Skip to main content

Circuit Letter

Dear friends

Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed – Alleluia!

We hope you have been able to celebrate Easter with joy despite the strange circumstances. Thank you to all of you who have been phoning each other and keeping in touch with people, especially those who live alone. These phone calls are much appreciated and help us all feel cared for at this time.

Thank you to all of you who have made and displayed Easter crosses in your windows, helping us to witness clearly to our faith in our neighbourhoods. Please email Rev Christine photos of your crosses; a slideshow of these is being prepared.

We hope that everyone is receiving orders of service, whether by email or through the post. These have been prepared by Circuit ministers and local preachers, and we are grateful to all those who have helped with these. It has been very moving to join in worship from our various homes, knowing that others are worshipping with us. Many others have enjoyed joining in the services on the television and radio, and trying new things on the internet.

The Circuit is also providing online worship opportunities, with Peter Jackson using the service materials that have been produced, and leading a service that you can find on YouTube; and Christine Crabtree has been recording meditations that you can find at www.bradfordnorth.org.uk under ‘Virtual Worship amidst Covid-19’. There is a new page for Spirituality, which has resources for Quiet Days and prayer at home. Thank you to Roy Lorrain Smith and Jackie Marshall for their help in this.

The District has asked us about the finances of churches, now that weekly offerings are affected and lettings have disappeared, and we have asked each individual church how things are going. Most are able to cover costs including assessment, and the Circuit will offer help to those who will struggle. This is an emergency situation for which we need to use reserves to see us through, and the Circuit will also be using its reserves to cover this time. People who are continuing to give their weekly offering by Direct Debit are helping their churches cope, and we thank you. If you would normally give your offering in cash, if you can set this aside each week it would be much appreciated by your treasurer. If, however, you are struggling because your income has been affected, please put your family first.

Until we can meet again, please keep indoors; stay safe; save lives; protect the NHS and your family, friends and neighbours.

God bless you all
Nick, Christine and Phil

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Christmas Day Worship 2021

Today is the day - Christmas! The central candle is lit. The waiting is over. The child is born. As we celebrate the Feast and Holy-Day of Christmas, with the Psalmist (Ps. 98:4-6) we proclaim: Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn – shout for joy before the LORD, the King. Prayer Let us pray: Generous God, even as we praise you for the good news of today, and seek to shout for joy at the coming of the Christ-child, we acknowledge Mary’s mix of pain and joy, both today and in the days to come. As we do so, we face our own emotions on this difficult and delightful day, and ask your help to live it well. Amen. Carol You might like to sing, or reflect on the words of Geoffrey Ainger’s hymn at StF 193/H&P 95, Born in the night, Mary’s child, a long way from your home; coming in need, Mary’s child, born in a borro...

Pastoral Letter - 9 December 2021

Dear friends We have been through a lot together over this last 18 months since the pandemic first started, as households, as communities and as the people of the church. At times we have struggled, but we have also recognised the support we can offer one another in times of adversity. When things have been far from normal, we have adapted in new ways to continue the life and mission of the church. In the face of great hurt and great need, we have found the value of faith and hope. Since the summer we have seen signs of hope in the re-opening of buildings and the re-starting of some of our church and community groups. However, recent news of a new variant of the virus has once again raised the level of concern. Clearly, the pandemic is not yet over. Consequently, as I am sure you are already aware, the government has decided that there is a need for greater restrictions to be in place once again - see detailed guidance  dated 8th December. In the light of this, the Methodist Church...

Prayer Column - January 2022

The turn of the year As a new year approaches we tend to wonder what lies ahead, hoping always to shake off the past’s bad record and for something better to come, as if hoping could make it so. We wonder about next year because of course we don’t know what lies around the corner (however great the store of human knowledge, and however thorough our Googling). Search as we may, and it’s a royal honour to do so (Prov 25:2), some things are known only to God: times and seasons fixed by his authority are not for us to know (Acts 1:7), for the future is his. This is a time to remind ourselves of God’s omniscience: he does know (Rom 11:33). He knows the plans he has for us – plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us a hope and a future (Jer 29:11). And it’s time to remember also that God is not far-off and aloof, but a loving, heavenly Father who wants a close living relationship with each of us, day by day and breath by breath – he sent Jesus to bring us back to him. So ...