Sunday 31st January 2021 Zoom 'Coffee Time' Fellowship

 On Sunday we are hoping to have a 'Coffee Time' Zoom after the Audio Service at 11.30am.

Folks on the AFC email list have been sent the codes for this.

If you haven't received the email, or are not on the Church Administrator's list and would like to join us for this half hour of fellowship, please send an email to ian.c.green@outloook.com

Friday 29th January 2021: Zoom Church Meeting snapshot

 

                                                       Sent in by Michael Autton                    

Friday 29th January 2021: Message from our Link Missionaries

 Dear all,

We would like to thank you all for your emails and prayers for us. Cyclone Eloise hit us quite hard but not as hard as Idai two years ago, thank goodness. We are all doing fine. The children slept all night long, which really helped us all. Some water came into the house but it wasn't that much and I don't think there is a house in Beira that didn't have a drop of water enter the house that night. Thankfully the cyclone caused little physical harm to people but it was the rain that caused the most disruption, even before the storm, there was flooding and people from rural areas were evacuated to the city. So we have some displaced people in tents at some of the schools, waiting to be able to go back to their homes, which are hopefully still standing.

The meeting we mentioned with Pastors obviously didn't happen and we are waiting for it to be rescheduled.

We will be sending out a prayer letter very soon with more details and photos.

We really appreciate your support. It wasn't easy and now as we get over the cyclone, we remember the other problem we have of covid. We will meet with a rep from the British High Commission tomorrow to see how the British Government can support us with a lack of health resources here. They have already sent 4 people here from the UK to provide support for the cyclone sufferers. We give thanks to God for that.

Many thanks again,

Sergio, Liz, Chloe and Joshua.

A 'p.s.'!

One of my readers looked at today's Blog and wrote in saying they remember when AFC was used by the BBC (back in the days of live black and white broadcasts) for Songs of Praise.  I suspect no recording is available, but it would be interesting to hear if anyone else remembers that event, or indeed attended it!

It has also be brought to my attention that Andy, a member of our congregation, celebrates her 101st birthday today!  I spoke to her yesterday and she is in fine form.  We send her our love and prayers on this special day.

Three reasons to be thankful...

 

AFC in snow last Sunday

No.1: I’m in a Queue

I learnt the other day that I’m in a queue, which I suppose is a good British tradition!  The queue is for the vaccine and according to one website, when I punch in my age and medical history, it tells me there are 16,545,782 people in front of me and it’s likely I’ll have my jab on Good Friday!

I really don’t mind this queue, in fact I’m just thrilled there is one.  As we passed the grim milestone of 100,000 deaths from COVID-19 being recorded yesterday we owe a debt of gratitude to all the scientists and manufacturers who are making this solution to the pandemic possible.

No.2: I enjoy a very old TV programme!
I also learnt on Sunday that I’m the same age as Songs of Praise; and I never knew that!  Back in 1961 this programme was broadcast for the first time from a Welsh Baptist Chapel in Cardiff.  It is remarkable it is still going and is appreciated not just in Britain but also in places like Australia; hard to think of too many other programmes that began their lives 60 years ago and are still on our screens – so Happy Birthday Songs of Praise.

No.3: Good people haven’t given up serving during the Pandemic
On Sunday, as we walked in the snow around the town, with the dog, we bumped into a church member with whom we had a brief chat.  She told us that she and her children were so grateful to our Junior Church co-ordinator and our Guide leader for keeping in touch and providing activities during Lockdown.  She told us that last Friday the Guides, via Zoom, were making Lemonade Scones!!  I too am thankful for such dedicated service, we have seen it all around us over these last ten months, and it makes our hearts glad.

Whatever we are doing this day, and this week, may you know the blessing and joy of God.

Message from our Link Missionaries

 

Dear friends,

We hope that you are well in this difficult time, and knowing that God is with you and loves you.

We are all doing fine healthwise. Joshua started reception class, or kindergarden as they say here, and he appears to be enjoying himself. He is happier when he is home and plays nicer with Chloe as now they have time apart from each other, it's even better to be together! We are glad the school isn't closed at the moment but aware of the care to be taken regarding Covid. Chloe is continuing to do school at home and she goes to a Brazilian friend's house for some lessons in Portuguese. Sergio is continuing to distribute food parcels and finish some projects, and we are praying that this year he will be able to restart the training he was doing with the Mozambican missionaries around the country. Liz is busy with Chloe as well as her plans for the year to train and equip CBM (Mozambican Baptist Convention) Churches in safeguarding. So far her focus has been on the PEPEs but she now has an open door to the Churches to which we are grateful to God. Also on a happy note, we were able to celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary last week,... how time flies!!

We would like to ask for some quite urgent prayer requests:

1. Another severe tropical storm, that could turn to a cyclone, is on its way to us on Fri night/Saturday. Storm Eloise looked like it would hit Mozambique further down but it has since gone northward. It has already rained a lot this last week and many houses are already suffering. Please pray that the same will happen as the last storm Chalane, that it will dissipate and won't have the affect on here that we think it could. Everyone was so surprised with such little rain and not too much wind, and we gave thanks to God. May we be able to do the same with this storm. Last night it rained hard and even with the windows shut, some let water in so we will be preparing as best we can. It is cyclone season and as Beira is below sea level, it causes us some trouble.
2. Even before this storm approached, I (Liz) have been given the opportunity to speak at a Pastors and leaders CBM meeting to be able to speak about safeguarding and its importance within Churches. It depends on the storm if it will go ahead on Saturday, but either way it will happen some time soon. So I ask for prayers for wisdom on what to say, for understanding and that their hearts are open to what I will say, and maybe that God will raise up some people there that will be advocates for this area.
3. It is a little strange to ask for prayer for this as everyone is suffering in some way from it, but we are starting to feel how you have felt over the last 9 months regarding covid-19. Even though we were in semi-quarantine since last March, we didn't see too many cases here until now, probably due to people holidaying here in December. The daily cases have quadrupled in January and even though we have a low number of 'official' cases (those numbers don't represent the real numbers), the private and public hospitals in the capital city, (the epicentre for the virus) are already packed. We have Brazilian friends in Maputo who are really suffering the effects of Covid-19, and with no space in the hospitals, they stayed home with difficulty breathing. Thanks to God a solution has been found and they are able to pay for a nurse to visit with oxygen for 15 days. We just think of all those who don't have the money for this sort of service! Cases are also rising here in Beira and hardly anywhere to get treatment. We are doing what we can to protect ourselves but please pray for the people here, that more will understand what this virus is like and take more precautions to prevent its spread.

We appreciate your prayers when right now there is so much to pray for.  We will update you with news on these issues when we can. Also thank you to those of you who respond to our emails. Please know that even though we might not reply, we read them and are so thankful for your encouragement and support and to know about your own situations. 

Many thanks, God bless

Liz and Sergio Vilela
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Wednesday 20th January 2021: Inauguration Day

 

For many of our friends in The United States of America today is very special.  It sees the Inauguration of a new President, the country’s 46^th.  

A few years ago we exchanged houses with a Baptist Minister and his family who lived just outside of Washington, in the township of Vienna.  Rather like us in Amersham, their home was the last stop on their underground system.  Every day we rode the ‘Orange Line’ into the city centre visiting Smithsonian museums, the Capitol building, the Cathedral or the Library of Congress.  Washington is relatively small (say compared to New York or London) and no where was more iconic for me than the afternoon we spent at The Lincoln Memorial.  We stood on the steps at the same spot upon which The Revd Dr Martin Luther King delivered his Dream Speech – I felt he was almost present!!

The challenge for all leaders is to rise to the responsibilities of their office with courage and integrity.  The opportunity for all leaders is to fill their office with something of their personality.

Mr Biden, we are told, will begin his day, as a committed Catholic Christian, by attending Mass before he takes the Oath of Office.  He has already shown us something of his personality during his eight years as Vice President under President Obama.  He is a man who has known deep personal loss and exhibits exemplary warmth and humanity in his public persona.  Perhaps as never before, in our lifetimes, this United States President comes into office at a truly critical moment.  He inherits a country deeply divided and a world struggling with pandemic. 

So, on a day such as this, Mr Biden and his team merit our prayers. 

Back in 1956 another President, Dwight D Eisenhower, signed into law a bill declaring the phrase: In God we Trust, become the nation’s motto, and be printed on the nation’s currency.  Our prayer is that such a motto also becomes Mr Biden’s reality and guiding star throughout these next four years.

Central Baptist Association: Spring Newsletter available

 

The Revd Colin Pye, one of our Baptist Regional Minsiters puts together the CBA News and it can be accessed here at

https://tinyurl.com/y4ht42xc
or
https://heyzine.com/flip-book/1ffe98a571.html

Picture of Hope: Christine Standring

Christine has sent in this 'hope-filled' picture from a calandar gifted to her by some American friends showing beautiful pictures of the lake near where they live in the Kings Mountain, North Carolina and this is the page from November - a message of hope for us all in a New Year.

Friday 15th January 2021: Church Life Focus

 Here are some pieces of Church Life news:

Once again there is no In Person worship at AFC on 17th January, and that will also be the case next week, on Sunday 24^th January.  The Elders have taken this decision after receiving advice from our parent denominations.

Next week the Audio Service will not come from AFC but from COTHA – Churches on the Hill Amersham.  It will, in effect, replace the United Ecumenical service we usually hold in January.  St John’s has arranged the service as they would, in normal circumstances have been the host church next Sunday, and their minister, The Revd Nigel Wright will be the preacher.  The service will be available to download from the website in the usual way. 

We are looking forward to holding another Church Meeting on Zoom.  The date for this is now set for Tuesday 26^th January at 7.30pm.  That’s the 26^th January, a Tuesday evening at 7.30pm.  Details of how to log in will be available next week, along with an agenda and some briefing notes.

Wednesday 17th January 2021: Progress is Possible

 I think we all need reminding of the positive changes that have taken place in our society within our life- times.  I read one such story in the pages of The Church Times last week.

It was written by the Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States, Michael Curry.  I often tune in to Bishop Curry’s sermons from Washington Cathedral; he overflows with passion, integrity and humour!

His Chicago family were originally Baptists; often the home for Black American Christians.  Yet his mother started going to her local Episcopal church and invited her boyfriend along, eventually they would marry and become parents to the boy who would grow up to become the most senior bishop in the USA.

Bishop Curry says his father was, at first, a reluctant Episcopalian.  At that first service, which included Holy Communion, his father was amazed to see both black and white people go up to the altar to drink from a common cup.  These were the 1940’s and Martin Luther King was still in seminary with Jim Crow being alive and well.  These were days of segregation and active prejudice – but not in this church.  Curry’s father couldn’t believe his eyes, the common cup passed from black to white as a matter of course, no fuss.

Bishop Curry wrote in last week’s Church Times: When my father told that story he said: Any church in which Blacks and Whites drink out of the same cup knows something about the gospel that I want to be a part of…

Stories like this matter, because they are real.  They make the past, and the integrity of those who lived that time, holy ground.  And they inspire us for days to come for in these challenging days, when it can at times seem so overwhelming, we need to hear that progress is possible.

Tuesday 12th January 2021: Order of Service for Ann's funeral on Friday

 

Tyesday 12th January 2021

We will be holding the funeral service of Mrs Ann Patchin this Friday 1t 11.45am at The Chiltrerns Crematorium.

Ann's family invite us to join them via the webcast and have provided these details to help us do so:

https://www.wesleymedia.co.uk/webcast-view
Login / Order ID: 65528
Password: seasmesf

Tuesday 12th January 2021: A suggestion from Celia

 Celia Palmer writes:

I wonder if you have seen or heard about the ‘Door Chalkings’ on houses across the country.   It has been ‘unlocked’ not as a code but is in a way ‘holy graffiti’ which is believed to originate from central Europe in the Middle Ages.

It was seen as a message of hope to chalk the initials of the 3 wise men and the numerals’ of the old and new age, see below:

 

20 + C + M + B + 21

 

Rev Arwen Folkes, the rector of St Peter in East Blatchington, Seaford, began it last year and spoke of how encouraging it was to see on it 50 houses in her parish and this year she prepared bags with mini-chalks for people to use on their own doorways as well as on the Church.

 

At Epiphany it has been the custom to ask God’s blessing on homes and mark the doorway in this way and this was seen in the Czech Republic a decade or so ago according to Fr Fergus Butler-Gallie of Holy Trinity, Sloane Square and according to him now it is everywhere.  People would pray as they chalked the message.

 

I pray and trust that your homes will be blessed this Epiphany

In Person worship cancelled for Sunday 10th January 2021

 After much discussion we have decided to cancel 'In Person' worship for Sunday 10th January 2021.

We have received advice from the Baptist Union urging us to take this move.  They state that, although legally we can open, we ought to give consideration to the current pressure on the NHS and the growing possibility of contagion due to the mutation of the virus.

We will review the situation on a weekly basis, as advised by our other parent denomination, the United Reformed Church.  Next week that review will take place at the Elders' Zoom meeting on Tuesday.

These are difficult days, yet the increasing roll out of the vaccine brings us great hope.

For the time being, however, we once again rejoice that we can come 'together' over the airways via the Audio Service this Sunday.

With prayerful best wishes,

Ian

Wednesday 6th January 2021: Follow The Star

 

In my teens I spent most Thursday nights, in term time, staying over at my grandparents. It was always a fun evening full of good food and discussion.  My grandfather was a gentle guide in my life.  He gave me 50 pence a week, but only after I washed his car every Saturday morning.  He bought me a book every month, yet it was always the next instalment of a Junior encyclopaedia! 

On those Thursday evenings I was encouraged to go out into the darkness and look up at the stars with his binoculars.  It became a tradition; a memory that pops up now, uninvited yet always welcome, every Epiphany.

Those Magi, real or imagined, are deliberately in the nativity story as Seekers after Truth from a faith system outside of Israel.  The Christ Child was a gift for the world and those bearing gold, frankincense and myrrh were amongst the first to bow in worship.  This was not so much truth speaking to power, as power kneeling before Truth.

I’m full of admiration for these oriental seekers.  Their determination inspires me, for surely theirs was a fraught and frustrating journey; much of it without a known destination.  Yet, aren’t the best journeys always like that?  We make them in faith, and they take a certain courage and conviction.

Like you I’m very conscious at the start of this New Year of the huge angst and fear that has already characterised the first six days of 2021.  Our journey back to wholeness is a slow one, yet a star of hope and love still beckons us on, and maybe the darkest night is always just before the dawn.

May you today, know God’s blessing in all you do.

 

Ian

1st January 2021: Church Life Focus for Sunday 3rd January 2021

 This week a number of Church committees will be meeting on Zoom, on Tuesday the Finance and Property committee meet, followed by a Zoomed Team Meeting and on Wednesday the Eco Church sub committee come together, once again on Zoom.

The January edition of Family News has been published, so our thanks to the editorial team who got it together for us over the Christmas period.

And we continue to hold in our thoughts and prayers Susie’s Moir’s family as they prepare for Joan, her mother’s funeral, Marian Marriot coming to terms with the unexpected death of her son in Australia and Barry Patchin preparing Ann’s funeral service.  May Marian’s son, Joan and Ann rest in peace and rise in glory, and may those closest to them continue to know God’s peace and hope day by day.

Today we rejoice with Mary Northern with the birth of her grandson last weekend, a lovely moment for her family.

And grateful thanks to you all for such wonderful support given to our three Christmas charities.  So far over £3000 has been given.  That’s just wonderful and we hope will be really helpful to the ongoing ministry of Baby Bear, in South Africa, Spurgeon’s Child Care in the UK and The Chiltern Food Bank locally.

1st January 2021: Church New Year Poster

 

Our thanks to Patrick for our New Year poster