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Golders Green Parish Church – Newsletter
02 September 2020

Our guest contributor this week is Gerald and Nicole

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour; if either of them
falls down, one can help the other up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?”

Ecclesiastes 4:9
The first year our marriage has been absolutely wonderful. As Nicole puts it: “it has
exceeded all my expectations” We took all the steps to get prepared for our life together
and if there is anything that our marriage preparation classes with Rex and Sarah taught us,
it was that we should be willing to compromise and to share with each other in order to
enjoy a peaceful life together.
We finally moved in together after our wedding and although we were positive and excited
about moving into our home and starting a life together, we were surprised by how
seamless the transition was from being two single people to one family unit. Life suddenly
became easier because there was always support and companionship. We were able to
divide tasks and define roles within the home and we quickly became an effective unit. There
was always support for each other in the form of an ear to listen, a voice of encouragement
to brighten up the day and a shoulder for support.
One thing we were both adamant about before we got married was that we wanted to
experience many adventures together. Throughout our marriage, we have been able to
enjoy new experiences that we would not have previously enjoyed had we been single
people. We have found that two are certainly better than one.
The COVID-19 outbreak has been a particularly difficult period which posed a lot of
challenges. The first difficult period we faced was in March this year, a week before the
Government imposed lockdown. I had embarked on a trip to Nigeria for a wedding where I
was going to be a groomsman and Nicole was quite apprehensive about the trip. She was
understandably worried because of the risk that I would get infected with Coronavirus and
that I would experience great difficulty coming back home after the wedding. I had decided I
would go on the trip but it was not a decision I made lightly because ultimately, I went
against my wife’s wishes. But we prayed together for my safety and maintained regular
contact while I was in Nigeria. There was a risk that my flight would be cancelled and the
border closed but with constant prayer, I returned to the UK just a day before lockdown. I
always felt strongly that God would protect us and it is this belief that informed my decision
to travel but in hindsight, I would not have gone on the trip in order to maintain peace of
mind in our home and in our marriage.
The rest of lockdown was a testament to the saying that two is better than one. In all the
confinement and isolation, we had each other. Where Nicole still had to go to work until
remote working measures were implemented, I was on hand to drive her to and from work

to prevent her getting infected while using public transport. There were moments of despair
when people were panic-buying food and this caused us some anxiety; but we were there to
support each other through the anxious moments. To make things worse, our anniversary
trip to the Dominican Republic got cancelled but thankfully, we got a full refund. With most
of the hospitality services and retail closed, we had only ourselves and our company to rely
on.
You would think that being in close proximity for an extended period of time would lead to
some catastrophe, but if anything, we were able to discover more about each other and the
strength of our characters. We even embarked on mini adventures throughout the UK to
new places that we otherwise would not have thought of visiting. In the end, we found
ourselves in the rare position where lockdown was not this terrible affliction on society, but
a chance for us to adapt to the new norm and grow.

Thank you Gerald and Nicole

Sharing Prayer - From Sally

Knowing how important prayer is to all of us, especially at this time when everything seems
to be in a state of confusion and insecurity, not just because of the Covid pandemic, I
wondered if you would like to share any prayers that you find particularly helpful.
It would be so good, if each week, we had a prayer or two that you have sent into the
newsletter that we could use when we pray. It would be one way of communicating with
each other, as well as with God, through our shared contributions and also keep a link
between us.
Talking with friends about it, we clearly have many different ways of praying; some silent;
some while walking or jogging; some when working at home or sitting in front of computers
taking a rest - akin to the Celtic women of old who sung their hymns and prayers when they
were sweeping their floors and cleaning their hearths. All is prayer.
When I was a little girl I got the impression that prayer was only valid when you had your
hands together, eyes closed, often kneeling down on a cold, hard floor, as if this gave it
greater validity.
I remember a classmate in assembly, once saying out loud in front of the whole school, “Sally
you had your eyes open in prayer time”. I felt so humiliated. It wasn’t until much later I
realised that if I had had my eyes open, so too must she – a very slow dawning.
It took me such a long time, listening to many wise people more practiced in prayer than I,
to come to the realisation that prayer can happen anywhere, in any place and in ways best
suited to the one praying. It can be uttered in our own words, or, words of others that
particularly speak to us. We can also come to a recognition that how we pray changes over
the years especially relating to how we feel and what is happening to us. All is prayer.
But, how hard it is for some of us to throw off many long-buried, guilt feelings that have
conditioned us to believe teachings, in the name of religion, that are more about conditioning

and control than communicating with God and, especially, listening to God communicating
with us.
One of my acquaintances, who was a very lively, wise Roman Catholic nun, a real challenge
to her order, wrote about how she prayed best when she was riding her bike. She lived an
isolated existence deep in the countryside and could be seen, by anyone walking, speeding
along the lanes. I wondered if anyone knew that while she sped past fields, farms and grazing
animals, she was praying - and- would they have been surprised.
So, if you feel like contributing one of your prayers (or reflections) - please do - they will be
very welcome.
Here is one of my favourites to start off with. It is more of a reflection than a prayer perhaps
but I say it every day to remind me that in God’s love we are all one:
“In the circle of God’s love we are one. The circle is never broken.
In the light of God’s welcome, we are one; the light never goes out.
Let children teach us the wisdom of play.
Let receiving from others teach us the gentleness of care.
May the circle surround us when we are apart.
May the light draw us together again”.
Taken from, “The Earth Cries Glory: Daily Prayers with Creation” by Steven Shakespeare

Thank you Sally


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/