Dear
friends,
As we face
another lockdown we are conscious that the infection levels are growing
rapidly. The guidance from the government and the Church of England is that
services should continue if that is the local decision. We held an emergency
PCC meeting on Wednesday 6th January to discuss and decide the
best plan for St John’s. The PCC decision was to continue to hold the two
services, one on Sundays and one on Wednesdays, with strict guidelines in place
to enable us to stay as safe as possible, and to protect our
NHS. Please be assured that we will review this decision on a
regular basis.
We know
that God is speaking into this situation and guiding our decision making and I
pray that you too know God’s guidance through these times and decisions that
you are having to make. We are continuing
with our services on YouTube if you are not able to come to church.
We are in
dark times so it is essential we look carefully for God’s presence in our
lives, we look for the light in the darkness. These past few days I
have wrestled with the decision to keep church open, feeling the darkness, and
yet again God speaks to me telling me to trust in the prayerful decision to
stay open made by PCC as arriving at church this morning I was greeted by a
man, homeless, in the church car park. We were able to assist him
and he came in and worshipped with us. We wouldn’t have met him had we been
closed and I thanked God we were open and laughed to myself at God telling me
to trust … again! Light in the darkness.
For your prayers.
Some of
you may be aware that sadly, Bernard Nolan died 16th December and his funeral
took place last Thursday (7th January) so please hold Averil
and family in your prayers.
Mary
Furness died 29th December and her funeral is Thursday 21st
January in church. If you would like to go to Mary’s funeral please
contact Lesley Phipps 07779 018115 as we are having to
restrict numbers to comply with the Covid
regulations. Please pray for Mary’s family and friends.
Robert
Smith died 1st January and his funeral is Tuesday 19th January in church, so
again, please pray for his family, his children all grew up in St John’s.
May these faithful servants of Christ rest in peace
and rise in glory.
Thankyou to
everyone who completed the Reverse Advent Calendar. I will be taking your
generous gifts to Asylum Link Merseyside w/c 18th Jan.
I am on
annual leave for a week so have attached 2 weeks
readings for Morning Prayer.
Do stay
safe and be assured of my prayers.
Heavenly
Father,
at the Jordan you revealed Jesus as your Son:
may we recognize him as our Lord
and know ourselves to be your beloved children;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Amen.
With my
love and blessings,
Jane
Rev'd Jane Morgan MBE
Vicar St John's Church Ainsdale
708 Liverpool Road, Ainsdale,