St James' Methodist & United Reformed Church Woolton
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ST JAMES’ METHODIST & UNITED REFORMED CHURCH WOOLTON L25 7RJ Web address: http://stjameswoolton.org MINISTER: Rev. Peter Hughes [email protected] 0151 364 0134 Peter’s day off is Friday - messages and emails left on Fridays will not be received by him until Saturday. NEWSLETTER – October 18th 2020 Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us that what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters, we do also for you. Give us the will to be the servants of others as you were the servant of all; for you gave up your life and died for us, but live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Almighty God, you have created the heavens and the earth and formed us in your own image. Teach us to discern your hand in all your works, and to serve you with reverence and thanksgiving; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, supreme over all creation, now and for ever. Amen. MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER Hello everyone, I hope you are all coping with the latest guidance about our daily lives. I heard a great report on Radio 4's PM programme on Wednesday, where the reporter Stephanie Power visited Liverpool to see what she could still do during the restrictions. It showed what a great city we live in and reminded me that even during this time we can still enjoy the place where we live. A man she met commented "there are worse things than being locked down in Liverpool....when you haven't heard another human voice in 24 hours and someone says "hello" to you it's a nice thing". This week I have walked down to Grassendale Promenade and looked across the River to the Wirral and the Welsh hills. I also took a stroll across Garston Park, enjoying the sunshine and autumn colours. My heart has been cheered by the many people I have managed to talk to on the phone. I hope you have something positive from the past week that you and look back on and feel good about. Each day we awake, God is with us - as he is when we sleep. Every day is a gift from God, an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Even though we can't be together in Church for now, the Holy Spirit still binds us together in love. This time apart will pass, and we can be encouraged by the knowledge that we are staying apart for the sake of each other's safety and to do our bit for keeping the local community and our family safe. May God bless each and everyone one of us. Peter. STONEWORK REPAIRS ON THE CHURCH ROOF I am pleased to report that the major urgent stonework repairs to the church have now been successfully completed, despite the wind and the rain! The scaffolding has been removed, and the gardens now open again. Thank you all for your patience while this urgently needed work was being carried out. There is still some work to be done to some of the walls and the buttresses at the rear of the church but we don't yet have a date for this as we are awaiting the arrival of the stone. It should only take about a week and I will let you know when the work will be being done. NEWS ON CHURCH OPENING The Methodist Superintendent Ministers met during last week to discuss options for Churches during the time that Liverpool is on Tier 3 of the Coronavirus alert system. They asked the Churches to be informed of: "Our very strong recommendation that those churches in tier 3 should not be open for worship. This is the time to revisit our risk assessments. We would like to highlight the following:- - While worship is permitted, we cannot meet in the majority of other settings - Alternatives to meeting physically for worship are available - Our priority is to save lives - Many of our regular worshippers are clinically vulnerable - In holding services worshippers and preachers may be travelling in and out of the tier 3 region." In order to honour this guidance, we will plan to open our Church again only when Liverpool has been moved out of Tier 3 and it is safer for us to meet together. We continue to pray for our city, that the infection levels will fall quickly, that God will help our NHS workers and that those who are ill will make a good recovery. During the last week we have been aware of several members of St James’ Church who are suffering with the virus. This reminds us how close to home it is and shows why we need to be so cautious at present. May God, help us all through at this time. Telephone Worship – Sunday 18th October 2.30p.m. To join us for a short (15-20 minutes) Act of Worship: From your normal “landline” telephone: Dial: 0330-159-6644 between 2.20pm and 2.30pm on Sunday. On being asked, enter the following number, or “Pin”: 37 38 18 You will be able to chat with everyone else who joins until the service starts. This Sunday’s Act of Worship, or short service, will comprise: Welcome and opening prayer, Bible reading, Lord’s Prayer, Talk or “mini-sermon” by Clive Rigby, Prayers, Grace and dismissal. COST: - The above number costs the same to dial as ordinary UK numbers – if you have “free minutes” from your telephone supplier then there will be no cost. And we are also invited to join with Elm Hall Drive Methodist Church’s first “Telephone Worship” service: On Tuesday 20th October, between 10.50 and 11:00am 0330-159-6644; then enter Pin: 37 38 18 Please stay on your phone for a few minutes after this service has ended to join in/listen to chat amongst the congregation [Call Graham Martin on 0151-222-5832 or 07712-525239 if you have any questions] God Bless. Graham BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS For those who are celebrating a birthday this week, remember, you are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. Everyone at St. James’ wishes a happy birthday and enjoy your special day. Pam Alexander celebrated her birthday on the 14th October. Mike Hughes celebrates his 90th birthday on Monday 19th October. ST. JAMES’ RAILINGS This week's picture from our Church railings reminds us that God provides for our needs. It is true that to get what we need we do have to go to the shops, order online, or wait for a friend to deliver to us. We than have to prepare and cook our meals. We can't just be like the sparrows and find our food on a bird table! However, all that we do find in our shops or in our home delivery has come as a gift of God. He has created a world which produces what we need to live - and in such great variety! There is enough for everyone's need - not everyone's greed. As we continue through this harvest season may we be thankful for every meal and invite Jesus to share it with us. PRAYERS NEEDED Dear Jesus, divine physician and healer of the sick, we turn to you in this time of illness. Oh dearest comforter of the troubled, alleviate our worry and sorrow with your gentle love, and grant us the grace and strength to accept this burden. Dear God, we place our worries in your hands. We place our sick under your care and humbly ask that you restore your servant to health again. Above all, grant us the grace to acknowledge your will and know that whatever you do, you do for the love of us. Amen. Special prayers for Jill Gudgeon, Carol and Steve Skyner, Steve Elliott, Theresa Melia, Gladys and Alan Sinnott, May Kelley and Jayne McLaren. We continue to pray for Delilah Morris and her family as Delilah undergoes more treatment. Eric and Margaret Peacop, Eric is now back in the nursing home recovering from his operation to pin his fractured hip. We also pray for all those in need at this time, especially those who are dealing with COVID-19. AUTUMN SNAPSHOTS This lovely snap was taken by Jonquil who has arranged these flowers in church to remind everyone of harvest and the fact we can’t meet at the moment. If you would like to share your autumn photographs, please send them to Jayne and we will add them to our newsletter. We plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the land, but it is fed and watered by God's almighty hand; he sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain, the breezes and the sunshine and soft refreshing rain. All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above, then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord for all his love. He only is the maker of all things near and far; he paints the wayside flower, he lights the evening star; the wind and waves obey him, by him the birds are fed; much more to us his children, he gives our daily bread. All good gifts... We thank you, then, O Father, for all things bright and good, the seed-time and the harvest, our life, our health, our food: accept the gifts we offer for all your love imparts; and that which you most welcome, our humble, thankful hearts.