Words from Bede Circuit
Dear Friends
One year ago today, it was my turn to write a letter to you all for the first time, on behalf of the Bede Circuit staff. Today, one year on from the beginning of the first lockdown has been called a Day of Reflection. It is all so hard to believe that we are still in a similar place albeit looking ahead with more confidence perhaps that, following the roll out of a programme of vaccination, we will soon be able to return to a new kind of normality. The Government Roadmap out of the pandemic suggests that all restrictions might be eased in June. As much as I, like everyone else, long for that to be the case, experience of the last year has taught me to wait and see!
We are approaching Palm Sunday and Holy Week when we remember that Jesus walked the Way of the Cross. On Palm Sunday, I hope you can celebrate His triumphant entry into Jerusalem when the people waved palm branches and acclaimed Jesus as the Messiah. Over the next few days of the Passover Festival, they would “wait and see” what would happen. Would Jesus be the one to free them from the Roman occupation? Would He bring in God’s Kingdom? I am sure their excitement on that day led them also to “wait and see”. We know with hindsight that the jubilation did not last long and instead, even though Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His closest friends, He also faced misunderstanding, rejection, betrayal, denial, great suffering and finally a humiliating and excruciating death on the cross. Nothing turned out as expected on that first Palm Sunday.
One year on from that first instruction from the Prime Minister to lockdown, to stay at home, nothing has really turned out how we expected either. However, because we know the end of the story that Jesus triumphed over all suffering and even death, we can know that we too will triumph! Palm Sunday and Holy Week remind us that as we journey with Jesus, all our crises and challenges will one day, be turned to celebration too. My prayer is that you will have a blessed Holy Week and that, in your remembering, you will come to know all over again that as we “wait and see”, God’s Kingdom is already among us!
Last week there was an unfortunate error made in the letter about the ordination date of Rev Matt Sheard. Please note the date is NOT Sunday 27th July but Sunday 27th JUNE. The rest of the information was correct. Subject to the Oversight Committee, Matt will be ordained at Coventry Central Hall. This will be an all ticket event and tickets can be ordered from the Methodist Church from Monday 29th March https://www.methodist.org.uk/about-us/the-methodist-conference/conference-2021/ordinations-2021/. A District Testimony service will be held on May 29th and more details will be available nearer that date.
Zoom Bible studies are having a two week break over Holy Week and Easter but instead there will be services during Holy Week on Zoom. The log in is the same code for Sunday morning worship.
Maundy Thursday at 7.30pm
Good Friday 12 noon to 3pm on the hour every hour for 10-15 minutes.
Easter Sunday at 10.30am.
Other services during Holy Week will also be taking place via Why-pay telephone conference .
Wednesday prayers at 10am.
There are Why-pay Sunday services and service sheets for use at home.
For more information, please contact your pastoral visitor or minister.
With best wishes and prayers for a blessed Holy Week
Revd Deborah Wainwright, on behalf of the Bede Circuit staff team