Issue 268

Newsletter

Daily Bible Readings

Monday 29th: Psalm 47; Genesis 22:15-18; 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 Tuesday 30th: Psalm 47; 1 Kings 18:36-39; 1 John 4:1-6 Wednesday 1st: Psalm 47; Isaiah 51:1-3; Matthew 11:20-24 Thursday 2nd: Psalm 45:10-17; Genesis 25:19-27; Romans 7:1-6 Friday 3rd: Psalm 45:10-17; Genesis 27:1-17; Romans 7:7-20 Saturday 4th: Psalm 45:10-17; Genesis 27:18-29; Luke 10:21-24

Birthday wishes are sent to Elspeth and Ruth who celebrate

their birthday this week. We hope you enjoy your special day.

By now you will have read the letter earlier on the notice sheet from the Superintendent, Pete Moorhouse. He has explained the current situation with regard to Michael and it seems that we have only won part of the battle.

Michael has been granted funds to rent accommodation in the area for a while, which staves off the issue of potential homelessness. For that I’m sure we’re all extremely thankful. However, I am still not happy with the decision that has been made regarding Michael not being able to continue as our minister while he is still in the circuit. I have emailed and sent copies of all your letters of support to the President, Vice President, Secretary and Vice Secretary of the Methodist Conference and I haven’t had the courtesy of an acknowledgement, let alone a reply.

I am still angry at decisions that have been made and am not going to let it rest. I have again written to these four dignitaries as well as the District Chair and I still want answers. Talking to Pete, the Superintendent, I feel that he has tried to be helpful and actually wanted Michael to stay on but decisions have been made above his head. I have raised 4 or 5 questions about Michael’s position in the circuit as far as UMC is concerned and am awaiting answers to these questions as well.

I think the cliché is ‘The battle is half won but the war goes on.’

Terry

Our birthday wishes this week go to Elspeth on Sunday 28th June and Ruth

Circus on the 30th June. We also remember our friend Brian Gameson who will

be celebrating his birthday on the 28th June. We wish you all a very happy day.

Long overdue, but many thanks to Bernard for his quizzes. They certainly get

the grey matter working, but nevertheless very enjoyable. Thank you for putting

these together.

Our love and prayers to you all.

Jacquie

Music Quiz Part Two Answers (Apologies that these weren’t on last week’s notice sheet)

1. One Day at a Time 2. All Shook Up (Elvis Presley) 3. Thank You For The Music (Abba) 4. A Boy Named Sue (Johnny Cash) 5. I Shot the Sheriff (Eric Clapton) 6. Don’t Stand so Close to me (The Police) 7. Happiness (Ken Dodd) 8. 9 to 5 (Dolly Parton) 9. Don’t rain on my Parade (Barbra Streisand) 10. The Winner Takes it All (Abba) 11. Don’t Worry About a Thing (Boy Marley) 12. A Winter’s Tale (David Essex) 13. Take Me Home, Country Roads (John Denver) 14. Tulips from Amsterdam (Max Bygraves) 15. What’s New Pussycat? (Tom Jones) 16. Heartbeat (Buddy Holly and Nick Berry) 17. Come Fly With Me (Frank Sinatra) 18. King of The Road (Roger Miller) 19. Moon River (Andy Williams) 20. Walking in the Air (Aled Jones) 21. Pink Panther (Henry Mancini) 22. Mona Lisa (Nat King Cole) 23. In The Mood (Glenn Miller) 24. Stand By Your Man (Tammy Wynette) 25. Move Over Darling (Doris Day) 26. Midnight Train to Georgia (Gladys Knight and the Pips) 27. Rhinestone Cowboy (Glen Campbell) 28. What Do You Want? (Adam Faith) __________________________________________________________________________

Comedy/Novelty Songs Answers

1. Lily the Pink – The Scaffold 2. D I V O R C E – Billy Connolly 3. Rabbit – Chas & Dave 4. Little White Bull – Tommy Steele 5. Mouldy Old Dough – Lieutenant Pigeon 6. Nellie The Elephant – Mandy Miller 7. The Streak – Ray Stevens 8. The Laughing Policeman – Charles Penrose 9. You’re the One That I Want – Arthur Mullard and Hylda Baker 10. Snooker Loopy – Matchroom Mob with Chas & Dave 11. Don’t Jump Off the Roof Dad – Tommy Cooper 12. Goodness Gracious Me – Peter Sellers and Sophia Loren 13. Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West) – Benny Hill 14. Ugly Duckling 15. Funky Moped – Jasper Carrott and Funky Gibbon – The Goodies 16. The Laughing Gnome – David Bowie 17. Delaney’s Donkey – Val Doonican 18. My Brother – Terry Scott 19. My Boomerang won’t Come Back – Charlie Drake 20. Right Said Fred and Hole in The Ground – Bernard Cribbens 21. Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah – Alan Sherman 22. The Hippopotamus Song (Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud) 23. My Old Man’s a Dustmen – Lonnie Donegan

THE COVID-19,

A DESERT EXPERIENCE

OF OUR JOURNEY

_________________________________

Pastoral Letter

During the coronavirus pandemic, some of the retailers are as lively as at Christmas time

whereas other giant business firms and shops are grounded for a night of deep sleep.

People are concerned about maintaining their wellbeing during lockdown life. What

remains the primary activities that are thriving at this time? According to various reports,

there has been a surge in demand for bicycles, home gym types of equipment, pool

tables and table tennis and other fitness products are on top of their activities for their

exercise. The orders for home decoration and garden items have been increased

during the lockdown period. To a large extent, people have been producing their

vegetables in their gardens. Some people are worried about the supply of fresh

vegetables and others for an educational opportunity for their young children. Other

indoor activities like sewing and knitting have enhanced a way to beat the dullness of

confinement too. Coffee has become a demanding interest as previously for offices

now for their homes. Another widespread activity is to spend their time reading.

Amazingly it is interesting to find fictional books of epidemics are popular like The Eyes

of Darkness by Dean Koontz as the book describes a virus called Wuhan-400 written in

1981.

How about Christians then? Many Christian leaders say the coronavirus has enhanced

a massive opportunity for Christians to practice their Christian love with their neighbours

and members. Put differently, the pandemic has challenged Christians to consider a

deeper level of connection and mutual appreciation among their communities. This

caring approach has motivated people to find their neighbours regardless of their

particular racial backgrounds or their beliefs. Astonishingly, people have expanded the

capacity of their brotherly love for their neighbours in crisis!

The coronavirus closed the church door, but it cannot stop the church life. Almost

immediately since the lockdown measure applied, churches began to occupy their

space on any possible means of social communication media such as on YouTube,

Facebook live, Zoom, Skype, FaceTime or WhatsApp, etc. Personally, I started learning

how to edit videos on my own that I have never tried to share anything on YouTube

until the lockdown experience. Fortunately, I have taken so many photos and stored on

my external memory drive. To my surprise, I have enhanced the editing technic for my

YouTube channel. It has become a tremendous catch for me to embark on a creative

career for my online service. A friend of mine said, “You have taken such tons of photos

for this time.” We have been building our social attachment for caring and loving

during the lockdown, more closely than ever before.

As we left the church building with the notice on the door—“Church is closed until

further notice,” we felt extremely sympathetic for the worshippers. But now we discover

an alternative path of our Christian faith coping with the terrible pandemic. Put

differently, the church has become invisible at this time, but we have met a time to say

“We are the church.” The church building is closed but not the life of the church.

At this point, I come across the desert life of Jesus spent in the wildness for forty days

and forty nights. In fact, this pandemic started during the last Lenten Season. Observing

Lent means to exercise a strict discipline to listen to the voice come from the Lord in our

life. Keeping Lent also means we allow the uneasiness of confinement to pursue the

higher rules in our daily living. This time a massive challenge has led us with a global

level of the test. The coronavirus has challenged us like Satan in the desert, and we

become as fearful as seeing so many victims rise day after day around the world.

Nevertheless, Jesus overcame the test living out his dedicated life in the desert. The

desert experience could not confine His presence forever. For all you know, we may

admit that this current pandemic has enhanced an opportunity for us to testify our faith

in the desert experience of the COVID-19. Like Jesus, all of us somehow have met a

desert experience on our Christian journey. And we also learn how to interpret and

accept the harsh condition of lockdown life as a desert life.

What lessons have we absorbed by this time then? Have we grasped what to focus on

our journey? Have we acquired priority what to give up and what to maintain in our

life? Have we learned what sort of passion or driving force to apply for our living?

Undergoing such a harsh life of the pandemic, at least, we have discovered how to

manage the things we are to give up physically as well as spiritually. During the current

trials, we come realising our spiritual hunger afresh as being surrounded by the physical

lockdown - Physically vulnerable but spiritually thriving.

I recall what Rt. Reverend Stephen Cottrell, told Premier earlier, “God might be using

the virus to change our lifestyle…Even this pandemic is absolutely awful…there’s

nothing good about it - but that doesn’t mean God can’t bring good out of it.” He will

be serving the Church of England as the new Archbishop of York from 9th July 2020. By

all means, I believe there should be some significant lessons we could absorb from this

pandemic.

Whatever ways you have been tying to cope with this terrible virus during this lock

down, I want you to believe that “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favour lasts

a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” (Psalm

30:5, NIVUK) Or we may consider what C. S. Lewis said that “Joy often comes as a

surprise.” Without a doubt, the coronavirus has invaded our planet with horrific shock

and terror. Nevertheless, we may recover the beauty and goodness of our earthly love

from one of the most lamented times in our

history.

(Michael Moon)

Resource: *Simon Gompertz and Robert Plummer, “Coronavirus: Six things that are booming in sales”, (BBC News, 29th March 2020) *David Robertson, “What is the impact of churches closing because of coronavirus?”, (Christianity To-day, 18th March 2020) *Julie Canlis, “Love in the Desert of Lent” (Premierchristian.news, March 2020)

SERVICE GUIDE FOR CHILDREN

Sunday 28 June 2020

For very young children

Play, and wonder about being welcome and welcoming others.

Play materials: toy cups, plates and play food.

Gathering prayers

God loves me

From the top of my head

(Touch head)

to the tips of my toes;

(Touch toes)

from the lobes of my ears

(Touch ear lobes)

to the end of my nose;

(Touch nose)

from my back, to my front

(Turn round)

to my wiggly fingers,

(stretch out arms and wiggle fingers)

God loves me!

(jump up and down)

Storytelling

*Sit together in a circle, making sure that everyone knows the names of the children or

leaders they are sat next to. Share this story together, following the actions (in italics):

Jesus said this: ‘Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me (shake hands with the children

sat next to you). Anyone who welcomes me welcomes God, who sent me (point up-

wards). Anyone who gives even a drink of cold water to one of my friends (mime giving a

cup of water to the children next to you) will be rewarded.’ (shake hands again with

those sat next to you.)

Sing

The welcome song on Absolute modern worship for kids volume 3

Jesus’ hands were kind hands, doing good to all

Ask seek knock, Hillsong Kids on Can you believe it?

Everybody’s welcome, Vineyard music on Great big God Heaven is our home, Hillsong Kids on Can you believe it?

Better is one day, Kutless on Christian music’s best – worship

All are welcome, Marty Haugen on All are welcome

Love is here, Tenth avenue north on Over and underneath

Pray

Take a flower necklace and place it around each child in turn as you say: Thank you, Je-

sus, that you welcome (insert name of child). Encourage everyone to shout out Amen

after each name.

A sending out prayer

Young children love repetition. Using the same prayer to end your session each time you

meet will create a sense of familiarity and expectation.

God bless you,

(Point to others)

and God bless me.

(Point to self)

Amen. (Wave arms)

Leader: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All: In the name of Christ, Amen.

******************

Play

Lay a table with toy cups and plates and lots of play food. Encourage the children to

take turns to prepare a feast and welcome each other to it.

Create

Write ‘welcome’ in block letters across the middle of a large sheet of paper. Pour paint

onto large, flat plates. Ask the children to use the paint to make handprints around the

letters. Provide bowls of water for cleaning up. Display the banner for all to see.

Colouring sheets