Superintendent Minister's Newsletter 10th June 2020
United Stockport Circuit (Manchester and Stockport District) A Message from the Superintendent Minister June 10th 2020
The world has not stopped turning during lockdown! People have not stopped loving, neither have they stopped suffering. Increasingly as lockdown eases, other events in the world are quite rightly creeping back into the headlines and into our consciousness. On Saturday 30th May, over 50 of us joined a conversation with 2 of our local MP's – William Wragg MP and Nav Mishra MP, to discuss what a Good Society will look like after Covid-19. We talked about the valuing of our key workers, maintaining a good climate, what schools will look like. We didn’t necessarily have all the answers, but we all agreed how important it will be for people to work together for good in the coming months and years, recognising that poverty and hardship are likely to increase. The Church, and faith communities will play an important part in this. Dominating the headlines recently has been the tragic death of George Floyd in the USA at the hands of police officers, and the resulting protests there and in the UK. The tragedy of racism is one we still live with, but which we, as Christians, can never accept. We have a responsibility to denounce sin when we see it and racism is undoubtedly a very real sin in the world today. On Saturday 6th June, I was proud to join a small and safely socially distanced gathering in the centre of Stockport in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. We were Methodists, Lutherans, Anglicans and members of the United Reformed Church and we stood on the Lancashire Bridge crossing and engaged with passers-by about the reasons for the protest. We met with a lot of support – people waving from buses, clapping as they walked by and stopping to find out more. Some people who stopped wanted to say, ‘all lives matter’ and of course that is true, but we were able to explain that for centuries, the lives of black people have mattered less in many walks of society. We know that black people are more likely to be randomly stopped by police, more likely to suffer physical and verbal abuse as a result of the colour of their skin, paid less for doing the same jobs as white people, more likely to receive unfavourable treatment when applying for jobs or using public services, and little attention has been given to the reasons behind the disproportionate numbers of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people who have died from Covid-19. For far too long, in many people’s thoughts, consciously and subconsciously, white lives have mattered most and that must change. As we reflect on these things, I want to include a wonderful prayer to which I was introduced this week. It is a prayer from the Jewish faith but which translates beautifully for our own situation. I hope you can pray it with me in these coming days. Adonai is simply the Hebrew word for God. Shabbat is the Sabbath, the day for rest and prayer. Let us pray: Shock us, Adonai, deny to us the false Shabbat which gives us Disturb us, O God, and vex us; let not Your Shabbat be a day of torpor and slumber; And please remember as always: In this time of isolation and separation may we feel the unity of God’s spirit in the bonds of peace and love which connect us to one another.
With love and blessings, Rev Cathy. NOTICES Worship Sunday 21st June 3pm Also: You can join all the above meetings via Zoom (see Services)
Circuit Prayer In addition, every Sunday morning at 11am – when we would all normally be in worship in church – we are encouraged to pray the following prayer. This way we stay connected in a very really and tangible way. God of Love and Life, We pray to you this morning for the life the United Stockport Methodist Circuit, for our sisters and brothers who belong to: Christ Church Methodist /URC Davenport Methodist Church Dialstone Lane Methodist Church In this time of isolation and separation may we feel the unity of your spirit in the bonds of peace and love which connect us to one another. We worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. We ask that this time of crisis might pass and that those who suffer might find comfort and strength within the knowledge of your grace, revealed through the kindness and compassion of the people of God. Eternal God, though the self-offering of your Son you have filled our lives with your presence. Help us in our sufferings and trials. Fill us with hope and strengthen us in our weakness. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Moving into the Future – A Monthly Circuit Service? Before Covid-19 and the lock down hit, the Circuit Leadership Team had begun to talk about the possibility of starting a monthly Circuit Service at Tiviot Dale. Over the last few weeks, this idea has gained strength as we have enjoyed worshipping together as a Circuit on Zoom. Obviously, we cannot yet plan to hold this service, and it may be some time before we can. No decision has been taken about when the service will be – it could be a Sunday evening or a weekday evening for example – or about what sort of service it will be, but we hope it will be something a bit different and we to want to be prepared. If you would be interested in being part of a group to help organise a monthly circuit service, and/or if you have musical ability and would like to be part of a circuit worship band, then please let Revd Cathy Bird know so that as soon as we can gather again, we have something in place! cathy.bird@methodist.org.uk or 0161 483 4952 From the Circuit Web Team Good News! We are now recording the Sunday services for you to listen to at any time. We will also be adding additional material. If you or someone you know would like a CD posted out, please let Catriona Stoker know (Tel 0161 487 2010) and she can apply to the Circuit website on your behalf – or apply for yourself or your friend on www.stockportcircuit.org.uk, under the news items. A box asking for the name and address of the person wanting the CD will open up, so you need their permission to share this. Traidcraft
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