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15 April 2020
We welcome Tony Nwanodi as our guest editor for this week’s newsletter.
The Easter season has now passed, but I write this in the midst of it, on the Sabbath before I go out for my daily legal as my permanent secretary calls it.
What I propose to do is to share some thoughts with you, which I hope you will find uplifting, I will also talk about how I am living in these times. There is a piece from Diana Turpie and Shaniv and Silvia Rodriguez- Torres letting us know what they are up to, with a poem about the pandemic and a meditation from Nehar Bird, with an offer of ministry to those who ask. Might I take this opportunity to invite any of you to put forward notes on how you are doing during this time and if you something has encouraged then please do share so that we can all be encourage to follow Jesus and strengthened in our faith.
Thoughts
A few days ago, my morning devotions took me to Deuteronomy 10 and in particular verses 12 to 21. It is from this passage that we get the first commandment to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind and (in some translations) all our strength. Moses tells the children of Israel that highest heaven and all that is in and on the earth belongs to God. So he tells them that they should circumcise their hearts for He is the Lord our God, He is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. This circumcised heart that Moses talks about is one that shows itself in how it treats the widows, the fatherless, and the foreigner and if I may add each other. Moses exhorts us to fear the Lord our God and serve Him.
So I would encourage you to do what you can within the rules operating in these times to show His love towards others who are not as fortunate as you or I may be. There is no need to be reckless in doing this but in keeping the safe distance rules you can do something. Some may not be able to do anything, even so, in fact you can pray that others would be wise in following the rules and more specifically that we all would turn to worship Jesus by being more kind to each other.
How am I?
I have struggled with the lockdown. I started a week earlier because of a cold, on the false premise that I might actually have had virus. Thankfully I did not. Since the lock down I have tried to work from home without the nice back supporting chair, two screens and the ability to print in my office. Associated with that was the daily commute and the exercise that is generated from walking to and from the station, at work looking for a printer, getting tea etc. I was able before the lockdown to do more than 10,000 steps to help me keep fit. Now without the daily commute, the interaction with others, despite my ability to enjoy a solitary lifestyle coupled with a daily routine, I have found it hard. What has been my delight has been my daily exercise out of the house, going on a long walk listening to Premier Praise. Sometimes this leads me to sing His praises out loud, much to the bemusement of those nearby, I dare say. My walking has shown me that some people find the social distancing rules very difficult to understand and to follow. So I try to find a quieter time of day to go for my walk. Work is still hard not being in the office.
We at Golders Green Church will continue to offer a number of ways we can and will keep in contact though emailing and phoning each other, the use of Facebook and the website, sending out updates by supporting those who need shopping, prescriptions fetched, letters posted and anything else you may need if you are isolated at home, whether you are in the over 70-year-old age group, or, have underlying health conditions.
The important thing is, PLEASE LET US KNOW. We are drawing up a list of volunteers we can call on to help. If anyone wants to add their names to this, please email Rex rex@gg-pc.co.uk
A few words from Diana
“I am managing alright. Knitting squares does help, which I send to June who knows somebody who stitches them up to make into blankets that go abroad for children in camps.
I go out for my walk in the early morning because there are fewer people and the air is fresher. Later on in the day I do exercises and then I watch television. I love “Pointless”.
But most of all I do miss everyone”.
What Shaniv and Silvia think of the lock down
Since the lock down started, we’ve been lucky to have the ability to work from home and attend meetings online. It is very nice to have work meetings in pijamas, as nobody can see you!. The lock down has also been a great opportunity to spend more time together and exercise together. We have been walking around the neighborhood doing around 12,000 steps every time we go out. It has given us an opportunity to explore the streets in Hampstead, Hampstead Heath and West Hampstead.
We just need to keep on going, be positive and take things as they come!
Ayodeji Malcolm Guite is an English poet, singer-songwriter, Anglican priest, and academic. Born in Nigeria to British expatriate parents. He wrote this poem in response to the pandemic we are facing.
And where is Jesus, this strange Easter day?
Not lost in our locked churches, anymore
Than he was sealed in that dark sepulchre.
The locks are loosed; the stone is rolled away,
And he is up and risen, long before,
Alive, at large, and making his strong way
Into the world he gave his life to save,
No need to seek him in his empty grave.
He might have been a wafer in the hands
Of priests this day, or music from the lips
Of red-robed choristers, instead he slips
Away from church, shakes off our linen bands
To don his apron with a nurse: he grips
And lifts a stretcher, soothes with gentle hands
The frail flesh of the dying, gives them hope,
Breathes with the breathless, lends them strength to cope.
On Thursday we applauded, for he came
And served us in a thousand names and faces
Mopping our sickroom floors and catching traces
Of that virus which was death to him:
Good Friday happened in a thousand places
Where Jesus held the helpless, died with them
That they might share his Easter in their need,
Now they are risen with him, risen indeed.
© Ayodeji Malcolm Guite
A meditation for Easter by Nehar
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ
Let us sit down at the foot of the cross and worship the Lamb who was slain; the lamb who now reigns on high with God the father.
“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne
And to the Lamb”
Exodus 12:3-13
The Lord asked Moses to tell the whole community of Israel that each household was to take a lamb for his family, one for each household; to take care of it for 4 days until the time came for its blood to be shed as a sin offering for that household.
The lamb was to be part of their household for four days. They were to take care of it. The household would come to have a personal relationship with the lamb; so when the time for sacrifice came the lamb that was sacrificed was personal to the household – the shedding of its blood was personal to that household alone.
Let us think on the blood of Jesus – close our eyes – see Him on the cross – you and me at the foot – receiving that blood shed for our sin - for us. He is the lamb we brought into our home and cared for. He is my lamb; he is your lamb. His precious blood was shed for me; was shed for you.
Our spirits in tune with the Holy Spirit who lives in us cry out
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
Your blood purchased for God peoples from every tribe, every language and every nation.
To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
Be praise and honour and glory and power for ever and ever.”
Amen.
Please continue to pray for those who have asked us as a community to pray for them
Okey Jnr, Margaret, Yvone, Anna, Jason, Ian, Eva, Juliette, Ivor, Myfanwy, Tim and Dorothy.
Radio, Television and Online Worship
You may wish to join in worship during this time through television and radio.
Check online, in the Radio Times and elsewhere for details:
Songs of Praise BBC 1, Sunday afternoon, variable times
Sunday Worship BBC Radio 4, Sunday, 8.10am Choral Evensong BBC
Radio 3, Wednesday Daily Service
BBC Radio 4 (Longwave only), weekdays, 9.45am
Big Sunday Service Premier Christian Radio, Sunday, 7am, 8am, 10am Easter Sunday Eucharist A service is usually broadcast on the BBC on Easter morning
Online resources Church of England Daily Prayer https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/join-us-service-dailyprayer
https://mailchi.mp/b9d86a4acdc7/coming-up-from-st-pauls-cathedral-1274047?e=377e26b1db St Paul’s Cathedral have a number of resources available for us to use.
Church of England Online Resources during this time https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronaviruscovid-19-liturgy-and-prayer-resources
Go On-line to "www.A Church NearYou", put in Area or post code and find a local church that broadcasts Worship.
Prayers frm Christian Aid https://www.christianaid.org.uk/pray/churches/coronavirus-prayers
https://pray-as-you-go.org/ Pray as you God (a short service each day in the Jesuit Tradition)
LICC have some great resources on their website https://www.licc.org.uk/
Especially on Covod-19 https://www.licc.org.uk/ourresources/prayer-journeys/presence-pressure-purpose/
YouTube - Worship Videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQWFzMvCfLE 'What a beautiful name' - Hillsong
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ns15nFSfgU 'Great is the Lord (Hallelujah)' - Paul Wilbur
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPBmFwBSGb0 'Angus Dei' / 'Hallelujah' - Michael W Smith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI7N1JMvtnE 'Jesus Only You' - Martin Smith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9UB5U7kSec 'Behold (then sings my soul)' - Hillsong
Alternatively, try and tune into Premier Praise.
Do you have favourite worship songs? Please email them to Rex
.