This week's Ministers' Letter

 

Tuesday 16^th March 2021

Dear Friends,

It was good to be able to celebrate Mothering Sunday last weekend.  We were able to video record the service, but the audio ‘input’ still was not working well which meant the sound quality was not that great.  Our ‘engineers’ are on the case!  It has also been very encouraging that around twenty folk, some joining us from COTHA churches, have gathered on Zoom over recent Monday evenings to finish the day with Night Prayer.  We are very grateful to everyone who has taken part by providing a reading, Thought for the Evening or leading the intercessions.

We are getting closer to Holy Week and here are some of the arrangements that are now in place:
MAUNDY THURSDAY – instead of our usual gathering with our Methodist friends at St John’s we’ll be having an Audio Communion Service
GOOD FRIDAY – there will be both an Audio and In Person service.  There will not be either a Walk of Witness or the Open-Air service
EASTER DAY – we will celebrate with both an Audio and In Person service.  (I see the Royal School of Church Music is currently making representation to the Government about when singing can return to services – I suspect Easter Day will be too soon but watch this space!)

This weekend marks the one-year anniversary of our Audio Services!  As always, our thanks to Michael and Sara.  I have just counted the number of people who have taken part in these over the last year and I make it a staggering 45!  Well done to everyone for mastering the technology and sending in your recordings!

I am delighted to hear from our Church Administrator that some of our User Groups are beginning to rebook AFC for their meeting venue once things have eased.  Let us hope we see many return.

On Sunday, at our Church Meeting, the Elders will be invoking a part of the Constitution we have not used recently and will be recommending that Liz Waumsley and Kevin Wood become ‘Assistant Elders’.  Both would have been standing for the election we have postponed.  So, for the time being we are recommending they attend Elders’ Meetings in this non-voting capacity and then, at an opportune time we will endeavour to organize an Elders’ Election that satisfies our Constitution.

And so we press on, seeking to live out our faith during these Lenten days taking our inspiration from Jesus, who came among us as a servant. Erna joins me in sending you our love and best wishes.

Ian