Virtual Church

Virtual Church

Take a look at the **NEW** Virtual Church page (on the bar above)

Resources will be added to the page over the coming days, so keep checking back!

You can use these resources, and those on this blog, on Sundays but you can use them anytime because there will always be someone, somewhere praying too, alongside you.

 


 

Daily Devotions from the URC

Daily Devotions from the URC

Tuesday 17th March A Hymn: Christ is our light! The bright and morning star (Highlands Cathedral) CH4 336 © Leith Fisher Christ is our light! The bright and morning star covering with radiance all from near and far. Christ be our light, shine on, shine on we pray into our hearts, into our world today. 2. Christ is our love! Baptised that we may know the love of God among us, swooping low. Christ be our love, bring us to turn our face and see in you the light of heaven’s embrace. 3. Christ is our joy! Transforming wedding guest! Through water turned to wine the feast was blessed. Christ be our joy; your glory let us see, as your disciples did in Galilee. St John 2: 1 - 11 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.  Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’  His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim.  He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’  Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. Reflection How often in life do we settle for second best or are we asked to accept something offered as a solution more in hope than expectation?  Maybe we’re happy with things that way as we’re able to appreciate the eventual solution all the more when it comes. Maybe, on the other hand, if you’re like me, you’d prefer an effective solution in the first place, one that is expected to work without the wasted resources and opportunities, not to mention the possible unnecessary suffering along the way. Jesus was aware there was a problem to solve.  People at a joyous occasion of a wedding were thirsty and the hosts will have been feeling embarrassed.  The previous wine offering had been perfectly acceptable as far as it went but what Jesus ‘brought to the party’ was in a different league. As Christians, why do we let those around us go about their lives in their own way in the hope that they’ll be OK, whilst keeping to ourselves the real light, love and joy that relationship with Jesus brings? Prayer Gracious God, help us to appreciate everything You have done for us, particularly Your gift of Light, Love and Joy that is Jesus Christ. Help us to share the Good News of Jesus at the earliest opportunity, rather than as a last resort. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Find the URC Daily Devotions webpage here

! *** Church closed *** !

Church closed

March 17th 2020

Burton Joyce Community Church will close today until further notice

There will be no Sunday morning services
There will be no groups, societies and activities in the church hall

This is in line with decisions of both national Methodist and United Reformed churches

Please follow this blog for further information and ideas


 

A Short Act of Worship

A Short Act of Worship

The Methodist Church has published this short act of worship to use if you are unable to attend church.

Call to worship:
Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

Hymn: All my hope on God is founded
(You can find this hymn on YouTube here)

Let's pray together:

Lord, you are steadfast in your love
and infinite in your mercy; 
I praise you for
what you have done in my life 
(Take a few moments to name some of the good things) 

Thank you for the gift of Jesus
who shows us what you are really like

You welcome everyone  
no matter what they've done
and invite them to be your guests
Forgive me for when I've thought of myself
as better than other people

I confess my faults
I know you forgive
Thank you

A reading from the gospels:
John 4, 5-42
This is the story of a meeting of Jesus with a woman at a well

Take a moment to think about this

The woman had something very simple that Jesus needed: water

What do you have that God can use?

It was, to say the least, unconventional for a Jewish man like Jesus to ask a Samaritan woman for anything.  By doing this, Jesus challenges the woman to think outside the box. What prevents us from sharing good things with other people? 

Jesus says to the woman: "You are right in saying 'I have no husband' because you've had five husbands and the man you are living with now is not your husband..." he shows that he knows the woman better than she knows herself. But he does not go on to castigate her or tell her off. God knows it all, even the things we would prefer to keep hidden, and still loves us. That's the miracle.

When the disciples come back with the shopping, they are amazed, shocked even, that Jesus is talking to the woman. Sometimes doing the right thing, the good thing, meets with disapproval from other people, even from our friends. Knowing what is the good thing to do and doing it is part of walking with God every day and being sensitive to his Spirit.

Sit quietly for a while

A time of prayer:

God of all hope
I call on you today.
I pray for everyone who is living in fear:
Fear of illness
Fear for loved ones
Fear of other people's reactions.

May your Spirit give us a sense of calmness and peace
Thank you.

We pray for your church 
here in Burton Joyce and around the world:
For anyone worried about attending worship
For everyone making difficult decisions
For those feeling isolated and alone

Give us wisdom and compassion
Give your peace
I pray for everyone troubled or ill,
anyone who needs my prayers 

(Take time to pray)

Holy God,
I remember that you promise
Nothing will separate us from your love
We can see that in Jesus.
Help us turn eyes, hearts and minds to you

Eternal God,
in Jesus you have filled our lives with love
Help us in our trials and  troubles
Make us strong even if we feel weak
Through our Lord Jesus Christ
Amen

The Lord's Prayer:
Our Father ...

Hymn:

Sing a verse of a hymn that comes to mind

Blessing:
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with you now and for evermore.
Amen

Coffee Pop-ins

Coffee Pop-ins

Coffee Pop-ins have been cancelled for Friday 20th March
 
With regret, we have cancelled Coffee Pop-ins for next Friday, March 20th, because of the coronavirus outbreak. These are difficult times. 

Meeting together is important but the situation is very serious. The best advice, especially for older folk and people with underlying medical conditions, is to keep away from other people as much as possible. Keep in touch by phone and social media.

Even if your are not concerned about your own health, this is important for the sake of people working in the NHS who are going to have a very tough time 

We will keep the situation under review 

If you have a problem you think we can help with, get in touch via email* and we'll see what we can do. Don't forget to wash your hands frequently and throroughly!

*Email: bjcc.welcome@gmail.com

Coronavirus

Coronavirus

Please take all reasonable precautions during the covid-19 outbreak. 

Most important: keep away from other people as much as possible. 

This will help to slow the rate of transmission of the virus and help the health service. Even if you are not worried about your own health and well being, at least think of the NHS and all the people there who are trying to cope. NHS resources are stretched to the limit. The burden placed on nurses, doctors and other staff will, very quickly, become extremely heavy.

Think of others. Do the right thing.

• Stay at home
• Wash your hands thoroughly and often
• Keep contact with other people to a minimum
• Don't panic buy
• Think of other people

Follow this blog for more updates and information
 

"Connexion" article February 2020

Connexion

The newsletter of  the Nottingham East Methodist Circuit

This is the text of the article we sent in to Connexion this month

Burton Joyce Community Church

Climate Emergency meeting

On Friday 17^th January, Simon Tilley of the Newark and Sherwood group of Extinction Rebellion came to give a talk at Burton Joyce Community Church. The event was widely advertised in the village and on the evening drew in a good crowd of between forty and fifty people. Phil Colbourn welcomed everyone to the church hall including our new MP Tom Randall and counsellor Sam Smith. There were apologies from the Chair of BJ council, Paul Hyde.

 Phil handed over to Julia Davenport to introduce Simon. Julia was instrumental in getting the meeting arranged when she emailed the church website having seen the Climate Emergency poster outside the church. Simon spoke for half an hour on the seriousness of the crisis, both for the global climate and for nature, wildlife and the planet. Time is running out.  He stressed that Extinction Rebellion is a non-violent organisation. Simon’s message can be summarised in three points:

1. Tell the truth
2. Act now
3. Involve everyone in the solution

 Tell the truth about the seriousness of the situation. Despite some sceptics, the overwhelming majority of earth and climate scientists agree that the situation is dire. Act now to stop the use of fossil fuels and cut the release of additional carbon dioxide and methane (and some other gases) into the atmosphere. These gases act as a blanket round the earth and trap the sun’s heat, warming the planet. A few degrees warming overall is enough to destabilise the planetary system leading to unpredictable weather, melting glaciers and sea level rise, not to mention effects on wildlife and plant communities.

Involve everyone. Everyone has a part to play in cutting the release of these gases. But large businesses and governments are the most responsible and must tell the truth and act now.

After a brief coffee break, Simon summed up and encouraged us all to do our bit. A lively discussion ensued. Most of the audience was supportive of Simon’s talk and grateful to him for coming although there was some dissent. Several people had ideas about what we could do as a village community and people were invited to sign up on a list for future contact.

Follow-up meetings

Julia Davenport is organising a first follow up meeting for 25^th February at 7.30pm at the Wheatsheaf. 

St Helen’s are hosting an event on Saturday March 28^th to mark the annual Earth Hour promoted by WWF, a candle lit supper. Earth Hour is when everyone turns off their lights at 8.30pm in solidarity with the planet and the natural world.

On Tuesday 28^th January Carole & Phil went to a meeting at St Peter’s church in Nottingham launching an exhibition by Christian Aid, about the planet, climate change and indigenous people in Bolivia and around the world. The Deputy leader of Nottingham City Council also told the meeting of the city’s ambitious draft environmental plan for 2020-2028. The aim is to achieve net-zero carbon by 2028. All in all, it feels like something special is happening and that we need to be part of it.

Louise Gee

At the end of December we said goodbye to our minister, Rev Louise Gee. In the URC, Louise has served Burton Joyce, Arnold and the Dales for 20 years. She came back to us at Burton Joyce 3 years ago, and now plans to follow her dream and move to Northumberland.

We have enjoyed and gained much from her ministry in worship, friendship at informal coffee and tea sessions, home and hospital visits.

We wish there had been more Christenings and Weddings and fewer funerals, but you dealt with them all. Thank you Louise from all of us.

Christmas

Over the Christmas season we had more combined activities with local churches in the village, including giving out mince pies outside the Co-op. We went carol singing at the Westwolds Care Home, where we copied Arnold Methodist Church and gave out knitted angels.  

Our Village Carol Singing ("Carols round the crib") organised by the local Churches Together group was particularly successful. We had a good attendance for a hearty sing and mostly fine weather (see photo).

We welcomed visitors and families to the Carols by Candlelight and it was lovely to see a good crowd of family members again to celebrate Christmas Day.