More about Coronovirus

Dear Friends,



Firstly, many thanks to those who have offered to help distribute the Mothering Sunday plants. They are now all allocated and should be on their way out very soon. There is enough for most people to have one so my apologies if one doesn’t make it to you, please know we are still thinking of and praying for you.



Today I have tried to call a number of people from St Paul’s who are not on email to check in with them. I was reminded of the power of a simple phone call and how delighted people are to know that we care. Many of them had already been contacted by others from St Paul’s and I am very thankful for this loving church family. Can I encourage you to keep in contact with one another, do keep praying for each other and ask the Lord if there is someone that you should reach out to each day.



This morning I went, with the rest of Oadby, to Sainsbury’s and am disheartened by the empty shelves, the panic buying and the selfishness of people. Today I learnt about a family who have run out of toilet paper and been unable to get some more. This week I have also been aware of those on a tight budget who cannot afford the expensive branded food that is all they have found left on the shelf and the need for us to make sure we are still donating to the Food Bank. But my faith in peoples goodness was restored when I went to give blood this afternoon and saw there was a high turnout, and a long wait. Let us be salt and light in these times, bringing faith and hope where there is panic and fear.



Today we have uploaded a 2 minute video to the St Paul’s You Tube channel, you can watch it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvM2QFYk2kU&feature=youtu.be Do subscribe to the channel, this is where I hope to post a video in place of Sunday’s service.



Also on Sunday “The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby is to lead a national broadcast as the Church of England responds to the challenge of becoming a “different sort of church” in the face of the coronavirus crisis.

The service, including prayers, hymns and a short sermon, will be broadcast online by the Church of England and broadcast across 39 local BBC radio stations this Sunday as congregations across the country find new ways of sharing worship together after public church services were put on hold.

Churches of all major denominations will also be marking a national day of prayer and action this Sunday – Mothering Sunday - particularly remembering those who are sick or anxious and all involved in health and emergency services.”

The service will be broadcast on all BBC local radio stations in England at 8am and will premier online at 9am on Sunday

Also: “The Archbishops are asking us all to place a lighted candle in our window at 7pm this coming Sunday, “as a sign of solidarity and hope in the light of Christ that can never be extinguished”.



Lastly just to let you know St Peter’s Church is remaining OPEN between 9am and 4pm daily, for people to come and pray / talk / sing etc if you want to, just please practice physical distancing with any other people there. The church is being cleaned daily, particularly surfaces that people touch frequently e.g. door handles.



Every blessing

Steve
Steve Bailey, Rector