Home > Latest News > Weekly Updates

New Years Update

We hope Christmas was special for you even if it was limited by current circumstances. We've turned the corner now into the New Year and we pray that we will soon turn the corner in the fight against this dangerous pandemic.

This Sunday we are proposing we stay closed as Church for worship at Westoning and Tingrith. It is a sad thing to be closed as was evidenced by the empty feeling on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in particular. But the Virus is prevalent in our area so I don't think this is the time to propose changing our decision and opening. One lady known to many of us who was admitted to the L and D hospital with the virus said this to me in an email:

I would not wish this illness on anyone, please emphasise to your flock to be very vigilant and take care.
I followed every rule, hadn’t even been to the supermarket since October and still caught it.

So there will be no services in church on Sunday and we will review the situation next week and keep you informed.

Because the church building is closed doesn't mean we need to be closed as the body of Christ living out His love and compassion. Epiphany is upon us, a time of revelation and showing so what better time to be galvanised by the insights we are receiving and showing what it is to be a follower of Jesus.

For this Sunday we shall release a Recorded Service for Epiphany and at Westoning on Wednesday at 12 noon, look to be open for Private Prayer. If there is interest in a mid week afternoon Tea and Catch Up by zoom please let me know and we will set one up.

From Sunday 10th January The Upper Room will return, probably at its normal time of 6pm,

and we shall look to setting up some times of Prayer and Bible Study for the New year

On Wednesday 6th January at 8pm we shall have a 60 Minutes with God time of prayer and reflection and if you would like to join this session then contact us directly

In the meantime please do contact us if you would like to discuss anything, however small. We are here to support you as you support others. As The Bishop of St Albans said earlier this week:

The Old Testament lesson for Epiphany comes from Isaiah 60. After sixty years in exile, God’s people have returned from Babylon to Jerusalem. The temple lies in ruins and they face opposition from some of their countrymen. In the midst of this depressing situation, God uses Isaiah to convey a powerful message of hope:

'Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.'

Amidst all the doom and gloom, these words are a reminder that even when we face the most difficult challenges, God is still with us. Like Isaiah in his day, God has entrusted us with a message of hope and light to share with those among whom we live.

Stay safe and God's blessing to you. May this New Year be truly joyful, healthy and peaceful for you and yours

with love and prayer

Nigel and Linda