Words from Bede Circuit

Dear Friends,

I write to you at the beginning of the Advent Season, a season which calls us to wait.

We spend a lot of time waiting and we all are waiting for us to receive vaccines and for Covid 19 to be defeated. We wait and prepare though for the coming of Christ. We focus on the way God prepared his people through the prophets, of his coming among us, and we also are reminded of Jesus’ promise that he will come again.

For all of us the usual events we host during this season won’t be happening in the same way this year. I’ve heard people say, `Should we cancel Christmas?’ We are as a circuit staff planning Christmas services whether they will be in church buildings, or on Zoom, Why-pay, or services in written format.

The Government have announced how `Christmas bubbles’ will work. It isn’t easy to choose who we spend Christmas with. But wherever, however we choose the message of Advent and Christmas is still the same. CHRIST IS COMING….. GOD IS WITH US…..

This is something to celebrate, albeit in a different way. It is something we cannot forget. It is gift, it cannot be cancelled. This is what is surely at the heart of this season, the message of God with us. The message of hope, joy, peace, the message of Light coming in the darkness. How profound this feels at the moment-Light coming into our darkness. I believe even more this year, when many people’s worlds have been turned upside down, that this needs to be shown, spoken of, lived. Here is the challenge to us as the people of God.

The Methodist Church have produced and are running an Advent Campaign for 2020. It is entitled `Godiswithus’. It consists of 24 stories from individuals about experiences throughout this extraordinary year. I wonder therefore whether some of you would be willing to write something about your experiences and where you have known `God with us’. Would you be willing to have your story shared within the circuit services? Please contact me if you are.

I close though with the words of a hymn- which can be used as a prayer

Longing for light, we wait in darkness.

Longing for truth, we turn to you.

Make us your own, your holy people,

light for the world to see.

Sunday worship continues on Zoom at 10.30am, Zoom Bible studies are on Monday evenings at 7pm and Thursday mornings at 10.30am, Zoom Wednesday Morning prayers are at 10am, Why-pay services and a Sunday worship sheet are also available. Please contact the Senior Church Steward (Brenda Wallace) for more details: wesleymemchurch.pr@gmail.com

With good wishes and prayers on behalf of the Bede Circuit staff team.

Revd Jane Carter