Dear Siblings in Christ,
Today’s service is available online here. In this service Peni Rokobuli from Chantry Methodist Church reflects on his time in Fiji earlier this year on a mission trip. He called it My Journey with God to Fiji and Back. There’s also some great photographs. Scripture is Psalm 100 and Philippians 4:4-7. Please sign in to let us know that you ‘attended’ church – there’s a sign in form just below the service video, now complete with an appropriate privacy notice!
The recording of the monthly Contemporary Service is available today here. Rev. Derek Grimshaw is giving the sermon.
Also, today is MHA Sunday in the Methodist Church. This is the Sunday when we remember the Methodist Homes charity and support their fund-raising appeal. MHA is the largest charity care provider in the UK. Founded by members of the Methodist Church in 1943, today they support 4,400 older people living in MHA care homes, 3,000 older people living independently in MHA retirement living communities, and 11,100 older people living independently in their own homes with the support of MHA Live at Home community groups. If you wish to make a donation, then please donate directly to MHA. All funds raised will go towards MHA ongoing costs during this difficult time, including the supply of much needed personal protective equipment (PPE) for the dedicated staff and residents. MHA relies on donations and fundraising in order to provide their life-enhancing services including chaplaincy, music therapy and our community groups. Thank you!
MHA also have a worship service that will stream at 3 p.m. today with the recording available afterwards. This is a service of remembrance, focusing on the kindness shown by MHA colleagues and volunteers at this time. It will include stories and experiences from across MHA as we reflect and pause to remember those who have sadly passed away as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. Sadly, MHA homes have seen a large death toll, and we give thanks locally that to-date no one at Norwood has tested positive. Watch it here.
Six people from around the circuit participated in singing the Ipswich Blessing, which you can see here. There was one representative from each of our three churches. Thank you Elizabeth, Neil and Adrian! Who else do you recognize?
The local clergy made the newspaper with our statement about racism. Read the published article here. And Rev. Julian Pursehouse wrote a powerful reflection this week on change and justice.
A huge thank you to Carolyn Macartney for coordinating a food drive among the Museum Street Methodist Church members. Thank you to everyone who donated. Here is a picture of the food that Carolyn delivered to FIND this week, which was received with gratitude.
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.