Words from Bede Circuit
Dear Friends
On a morning I have a bit of a routine in what happens before I make my first cup of tea. I come downstairs and at the bottom of the stairs I always find our Collie Pup, Winnie waiting for me. She wants her cuddle and fuss and she is so pleased to see me. After this I switch on the kettle and look at my phone and look at the news headlines on the BBC News app.
On Monday morning when I awoke I read the news headlines on my phone. It read `Places of Worship to reopen on June 15th’. My first thought was Oh No! Then the questions, how, who, ….
On the Methodist `Church website a statement has been made to say that no change will take place within the life of our churches until after the Methodist Conference which is taking place via Zoom at the end of the month. Following this we will then receive guidelines about how and when we gently return.
Even in lockdown the work of the circuit continues. Last Sunday via the Zoom Service I made an announcement regarding Rev Neil Maynard. Neil has indicated that he will not be seeking a re-invitation and will be going into the stationing process for next year. These are not easy decisions to make, and as a circuit I am sure we would want to commit ourselves to praying for Neil and Alison, the churches where Neil is minister and the Circuit Invitation Committee.
The Circuit Managing Trustees have been asked if they would give the Circuit Leadership Team meeting permission to make decisions on behalf of the circuit during these times. The majority agreed to this.
At our Leadership Team meeting we discussed property and finance and a letter will be sent out to all treasurers about how we feel we can offer support to all circuit churches.
The gospel reading for today from the end of chapter 9 of St Matthew reminds us that with or without the use of our buildings we all have a calling – Jesus said, `The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few, therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’ We can certainly use this time to pray and to seek God and to see where God is inviting us in his mission.
The work and purposes of God goes on….
We will continue to meet in the following ways as a circuit. A new date is June 28th, at 4.00pm when we are trying a Messy Church via Zoom. More details to be sent out. This will be open to all.
Looking ahead
June is Bible Month based upon the book of RUTH and the circuit staff will be holding a series of Bible Studies by Zoom. These take place on Mondays 15th and 22nd at 7.00pm AND on Thursday mornings 18th and 25th at 10.30am. Ruth has four chapters and each week we will study one of them in turn. The content of each weekly session will be the same.
Sunday worship at 10.30am and Wednesday prayers at 10.00am will continue on Zoom.
Every Blessing, Rev Jane Carter on behalf of the circuit staff team