BEING CHURCH – Newsletter 38 December 6Th, 2020 SECOND SUNDAY in ADVENT WESTBOROUGH METHODIST CHURCH Registered Charity # 1133833
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BEING CHURCH – Newsletter 38 December 6th, 2020 SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT WESTBOROUGH METHODIST CHURCH Registered Charity # 1133833 Website: www.westboroughmethodistchurch.org.uk Email: [email protected] Tel: 01723 506926 Minister: Revd Graham Morgan Sunday Worship at Westborough Our church building is re-opening! There will be services held from THIS SUNDAY - 6th December at 10.30am. We look forward to welcoming you back! MORNING WORSHIP WITH HOLY COMMUNION led by Revd Graham Morgan If you are not yet ready or able to return to worship within the church building please be assured that the circuit online service will continue to be each week just as it has been over the last months, the Vine at Home will still be available and the Newsletter will continue as long as needed. This newsletter is to keep us all in touch and to share information and any other items that may be useful or uplifting. ALL CONTRIBUTIONS WELCOME to the church office by Wednesday afternoon. 1 PRAYER FOR THE WEEK (December 6th, 2020) God of light, shining strongly, focused on the deep darkness of despair, flooding the inky blackness of isolation, blazing bright on the dark night of sin, piercing the shade of the pains of injustice, bathing the world with a sun of renewal, we eagerly wait for the coming of Jesus as a dawn of healing and of hope and of judgement. Lord, let the light of Your presence burst in on our worship, making our ordinary offering burn with the brilliance of Your Spirit’s inspiration. In the name of the Light of the World, we pray. Amen. PRAYER REQUESTS (Please send any requests for next week by Thursday) HELEN BEN and family EILEEN ANN and family HAPPY BIRTHDAY to anyone celebrating at this time. BRIAN (7th ) JOHN (7th ) FACEBOOK PAGE Maria is updating our Facebook page regularly with songs/hymns and if you would like one added please contact her via the church email [email protected] If you have any remembrances, thanksgivings or celebrations that you wish to share please let the Church Office know (Contact details on front page) OR any contributions – Photos, anecdotes, memories, recipes, poems etc. 2 Advent candle song by Mark Earey (Tune: ANGEL VOICES ‘Angel voices ever singing…’) ADVENT 2—THE PROPHETS Jesus said, ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets: I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them.’ Amen. Come soon, Lord Jesus! The second candle is lit and this response is used Jesus is the light of the world. A light no darkness can ever put out. We sing: Advent candles tell their story, as we watch and pray, longing for the Day of Glory, ’Come, Lord, soon,’ we say. Pain and sorrow, tears and sadness, changed for gladness, on that Day. Prophet voices loudly crying, making pathways clear; glimpsing glory, self-denying, calling all to hear. Through their message - challenged, shaken - hearts awaken: God is near! SERVICES Planned at Westborough for DECEMBER 6th G.Morgan (HC), 13th Qunibi 20th G.Morgan (Carol Service) 2.30pm 23rd Holy Communion – Christmas Eve 11.30pm 27th Brown The Circuit Plan is being produced on a monthly basis only – if you require the full document please contact the Church Office. ADVENT REFLECTION A Reflection for the second Sunday in Advent, exploring stories of how God’s people have been working for justice and peace this year and how we see the God of Justice working for hope in our current world prepared by the Joint Public issues team. Can be viewed online at Week-2.pdf (jointpublicissues.org.uk) If you require a hard copy please contact Lesley. CHRISTMAS SERVICE As part of the Methodist Church #God is With Us campaign a full Christmas service has been prepared and is available to access/ download here. CDs of the service can also be obtained free of charge. Christmas service download (methodist.org.uk) 3 WESTBOROUGH CHURCH SERVICES - GUIDELINES It looks a little different and there are lots of new signs in place and some regulations that you must follow. There will be stewards to guide you through the new set up and maintain the stringent new hygiene regimes – please follow their advice. You should feel safe and comfortable in worship. th Sunday 6 December at 10.30am MORNING WORSHIP WITH HOLY COMMUNION led by Revd Graham Morgan. 1. ENTRY. Please use the right hand side FRONT ENTRANCE door if you are able. Please leave the ramp entry for those who need to use it. Doors will not be open before 10am. 2. FACE MASK. Put on your face mask before entering the building. Keep it on until you leave the building after the service – unless you are medically exempt. (Face masks do not need to be worn whilst preaching or reading). 3. SANITISER. Please use the hand sanitiser straight away – it is at both entrances. 4. TRACK & TRACE. You MUST sign the track and trace list or use the QR code on your phone. This is a legal requirement. 5. WORSHIP AREA. You will be directed to go straight up to the worship area via the right side steps. All of the service will be on the screen. It is advised that it should be 30-45 minutes in length. You may not sing. Offertory plates are available at the top of the steps – it will be brought forward during the first hymn. 6. DISTANCING. Stay 2 metres apart from each other or each ‘bubble’. You will see that some chairs have been removed and some rows of the tip-up seats are not available to sit on. Please leave THREE EMPTY SEATS between individuals or ‘bubbles’. 7. HOLY COMMUNION. The elements will be prepared using strict hygiene guidelines. Wafers are being used. They will be brought to you AT YOUR SEAT by stewards wearing masks and gloves. 8. END OF SERVICE. Please check that you have taken everything with you. Please queue 2 metres apart to leave by the left side steps. Leave the building by the left side front doors as soon as possible. 9. TOILETS. Only 2 people to be in the cloakrooms at any time – or 1 in the accessible toilets. IF YOU FEEL ILL STAY HOME If you don’t feel well or have symptoms of Covid-19 please stay at home. 4 RETURNING TO CHURCH, SUNDAY 6TH DECEMBER 2020 It is good to be meeting once again at Westborough but we must not be complacent. I have had several phone calls and emails from members of our church showing their concern over several matters and we must try and address these. Firstly, I would like to say that I think we have overall done a good job in adhering to the rules and regulations. The first issue is that sometimes there is a bottle neck at the sanitising station when we enter the building, with people talking to each other. We have put an extra sanitising station in to keep people moving. Also, people seem to be stopping at the top of the stairs and talking and not moving on. Can we remember that we are only supposed to be in church for as short a time as possible and so most people come as late as they can as requested, so need to get to their seat. Also, when we leave, again some people are congregating in the Coffee Lounge by the exit and sitting in the new comfy chairs we have. To alleviate this and to keep people moving and leaving the building as quickly as they can we have removed these seats. I know that as Methodist people, what we do best is talking! So please do not be offended when you are asked to move on, it is for all of our safety and wellbeing. Neil (Senior Church Steward) ALL WE CAN I hope that many of you were able to enjoy the Big Sing and the Extraordinary Christmas Nativity last Sunday, 29th. November followed by the Extraordinary Christmas Party. The Extraordinary Christmas Gift catalogue is still available and if you would like a copy, please make contact. The first update has been received from Butagaya, Uganda, the community that we are journeying alongside this connexional year in love, solidarity and support, learning more about how our precious regular gifts help to transform lives. All We Can is doing tremendous work at this time with a special Coronavirus Appeal alongside its latest project “Change begins with a Bicycle”. Thanks to those who contribute in any way. Your continued support during these difficult times will be greatly appreciated. Build Back Better is the aim and the challenge. The use of the Methodist Prayer Handbook is commended. 5 CAN YOU HELP? – The Vine at Home A number of you have been in touch asking how you can financially support the work we do here at Twelvebaskets. The first thing we would ask it that you pray for us. Our aim has always been to work with creatives to discover new ways to resource the church . This year we have all had to listen deeply to God and learn new ways. So as we enter 2021, as we look at how to produce and distribute more resources, your prayers would be most appreciated. To help us financially the best way is either to take out a subscription to The Worship Cloud or to give a donation to The Vine at Home. We are committed to producing The Vine at Home until the end of May 2021, but we are keen to provide this resource for much longer.