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Golders Green Parish Church – Newsletter
8 July 2020
 
This weeks guest contributor is Nehar
 
Jesus – my culture Jesus – my identity

We have all seen the demonstrations on our televisions and other forms of social media, following the death of George Floyd.  His death and the manner of it brought up so many different feelings in people – in some empathy because they too had been at the receiving end of discrimination just because of their racial and ethnic background; in some feelings of anger and frustration; in some feelings that things never change; in almost all of us an anger at the policeman who had abused his position. 
The incident united people from different ethnic and racial backgrounds – demanding justice for the gross wrong done to George Floyd.  We can all identify with that.  As days followed it became less about George and more about the wrongs done to a whole community.   His death caused peoples all around the world to protest against racism and to demand justice – one banner in particular stood out for me – No Justice No Peace. 
In the days that followed, I thought about what this peace and justice meant for me. What does it mean for us who follow the Prince of Peace?  Where does He stand in this?  What would His response be?  What does he call us to do?

He too lived in a world where he saw His people suffering persecution daily at the hands of an occupying nation. They were called to live a life of servitude and poverty and forced to pay onerous taxes to the Emperor.  Disobedience resulted in torture and sometimes public crucifixion.   All that we are called to suffer and endure, our Lord has endured before us – the discrimination, the humiliation and the persecution for his ethnicity.  He understands.
The Jews of Jesus’ day were looking for a warrior Messiah in the mould of David who would come and free them from the yoke of Roman domination.  Who came instead was a humble carpenter from Nazareth who did not call people to take up arms against the oppressors – unlike Barabbas who incited insurrection.  Later the Jewish leaders would ask for him to be released and for Jesus to be crucified.

Jesus came instead preaching a gospel of peace and reconciliation.  This peace was not the peace that the world recognises but peace between us and God.  People of His day expected Jesus to speak against the Romans and the atrocities committed by them daily.  Instead what he taught would have been difficult for those who heard it to hear. 

He called them to love their enemies and pray for those who persecuted them – those who heard Him would know that this included the Romans.  And instead of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” “if someone slaps you on the right cheek to turn to them your left cheek” and if “someone sues you for your shirt give them your coat as well”! Mathew 5.  He was a revolutionary but not the kind the world recognises.

Does this mean that Jesus did not care about the injustice of Roman occupation or the hardship and discrimination suffered by the Jewish people?  He was!  But not in the way they understood.  At the start of His ministry in reading from Isaiah He said he had come to set the captives free.  He did not however mean literally.  In the sermon on the Mount he wanted those who heard him to see the sin in their hearts and be set free from that – the spiritual bondage rather than the physical one.  
Does that mean that as Christians we should be silent about what happened to George?  Certainly not but we are not called to act out of anger, hate or a desire to seek revenge.  We are called to love those who oppress and turn the other cheek.  We must speak out against the wrong rather than the wrong-doer.
 I was reminded of the words of the father of Yvonne Fletcher, the policewoman who was shot outside the Libyan Embassy in 1984 - saying his family had forgiven the killers.  He was following Jesus who when he hung on the cross said “Father forgive them  for they know not what they do” – referring both to the Jews and the Gentiles.
We are called to be light in this dark world.  Darkness can never overcome darkness. 

Only light can dispel darkness – even if it is a small candle.  
 
Thank you Nehar
 
 
Update on the re-opening of the church.
 
In the light of the recent Government announcements the subgroup of the PCC met again last week to think through and discuss what we need to do so we can re-open safely.
Thank you very much for all of you who have contacted us in recent weeks supporting the decision to take a cautious approach to ensure all of us are kept safe from this terrible virus.
 
The Bishops of London and Edmonton have written to all churches making it very clear that although we are now permitted to open, we should only do so where it is considered safe.
The subgroup thought that it would be sensible to work towards opening the church in September providing that there is no second spike of the virus.
We will keep you all informed at each step of the way. Please don’t hesitate to comment or ask any question you have.
 
While we would like us all to be back together again, we want to do so in a way that prioritises everyone’s health and safety. This is in the forefront of our minds.
 
The sub-group at our meeting began to build a ‘Road Map’ of what needs to happen and be in place before we can open.
These are some of the steps that we need to take

• Deep clean the building before it is opened - ensuring all surfaces and door fixtures, light switches are cleaned in line with Public Health England guidelines, and Historic England guidance for cleaning of historic and delicate surfaces. (We have contacted a company who provides this service and are awaiting a quote from them)
• We need enough cleaning products to ensure all surfaces and door fixtures, light switches are cleaned after each time the building is used. (we will be contacted our cleaner to ensure they are ready to restart work in the church)
• need to remove all Bibles, prayer books, leaflets etc from the building.
• removing holy water from stoups, all candles and matches/lighters
• to have a rota in place of sufficient people to welcome and to ensure those who entered the building keep to the appropriate distancing requirements
• Clearly marked separate in- and-out entrances and exits
• Clearly marked one-way system around the church. (Tape should be arriving in a few weeks)
• keeping a register of all those entering and leaving the building who sign in with their own pens
• ensuring there are required sanitizer washing facilities at the doors for all those entering. (we are currently sourcing these)
• Hand sanitizer dispensers outside the toilets (we are currently sourcing these)
• Order face masks for those volunteers helping with the welcome and the service. (we have sufficient masks on site)
• We need posters and signage outlining the Government guidelines to display around the church. (we are currently sourcing these)
• We need to remove the sofas and children’s toys out of the church.One of the group has volunteered to measure the church and workout seating and capacity for the congregation with social distancing.

 
As you can see there is still much to be done, but to repeat, we want to open the but only as soon as we feel it is safe, our safety is in the forefront of all our planning.

 
Daily Hope - The Church of England Phone line church service - is available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044 – has been set up particularly with those unable to join online church services during the period of restrictions in mind.
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


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
 
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
Free 24 hour telephone church service 0800 804 8044
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 " ps://www.achurchnearyou.com", put in Area or post code and find a local church that broadcasts Worship.
Prayers from Christian Aid https://www.christianaid.org.uk/pray/churches/coronavirus-prayers
https://pray-as-you-go.org/ Pray as you Go (a short service each day in the Jesuit Tradition)
LICC have some great resources on their website https://www.licc.org.uk/
Especially on Covid-19 https://www.licc.org.uk/ourresources/prayer-journeys/presence-pressure-purpose/

YouTube - Worship Video of the week
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQrd_KDV2y4  O Lord my God when I in awesome wonder
 
Do you have favourite worship songs? Please email them to Rex at rex@gg-pc.co.uk