April 2020 |
| Pastoral Letter 8th April 2020 From our Rector, Rev Canon Paul Whittaker Well folks, here we are into the third week and the news still isn’t that great, it looks like we will be here another two weeks or so. In the meantime keep praying for our health care workers, and all those in the food industry who seem to be able to keep us going at this terrible time. Pray too for all those who have lost loved ones and can’t be with them in their final hours, it’s truly awful for them. Here are some words of strength and comfort from Psalm 121. “I lift my eyes up to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip; he who watches over you will not slumber: indeed he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you, the Lord is your shade at your right hand: the sun will not harm you by day nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm, he will watch over your life: the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and for evermore.” I plan to celebrate Holy Communion from Leckpatrick on Thursday night and it will be posted on our Facebook pages so follow the service from your prayer book page 201. Have a little piece of bread and some fruit juice or wine and we’ll celebrate together in a spiritual way. I plan to do the same from Dunnalong on Easter Day. I will also post a song that I sing every Good Friday called ‘Outside the City Wall’. Please feel free to contact me anytime you want to, even if it’s just a wee chat or a prayer for you over the phone. (0770691560). Stay strong and together we will get through this. Thank you to those who continue their Free Will Offering through Direct Debit and those who are returning their weekly offering envelopes. These can be left at the home of Sylvia Donnell or at the Rectory. Next week’s E100 readings ‘The Travels of Paul’ Acts 9 verse 1 to 31, Acts 13 to 14 verse 28, Acts 15 verse 1 to 41, Acts 16 to 20 verse 38 and Acts 25 to 28 verse 31. May the Lord bless you and watch over you. Canon Paul & Carol. Story of an unusual Lord’s Supper. In the early 1950s in Eastern Europe the Communists arrested all the religious leaders and imprisoned them in an effort to destroy Christianity. They scattered them in different parts of the world so that there would not be two Christians in the one place. They would be isolated and alone. However, several years later, by a twist of fate, a group of Christian leaders ended up in the same prison. After 7 seven years of being tortured and persecuted they ended up in the same cell. They embraced each other and it was such a joy they decided to celebrate. It happened to be Easter Day and one of them said, “Let’s celebrate the Lord’s Supper.” Another of them said, “It’s a great idea but we have nothing to celebrate the Lord’s Supper with. Why don’t we wait until we have something?” One of them was the famous writer Richard Wurmbrand and he said, “No, we can’t postpone it. We never know if we will have another time to celebrate. Let’s celebrate the Lord’s Supper with nothing.” So one of them took nothing, he blessed nothing, he broke nothing and he shared nothing with each one of them. They ate nothing but remembered the body of Christ. Then another one took nothing, blessed nothing, poured to each of them nothing. They drank nothing and they remembered the blood of Jesus. The glory of God then filled that prison cell and they were filled with power and strength, and the assurance that God was there with them, he was there with them in the midst of nothing and they were so joyful. That afternoon they were taken to different cells and none of them saw another Christian for the next 7 years. When they were released from prison Richard said this. “We learnt in prison this lesson - whenever you have nothing, that’s the greatest starting point. Nothing is raw material for God. He created the whole universe out of nothing.” He went on to say, “Whenever you have nothing, it is a new beginning of creation. If you wait until you have something or be someone, you will never start. If you have nothing give it to God and God will then begin something.” Pastoral Letter 1st April 2020 From our Rector, Rev Canon Paul Whittaker This is a very uncertain time we are going through. We have lost a few simple freedoms: freedom to go where we liked when we liked; freedom to buy what we could afford; a feeling that, all being well, tomorrow would be much the same as today. For a while that will all be different. I want to encourage every one of us to look out for one another and pray for all our vulnerable parishioners. We have identified those who we think are most vulnerable in the parishes and are providing them with one meal a week. I think our greatest enemies at present may be anxiety and worry and that is understandable. As your Rector I want to assure you of my prayers as you turn to God in a new situation. Remember to “cast all your cares upon him, because he cares for you”. Look after yourself physically, psychologically and spiritually. We also need to be praying for all our healthcare workers and those who work in the food and medical industry. Psalm 23 verse 4 ‘Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.’ The Lord’s rod will protect us and his staff will give us something to lean on. Today our thoughts and prayers are with the Dinsmore family as they prepare to bury Martha, she can’t have a service in the Church and it is immediate family only, however, they will have the choice to have a thanksgiving service at a later date. Thank you to those who continue their Free Will Offering through Direct Debit and those who are returning their weekly offering envelopes. These can be left with Sylvia Donnell, Kaye Nesbitt or at the Rectory. Next week’s E100 readings ‘The Church is Born’ Acts 2 verse 1 to chapter 2 verse 47, Acts 3 verse 1 to chapter 4 verse 37, Acts 6 verse 8 to chapter 8 verse 8, Acts chapter 8 verses 26 to 40, Acts chapter 10 verse 1 to chapter 11 verse 18. May the Lord bless you and watch over you. Canon Paul & Carol. Pray this prayer every day Written by Bishop Ken (Fanta) Clarke (shared with his permission): Unshakeable God, at this time of national crisis and personal pain, we look to you for help and hope. We don’t understand what’s happening. We are fearful and apprehensive. We grieve to see people dying. We are anxious about the future. We are fearful about surviving financially. We are really just about hanging in there. We can’t get a grip on what is going on. It hurts to see people suffer. It hurts to see doctors’ nurses and care workers stretched to their limits. It is so painful to think of those in isolation who are deeply worried. It is heart-breaking to see the bereaved. It is distressing to know that some people are utterly alone. We cry out to you for help and hope. We ask your forgiveness for our pride and folly. We repent of our selfishness and sin. Show us your mercy Lord. Heal our land. God of compassion, stretch out your hands of healing. God of grace, show us your mercy. God of truth, may your word bring hope. Lord Jesus, walk with us in our pain fear and confusion. Once again calm the storm. Once again heal the hurting. Once again bring hope and help. Bless all who are serving selflessly to care for others. Give our leaders wisdom and vision. Help them to make the right decisions at this unprecedented time. Strengthen and protect all who are still working. Thank you for the thoughtful actions of many people. Thank you for all whose lives are marked by acts of kindness. Thank you for churches seeking first your Kingdom, a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. Thank you that in you, the unshakeable God, there is rock solid hope for the present and future. Thank you that you are the God of the Cross and the God of resurrection. Breathe afresh your Holy Spirit upon us, upon our nation, and across the world at this time. In the powerful Name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. Pastoral Letter 20th March 2020 From our Rector, Rev Canon Paul Whittaker Covid 19 Plans Unfortunately the Bishop has had to cancel all services in the Churches and has instructed us to close all church buildings until further notice. I will be updating Anne McCurry from the Mothers Union and they will be responsible for contacting the Mothers Union Members on a regular basis. I plan to use the Parish Facebook pages to communicate in a more verbal and visual way, at least once a week. Kaye and I have begun phoning parishioners to keep in touch; we will begin with the most vulnerable single parishioners. We want to communicate our concern for our parishioners at this time and be there to support them and help them and pray with them during this pandemic. Carol and Kaye are looking at providing one meal per week for those who live alone or have no local family to care for them. Stephen Murdock has kindly offered his services to cook from next week; Stephen has his own catering business so has all the health and safety regulations. We will be offering prescription and food delivery to anyone that needs it. Weekly sermons will be made available for anyone that would like this facility; these can be emailed or delivered to your door. I need some volunteers to help with this so if you would like to help us in any ways then contact me or Kaye Nesbitt. Thankfully some people are volunteering so hopefully we will get a few more. Remember what Bishop Andrew said in his first letter to all clergy, ‘we are people of faith not fear’. I hope you will help us turn this Coronavirus Threat into Ministry and Missional Opportunities. God bless you all at this time of uncertainty and challenging times. Keep in touch. Canon Paul |