Dear Friends
Happy Fourth Sunday of Easter!
“All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well” — Julian of Norwich
At our online service, Revd Barbara Sheppard spoke on Psalm 23, a very apt psalm for our times. We are reminded that, no matter the situation or circumstance, we never walk alone. God is a loving comfort and presence to us at all times.
This week, we pray for those who have lost their livelihoods, thinking especially of those affected by the closure of the Honda factory and others impacted by closed businesses due to the pandemic.
It’s also been an incredibly monumental week in the discourse around racial in/justice. For those interested in this live debate, this past week there was the Panorama programme ‘Is the Church Racist’, the Chauvin verdict, the Antiracism Task Force report, and Stephen Lawrence Day. Please note following links for further information on these important conversations.
- Panorama: ‘Is the Church Racist?’
- BBC News: ‘George Floyd: Jury finds Derek Chauvin guilty of murder’
- ‘From Lament to Action: Archbishops’ Anti-Racism Taskforce calls for urgent changes to culture of Church of England’
- Stephen Lawrence Day
At our zoom service on Sunday, Revd Barbara Sheppard encouraged us to use Psalm 23 in our prayers this week as we hold on to Julian of Norwich’s wisdom, “All shall be well. Amen.”
Many thanks to all who contributed at our worship event on zoom: Rose, Jean, Raymond, Charles and Ruby (readers), Henry and Pam (prayers), Malcolm (music). Thank you to everyone who came along to this afternoon’s worship event. It’s such a blessing to come together as a worshipping community.
We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song!
Blessings,
Revd Cathy