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Golders Green Parish Church – Newsletter
19 August 2020
Our guest contributor this week is Tony
This has been a tough week - the heat exhaustion from the weekend before last probably affected me more than I had imagined. The routine of working from home seems to be taking its toll - the same desk little interaction with many people and the caring for others, work colleagues and all. I realised last week that sometimes my attempts at humour can be tongue tied to say the least, and thus embarrassing.
Then of course there is the stress of everyday living, what to eat, household chores, shopping and the worsening political state in he country and world. Leaders at work and in the country seemingly unable to do things, even just lead. Anger all around. Breakdown in families and in ones own body. The struggles of life and health, the doubts and fears of what next.
Yet in all of this, what matters most. Is it positive thinking, though that might be helpful. But it does not answer the fundamental need we all have which is to be loved, to be appreciated, no matter who we are, where we are from. Last week I said that there is a Christian, a Jesus follower culture that we need to make our own. To be frank this culture is not the same as that from our birth nations, family and so on but is one based on the transforming work of Jesus.
No matter who we are, young or old, rich or poor, of whatever ethnicity, the Jesus culture has two overarching focal points. This means that we are to seek to honour God above all things. It means that we should forgive each other just as He has forgiven us. It means we should respect each no matter who. Hidden in Ephesians is this - submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Because we so love one another we desire not to do things that might cause the other to stumble in their faith. We seek to build up rather than tear down: yes we speak the truth in love. But I doing so we remember that we too are a whisker away from sinning if we are not careful. There is no room for pride here. There is plenty of room to talk to share to encourage and above all to pray to the Father that His will be done in our communities life. We share the lessons we have learnt from Him with one another encouraging a greater desire to be more like Jesus.
And might it be that actually the second limb has been shown - that we love our neighbours as ourselves. Because if we practice the love of God, we cannot but seek out our neighbours who are in deep need of Him.
The whole point of the Gospel is the creation of the family of God, the bringing together of Jews and Gentiles into the one family. Yes that family will have growing pains, be dysfunctional, but, because He loves us we can grow into the family He wishes us to be. One where people find shelter in the trials and storms of this life, one where we can find peace and joy, comfort in our sadness and above love. Here the thing that matters is that we know God and He desires mercy, kindness, justice and righteousness.
As I ended last week this is transformative but only if we let Him transform us. This means that we need to learn how to exercise being in His presence so that His Word transforms us. If we love Jesus because He first loved us, then might I ask if you desire to spend time with Him. If you do, how do you spend that time with Him, what sort of time do you give Him? My desire for us is that we are a people who know God and who worship Him, for if we do, then our love for Him will be a sign to Golders Green.
Thank you Tony
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
Is He Worthy https://youtu.be/qkpUlxGCOtM
Do you have favourite worship songs? Please email them to Rex at rex@gg-pc.co.uk