint?
What do you notice?
Whose line did you cross?
Did it go messy anywhere?
Notice when the lines cross and the paint
mixes, it might even make a new colour.
How did you feel about other people’s paint
crossing your picture?
Consider how this relates to forgiveness and
have a chat.
URC ADVICE
Just a reminder that the coronavirus advice page on the URC website is being updated with resources and advice on a regular basis:
https://urc.org.uk/latest-news/3365-urc-issues-coronavirus-advice-to-its-churches
A HYMN WRITTEN FOR (AND
IN) THESE TIMES
We are sailing in the
darkness
“We are sailing in the darkness” is a
quotation from Thomas Traumann,
a Brazilian commentator
on the Covid-19 crisis, cited on The Guardian website, 17/4/20
tune: Battle Hymn (John
Brown’s body / Glory, glory, hallelujah)
We are
sailing in the darkness
and our
captains have no charts,
and so much
is still uncertain
it sits
heavy on our hearts;
though our
boats feel very flimsy
and we’re
forced to sail apart,
our God
sails with us all.
May Your
love reach out in caring,
keep us
active, kind and sharing,
keep us
cautious, yet with daring,
Great
God, sail with us all.
Some are
struggling with a fever,
some are
locked down all alone,
some are
risking all for others
well outside
their safety zone;
yet no
matter our own trials,
we can try
to live as one,
our God
sails with us all.
You have
battled with the darkness,
You have
sailed on angry seas,
and you
struggled in a garden
with the weight
of sin’s disease;
yes, you
came to share our troubles,
You’re the God who never leaves –
our God sails with us all. John Campbell 17/4/20
John is the minister of Tottenham URC
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,
PAUL moderator@urceastern.org.uk 07534
274668
LINDSEY training@urceastern.org.uk 07801 352340
NICOLA cydo@urceastern.org.uk 07515 721172
STAY SAFE - PAUL
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