APRIL 2020

A call to prayer and a reminder to look after each other and

wash your hands!

Dear Friends As I write this letter it’s the

morning of St. Patrick’s Day.

Usually at this time I would be

part of the Diocesan pilgrimage

from Saul to Down Cathedral

stopping at various points along

the road to pray for schools and

businesses, for peace in our

land and different situations

affecting our world.

Today instead, I’m physically

distancing myself from people,

staying in touch by phone and

text and praying for them as they

come into my mind. These are

challenging days for everyone

as we try to follow best practice

to stay safe and protect the most

vulnerable in our community

from the coronavirus.

We do have a duty of care to

those deemed to be most

vulnerable in the older age

bracket or those with underlying

medical conditions who may be

more susceptible to this virus

which is why, for the rest of the

month of March, all weekly

activities and midweek services

in the church and halls are

suspended.

At this point in time we await

guidance about our Sunday

gatherings and so we have been trying to keep people informed

through our website and facebook page about the latest information as we are guided by the government and public

health authorities. Our magazine tends to find its way into pretty well everyone’s home who has declared themselves a

parishioner and so in this magazine we will find the words of some hymns and prayers that

may serve as a useful devotional resource in these troubled times.

One of the aspects of the crisis that concerns me most is the degree of isolation that may be

experienced by our older parishioners who may be asked in the coming weeks to self-isolate for a prolonged period of

time to slow down the spread of the virus. It’s very challenging to be asked not to visit our elderly

parents or grandparents and keep ourselves as an individual or family unit to ourselves. By doing what we think to be helpful

by visiting, we may be in fact exposing people to a greater risk. For this reason I am going to look in the coming days at

setting up a team of people who might undertake to telephone 4 or 5 people regularly in that

more vulnerable age category.

It can’t be underestimated just

how important these phone

calls and little cards or letters

will be to people especially

those who don’t use technology

or smartphones. For those who

are well and can collect

groceries or prescriptions for

those more vulnerable, please

offer to do so and we hope

those little clusters will be able

to support and help each other

as the need arises. For those

wishing to help in that practical

way, I would like to alert you to

a very inspiring facebook page

called “help the vulnerable”.

They are making a huge

difference to many people

through the pooling of

resources and helping in those

practical ways.

We remind people that if they

are displaying any symptoms of

the virus like a runny nose, a

cough or a fever to please stay

at home along with their

household and self-isolate for

14 days. If the symptoms

persist, please phone your GP

or 111 for further advice.

Can we please encourage

everyone to pray in these days for our government as they

make difficult decisions on a daily and even hourly basis?

Can we ask you to pray too for the medical professionals on the frontline looking after people who are very ill and

putting themselves at risk in the process? Can we ask you to pray for our children and grandchildren who are likely to

be off school for a time especially those preparing for important exams in all the

uncertainty? Please pray too for small businesses who are so reliant on their customers for cashflow and for the many

people who have been laid off work in this crisis. I have noticed how some businesses

have been able to set up their business online to supply people and it’s good to support those ventures if we are in a

position to do so or to shop locally and support our local shops, who will find these days very difficult to manage.

Churches are no exception to this in terms of their running costs and if people are in a

position to do so, making contributions by standing order, organised by you with your bank, is very helpful to stabilise

parish finances at a precarious time going forward.

This will also mean that we can

reduce contact with the

envelopes for both the count

teams and the FWO recorder.

The details of how to do this

will be found in this magazine

and if it is helpful to speak to

our Honorary Treasurer, you

will find his details also

included.

As Christians we do have a unique resource through prayer to cry out to God and ask for

his help in this time of great need and anxiety which is why we want to use this month’s

magazine as a springboard or resource to mobilise the prayers of many. Pray on your own, pray with your household or family. Our heavenly father longs to engage with us in these troubled times. I am reminded of 2 things as I

conclude. The first is a verse from a hymn called “Brother, Sister, let me serve you”. It

says “we are pilgrims on a journey and companions on the road. We are here to help each other, walk the mile and bear

the load”. Some people’s load is particularly heavy in these times and through prayer and phone calls and messages we

can help each other to get through those tough times. I’m

also reminded of some verses from one of my favourite

psalms, Psalm 139 verses 7-10. In those verses the psalmist speaks of how no matter what we face – both in the good

times and the worst of times, God’s spirit is with us. There’s a lovely picture in verse 10 of how God’s right hand will hold

us fast. That’s a lovely picture to keep to the very forefront of our minds if we are feeling

anxious or afraid, if we can’t sleep for whatever reason, God’s right hand will hold us fast. May I wish you strength,

peace and an overwhelming sense of the presence of God and reassure you that so long

as I am well and not a risk to anyone I am glad to come in times of adversity and will observe those guidelines of

social distance and pray. I’m also conscious of the power of the telephone and only last night our new Bishop phoned

me and prayed with me over the phone so I suspect there will be quite a bit of that kind of

contact in the coming days.

With very best wishes.

Yours sincerely

Jonathan Pierce (Rector)

Telephone 02890 793822

Devotional Resources for the Coronavirus Situation

The following pages contain some hymns and prayers that may be of help at this time.

Christ be beside me (Hymn 611)

Christ be beside me, Christ be before me, Christ be behind me, King of my heart.

Christ be within me, Christ be below me, Christ be above me, never to part.

Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand,

Christ all around me, shield in the strife. Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting,

Christ in my rising, light of my heart.

Christ be in all hearts thinking about me, Christ be on all tongues telling of me.

Christ be the vision in eyes that see me, In ears that hear me, Christ ever be.

What a friend we have in Jesus (Hymn 627)

What a friend we have in Jesus,

all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

all because we do not carry

everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged;

take it to the Lord in prayer!

Can we find a friend so faithful

who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

take it to the Lord in prayer!

Are we weak and heavy laden,

cumbered with a load of care?

Jesus is our only refuge--

take it to the Lord in prayer!

Do your friends despise, forsake you?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In his arms he'll take and shield you;

you will find a solace there.

May the mind of Christ my Saviour (Hymn 636)

May the mind of Christ, my Saviour,

live in me from day to day,

by his love and power controlling

all I do and say.

May the Word of God enrich me

with his truth from hour to hour,

so that all may see I triumph

only through his power.

May the peace of God my Father

in my life for ever reign,

that I may be calm to comfort

those in grief and pain.

May the love of Jesus fill me

as the waters fill the sea;

him exalting, self abasing:

this is victory.

May his beauty rest upon me

as I seek to make him known

so that all may look to Jesus,

seeing him alone.

May I run the race before me,

strong and brave to face the foe,

looking only unto Jesus

as I onward go.

Devotional Prayers

Preserve us O Lord while waking and guard us while

sleeping that while we are awake we may watch with

Christ and when asleep we may rest in peace.

(from the Service of Compline)

Lord Jesus you travelled through towns and villages

curing every disease and illness. At your command, the

sick were made well. Come to our aid now in the midst of

the global spread of the coronavirus, that we may

experience your healing love.

Heal those who are sick with the virus. May they regain

their strength and health through quality medical care.

Heal us from our fear which prevents nations from

working together and neighbours from helping each

other. Heal us from our pride which can make us claim

invulnerability to a disease that knows no borders.

Lord Jesus you travelled through towns and villages

curing every disease and sickness, come to our aid now

that we may experience your healing love.

Lord Jesus, healer of all, stay by our side in this time of

uncertainty and sorrow. Be with the families of those who

have died from the virus. May they know your peace.

Be with the families of those who are sick. As they worry,

defend them from illness and despair. May they know

your peace. Be with the doctors and nurses, researchers

and all medical professionals who seek to heal and help

those affected and who put themselves at risk in the

process. May they know your protection and peace.

Be with the leaders of all nations. Give them the foresight

to act with clarity and true concern for the well-being of

the people they are meant to serve.

Give them the wisdom to invest in long-term solutions

that will help prepare for or prevent future outbreaks.

May they know your peace as they work together to

achieve it on earth.

Wherever we are Lord, surrounded by many people

suffering from this illness or just a few, please stay with

us as we endure and mourn, as we persist and prepare.

In place of our anxiety, give us your peace.

Lord Jesus heal us we pray in your precious name.

Amen.

Holy Week Services

Please be aware as we list our services and events scheduled

for April that we will be following government and public health

authority guidance and if there are changes that need to be

made we will inform people via the church website and

facebook page. As you hear news please make others aware

who may not have access to the technology. We look forward

to welcoming Reverend Adrian Green, Rector of Mount

Merrion to speak from Monday-Wednesday in Holy Week at

our services at 7.30pm. On Thursday evening there will be a

service of Holy Communion at 7.30pm and on Good Friday

there will be a service at 12 noon directed towards our

children and young people and at 7.30 pm a service for Good

Friday.

Postponement of the Easter Vestry

The Easter General Vestry which was scheduled for Tuesday

24th March has been postponed due to the coronavirus

situation and we are awaiting guidance from the central

church as to when and how it might be rescheduled.

At our Overseas meeting in March we were so grateful to

Mavis Thompson, Diocesan Worldwide Overseas

representative who gave us a very interesting talk on how the

Mothers’ Union Worldwide Fund is used throughout the world

to change lives. In line with the theme of the night, the ladies

from the Committee provided us with a supper based on

foods from the various continents around the world – Asia,

America/Australia, Africa and Europe - in addition the ladies

dressed up in costumes from the continents and they all

looked really amazing!

I regret to inform you that we have decided to cancel the

next meeting of the Mothers’ Union on 2nd April . This

decision was made due to the current medical emergency and

the potential risk to our members. We will keep the situation

under review but it does seem likely that we will not be able to

have our meetings in May or June either. I will let you know if

anything changes.

We had also hoped to have a Spring Concert on 1st May to

raise funds for Mothers’ Union but again in view of the current

situation, we will have to postpone the concert for the time

being.

If any members have money to return for Overseas they

should either give the money to Helen McKnight or leave the

money in an envelope (with your name on the envelope) with

the Church Wardens.

I hope you all keep well and if anyone needs any help or

assistance please feel free to contact either Clare or myself.

Carol Bell, Branch Secretary

Services for April

Sunday 5th

April (The Sixth Sunday in Lent - Palm Sunday)

8.30am – Holy Communion

10.00 am – Connect Service in Hall

11.30am – Holy Communion

7.00pm – Evening Prayer

Sunday 12th

April (The First Sunday of Easter - Easter Day)

8.30am – Holy Communion

10.00am – Holy Communion

11.30 am –Holy Communion

7.00pm – A service of lessons & hymns for Easter

Sunday 19th

April (The Second Sunday of Easter)

9.00am – Holy Communion

11.00am – Morning Prayer

7.00pm – Evening Prayer

Sunday 26th

April (The Third Sunday of Easter)

8.30am – Holy Communion

10.00 am –Morning Worship

11.30am – Morning Prayer

7.00pm – Holy Communion

LADIES OPEN DOOR FRIENDSHIP GROUP

Sadly due to the worrying impact that the coronavirus is

having on the entire community, our 2019/20 season has had

to come to a rather abrupt ending in order to comply with

guidance from the Government and the Chief Medical Officer.

This means that our Daffodil Tea on 1 April and our outing on

6 May (which fortunately was still in the planning stage), will

not now take place.

It only remains for me to thank you for your help and support

throughout the year and to urge you all to follow medical

advice and to keep safe. The next few months will be a

challenging time for everyone but as my mother always used

to say, “with the grace of God and a fair wind behind us, we

will all get through.”

Hopefully the situation will ease up in the coming months and

we will be able to start up again in October.

In the meantime, I urge you all to keep safe, look after your

friends and neighbours and hopefully when the situation

improves, enjoy your summer break.

Joan Logan

AN ALTERNATE WAY OF CONTRIBUTING

FUNDS TO THE PARISH

The Rector in his letter this month asked

parishioners to consider donating by

Standing Order rather than by envelope.

If you would like to do this, you will need to

either set it up in your bank’s electronic banking system or

contact your bank and ask them to set it up for you

The parish bank details are:-

Sort code 95-01-34

Account number 11089757

Account Name St. Finnian’s Parish Church

Please include a Reference with your payment which should

be the six digit number beginning 000 at the bottom right of

the label on your envelope box and your surname

e.g. 000999 SMITH.

This is not your envelope number.

If you need any further details please email or ring the

Honorary Treasurer—Mike Johnston

Email: m.h.johnston@btinternet.com

Telephone: 028 90402769

Church of Ireland Men’s Society

Due to the current situation with coronavirus, the March

and April meetings of the Men’s Society have been

cancelled.

The situation regarding future meetings

will be kept under review.

From the Registers

Christian Burial: 25th February 2020 Margaret (Peggy) Barr

12th March 2020 - David Hunter

13th March 2020 - Eileen Hammond

21st March 2020 - Florence (Betty) Stewart

FLOWER DONATION ROTA

APRIL

5th Mrs B Wilson

12th Mrs B Carlisle

19th Miss G Stevenson

26th Miss A Wall

ST. FINNIAN’S MIXED

INDOOR BOWLING CLUB

The bowling club has been suspended for the rest of the

season and will resume again in September.

St Finnian’s held Messy Church on the 28th February 2020.

Our theme was Lent/creating good habits. The afternoon was a

great success with crafts, worship, chat and food. We had

around 40 people of all ages attending and it was lovely to see

many new faces.

A huge thank you to the team (without whom there would be no

Messy Church!)

Jill

PRAYER WARRIOR

Do you have a concern or problem and would like

someone to pray for you?

If so, text Robin who will be willing to help

This is completely confidential and no details will be passed

onto anyone else unless you want them to.

Mobile: 07513947504

Magazine

Please send articles for inclusion

in the May magazine to

office.cregagh@down.anglican.org

or telephone Parish Office

90792793 by NOON on

Tuesday 14th April.

Don’t forget to check out the church website:

www.stfinnians.org

Find us on Facebook!

Facebook.com/StFinnians

Registered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC101977

CONTACT DETAILS

Rector:

Telephone 028 90793822

Church Office Hours

Tuesday 9.00 am – 2.00 pm

Wednesday 9.00 am – 2.00 pm

TELEPHONE 028 90792793

office.cregagh@down.anglican.org