Here we are, still in our virtual world, something that we will be enforced to inhabit for some while yet, but at least our weather is very real, and very beautiful, almost as if God’s creation is trying to lift our spiritsThis week is the most important week of the Church Calendar, Holy Week, a week of following our Lord from the triumph of his entry into Jerusalem last Sunday, to death on the cross, and the glory of Easter morning, and his rising from the dead.I shall miss our meal on the evening of Maundy Thursday, when we usually gather together and re-enact the Passover Feast, that is known as the Last Supper . This year, we will have to forgo the pleasure of eating together, and settle for a virtual Zoom service, a short service, approximately, half an hour, a chance to meditate and reflect on these moments in Jesus’ life in the Upper Room and in the Garden of Gethsemane, with the aid of music and readings.Thursday 9th April 7pmFriday 10th April we will gather together between 2.00pm & 3.00pm the last hour of Jesus’ life to commemorate the Stations of the Cross.Sunday 12th April we will celebrate Easter Day, mindful of the turmoil around us, with an 11.00am serviceIf you would like to take part, and have not done so before, please email me on Delphine.howarth@ifdev.net or Roger on Roger.howarth@ifdev.netWe will send the meeting links about an hour before each serviceI leave you with a poem A locked church, by Alan Amos Ah my dear Lord, the church is locked but let my heart be open to your presence; there let us make, you and I, your Easter garden; plant it with flowers, and let the heavy stone be rolled awayYoursDelphine
Join us for Palm Sunday and Easter worship!I shall be leading an on-line service this Sunday at 11:00am to commemerate Palm Sunday and next week to celebrate the glory of Easter. Rather than just broadcasting a service, we are going to hold a ‘video conference’ so everyone can be present and take part. We are going to use software called Zoom – which is free for everyone to download and use. It’s currently being used by Boris and the Government for Cabinet and Cobra meetings and by millions of others worldwide, so quite safe.I’ve tried it by holding a couple of ‘virtual tea parties’ and it is fun, albeit a little unnerving, to see and inter-react with everyone. I do hope that you can join us on Sunday at 11:00. If you would like to be with us, then can I ask you to do two things:-Let me know so we can send you an order of service and have a (fully sanitised) palm cross delivered to you via our wonderful volunteers. Delphine.howarth@ifdev.net or 714527. Download and register with Zoom from the app store. It is free. If you have any trouble my technical support team (aka Rog 714527) will be on line every day at 3:00pm and will be happy to help. It is quite straightforward and success is very rewarding.Please, please come and join us. Who knows this might be a way for the future, so we can take ‘church’ to people who cannot attend in person.Yours Delphine
There’s a prayer that goes……… “Build us into one church a church with big windows and OPEN DOORS”……………….err…. not at the moment, do I hear you say. It does sadden me greatly, the church ought to be open to each and everyone, especially at a time of such huge crisis. However, the church isn’t turning its back on you. It is to keep us all safe as possible; so, no services , no meetings within its walls at the moment not even for private prayer, on an individual basis. It is good to have the peace, and feeling of being held that our churches bring to us, but God is bigger than a building and is to be found wherever we are. For me, the outdoors, God’s natural Cathedral, is where I feel close to Him. But, don’t worry if prayer won’t come, we all have our dry times. Just allow yourself to be prayed for, and you are on my list. More importantly, we learn from our reading today we are all on Jesus’ list! If you wish for a chat, to discuss the readings, or pick holes in my “blogget”, please phone, or email, I’ll try and answer any questions you may have, and I’ve a lot of time to listen.I tell you, when this is all over the church will open the doors wide and throw a party for all the community, and the drinks are on me ( well, let’s not be rash, this is Bednall and Acton villages I’m talking to, so the first one, say!) Delphine Sunday 29th MarchReading :John 17 vs 6-8; 15; 20-23 Jesus prays for His disciples and for usI have made Your name known to those whom You gave me from the world. They were Yours, and You gave them to me, and they have kept Your word. Now they know that everything You have given me is from you; for the words that You gave me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I come from You; and they have believed that You sent me. I am not asking You to take them out of the world, but I ask You to protect them from the evil oneI ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you. Father are in me, and I am in You, may they be also in us, so that the world may believe that You have sent me. The glory that You have given me I have given them, so that they may be as one, as we are one. I in them and You in me, that they may be completely one, so that the world may know that You have sent me, and have loved them even as You love me Prayers Prayer is the deliberate and persevering action of the soul. It is true and enduring, and full of grace. Prayer fastens the soul to God and makes it one with His will, through the deep inward working of the Holy Spirit.Our prayers bring great joy and gladness to our Lord. He wants it and awaits it. He says, “Pray inwardly even though you find no joy in it. For it does good, though you feel nothing, see nothing, yes, even if you think you cannot pray.”So let us now offer up to God all that troubles us about………The Coronavirus crisisThe worldThe churchThose that are sick, in mind, body, or spiritThose that have died, and those left to mournEach otherAnd lastly, ourselves
