Dear Siblings in Christ,
We have a newly updated circuit website! This website will be the go-to place over the upcoming weeks for the whole circuit to find at-home worship materials and videos, request help, read uplifting posts etc.
The circuit also now has a Facebook page. Note that you do NOT need a Facebook account to access these pages, but you cannot comment unless you have an account. If you have an account, please like, comment and share our posts and invite your friends to ‘like’ these pages too. You can find the facebook pages of other churches in the circuit listed here.
While a lot of grocery stores offer online ordering and delivery, for those without computers, it will be harder to have food delivered. I have discovered that Foskers Fresh who are based at Valley Farm, Bucklesham Rd are offering a next-day home delivery service within a 10-mile radius. They are only taking orders via phone on 01473 659015 from 9 am to 2 pm. They have small (£10), medium (£15) and large (£20) size vegetable boxes, with a range of fruit, dairy products, and frozen products that can added on as well. More details here. If you know of folk that may find it useful, then pass this information onto them. Note: This is NOT an endorsement, I know nothing about this company and have never used them. If you know of other good resources, please let me know.
Tomorrow, I will let you know what resources we have for worship-at-home this Sunday 22nd March.
I shared a fasting and feasting meditation with several churches earlier in Lent written by William Arthur Ward. I invite you to pray and meditate on it as you begin each day and pick one thing to fast from and feast on that day. As you stay connected by calling church members, friends and family, I encourage you to lift each other’s spirits by focusing on the feasting words.
Fast from judging others; feast on the Christ
dwelling in them.
Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of all life.
Fast from apparent darkness; feast on the reality of light.
Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.
Fast from worry; feast on trust.
Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.
Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from hostility; feast on nonviolence.
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal truth.
Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.
Fast from facts that depress; feast on truths that uplift.
Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from suspicion; feast on truth.
Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.
Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.
Gentle God,
during this season of fasting and feasting,
gift us with your presence,
so we can be a gift to others in carrying out your work. Amen.
Trust that God is there, walking with us through this time. As the Psalmist said in Psalm 27 verses 1 and 14:
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage.
I am keeping you in my prayers. May God’s peace be with you all,
In Christ
–Pastor Joan
Joan’s Jottings are written to the churches at Museum Street, Landseer Road and Chantry where Joan is the minister, and shared here for all to read.