Words from Bede Circuit
Dear Friends
“Ordinary Time”
As we began “lockdown” and needed to close our churches, in our church calendar, we were in the season of Lent. Many churches were following a Lenten Liturgy, symbolically following Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem and to the cross. Each week, a bible reading would have included one of the events of Jesus’ Passion and a symbol (such as a chalice, whip, or crown of thorns) added to a bare wooden cross. This year, we were unable to complete the liturgy which usually culminates on Easter Sunday by removing the symbols of Jesus’ suffering and decorating the same cross with beautiful spring flowers. I have been into two churches recently, for different reasons, and the wooden crosses are still there… still waiting for their moment of transformation and glory?...
In each case, at first, I felt rather sad because we had been unable to complete that Lenten observance and the people who would have removed those crosses after Easter have not been able to do so, for good reason.
However, as sad as I felt, I began to ponder that even though, for now, the crosses remain, we have still celebrated the Resurrection! We have still made that journey with Jesus, in the splendid isolation of our own homes! We still celebrated Palm Sunday, marked Holy Week, celebrated Easter, have remembered the resurrection appearances of Jesus, celebrated Pentecost, and Trinity Sunday. It may not have been quite as we would have liked but we must not diminish or dismiss HOW we have worshipped; whether by using a copy of the service sheets sent to you, or a service on Zoom, YouTube, television, radio or by telephone conference. We have found new ways of worshipping and praying together and, although it may not be what we have been accustomed to or what we would call “normal”, it is still worship. Strangely enough, after all those Sundays, each Sunday from now until Advent Sunday is in what is called “Ordinary Time”. After marking all those significant events, we now turn our attention to the Gospels, to the ministry and teaching of Jesus, and how that impacts our “ordinary time” in our ordinary everyday lives.
The annual Methodist Conference will be meeting this year as usual from Thursday 25th June to 2nd July to conduct essential business only. Some business will be deferred until 2021 including the debate and voting on the “God in Love Unites Us” report. Current restrictions mean that a virtual meeting is necessary. The Conference will open with the Induction of the incoming President (Rev Richard Teal) and Vice-President (Mrs Carolyn Lawrence) and will therefore mark the end of a year in office by Revd Dr Barbara Glasson and Dr Clive Marsh whose year in office must have felt anything but “ordinary” as they have been unable to undertake many of those things they had planned to do and be part of. The Conference is also an important time and place for those who will have served as Probationer Ministers within circuits, continuing their studies for the last two years. They are the ordinands who will be received into Full Connexion on Saturday 27th June. That is usually followed with a Service of Ordination (a wonderful highlight for all involved!) except this year, the ordinands will have to wait until a later date.
Please pray for the Methodist Conference as it meets and, if you can, follow it on the Methodist Church website. Pray for our outgoing President Barbara and Vice President Clive; for Richard and Carolyn as they take up office in what will undoubtedly be a challenging year for the whole church. Finally, please pray for the ordinands who must wait for the extraordinary uplifting experience of Ordination – in “ordinary time”. I hope you can use this “Ordinary Time” in our church calendar to focus on the ways in which Jesus’ life, ministry and teaching impacts yours – and ours – as we live in an extraordinary time serving an extraordinary God, who has saved us through His Son Jesus Christ and blessed us through His Holy Spirit. There is still much happening within the life of our churches and circuit, as follows:
Sunday worship on Zoom at 10.30am. https://zoom.us/download.
Zoom Bible studies on the Book of Ruth: Monday 22nd June at 7pm and Thursday 25th June at 10.30am.
Morning prayer every Wednesday on Zoom at 10am.
Messy Church on Zoom – Sunday 28th June at 4.00pm. Contact circuit office for details.
Please continue to look after and pray for each other. If you need help or support, then please contact your pastoral visitor or minister. Every blessing
Revd Deborah Wainwright, on behalf of the Bede Circuit staff team.