In these uncertain times, we will use this section to update news about the church as it adapts to the present situation.

The Moravian Messenger (the magazine of the British Province of the Moravian Church) is normally distributed at church. During the present emergency, we will post each edition here. Enjoy!

Following advice from all three of our denominations the church is now closed until further notice.  Our minister and the chair of our Leadership Team has issued the following message.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ

HGUCC and Coronavirus

In line with national government requests it has been decided to suspend worshipping together immediately and also to close all church-based activities until further notice.  In this fast-changing situation, we have received requests from all three of our denominations to act in this way.

This is a worrying time for many, with so much uncertainty and unknown timescales.  However, it will be a new challenge to show that the church is really the people and not just a building.  Pastoral Links (PLs) especially are being asked to keep in touch regularly with everyone on their list.  Please will PLs make sure they know who is on their list - ask Lorraine or Julia to let you know if you are unsure.  However, we can all keep in touch by phone, letters, cards, sending emails or using social media as appropriate.  We don’t want anyone feeling isolated or ignored.   If you are not in a vulnerable group, please think about looking out for neighbours in your road too.

We will all miss meeting for worship, mutual encouragement and friendship but let’s remember that radio and TV offer Songs of Praise, Daily Service, Choral Evensong and Sunday Worship.  Some may like to try Premier Christian Radio. 

Online there are a wide range of resources, including live streaming from Wesley’s Chapel https://www.wesleyschapel.org.uk/livestreaming/ at 11.00 am on Sundays and a Podcast https://devotions.urc.org.uk/ from the URC.

Locally, for those online there will be updates on the website www.hgucc.org.uk and a weekly email news sheet to replace the Notices and help us keep in touch.

We are postponing the Lent Gift Day to a later date, but please keep your envelope.  We suspect weekly envelope users may end up with a lot of filled envelopes just sitting at home.  Hopefully the pile won’t topple over!  

Let us pray for each other, those with corona virus, health professionals and the many people whose lives are seriously affected, be that financial, mental health, survival of their job or business.  Please pray for governments around the world who face difficult decisions and scientists working to identify short and long term solutions.  

A prayer from Rev Dr Jan Berry.

God our refuge,
we seek your protection.
Protect the vulnerable from illness:
those who are old and frail,
weakened by years and struggle;
those who care for others,
expending energy and love;
those for whom inability to work
means hardship and poverty.

Protect us
from the greed and suspicion
which snatches at our own security
stock-piling and panic-buying
that deprives others of the necessities of life.

Protect us from the short-sightedness
which sees the germ in our own eyes
and ignores the plagues
of hunger, war and violence
that take so many lives each day.

Protect us from the isolation
that leads to loneliness and despair
denying the interconnectedness
that links us with one another.

God our refuge
in our panic and fear
may we not lose sight of our common humanity
that makes us one people in you.

Amen.
 

Finally, some encouragement from God’s word:

Who will separate us from the love of Christ?  Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?    No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.    Romans 8: 35, 37

Jesus said,  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”    John 14: 27

Yours in Christ’s service,

Rev Lorraine Shorten

Brian Dickens (Chair of the Leadership team)

Links for updates from the Methodist Church and the URC

https://www.methodist.org.uk/about-us/coronavirus-guidance/?fbclid=IwAR3jPoBNavgKbY2nZbAJ4zuw3PYMl_vxbdQeA8juhir1y4SNrrrbU3Thg70

https://urc.org.uk/latest-news/3365-urc-issues-coronavirus-advice-to-its-churches

Link for Sunday worship in the Birmingham Methodist circuit.

https://www.facebook.com/Birminghammethodistdistrict/