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One of ‘Churches Together in Shirley’

ShirleyMethodistMatters

PPE delivery for Hall Grange

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Although our ways of worshipping collectivelyhave changed, thanks to the media we can still

connect with God and others. Here are some listings:

+ Songs of Praise - Sunday 1.15 pm BBC1

+ Prayer for the day - Mon-Sat 5.43 am BBC Radio 4

+ Sunday Worship - 8.10 am Radio 4

+ Thought for the Day – Mon – Sat 7.45 am BBC Radio 4

+ Daily Service – Mon-Fri 9.45 BBC Radio 4 Long Wave – Christian Worship with a Bible reading, prayer and music

+ Revd Stephen Day’s Live Streamed Service - Sundays 10.30 am Go to www.shirleymeth.org.uk

+ Bennie’s Sunday evening services - Go to www.shirleymeth.org.uk

+ Shirley & Addington Methodist Churches Together Live Streamed Service - Sundays 12 noon

To receive the online link to the service, email –amcsmcmeth@gmail.com

When you receive the link just ‘click’ on it on Sundays and you’ll be taken to the live service via Zoom. If you don’t get a response to your request, please email bennieharms@croydonmeth.org

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On Monday 18th May, Bennie Harms delivered vital personalprotective equipment (PPE), including aprons, face masks andguards, to staff at Hall Grange - as shown in the photo on the frontcover. The delivery was courtesy of the tremendous generosity ofmembers of our Church who have contributed to the ‘Pledges forFront liners’ campaign we launched in April this year.Thank you to May Osafo, who initiated the idea (and worked hardto source the precious PPE), and to the leadership team at Shirley,for making the initiative a reality. In less than a month we haveraised over £700 to help local frontline workers, like the caregiversat Hall Grange, who are helping to deliver valuable servicesthroughout the community – our local ‘Heroes’.We hope to be able to do more in the coming months. If you knowof a local frontline service provider or cause that you would like usto consider helping through the campaign, please get in touch.I know it’s been a while since we’ve been able to meet inside ourbeloved Church building, but I remember that lovely banner on thewall over the threshold as we step into the worship area thatproudly declares ‘No hands but ours’. It is wonderful and trulyhumbling and to know how much bringing life to these wordsmeans to members of our Church family. Thank you so much foryour support.

To find out more about the campaign and how you cancontribute please email ruthdodoo@outlook.com.

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FROM ISRAEL TO RWANDA … a memory …As I write, I’m also scrolling through photographs I took during apilgrimage to Israel at Easter some years ago, and scrolling intophotographs I took while I travelled to Rwanda just ten weeks later:something of an anniversary of those journeys made at this time inthat year.

Scrolling through the photographs has always been easier thansorting through some of the overwhelming impressions andfeelings that remain as I remember Israel. I don’t feel as though Iwas following in the footsteps of Jesus … as some pilgrims did … butI left the country feeling both the reality and the necessity of Jesuscoming to live amongst people: offering us release from ourdebilitating confidence in who we think God means us to be andwhat we think God means us to do … embracing our humanity …inviting us to live with him through every costly choice thatchallenges our ways of being and doing things … with vulnerabilityand compassion.

Struggling with the entrenched nature of the opposing forces inIsrael, probably because it intensified my personal memories ofworking to touch the effects of Apartheid on people and helpingthem to encounter each other beyond segregation, I had lookedforward to traveling to Rwanda.

I had no doubt that I would be profoundly affected by thegenocide memorial sites, the sites of reconciliation ministries andmeeting survivors in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide. Yet Ifelt that there in the sadness I would find more hope because “thestories of the survivors of the 1994 genocide are horrific but whatmakes them unique and hopeful is that those survivors have to

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Please contact us if you would like someone - or yourself - to be prayed for by members of our Prayer Chain. Names are only taken with the consent of the person concerned and stay on the chain for a week.

Margaret King 8777 3770 or Elizabeth Smart 8681 0057

forgive and love those who killed their loved ones” (ClaudeNikondeha - Amahoro Africa). People who had no apparent reasonto trust people anymore were taking Jesus at his word, living withhim through costly choices.

Between those pilgrimages, though, I was undertaking the moremodest journey that we all make through each day ... Alwayspilgrims ... wondering whether we aren’t sometimes soimmersed in the intricate mechanics of knowing and doing churchthat the lifestyle of encountering people and becoming different …more like Jesus … eludes us … perhaps because we aren’t lookingfor the image of God-who-reveals in one another … and in othersurprising people ... who take Jesus at his word, living with himthrough costly choices … perhaps because we don’t feel it’s alsoour job to be the image of God-who-reveals for one another … andfor other surprising people?

This year we’re all pilgrims in an unfamiliar place ... perhaps withquestions we’re not even able to articulate yet.

I pray that God will bless your pilgrimage with people and places and curiosity.

Revd Nadine Wilkinson

Congratulations to JEREMY DAVIES from all at Shirley Methodist for serving for 40 years (starting on Aldersgate Sunday, 1980)

as a Croydon Circuit Local Preacher.

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Thanks to ideal weather conditions, huge progress has been madewith Hall Grange’s Wilderness Project. Whilst the volunteers havebeen in lockdown, the Wilderness Team - Adam, Linda and Marco -have been able to work, keeping two metres apart. The contractorshave transformed the site. The pathway around the garden nowmakes the site accessible. The handrail will really assist visitors; thefurniture is in position and has been secured to the floor; the bridgeis in place and is quite wide for the streaming of the spring to flowto the bog garden. The rhododen-dron are in flower and look stun-ning.

The top of the path has just beenlaid, going straight to the main gateto flow nicely, and the outdoorclassroom is finished and ready foruse.

The snagging is due to happenduring the last week of May. Andwhen the volunteers are able toreturn, Linda says there is still much

to do with more PONTICUMneeding to be cut back!

Residents potting up plantsprovided by Dorothy andRoger Cox

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Roger and Dorothy would have been selling their plants at the HallGrange Coffee Morning in June. Here’s a list of plants they haveavailable to sell, in aid of the Hall Grange Amenity Fund.

PerennialsHeuchera  Bronze leaf  (several)Heuchera  Caramel  (1)White Astilbe (3) very big plantsBush Honeysuckle  (2)Geum ( Mrs Bradshaw) (1 )  redflowerPenstemon F1 Arabesque (1)Doronicun Little Leo (2) front of aborder - will be in flower soonwith a bit of sun & will flower tillOctober if deadheaded (yellow)Lupin   (1)Fuchsia  Few young plants, idealfor the centre of a basket

Rosemary (1)Thyme   (1)Hydrangea - few small plantsCrocosmia (1)Helenium (1)

ShrubsMyrtle   (1) big   PotPittosporum (1)Azalea (1)   Magenta (really goodplant)Ceanothus  Blue (1)Pyracantha   Several smallplants, for secure hedging

Plants can be viewed in Roger and Dorothy’s drive.Social distancing will be in place.Please text/call Roger on 07774 172713 to arrange a time.

(If you are happy to buy any ofRoger’s plants without viewing themand do not wish to leave your home, orgarden, let Jenny Crook know and shewill deliver - 07813108933.Please contact Roger first!)

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The Revd Barbara Glasson, President of the Methodist Conference

Social distancing at Frank’s VE Day Celebrations!

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Frank Brooks writes:

The 75th Anniversary of VE Day was duly celebrated at PeregrineGardens- just as it was over the rest of the country. The day,however is always tinged with sadness as one cannot helpremembering all those we had grown up with who had perishedsince the start of the War.

The open area at the front of our home was bedecked with flagsand bunting, including a large Union Jack that had been flown byJean’s father on VE Day itself. Seats were spaced in so that we couldenjoy the day with our neighbours. The weather was good for once!

We had two sets of visitors as the day progressed, the first beinga pair of Army Reserve Officers representing Croydon Council whowere accompanied by a reporter and photographer. They spentquite a long time chatting to the four veterans who live in PeregrineGardens before presenting us with goody bags. Inside we foundwine, beer, chocolate truffles, and some chocolate biscuits. We alsoreceived a geranium and a facsimile of a newspaper from May 8th1945. They then left for their next port of call. In the early afternoonthe Representative Deputy Lieutenant of The London Borough ofCroydon, Colonel Ray Wilkinson arrived. He too spent quite a longtime chatting with us before having to move on to visit otherveterans in the Borough.

Frank says that Councillor Toni Letts coordinated the visits toCroydon’s one hundred veterans on May 8th. The four percent ofthem who reside at Peregrine Gardens had only about ten minutesnotice before their military visitors arrived!

Kate Marsden Googled Frank’s name and VE Day, and up poppedthe photo you see on the opposite page! The site, guardian.comshowed photos from around the UK but the photo of Frank was theonly one taken in Croydon!

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Elizabeth Smart writes:

I thought it would be good to share with the Church family atShirley a good news story from Tools with a Mission. Bill and I havebeen the representatives for TWAM in the Croydon area for manyyears: through your support, Tools with a Mission have collected atleast 40 van loads of donations from Shirley Methodist Church!TWAM’s April newsletter says – We recognise that changing theworld starts with one life at a time. One life transformed at atime causes ripples across families, schools and entirecommunities, all starting with you!

Approximately 200 donations of sewing machines have been sentfrom Shirley Methodist Church, and here is the Unexpected FaceMask Journey of Lizzy who received a sewing machine from TWAMin 2016 when she graduated 4 years ago.

Many tailors in Zambia are being forced to think on their feet whilesales of clothes plummet. Lizzie is in her late 30’s, married with twoyoung children. They live in the mining town of Kalulushi, some10-15 miles from Kitwe. While they all live together, her husbandprovides little to the family income, choosing to spend most of hismoney on alcohol.

Lizzy has become the breadwinner, making clothes for sale with hersewing machine to raise enough money to feed her children andsend them to school. During the period of the recent lock down,she was going to the market to sell the clothes she had made butthere were few people about and she sold very little. She then hiton the idea of making face masksafter the Zambian Government made itcompulsory for all citizens to wear a facemask while in public.

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Lizzie spent a day making them and produced 75, which she took toa larger market in Kitwe and during the course of the day sold all 75!She earned 375 Kwacha (around £17) which is the most money shehas made in the past two months. She has since continued to makemasks while the demand continues. The cost of the material used tomake these masks is very minimal. Lizzy is also trying to betterherself and studies in what free time she has when not working orlooking after her children. She wants to train in finance andaccounting.

Thank you on behalf of TWAM for the support and generosity of allthe churches in the Croydon Circuit for sharing the message ofTWAM with your friends and families: we look forward to continuingthis good work together. Just think of Lizzy making masks andremember her in your prayers.

This week I too thought I would make some masks – only to findI had no elastic! and I am still waiting for it to be delivered byAmazon …. but I now need to donate some of my fabric andhaberdashery stash to Lizzy and others - a sewing kit is suppliedwith every sewing machine and includes everything the newly-trained tailor needs to get their small business off the ground.We praise God for all the toolkits being sent to Lusaka in Zambia thisweek (18-24th May).

Lockdown kindness A friend made a career change – from Head teacher to driving a council refuse truck in the West Country. One day recently he realised

that he’d left his packed lunch at home, so stopped off, in the truck,at a village shop to buy a sandwich. Sadly, there were none left sohe continued with his round. As he was driving out of the village alady stopped him, holding out a packed lunch. She had been in theshop and realised he was going to go hungry so went home andmade him a lunch.

Alison Hunt

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Bennie’s

’A few years ago, I heard of a singer called“Evie” (actually Evelyn Tornquist Karlsson, bornon March 29, 1956). Although born in America,her parents were Norwegian, and she beganher singing career whilst visiting her parent’shomeland at the age of 16. I loved her song,“Never the same again” and have often sung it in different services.The words of the song emphasise the fact that life had changedirrevocably for the singer and that ‘things will never be the sameagain’. I know that, when we come out of this time of Lockdown,life will be irrevocably changed and all of us with it. I’d like tobelieve that the change will be for the better, but human naturewon’t allow that to happen.On 31st May 2020 we will celebrate ‘Pentecost Sunday’ –remembering that time, nearly 2000 years ago, when life changedirrevocably for the Apostles and others who were in the ‘UpperRoom’ at the time. I’m writing this blog on the eve of AscensionDay, when Christ ascended into heaven. I suppose I could havestarted with the Easter saying, “He is Risen!” to which many of youwould have responded, “He is risen indeed!” Well, on that day,when Christ ascended into the clouds and disappeared from view,life was never going to be the same again for those who stood andwatched. The Apostles were asked, “Men of Galilee why do youstand looking into the sky?” Well, what else were they supposed todo? Ok, He (Christ) had warned them that he was going to leavethem at the Last Supper – and for them the events which led to hisdeath, and ultimately his resurrection, resulted in a ‘Lockdown’experience for those men and women who were his followers.Before he left, Jesus instructed them not to leave Jerusalem but towait - to wait for the gift which his Father had promised; thecoming of the Holy Spirit.

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Today we wait. We wait to be able to go out andmix freely again. We wait for life to return tosome form of ‘new normality’. Children arewaiting to return to school; students are waitingto return to university; others – to begin theirnew lives of studying at university. Workers are

waiting to go back to work. One of our granddaughters has writtena ‘bucket list’ of things that she’s waiting to do when she finallybecomes ‘free’ to do as she wants! I cannot imagine what thosedays are going to be like. Yes, I know it will come about gradually –or so they’re saying.

I ask myself, time and time again, what am I waiting for?!!

What are YOU waiting for?!!

It will never be the same again. Whatever it is any- or everybody iswaiting for. Some workers have already been told that they willremain ‘at home – working.’ Companies have already sold off orcancelled leases on large office space because it’s been discoveredthat the work can be done from home and not at a desk, in anoffice, somewhere. Spare a thought for those whose livelihoodshave changed – never to be the same again. Having beenfurloughed from work, they are now being told that their jobs nolonger exist, and they’ve been made redundant. And althoughthey’re looking, nobody’s hiring at the moment. So, how are wegoing to ‘do church’ when we become free to come and go as welike? Are there some things that we have learnt and what do youthink God wants to say to us now?

Could it be… could it just be that He’s saying –WAIT FOR THE GIFT I’VE PROMISED!

KEEP ALERT! Watch and wait for NEW THINGI will do among you!

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I cannot get over the way the ‘whole world’ has been affected bythis virus – rich and poor alike; strong and weak; learned andunlearned; no-one anywhere has escaped.

What a great opportunity for us to make adifference and to change irrevocably for good. Notto go back ‘to the old ways’ of thinking, acting andbeing, but to continue to practise consideration,care and community-living, knowing that just aswe are there for others, so they are there for us.

NEVER THE SAME AGAIN!Let that be our slogan as we watch and wait for our day of

‘freedom from Lockdown’.

I’m looking forward to what’s going to happen; will you join me?

God bless you,Bennie Harms

The honest folk of Shirley!Posted by David Smart on Facebook

Yesterday I realised I had an electric drill in my garage that I hadn't used for ages because there's a drill bit stuck in the chuck. I figured that a handier person than me could probably fix it so I left it outside the house for a passer-by to take. I do this from time to time rather than taking things to the tip that someone else might make use of. Last night a passer-by rang my bell to tell me that I'd left it outside, I thanked him and explained. I put it back on the wall, and in the morning I saw it had gone. I was pleased that someone had taken it and hoped they could sort it. This evening a gentleman brought it back. having looked after it after seeing it outside last night. Thanks to both of you for your neighbourliness. Clearly, I need to put a note on it! If anyone wants a drill with a dodgy chuck let me know .

He had a huge number of comments to this post – one said ‘David, if you ever have any tools you don’t need, there is a man at Shirley Methodist called who will take it for TWAM. You might know him’!

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In the Church diary we are scheduled to meet on the 14th June forour monthly time of fellowship and prayer. Whether that will happenwe do not know, however all prayer ever offered is still heard byGod. So we are called in confidence that God hears our prayersBelow are a few thoughts of situations you may wish to pray about.

> Pray for our nation in these difficult times for those who govern us that they will make the right decisions

> Pray for Choi and Bennie who guide us on the path of our own spirituality

> Pray for those who have to self-isolate and for the problems that can cause with mental health issues and those who are in violent relationships

> Pray for your friends who you are very close to in our church, - sometimes words are not needed, just to visualise each person is a prayer itself

> Pray for those who serve in our shops, for the postman and those who empty our bins

> Pray for less developed countries, especially in parts of Africa where some countries have very few ventilators, and in the crowded refugee camps of the Middle East, where Covid 19 might cause a large loss of life.("Do All We Can" has appealed for donations to help this situation.)

> Pray for the Shrublands food bank, for those who keep it open and for those who need it for essential supplies

You will see that there are seven thoughts on prayer; you may wishto add them to your own prayers each day.

Psalm 37 talks about trusting in the Lord, in these troubled timesit is good just to rest in the Lord.

Brian Sherrell

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For many of us holiday plans this year have been cancelled or postponed.

While we wonder what future holidays will look like, enjoy the memories of three very different holidays recalled in the next part of the magazine.

Two years ago we decided totake a romantic trip on theDanube from Budapest toNuremberg. We were lookingforward to a relaxing andluxurious river cruise. However,the afternoon before weleft, as we were congratulatingourselves on some smoothpacking, we received a phone callfrom the cruise company. “Thereis not enough water in theDanube,” they said, “and so wecan take you to the Germanborder but we cannot go throughthe lock there. We will moor andtake you on the remainingplanned excursions by coach.Do you want to cancel?” TheTaylers were intrepid travellers

who could cope with anythingand so we were in.

We had planned an initial twodays in Budapest. A visit to thecathedral was a must, as this onecontained the mummified arm ofSt Stephen. What a disappoint-ment! It was contained in anopaque glass case and a coinwould turn on a light. Having nolocal coins we tried lookingbehind it, underneath it, andsideways on, to no avail. StStephen was not going to waveto us that day.

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But when we left the cathedralwe saw a poster for an organconcert that very night. Theorgan was one of the biggest inEurope with 5,898 pipes so wehad a quick dinner and it wasback to the cathedral. Theconcert was magnificent andwhen it built up to a grandclimax of Vidor’s Toccata it felt as

though thevery wallswerevibrating.After thelast notesdied awaywe allturned to

clap and look up at the organloft, high up near the roof. Andthen a young man came frombehind the organ screen dressedin a T shirt and shorts. Apparent-ly it gets very hot up there.

The next day, instead of walkingfrom our hotel on to the boat, wewere told that the boat was lastseen leaving Vienna but had notarrived in Budapest. Not enoughwater had meant that they hadlost the boat! Still, on the brightside we had another day lookingat the Parliament building, the

fortress, the synagogue andmuch more.

Eventually we boarded the boatand reached Gottweg Abbey,high on a hill overlooking theriver and beloved of Austrian-Hungarian Emperors. It wasfamous for its apricot orchardsand we paid extra for Ruth to betaught how to make apricotdumplings. With a small groupin the restaurant, she hadfinished the preparations butthey would take 20 minutes tocook and our coach back to theboat left in 15 minutes! All wasnot lost. The kitchen dooropened and a procession ofmonks appeared with ones theyhad made earlier, complete witha honey butter sauce. Delicious!

Passau on the German borderwas as far as our boat was going.There were so many boats thatcould not get through the lock inwhich we were moored, in anindustrial estate next to somepetrol tanks. Then it was 3 hourseach way on a motorway to visit

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Nuremberg. In the marketsquare there were ornatewrought iron railings, with anintegral brass ring, cleverly putthere by an apprentice whowanted to marry the daughter ofthe boss but was refused.Legend has it that if you turn thering three times and make a wishit will come true. Sorry, it doesnot work!

Next day we were taken by taxito Munich to board a BritishAirways flight back home. Justbefore we checked in, I receiveda message on my mobile. Theflight was cancelled and we werere-booked on a flight at 1945hours.

Just then all the notice boardschanged to confirm that the1300 hours flight was cancelledbut staff assured us that there-arranged flight was for thenext day! Furthermore, BAwould not put us in a hotel andwe were on our own! The goodnews was that we had a verypleasant Sunday in the EnglishGarden in the centre of Munich,listening to an oompah band in apagoda.

Eventually, after 3 months, thecruise company paid for half thetrip and BA admitted theirobligation to pay for our hoteland compensation under EU law.Armed with cash back, weproudly booked our next trip – acruise from Vancouver to Alaskaand then on the Alaska Railroadto a lodge in the wilderness,finishing up panning for gold.Then we saw pictures of our ship,the Grand Princess, plaintivelysailing off the coast of Californiawith coronavirus on board.More compensation! Enough toplan our next holiday in 2021!Where are we going? Don’t youthink it might be bad luck to tellyou?

David and Ruth Tayler

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During lockdown, you may have sampled a few more of these! … Test your expertise in this biscuits and cookies quiz.

(Answers on page 31)

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The whole world has becomeaware of the Chinese city ofWuhan. For all the wrongreasons. By general agreement,the coronavirus pandemic beganits calamitous course in the wetmeats market of this city. This iswhere the virus jumped the gapbetween the animal world andhuman beings. Or is there truthin the conspiracy theory thatsuggests that the virus wasreleased from a laboratory,either by accident or withdeliberate intent? Whatever thetruth of these matters, we are allnow fully aware of Wuhan as wecontemplate the consequencesof what happened there.

Twenty years ago, Margaret andI spent ten days there.

And our memories present analtogether different image.

I suppose that most people maynever previously have heard ofthis city. It’s actually ametropolis which has broughttogether three previouslyindependent cities – Hankou,Hanyang and Wuchang. It standsat the confluence of two mightyrivers, the Hanshui and thebetter known Yangtze. It’ssituated at the uppermostreaches of the navigable part ofthe Yangtze and evidence ofBritish interest in the trade withinland China is still to be seen insome of the buildings along itsriverfront, where our customsand diplomatic officials oncemaintained a very visible

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presence. This is also close towhere Mao Tse Tung was bornand his much acclaimed swimacross the teeming waters of theYangtze took place here. But itshistory goes back well beyondthese recent events – we saw anextraordinary exhibition ofartefacts from the tomb of awarrior lord who died in 433BC.The history of China did notbegin in 1949!

So why were we there?

Our daughter Ruth had signedup with Volunteer ServiceOverseas (VSO) and spent threeand a half years in Wuhan. Shetaught English language andliterature at one of the city’suniversities. She also learned tospeak Mandarin – she won aspecial prize, awarded onChinese television, for being themost accomplished foreigner inthe province. Her real linguisticskills were better revealed, how-ever, in her lively negotiationwith a taxi driver whom sheaccused of overcharging us.

Ruth introduced us to thebeauties of the city – its greatriverscapes, the imposingpagodas, the lesser knowncorners and, supremely, the

people. We were entertained ina number of homes, we attend-ed a church service, we atedelicious food on the pavementas well as in posh dining rooms.

Our daughter was invited to bethe language advisor to the teamof journalists in Wuhanresponsible for English languageregional output of the ChinaNews Service. Local journalistswould choose the stories theytook from their Beijing bossesand translate the Mandarincommentaries into English. Theinteraction between Ruth andthe journalists, the criteria beingused to select their material, andthe mistranslations along theway (some of them very funny),made these visits really fascinat-ing for me.

The university where Ruth wasteaching put on a banquet inhonour of our visit. A lovelyChristian couple we met inchurch insisted we accompanythem to their home where themother of one of them, with nonotice at all, turned five ricecakes and two red snappers intoa feast we’ll never forget. In thehome of one Chinese friend ofRuth after another, we discussed

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the nature of the Chinese State,the nation’s one-child policy, theCultural Revolution, their hopesand fears for the future. Weplayed with their children,laughed at their jokes, were in-spired by their company. Thiswill always be for us the otherside of Wuhan.

Before travelling to Wuhan,we’d spent a few days in Beijing.It was there, in a restaurantoverlooking Tiananmen Square,we saw in the New Year 2001. Ayear previously we’d seen in theyear 2000 in Parliament Squarein London to the sound of BigBen’s midnight chime.

Did the new millennium begin in2000 or 2001? People haddifferent opinions about that.We celebrated both. TiananmenSquare, Parliament Square; East,West; Asia, Europe; 2000, 2001;- who cares? We’ve met andloved people here and thereand, as we looked forward to anew millennium, we foundeveryone wanting one and thesame thing for themselves andfor the whole human race –peace, security, a meaningful lifeand good health.

If Wuhan inspired this wish forhumanity then, I pray that it cando so again in our day.

Revd Dr Leslie Griffiths

on Prayer

Jeanet Sinding Bentzen of the University of Copenhagen published a study on 30th March 2020 looking at whether Google searches on prayer had increased during March 2020 when the Covid-19 went global. She reports that seeking comfort in religion has risen dramatically since the onset of the pandemic with political leaders and self- organised groups urging their fellow citizens to pray. It occurs on all continents and for Christians and Muslims. Google searches on the topic "prayer"  have skyrocketed - surging to the highest level during the last 5 years for which comparative Google search data is available.

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At times like these we recognisewe are all in this together.Coronavirus impacts all of us. But love unites us all. The usual events planned for

Christian Aid Week 2020 could not happen. Instead, Christian AidWeek moved online and its many resources include prayers, suchas this one:

Love never failsEven in the darkest moments, love gives hope.

Love compels us to fight against coronavirus alongsideour sisters and brothers living in poverty.

Love compels us to stand together in prayer withour neighbours near and far.

Love compels us to give and act as one.Now, it is clear that our futures are bound together

more tightly than ever before.As we pray in our individual homes – around the nation

and around the world – we are united as one family.So, let us pause and find a moment of peace, as we lift up our

hearts together in prayer. Amen

Christian Aid is responding to the coronavirus outbreak in Africa, Asia,Latin America and the Caribbean, working with partners and faithleaders to inform people about the risks, offering hygiene and handwashing sessions, equipping health facilities with supplies andtraining frontline aid workers. It’s providing food packages to some ofthe most marginalised families and ensuring protection for womenaffected by domestic violence.Thank you to those who have already donated to Christian Aid inMay. If you wish to donate, call 020 7523 2269 or go tohttps://www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/key-appeals/christian-aid-week

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Wendy Twitchett knows quite afew Shirley Methodists. She alsoknows the Shirley Methodistbuilding well as she sings with alocal choir on the premises.Wendy is a keen traveller to manyparts of Europe and to othercontinents. She wrote the follow-ing article for a recent ShirleySingers’ newsletter and kindlyagreed for it to be included here.

About ten years ago I went on aCulture and Traditions holidayto Crete and this was one of theevents we saw. Greece is so richin history and each time I goI discover a new tradition. Localpeople don’t mind visitors, evenin the most remote villages.Someone is always willing toexplain what’s going on.

On the weekend of April 19th,the Greek Orthodox Churchcelebrated Easter and I wasreminded of an Easter I spent inChania, Crete where I was ableto watch the celebrations.On the Saturday evening wewalked to Chania’s SintrivaniSquare to join a huge and silentcrowd standing waiting before

the church of Agios Nikolaos.The approach to the church hadbeen roped off in expectation ofan important visitor.

The person arriving would bebearing a lantern carrying theEaster light from Athens. Earlierin the evening the Archbishophad lighted the Easter candle inthe Metropolitan Cathedral inAthens. Immediately bishopsand priests lit their lanternsfrom this and quickly dispersedall over the country, travellingas fast as they could as they hadto reach their destinationsbefore midnight.

We waited in silence. Thechurch was in darkness.Someone gave us candles tohold until at last everyone washolding an unlit candle.

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We waited, and a messagearrived.  The Archbishop was onthe plane from Athens.   Morewaiting and then anotherannouncement came.  TheArchbishop had landed and wason the road to the town centre.

The crowd grew denser as wewaited, still and silent. And thena car drew up in front of thechurch and the Archbishopemerged carrying a lightedlantern.

There was a soft murmur fromthe crowd as he entered thechurch and began to climb upthe tower.  We could still seehim as there was a window oneach landing.  At last heappeared on top and holding thelantern high above his head heshouted, “Christe eleison!”.The crowd answered him andsuddenly the church was floodedwith light and three priestsarrived at the door holdinglighted candles. The nearestpeople lit their candles fromthese and then the flame waspassed from person to personuntil the whole square wasalight.  People were singing,laughing and greeting everyonewith Kyrie Eleison whilst the air

exploded with fireworks andgunshots.

Now came the tricky bit.According to tradition you had tokeep your candle alight until youreached home or where youwere staying. On arrival you hadto draw a cross with the flameon the lintel above the door.I couldn’t reach the top of thehotel door but the doorman waswaiting for short people and hedrew it for me. I carried it up tomy hotel room still alight and letit burn down naturally.

Following that evening therewere red painted eggs(representing Christ’s blood) ondisplay in the hotel in themorning. Later we went outlintel spotting to see how manypeople got their candles homesafely. We went out for the dayin the mountains and in nearlyevery village there were lambsbeing roasted on spits for all toshare.

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Last month I shared the positiveeffect of a computer applicationcalled ‘Zoom’. This month I don’tneed to explain what that is, theworld is run by it! In our globalLockdown, God has blessed uswith new technology to help usunlock ourselves and meettogether in a different way.

Clearly, not everyone is able tomeet online and it has beenrefreshing to bump into folk,whilst out exercising or shop-ping, for whom only face to faceconversation is possible. Phoneshave also been invaluable duringthis time. Various ways havebeen used across the Circuit tokeep us in touch and cared for.

There are additional securitymeasures required for onlinecommunication. Predominantlyyou are inviting someone intoyour home without physicallyopening the front door andtaking the caution you are usedto. A new caution needs to bedeveloped which involvesconsidering what else is on viewof your home in the picture thatyou are transmitting. We haveall been interested to see what is

in the homes of GovernmentMinisters and TV guests overthese past few weeks, haven’twe! The same is true for thoselooking in through your screen.After the frustrations of trying toconnect up your technologydissipate, please then feel asecond wave of relief as youcheck that you are not airinganything more than you want towith those who will be watching.

Consequently, the details foronline meetings are not beingwidely advertised but circulatedthrough our pastoral systems sothat there is a connection ofsecurity between us. Therefore,please ask your youth andchildren’s group leaders fordetails of regular Circuit andChurch Youth Group Meetingsand your pastoral leaders fordetails of activities for all ages.We have recently begun Circuitget-togethers for both of thesegroups and would like them tobe as helpful as possible.

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We all know that laughter is thebest medicine and a broken spiritdries the bones (Proverbs 17:22)so it is great to see the mood ofthe day lifted by a bit of funtogether. In addition to theseactivities are a growing amountof Bible Study, Prayer andWorship events all online andthe contact details for these canbe found on the Circuit websitewww.croydonmeth.org andindividual church’s websites orby asking the Circuit Staff.

I know for many of you thechurch magazines have been abrilliant way for you to keep upwith the local church and Circuitnews for many years. May Icongratulate all the editors forcontinuing responding to the

changing opportunities and nowmaking magazines availableelectronically as well as postingthem out to their avid readers.

I hope you are all safe and welland that you will feel at leastsomething to smile about today.It is not always easy but as theblue skies continue to remind usof God’s sustaining creation maywe also continue to feel His deeplove for us all too.With best wishes,Lindsey MacfarlaneCroydon Circuit Youth Develop-ment & Safeguarding OfficerLindsey@croydonmeth.org020 8653 2424More online information viawww.croydonmeth.org andFacebook: Lindsey Croydon Meth

Face to face meetings are currently suspended due to the pandemic. However some events will be taking place online. We ask that you pray for blessings on our community as we live in a different way. Please pray:

on Monday for Children & those who are Vulnerableon Tuesday for Families & those who Care

on Wednesday for Guides & Scoutson Thursday for Girls’ & Boys’ Brigadeon Friday for Young People, Schools &

Futureson Saturday for Special Occasions & Celebrations

on Sunday for All Ages & Community

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In these days of lockdown andsocial isolation, we inevitablyfind ourselves yearning for asense of freedom. The irony isthat it is right outside our doors,if we only bother to raise oureyes towards the sky.This picture of the moon wastaken from my back garden on2nd May 2020. As it was takenthrough a Newtonian telescope,it is, of course, upside down!As you look up, you can’t helpbut wonder if the moon wasformed by a collision betweenthe early earth and anotherplanet, what it would be like tostand in the craters at thejunction between the sunlightand dark and how the Apollo 11astronauts felt standing on thesurface.The dark patches on the photo-graph are the Mare (the remainsof ancient lava flows).The middle patch is the sea oftranquility, on which Apollo 11landed.

Some people think that itdisproves the existence of God.However, for me it is quite thereverse! The amazing beauty andvast scale of the objects on viewjust confirm the existence of aguiding force on anunimaginable scale. It remindsme of some words from one ofmy favourite hymns:

Summer and winter and spring-time and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in theircourses above,

Join with all nature in manifoldwitness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercyand love.

Simon Tayler

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SHRUBLANDS FOOD BANK

We have always been generous, as a church, in supporting thefood bank. As you can guess, they are needing lots of things at themoment - but it is hard for anyone to get things to them.

If you could support them financially instead - either by cheque orby bank transfer it would be greatly appreciated.Contact - Trevor Ashby info@shrublandstrust.org

Light in the darkest timesLoving, ever-living and compassionate God,

You understand the pain of loss,the heartache of bereavement,

May we hold in our hearts all those whose familiesor friends have died.

You are a light that shines in the darkest times,

Guide us and heal us in our sickness and sorrow.You comfort us in times of fear,

May we comfort each other, even as we keep apart.You console and lead us in times of doubt and confusion,May we follow the light of your love and spread hope.

You move our hearts to acts of generosity,May we be led to share what we have with those in need.

God of life,we thank you for the signs of your lightin the midst of our darkness,

May we be signs of your compassion in the heart of yourworld.Amen.

Linda Jones/CAFOD

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Dial-a-Prayer with theMethodist Church in Britain

For all who may not have access to the internet and wish to listen to news and prayers, please refer to the free phone line from the Methodist Church. Content is updated every Thursday. Do pass the numbers on to anyone who may benefit.

Listen to a prayer:0808 281 2514Listen to news:0808 281 2478

Croydon Talking Therapies

offers free NHS services and advice during times of stress and difficulties. Search for

‘Croydon Talking Therapies’ online

or call 020 3228 4040.

Age UK and Croydon Voluntary Action (CVA) have set up a telephone befriending service for all ages, where volunteers give company through regular chats on the phone numbers:

020 8686 0066 and 07540 720 102

Update from Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care Teamat Croydon Health Services

General visiting is still very restricted at Croydon UniversityHospital. Currently we are working with families to allow only onevisit for no more than 15 minutes to patients who are at the end oflife. This is being constantly reviewed. However, the Chaplaincy &Spiritual Care Team at CHS continues to provide care 24/7 to allpatients in the hospital.If you know of anyone in the hospital you feel will benefit from avisit by the Chaplaincy Team for pastoral, spiritual and religiousreasons, please contact us and we will ensure that they are visitedand their pastoral, spiritual and religious requirements are met.Contact: Revd Andy Dovey, Lead for Chaplaincy & Spiritual Carefor Croydon Health Services Email: Andrew.dovey@nhs.net Office number: 0208 401 3105 Mobile: 07557 014 739

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Answers to the Quiz1 Garibaldi 2 Oreo 3 Lincoln 4 Hobnob 5 Millionaire shortbread6 Bath Oliver 7 Milk chocolate digestive 8 Party rings9 Chinese fortune cookie 10 Amaretti

We plan to continue producing our monthly churchmagazine - but during the present crisis there willbe very few ‘print editions’. If you know someonewho would like to read our magazine but does nothave access to the internet - maybe you couldphone them to see if they would like you to print off

a copy and post it … or pop it through their door.As always - we are grateful for contributions.

Kate Marsden katemarsden747@gmail.com Jenny Crook jenny.crook@blueyonder.co.uk

The June edition should be available on the website onSunday 28th June. Please send contributions by Sunday June 21st.

We have now settled in to a new routine with three main services for our clients:

Personal shopping – our volunteers are regularly making individual shopping trips for clients.  If the client rings one morning, their shopping is delivered to their door the next day.

Telephone befriending – more than 40 of our clients are benefiting from a regular call from volunteer phone buddies.

Lunch club meal delivery service - each Friday. If we are called no later than Tuesday morning, a meal can be collected from Shirley Methodist or delivered by volunteers The price is £4.50. To contact Shirley Neighbourhood Care Tel 020 8662 9599 Email sncs@shirleyneighbourhoodcare.co.uk

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Shirley Methodist Churchone of ‘Churches Together in Shirley’

As followers of Jesus Christ, our mission is:

to honour God by our daily living as individualsand our corporate life as a church

to offer God worship which is both lively anddignified

to offer welcome and care to all, regardless ofage, status, gender, ethnicity, social class, sexualorientation, ability or disability

to stimulate one another to grow in our faithand develop our discipleship

to work with our fellow-Christians in Shirley toserve our neighbours and share with others ourexperience of God’s love