Dear friends Week twenty four. And a new title for our Methodist Circuit. We are now the: West Oxfordshire Circuit as we welcome Chipping Norton, Churchill and Westcote Churches into our enlarged Circuit. We also welcome a new colleague: Rev Ian Worrall and his wife Sue to undertake “pioneer” Ministry in Carterton. Therefore my ministry at Carterton has come to an end; I have enjoyed my four years at Carterton and will miss the folks there - I’d like to thank them for their support over the years. We have shared tears and laughter together and they will always have a special place in my heart. But as a result of the Circuits’ expansion, I have two new churches as a result: Long Hanborough and Westcote. In these challenging times, it will be interesting to see how our mission and ministry will develop in the months and indeed years ahead. But right now we need to remind ourselves we are still living with the pandemic. Indeed yesterday (7 th September) more than 2900 confirmed cases of Covid19 were reported, the highest daily figure since May. Last week I wrote about the lack of Social distancing in Carterton. Watching the news during the past week it appears this complacency to the struggle against the virus is Nationwide. This is deeply worrying. But while we all need to be more vigilant, I am very proud of how our churches have responded to the guidelines about gathering for worship- keeping us all as safe as we possibly can. Anyway, I nearly got it right, but in the end got it utterly wrong. Let me explain. I had a few days off in August and planned to go with my grandchildren to the Cotswold Wildlife Park. We arranged to go on the Thursday but at the weekend the weather forecast for that day was dreadful – strong winds and driving rain. So we re-arranged to go 48 hours earlier when the forecast was much better. So we assembled on Tuesday in the carpark at 10:30am and made our way together into the park.
Transcript
Dear friends
Week twenty four. And a new title for our Methodist Circuit. We are now the:
West Oxfordshire Circuitas we welcome Chipping Norton, Churchill and Westcote Churches into our enlarged Circuit. We also welcome a new colleague: Rev Ian Worrall and his wife Sue to undertake “pioneer” Ministry in Carterton. Therefore my ministry at Carterton has come to an end; I have enjoyed my four years at Carterton and will miss the folks there - I’d like to thank them for their support over the years. We have shared tears and laughter together and they will always have a special place in my heart. But as a result of the Circuits’ expansion, I have two new churches as a result: Long Hanborough and Westcote. In these challenging times, it will be interesting to see how our mission and ministry will develop in the months and indeed years ahead.
But right now we need to remind ourselves we are still living with the pandemic. Indeed yesterday (7th September) more than 2900 confirmed cases of Covid19 were reported, the highest daily figure since May. Last week I wrote about the lack of Social distancing in Carterton. Watching the news during the past week it appears this complacency to the struggle against the virus is Nationwide. This is deeply worrying. But while we all need to be more vigilant, I am very proud of how our churches have responded to the guidelines about gathering for worship- keeping us all as safe as we possibly can.
Anyway, I nearly got it right, but in the end got it utterly wrong. Let me explain. I had a few days off in August and planned to go with my grandchildren to the Cotswold Wildlife Park. We arranged to go on the Thursday but at the weekend the weather forecast for that day was dreadful – strong winds and driving rain. So we re-arranged to go 48 hours earlier when the forecast was much better. So we assembled on Tuesday in the carpark at 10:30am and made our way together into the park.
Just said hello to this fella when it started to drizzle. The drizzle turned to rain. Torrential rain. We got absolutely soaked. All the animals ran for cover but we battled on, hoping it
would pass. It didn’t. Eventually we agreed to abandon the trip and headed home, saying farewell to the only animal braving the elements:
The irony of this was the weather on the Thursday in the afternoon was dry and fine, the bad stuff passed though in the morning. So if we’d have stuck to our original plan we would have been fine!
But do you know, the weather could not dampen (!) the joy of being together as a family. We had a great time together in a socially distancing appropriate way. It was the first visit to the park for our latest addition to the family Toby Noah. He slept through it all, bless him!Let’s hope next year we choose a better day weatherwise. And let’s hope by then we’ll have a vaccine and we can move forward without all the current limitations.
With kindest Regards
Fred
This week’s Devotional
Read: (Lectionary for this coming Sunday) Matthew 18: 21-35
Read: StF 477
Teach me to dance to the beat of your heartTeach me to move in the power of your SpiritTeach me to walk in the light of your presenceTeach me to dance to the beat of your heartTeach me to love with your heart of compassionTeach me to trust in the word of your promiseTeach me to hope in the day of your comingTeach me to dance to the beat of your heart
You wrote the rhythm of lifeCreated heaven and earthIn You is joy without measureSo, like a child in your sightI dance to see your delightFor I was made for your pleasurePleasure
Let all my movements expressA heart that loves to say 'yes'A will that leaps to obey youLet all my energy blazeTo see the joy in your faceLet my whole being praise youPraise you
Graham Kendrick b.1950 and Steve Thompson
You can listen and watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE0TEnBkNiU
Pray:
Those who are the hungry people of the worldWaiting for crumbs to fall from our rich tablesLord, forgive us when we are deaf to their cries.
Those who are the poor of the worldLong to share in our harvest of plentyLord, forgive us when we close our eyes to their needs.
Those who are crying in the worldLong to feel the love and care of their neighbour.Lord, forgive us when we refuse to reach out and touch.
Those who are sick and dying want to receive healing and help.Lord, forgive us when we turn our backs because cost of caring feels to much for us.
Lord, we do not simply ask for forgiveness,But for a new desire to show compassion for allAnd your care for your creation,And so demonstrate that we are truly your children. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father,Who art in heaven,Hallowed be thy name.Thy kingdom come.Thy will be done,On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily breadAnd forgive us our trespasses,As we forgive those who trespass against us.And lead us not into temptation,But deliver us from evil.For thing is the Kingdom,The power and the glory,For ever and ever. Amen.
