Pastoral Letter #2
- Rev. Goodwin
- Apr 29, 2020
- 5 min read
WYMBERG CIRCUIT
CHURCH STREET SOCIETY
APRIL 2020
PASTORAL LETTER #2
Good Day friends, the next few weeks hold for us a great deal of uncertainty as we move from lockdown into the regulations that will follow. It is clear that for the foreseeable future we will be practicing social distancing and that church gatherings will not be permitted until we are at the lower levels of COVID response, we will therefore be continuing to worship virtually and to connect telephonically with the members of the congregation. Since we all have different means of communication and differing levels of internet connectivity we are trying to use as many means of staying in touch as possible, these include a WhatsApp group for the Society where videos and messages are being posted. This is a “receive only” group and so responses are not enabled to prevent people from being overwhelmed with too many messages. If you are not on the group and would like to be, please contact me so I can add you, we worked with the cell numbers we had but some people may he been left out unintentionally.
The videos are also to be found on our website where you can also access our YouTube Channel and Facebook page.
When you watch one of our videos on YouTube you can subscribe to the Church Street YouTube channel by clicking “Subscribe” - this will keep you up to date wit new video posts.
For those on Facebook, the videos and messages are being posted on our Facebook page. I would encourage everyone who can to visit our Facebook page and join the Church Street Faith Share Group on the page. This is a private group only visible too members where you can engage online. There will be an online Bible Study discussion you can join based on the Bible Reading Guide we are sending out with this letter for the Month of May. The readings in this guide will further reflect on our Sunday message. You can also comment on the Sunday Reflection and ask questions in the group.
Our Facebook link is: https://www.facebook.com/churchstreetmethodist/
Our stewards are staying in touch with those not on WhatsApp or Email telephonically but we are also asking members to reach out to us so we can stay connect to you. You are welcome to call, message or email me or any of the stewards during this time.
Our Sunday Worship and Reflection videos are posted for Sunday mornings by 7am so you can find some time on Sundays to worship and reflect on Scripture.
Our mid-week reflections will be moving from being posted on Wednesday evenings to Thursday mornings by 7am. This is in response to the call from our Presiding Bishop below:
She writes … I, call upon all Methodists to set aside every Thursday at 12h00 NOON as our collective Methodist time of Prayer- beginning with prayer and fasting this Thursday, 30 April 2020. At this time when our intercessors and prayer groups cannot come together in churches to pray- we can all with unity of purpose lift our prayers to God! Where ever we are as Methodists, at 12noon every Thursdays, let us stop whatever we are doing, and call upon God to intervene in this Corona crisis! I call upon those who are able to fast, to fast from sunrise until after they have prayed. Our God hears prayers and answers them! If we “humble ourselves and pray”, God will heal our communities!
Prayer focus areas during this crisis are countless e.g.
† Wisdom for leaders and parliaments of all nations- especially of the nations of our Connexion
† Protection and strength for those in the frontline of this battle with the virus
† Healing for the infected and sick from the virus
† That a vaccine or cure be found.
† Those solutions be found to deal with the impact the pandemic has had and will continue to have on education, the economy, faith / religious life etc.
† Care and protection for the most vulnerable in society; the poor, women, the elderly, those with other illnesses etc.
To help us observe this moment tomorrow I have included a prayer based on the Lord’s Prayer and a Fasting Guide from our Superintendent, Rev. Dave.
As mentioned above I am sending with this letter a devotional reading guide for you to use during the month of May … you can use this any way that is appropriate to you, I encourage as many of us who can to share our thoughts each week on the Facebook Group discussion.
Terrence is staying on our church property and is feeding those who come in need of food, he is cooking food from Monday till Saturday as well as distributing the food donations he receives. As the lockdown regulations ease those who are able to make a food drop at the church are invited to do so in a way that does not put yourself at risk. When you are doing your groceries you can call Terrence and ask what he needs and arrange a time you will drop the items at the gate with him. Terrence can be reached on 078 234 0314
At a circuit level we have pooled our resources and been able to offer food vouchers or e-wallet assistance to over 55 families in need throughout our circuit.
Our life as a faith community at this time is going to be about going back to basics, focusing on our own spiritual growth by making use of the resources provided through the communications we receive, fasting to make space in our lives for God, feeding others emotionally by offering our presence in the ways in which we can, and practically through our food provision to those in need.
In order for all of this to continue we need your support more than ever. While we cannot gather for worship, the work of ministry continues and we ask you to consider continuing your giving in the following ways.
Option 1
By making an EFT deposit into our bank account, please note we have a business current/cheque account. When making a transfer you will be asked if you would like to send a notification. If you would like to notify us that you are making a payment you can enter the email address for our treasurer Mark Lock, which is, marklocksa@gmail.com. Please reference your payment with your, envelope number, your name or simply “church offering” if you wish to remain anonymous. Note that all payment information is kept confidential. Our bank details are:
The Methodist Church of Southern Africa, Wynberg Society First National Bank Branch Code: 201109
Plumstead
Account Number: 62095722700
Option 2
You may wish to consider depositing your cash contribution into our account at an ATM when you go to do your groceries. Below is a link that explains how you can do this with the account details we have provided above:
Option 3
The church is signing up to use Snapscan - you may wish to consider using your mobile banking app to make your contribution by scanning our Snapscan code, or you can download Snapscan from the app store to make secure online payments. As soon as we are signed up we will send you the information and a tutorial.
You can find out more about Snapscan on https://www.snapscan.co.za/
Friends the reality is that we are going to be living in a “new normal” and that as a faith community we will have to find new ways of doing some things and go back to old ways of doing other things. Let us all do what we can to stay connected, to care for ourselves and one another and to find and share the presence of God in these times.
Blessings
Graham
Email: revgoodie@outlook.com
Mobile: 0610216616
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