Friday 3rd April 2020

The current poster outside AFC

We are all 'connecting' in new ways.  One of them is through the internet and it's interesting that  my statistics page tells me the number of 'views' to this Blog has tripled over the last couple of weeks and that the number of 'page views' on our church website is now averaging around 2,000 per day.  I'm glad about that as it's one way of us continuing to sense that we belong together.  We thank God for technology!

This weekend AFC would have had the opportunity to welcome back The Revd Dr John Parry to the pulpit.  John and Yvonne have been living in North London over these last few years with John serving as co-director of The London Interfaith Centre.  They are due to return to Manchester latet this year so, this visit to AFC was to be a good opportunity for us to say 'farewell' to them.  Now unable to do that, we still wish them God's blessing as they eventually re-locate to a city they know well and we 'thank' them for the fellowship we have shared over recent years.

We heard from the Vogel family in Germany yesterday.  Hauke, our most recent Time for God volunteer, is back with his family, along with all his siblings.  All of them, and his grandmother,  are well and the farm continues to operate.  Jochen, Hauke's father, tells me that Hauke sets up a family 'cinema' in their dinning room every other evening and plays films through his data projector; they are currently watching 'The Crown' - I must write back and they them it's 70% fact and 30% fiction!

It's Palm Sunday this weekend and Colette Brazie has sent us this interesting link showing us how to make our own palm crosses, 'thank you' Colette. She also writes; When you haven't got a palm leaf, a daffodil leaf will do:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMvSVqYK3d4&feature=youtu.be

I'm delighted that The Revd Heather McIntyre, our good friend and church member, offers us today her second service of Prayer and Reflection containing a super 'monologue' from St Paul.

The Palm Sunday audio service is complete and ready to go!  So I hope you'll tune in on Sunday, or any time, and share the service with us.

Over this weekend, may you know the presence and blessing of God in all you do.

Ian