Moston Methodist Church

Minister – Rev Sharon Read

POSTED ON: 22 July 2020

Letter from our minister 22/07/2020

Wednesday 22nd July 2020

Dear Friends,

Life began to look very different for me yesterday as I collected my new glasses. Lockdown has changed my vision rather dramatically and my prescription has changed. Yesterday I collected my first pair of varifocals with much advise. I have begun to learn to wear them - as yet they are going to take some getting used to. Blurred areas. Times I feel light-headed and dizzy. Yet some things are so clear I can see - the print as I read, the screen as I look and oh the tv so much better. No more squinting.

 As I am getting used to looking through different lenses, it has reminded me that we must focus every day on Jesus. As we pray, we must pray for our sight to be made clear on what God would have us do. I’m not ashamed to say that I am fearful of life beyond lockdown. I didn’t like being out yesterday to collect my glasses. Bury town centre was very busy especially as it wasn’t market day. I was bumped into a few times. People not adhering to one way systems. I’m still getting used to wearing a mask in public, but I do so to ensure that I protect others and I am protected as none of us know if we are carriers of coronavirus. A local cafe / pub closed this weekend here in Heywood and people are self-isolating through track & trace. It was a reminder again of staying safe.

 We must stay alert and keep watch. Ephesians 6: 18 says, ‘And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.’ So let us pray and each day stay alert to the things that we do so that we help prevent the spread of coronavirus as more restrictions are lifted. And to see where God is leading us His people beyond our comfort zones, out of the familiar and into the new.

 We will be taking a 2 week break from our communication as I go on annual leave. A huge thank you to all our volunteers across the section who have emailed, printed, posted and hand delivered this letter and other things faithfully every week. I know that all that you have done has been very much appreciated, and you deserve a rest too. Maybe in this 2 week break - instead of receiving this letter - you could write to someone instead and bring a moment of joy to them.

 Let us continue to hold one another in prayer and as Rev Krystyna Kwarciak reminded us during the circuit service last week - let us allow ourselves to be held by God too. Take some time to be with God in our favourite chair, in our thin place, on our daily walk, in the garden and be held. May you know God holding you in His arms and may He show you afresh the clear path ahead. 

Lord God you are my strength.
Hold my hand in my weakness and teach my heart to fly.
With you, there's nothing to fear, nothing to worry about.
Hold me tight in your embrace so that I can be stronger
than the challenges in my life.

Amen

With love and prayers, Sharon

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