Weekly News Letter - 31st January 2021
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St James AT THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY A Very Warm Welcome to Everyone Reluctantly we have suspended in person public worship on Sundays. The church will remain open for individual private prayer 10.00 -11.00am Tuesdays and Thursdays. We will broadcast worship from St James' at 10.00am each Sunday morning. Please do join us live on Facebook or Youtube. St James Facebook link St James YouTube page **************************************** It is with great sadness that we have reached the sobering landmark of recording more than 100,000 deaths due to coronavirus. The media has done well in reminding us (if we needed reminding) that the vastness of this number is made up of individual people - grandmothers, grandfathers, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, each special to those who loved them, and, we believe, each precious to the God who loves them. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have written movingly at this time. We attach their letter here: Archbishops' letter.pdf Beginning on Monday 1st February they encourage each of us to pause and pray at 6.00pm every evening. We can all do this. There are resources on the Church of England's website: https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/call-prayer-nation For those of us who find it helpful to pray with others the Reverend Janet Cox leads ten minutes of structured prayer at 6.00pm each evening via Zoom. Evening Prayer Meeting ID: 716 3190 4008 Password: 8QcDqV At this time, in the face of such loss, it is hard to know what to say, but we can pray, even when we are lost for words. St Paul in Romans 8.26 writes: "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words." Gracious God, Brendan *************** In this update…
************** Sunday 31st January - "He brings light" 10.00am Sunday Worship (live on Facebook and YouTube) On Sunday we shall be anticipating Jesus' presentation in the Temple - Candlemass. Traditionally churches are filled with candlelight on this day. If you are able to have a candle and matches in your home on Sunday that would be great. We can share in the light of Christ, who is the Light of the World, at home. The light of Christ, recognised in the temple, is not confined to temple or church, he fills the world. Please do join us for worship on Sunday. Even though we are in our own homes we can still worship together. Indeed it is vital that we do. All are most welcome on Facebook or Youtube. St James Facebook link St James YouTube page *************** Zoom Coffee - after Church on Sunday Do please join us for Zoom Coffee immediately after our worship on Sunday. Stay as long or as short a time as you like (if you are shy like me it will be a relief to know that you can leave any time). Usually we say hello then break into two sessions of ten minutes chat. Your face may make all the difference to another person's day (this isn't hyperbole). Please follow the link to join us. Zoom link - coffee after church on Sunday Meeting ID: 184 242 660 ************** Kid's Service Josh Taylor's fabulous Kids' Service continues and is greatly appreciated. Lively, fun-packed services are available on Youtube each Sunday. St James YouTube page *************** Lent Groups 2021 - a great time to meet together and dig deeper Lent begins Wednesday 17 February, and it looks like it is going to be a Lockdown Lent. One of the ways of making the most of Lent, which is traditionally a time of reassessment and drawing closer to God, is by doing a Lent Group. The times of the weekly sessions beginning w/c 22 February are below: Mondays 7:30pm hosted by Janet Cox Tuesdays 7.15pm hosted by Lorna Taylor Wednesdays 2:30pm hosted by Derek Taylor Thursdays 7:30pm hosted by Marilyn Smith To sign-up for a group please contact Marilyn Smith maralsmith@virginmedia.com or 01937 583410 This year, for obvious reasons, our Lent Course will be via Zoom. Zoom is dead easy to use. Although it has its limitations for this sort of thing, my experience is that it can be a surprisingly fruitful way of getting together. Help to use the technology is available. Please do ask, we would be glad to help. This year we will be exploring topics around the Rhythm of Life. How can we grown patterns of life that are sustaining and life-giving? I do hope you will be able to join us, all are welcome. *************** St James' Open for Private Prayer St James' is open for individual private prayer 10.00 - 11.00am Tuesdays and Thursdays. ************** Morning Prayer 9am & Informal Prayer 6pm via Zoom - Monday to Friday In addition to Morning Prayer the Reverend Janet Cox will continue to host a short (ten minutes) pause for prayer at 6pm each week day evening. The link for both Morning Prayer and Evening Pause is: Zoom Prayer Meeting ID: 716 3190 4008 Password: 8QcDqV All are very welcome **************** Food Bank Thank you to everyone who has given to the Food Bank. With children home from school there is pressing need for food. Donations of food can be left in church 10.00 - 11.00am Tuesdays and Thursdays. **************** Daily Hope phone line DailyHope, a free national telephone line, offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England at the end of the phone. The line – which is available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044 – has been set up particularly with those unable to join online church services during the period of restrictions in mind; to provide comfort and spiritual nourishment to the most isolated in our society. *************** Amazon Smile Thank you to all who have registered with Amazon Smile to support St James. If you shop with Amazon please do consider making us your registered charity. Shop on Amazon Smile at Amazon Smile St James and Amazon donates to St James Wetherby, at no cost to you. ************** Financial Support "God loves cheerful givers" 2 Cor 9.7 We are extremely grateful to everyone who supports St James' financially. This support enables us to be at the heart of the community sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. As part of a diocesan family of churches we also support less well resourced parishes in other parts of the diocese. Since lockdown, as collections during services have been limited, we have suffered a significant drop in our income. Unless this income is recovered the things we can do as a church will be severely curtailed. I would like to ask everyone to consider two things. 1) If you are not doing so already, please consider setting up a standing order through your bank. (Thank you to those who, since lockdown, have already made this transition.) This is the easiest way to give, and it is Covid- secure. The form for giving and Gift Aid is here: Regular Giving Form Our bank details are: Wetherby Parochial Church Council account at NatWest Bank PLC Sort Code: 55-81-11 Account No: 04416775 2) If you are able to, please consider increasing your giving. Like everyone else each year inflation means that our costs increase. If it is a while since you increased your regular giving please consider doing so. Or perhaps you might be able to consider a one-off gift to St James', in which case you could support a specific area of church life, Worship, Mission or Fabric? If you require any further information please contact our Stewardship Officer, Jill Rose 01937 586 640. All information is treated in the strictest confidence. My old vicar used suggest to people that they give as much as makes them joyful. I thought that was a rather good way of putting it. As St Paul says, "God loves cheerful giver". 2 Cor 9.7 Thank you for all your support. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. *************** email: stjames.wetherby@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/stjameswetherby |
