Worship & Notices for 11 04 2021
Please refer to the new “Online Services” page on the Menu for details about all of the Online Services, and other regular activities in the Circuit.
The YouTube channel for Colchester Methodists continues to have videos uploaded regularly. If you follow this link, it will take you there: https://www.youtube.com/ColchesterMethodists
The service for this Sunday can be found by using this shortcut link.
You can find Bible Stories and Activities for Young People on the Young Sunday page of the Circuit Website, or by following this shortcut link.
When you leave a church service would you usually shake the hand of the Minister and thank him for the service? If so, please encourage our ministers and the team, by clicking on the Thumbs Up / LIKE icon for the video. This also helps our videos to be promoted to others, and spreads the word of God.
You can also leave a brief message in the comments below each video, but PLEASE don’t forget that literally EVERYONE worldwide can see this, so don’t make any personal comments, or refer to people in a way that risks their privacy in any way.
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the You Tube channel. It is FREE. Also click on the NOTIFICATION BELL ICON, then choose “all” as an option to receive an email notification / link each time a new video is uploaded. You can unsubscribe at any time, by clicking on the Subscribe button a second time.
Circuit Notices
Week Commencing
Sunday 11 April 2021
During this latest Lockdown, the Government has not banned churches from opening for Worship, however, most have decided that it is not safe or wise to open at the present time. With the easing of some lockdown restrictions some of our churches are beginning to think about in person Worship again. Details about any of these services will be made available when known.
Taking Stock will be back to a regular weekly spot, on Wednesdays, from 21 04 2021.
Instead of Taking Stock, for Holy Week, we had daily meditations on YouTube, if you have missed any of these you can catch up here.
We now have Zoom evening services for the whole Circuit on most Sunday evenings, hosted by various Churches. Your local email Hub Co-ordinator will send you an email with a link to join these. (If you haven’t received an email please contact one of your church stewards).
Your local Methodist Church website will give more details about groups and activities which are taking place there – click on that Church in the Menu on the Circuit Website.
We were all saddened to hear of the death of HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, on Friday at the age of 99 years. Our thoughts and prayers this week will be for Her Majesty the Queen, her children and grandchildren, and others who feel this loss, including people around the World who have been associated with him. We give thanks for the astonishing and lasting achievements he has made in his lifetime.
Please continue to remember all of our Circuit Ministers and Lay Preachers in your prayers.
Remember in your prayers folk from across the circuit who are suffering from various health problems at this time, any members and friends who have recently tested positive for Covid-19, and those known to us who are NHS or other keyworkers.
Zoom Bible Study Groups:
Alan’s bible study sessions for Castle will be on the last Wednesday of each month. Our next session will be looking at Psalms. The Zoom meeting will open at 7.15pm for informal chat with Bible Study commencing at 7.30pm.
Ken’s bible study sessions for The Ark are weekly on Tuesday’s. The Zoom meeting will open at 7.15pm for informal chat with Bible Study commencing at 7.30pm. We currently have a short break and will start our study of the Gospel of Mark after Easter. If you would like to join in this study please send an email to thearkhighwoods@gmail.com .
All are welcome to join the Bible Study Groups above, but let Alan or The Ark know you are interested, so that he can send you details and a Zoom invite.
Details of Bible studies and other activities based at Wimpole Road are available on their website here.
Zoom Church Services:
(Zoom Services will “open” 15 minutes before the start time to allow everyone to join and settle in before beginning Worship together).
Invitation from The Ark:
We will be hosting a monthly service on Zoom at 6.30pm on the FIRST Sunday of each month, and a mid-week morning Reflections Service on Zoom on the SECOND Wednesday of each month. Anyone from the circuit wishing to join either of these is very much welcome to do so, but you will first need to email thearkhighwoods@gmail.com for a Zoom invite.
Invitation from Wivenhoe:
We will be hosting a monthly service on Zoom at 3pm on the SECOND Sunday of each month. Anyone from the circuit wishing to join is very much welcome to do so, but you will first need to email Alan for a Zoom invite.
Invitation from Castle:
We will be hosting a monthly service on Zoom at 6.30pm on the THIRD Sunday of each month. Anyone from the circuit wishing to join is very much welcome to do so, but you will first need to email Alan for a Zoom invite.
Invitation from Wimpole Road:
We will be hosting a monthly service on Zoom at 6.30pm on the FOURTH Sunday of each month. Anyone from the circuit wishing to join is very much welcome to do so, but you will first need to email Joe for a Zoom invite.
Invitation and News from St Botolph’s:
At Castle we enjoy a Covenant with friends at St Botolph’s in the town centre. They have re-opened for Worship with certain Covid-19 restrictions in place. There is an ongoing invitation for any Castle friends to join them. Click here for News from St Botolphs for Sunday 11 04 2021.
Request from Citizens UK:
Our circuit is a member of Citizens UK. We have been asked by Citizens UK to consider signing a petition asking for a living wage for key workers. Many of you Clapped for Carers last year. Would you consider signing this petition now? As such you will be joining with Christians and other like-minded people all over the UK in asking the government to fund the increase in wages for care workers
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from the government’s living wage (£8.72 per hour)
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up to the Real Living Wage (£9.50 per hour).
Sign the petition: Social care workers deserve a living wage (livingwage4keyworkers.org.uk)
More from Citizens UK:
Citizens Essex is holding a Zoom Assembly on
Monday 19 April, starting at 7 pm, finishing at 8.45 pm, and we want to you join us.
Local politicians and candidates for county council, for Colchester, Chelmsford and Southend councils, candidates for the post of Police and Fire Commissioner) will be invited to hear about issues that are close to the hearts of local residents. They will also be invited to support or take action on these issues if elected.
Significantly and especially we want Colchester Methodists there, in big numbers, because we are raising the issue of
Living Wages for Carers and one of our members who is Chair of the District Safeguarding Oversight Group, and Director of the Essex Care Association, and a passionate supporter of fair wages, will be one of those presenting the case for a Living Wage for Carers.
Also we Methodists have clapped for carers and signed petitions.
We want Essex care workers to be paid fairly and work safely.
Politicians need to see and recognise the power of our feelings, so we need lots of you at the Assembly! You’ll probably even enjoy the gathering as Citizens Assemblies are not like other boring, business-like meetings. And this is not a hustings for the politicians to take over the microphone.
You will need to apply for a zoom invite to attend the Assembly at: https://actionnetwork.org/events/citizens-essex-assembly/
Breaking Day: A Lockdown Passion Play
from Riding Lights – A touring Christian Theatre Company
As day begins to break on Good Friday, the occupying Governor’s tenuous grip on authority is slipping. It’s festival time in Jerusalem but his wife is plagued with disturbing dreams. Amid the demands of the Sanhedrin and the murderous cries of the mob, the lines between personal and political in Pilate’s house start to blur. The teacher at the centre of it all remains silent.
Confused by the hopes and fears of her people, a Jewish servant in the Praetorium clearly knows more than she should. Pilate wrestles with a quandary of his own devising, while outside momentum is gathering – the power of the Capitol in tension with the will of the people.
With stark intimacy, Breaking Day casts a surprising light on the death of Jesus from inside the Governor’s household, immersing us in the decisions that led to crucifixion.
Filmed remotely in an innovative lockdown style, Breaking Day is a virtual passion play for Easter 2021, available to church groups from 15 March to 15 April, and individuals from 19 March to 15 April.
Click this link to find out more on the Riding Lights website.
Audio CD’s, and DVD’s, are being made available to anyone unable to view the online service. If you know of someone who would benefit from this please let a Minister or pastoral leader know.
For more information about these activities, or to tell us about your news from around the circuit for inclusion next time, please contact colchester.methodists@gmail.com
Be sure to keep yourselves safe and well.
Let someone know if you are struggling, if you need a chat, or just some shopping. Do contact your pastoral leader, or send someone an email: you may be in isolation, but you are not alone.
Easter Cross image from Pixabay.