Swanland Parish Magazine
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SWANLAND PARISH MAGAZINE Sharing Christ through friendship Blossom, off Kemp Road, May 2019 60p April 2020 Heron fishing in the pond (not illegal for him!) on 7 April 2019 April on 7 him!) for illegal (not pond the in fishing Heron 3 Easter – triumph from apparent disaster The Covid-19 crisis is now gripping our nation and April 2020 here in Swanland we are all I’m sure wrestling with big questions, including not least what we can all do to stay 5 Information safe and help defeat it. As readers of this magazine each 6 St B Diary of us has a link to the faith communities in the village and 7 Regular meetings Viral Kindness card so even though sadly our church services are currently 8 World Day of Prayer suspended, I am urging all Swanlanders at this time to do 9 Advertisements three things: pray – care & serve – share. 11 Swanland Pond Partnership First, then, pray. Even if you don’t regularly pray, Village cancellations why not take time as you ‘stay home’ quietly to lift the 12 Viral kindness cards situation of our world and nation to God in prayer? 13 Swanland Snippets To help, we’re aiming to make available a short 14 SEAT report service from St Barnabas each Sunday, recorded live for 16 Centre pages: In this everyone to join in as you are able on youtube – details time of dread, we will be posted on our website, www.stbchurch.org.uk. must all be good And as we pray as a community, we might also like to Samaritans 19 MU news (carefully) place a lighted candle in our windows at 7pm 20 Athens Refugee each Sunday, 'as a visible symbol of the light of life, Project news Jesus Christ, our source and hope in prayer'. 21 Thoughts for the There are also good prayer resources available for Pandemic use any time on the Church of England website - as well 22 ABYYT as numerous Bible reading apps available on the internet 23 Advertisements (I can recommend the Lectio 365 app, available at 25 WI Report www.24-7prayer.com.) If you are spending additional 26 Swanland Show time at home, why not look at the Christianity Explored Thanks to Litter Pickers youtube channel which has some short films exploring the 27 Christ Church Diary Christian Faith – these have just been made freely 28 Parish Registers available - for this month of April only. Last, at St A coronavirus Barnabas church we aim to be open as usual each Wordsearch weekday from 8.30am till c.6pm - and on Sunday - for 29 Information private prayer (please observe the signs!) for at least the next few weeks (check the website for updates). Second, we can care for and serve one another. As we suspend services out of love for one another, Deadline for material especially the vulnerable and those aged 70+ who are for the May issue is self-isolating, we can still ‘be church’ as we act in Monday 13 April community. There will those with needs such as: by email to having a friendly chat on the phone (and maybe a louise@maceng. prayer) with someone who cares karoo.co.uk shopping for essentials picking up prescriptions/ posting items simple needs specific to the individual(s) 4 If you, a member of your family, or someone you know could offer to do any of these for one or more people in our community, please let the church office know (you can email or ring the office with your contact details). If you would prefer simply to help the neighbours where you live, why not deliver a ‘viral kindness’ card? (see pp.7/12) – more copies of these are available in our church foyer. And third, as we do all of the above, those of us who are Christians can share the good news of Jesus in word or deed, in this Easter season. Remember that when everything seemed hopeless, when God’s own Son was dying on the cross, in the providence of God a greater good was at work, as Jesus took upon himself all the world’s sin, took on and defeated death and three days later rose again from the dead. In 1 Peter 3:15 the apostle urges us "in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect”. Let’s be prepared, in these very challenging times, to let people know who we are as believers, why we do what we do, and where we find our hope. May each one of us know God’s protection and peace this Easter. Your friend and Vicar, Francis Scott “Cast all your anxiety on him, for he cares for you” – 1 Peter 5:7 PS As we do all this, please let’s of course all be following government advice, especially about washing our hands regularly (a good opportunity to pray the Lord’s prayer as we do so), keeping to social distancing guidelines, and staying at home especially if ill – see the NHS website, www.nhs.uk. Note from the Editor: I’m sure we are all aware of the Government’s advice for maintaining our physical health as far as possible, but staying sane during a prolonged period of social isolation might be more problematic! The advice below also comes from the Government: Looking after your mental wellbeing Understandably, you may find that social distancing can be boring or frustrating. You may find your mood and feelings are affected and you may feel low, worried or have problems sleeping and you might miss being outside with other people. At times like these, it can be easy to fall into unhealthy patterns of behaviour which in turn can make you feel worse. There are simple things you can do that may help, to stay mentally and physically active during this time such as: look for ideas of exercises you can do at home on the NHS website spend time doing things you enjoy – this might include reading, cooking, other indoor hobbies or listening to the radio or watching TV programmes try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, drink enough water and try to avoid smoking, alcohol and drugs keep your windows open to let in fresh air, get some natural sunlight if you can, or get outside into the garden You can also go for a walk or exercise outdoors if you stay more than 2 metres from others. 5 St. Barnabas’ Church, Swanland Main Street, Office: 632941 (answerphone) Swanland, Usual office opening hours 10am East Yorkshire to 12noon Monday to Thursday (closed Fridays) – please see HU14 3QP office door for any changes Email: [email protected] Website: www.stbchurch.org.uk Vicar: Revd Francis Scott, St. Barnabas Vicarage, 3 St. Barnabas Drive, Swanland, HU14 3RL – [email protected] 631271 Churchwarden: Conrad Bate c/o 632941 Recognised Parish Assistant: Bev Gray [email protected] 631536 Electoral Roll Officer: Sharon Dias c/o Church Office 632941 Church Administrator: vacant Office Administrator: Sharon Dias 632941 Parochial Church Council (correspondence to the Church office) Chairman: The Vicar, c/o Parish Office (as above) Treasurer: Graham Dunn, c/o Church Office 632941 Secretary: Rena Downing, c/o Church Office 632941 Parish Safeguarding Representative: Stephanie Bate c/o 632941 Regular giving including Gift Aid: Rena Downing 632941 Flower Rota Secretary: Louise Macfarlane 632800 Also officiates: The Revd Robin Shelley (ret’d.), 10 Old Pond Place, North Ferriby, HU14 3JE 637063 Applications for Baptisms, Weddings and Banns of Marriage and enquiries for spiritual help should be made to the Vicar or the Church Office. Contact information for home-based small groups, activities for children and others are found at the back of the magazine. Parish Magazine contributions direct to Louise at [email protected]. Advertising & enquiries to the Church Office (contact details above). 6 St. Barnabas’ Church Diary Sharing Christ through Friendship APRIL 2020 Very sadly in this time of the coronavirus epidemic, in order to protect the vulnerable in our community and to prevent the spread of infection, all Sunday services, groups and meetings across the church family and hosted in St Barnabas are currently suspended. When church services begin again this will be advertised widely including on our website, on posters outside church, by leaflet distribution where appropriate and of course in the pages of this magazine. Meanwhile we are looking at uploading services so you can join us for worship via youtube and possibly on other platforms. Please check our website for the latest details: www.stbchurch.org.uk. As of 15th March, the church building remains open for private prayer during the week – again, please check the website for the latest situation. Usual pattern of Sunday services (not for April 2020): 1st Sunday of the month 9.00am Holy Communion (Common Worship) 10.45am refresh café-style service -- No evening services at present 2nd Sunday of the month 9.00am Holy Communion (CW) 10.45am Family Communion with groups for children and young people 3rd Sunday of the month 9.00am Holy Communion (CW) 10.45am ‘Eat Cake, Meet friends, Encounter God’ = morning celebration with children’s groups 4th Sunday of the month 9.00am Holy Communion (1662 - Book of Common Prayer) 10.45am Family Communion with groups for children and young people 5th Sunday of the month 9.00am Holy Communion (CW) (where relevant) 10.45am refresh café-style service Every Sunday from 10.05am to 10.40am coffee is served in the Hall between the morning services and all are welcome.