Hello everyone,
We’re sorry to have to begin this letter with some sad news.
Our dear friend David Bottrill died early on Friday morning, at home. David has been poorly for several weeks and his death was not related to Coronavirus. There will be a service of Committal on Wednesday 15th April, 12pm at Whitley Bay Crematorium but because of coronavirus restrictions only immediate family are permitted to attend. A memorial service will be arranged as soon as we can go back into church. Our thoughts and prayers are with Pat and her family at this time.
Church at Home
Thanks to everyone who has sent messages complimenting the new way of getting our service leaflets out there. As you know these can be used alongside the Church at Home link which is on our new website - you may see a familiar face or hear a familiar voice or two. Thanks go out to Ben who pulls this all together for us and the many people who are working behind the scenes to produce this lovely service. You can get straight to our Church at Home Page by following this link: Click here to open the Church at Home page of the website
Intercessions
Don’t forget you can still update your blue intercessions cards by phoning or emailing the office. If you have an anniversary of a loved one, or would like someone added to the prayer list, then please let us know and we will include this in the prayers on the Worship Sheet. We are both still doing the usual office jobs – but from home. Please get in touch if you have any queries or just want someone to ring you back for a chat. We can do this or pass your request on to someone who will be happy to do that.
Congratulations John & Judith
We send congratulations to John and Judith Cure who celebrated their 65th Wedding anniversary (Blue Sapphire) on Thursday. Best wishes to you both and here’s to the next 65 years.
Pray as you Go
Outside of our Sunday morning online gathering, it is sometimes difficult to feel connected to one another, and the upheaval of not going to church can leave us feeling further away from God. Making an effort to pray regularly and routinely is an enormous help, and a really life-giving discipline to get involved with. On the Church at Home page of the website there are some links to different prayer resources. One thing I’ve found helpful is ‘Pray as you Go’. It’s a website, and also an app for your phone or tablet. They give you a 10 minute prayer each day for you to listen to, and they have other prayers on there too: specific prayers for mental health issues; prayer series for being in isolation; and examen prayers (prayers for the end of the day to look back and be thankful). Having prayers to listen to, not read is really good, and I recommend giving "Pray as you Go” a go!
How to make a Palm Cross
There are lots of Blue Peter-style videos showing you if you search online! You can decorate them or colour them. Here is a link which will show you how to make one at home out of paper: http://make-origami.com/easter-cross. If you can, try to make one in time for this week’s Church at Home.
Easter Egg Competition
If you visit our Facebook page you will find information about our Easter Egg competition.
Stay safe
Dot and Carol