NEWSLETTER April 2020 “For the glory of God and the solace of a whole community” A Message from our cancelled; the message of Minister Easter is not. God reaches out to us with the good news Unless you remember the of Jesus Christ who came to outbreak of war, this is the live among us as one of us, first time that life has shared our sorrow, fear and changed suddenly and pain, died on the cross and fundamentally for all of us at was raised to life again. We the same time. The Covid-19 draw comfort and strength crisis brings its own stress from our Easter faith which and worry for each of us in a tells us that light always different ways depending on overcomes darkness for God our personal circumstances. is light; that nothing can ever However we all face the separate us from God’s love, same challenge of adjusting for Jesus Christ rose from the to a different way of living dead; that through the risen where we can no longer take Christ God offers us life us for granted the things we all its fullness now and considered normal only a carries us through death to short week ago. everlasting life. In a difficult time we turn In this uncertain time the together as a church family to promises of God are sure God, who is constant and and the hope of faith whose love for us never unfailing. This Holy Week changes. April brings Easter, and Easter then, turn to the the great festival of our faith. Gospel, read it or listen to it, We will not be able to and discover the good news celebrate as usual this year, of God once again. nor hold the joint services we had planned in Holy Week Alison with our Roman Catholic and Scottish Episcopal friends. Our services along with many other things we do are 2 Keeping in touch If you can receive the church newsletter and other Christ says "Love one communications from St another; as I have loved Mary’s by e-mail and don’t you, so you are to love one already do so please e-mail another " (John 13:34) us on communications @stmaryskirk.co.uk As St Mary's family we show Christ's love through our care for one another. Here are some ways of Over the coming weeks and joining in worship on months it is important that Sundays we keep in touch with one Please keep looking at the another and support one St Mary’s Church website another through this difficult and Facebook for time. If possible, your elder messages from our will be in touch with you and minister, Rev Alison please contact your elder, McDonald. even if you just want a chat. Do not hesitate to contact Radio our minister whether by BBC Radio Scotland has phone, email, message or “New Every Sunday”, acts text. Her contact details are of worship from different on the back page. The churches across Scotland, pastoral care group is also on Sunday mornings at available and will be 6.30am keeping in touch by phone. Let's all do what we can to BBC Radio 4 has Sunday care for one another as the Worship at 8.10am. St Mary's family. BBC Radio 3 has Choral Evensong on Wednesdays at 3.30pm 3 If you miss the bells daily reflection on Facebook at 10 am. Bells on Sunday Radio 4 5.43 am It is expected that there will Radio 3 around 7.45 am be a reflective service broadcast on BBC1 BBC Radio 4 (long wave) Scotland at 12.15pm on Daily service Monday- Sunday 29th March 2020. Friday 9.45am Television “Songs of Praise” is on BBC at 1.15pm on Sundays Singing BBC Scotland has a service If you are missing singing at 12noon on Sundays you can listen and sing along to hymns from CH4 Internet / Online on the Church of Scotland Several churches website livestream services or offer https://music.churchofscotl them as downloadable and.org.uk recordings. For a comprehensive list go to the Church of Scotland website www.churchofscotland.org. uk and look under “Kirk Services Online”. The Moderator of the General Assembly, the Right Reverend Colin Sinclair is offering a live 4 If you cannot do this and wish to continue with the envelopes then please keep setting aside your contributions in the weekly offering envelopes and keep them safe until such time as Giving to St Mary’s they can handed in to church With the church closed for at some future date. Thank worship and all events and you. concerts cancelled or postponed there will be a considerable drop in our income. If you are still able to, please continue with your giving. It would be really helpful if as many as possible, who don’t already do so, could switch to Bank Standing Order, paying a set sum each month direct into the church bank account. You can do this online. You don’t have to visit the bank. Details are as follows: Bank of Scotland The daffodil cross, planted Sort Code: 50-13-76 by our Young Church a few Account No: 00530470 years ago, is currently Name: blooming in the churchyard St Mary’s Parish Church at St Mary’s 5 A Prayer poem for a quiet Sunday Lockdown Yes there is fear. Yes there is isolation. Yes there is panic buying. Yes there is sickness. Yes there is even death. But, They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise You can hear the birds again. They say that after just a few weeks of quiet The sky is no longer thick with fumes But blue and grey and clear. They say that in the streets of Assisi People are singing to each other across the empty squares, keeping their windows open so that those who are alone may hear the sounds of family around them. They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound. Today a young woman I know is busy spreading fliers with her number through the neighbourhood So that the elders may have someone to call on. Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples are preparing to welcome and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way All over the world people are waking up to a new reality 6 To how big we really are. To how little control we really have. To what really matters. To Love. So we pray and we remember that Yes there is fear. But there does not have to be hate. Yes there is isolation. But there does not have to be loneliness. Yes there is panic buying. But there does not have to be meanness. Yes there is sickness. But there does not have to be disease of the soul Yes there is even death. But there can always be a rebirth of love. Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now. Today, breathe. Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic The birds are singing again The sky is clearing, Spring is coming, And we are always encompassed by Love. Open the windows of your soul And though you may not be able to touch across the empty square, Sing. Fr. Richard Hendrick, OFM Thanks to www.reflectivespaces.org for this poem 7 www.stmaryskirk.co.uk Haddington: St Mary’s Parish Church (Church of Scotland) Scottish Charity Number SC010614 8 .