This month we welcome Revd. Paul Finlinson who writes the Dear Friends article. In it he explores the existential crisis facing the United Kingdom and notes that this is an opportunity for the Church to be a force for spiritual renewal within the community.Tony Service reports on the first Methodist Service since lockdown that was held on 16th August, and in particular the changes to the service to keep everyone Covid-19 safe.Charlotte Watson reports on the Prayer Bags initiative and the response from those families who received the Bags. Charlotte has also supplied many photographs taken by the participating families, and I have used these to illustrate this month’s magazine - including the cover. Thank you Charlotte, I am extremely grateful.I am also grateful to Cathy Rogers for her update to the Family Information pages, and also to those who helped out with the report on Sylvia Place’s funeral.As always I am responsible for the rest of the magazine…
This month Claire Nutt writes about the search for serenity at the coast, and pushes against the tide of uncertainty that surrounds us all. Claire also shares Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr. Written towards the end of the last War it still remains relevant to us today.Tony Service looks forward to the first Methodist Service since lockdown to be held on 16th August, but laments the setting aside of many of the key ingredients of Methodism, and in particular the lusty singing that forms a vital part of their worship.Charlotte Watson reports on the putting together of Prayer Bags to help maintain continuing support for families during the summer break whilst face to face activities for children & young people has had to cease temporarily.The rest of the magazine is all my fault.
The service, which was due to take place in York Minster, was held in two parts, and broadcast entirely via video conference because of the Coronavirus restrictions. The event comprised a legal ceremony with readings, prayers and music, followed by a film marking the start of Bishop Stephen’s ministry as Archbishop of York.Bishop Stephen says: “I am looking forward to beginning my ministry as the 98th Archbishop of York. This isn’t quite how I imagined it would begin. It is certainly the first time an Archbishop’s election will have been confirmed via video conference. But we’re all having to re-imagine how we live our lives and how we inhabit the world.“These are difficult times. My hope is that through this service the love of God that is given us in Jesus Christ will shine out, perhaps even to those who while never attending a service in York Minster, might have a look online.Following in the footsteps of my many predecessors, I look forward to serving our nation and bringing the love and peace of Christ to our world, especially here in the north.”A video of the service is available on the Church of England website (www.churchofengland.org).
This month Revd. Roy Shaw writes about the fall-out of the Coronavirus pandemic. Roy also touches on the difficulties in Kenya - I really cannot imagine what it must be like for farmers seeing their livelihoods eaten in a few hours by plagues of locusts.Tony Service - for the first time since 2004 apparently - has “nothing to offer” and yet still manages to fill two pages! Good work Tony! Also, once again Tony has helpfully let me have some texts and images to help fill the pages, and although I hadn’t space for all of them they were very welcome. The rest of Connected is the result of me trawling the tinterweb plus some texts that I had considered or written, but not used, over the past few months.
