Church of the Holy Spirit Manse Road, Mossley The Dove Magazine April / May 2020 Edition Parish website www.mossley.org (Mossley Parish is a registered charity, NIC103262) From the Rectory Study Much has happened since the last edition of our parish magazine. Coronavirus has become an all too familiar term and it has brought our nation, and nations throughout the world, to a standstill. Mass gatherings have been prohibited, schools have closed, sporting events have been postponed, and church services can no longer be conducted with congregations in our church buildings. A culture of fear has gripped the world and it is harrowing to watch news broadcasts each evening. We are certainly living in challenging and unprecedented times. Recently, as I was reflecting on the enormity of the situation in which we find ourselves, I received a text message from a friend. It was a link to a YouTube video entitled ‘It’s Friday But Sunday’s Coming.’ This short clip is part of an Easter meditation which was delivered by Dr Shadrach Meshach Lockridge, a former pastor of an African American congregation in California between 1953 and 1993. Please take a few moments to watch this remarkable little video. Dr Lockridge speaks with wonderful passion, sincerity, rhythm and power. He is a truly unique Christian orator. But what is even more impressive than the delivery of his message is the content of the message itself, which focuses on the association between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. On Good Friday, after six hours of incredible physical pain, emotional turmoil and mental torture, Jesus cried out in a loud voice and breathed his last breath. The soldiers, the women at the scene of the crucifixion, the crowd who had been watching, Joseph of Arimathea, and even Pontus Pilate were certain that Jesus was dead. I imagine that this news would have spread quickly to other people in the locality and beyond. After all they had witnessed and heard, the disciples must surely have been discouraged, heartbroken and uncertain. But this was Friday and, unknown to all these people, Sunday was coming. We, as Christians, celebrate at Easter because the story doesn’t end with the anguish and pain of the Cross. Sunday came, the stone was rolled away, the tomb was empty, and Jesus is alive. What appeared to be defeat turned out to be the greatest victory in human history. Sadness was turned into joy and despair was replaced by hope. As we journey toward Easter Sunday 2020 let us remain focused on the hope of the resurrection. At present we may feel like it’s Friday, but thanks be to God, Sunday’s Coming. Your friend and Rector, Peter Jones 2 CHRISTIAN BURIAL USEFUL CONTACTS 20th March 2020 Johnny Lynd 3 Manse Terrace RECTOR Rev Peter Jones 23rd March 2020 Billy McCormick 1 Ballyhenry Dr. The Rectory, 1 Woodford Manor, BT36 6FF. 3rd April 2020 George Beck Carrickfergus Manor Tel. 028 90 832726 [email protected] PARISH OFFICE ORDAINED LOCAL MINISTER Rev Louise Bowes Tel. 07900410069 Our Parish Office is currently closed due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. It is advised that all DIOCESAN READERS correspondence should be forwarded to the Rector. Mr Tom Irwin Tel 028 90 833399 Contact details are in the Useful Contacts section on this Mob. 07841478427 page. Mrs Valerie Murray Tel. 028 90 835761 ORGANIST ONLINE SERVICES Miss Jane McCartney Tel. 028 90 848854 At present we are no longer able to convene for Sunday [email protected] services or midweek Holy Communion. However, PARISH OFFICE services and reflections are available online. You can Tel. 028 90 832936 find these on: [email protected] 1. The Parish Facebook Page RECTOR’S CHURCHWARDEN 2. The Parish Website (www.mossley.org) Winifred Clarke 07749064808 3. YouTube (www.youtube.com). On YouTube simply search for Church of the Holy Spirit Mossley and this PEOPLE’S CHURCHWARDEN will lead you to the videos. David Boyd 07484700989 RECTOR’S GLEBEWARDEN HOLY WEEK 2020 Bob Lee 07739185034 PEOPLE’S GLEBEWARDEN Plans for Holy Week 2020 were well advanced, and we Tom Buchanan had an exciting range of services scheduled. Unfortunately, like so much else, these services have HONORARY SECRETARY had to be cancelled. John Nesbitt 07954150067 [email protected] Holy Week will be much quieter this year. However, this enforced change will provide each of us with an HONORARY TREASURER opportunity to be even more reflective. Why not read a David Flint 028 90 836304 chapter of Matthew’s Gospel each day, starting with FWO RECORDER Matthew 21 on Palm Sunday and concluding with Ken Jackson 028 90 294967 Matthew 28 on Easter Sunday? SELECT VESTRY Please also tune in to Facebook, the Parish Website or Alan Bowes Joan Mackey YouTube at 7pm each night during Holy Week. Different John Caldwell John Nesbitt reflections will be uploaded from Monday to Friday. Celia Catherwood Julie Parkinson David Flint Maureen Steenson 3 Pat Flint Billy Williamson George Madden Ken Jackson Coronavirus Update “I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” (Psalm 91:2) These are, undoubtedly, challenging times for us all. Preparations have been made and steps have been taken to enable our Parish to remain as active as possible while, at the same time, protect and care for one another. • All church services have been suspended until further notice. It had been hoped that we could meet for quiet prayer on Sunday mornings, but escalating guidelines have ensured that this is no longer possible. • Our parish webpage (www.mossley.org) and our Facebook page will be a primary means of contact with parishioners, friends of the parish, and people from our local community and beyond. • Short services, sermons, and a range of other resources for all-ages will be uploaded so that we can continue to grow spiritually together. • For those who are not on Facebook, all video recordings will also be available on YouTube. Simply go to www.youtube.com and in the search box at the top of the page enter Church of the Holy Spirit Mossley. • A Parish Prayer Booklet has been produced and is available to download from Facebook and the parish webpage (www.mossley.org). Some paper copies are available from the Rector. • Parish visitation has also been suspended. This is a protective action which seeks to safeguard the health of clergy and parishioners. As an alternative, the Rector, Rev Louise and other members of the parish will be in contact via telephone. • Practical help (e.g. picking up prescriptions or shopping) is available. A team of volunteers, to help with such practicalities, is being assembled. If you can help with this, or if you could benefit from such practical help, please contact the Rector. • Some parishioners have already enquired about how they can continue to submit their freewill offering at this time. We suggest, where possible, that parishioners explore the prospect of standing orders (even on a temporary basis). For further details contact the Rector (02890832726), Mr Ken Jackson (02890294967) or Mr David Flint (02890836304). Alternatively, parishioners could continue to fill their weekly envelopes, as usual, until such times as arrangements can be made for collection. We may not be able to gather as a church family in the ways that we did only a few weeks ago, but we can continue to encourage and support one another through phone calls, text messages and other creative ways. Please stay in touch with us. We are still here for you and would be only too delighted to hear from you. Let us also continue to trust in the sovereignty of God at this time. 4 Select Vestry News The Select Vestry, like every other Parish organisation, is unable to meet at the present time. However, a small group has been approved by the Vestry to work alongside the Rector in making any necessary practical decisions until such times as the Coronavirus situation has passed, and normal services can be resumed. Unfortunately, some matters which the Vestry were working on have been delayed for the foreseeable future. One matter concerning the Vestry for the last few years has been the damp appearing along the bottom of the big wall in the old minor hall. The water that has been gathering, especially in wet weather, has been considerable and the Vestry has been concerned about how the water is getting in and also what damage it is causing. Although the Vestry had gone as far as employing a structural engineer to look at it, this has had to be put on hold. We would also be worried about the potential cost of repair, however on a positive note, the Vestry will be looking at the long term plans for the hall, particularly at the possibility of using the hall as a potential additional meeting place for organisations and community groups. We have all seen the wonderful transformation to the church since the removal of the old organ pipes. The red cross has now been revealed and even if you remember the way the church used to be, particularly with its grey brick walls, the red cross on a white wall is very striking and a new sight for everyone. However, on a closer inspection of the cross you will notice that due to the years of it being hidden from view, it has become very much deteriorated in places. The frames holding the panes of glass have become rotted, and even some of the panes of glass where they have been replaced are not the exact same colour.