UPDATES AND USEFUL INFORMATION (11th November 2020)
Dear All
Blessings with the
continuing challenges of these days. I
hope this weekly circulation continues to contribute positively to the sharing
of information and the offering of resources.
This briefing is posted
on the Synod website and on the blog each week, so there is no need to get the
reminder email to access it. All past
emailings and related documents remain on the Synod coronavirus blog - https://urceasternsynod.blogspot.com/
Best wishes
Paul
HOLY HABITS ROADSHOW – OR (AS THEY ARE) ONLINE TRAINING
We continue with our series of brief training videos around a number of Holy Habits. The first seven are now on the Synod YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtYncbpZJ4PKBBrjrcXBHrw?view_as=subscriber and the eighth, some practical reflections on Sharing Resources with Lindsey should be posted (as I write) over the next day or so.
Number 6, which was
posted belatedly, for which apologies, offers a slightly different approach,
giving an example of an intergenerational reflection around Communion using the
methodology of Godly Play. Should you
wish a version of this one without the introduction, so just the presentation
of the story to play in worship or similar, you will find a shorter version of
this video which omits the introductory comments on Paul’s YouTube
channel. The direct link is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51QVv3GIIIs
ALL AGE WORSHIP
Families at home – The parable of the talents
Story time for the Under fives
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V16XCXopRsU
Singing together
Give thanks with a grateful
heart - Makaton signed by Becky George
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHlURF18oJE
A prayer
Lord,
when our path in life feels very hard,
thank you that you show us the way.
When we do not know what to do,
thank you that youThe P
give us
gifts to serve you.
When we don’t feel important,
thank you that you trust us to be partners in
your kingdom.
Amen.
Reading, watching, and listening together
Matthew 25.14-30
The Parable of the Talents - A Godly Play story with Paul
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te8421zoMFg
Jesus told this story: ‘Before going on a journey, a man sent for his three
slaves and put them in charge of his property. He gave five gold coins to the
first slave, two gold coins to the second and one gold coin to the third. The
slave with five coins used them to buy and sell and made five more. The slave
with two coins used them to buy and sell and made two more. But the slave with
only one coin dug a hole and hid his master’s money in the ground.
‘A long time later, the master returned and sent for his slaves. The one who
had received five gold coins came forward saying, “Master, you gave me five
coins, and I have made ten.”
‘His master said, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave! You have proved I can trust you with a few things, so I will put you in charge of many.” The one who had received two gold coins came forward, saying, “Master, you gave me two coins, and I have made four.”
‘His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave! You have proved I can trust you with a few things, so I will put you in charge of many.” The one who had received one gold coin came forward, saying, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, so I was afraid. I decided to hide your coin in the ground to keep it safe. Here, have it back.”
‘His master was furious. “You lazy slave!” he shouted. “You should have put my
money in the bank, where it would have earned interest and made more.” He took
the coin from him, gave it to the slave with ten and ordered, “Throw this
useless slave out!”’
Mini Bible story with actions - Don’t hide things
Jesus said, ‘Use the things that you have been given.
Hold out hands.
Don’t just hide them.
Tuck fists under arms.
Use them to make something wonderful.’
‘Grow’ hands up in air.
Praying together
Prayer
Bricks
Using Building bricks or blocks write the words Bless, Sorry, thank you, and help on the bricks or write on stickers you can put on the bricks. This works with Jenga bricks too. Put the bricks in a bag and shake them up. Take it in turns to take out a brick. Prayer a prayer for each of the different bricks that you take out
Dear God Please bless…
Dear God I am sorry for…
Dear God thank you for…
Dear God please help…
Amen
As you pray your prayer add your brick together to build a tower.
ADVENT BOXES
These are now sold out across the denomination. HOWEVER, you can make your own. Information on how to do this is (or will be) posted on the Synod website.
CHRISTINGLE – ON LINE? AT HOME?
A conversation – Join Nicola on Zoom Friday 13th November 2.30pm
Nicola Grieves is inviting you to a
scheduled Zoom meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83209719837
Meeting
ID: 832 0971 9837
ELDERS’/TRUSTEE TRAINING
Wednesday 18th November 7 – 9.30pm
A
reminder of our ‘overview’ training for new trustees or those looking for a
refresher. Also helpful for Ministers and those considering Eldership/
church leadership. This session will be led by the Moderator and the
Mission and Training Officer. Please email Lindsey to register; the link
will be sent out on the day.
BUILDINGS AND NOTICEBOARDS
Just a reminder to refresh your outside space, so that the community knows how you are being church while the buildings are closed again.
DOING CHRISTMAS DIFFERENTLY
Activities around the Synod (please let us know your own churches’ plans, to add to the list on the website). All with the caveat to do so with due care for your church members and wider community, according to current regulations and common sense…
·
Christingle
(remember too Nicola’s Christingle conversation this Friday 13th November - see above)
o
‘Walk-through’
Christingle (The Cornerstone, Southend)
o
‘Christingle-in-a-bag’,
delivered to the doorstep
·
Online
Lessons and Carols (pre-recorded singers / musicians and readers, and/or live
online with everyone else muted)
·
Advent
course online
·
Advent
reflections online
·
Advent
windows across the village / town, to be spotted and prizes awarded for finding
them (Mark Tubby at Dovercourt Central Church)
·
Filming
a live Nativity retelling or tableau; editing and uploading
·
Record
a local school singing carols, to include in a service
·
Decorate
churches as usual during Advent, especially for those services being recorded
in the building and those churches open for private prayer
Mission Committee were excited by the creativity being shown by the churches. The emphasis was on to trying to avoid cancelling things, and on finding new things to do or new ways of doing them: please let us have your ideas, or get in touch if you’re looking for some inspiration training@urceastern.org.uk
WALKING THE WAY
The Steering Group have released materials for Advent, based on the Psalms from the lectionary. Please use / circulate freely. https://urc.org.uk/images/WalkingtheWay/documents/WtWAdvent20.pdf
A CONVERSATION
Monday 23rd November, 2-4pm
How
has the most recent lockdown affected you? How are you feeling about
other national and global events? How are you approaching Christmas at
this time? How are you supporting others who are struggling? Join us for
an informal chat to share ideas for managing and thriving in these difficult
times. Email Lindsey for a link: training@urceastern.org.uk
CHURCH GROWTH AND EVANGELISM
Trevor Hahn, the Synod Church Growth and Evangelism Advocate, helps us reflect:
It seems hard that just as things were starting to ease somewhat we have now entered a second lockdown with the challenges and isolation that come with it. We certainly need to remain cautious and I pray you all remain safe and well. But that does not mean that we should just hunker down, batten down the hatches, withdraw inside ourselves and ride out the storm of this virus and its consequences and only re-emerge once it has passed.
I have been spending some time looking at the story of Isaac in Genesis chapter 26. Isaac, the son of Abraham, was living in the time of a famine in the land. The scripture implies Isaac was looking to go down to Egypt presumably to find food but God told Isaac to stay where he was, reminding Isaac of the promise He gave his father Abraham, that God will be with Isaac and will bless him, and through his offspring all nations will be blessed. And Isaac obeyed God and remained in the land where he was and instead of holding on to what he had, storing it, rationing his food, saving it so he would have something to eat during the famine scripture tells us that Isaac planted crops. At a time when it might be sensible to reduce investment, reduce sowing and planting to keep what he had for food during this time of famine, when planting crops made no logical sense, as during the time of a famine you certainly do not expect a harvest from the seeds you sow, Isaac forewent keeping his seed for today’s provision and sowed the seed, and invested it for the future. At a time of famine and immediate need Isaac looked to the future. He made a sacrifice today to receive a blessing and provision for the future. And scripture says that ‘the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him.’
To read on – please go to the posting of the full article on the Synod website –
RURAL RESOURCES
A reminder that a wide variety of resources with a rural perspective, though many suitable for wider use, are available from the Arthur Rank Centre. Please go to –
Together Apart: A rural church response to coronavirus
from the Arthur Rank Centre
INTERFAITH WEEK
THIS is Interfaith Week. It is probably too late to do something, unless it has already happened or is under way, but there are lots of good resources, which can be explored or used at any time on the Interfaith Week website - https://www.interfaithweek.org/
URC INFO
All the latest information (and links to resources) from the United Reformed Church is on the Coronavirus Advice page of the denomination’s website –
https://urc.org.uk/coronavirus.html
A PRAYER FOR INTERFAITH
WEEK
by ROBERT OGDEN (Synod
Interfaith Advocate)
Heavenly Father,
Your world is an amazing place of diversity and creativity and we thank you for this. We thank you that this range is shown to us through human life and that we are all created in your image. We recognise that faith is expressed in different ways, through denominations and belief and so we give thanks for faith communities who gather together in faiths and beliefs that may be both similar and different to our own.
In inter faith week, help us to be welcoming and open to our friends and neighbours who may not believe as we do. Help us to “love our neighbour as ourselves” as Christ taught us. Help us to listen and to respect those of different views and beliefs and enable us to work alongside others from differing backgrounds, culture and beliefs.
We pray for people of all faiths and none who have become refugees and have had to flee their homes because of war or intolerance and for all those who help to alleviate their uncertainty and fears.
We pray for families who, as an impact of COVID, have an uncertain future or have lost their homes and their livelihoods, whatever their faith, their backgrounds or their circumstances.
Father bless all who believe and give each one of us the strength to share the peace that surpasses all understanding during this Inter-Faith week in 2020. 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
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