Recordings of Sessions 2 and 3 of the District Synod held on Zoom on 19th September 2020 are now available to view on the The Methodist Church in Scotland YouTube Channel.
In Session 2, you can hear about the work of Dave Saunders ‘ Pioneer Ministry in Inverness, and Nik Wooller’s work with Churchless Christians.
In Session 3, Trey Hall introduces “God for All’
Action for Children has published a report Childhood during coronavirus, highlighting the needs of the families with whom they have been working, they held they have given, and what they would like governments to do to alleviate child poverty.
Action for Children has launched a new service to provide advice for parents of children aged 0 – 19. Parent Talk has online pages of advice, and the option of a free and confidential live chat with parenting staff. Chat online or request a call back when it’s convenient for you.
View the recent webinar, in which panelists explored what systemic racism actually is; how it at once oppresses Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic people and privileges/lifts up White people; how the holy work of dismantling racism looks very different depending on one’s cultural group; how it affects our mission as a whole Church and is the responsibility of the Whole church to repent from.
The latest issue of Connexion is entitled Singing a New Song.
Expressing solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, issue 19 also demonstrates how local churches globally have prevailed during the COVID-19 lockdown constraints to sing a new song (Psalm 137), picked up by the new President’s and Vice-President’s Wesley-inspired theme for their time in office.
The connexional team has produced guidance on promoting effective safeguarding practice coming out of lockdown. This should be read by anyone considering opening a church building. References to the Government should be taken in Scotland as references to the Scottish Government.
As of 17th June 2020, the Scottish Government has not made an announcement about whether Phase 2 of the lifting of the lockdown, which could include opening churches for individual prayer, can be implemented, nor from what date.
Online Zoom event – Tuesday 7th July 2020 10:00 to 14:00.
led by Ali Johnson, Digital Evangelist at Cliff College.
This is a FREE training day led by Ali Johnson, Digital Evangelist at Cliff College, for those who are interested in developing their knowledge and skills in using social media, websites and lots other platforms for mission!
This training day is not for those beginning to use digital in their church/missional context, but it is for those who are already using social media — those who would like to ‘work smarter’ and advance their skills and knowledge.
Some basic knowledge is needed but it should be accessible for all ministers, administrators and lay workers, as well as volunteers with some digital awareness. As well as develop knowledge of different platforms, it will also help develop awareness of trends, target groups, different contexts and creative ideas for engaging digitally.
Register: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/digital-communication-training-tickets-109599212194
Jude Levermore’s blog is written in the English context, where places of worship are permitted to open for individual prayer from 13th June 2020. This is not yet the case in Scotland, where an announcement is expected on 18th June confirming whether the country can move to Phase 2 of the lifting of the lockdown, including opening churches for individual prayer.
But Jude’s blog post asks us to think more widely.
In the days following the first Easter Sunday, the disciples of Jesus would have gone through any number of different reactions, from uncertainty and anxiety to joy and celebration, through incomprehension and fear to recognition and hope. If the Cross had robbed them of his presence, the Resurrection has restored his presence. Surely Jesus will continue to be with them always?
The Gospel of John (14: 1-21) portrays the disciples wrestling with the dawning reality that Jesus will not continue to be physically present to them. It would seem that they are again to be left bereft and ‘orphaned’. Uncertainty and anxiety threaten once more. In response, Jesus speaks into their incomprehension and fear with the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus reassures them that they are not alone and that his spiritual presence will be renewed in this world through the Spirit. Jesus, through the Spirit, continues with us always as the assurance of God’s love for us.
Let us pray:
Living God, you are our Creator and our Maker
And the very breath of life is given as your gift.
We thank you for the gift of life
And we embrace and treasure that gift.
Living God, you are the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
Whose presence in the world reveals your love for us.
In the giving of your Son,
You reveal the depths of your love.
Living God, your Son embraced the Cross
And the depths of human suffering.
We thank you that you delivered him
On the day of Resurrection.
Living God, as you spoke to the bereft and the orphaned in days past,
Speak to the bereft and the orphaned in days present.
Speak to the uncertain and the anxious.
Speak into the depths of our incomprehension and fear.
Living God, your promise
Is that we will not be left alone to face the world.
We thank you that through the gift of your Spirit
That promise is fulfilled.
Living God, be with all who sustain our common life at this time,
Carers and nurses, cleaners and porters,
Doctors and ambulance staff, delivery drivers and posties.
Through their giving our common life is sustained.
Living God, as you have watched over us in the past,
Watch over us in the present.
As once more we thank you, that through Christ
And by your Holy Spirit, we are not alone. Amen.
