Thursday 19 March 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I know this is a very challenging and anxious time for us all. We all need to continue to encourage one another and to remember that God's love surrounds us.

Thank you for all the emails and messages I have received. I apologise that I cannot reply personally to them all, but I am very glad to receive them. I will continue to ring people regularly, as will our pastoral care team and others. If anyone needs practical help with shopping, or needs to talk, please do get in touch.

I urge us all to seek God at this time. There are many resources that can help us to read the Bible and pray. I hope you might find some of the suggestions below helpful:

You can use this link to find Morning and Evening Prayer for each day (with the readings)

https://pray-as-you-go.org/ This offers a reading, prayer, music, and meditation for every day

There are other resources for prayer and reflection (including prayers specifically for the situation facing us in this coronavirus crisis) on our church website at this link.

I have also put my latest Lent meditation on the Psalms on the website. There is a talk about Psalm 88 with questions to ponder afterwards. Here is the link.

I am hoping to set up a zoom or skype session on Monday, 23rd March, 10.30-11.30am, for anyone interested to share their thoughts on Psalm 88 and the material I have sent out. (I think that up to 9 people can join a zoom session with me, so let me know if you are interested in joining this, and I will get back to you with arrangements.)

The Archbishops of the Church of England have encouraged everyone to make Sunday March 22nd a special day of prayer about the global coronavirus crisis. We are asked to light a candle and pray at 8pm (7pm, UK time). Perhaps we might decide to light a candle at 8pm, not just on Sunday, but everyday, to pray together about the situation.

On Saturday will be sending out another email with a link to my sermon for Mothering Sunday. The readings and collect are already on the website, and the intercessions for Sunday will also be available by Saturday. Let us 'join together' in prayer even at a distance.

Below are a few prayers which we might want to use at this time:

God of compassion,
be close to those who are ill, afraid or in isolatioin.
In their loneliness, be their consolation;
in their anxiety, be their hope;
in their darkness, be their light;
through him who suffered alone on the cross,
but reigns with you in glory,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Merciful God,
we entrust to your tender care
those who are ill or in pain,
knowing that whenever danger threatens
your everlasting arms are there to hold them safe.
Comfort and heal them,
and restore them to health and strength;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Gracious God,
give skill, sypathy and resilience
to all who are caring for the sick,
and protect them in the danger they face.
Strengthen them with your Spirit,
that through their work many will be restored to health;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

'Be strong and courageous...Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord God is with you.' (1 Chronicles 18 v20)

I will be in touch again soon.

With my love in Christ,

Helen