Coronavirus Update
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Brothers and sistersWe have entered into a strange time in the life of our world which none of us have experienced before – but we are in this together.This has become all the more real for us last Sunday when I heard that one of my fellow priests was in hospital with the Coranavirus, thankfully they have now recovered enough to be sent home.If you have any prayer requests please let me know and myself and our ministry team will hold them in our prayers and we will then circulate a regular prayer list via email so that others can also pray for them. If you do not want any names to be circulated to others please indicate that when you send names through to me.This Sunday is Passion Sunday (5th Sunday of Lent) a day when our focus changes as we prepare to walk that final journey with Christ through his passion through to next Sunday whenHoly week begins.Many of us will feel torn between our need to keep life going, to celebrate our close relationships and the kindness we show to one another, and the fear and imposed isolation that we all now face. We have entered into a period when many of us are not able to be with those whom we love, or care for and we know many of our loved ones are considered to be vulnerable or at risk.That of course may also include us. The one thing we can all do even if we are self isolating is to pray and we can also still be active. We can call our loved ones and neighbours via the phone, email or social media and make sure they are ok.It’s fabulous that people have come together in groups in all our villages to offer their support especially to those who are vulnerable or isolated (their contact details are at the bottom of the page)After all the actions of great selfishness over the past few weeks things hopefully are calming down however there is an air of the Marie Celeste about whenever we venture out. But in some places especially our hospitals it’s completely the opposite as staff prepare for the inevitable onslaught of this terrible disease. Their work is so much appreciated by us all and that was clear on Thursday evening when people took to their front doors and gave them all a round of applause.At difficult times, we have a choice: to focus on fear, on ourselves, on what we cannot do. Or we can turn to God and let God lead us into praying for the world, and letting prayer flow into creative action. Life does carry on, there is much to celebrate in our communities. To listen to the voice of God’s caring love for us, and His encouragement to turn ourselves towards others and how we can care for those around us, in our families and wider community, and we can do that either in person or virtually.
For some time we may be separated in space, but we are still united in worshipping together before the throne of God our Saviour. And so please do join in from home in prayer, in responses, even in singing, and to help you there are some useful resources in this page.
Please do look after yourself and those close to you and may you know the real peace and presence of Christ in your life at this Passion time.
May you stand boldly before God, talk freely to Jesus,
and know that the Spirit guides you in darkness and in light.
Rest assured of our prayers. Michael (Rector)
Tel: 01772 600548 mobile: 07960309005,
email: revmwoods@gmail.comCoronavirus Village support groups
Croston COVID-19 Croston Village Support Group
Mawdesley Mawdesley – Coronavirus help each other out.
Bretherton Via Bretherton WI (01772 601495)
email bethertoonwi@btinternett.comFacebook Pages
Hopefully on Sunday mornings from 10 am there will be a video service available on our Facebook pages – provided I can handle the technology and it will use the ‘prayer and worship at home’ format which also accompanies this mailing.
https://www.facebook.com/St-John-the-Baptist-Church-Bretherton-439088266487676/
https://www.facebook.com/StMichaelAllAngelsChurchCroston/
https://www.facebook.com/St-Peters-Mawdesley-w-Bispham-442669382795886/?ref=bookmarks
Resources
#LiveLent: Care for God’s Creation (Daily via facebook or sign up)
This Lent, we hope both adults and children might engage in God’s plea for us to “Care for Creation”. It is an opportunity for us to rebuild our relationship with our planet, and in turn with the God who is Lord of everything.
pray-as-you-go.org
Pray As You Go is a daily prayer session, designed to go with you wherever you go, to help you pray whenever you find time, but particularly whilst travelling to and from work, study, etc.
A new prayer session is produced every day of the working week and one session for the weekend. It is not a ‘Thought for the Day’, a sermon or a bible-study, but rather a framework for your own prayer.
Church of England and the daily prayer app
Daily Prayer is the official app to help you follow Morning, Evening and Night Prayer, wherever you are.
https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/church-online
Lots of resources mentioned above and others specifically for families
Bible Podlets is a Bible study and discussion podcast for primary aged children to do with adults. Each episode has fun games/activities, an engaging Bible reading in the form of a news story and deep discussion with places to pause and talk together about the topic.
Guardian of Ancora is an amazing virtual world that 8 to 11 year-olds can enter, and a place where the Bible stories come alive. Download the app to have a go.
To open the the Diocese Prayer sheet open on the drop down ‘Post’ section at top of the page, open the post and click on the date below and the Prayer Sheet will open.
Sunday 29 March 5 Lent Worship at home
Archbishop of York leads ‘front room’ Sunday service
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, will lead a national worship service from the front room of his home this Sunday as Christians across the country – and around the world – adapt to restrictions to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The service will premiere on the Church of England’s Facebook page at 9am on Sunday and be available on playback immediately afterwards. An order of service,
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