Hi All
It has been a week since we last emailed and so much has happened in the UK - for some it is self-isolation, for others it is home schooling, and for many it is stopping work and spending all day at home with our close family. However, for a great number of people within our Emmanuel Family and across the whole UK it is being on the front line carrying out essential work in the NHS, Royal Mail or transport industry, supermarkets, those in education, utility workers or being one of the many who signed up to be an NHS volunteer, the list is endless – a massive thank you to all workers keeping the country going, you do an amazing job and I for one am very grateful.
The Leadership Team at Emmanuel met virtually again this week and we discussed how much has happened in the life of our church, how we can help each other and how we can bring people together (virtually of course) over the coming weeks and months. Please find below some of the things that have happened this week.
Please find attached letters from Cameron and Ben - “Emmanuel Corona 2020 Week 2” an Emmanuel Church Update; and “Emmanuel Corona Worship Week 2”.
· Please join us this Sunday at 10am in our Emmanuel Family group where we will be sharing together in a time of worship live. This will be like last week, post after post in real time to follow a full service that takes around an hour. You can join us live or enjoy it later in the day – the choice is yours. We’ll be singing, praying, reflecting and enjoying a time to listen to the message from Cameron. There’ll be activities too! Why not join us? Any problems finding the group email us and we will happily help.
“Vine at Home 29 March 2020” – this is a short order of service for this coming Sunday, for the 5th Sunday in Lent.
Foodbank at Tesco’s – we have teamed up with the Tesco’s (just down from church) to help support the local Foodbank. If you shop at this Tesco (or anywhere where they are collecting) please can you remember those who rely on this service and put in what you can.
We are still looking for “virtual” pastoral visitors to reach out to the most vulnerable in our church, in order for us to keep in contact with people who are alone, ill or self-isolating. We are currently highlighting the people in our church family who might need extra help. Would you be able to help? If yes, please email Cameron directly (thestirks@tiscali.co.uk) if you feel you can help and reach out to our Emmanuel Family.
A reminder to join the Emmanuel Facebook page - to join, just search on Facebook Emmanuel Methodist Church and “Like” the page.
The Private Group under the above Facebook page called Emmanuel Family – there are now 71 people in our Family. Please join us – you can do this is by invitation or request. There was a lot going on this week from Reflections for the Day, songs, prayers, pictures, Challenges (from the Emmanuel Youth Facebook page) to crafts. We encourage you to join, if you haven’t already, and post what you are doing and any thoughts for the day, if you have joined previously.
Please find attached the “Help Form” again – now that more people are self-isolating and the new advise from the government for older people to stay at home there are more people who may need your help. Please use this to help any neighbours, particularly the more vulnerable, in your neighbourhood. Do any acts of kindness that you are able – witnessing to the love of God (within the safety of infection limits) can be a powerful reminder to people that they are not alone.
Please feel free to forward this email (and any of our future emails) so we can all support and help each other at this stressful and anxious time.
This simple prayer, that is so powerful, was sent to me today, and I thought it would be nice to share to end this week’s newsletter.
Many thanks
Cameron, Ben & The Leadership Team