2nd August 2020 All Saints Church, Childwall
READ Matthew 14:13-22:
13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
REFLECT:
I considered my little and God said to me,
“Child, what do you mean by saying, ‘only?’”
It was only a word that created all that you see;
It was only some clay that brought you to be.
Only a staff that parted the sea;
Only one man who set them all free.
Only a young shepherd who took down a foe;
And there’s a lesson to learn that I want you to know:
It was only a stable, and only a girl;
And only a Carpenter who changed the whole world.
So, it’s not what YOU have, but MY strength, you see;
And I can do miracles with your little ‘only!’”
Only God knows what can happen when we trust him with all we have.
RESPOND:
What miracles is God calling you to be part of in our community? What needs are waiting to be filled? Ask God to empower you to offer what you have in response and continue to bless your efforts.
PRAY: Merciful God, the gifts we bring are so small in comparison to the vast needs of our world. Yet we bring what we can. As you once multiplied the loaves and fishes, multiply these gifts as well, so that once again the hungry in body and spirit may receive all they need, and more. Amen
Helen Deegan (Curate at All Saints, Childwall)
Dear Friends,
Youth & Children’s Worker – I am delighted that we have appointed Gypsey-Leigh Tait to be a Children’s and Youth worker at All Saints. Gypsey travelled up to Liverpool last week and spent 2 days with us meeting our Wardens, Helen and Bill. We showed her round the parish and held an informal interview. She also had the opportunity to meet some of our children and to engage them with a message.
After sharing this possibility with you just over 2 weeks ago the response from our church family has been overwhelming. Support offered to date means that we will be able to offer a full-time wage for a year along with accommodation, prayer support, meals in people’s homes, mentoring and regular supervision. Please pray for Gypsey as she prepares to move up from Kent where she has been working for Oakhall for the last year, she will be starting with us on 1st September.
Services in Church – On Monday evening at our joint Staff, PCC and Readers meeting we discussed the reopening of our church building. Over the last 3 weeks we have used it for 2 Baptism services and one Wedding. For all 3 services our procedures have worked well and inside the building everyone has been safe sitting 2 meters apart in alternate pews. Coming into church, gelling hands and signing in has worked well. What is more of a challenge is ensuring people keep 2 meters apart after any service has finished when they are outside.
As you are all aware government legislation and guidelines are changing regularly. You will have heard by now that there are new government guidelines in relation to the wearing of masks. Currently you are required to wear face coverings in shops, supermarkets, indoor shopping centres, indoor transport hubs and public transport. For members of the public, from 8 August this will be expanded to include many other settings like cinemas, theatres and what affects us most places of worship. The government guidelines are saying: We are now recommending that face coverings are worn in additional indoor settings and this will be enforceable in law. We recommend face coverings are worn in these settings now, but this will not be mandatory until 8 August.
We have made the decision that All Saints Church Building will be open on Sunday 9th August for a 10am service and Sunday services will continue to happen throughout August at 10am as would normally happen in the summer months. These services will be no longer than 40 minutes long. Everyone attending this service will have to wear a mask throughout, gel hands and sign in on entering. We are not going to operate a booking system but as I have explained in earlier weeks we will only be able to accommodate limited numbers. Therefore, once the church building is full using all alternate pews then unfortunately anyone else who arrives will not be able to be accommodated. Further information will be communicated before Sunday 9th August.
Weekly Prayer requests – If you would like other members of our church family to be able to pray for you or for another member of your family, please let me know and I will put names on this sheet each week. Please ask permission from the person whose name will appear.
If you change your address or your tax status and you regularly give financially to All Saints Church please will you let Diane Deacon know who is our Gift Aid Secretary, thank you. deekschildwall@gmail.com
WEEKLY PRAYER MEETING – Weekly prayer meeting Thursday 6.30pm on Zoom. Why not join a group of us at All Saints that pray regularly. It lasts 40 minutes, you can pray, sit and listen or just contemplate.
Click on the below link and take 40 minutes out of your busy schedule.
Zoom Meeting: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/79853782379?pwd=NEloclhRVEJST3RFeUdUVEowSWJRUT09
Meeting ID: 798 5378 2379 Password: 7VUQh6 Aidan Holmes
Zoom coffee – After our Online Service each Sunday please join us for Zoom coffee at 10.15am for 40 mins – remember to bring your own coffee! Details for Zoom coffee are as follows:
Zoom Coffee – every Sunday at 10.15am Meeting ID: 842 767 1496 Password: 4allsaints
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8427671496?pwd=K2dMMnlvTHpwTkxDNEV6bDYwQXBDQT09
With our prayers for you all at this time – Andrew Colmer – Vicar – Tel: 07305 842257
Helen Deegan – Curate curate.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
