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Golders Green Parish Church – Newsletter

25 November 2020

Greetings to Everyone:

Hoping your week has gone well. We are nearly through this second lockdown (hopefully) and coming towards Advent, a period of waiting, expectation and Hope in itself. We badly need that! Thinking, too, of Christmas and bearing in mind it is likely to be one like no other, I was wondering if we could use the newsletter as a means of sending our greetings to each other by “virtual” Christmas cards. They could have comments on with a picture or drawing, or just be a greeting from you, whatever takes your fancy, so we know we are keeping in touch at this time. It would be so good if our young ones would like to draw us something to brighten up our pages as well. Please give it a thought and send in your greetings, in whatever form you like and whenever you like, from now on, or when inspiration strikes! They will go in the newsletter in the two editions before Christmas and be something bright and joyous for us all to share.

Send them to: churchwardens@gg-pc.co.uk .You could send it to the parish office: Golders Green Church, West Heath Drive, Golders Green NW11 7QG, or, if you are nearby, Max , who most of you know, could pick it up.

It was so good to welcome the Revd Charlotte to be with us to preside at our Sunday service for the first time. Welcome Charlotte, we look forward to your being with us from now until Easter, getting to know you and maybe hearing something of the work you are doing for the organization, “Streetlight UK”, a Christian charity whose purpose is to help women in Enfield and Edmonton exit prostitution, and to deter men from reoffending by running perpetrator courses. How apt, as this week is the start of “16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence” (See Jenny’s article)

Thanks to Tony for managing the zooming from home while Charlotte was in church- an unenviable tasks but it gets better and better for us.

Good wishes - Sally

This week we have:

• Tony’s updates on progress;
• Thoughts from Pam
• Greetings from Margaret
• An article from Jenny on the, “!6 Days of Activism against Gender Violence” starting from 25 November. This contains crucial information to help anyone you know who might be being affected by this, as instances of abuse have been creeping up since the beginning of lockdown;
• Prayers for the Nation from both Archbishops with daily suggestions of themes to pray for during the week;
• Lots of other information re services and prayers and, most importantly, our own list of prayers for the sick. Please don’t forget to send in any prayers for anyone you know who would welcome them.

Please note below is the zoom link for joining in our Sunday service. It will be the same for every Sunday.

Are you There God? It's me Pam

I’ve plagiarized the line from the Judy Blume novel showing my age, but not sure whether that makes me seem very young or alternatively very old. Hmm.

The title popped into my head as I was reflecting on what to write for the newsletter. Also, there’s the worry that you won’t match the high standards set of others who have gone before you. Hopefully, this’ll do.

I started writing this just after the start of the second lockdown. Prior to its announcement I was going into the office once a week. I love reading and have limited time to read for leisure and so my tube journeys were blissfully escapist - an opportunity to calm and center myself before the work day.

With Lockdown 2 upon us again (which, for me, sounds like a dodgy 80s action movie) I thought I would be more anxious but the calmness has remained. Although there has been significant action and a lot for us all to get our heads around, the second lockdown offers a strange sense of certainty and almost even comfort. To know where we stand and remain grounded in our faith.

However, this calmness does not diminish that the last year has been challenging and an exercise in physical and mental resilience. We are all required to be strong for others and ourselves and that is definitely not an easy feat to maintain all the time. Reaching out is not a weakness and there is strength in supporting one another.

Hope remains and the potential of the new vaccine is evidence of the world hoping and praying. Perhaps even the outcome of the American election too!

However, with the old normality seemingly within touching distance my mind turns to what opportunities Covid has brought yes, opportunities. People have been prepared to be a little but more patient, generous and appreciative of time spent with those nearest and dearest to us. My hope and prayer is that this continues whatever the future hold for us all.

From Pam

 

A Greeting from Margaret

As you know Margaret has been shielding in her home for a long time. She has been keeping in touch with us as we have with her and, until lockdown, was receiving Home Communion regularly. Speaking to her over the weekend she said how grateful she is for all our prayers and sends her love and good wishes to everyone. Margaret particularly wanted you to know that the long awaited surgery for a hip replacement is likely to be soon and she is waiting for a date. That is such good news. We send lots of prayers, and when it happens that she makes a good recovery. Margaret also said how much she enjoys getting the newsletter and reading people’s contributions which keeps her in touch - which was encouraging to hear.

 

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence - from Jenny

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day. It started life in the United Nations, and now events happen all over the world as part of a global campaign to end violence against women and girls.

This is particularly important in this year of Covid-19. Even before the virus hit, violence against women and girls had reached unprecedented levels. Globally, 243 million women and girls were abused by an intimate partner in the past year. As countries implemented lockdown measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus, violence against women, especially domestic violence, intensified – in some countries, calls to helplines have increased five-fold. In others, formal reports of domestic violence have decreased as survivors find it harder to seek help and access support through the regular channels. School closures and economic strains left women and girls poorer, out of school and out of jobs, and more vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, forced marriage, and harassment. Domestic abuse is now called ‘the shadow pandemic’.

That’s one reason why the 16 days of activism is so necessary. If you’d like to know what the campaign looks like in other parts of the world, have a look here: https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/take-action/16-days-of-activism. and here: http://sidebysidegender.org/16days/, to see what faith groups are doing.

At GGPC we know that domestic violence is, tragically, an issue in our area, as well as in other parts of the world. Admitting to yourself and others that you are experiencing domestic violence or any other form of abuse can be very difficult, but it is an important step towards getting protection for yourself and any children. For advice and support about domestic violence:

– Visit the One Stop Shop, a free drop-in advice service for male and female victims of domestic violence. Click here for full details, or call 0208 359 4797.

– Contact Barnet Solace Advocacy and Support Service on 0208 733 4113, or visit their website by clicking here.

– Call the 24-Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247. It’s open 24/7 and is free if you call from a landline or public phone.

– Male victims of domestic violence can contact the Men’s Advice Line on 0808 801 0327 (9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday).

– More information about support available in Barnet can be found on Barnet Council’s website.

If you are planning on leaving any form of abuse or violence, please click here for advice about safety planning and a safety packing list.

PRAYER FOR THE NATION

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York and senior church leaders have called a month of Prayer for the Nation during the second lockdown.
The suggestion is that as many of us as possible unite to do this at 6pm each day. There are a number of prayers for you to use each day or at any time.

Lord Jesus Christ,
In these dark and difficult days we turn our hearts to you.
In ages past you have delivered our nation from disaster.
Do it again we pray.

Give Wisdom beyond human wisdom to our leaders.
Give strength beyond human strength to the NHS and all our frontline workers.

Give comfort beyond human comfort to children and the elderly and all who grieve.

Lord, Jesus Christ. In these dark and difficult days, turn your face towards us, have mercy upon us, and heal our land we pray. Amen

Loving God,
your Son Jesus Christ came that we might have life and have it abundantly;
pour out your blessing upon our nation;
where there is illness,
bring your healing touch; where there is fear, strengthen us with the knowledge of your presence;
where there is uncertainty, build us up in faith;
where there is dishonesty, lead us into truth;
where there is discord, may we know the harmony of your love; this we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Loving God,
at this time of crisis
when so many are suffering, we pray for our nation and our world.
Give our leaders wisdom, our Health Service strength, our people hope.

Lead us through these parched and dif cult days
to the fresh springs of joy and comfort that we nd in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Loving Father God
Be with us in our distress: with our families, friends and neighbours,
our country and our world. Give health to the sick,
hope to the fearful,
and comfort to the mourners. Give wisdom to our frontline and key workers,
insight to our government
and patience to us all; Overcome disease with the power of your new life, through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

 

YouTube - Worship Video of the week churchwardens@gg-pc.co.uk. Song for the week: May our attitude https://youtu.be/Qn6A1oUytao Song for the week: Praises Of Israel - Ma Yakar Chasdecha(How Precious Is Your Lovingkindness)[Live] https://youtu.be/isWN1NW0zfY Do you have favourite worship songs? Please email them to Sally

 

A message from Nehar Brothers and sisters if anyone wants prayer ministry please let me know via the office. Monday to Friday 6pm to 7pm and on Sundays 10am – 12pm

 

Please continue to pray for those who have asked us as a community to pray for them Okey J. O, Margaret M, Yvone S, Anna M, Jason E, Ian K, Eva M, Juliette D, Ivor S, Myfanwy K , Dorothy N, Sheila G, Sisi O and Mirela B.

 

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 have a list of volunteers we can call on to help. If anyone wants to add their names to this, please email the churchwardens on churchwardens@gg-pc.co.uk. Thank you.

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.


Radio, Television and Online Worship