Guiseley Methodist Church • October 2020

Dear friends:
There is online worship on the 25th October  at 10.30am - contact Ian Williams for details  iandrwilliams@hotmail.co.uk

With current restrictions on public gatherings, arrangements for Remembrance Sunday (8th Nov) will be different from usual.   Our 10.30am service will be led by Rev Cayte Norman and will include observing the two minute silence in church.

If you’ve not joined a Zoom service yet, why not give it a try? After the service you have the option of staying on to chat with others in your church group. With Zoom you can join or leave at any time without causing any disruption to others.

SERVICES IN NOVEMBER
Sunday 1st November led by Lindsey Hurst
Sunday 8th November (Remembrance Sunday) led by Rev Cayte Norman
Sunday 15th November led by Pauline Tate
Sunday 22nd November (Communion) led by Rev Roger Smith
Sunday 29th November (Advent Sunday) online via Zoom
All services at 10.30am, face coverings to be worn in church. To enable social distancing, numbers are restricted in church so it is essential to book your place on 01943 874735 or roger.smith@methodist.org.uk

. Places are available at all November services as single seats or for two people from the same household or 'bubble' sitting together.

Roger

---

What do you see?
Leaves that have done their job or beautiful colours of autumn?
What do you feel?
A spiky shell or a silky smooth conker?
What do you hear?
Crackling under foot or the fun and laughter of children playing games?
What do you see?
The detritus of autumn to be swept away or food for squirrels and the soil?
What do you sense?
Peace and tranquillity or the changing season?
What’s in your heart?
The hope contained in a seed or dismay at the harm we’re doing to God’s creation?
What do you see?
An ending or a beginning?
Jesus said, ‘Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.’
[Photo & words by Roger Smith with Guiseley Methodist congregation – October 2019]

---

Psalm 23 for our times
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not panic buy.
He makes me self-isolate in quietness.
He leads me to see that supplies are flowing all the time.
He calms me down.
He helps me to do the right thing and think of others.
Even though Covid 19 is all around
I shan’t be scared,
For you are with me.
You lead and guide me, you’ve got this.
That comforts me.
Your presence and generous love are like a banquet
In a time of hardship.
You pour out over me assurance
That I am your beloved child
And that is more than enough.
For the rest of my life I know
I can trust that your goodness and mercy will never fail.
It’s who you are.
And I’m discovering
That even though church might be closed,
I will always be in “your house”,
Because you never leave me
And I can worship you – everywhere.
(Vivien Pitts)

GUISELEY METHODIST CHURCH MAILING
Rev Roger Smith (Minister) roger.smith@methodist.org.uk 01943 874735
Mrs Rosemary Williams (Pastoral Secretary) rawilliams1942@outlook.com 01943 871048

If you’d like to keep using online worship material, go to the Circuit website or search YouTube for ‘Guiseley Methodist Church’ and you’ll find all the videos recorded over the past months.  You might like to re-watch one or see one you missed.  I know some people are doing this and finding it helpful.

This new hymn has been written for ‘the first service at which hymns are sung aloud following the Covid lockdown of 2020’ – none of us knows when that will be!  But you can use the words at home – as a hymn or as a prayer.  The hymnwriter suggests the tune Abbot’s Leigh (the set tune for ‘Lord thy church on earth is seeking’) or it could be sung prayerfully to ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’

Loving God, we come before you

glad to offer praise in song,

thankful for the many mercies

you have shown us all along.

Months of social isolation

have not parted us from you,

and in every situation

grace and love have led us through.

 

Yet so many struggle daily,

so we ask you, Lord, to bless

all the sick, the sad, the lonely,

all who suffer pain and stress,

all who mourn the loss of loved ones,

all whose loads are hard to bear,

and all those whose calm compassion

comforts those for whom they care.

 

Father, send the world your healing;

guide and strengthen us, we pray,

so that we may keep revealing

something of your love each day.

Whether facing sin or virus,

and despite what time may bring,

we shall ask you to inspire us,

trusting you for everything.

Words: Ben Batten, Chesham Methodist Church, 2020