Contact Mag April 2021
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Contact Chester-le-Street Methodist Church April 2021 OUR VISION The Chester-le-Street Methodist Church is a people in whom Christ's love is celebrated through Worship, expressed through Service and shared through Mission. CIRCUIT MINISTERS Rev. Ian Kent Tel: 0773 754 9881 e-mail: [email protected] Rev. Dr. Liz Kent Tel.: 0191 388 3268 email: [email protected] Deacon Linda Watkin Tel: 0191 410 2082 e-mail: [email protected] CHILDREN & FAMILIES WORKER Neil Garlick Tel: 07855 386292 e-mail: [email protected] Facebook: Cornerstones Children and Families This edition of Contact is available on-line at https://clsmethodist.org.uk/Church_mag.php 2 Dear Friends, Anniversaries are often a point to pause and think back over the year. It is now a year since we went into lockdown, a year since we closed the building for gathered worship, a year since we moved our services onto Zoom and weekly printed ‘Worship @ home’ materials. Many of us have been profoundly changed through the experiences of this year - the isolation of not seeing one another, times of illness, the inability to celebrate milestones and life events in the way we wish, and of course the grief we have experienced for loved ones who have died. Last year, we celebrated Easter in a way none of us had before, yet still we proclaimed that Jesus is risen from the dead. In the face of the death and desolation brought by the Covid pandemic, we declared that hope is to be found in Jesus who overcame death and promises us eternal life with Him. As we sacrificed freedoms we had taken for granted, freedom to leave our homes, to meet in person, to pray with each other face to face, to raise our voices together in song, we learned that the Lord who sacrificed himself for us enabled us to meet him and one another in new and different ways. As we approach Easter this year, we are preparing to emerge from the pandemic, not to go back to where we were, but to step into a world profoundly changed by the past 12 months. We will need to acknowledge that we have all had different experiences and it will take time to adjust. Some people will be eager to re-engage with meeting in person, others will be cautious or uncomfortable, some will not be able to leave their homes but will still want to be part of our church life. We will do well to treat each other with grace and gentleness, living by the wonderful words in 1 John 4: 3 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This Easter as we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and proclaim his victory over death, we do so knowing he has held us and sustained us through a year that none of us could have imagined or predicted. In the midst of all we face, may you know the reality of an Easter joy, based not on optimism about external events, but upon the life-changing power of Jesus risen from the dead and reigning forever. Every blessing Liz 4 Holy Week Services via Zoom: Monday - Thursday:- 7.00pm on usual Zoom codes. A 30 minute service of prayer and reflection. Good Friday:- Stations of the Cross at St cuthberts Catholic Church, Ropery Lane. 10am Good Friday. Please book at [email protected] 11.00am Good Friday Service on usual Zoom codes Easter Sunday:-9am Family Friendly worship Meeting ID: 883 7664 8979 Passcode: 12345 Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88376648979? pwd=OTVJYzM4WGVzYkorNHJlN2RQOEgxQT09 10.30am Easter Service on usual Zoom codes Holy Week services in buildings: All the following services will be held at Chester-le Street Methodist Church. They will last for 30 minutes, separated by 30 minutes in order for cleaning. As the numbers allowed to attend are limited, those wishing to attend are asked to book a place. Priority will be given to those who have been unable to take part in the Sunday Morning Zoom Services. You can book a place by telephoning Joan Moore on 07951 552185 or by telephoning or emailing one of the Ministers (see page 2) Good Friday Services 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00 and 5:00 pm Also 6.00pm for pray and to light a candle Easter Sunday 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, 5:00 and 6:00 pm 5 The Crossroad The road was hard, no turning back The way ordained by mighty God, ‘Your will not mine’ was all He said As humbly down that path He trod. The crowd that cheered Him once with palms Began to shout for Him to die, They chose Barabbas in His stead And with one voice cried ‘Crucify!’ Between two thieves on Calvary’s hill They put to death the Prince of Life, One cried for help, the other cursed The first was promised Paradise. This promise now is for us all Christ gave His life to set us free, The cross divides, it always will – The question is: what side are we? By Megan Carter 6 7 Science tells us how the world works, and technology offers applications of that knowledge, but neither can tell us what we ought to do. All scientific discoveries or new technologies can be used to either help or harm others. For example, a smartphone can be used to stay in touch but also enables bullying. It is important to get past our initial reactions: the ‘yuk!’ or ‘wow!’ These feelings may well change once we learn more about the science and other factors behind a new development. Ethical thinking can be divided into three main categories. The consequentialist approach is demonstrated in Proverbs, when Wisdom calls young men to consider the outcome of their actions. Utilitarianism is a form of consequentialist ethic that tries to maximise the greatest good for the largest number of people affected, but unchecked it leaves minorities out in the cold. Duty or law-based ethics start with intrinsic values, asking what is the correct course of action, or our duty? These values might be God-given, such as the ten commandments, or worked out by human reason. It is possible, however, to do harm while obeying the law, especially if someone asks ‘What can I get away with?’ Also, what happens when rules collide? For example, who should be treated first when resources are limited? Virtue ethics are about building character, growing in wisdom and the fruit of the Spirit. There are plenty of biblical principles to guide virtuous living, such as the idea that we are ‘made in the image of God’ which supports the value of every human life (e.g., Genesis 1:26–27, Genesis 9:6, James 3:9–10), but the right decision can vary depending on circumstances. So how can we make ethical decisions about new technologies? The five Cs bring together a number of different types of ethical thinking into a helpful framework for decision-making. 8 Clarify the facts and key questions. Consider our choices: what could we achieve? Constraints: External – what must we do? ; Internal – how should we behave? Compare the pros and cons of each approach. Choose what is best, with all parties in mind. Finally, we have to recognise that the information available to us will change over time, our knowledge of God and His word will keep growing, and we cannot avoid making mistakes – so our ethical decisions will need to be revisited and revised from time to time. Dr Ruth M Bancewicz; Church Engagement Director at The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion in Cambridge. Ruth writes on the positive relationship between Science and Christian faith. Algebra - can you solve the following (Answers page 29) Solve for x Solve: (hint ‘When in Rome…) 1. XLGEBRX 7. n1ne 2. Xray = black + white 8. sk2ng 3. 2x or not 2x. That is the 9. f4e question. 10. se5en 4. (9 + 7x/2 = (4 - 2x ( - 2x 11. mo6ng 5. Drifxod 12. s9 6. $ = mxy 13. e10it 9 It is with regret that the decision has been made to end the church stall, we feel it is the right time to do so. Over the many years we have made lots of friends and shared good, and bad, times with them. We laughed a lot, we tried to welcome people not used to entering a church building so that they felt at home and were cared about. Our thanks to all who so willingly donated numerous goods for us to sell. A huge thanks to Shaun without whom we would have had difficulty functioning. My personal thanks to the team of ‘girls’ who faithfully, week by week, ran the stall. A great job was doen by all. We didn’t do it for the monetary gain (although the church did benefit) but to try to spread by caring, something of the love of Christ.