April 2021 Newsletter
Dear Friends
It was a blessing to be able to share in a number of acts of Worship in our Church buildings for Holy Week and Easter as well as take advantage of all that continues to be offered online.
For the moment the arrangements in Church are the offering of Worship each Sunday at 11am at Trinity and 4pm at Kirton. The exception is that of the third Sunday in the month when there will be a Service at 9.45am at Seaton Road instead of the service at Trinity.
I look forward to seeing as many of you at these services as feel able to attend. Obviously, services will be conducted in accordance with Government Guidelines and amended as these, we hope, change and become less stringent.
Trimley Methodist Church was the venue for the Marriage of Elizabeth Storey and Neil Hepplethwaite on the afternoon of Easter Day. Our love and warmest congratulations go out to them. May their married life be long and happy.
Sadly and tragically this first week of Easter has seen the loss of a number of much loved individuals on both a local and national Scale.
Our thoughts and Prayers are very much with Jean and John Clarke and all their family following the sudden and most unexpected death of their lovely daughter Helen. Please would you remember all the family in your prayers including husband Alan, daughters Lydia & Evie & sister Alison.
We also acknowledge the passing of Beryl Mercier who together with her husband Emile were a wonderful help at the “Open4You” preschool play group at Trinity Methodist Church. Many of you may also knew Penny Cuttler and again our thoughts and prayers go out to all her loved ones.
As a nation we also mourn the loss of HRH Prince Phillip Duke of Edinburgh and think and pray for the Royal Family in their time of grief and loss. Last Sunday 11th April, at our morning and afternoon services a candle was lit for those who are currently grieving and a period of silence held.
Psalm 23 is often shared with the recently bereaved and below the poet and Priest Malcolm Guite provides a reflection on this Psalm which both acknowledges the depth of grief and speaks of the promise of eternal resurrected life. This reflection along with many others can be found in Malcolm’s latest publication “David’s Crown, sounding the Psalms”, published by Canterbury Press. 2021.
Below is the final section of Malcolm’s reflection on Psalm 23.
“…….Led me beside still waters, promised me
That he’d be with me all my days on earth,
And when my last day comes, accompany
And Comfort me, as evening shadows fall,
And draw me into his eternity.”
We pray that these words may bring comfort to all those who are currently in deep and raw grief.
A reminder that Mike Peck’s online Bible study group began again on 12th April and the regular Zoom Fellowship Group led by myself, is still being offered at 7pm each Thursday. On 29th April this Fellowship Group will be led by Stephen Wyatt and we shall be looking at some poetry together.
Sincere thanks are due to all those working so hard on the 2021 Vision Document. We are hoping to have a meeting with our Superintendent Minister Rev Derek Grimshaw and our District Chair Rev Julian Pursehouse via Zoom sometime in the week of 26th April, further details to follow. I am already in correspondence with Julian about this and plans for the period after I retire.
The 2021 Vision Document will be made available online in due course and will be posted out to those requesting a copy. As I have said before please ring me on 01394 282023 if you require a hard copy sent in the post.
Now we are getting back “into church buildings” for Worship, I will be doing a newsletter only monthly until the end of July.
Finally in this Easter Season, may I share with you a beautiful Prayer from the Methodist Prayer Handbook p. 160. A Prayer that has offered many comfort, in times of loss and grief;
Glory to you, O God
You raised Jesus from the grave
Bringing us victory over death
And giving us eternal life.
Glory to you O Christ;
For us and or our salvation.
You overcome death
And opened the gate to everlasting life.
Glory to you, O Holy Spirt
You lead us into the truth
And breathe new life into us.
Glory to you, Father, son and Holy Spirit,
Now and for ever
Amen.