Twenty-Third Emailing - Being Church in the Context of Covid 19

 UPDATES AND USEFUL INFORMATION   (16^th September 2020)

 

 

Dear All

 

Blessing as we continue the covid 19 journey.  Hoping there is something of interest/use in what follows.  All past emailings and related documents remain on the Synod coronavirus blog - https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/

 

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 not be able to gather sufficient people in one geographical location.  However, it is going ahead – by Zoom – on the designated date, Saturday 10^th 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.

 

The guest speaker will be the Revd. Philip Brooks, the URC’s Secretary for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations.

 

 

RULE OF SIX

There is some confusion as to which aspects of Church life are impacted by the new ‘rule of 6’ within England. It is clear that voluntary and charitable organisations are exempt. This means that meetings and activities of church life too are exempt from this as long as they take place in a COVID Secure building with appropriate social distancing. So not only may worship continue, but also the various meetings of church life that help keep our work going, including Elders’ and Church Meetings.

Many churches may find that the requirements of a COVID secure building, and the desire of people to be cautious mean that church meetings might best continue virtually. Click on this link to the government guidance on meeting together safely. You will notice that many of the activities that might normally take place in our buildings, in terms of groups we let space to, are also exempt and therefore lettings to such groups can continue where the building is COVID Secure and their activity compliant with relevant legislation and guidance.

 All URC denominational information is at https://urc.org.uk/coronavirus.html

 

HOLY HABITS ROADSHOW – OR (AS IT WILL BE) ONLINE TRAINING

 

… Starting THIS 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 (17^th September).  Next week more on Fellowship as Lindsey explores some practical suggestions and, the following week, an all-age perspective on Fellowship with Nicola.

 

We will follow that up in the coming weeks with a similar series of looks at three further Holy Habits - the Breaking of Bread, Giving (or Sharing Resources) and Eating Together.

 

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:

An opportunity for CONVERSATIONS WITH NICOLA VIA ZOOM

 Welcoming Children when Junior Church and youth groups are not possible

Wednesday 23^rd September 2.30pm

 Connecting and staying in touch with Toddler groups

Thursday 24^th September 2.30pm

 Messy Church

Wednesday 30^th 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 September 20^th

 

Story time for under fives

 Jonah and the Big Fish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IervgSv6rls

 

Singing together

Will you come and follow me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o469PRLdbHU

 

Reading Looking and listening together

The story of Jonah – Nicola

Please go to the Eastern Synod YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtYncbpZJ4PKBBrjrcXBHrw

and you should find ‘The Story of Jonah’.

 

A Jonah Story

God in heaven, this is Jonah. I'm here to complain.
You have given me such a hard time.
I know I ran away, but did you have to get my attention with a big fish?
(Actually, I am pretty glad about the fish.
Without it I would have drowned.)

Anyway, then there was Nineveh.
I did it, if you remember – I did exactly what you asked.
I went to that big, busy city and I told them just what you wanted me to.
I warned them that, if they didn't turn from their ways –
their wicked, greedy, immoral ways – you, the great God,
were going to destroy them.

And the more I told them, the more your message burned within me. 

I wondered just how you were going to do it.

How would you destroy them?
Amazingly, they listened. They listened to a half-baked prophet like me.
Even the animals had to fast and put on sackcloth.  And then, the most annoying,
awful thing happened – the thing that made me look stupid, the thing that makes me so mad.

YOU FORGAVE THEM!

Somehow, I never thought that might happen.

I've been sitting here hoping to see something dramatic.
Maybe some fire from heaven to destroy Nineveh,
or a storm, a flood, a disease.
But, no, nothing. I suppose it was kind of you to send the bush
to protect me from the sun. But what about the worm?
This morning, you sent a worm, to eat my bush.
I'm angry again God, angry as anything.
What did that bush do to deserve that…?

Oh, I see. I care about the bush…

just a bush, one small bush.
I don't want it to get destroyed.
And you? You care about a city.
full of people and animals.
You don't want them to be destroyed.

Maybe I need to think about this again.

 

Praying together

 Traffic Light Prayers                                                                                                               

You will need:

Black card or paper

Clothes Peg

Red green and yellow pom poms or

Small circles of paper

Stick your circles or pom poms to a rectangle of black card to make a traffic light.  Stick the traffic light to a clothes peg.  You will then be able to an use this as a bookmark to remind you to be still, think and pray and go god’s way.

Stop and be still – Listen to God

                                  Slow down and make time for God - Think and pray

                                              Go God’s way every day

Sometimes decisions are very difficult, and it is good for us stop and listen and talk to God.   Holding your traffic light as a family join together to say the following prayer

 

Dear God grant me the calmness and peace

to accept the things I cannot change

Give me courage to change the things I can

and give me wisdom to know the difference.

Amen

(An adaptation of the serenity prayer)

  

A Prayer to say together

Calling God,
you are always calling people to spread your love and share your word with others.
You call ordinary people to do the most unexpected things.
You need so many people to do your work here on earth.
Help us always to be ready to listen to your call,
and to know that you will give us the gifts, courage, energy and enthusiasm to do the things you need us to do.
Help us to overcome the worries, doubts and anger that Jonah had,
and to be ready to respond to your call like the disciples did when Jesus called them to follow him.
Amen.

(from Roots)

 

Creating together

A very simple idea for a fish to retell the story

You will need:

• A clothes peg
• A fish shape (card)– cut in half

Glue the halves of the fish to the clothes peg and you will have a fish that will help you remember the story of Jonah.

 

LAY PREACHERS 

…..  met last week for a catch-up, and shared their stories of awe and wonder from the last few months: there were stories of hope, and small miracles; of healing and encouragement; of rest and freedom; of new knowledge and understanding.  It is right that we should acknowledge what has been lost over this period, but right too that we continue to celebrate God blessing our work and our lives.  What strength we can draw from each others’ stories!

 

FILMING AND EDITING TRAINING

Our ‘Filming and Editing Worship Training’ continues this week with the final session.  You are still welcome to join.  It is at 2.30pm, to be finished by 4pm.

17^th September Session 3  Enhanced Film Editing

To join the training please contact Lindsey, training@urceastern.org.uk

 

NEWS FROM OUR GREEN ADVOCATE

Jeremy has drawn our attention to a number of items:

·       We are encouraged to hold a Climate Sunday service in our churches for Climate Sunday & Creation Time: Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, with support from charities including A Rocha UK & Operation Noah, is encouraging local churches to hold a local Climate Sunday service any time during a one year period starting on 6 September, the first Sunday in the annual season of Creationtide.

More information here: https://www.ecocongregationscotland.org/creation-time/ and here: http://www.climatesunday.org/

·       There is an easy carbon-footprint calculator for your church to use, as a step to starting to reduce emissions.  You can sign up and start using it here: https://360carbon.org/

·       Former Eastern minister Revd Dr Jason Askew is now the National Synod of Wales’ TDO.  In this role, on September 26^th he is hosting Caroline Pomeroy introducing Eco church with the title And God said ‘Take care of… Yourself’ – for more information and a link to register, please go to -  https://www.urcwales.org.uk/news/and-god-said-take-care-of-yourself/ .  All are welcome.

 

NEWS FROM  OUR HEALTH AND HEALING ADVOCATE

Dr Christine McLeod recently went back to work, to assist Public Health England in their response to the Covid-19 pandemic.  Her report to Pastoral Committee included interesting information that frontline work, as well as about how churches can identify and respond to an outbreak.  To see the full report, please go to –

https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/2020/09/health-and-healing-report-august-2020.html

 

WALKING THE WAY

The steering group has produced Harvest materials for us to use as we wish for the coming season https://urc.org.uk/images/WalkingtheWay/documents/WtWHarvest20_180820_1506.pdf?dm_i=2JB1,1MXJW,4L1UGT,5JTBR,1.  As always they are looking for ways in which you and your churches are encouraging and enabling missional discipleship.  Any stories can come via Lindsey, or direct to wtw@urc.org.uk.

 

 

A PRAYER FROM THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE

 

Ephesians 1: 15-17

“For this reason, ever since I have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people. I have not stopped giving thanks for you remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better” 

Gracious Lord, we thank you for people who love us. Who have cared for us and been there for us      (Take a few seconds of silence to picture them.)

Thank you for their advice, their kindness and their prayers.

We thank you for your love for us that you have no favourites but you constantly love us fully and unreservedly. Help us to love others in your name.

Lord in this time of change and uncertainty, grant us wisdom and revelation. That we may make good decisions for ourselves and for others.

In Jesus' name.    Amen.

 

 

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