Latest News from the Rector
Dear Church Family (Updated 4th April 2020)
I just read on Facebook that God was spotted walking around Yorkshire this week. Apparently the police stopped him and asked what he was doing. He said, “I’m working from home.”
I hope you are bearing up. I’m aware that this second week of ‘lock down’ has been hard for some. Several isolated folk have mentioned how much they appreciate phone calls from the church family. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thess. 5:11). Please remember to let us know if you get stuck. There is sure to be someone who can help. A reminder that Alison Walters is now working from home. The temporary church office number is 07928 825869.
Prayer and Worship in Holy Week
This weekend marks the beginning of The Longest Week. There is a new Daily Prayer sheet, which you can download here and also a Holy Week Supplement for Palm Sunday and Good Friday, which you can download here. The pattern of livestreamed worship during Holy Week will be different from our ‘new normal’. Here’s the plan. (Of course, if you miss it live, you can watch it later on the church Facebook page.) Here's the link to our church facebook page where we are livestreaming the daily prayer services and posting other resources.
· Palm Sunday - 10.30 am
· Monday - 12.00 noon
· Tuesday - 12.00 noon
· Wednesday - 12.00 noon
· Maundy Thursday - 7.30 pm
· Good Friday - 2.15 pm
· Saturday (Easter Eve) - no livestreamed worship
· Easter Day - 10.30 am
There are a couple of things to mention to help us worship through the week:
Palm Sunday
Many have enjoyed making a rainbow and putting it in the window as a symbol of hope. There is a similar idea circulating among the York clergy for Palm Sunday. “What if everyone on Sunday April 5 in the morning, puts a branch on the door of their house or on the window, to celebrate Palm Sunday? It could be any green branch you can get. This would help, despite the social distancing, to be connected as we enter into the Holiest of Weeks. Want to join? We may be physically isolated, but not separated. We are united as the body of Christ.” Why not do that before joining in with the worship at 10.30 am?
Good Friday
At 2.15 pm we’ll begin a 45 minute service based on Jesus’ seven words from the cross. The readings are listed on the Holy Week Supplement, which you can find by clicking here. If you like to follow in your Bible, I suggest you bookmark the 10 readings before we begin. You may want to light a candle, and to hold a cross (it could be an old palm cross) or a nail, or a scrap of red fabric.
Holy Week at Home
Sarah Griffiths has sent out some resources from the Diocese for Holy Week at Home especially for children and their families. You can download a copy here. She will also continue to produce her great online videos - ably assisted by Rory.
Messy Easter
Meanwhile the Messy Church team are working on a series of videos with Easter-themed crafts and worship. It will be available as a playlist on YouTube for Good Friday, with a link from Facebook. Enjoy! You can access the church YouTube channel here.
After Easter - Spring Harvest Home
I was excited to hear some news from Spring Harvest. As they can’t hold their usual gatherings at Butlins or Harrogate, they plan to deliver “the heart of Spring Harvest - direct to your living room!” Spring Harvest Home is a free online conference programme. It will run on YouTube from Monday 13 - Friday 17 April. There will be live worship, Bible teaching, specialist seminars and entertainment, with content for all ages. It will make a refreshing change from our livestream worship. See the information and video at https://springharvest.org/spring-harvest-home/ For those who are not online there will still be a Daily Prayer sheet for the week.
Word for Today - May-July issue
If you usually collect Word for Today from church and would like to order a copy, please contact the church office or Janet Stephen (760159) by Easter Monday 13 April. Janet will place the order on Tuesday 14th April.
ReVive News
If you would like to read the latest news from Andy and Rose Roberts in Brazil, you can do so via this link https://mailchi.mp/73b03e902ec9/y7pxoqh1pe-9255010?e=0783b1dd0b
As many toilet rolls as you need - delivered to your door - free!
Okay, that isn’t what this section is about, but I didn’t want you to stop reading just yet! Each year in Lent, we ask you to prayerfully consider your financial giving to God through the church. We want every member of All Saints and St Andrew’s to play their part in supporting the work of the church and to enjoy the blessing that follows. In 2019, once again, we faced a financial deficit, but - Praise the Lord! - the amazingly generous response you made during Prayer and Gift Week meant that we ended the year with a small surplus. This year, like every other charity, the Coronavirus crisis will impact our finances. Please take the time to read the Growing our Giving leaflet, which you can download here, and pray about your response. We anticipate that, with church services and activities suspended, we may face a larger year-end shortfall. We appreciate that many may be facing financial worries, but for those able to make renewed commitments now – please do. This will really help our financial planning. In particular, it will make sure that we are able to retain our brilliant staff.
As usual, please make your response by Easter Sunday and, if you are able, implement the new amount. Also, to help us understand your new commitments, please let us know by:
· (for those with email) sending your response to Andrew, our treasurer – treasurer@huntingtonparish.org.uk Confirm any change in the amount / week or month / or if you are unable to increase your giving at this point. You can also request any other forms from Andrew.
· (for those without email) recording your response on the response slip. Keep the slip safe and when you are able to return to church, place it in the offering. Envelopes will be available.
Thank you.
One last thing…
If Nick Page is right, and the events of Easter took place at Passover in 33 AD, today (Friday 3 April) is the 1,987th anniversary of the day when Jesus was crucified.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ…In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.” Ephesians 1:3, 7-8
Why not take a moment to say thank you right now?
God bless you.
Ian
PS: Following Dan’s suggestion of posting a photo of God’s wonderful creation, Phil Vince has taken some beautiful photos around All Saints for those who are shielding / self isolating. "The daffodils have been splendid" Thanks Phil. You can see the photos here https://photos.app.goo.gl/rh5SvvV94SEmNqM56
