17 April
Dear Friends,
I do hope that in the past few days news of my impending retirement has reached all of you through one channel or other. As I said in my letter, this has not been an easy decision but various factors make me feel it is the right one and the right moment.
The words that have been coming to my mind in recent days are those of the hymn - I suppose really a children's hymn - and a good one in times of change:
One more step along the world I go,
one more step along the world I go;
from the old things to the new
keep me travelling along with you:
And it's from the old I travel to the new,
keep me traveling along with you.
Those are words for all of us and for the church as a community, at times of change.
Easter of course was a time of travelling from the old to the new: the start of a new chapter in the story of the world. And the risen Jesus appeared to his disciples and assured them that he would be travelling along with them – and they found that to be true.
I pray that it will be true for you now as we continue in this difficult time of COVID.
Keep well, and all best wishes to you,
Lance
THIS WEEK:
Sunday, 10.30 hrs:
Morning Worship
Livestream service: you can access this just before 10.30 am directly via this link: https://youtu.be/BbeGftx8v5I
Our reading for this Sunday, the third Sunday of Easter, is Luke 24:36-48, one of Jesus' resurrection appearances to the disciples in Jerusalem.
Sunday, 21.00 hrs:
Compline (short evening prayers): join at: https://zoom.us/j/91386497205?pwd=YUN5dnRLOWlybHDSV250aHdJcnhiQT09
Tuesday, 08.45 hrs:
Psalm Reciting (this week Psalm 1-9). We will not meet at the church for this, but you might like to participate from your own home at 8.45 or some other time.
Wednesday, 19.30 hrs:
Zoom Bible study resumes; join at: https://zoom.us/j/92316847530?pwd=TjdObHBvcmVTRWM4bWprS2QrenBnQT09
Thursday, 21.00hrs.
Compline (short evening prayer): join at: https://zoom.us/j/91386497205?pwd=YUN5dnRLOWlybHDSV250aHdJcnhiQT09
And just one other matter…
anyone volunteer to pick up food at Ekoplaza branches and take it to a refugee shelter once per month? Details from Joe Alibasah: joehennes@yahoo.com .
Prayer:
In this time there may be people who feel especially in need of prayer either for themselves or for someone else. In 'normal' times there was a small group of people in the congregation who used to 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 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, https://www.erc.amsterdam.