Saintfield Parish response to COVID 19

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 

 

Dear Friends 

I never thought I would be writing a post like this but in light of current government and Diocesan guidance, It is with the heaviest heart that the Select Vestry of Saintfield Parish made the decision to close the Parish Church.

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This applies also to Church on Sunday Worship in all its forms. We believe that this decision is the best one in light of the Corona Virus. It achieves the distancing needed to maximise our effort with everyone else to stop its spread. This does not mean we stop ’being church!!” Our energy is now focussed on ‘being church’ for us and Saintfield community in new, hope-filled ways. 

 

For example, our Worship on Sunday Morning will be at 10.30am through a video on Facebook. 

Chris will share a short time of scripture reading, prayer, reflection and some music. Please share this opportunity and invite others to connect together as we Worship in our open homes. 

 

We are also exploring other ways to share our Worship, especially for those who are not connected to social media.

 

We will let you know what we can offer and provide.

Other initiatives for both the parish and the community are being explored.

 

We will keep everyone updated regularly about what we believe can be offered to assist in the best way possible. This will involve food bank support and helping the most vulnerable and isolated in our community. 

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I think we will all agree that our world is changing, some say it is shrinking. Our lifestyle, our jobs, our time together, our wealth, all the normal aspects that we took for granted. What does not need to shrink or be cancelled, is hope. We need more hope for our lives, community and world rather than less. We need to place our hope in a God who will never shrink. He offers us ‘more’ hope with his peace embedded within through his son Jesus and the power of the holy spirit to possess us with hope, peace and love. 

 

There is a promise from God which make this hope real. 
It says: 
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 

 

Finally, we want to connect as many as possible to pray for our world and community at this time. We already have our prayer line established but if you would like to join, just sent me a text with your name on 07519668747. 

 

Likewise, I would appreciate any requests for prayer. 

Let us pray together with hope asking God’s peace to possess our hearts and minds, trusting and knowing that God’s hope will never shrink even when everything else in our world appears to be. 

Prayerfully yours
Chris