Good News! 

Good News Stories for this week - 31 October 2020
The Methodist Church, Stoke-on-Trent South Circuit collected by Hil Hands (Local preacher)
Dear friends,
As I write this month’s Good News, Phil and I are in isolation. It is only now that we are not allowed to go out that we really want to - such is the human condition.
Yet, despite our weaknesses, God loves us and holds us:
Romans 8:38
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I wonder if any of you attended the evening, many years ago, at Central Hall when Bobby Ball, of Cannon and Ball fame, shared his testimony? He reflected upon a life which had been full of material things, which may be the stuff of dreams, yet lacked any true sense of peace. Then he met a vicar who overflowed with joy and love for others and Bobby’s words were “I wanted some of that!”
It was his following statement which interested me. His words which were along the lines of “Oh I don’t mean any of that churchy stuff, where people come out looking more miserable than when they went in, but that God stuff that brings you peace!”
Perhaps that makes you sit up as it did me? Did someone so famous really have such a view of Christians? And if so then why? Were his experiences of church really so negative? We will never really agree upon some aspects of worship you know. There will always be personal preferences for styles of music, for different forms of prayer, the love for certain preacher voices as opposed to others. We are, after all, human?  Yet God loves us! In response to such love, we can take 3 important rules from 2020 and live by them, even when in isolation:
Hands – we can contact those in need using different forms of communication: telephone, social media, letters and cards etc.
Face – we can honestly share with God all the emotions each day brings.
Space – we can make time to hear the whisper of His Spirit in bible study, prayer and praiseGod Bless
If you have good news, please let me know: email - hands.hilary@yahoo.com Please send news to me by Friday 27 November, ready for that weekend.
 
From Stuart and Sylvia - Update on Ashley
Dear friends,
These weeks go so fast and certainly, where Ashley is concerned, things are moving very fast.  Last Friday, they had a multi-disciplinary team meeting with Debbie and Ashley present.  His inflammation markers were now at just 26.8 from originally 300. His Liver Function Test (LFT) was normal so no problems with his liver.  The consultant said his blood readings were the best he had ever had so the decision was made to plan for Ashley to be home before the end of November. His birthday is 1 December so they have said they definitely want him to be home by then.  He is eating more normally though still being fed by the tube up his nose though this is now switched off 10 hours a day. He is making home visits more regularly.  On Tuesday he came home because Debbie had to go for a flu jab.  During the afternoon, he declared he wanted to go to Brewers Fayre, our favourite restaurant.  So we went Tuesday night and he sat down to a gammon steak which he ate nearly all of apart from the fat and a few chips.  He had no side effects from this on Wednesday and today (Thursday) he is coming home for about 8-10 hours. All the staff at Brewers Fayre know us so well and were so pleased to see him that two of them paid for our bill (6 of us) out of their own pockets.  Such a wonderful gesture and it almost brought me to tears.
Sylvia's hip replacement is still on schedule for 3 December unless, of course, Covid knows better but we are praying it goes ahead this time.
Please do continue to pray for Ashley and Debbie in the coming weeks.  He will need a lot of support when he does come home and of course, at the moment, we are not allowed to meet them in either their house or ours.
God bless you all
Stuart
 
From Richard and Maureen
Hello Hil and Phil,
Hope all is well with you and yours.  R found this from the Oxford diocese on the internet, thought you might like it: 
Living with COVID-19 will be hard for everyone this winter.  The Prime Minister has asked us all to observe the Rule of Six.  There are lessons and challenges that Christians can draw from this number to help us live well in these times. 
SIX MONTHS IS THE NEW HORIZON - Focus on Easter and lean back into the great themes of the church year. 
SIX DAYS TO WORK AND A SABBATH TO REST - Reclaim the gift of one day each week for rest and re-creation.  
SIX PEOPLE TO JOURNEY WITH - Rediscover church as small groups of people supporting one another.  
SIX WAYS TO BE LIGHT AND SALT - Identify the people and community organisations in need of help.  
SIX PERCENT TO YOUR CHURCH - If, and only if, your income is stable, increase your giving to sustain your local church.  
SIX PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR - Pray for six people you know to discover the riches of our faith. 
Love and Blessings to you all, The Crewe Two
 
An intercessory prayer
You call us to speak to you in prayer– even when the places we would usually go to are not available.
Help us to know you Spirit’s presence wherever we pray.
Today we especially pray for those who are living in fear – give them your strength.
For those who have not yet realised the urgency of the situation – protect them, and all of us from harm.
Today I especially want to pray for …….
In the name of Jesus.  Amen
 
“As we deal with the practicalities of protecting people from coronavirus we continue to remember Our Calling to care for the other whilst always being mindful that is that our call is always to respond to the good news in Jesus. We are a people of hope we need to declare and model good news in these difficult times.”
Revd Paul Wood, Interim Director of the Ministries Team (The Methodist Church)
 
Finger prayers
Little finger – for all children, that they may be safe.
Ring finger – for relationships within families and across communities to strengthen in love.
Middle finger – for all leaders, political leaders and Church leaders, as they guide our way through Autumn and Winter.
First finger - for all Key Workers whose work is crucial.
Thumb – for ourselves, that we pause before we speak and pray before we act.