Church this coming week
3rd April 2020
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We are getting used to having our plans interrupted, events cancelled and meetings postponed. It is humbling to be reminded that we are not in control even of our own diaries. James encourages us to be humble before the One who is in control: “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that'” (James 4:14-15).
The purpose of this message is to explain how this Sunday’s service is going to work (which is different again from last week), and also what the plans are for next week leading up to Easter (holding all these plans lightly, of course).
Sunday 5th April
This Sunday the service will be streamed live via YouTube.
The service will be live at 10am, and it can be paused or watched later. Please feel free to share this link as widely as possible! The link can also be accessed from the church website under the heading ‘Sunday Services Online’.
We have made this change in order to make the service as widely available as possible (including those who are unable to access Zoom, not keen to be seen on Zoom, or unable to watch live, while maintaining the live ‘feel’ and ensuring safeguarding).
We will be concluding our present series Good News from God (Romans 1-4) with: What is faith? (Romans 4:13-25). Please read the passage in advance, and even ponder this question: In what ways is our faith like Abraham’s?
The service will be followed by discussion and prayer at 11.30am using Zoom.
Next Week (Holy Week)
It will not be possible to have our Church Family Meal on Maundy Thursday, which is really sad as it’s a very special occasion. Instead, I am going to suggest that Fellowship Groups arrange to meet on Wednesday evening.
On Good Friday we are planning a Reflection at 10am (hopefully streamed live on YouTube), but there will no All Age Service as that’s a bit too much to manage.
On Easter Sunday we are planning to have our ‘normal’ Easter Celebration at 10am, which will be an All Service with Holy Communion (stand by for further details).
And finally
It is sobering to be told by James that we are “a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes”, although it is perfectly true. We also have these words from the Lord Jesus, appropriate enough as we approach Easter: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25-26). We need to live with both the fragility of our lives and the solidity of His promises.
Yours warmly, in Christ,
Chris Hobbs (Senior Minister)