Worship in the building has unfortunately paused until 3rd December.
Join our online lockdown prayers on Wednesdays at 11:00 am
(11th, 18th,
25th November and 2nd December).
Call 07716 20 22 09 for details.
God is our refuge and strength, an
ever-present help in trouble.
Psalm 46: 1
Our YouTube channel has plenty of content.
Both past services and prayers, with new videos coming regularly.
Once upon a time, towards the end of November - not long ago - Christians and non-Christians were looking forward to Christmas. Christians in some churches were meeting in groups to talk and learn about Advent: preparation, people and prophets, proclamation and promise. Both Christians and non-Christians came together to make plans for Christmas. So much to look forward to - bands playing carols in high streets and supermarkets, choosing endless gifts and cards, trips to the cinema or theatre, and planning get-togethers and parties.
A few worries and concerns usually came alongside the excitement of brightly decorated shopping centres : what size tree should be purchased? Why wouldn’t the family sized turkey go into a family sized oven last year? And could we visit Aunt and Uncle Yule without upsetting . . . “You know who?”
Christmas ! A happy time for all ! A time to greet strangers with a smile, and help those less fortunate souls with a pound or two in a collection tin !
But, and it’s a BIG but, this Christmas cannot possibly be the same as those in recent years. The virus is still claiming lives, too many families are suffering from unimaginable grief and loss. Social distancing is keeping us apart from each other - and church services are poor copies of the real thing ! We cannot greet each other warmly, or sing our traditional hymns to welcome Jesus into our world - and into our lives.
The
vaccine may not be available to everyone until next summer, which will give us
all the hope of things returning to normal. Are jolly Christmas programmes on the television all we can
hope for this year?
But, however hard it may be, we must not let the virus win. We must not let the pandemic stop us loving and caring for each other. We must wait patiently and quietly and journey to Bethlehem in our hearts and find joy and hope in the birth of our Saviour, knowing that nothing will stop Jesus being present with us to heal our deepest woes and bring us out of the darkness into his light.
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
With
every blessing for Christmas and the New Year
Jeongsook Kim
I pray that we may all stay strong in our faith, help each other in every possible way, and look forward to the day when we can also resume singing our hymns ( loudly!) once again.
Please stay safe and may God bless you all !
Rev. Jeongsook Kim
Our Worship page suggests alternatives to our Sunday services.