6 March
Dear Friends,
We had a meeting of our elders this week and, as is our custom, one elder began the meeting with a reading. He chose verses from the letter to the Ephesians, chapter 2, which also happens to include the passage that is set for this Sunday and so will be read in many churches (though we will not be considering it). The passage ends in chapter 2 verse 10, which says of the church, ‘we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works…’ The phrase ‘what he has made us’, in the original Greek in which the letter was written, uses the word poiema which means a work of art, something beautifully made - from which we get our word ‘poem’. So we could re-translate that verse as, ‘we are God’s work of art’ or ‘we are God’s poem’. What an incredible description of the church - and what a calling, to be God’s great handiwork set in the midst of the world! As well as giving us a sense of responsibility for our life and witness it also suggests the care and attention with which God tends his church. We often wonder about the future of the church - especially in our very secular age, but also in this time of pandemic when we consider the future and how things might change. Whatever the future holds, let’s keep in our hearts that vision of God’s poiema, God’s handiwork, and let it shape our life together.
A couple of other things…
Many of you will recall Alexander Noordijk who did a placement with us as part of his training for the ministry. Alexander is being inducted this Sunday, March 7th at 3 pm, to the church in Monnickendam. The service will be live-streamed and can be accessed either through the church website: https://www.omroep-pim.nl or through the Gemeente website: https://www.pgmonnickendam.nl .
Lastly, this Sunday is a service of Holy Communion so you might like to have a piece of bread and some wine or juice handy so that we can share together.
Every blessing to you. Keep safe and keep well.
Lance
THIS WEEK:
Sunday, 10.30 hrs
Live- streamed service . You can access the live-stream just before 10.30 am directly via this link: https://youtu.be/jEoxMPiBvsg
Our reading for this Sunday, for the third Sunday in Lent, is John 2:13-22, John’s account of Jesus’ ‘cleansing of the temple’.
This week we celebrate Holy Communion – you might like to have a piece of bread and some wine or juice handy.
Please remember that in ‘normal’ times we usually have a collection on the 1st Sunday of the month, Communion Sunday, for the Mulanje Mission Hospital in Malawi. Donations can be made through the church website.
Sunday, 21.00 hrs
Compline (short evening prayers): join us via Zoom
Tuesday, 08.45 hrs
Psalm Reciting (this week Psalms 106-109). We will not meet at the church for this, but you might like to participate from your from our home at 8.45 or some other time.
Wednesday, 19.30 hrs
Bible Study, looking at John 3:14-21. All welcome. Please join via Zoom.
Thursday, 21.00hrs
Compline (short evening prayer): join us via Zoom
Prayer:
In this time there may be people who feel especially in need of prayer either for themselves or for someone else. There is a small group of people in the congregation who take it in turns on Sundays to be available after the service to pray for anyone in need - so, if you would like prayer or have a a particular prayer request please contact Margaret Richards on margaretanne_richards@hotmail.com and she and the others will pray accordingly.
A word about finance….
Please note that in this period when we are not meeting together there is a way of giving to the church on the website.
God bless you all and keep us united as a church family – and safe and well.
Lance