Clocks went forward this morning - did you remember?

From Craig

• Craig’s letter about the suspension of church-based events
• Craig’s letter for March

Your virtual church

With all services and events at the church suspended during the current crisis there are links below to some materials which you might find comforting or useful. They will be updated regularly, so please come back. If you have any suggestions or requests please website,manager|email Peter.

Prayer Group

The prayer group which normally meets in the Chapel at 9:30 on Wednesday mornings will continue to pray, each in their own home, at the same time each week. If you have any particular people or concerns you would like them to include in their prayers, please use our prayer request form

Church services

•  New  Passion Sunday worship from Bangor Cathedral
• This page lists various URC churches’ services online

Music

•  New  O sacred head, sore wounded, known as the Passion Chorale
•  New  Come people of the risen King sung by Kristyn Getty
•  New  Is it I, Lord? sung by the boys of the National Youth Choir of Scotland
• Stuart Townend singing his version of The Lord’s my Shepherd
• Onward Christian Soldiers - in a forest!

The written word

•  New  The Anchorites - self-isolation in the Middle Ages - Godelinde Gertrude Perk
•  New  Why doesn’t God stop Coronavirus? - Justin Brierley

Radio and TV

• Songs of Praise on Sunday 29 March at 1:15pm on BBC1 with Aled Jones and the Archbishop of York designate
• Ruth Valerio and Isabelle Hamley reflect on how we care for and nurture the natural world (requires free BBC login)
• Premier Christian Radio is on digital radio, Freeview channel 725, medium wave and online. Also on DAB are sister stations Premier Gospel and Premier Praise.
• All the BBC's religious broadcasting is listed here.

For the family

• Engage Worship has a new family prayer and activity sheet every day
• John Hardwick’s YouTube channel - lots of action songs for kids

Church office

The church office is closed until further notice. No bookings are currently being taken for any of the rooms or halls. Email to office and voicemail left on 020 8642 5000 will be handled as soon as possible.

Help - needed and offered

Do you need help with shopping or anything else? Would you like someone to phone you for a chat?

Could you help someone with shopping or anything else? Could you call someone who is lonely?

If the answer is yes, Heather Saint would love to hear from you. Just complete our help form and she will be in touch.

A prayer for these times

 New  O Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace. Help me in all things to rely upon your holy will. In every hour of the day reveal your will to me. Bless my dealings with all who surround me.

Teach me to treat all that comes to me throughout the day with peace of soul, and with the firm conviction that your will governs all. In all my deeds and words guide my thoughts and feelings. In unforeseen events, let me not forget that all are sent by you.

Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others. Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day and all that it shall bring.

Direct my will, teach me to pray; pray you, yourself, in me. Amen.

by Metropolitan Philaret Drozdov of Moscow (1782-1867)

Please pray today for ...

St Andrew’s news

• Christian Aid Week collection cancelled
  
• SSW: March update
  
• URC: Youth assembly and Walking the Way
  
• Reuben Watt serves as Youth Moderator
  
• SSW: Prayer update - February
  

News from the world

•  New  SH: Spring Harvest Home - 13-17 April
  
• EA: Coronavirus advice and encouragement
  
• JPIT: Covid-19, foodbanks, mutual aid
  
• Premier: Walking without fear
  
• Premier: Do not let your hearts be troubled
  

Today’s Bible verse

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV from BibleGateway.com

Sunday Bible readings

While our services are suspended, here are links to the lectionary readings which we would normally have used:

Today, 29 March
Next Sunday, 5 April

Coronavirus

Latest Government and NHS advice