Tuesday 19 May 2020
Hello Everyone
Well done to everyone who joined in the Zoom Service last Sunday, especially to David for the Communion part of the service - a video of the service is now available on Youtube. Youtube have an automatic subtitling facility which can be turned on by clicking a small white icon with CC on it at the bottom right of the video screen. If you are using a tablet or phone, you may need to access a small menu to do this. The link to the menu appears as three small dots at the bottom right next to the volume and full screen icons. The subtitles are generated by automatic voice recognition and produce some pretty strange interpretations at times. For example 'Acre Mill' is sometimes translated as 'Hey, Camille!' . Have a look... the bloopers will probably cheer you up.
Next Sunday is scheduled to be a Family service and we are aiming to involve as many of the younger folks as we can. The service will NOT be a Zoom but recorded and put out on YouTube at 10.15 on Sunday morning.
The following Sunday is Pentecost when the theme will be 'The Fruit of the Spirit' The children are being asked to do a drawing of a fruit or a situation where the Fruit of the Spirit can be applied to the current situation. For example they could draw a picture of someone doing some shopping for a person who can't get out which would illustrate Kindness. The children need to send an image of their drawing and what they would like to say - which can be recorded by them if they like.
Pamela is updating the CBC noticeboad and would like the children to draw round a hand or foot and write a prayer - maybe based on the Tearfund prayer we had on Sunday. These can be printed and sent of photographed and emailed or sent by Facebook Messenger.
It's hard to believe that we have been closed for TEN Sundays now but there is a glimmer of hope that things might ease enough by July to have some limited form of opening. News from everyone is encouraging and I'm not aware of any cases of CV19 in the fellowship, although there are several people affected in Bacup and Stacksteads. The Deacons (and others) have been in regular contact with all of the older folks of the church to make sure they have the support they need.
The weekday Zoom meetings are as usual this week with Kimberley's Wednesday Zoom Quiz at 7.00pm and, on Friday at 7.00pm, we have another Cafe Zoom meeting.
We are especially praying for all our children and everyone who works in a school or Nursery this week as they plan for some form of return. This has caused an enormous amount of work for staff as they plan to keep the children safe and there are genuine concerns about how schools can be organised. So, if you know anyone who is affected, give them a smile and some encouragement. Also pray for the children in the Bethany project in Tanzania. It seems that the 'official' figures published by the Tanzanian Government don't reflect the actual situation - you can read a recent newsletter from Emma here.
http://www.bethanyfamily.net/?LMCL=Ym9_u5
The church building is OK - a daily check is being made. If you feel like doing some gardening or grasscutting as a break from Lockdown do let us know!
Ben, Phil W, Terry, Jason, Peter, Phil B, Jason
