3 July
Dear Friends,
I feel very sad to be writing this last weekly letter to you and making preparations for my last service on Sunday. I keep thinking how different it would be if we were not in pandemic and if we were just planning a normal, unrestricted morning service. I am delighted though that there is a gathering after the service outside in the Begijnhof (weather permitting) and I do hope that this will be a good time of fellowship and of being together, in some cases maybe for the first time for a long while. For details please see the website.
Please remember that Sunday is a service of Holy Communion and so, as usual, if you are unable to attend and are watching at home you might like to have some bread and wine / biscuit and juice handy so that we can all share together.
Please note too that after this Sunday arrangements will change for viewing the Sunday services online. Please see the website for details.
I hope that these weekly letters over the past 16 months have been helpful. They have been very important for me: when you write a letter to someone you become aware of them, even at a distance. In some ways they become present to you, as you hold them in your mind. I have found that with these letters: in some ways they have helped me each week to connect with you even at a time when it is easy to feel disconnected. I'm sure some form of regular communication will continue after I've gone.'
This letter is not the occasion for saying goodbye, but I close by thanking God from the bottom of my heart for the ERC and for the privilege of having been your minister these past 7 years. I hope to see some of you on Sunday.
Lance
THIS WEEK's PROGRAMME:
Sunday, 10.30 hrs: Morning Worship a live-streamed service along with a restricted congregation in the church. You can access this just before 10.30 am:
On YouTube: https://youtu.be/jMtLM437Bok
Direct through the ERC website: ttps://www.erc.amsterdam/calendar/worship-service-4-july-2021
Our reading for this Sunday is Mark 6:1-6. This is a service of Holy Communion.
Sunday, 21.00 hrs: Compline (short evening prayers); join at: https://zoom.us/j/91386497205?pwd=YUN5dnRLOWlybHDSV250aHdJcnhiQT09
Thursday, 21.00hrs: Compline (short evening prayers); join at: https://zoom.us/j/91386497205?pwd=YUN5dnRLOWlybHDSV250aHdJcnhiQT09
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. Being the first Sunday of the month it is our custom to hold a collection for the Mulanje Mission Hospital inMalawi. If you wish to make a donation please do so through the website.