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MINISTERReverend Henriette Wentink

33 Glentor RoadPlymouth, PL3 5TPTel: 01752 215456

E-Mail: minister@trinityurc1.plus.com

TREASURER Free Will & Gift Aid Officer

Mrs. Valerie Bott01752 768432

PUBLICITY OFFICERMrs Sarah NicholsonTel : 01752 794225

HALL BOOKINGS email : trinityhallbooking@gmail.com

Tel: 07582905573

KEY HOLDERMr David WoolleyTel: 01752 778056

ORGANIST DIRECTOR OF MUSIC

David Stevens Tel: 07825653302

Our buildings are still closed but we must remember that the church is the people not the building. Wecan still contact each other by phone; by e-mail; face time; facebook; Whats app

We can still worship using radio, TV computers or tablets . If you want to join with us then several ofus follow the service provided by the URC which is posted each week on our web page and if you joinat 10.30am you will be worshipping with several of our usual congregation.

You can also sign up to receive the daily meditations from the URC just go to the web site URC.org.ukand click on Daily Devotions

Please remember in your prayers, all those whoneed our support at this time.Those who haveasked to be remembered are:-

John and Marilyn Crosswaite, Phyllis GearingVera Godfree, Joyce Eustace-Pedlar, Sandi andRoger Douglas, Mabel Stansbury, Doreen Lock,(Richard Lock's Mum) , Caleb .Edna TinclerAmbrose Wright’s son Paul has had 6 groundbreaking operations and is now home in Scotland recuperating

Prayer;-Loving God, we come before you as peoplewho want you there beside us to comfort and supportall of us as we try to overcome our very human day today frailties. Amen.

Our treasurer asks all those who usually give viathe collecting bag, whether they could pay theircontribution by standing order if they use internetbanking.

Details Trinity URC Sort code 20-68-10Account number 40899380

Thank you Valerie Bott Treasurer

Congratulations to Revd David and Sue Flynn whowill celebrate their Golden Wedding on July 11th.

Congratulations to Alex, Cat and Jesse Charman-Rowse for providing Richard with a new grandsonLucas

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PSALM 46 a psalm of comfort in anxious times

To say that we are living in uncertain times is anunderstatement! Psalm 46 speaks into our anxietyand fear, just as it did to Israel originally. At thistime, we must focus on God, who alone candeliver us in such times.

He is our refuge: ‘God is our refuge and strength,an ever-present help in trouble.' (1). In the midstof our difficulties, God promises Himself to beour refuge, strength and help. A ‘refuge' is a placeof trust, where God promises to protect us. Whenthe whole world is turned upside down, we cancome to Him without fear.

He is our resource: ‘There is a river whosestreams make glad the city of God, the holy placewhere the Most High dwells.' (4,5). Jerusalemwas able to withstand enemy attack, because ofthe water that resourced it. For us, this is a pictureof the presence of God's Spirit, who resources uswhen we are under pressure. This psalm promisesthat God's is with is in all our troubles on a dailybasis: ‘The Lord Almighty is with us…' (7,11).

He is our ruler: ‘He says, ‘Be still, and know thatI am God; I will be exalted among the nations, Iwill be exalted in the earth.' (10). When weconsider all that God has done in the past, we cansee the way in which He has worked among us toprovide, protect, and deliver us. We are called to‘cease fighting' God and surrender our lives toGod. Let's worship Him, as we let go fear and aswe depend on Him in this current time of crisis.

‘A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark neverfailing; our helper he, amid the flood of mortalills prevailing' (Martin Luther).

: Canon Paul Hardingham

LOCAL IS BACK!

Odd things have been happening to my world inthese past weeks of lockdown.

It's got bigger. I've been speaking regularly viathe web with friends in Australia and the UnitedStates. Worshippers from Canada and SouthAfrica are taking part in our online churchservices. Other churches are telling the samestories, with increasing numbers of peoplelogging on.

It's got smaller. Even with the relaxation ofregulations, many people are still working fromhome, home-schooling and mostly exercisingwithin walking or cycling distance from wherethey live.

It's got faster. Arrangements for a funeral in myfamily were speeded up, with registration andfuneral planning carried out over the phone. Adoctor's appointment by telephone significantlycut down waiting time.

It's got slower. Shopping takes longer withqueues that people would have complainedabout before the lockdown. The shops havedone a great job to keep the shelves stocked andmaintain social distancing.

I've been thinking about what the long-termimpact of the Covid-19 lockdown might be.One of the key outcomes is that local is back.

For decades, we've been hearing aboutglobalization, and how the world is a muchmore connected place. It is, and the internet haskept many vital businesses running these pastweeks.

But we've also come to value what's on ourdoorstep and in our local streets. Neighbourshave become more important. We're valuinglocal shops, pubs and restaurants, parks andopen spaces. All the people working hard tokeep local services going.

Christianity is now a major global religion, withbillions of followers around the world. But itbegan local. It began with Jesus Christ,travelling by foot, preaching and healing arounda small area of the middle east. From its localroots, the faith spread around the world.

Today, churches around the world are deeplyrooted in their local communities and areseeking to follow Christ's example of love andcaring.

Each of us is rooted into our family, into ourkey relationships and into where we live.

During this pandemic, each of these has grownin importance.

Peter Crumpler is a Church of England priest inSt Albans, Herts,.

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AS FINE AS SILVER

Malachi 3:3 says: “He will sit as a refiner andpurifier of silver.”

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study.They got to wondering what this statement meantabout the character and nature of God. One of thewomen offered to find out the process of refiningsilver and get back to the group at their next BibleStudy.

That week, the woman called a silversmith andmade an appointment to watch him at work. Shedidn’t mention anything about the reason for herinterest beyond her curiosity about the process ofrefining silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece ofsilver over the fire and let it heat up. He explainedthat in refining silver, one needed to hold the silverin the middle of the fire where the flames werehottest, so as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in sucha hot spot, and then she thought again about theverse that says: “He sits as a refiner and purifier ofsilver.” She asked the silversmith if it was true thathe had to sit there in front of the fire the whole timethe silver was being refined.

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sitthere holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyeson the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If thesilver was left a moment too long in the flames, itwould be destroyed. The woman was silent for amoment. Then she asked the silversmith, “How doyou know when the silver is fully refined?”

He smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that’s easy –when I can see my image in it.”

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire,remember that God has His eye on you and willkeep watching you. His aim is not to abandon ordestroy you, but to refine you – until He sees Hisimage in you.

From Parish Pump

Haiku. Splash, splash here I go

Down in the deep mermaids sleep Dear friend the blue sea.

Me a mermaid, swimming in the seaFlipping and flapping my tail

That's me !

I shimmer and shineI shatter and shake

All of it I doTo have fun in the sun.

Adventures I makeWay down in the deepI'm tossing and turningWhile human folk sleep

A nymph combs my tressesOh, how she fusses

Then I'll giggle and mock Her skill with my comb.

I'll sing in the nightWill the fishermen take fright

Oh, what do they seeA goddess or me.

My tale is not of woeMy life is fast not slowThe fish are my friends

The sea knows my secret dens.

When you are by the seaAnd catch a glimpse of me

Don't look away As mermaids like to play.

Bernadette Neave Massey

Copyright.

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Last year, some friends took their six-year-oldon a car trip to France. To help pass the timeon the way down to the Channel, theyencouraged their son to practise his newreading skills by calling out road signs.

He fell asleep just before they entered France.When he awoke, he saw the French motorwaysigns and said in a worried tone, "I think Iforgot how to read while I was asleep."

BUTTERCUPS treasure in our countryside

Buttercup! What a delicious name! Rumour has itthat, as they were frequently to be found inmeadows where cows grazed, they wereresponsible for butter’s yellow colouring. So thename was an obvious choice.

However, since buttercups are poisonous andtherefore are avoided as far as possible by ourfour-footed friends, this is somewhat unlikely. Butsurely, we all remember having a buttercup heldunder our chin to see whether the reflection provedthat we liked butter! The shiny surface of the petalsactually has two real purposes. Firstly, to helpattract insects and secondly to act as a kind ofmirror to aid the temperature regulation of theplant’s reproductive organs.

We are fortunate that buttercups do not suffer fromthe same unpopularity as other poisonous plants,because if eaten, not only do they taste nasty, butthe poison will also cause blisters in the mouth ofthe consumer. Extensive handling can also damagethe skin, but presumably the size of bunch thatmany of us picked as children did not count as‘extensive’. Fortunately, Health and Safety expertsdo not yet seem to have forbidden this source ofpleasure for little people. Incidentally, the poison isreduced as the plant dries, and hay that includesbuttercups is safe for cows and horses to eat.

Buttercups help form the traditional view of theBritish countryside. Differing varieties range inheight from small to quite tall and although at theirpeak in early summer, the golden blooms can oftenstill be seen in mid-autumn.

Kirsty Steele (a retired teacher and active church organist)

AN OLD BOOK

By way of a change from constant news of thepandemic, I have a recipe book from the late 40'swhich was my mothers. Some of the pages arequite worn especially the one with the Christmascake recipe, which I made for many years.

It also shows the prices of ingredients in oldmoney when 1s = 12d = present5p.

1½ lb. potatoes 1½d2 pairs of kippers 10d.

1½ lb. cooking apples 6d.½ lb of prunes 3½d.

A 4lb. duck 5s 4d6 slices streaky bacon 6d.

4 oranges 4d.4lb. sirloin 4s 8d

4 ½ lb. Topside 3s1 large cauliflower 6d2 lb. brussel sprouts 4d

5 lb. chicken 6s 8d7 lb. goose 5s

½ lb. tongue 1s2d4 ½ lb. leg of lamb 3s 4½d2½lb. loin of pork 3s 9d.

1½ lb. steak and kidney 2s.

How strange it seems to look again at these oldprices, who else among the congregation has avery old recipe book from a family member, Ittakes me back to happy days in the kitchen withmy mother.

Audrey Milford I have a treasured cookery book which my niecehand wrote for me as a wedding present. Onedessert was Semolina Snow. Perhaps I should tryit one day! Editor

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MY JOURNEY WITH FAITH

I had a phone call from Jill, the editor of TrinityTidings, to ask me if I would write about myjourney to faith and had been dreading being asked.

Like Judy, I never had a "Road to Damascus"moment, but I have always been secure in myknowledge of the Lord and I can't recall a timewhen I didn't know He was in my life.Don't get me wrong! I am not someone who hasn'tstruggled with my faith and the idea of God; Father,Son and Holy Spirit but rather, I have always "felt"God in my life taking care of me. This has alwaysrather troubled me as I always thought I shouldhave known when I let God into my life…

I recall one Sunday morning sitting in church whenJill Woollacott was preaching; I have always likedJill as a preacher and felt she explained things sowell and making me question the way I looked atthings I have long known, but giving me a differentoutlook. This particular Sunday, my ears prickedup and rather than letting her words sweep over mymind, I started to listen intently - here was someoneelse who had always felt the presence of God in herlife and, as a child, didn't remember a time whenshe didn't have Him in her thoughts. This helpedme as I had always felt rather odd that I felt thatway and wondered if there was something wrongwith me.

I was christened into the Church of Scotland andattended the Old Parish Church for Sunday school. My mum didn't always attend church. Dad onlywent on special occasions, but they did bring meup to know what church was and I often went toSunday school with my brother, who is 5 yearsolder than me. I had a best friend growing up whowas a Roman Catholic and mum took me along tomy friend's First Communion and the different sortof service intrigued me. I now experienced agrowing curiosity in religion and with friends,started visiting a mission at the top of the road Ilived in. The fact that they doled out sweeties tochildren was an added attraction but soon it becameapparent that I was experiencing negative feelingsand I was stopped from going - their message wasobviously not suitable for me and I moved onto theSalvation Army and enjoyed the discipline, musicand fellowship I found there.

At 11 years old, I had been promised a bike if Ipassed my exams but when it came to it; I got aBible instead of a bike… I remember reading it

cover to cover and was fascinated with thestories I read in it. I had to replace that Bible afew years back as the print is so small I washaving difficulty reading it but it is still one ofmy most cherished books.

Moving into my early teens I left the SalvationArmy behind. I am very frivolous in life, butneed a stronger discipline in my faith life, so Istarted to look around the other churches inGrangemouth where I lived and finally settled onthe Grange Church, just around the corner fromthe Old Parish Church where I had attendedSunday school, becoming a church member at 16years old and also did a stint as Sunday Schoolteacher. The Revd William Lyall was theminister there, one of the old type of Hellfire anddamnation type of ministers, but oh, how muchI enjoyed his sermons. I had a lot of friends growing up but none ofthem came to church with me, or got involved inchurch events and I never thought anything ofthat - I had my interests and they had theirs andnone of us judged each other.

When I got married and moved to Plymouth, Ihad a couple of years where I didn't attendchurch; I knew there was a Church of Scotlandin HMS Drake but didn't know how to get intothe dockyard and shamefully, I didn't take itfurther. Although there have been times that Ihave not attended church, I have never beendeserted by my faith. One Sunday morning, I went for a walk andfound myself outside Crownhill MethodistChurch and went in. They were very welcomingand I spent quite a few years worshipping therebut refused to become a member even though theminister would broach the subject with me on aregular basis.

When my children were born, I took them backto the Grange Church and had my first twochildren christened there but when my youngestchild was born, the church was in the process ofclosing down and I felt sad, but as I wasattending church in Plymouth, it didn't affect metoo much. As I still wanted my youngest to bechristened into the Church of Scotland, Icontacted the chaplain at HMS Drake to ask if itcould be done there and as soon as I walked intothe church "I felt at home".Once I had passed my driving test and was ableto get over to Keyham on a Sunday morning, I

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joined St Andrew CSFC and spent many happyyears there. As it was a Naval Church, the chaplainchanged every 18 months - 2 years and if there wasa problem with any of them, I was consoled by thefact that we only had them for a short time. We hadChurch of Scotland, Methodist and Baptistchaplains, so it was very interesting getting otherviews and made a good education for me. I alsoserved time there as a Sunday School teacher againbut although I put an awful lot of effort into it, Ialways felt at the end of the session that I waslacking somewhat.

During my time in the church at Drake, sadly, myfather passed away. This was the only time in mylife that I had trouble with my faith. All week,while not in church, I had no problem but on aSunday, I would go into church and rather thancomfort, I would fill up with all sorts of doubtsabout my faith and felt I was such a hypocrite forbeing there! This troubled me greatly; why wouldI have these thoughts on the one day of the weekwhere I should find much comfort and reassurance? I sought guidance from the chaplain, who had noanswers for me but did produce a couple of smallbooks on grief and eventually, the feelingssubsided. I still to this day cannot understand whyI would have been so affected only on Sundays.

Sadly, the decision was taken to close the church inJanuary 2008 and not wanting to join the C of E StNicholas Church in Drake, and not being aMethodist at heart, I decided to try Trinity URC. For a long time, I grieved for my church and washoping against hope that the decision to closewould be reversed, though I knew it wouldn't. I didhave a great deal of sadness and struggled with theloss of "my" church although everyone at Trinitywere so welcoming. In particular, on my firstSunday in Trinity URC, Marilyn Crosswaite cameover to speak to me and brought me a copy of theTrinity Tidings; I have never forgotten her kindnessand the welcome I received - I never left, you got"landed" with me whether you liked it or not!!

I was asked if I had thought of becoming a memberof the church and at the time replied that it wassomething I had pondered but was not ready tomake the move yet. I was left alone to deliberateand not pressured into anything which was lovely,and eventually was honoured to be welcomed as amember of the church at an Easter Sunday Servicealong with Richard Lock.

When approached to be asked if I would consider

becoming an Elder, my first reaction was "I'mnot old enough yet", which made me laughbecause I didn't mean "old enough" but "matureenough". To me an Elder was someone muchmore experienced and respected in society thanI felt I was but after a lot of prayer, reading andinvestigating, I felt ready to make the move intothat aspect of the church.

I believe wholeheartedly in the power of prayerbut I can't say the way I pray is conventional aspeople understand it. I often have "chats" withthe Lord, which is my way of praying - standinga couple of hours at the ironing board, you canhave great conversations with Him. Many atime I have prayed to God to show me the way;the way shown is often not what I have expectedand has taken me quite by surprise. I haveshouted at him when I didn't feel He waslistening to me but I have learned to trust thatwhat is best will be what happens with His help,and of course, I acknowledge the answeredprayers with gratitude.

Thinking back, and I have to say I hadn't realisedit up until now, all my growing up was donewith the church firmly there behind me. I stillstruggle with understanding my faith andsometimes my head gets in the way of my heart,but the feeling of knowing that God is alwaysthere and does His best for me, comforts me.

I hope you will excuse my "ramblings" and thelength of this article; I had no idea how to writeit but when I started, it all poured out of me ontothe page. Some of the events may be slightly outof sequence, but I hope you have got message ofmy "Journey with Faith" rather than my"Journey of Faith"

Blessings and prayers to you all at this unsettlingtime,

Janette Duncalf

Thank you for your honesty Janette and a veryinteresting article.

Janette has decided to take a break from theEldership and we thank her for all she hascontributed to the life of Trinity.

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FROM THE MANSE…

It was with much interest that I read Paul Grosch'sarticle titled "In a time of crisis, what about otherFaiths?" (see Tidings, June), not because Inecessarily agree with him but because I welcomesearching questions to do with our faith and how itinfluences our choices. In what follows I have triedto give a response to a complex discussion,admittedly in a less academic way but with thepastoral responsibility given to me firmly in mind.I hope that it may offer a further viewpoint.Throughout my life and ministry, I have beeninfluenced by many great theologians. In order towrite this particular response, I revisited LesslieNewbigin's book "The Gospel in a PluralistSociety."

In the article, Paul Grosch poses the followingquestions: do we think that being British comeswith a certain superiority and do we somehowbelieve the same about Christianity? Or to put it inother words: are there any grounds on which we canstill claim to be Great Britain and similarly, can weas Christians make any truth claims over and aboveother religions?

On the first issue of British exceptionalism I canonly comment as an EU-immigrant and thereforewish to refrain from doing so. However, I dobelieve that the culture in which we live plays a partin how our faith is shaped and practised. We shouldbe well aware of this and continue to ask ourselveswhy we believe what we believe.

In dealing with the issue of Christianexceptionalism, Paul Grosch gives a summarisedaccount of exclusivism and inclusivism versuspluralism. He admits that it is impossible to dealwith the full complexity of the issue in a mere fewpages. As a result, giving a brief outline forces oneto make choices in what is said about each position,perhaps leaving other equally valid points behind.

It is offered that from the three choices, pluralism isthe most preferable position to hold. Christianexclusivism is thought to be as unhelpful andunrealistic in a pluralist world as is the notion ofBritish exceptionalism in the midst of a Covid-19pandemic. And the way in which it is described,exclusivism indeed seems a sure way tofundamentalism. There is however, a different kindof exclusivism than outlined in the article. It is notthe exclusivism of religion and/or individualChristians following harmful agendas towards

power. Not the kind which uses judgmental,unhelpful and disrespectful language to condemnthe faith journey of others. Rather, it is theexclusivism of Jesus Christ who claims, I am theway, and the truth, and the life. No one comes tothe Father except through me" (John 14:6). It isthe exclusive way of costly love, truth that holdsin the terror of death and life that breaks open innew and surprising ways; non-conforming toexisting expectations.

If we profess to be Christians then it follows thatwe will have to proclaim certain exclusivisttruths like Jesus did about himself. For Jesus wasvery clear about who he was and what he cameto do. As his followers we believe that he isGod's revelation to the world (God with us, theWord made flesh, the Son of God, Messiah,Christ). In him, God chose to act on our behalfand save the world. Only Christianity in its trueform makes the claim to salvation which has itssource outside ourselves. There is a time and aplace, a man and an event in history that we canpoint to. In the year 33AD, outside Jerusalem,Jesus Christ was crucified. In him we findfreedom from our past failures, rest from ourcurrent struggles and hope for the future. We areno longer bound by following strict laws orperforming ritual actions, we are not trapped ina perpetual motion of striving for enlightenment.All narratives of the human story implode in thecrucifixion of Christ and are resurrected in thegreat story of salvation. Not to be shaped tohuman understanding or liking, or to bedeformed or molested by religious institutions.Not to be imposed on others on our terms, but tobe humbly yet faithfully shared with those whomwe meet in dialogue, those who wonder why ouroutlook on life and the world may be different.

Yes, we should recognise how exclusivism hasat times deformed the gospel of hope into agospel of hell and we should repent for it. Yes,we should challenge exclusivist views thatelevate us to the judgment seat in order tocondemn rather than to show mercy. Becausethey are not part of the truth of Jesus. Therefore, we do well to acknowledge that noneof us know all there is to know about the truth.That being said, Newbigin (who like Hick, wasa member of the URC but unlike Hick, never hadto face charges of heresy) claims that we missthe point in the story that is quoted by Hick ofthe blind men and the elephant as an illustrationfor pluralism. For when the Buddha rehearsed

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Answers seven-year-olds gave to thefollowing questions…

Why did God give you your mother andnot some other mum?God knew she likes me a lot more thanother kids’ mums like me.

What kind of little girl was your mum?I don’t know because I wasn’t there, butmy guess would be pretty bossy.

this story it is the king who called the blind men tofeel parts of the elephant. It was the king who couldsee the whole animal. In other words, the king knewthe whole truth.

In light of the above, it is worth to reflect onNewbigin's question in how far our unwillingness toshare our faith with others is linked to whiteexceptionalism rather than Christian pluralism. Dowe believe that Christianity is for whites only? Whydo we not feel the need to share the gospel boldlywith other religions, yet seem much more willing toshare our faith with our white neighbours? BrotherAndrew, the founder of Open Doors and one of thevery few Christians ever allowed inside an Al Qaidatraining camp gives a poignant example of ourlacking when he recalls the question asked byyoung Muslims why Christians "keep Jesus forthemselves," as none of them had ever heard aboutthe saving work of Christ. As Christians, we should not be afraid to state thetruth claims of God in Jesus, just because a pluralistsociety thinks that only values, not facts, can beheld when it comes to matters of faith. We maythink that pluralism is something of our time, butacademics claim that there has never been a morepluralist society than in the first two centuries AD.Pilate himself was a prime example of it when heasked: "What is truth?" after Jesus told him that hewas born and came into the world to testify to thetruth (John18:37-38). It may be argued thatpluralism is the key to unity but we know from thestory of Pilate and the Jewish leaders in John 19 thatit does not stop individual and institutional religiousagendas. It, as much as other positions, has thepower to kill and destroy and to fail our neighboursif we choose to dismiss our responsibility. The Christians in the first century proclaimed asmuch a controversial message in their pluralistsociety as we are called to do today. They, like ourpersecuted sisters and brothers in other parts of theworld, did not hesitate to share the truth of new lifein Jesus Christ and of a world where the first will belast and the last first, A world where the previouselect will enter because of the proclamation of truthby the non-elect and where both the certain and thesearching will be utterly surprised by the outcomebecause of God's scandalous grace. Scandalousindeed, because it flies in the face of the standardsof the world.

We may consider then, a different position ofexclusivism. One that is "exclusivist in the sensethat it affirms the unique truth of the revelation in

Jesus Christ, but it is not exclusivist in the senseof denying the possibility of the salvation of thenon-Christian. It is inclusivist in the sense that itrefuses to limit the saving grace of God to themembers of the Christian Church, but it rejectsthe inclusivism which regards the non-Christianreligions as vehicles of salvation. It is pluralist inthe sense of acknowledging the gracious work ofGod in the lives of all human beings, but itrejects the pluralism which denies theuniqueness and decisiveness of what God hasdone in Jesus Christ." (Newbigin, The Gospel ina Pluralist Society, p.182-183)

Or to suggest a new analogy for the threepositions whilst returning to the subject of thecurrent pandemic: A vaccine has been foundagainst Covid-19. The Christian exclusivist,having experienced the freedom it brings, issending vaccines around the globe, urgingpeople to safe themselves from infection byusing this free of charge vaccine. The inclusivistknows about the vaccine and if asked about it,will send it to people but believes that until thattime therapeutic drugs are a good option. Lastly,the pluralist knows about the vaccine but thinksthat other vaccine trials have an equal chance tobecome working vaccines and therefore holdsoff to share the found vaccine, so that the workon the still experimental vaccines may continue.

One would hope that in the predicament we arein, the people who know about the vaccinewould speak out, honestly and without hiddenagenda.

Shalom,Henriette

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A huge 57 per cent of us think thatBritain will be more united in thefuture, and 67 per cent of us say thatBritain will be kinder aftercoronavirus. That is good news!

Michael Oh, Global Executive Director / CEO ofthe Lausanne Movement, shares someencouragement to those who are facing troublebecause of coronavirus. This article has beenadapted from a longer article.

ASK HIM FOR ‘PANDEMIC GRACE’

There are hardships you and your family might befacing, as you try to respond well to the challengesbrought about by this COVID-19 pandemic.

At the 2nd Lausanne Congress in 1989 in Manila, aChinese brother shared the story of hisimprisonment in a labour camp in China because ofhis faith. The authorities thought that the best wayto reform and torture him was to make him emptythe cesspool of human waste. All the human wastecollected from the entire camp stagnated in thatcesspool. He shared these words:

“I had to walk into the disease-ridden mass toempty it, and all the time I had to inhale thathorrible stench. My captors thought it was the bestplace for a Christian leader, but I enjoyed workingin the cesspool because I liked the solitude.

“In the labour camp, all prisoners were underconstant surveillance. None of us could be alone.Only when I worked in the cesspool could I bealone, then I could pray to our Lord as loudly as Iwanted. I could recite the Scriptures and psalms ofthe Bible that I still remembered. No one wouldcome close enough to protest. In those years, one ofmy favourite hymns when I worked in the pit was‘In the Garden’. And when I sang this hymn in thecesspool, I understood the meaning of garden, andI knew where God was. I met my Lord in the gardenof the cesspool.”

That Chinese brother could be thankful for thecesspool. There, he experienced ‘cesspool grace’.That is a grace that can only be experienced in acesspool. I am sharing this story with you becauseI think it holds some real perspective for our livestoday.

Because of coronavirus, you may be facing somevery heavy challenges in your life. Maybe it is theloss of a loved one to Covid-19, maybe yourbusiness has collapsed, or your job disappeared.Maybe you can no longer pay the rent or mortgage. Maybe you or a loved one is struggling withdepression or anxiety and stress. In these days ofglobal pandemic, we are facing circumstances and

challenges unlike anything that we’veexperienced before.

It is my hope and prayer that, if you are introuble, you will turn to God and see andexperience the unique grace that is offered toyou in that circumstance by your HeavenlyFather, your faithful Heavenly Father. Anxietygrace. Unemployment grace. Depression grace.

Like our brother in the cesspool, in everycircumstance, you too can have the opportunityto experience the closeness of God in yoursuffering in a very unique way.

Today, if you feel overwhelmed with thechallenges the pandemic has thrown at you, mayGod grant to you COVID-19 grace - a grace thatyou can only experience in the midst of aCOVID-19 pandemic. May God be with you, myfriend.

F F F FFREE NATIONAL PHONELINE

bringing worship and prayer

Government figures show that 2.5 million peopleaged 75 and above have never used the internet.To help them, the Archbishop of Canterbury,Justin Welby, recently launched a free nationalphoneline to bring worship and prayer into thehomes of those without access to the internet.

Daily Hope, which is available 24 hours a day on0800 804 8044 – offers music, prayers andreflections as well as full worship services fromthe Church of England.

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MORNING WORSHIP ON LINE 21ST JUNE

Comments by by Mary McFarlane.

I have come to appreciate on line worship that isdownloaded from the URC Website on our behalfby John Pasmore - thank you John.

I can worship in my own time, appreciative of thetyped text that I had downloaded to keep me ontrack, especially as I stop to rewind when I need toconsider a point more deeply. Each service hasborne witness to our Father who cares and is ableeven in Lockdown to inspire us not only to keepgoing - reflecting that care when possible, but alsoawakening and inspiring us about how church is tobe lived out - now and in the future.

The use of a mixture of music types means that it isnot uncommon to have a highland pipe, matchedwith a solo voice; a percussion group or thesplendour of a full orchestra leading in to the lastverse of a hymn - which by the time you get there -the lump in your throat inhibits you making anysound at all, let alone the appropriate note! Not toworry - the important bit is that during the processI felt embraced.

Through its use each Sunday I have come toespecially appreciate the spoken 'Affirmation ofFaith' of the URC. I had not heard it before.Everyday words are used to help me, despitedoubts, to honestly affirm my faith. So here I haveasked the editor to include it along with the Hymn which was sung just before the 'Affirmation 'wasread out on the 21st June. This is where having thewords in front of me is a fine example of 'revaluing'the true significance of what we have been singingover the years.

HymnI cannot tell why He, whom angels worship, Should set His love upon the sons of men, Or why, as Shepherd, He should seek thewanderers, To bring them back, they know not how or when. But this I know, that He was born of Mary, When Bethl'hem's manger was His only home, And that He lived at Nazareth and laboured, And so the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is come.

I cannot tell how silently He suffered, As with His peace He graced this place of tears, Or how His heart upon the Cross was broken, The crown of pain to three and thirty years.

But this I know, He heals the broken-hearted, And stays our sin, and calms our lurking fear, And lifts the burden from the heavy laden, For yet the Saviour, Saviour of the world, ishere.

Affirmation of Faith

We believe in GodDespite His silence and His secrets

we believe that He lives.Despite evil and suffering

we believe that He made the worldso that all would be happy in life.

Despite the limitations of our reason and therevolts of our hearts, we believe in God.

We believe in Jesus Christ.Despite the centuries which separate usfrom the time when he came to earth,

we believe in His word.Despite our incomprehension and our doubt,

we believe in His resurrection.Despite his weakness and poverty, we believe

in His reign.

We believe in the Holy Spirit.Despite appearances we believe He guides the

Church;despite death we believe in eternal life;

despite ignorance and disbelief,we believe that the Kingdom of God is

promised to all. Amen.

USE YOUR OLD CLOTHES to help others in poverty

Lockdown drove many of us to do a Springclear- out of our wardrobes. But what do you donow do with the old clothes you no longer want?

Charity shops may be closed for the time being,but there's still a way to donate your old itemsand support your favourite charities. Just goonline and visit Thrift+ . It is an online storewhere you can buy and donate great qualitysecond-hand clothes. And you get to choosewhich cause to support when you make adonation.

While lockdown measures are in place, they'veintroduced a doorstep collection service, so youdon't need to leave your home to supportlife-transforming charities.

From Parish Pump

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YOUR GARDEN IS GOOD FOR YOU

Spending time in your garden will do yourwellbeing much good

So says a recent study by the University of Exeterand the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It hasfound that 71 per cent of people who used theirgarden went on to report good general health, ascompared to 61 per cent who did not use theiroutdoor space.

The study also found that those of us who love ourgardens are far more likely to have greater levels ofphysical activity and much higher psychologicalwell being.

From Parish Pump

NO BURDENJill's house group members are studying the 1stLetter of John, now using ZOOM on line to see andhear each other.

In it the great fact that the love of God for theworld, and the reciprocal love of mankind areinseparable parts of the same experience. Thecommandment to love God with all our heart andsoul and mind and strength, is shared in importancewith loving our neighbour as ourselves.. Mark12:28-31.

Dr. William Barclay writes in his Bible commentaryon John’s letter, that true Christian love is no easymatter, but points out that John, the writer of thisletter, believes that no given commandment iswithout the potential of God given strength to carryit out in love. Jesus said, 'My yoke is easy and myburden is light. 'Matt 11: 30 in other words, ‘Whatcould be an impossible sacrifice, can become awilling gift when love needs it’.

Dr Barclay continues with the following story... akind of parable.'Someone met a lad walking to school, long beforeschool transport was provided. On his back he wascarrying a smaller boy who was clearly lame andunable to walk. The stranger asked, 'Do you carryhim to school every day?' 'Yes, said the boy. 'That'sa heavy burden for you to carry.' said the stranger.'He's no burden' said the boy. 'He's my brother.'

Mary MacFarlane

EGG CUPS

Here is a curious winner in the coronaviruscrisis: the humble egg cup. It has been flying offthe shelves in recent months, as more of us findsolace in a cooked breakfast.

At one point, John Lewis had sold out of mostof its egg cups, with even the most expensivelines selling out. (Such as Le Creuset's set of sixegg cups for £45, or Emma Bridgwater's set ofsix for £27.95.)

As Nicola Hattersley, tableware buyer for JohnLewis, explained: "One positive from being athome more is taking the time to makemealtimes more of an occasion.

"The humble egg cup – something many of ushaven't used since childhood – is gracing tablesonce again and hopefully we'll see a newgeneration becoming familiar with ‘soldiers' anddebating the best way to smash open a boiledegg."

From Parish Pump

SMILE LINES

When a church began live streaming itsservices, the minister was at first a bit nervous.Still, he kept his cool, and you would neverhave known he was struggling until he reachedthe Apostles' Creed. Then he firmly announcedthat Jesus was..."confused by the Holy Ghost,born of the Virgin Mary..."

Another minister is still getting used to livestreaming the church services. Last Sunday heinvited us to join him digitally in prayer bysaying firmly: "Let's bow our eyes and close ourheads.

Another minister wanted the title of his nextsermon to be posted ahead of time on the churchwebsite. He rang the church warden and saidthat the title was to be: ‘Are Ministers Crazy?'Not hearing this as a question, the churchwarden dutifully posted: ‘Our Minister's Crazy.'

As you prepare for the school holidays,remember this: children are natural mimics.They act like us in spite of all our attempts toteach them good manners.

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DOES THE FRUIT OR VEG YOUBUY LOOK A BIT WONKY?

That's because growers have faced a labourshortfall, when many seasonal workers from easternEurope were unable to reach the UK due to thepandemic. So instead, there has been a Britishrecruitment drive, targeting inexperiencedfurloughed workers.

As Martin Lines, of the Nature Friendly FarmingNetwork says: "Fresh produce may not be as evenlycut as usual, given that people are learning on thejob."

From Parish PumpEditor: if you get any odd shapes could you send aphoto for next months Tidigs?

‘TALKING JESUS'

HOPE Together has made the hugely popularTalking Jesus course available, rent free, to watchonline during the Covid-19 crisis.

Roy Crowne, executive director of HOPE Together,said: ‘We have had lots of requests during theCovid-19 lockdown to make the Talking Jesuscourse available online. There seems to be anincreased interest from non-Christians in spiritualissues. People are searching for hope. We want tohelp equip Christians to tell their story and to talk

about the hope we have because of Jesus.'

The Talking Jesus course includes sixvideo-based teaching sessions with inspirationaltestimonies.

To access the course free until end of Augustvisit: www.hopetogether.org.uk/talkingjesus

FLOWERS FROM PENNYWATSON’S GARDEN.

Evening Primroses flourish and keep producingnew plants so if you would like a one, let herknow. The flowers go up the stalk so keepflowering a long time.

.

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TWO FLOWERS FROM JANETTEDUNCALF

Weed: definition – a plant that grows easily and isusually found in places where you do not want it.

Luke 12:27 NIV"Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do notlabour or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon inall his splendour was dressed like one of these."

White orchids signify reverence and humility

ARE YOU CONNECTED?

It has now been several months since we have beenable to meet in our beloved Church due to thedreaded covid virus, and although lockdown iseasing it may be some time before we can meettogether as fellowship again.

Technology has helped many in our separation byusing computers laptops pads mobile phones tokeep in contact with each other. With programssuch as WhatsApp, Zoom, FaceBook and manyother communication tools several have found away to bridge our forced separation.

Do you have a method of communication by aninternet connection and email? Many over the yearshave supplied contact information in our TrinityAddress Book which has greatly helpedcommunications with each other at this time.

Not everyone wishes to openly advertise theircontact information and this is fully understood,but if, in our present circumstances, anyonewould wish to be able to communicate via acomputer you may have or any of the othergadgets which connect to the internet please letme know with an email to the address below.

Last month our Minister, Henriette produced avideo pastoral letter sent to everyone whoseemail address was known to me. This was wellreceived as it provided a personal contact. Tidings was also sent via email in the sameway. Everyone else was sent a written copy.

There is also a Trinity WhatsApp accessed by asmart phone you can join if you wish.

So, if you wish to take part in any of the waysyou can communicate with fellow Trinitariansplease send me an email. Your address will bekept in complete confidence if you wish, but ourMinister would like to know your email addressif you give consent. You can also have youremail address added to our Trinity AddressBook if you give permission. Just let me knowwhat your wishes are.

If you are unable to use the internet please don'tlet it concern you, you will still receivecommunications from our Minster and TrinityTidings by 'snail mail', but if you have the internet available it will save on postage costs.Let us all pray for the time we can all meettogether again in the place we love and feel asour spiritual home. Look after yourself and staysafe. Blessings to all.

John Pasmore.john.pasmore@blueyonder.co.uk

The Church has bought a set of moulds whichmake these nativity figures. If you would like a set contact Jill on 249337. It’s £1 per figure or£10 for the set of 12. If you want a painted setwe will try to find somebody to paint them foryou but will have to charge more.

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More seven year old answers

What did your mum need to know about yourdad before she married him?His last name.

Why did your mum marry your dad?She got too old to do anything else with him.

What’s the difference between mums &dads?Mum knows how to talk to teachers withoutscaring them.

What would it take to make your mumperfect?On the inside she’s already perfect. Outside, Ithink some kind of plastic surgery.

THE CRASH THAT KILLED OFFCONCORDE

It was 20 years ago, on 25th July 2000, that an AirFrance Concorde crashed outside Paris after takingoff for New York. All 109 people on board werekilled, as well as four people on the ground.

The plane was a charter flight from Charles deGaulle airport in Paris to New York, and most ofthe passengers were German tourists on a ‘dreamtrip’ which would have seen them catch a cruiseship from New York to the Caribbean. But as theConcorde hurtled down the runway, a fire startedunder the left wing – possibly caused by a metalpart that fell from a plane that took off momentsearlier.

The exact cause was never determined: theConcorde was also overweight, and the landinggear mechanism was slightly defective. The windhad also shifted slightly before take-off.

The aircraft was unable to gain height andplummeted on to a small hotel in nearby Gonesse,where a 20-year-old guest who had just arrivedescaped miraculously by jumping from a windowas her room caved in.

It was the only fatal Concorde crash in 24 years,but Concordes were grounded as a result, andalthough they returned to service in November2001, all Concorde services stopped permanentlytwo years later.

Tim Lenton

Did any of our readers ever fly on Concorde? Canyou tell us about it? Editor.

Another beautiful ‘weed’ growing out of a wall

THE QUEUE

While waiting in a socially distanced queue earlyone morning for the supermarket to open for us‘seniors’, I was surprised to see a young mansaunter along and try to cut in at the front of thequeue. A furious old lady waved her cane at him,and he quickly backed away.

A moment later, the young man tried again. Hemanaged to dodge the old lady, but then two oldmen started shouting at him. Again, the young manbacked away.

But he wasn’t giving up, and soon the young manapproached the queue for the third time. By now,all of us pensioners were ready for him, an angrywall of opposition.

The young man stood there for a moment, and thenshrugged his shoulders. “If you people won’t letme unlock the door, none of you will ever get in toshop.”

From Parish Pump

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Editor Jill StidsonTel: 01752 249337email jillstidson@blueyonder.co.uk

A puzzle to keep you thinking. Answers next month. This has been suggested by Ruth Criddle and FionaAdams. I’ve printed it in large type to help you.

BOOKS OF THE BIBLE

There are 30 books of the bible in this paragraph. Can you find them? Thisis a most remarkable puzzle. It was found by a gentleman in an airplaneseat pocket on a flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu, keeping himoccupied for hours. He enjoyed it so much, he passed it on to somefriends. One friend from Illinois worked on this while fishing from hisjohn boat. Another friend studied it while playing his banjo. Elaine Taylor,a columnist friend, was so intrigued by it she mentioned it in her weeklynewspaper column. Another friend judges the job of solving this puzzle soinvolving, she brews a cup of tea to help her nerves. There will be somenames that are really easy to spot. That's a fact. Some people, however,will soon find themselves in a jam, especially since the book names are notnecessarily capitalised. Truthfully, from answers we get, we are forced toadmit it usually takes a minister or a scholar to see some of them at theworst. Research has shown that something in our genes is responsible forthe difficulty we have in seeing the books in this paragraph. During arecent fundraising event, which featured this puzzle, the Alpha Delta Philemonade booth set a new record. The local paper, The Chronicle,surveyed over 200 patrons who reported that this puzzle was one of themost difficult they had ever seen. As Daniel Humana humbly puts it, "Thebooks are all right here in plain view hidden from sight." Those able tofind all of them will hear great lamentations from those who have to beshown. One revelation that may help is that books like Timothy andSamuel may occur without their numbers. Also, keep in mind, thatpunctuation and spaces in the middle are normal. A chipper attitude willhelp you compete really well against those who claim to know theanswers. Remember, there is no need for a mad exodus. There really are30 books of the bible lurking somewhere in this paragraph waiting to befound. God bless.

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