Covid-19 

The Methodist Church
Stoke-on-Trent (South) Circuit
Dear friends
I am sure that we all will be thinking of Barry and Linda at this time and holding them in our prayers. I know that they have been greatly moved and encouraged by the many messages of support that they have received and the knowledge that so many Christians around the country, and further still, are praying for them.
We often sing of boldly approaching the eternal throne; may I encourage us to continue in this way for all of the people we know who are suffering, struggling, searching or serving at this difficult time.
The recent Methodist Conference adopted a strategy for Evangelism and Growth entitled "God for All". It gives a good measure of direction for our congregations who wish to engage in mission, but in that is the key.
Many years ago, Charlie Drake sang a song called "My boomerang won't come back ". The conclusion was that if you want your boomerang to come back then first you have to throw it! We can have all the sound instruction in the world, but we need to be doers as well as hearers.
We are undertaking a Circuit Review considering the work and witness of each church; did you or will you offer your opinions or did you/will you leave it to someone else? How important is the mission of your church for you? Indeed, what do you believe your church's mission is?
This period of lockdown and isolation has given us all the opportunity to assess what is important and what is peripheral, of less importance. For many it will have been all about missing seeing friends, for some it will be not taking the sacrament, others will have missed singing or serving, working or worshipping. But two of Jesus's directions should challenge us and relate to the opening paragraph.
First: WE ARE CALLED TO GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES
Have you missed the opportunities to share faith, to invite people along to worship or is one we miss every week anyway? I posted on Facebook recently "I missed the gym today for the twelfth year running"... is that also true about evangelism.
Interesting that so many more people are engaging with online and phone worship than attend our services; interesting that I have never had a faith conversation with my football friends but I can think of six at the very least who follow my Saturday Facebook post. We are still charged with the Great Commission and even if you are trembling at the thought of talking about God to someone else you can share in other ways, back of house as it were. This opens the door on the second point.
Second: GOD'S HOUSE SHOULD BE A HOUSE OF PRAYER
Jesus turned over tables to make the point! His Father's House was not primarily to be a house of preaching, singing, coffee drinking, slimming world, or a host of other worthy but not crucial things. The pivotal charge is to create a house of prayer; can we say that we have missed that in lockdown above all other activities? That is how far we are from the source of Evangelism and Growth and no written strategy in the world can overcome that!
When you read of how encouraged our dear friends are by the prayer support they have received in a time of concern do we not want that for everyone.? How often we have a Tui World Tour in prayer during the Sunday Service, visiting more countries than Judith Chalmers did in half an hour at her best! We may boldly approach the eternal throne, but it should never be a flying visit, unless like Peter we are sinking fast.
So, let us pledge to be encouragers and prayers, those who invite and those who intercede, and learn what it is to "Be still" and know that He is God.  Many seeds have been planted wonderfully - let us not waste the harvest.
God bless you, continue to be patient as we explore the pathways to reopening our buildings.
Rev Jeff
ZOOM LINK FOR CIRCUIT SERVICE SUNDAY 12 JULY 2020
Glenn Parkes is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Circuit Zoom Service - Sunday 12 July 2020
Time: Jul 12, 2020 10.45 AM London
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