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The Magazine of the Ellesmere Port Parish(St Thomas and All Saints & St Lawrence Churches)

Only £1

Peptalk Life in Lockdown

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From the Rector..

It was by far the strangest Easter of my life. I’ve been in ordained ministry for more years than I care to remember, but I’ve always been in church on Easter day- usually more than once. But this year…No doubt it was the same for all of us. Quite apart from our usual Sunday worship, this year there was no walk of witness through our town; no singing God’s praises in the Port Arcades; no Easter egg hunt in the Rectory garden; no getting together in any shape or fashion at all. But though there was something miss ing this Easter, Someone wasn’t. And I found myself reflecting on the fact that, though this was a very strange Easter indeed, it was more like the

first Easter than perhaps I had realised:'On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. '(John 20:19-20)It took a while for the disciples to realise that the world had changed- and it took a while for them to receive Easter on the inside, even although Easter on the outside had opened up heaven to earth, and made a way to into God’s presence for everyone.Easter on the inside…. Jesus passing through lockdown into the presence of his friends.. ‘Peace be with you’.. they were overjoyed…O u r w o r l d h a s c h a n g e d dramatically in these last weeks, perhaps forever. New phrases are now part of our common language and may be so for some time to come.. Social distancing; self isolation; Covid 19; furlough;

f lattening the curve. And when lockdown is lifted

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“Christ in the Centre of the Church;The Church at the Centre of the Community”(Parish Mission Statement)

PCC Meeting J 19th

P C C M e e t i n g

January 21st

flattening the curve. And when lockdown is lifted what will life be like? There is a big question mark over our way of life and what comes next.But Jesus is risen- and we have Easter on the inside. On that first Easter Day everyone-everyone- who loved and followed Jesus was in l o c k d o w n . ( P e r h a p s t h e E m m a u s t w o w e r e a n exception, though you could say they were simply making the necessary journey to their h o m e ) . T h e y w e r e a l l disappointed, disillusioned and near to despair.But Jesus was risen- they just didn’t know it yet.The passage I’ve quoted at the top of this letter goes on to describe Jesus breathing his Spirit into the disciples, and commissioning them for the work of mission yet to come. What we don’t often notice is that, though this mission was going to be in some ways the same as it had been before, it was also going to be radically different, with them going to peoples and

places they would never have dreamed of engaging. What happened on that first Easter Day can happen again. It can happen to us, and I believe God wants it to happen to us. The Jesus who could pass through locked doors can bypass lockdown, can come and give us what we need to be truly his Easter people. He gives us his presence, As I said in my Easter sermon, Easter has to be both on the outside and the inside. We need to know that Jesus really is risen, know it as a historical fact that has changed the world. But it needs to be on the inside as well; Easter needs to change us. We need the presence of the risen Jesus 24/7. Which is why Jesus breathes his Spirit into his disciples. He won’t be with them in the flesh forever; he will be with them by his Spirit. That has been Jesus’ modus operandi ever since. He gives us his peace. The world around those first disciples didn’t stop being dangerous because Easter had

h a p p e n e d . I f a n y t h i n g , i t became more so,

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“Christ in the Centre of the Church;The Church at the Centre of the Community”(Parish Mission Statement)

happened. If anything, it became more so, especially once they got going with the business of sharing the gospel. But they had the peace tha t p a s ses a l l understanding, and it gave them inner balance and outer courage. Our world is scary; global pandemics are scary; the future could very well be scarier. But God’s peace protects us on the inside whatever the outside throws at us.He gives them his purpose. Perhaps one of the things God is doing through this crisis, is to remind his people that prayer is a primary ministry, not a secondary one, and that prayer changes th ings because it changes people; it changes us. Our towns and cities may be in lockdown, but as on that first Easter day, locked doors can’t keep Jesus out; and locked doors can’t keep prayers in. As a result of lockdown, we have been praying morning and e v e n i n g , o n l i n e a n d

together. We’ve had more corporate prayer in the last few weeks than we’ve had in the previous few years. And we are discovering that prayer isn’t something we do when we can’t do anything else. Prayer is what enables us to do anything and everything else, and the means by which we discover what it is that God wants us to do that will further his kingdom.As a result of being in Jesus’ presence, receiving his peace and getting with his purpose we discover we have power. God’s power, which transforms us and our world, in ways that no earthly power could ever do. Jesus is Lord. Lord of this world; Lord of this pandemic; Lord in the lockdown. Will we let him be Lord of us as well?

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‘Thank You!(some of the art work

produced in praise of the NHS and key workers)

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Hanging on the telephone…

Social media has been a God send during this crisis. But it’s not the o n l y w a y t h a t p e o p l e h a v e connected to each other and to God….

How did I cope during my self-isolation? Mm! Not very well to start with. I have been living on my own since having lost my partner in 2012 followed by my mother in 2014. Occasionally I do have moments of loneliness but what we are experiencing is a different kind of loneliness but one that is shared by everyone all over the world. After the first week of self-isolation it began to hit me because those of you who know me know I talk too much. I started to talk to the walls but they soon got fed up with me and stopped answering back. I did a ‘Prince Charles’ and started walking round the garden talking to my plants; alas, they soon got fed up and went all droopy on me and as for the weeds well sadly they died a slow death.

Just before Mother’s Day I phoned one of the ladies I go to Church with and then her friend. During each conversation they both told me how they were missing their Sunday Church Service. Later on in the day I started to think how I could help the two ladies so just prayed to God for guidance. My prayers had been answered. The next day I went to my computer and thought “I know I can prepare a mini service sheet for them.” I went on to the Church website and found the weekly information sheet, made a note of what the Collect and two Bible readings would be for Mother’s Day and having got my information I prepared a mini service sheet for them. I phoned them both and read it to them. They loved it. I then made phone calls to ladies of our Fellowship Group who I knew lived alone to see how they w e r e c o p i n g a n d t o t w o gentlemen who I knew were also living on their own (apologies to others who might have felt left out but these were the only phone numbers I had) and all expressed how they too were missing church so I just casually told them what I had done for

the two ladies and would they like me to read to them.

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the two ladies and would they like me to read to them. They said they would.

The following Sunday 29th March I realised that I had o m i t t e d t o i n c l u d e t h e thanksgiving and intermission prayers, so I redid my service sheet and then felt complete. So, from two ladies I was now reading to 6 ladies and 2 gentlemen. Wow! How good did I feel inside? One of my son’s, who lives in Liverpool, had contacted his partner’s Auntie who was a Christian. Something truly amazing happened on the Monday – I received a phone call from her saying she had heard what I was doing and she would like me to read to her each Sunday. So 8 became 9. Gosh!I have been so touched and overwhelmed with all their comments that I cannot begin to explain or find the words to express how I feel, other than something wonderfu l has happened to me and I feel I have so much joy inside of me. I firmly believe I been blessed by God, that is for sure, and I have much comfort in knowing that I have helped some of our

Church friends who have no access to the internet, whilst at the same time, knowing that this is helping me deal with my own loneliness during this period of isolation. So until this crisis is over for those of us who live alone remember we are not alone because we have God in our lives and what I do on Sundays helps each and everyone of the nine persons, including myself, to cope with the days that follow until the next Sunday. AMEN! THANKS BE TO GOD! PLEASE ALL STAY SAFE & WELL! Barbara Martin

The Church o f Eng land has introduced a ‘hotline’ for prayer and reflection. It’s free, so why not give it a go….?

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Cathedral Poet in Exile

Abbey Square cobbles are fistsunder my shoes. I don’t miss them,

nor those mornings of organ-tuning,the air slabbed with rising notesof random length. Abrupt stopsSt. Werbergh’s Shrine sighing.

And I hadn’t thought about candles lit in Chapel harbours,

bright glass gaze of angels, saints,Choir’s wooded stalactite parade,till I stood where branches arch

over this bluebell-peppered glade.Trees touch fingertips in prayer.

Sunlight’s dapple dissolves words.Air drifts in an incense of silence.I am held in canopied sanctuary,

taste again that poise of spacethat shimmers at the brink.

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And then……… there is God

Little did I think at the

beginning of 2020, bobbing along on the tidal rhythm of life with familiarity, routine, and plans, that life was going to change so significantly in a matter of weeks and that I’d wake up one day in March to a whole new concept of life in Lockdown.

A tiny unseen virus was having a global catastrophic impact. Many thousands of people were losing their lives and many more across the world in l o c k d o w n . L i f e c h a n g e d overnight for all of us and we were cut off from the people we love, local communities, places of worship, places of

work, friends, and colleagues.

It really struck me that this was happening during Lent, and that I was giving up much more than the treats I was going to do without until Easter Sunday. I was beginning to understand what it felt to be cast into isolation, confusion, fear, loss, doubt, and described the experience as being in the wilderness without a sat nav to get out.

Six weeks into lockdown I reflect on this period of lockdown, adapting to a new way of l i v ing and worshiping and lessons learned. I am blessed that my family and friends are healthy, I have a roof over my head, food on the table, outdoor space and challenges I face are so much less than those faced by so many people. I am learning how to slow down ;-. something I never thought I would every say! … and yet there is a sense of loss and uncertainty, fear

“So, the time that there never seemed to be enough of, is now plentiful, what am I going to do with it?”

at times.

P a n d e m i c , I s o l a t i o n , Coronavirus, Covid 1 9 , R - r a t e , U n p r e c e d e n t e d times. Antibody, Antigen, Furlough; words that form a new vocabulary; and daily death r a t e s , d a i l y briefings by MPs, g o v e r n m e n t s c i en t i s t s , a nd medical experts

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at times.

P a n d e m i c , I s o l a t i o n , Coronavirus, Covid 19, R-rate, U n p r e c e d e n t e d t i m e s . Antibody, Antigen, Furlough; words that form a new vocabulary; and daily death rates, daily briefings by MPs, government scientists, and med ica l experts now an essential part of each day

Thanking key workers as never before and faced with media reporters and presenters who became overnight “experts in all things scientific” seems to be part of this new norm. Home is now office, church, restaurant, clothes store, shopping centre, occasional spa: phone calls and electronic media in all its forms, my r e g u l a r m e a n s o f communicat ion . Working , dec lutter ing , shredd ing , tidying accumulated “stuff”,

at times.

P a n d e m i c ,

domestic chores ( and they are chores to me) gardening (!?)…. talking to myself.; Is this the new norm?

And then there is the time issue– something that there seemed to be so little of, now on occasion stretching out before me – no mad d a s h i n g a r o u n d , j u g g l i n g commitments , manag ing two phones, calendars, meetings, driving many miles a day, meeting family and friends, all changed. No dashing, no intrusive schedule;- but a realisation of how easy life slips into being a collection of busyness, tiredness, idols, excuses, and self. So, the time that there never seemed to be enough of, now plentiful, what am I going to do with it? Maybe it is time to slow down, to appreciate and hear the natural sounds and rhythm of God’s creation, to enjoy music, and opera, to read novels, (all long neglected pleasures), become more proficient in use of social media, time to think, to reflect on life and faith, and to reconnect with who I am? Time to reach out to others, to stand with people who are having a difficult time, and yes - time to commune with God. I was acutely aware that everything I took for granted was shaken and out of my

control. So many questions, so few answers, but an

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control. So many questions, so f e w a n s w e r s , b u t a n overwhelming conviction that now it was just me and God...no excuses, or distraction and fully r e a l i s i n g t h a t i n a l l t h e unfamiliar and uncertain, the fear and isolation………… is God who is was and always will be the same.

Early morning has always been a special time for me to spend time with God and prepare for the day ahead – except on days when I am too busy! In lockdown I can honestly say my prayer life has changed. No excuses of got to dash or I am too busy to pray fitting in arrow prayers whilst driving. Now whether it is personal prayer or shared morning and evening prayer with church family, there is a new rhythm of intentional prayer and time spent with God.

In addition to daily prayer time, Sunday services on Facebook live have been a revelation, and I have been overwhelmed by how close I have felt to God and to others. The spirit is moving and there has been an intimacy that I cannot put into words, I can only say that there have been

times when I have been overcome, tears running down as I join with singing, and times of rejoicing and joy. I have found services to be inspirational, intimate, emotional with fewer distractions, except for my cat, and a cup of coffee. People no longer able to be with us in the church building , join in alongside people whose names I do not recognise, and there may be many more looking in later on YouTube.

The creativity and diversity of prayer meetings and services online unite us as church family, encouraging us to share our needs, equipping us to deal with the difficulties we face, and to reach out to others in love. I admit I was sceptical of prayer and worship on Facebook live at first, thinking it might be a bit mechanical and distant, but I was wrong. What matters is being together in the spirit as we pray and worship Jesus. Prayers are authentic, worship and teaching powerful and at times overwhelming, and we are blessed to be together in this way. I thank God for a ministry team and parish administrator who have been busy creating opportunities for people to join in worship and prayer. The team has developed

n e w s k i l l s a n d created ways to reach out and keep

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new skills and created ways to reach out and keep us together when we are anxious, fearful, or engulfed by the enormity of what is unfolding.

I wonder if tradition is being challenged? Finding and adapting to new ways of prayer meetings and services may help seekers to engage, at least initially, and

people who are unable to attend the building due to physical or mental health concerns be able to continue to join in prayer and worship with the church family. Church meetings online not be suitable for everyone but, to me it has shown that there are many ways to share in worship, to be together and unite in Christ.

I am eager to see people and be

in the church again, but church is beyond the walls of the building, so I also pray that “online” is a part of our life that remains when church buildings and church business resumes.

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Mathew 16;18

I am learning that the lockdown I entered with some trepidation and no idea of what was to come, has not been hibernation, or an ending, but a time of reflection, learning, healing and growth.

God gave us life, a hope and a future, is rich in mercy and is working in hearts, families, the nation, the world. I have a sense that the world in its brokenness and pain will seek God, the kingdom of God will extend, and we the church must be ready. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden” Mathew 5,14

At the end of everything I know, and thought I had control over, I have experienced the power of Christ in a deeper way. Looking in, out and up has given me a new

“ A t t h e e n d o f everything I know, and thought I had control o v e r , I h a v e experienced the power of Christ in a deeper way.”

perspective. When I l o o k b e y o n d myself, there is

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perspective. When I look beyond myself, there is more going on than I know or understand, and when things that scare the life out of me are given to God, there is Peace.

There is much to carry forward from this experience and I pray that when I like everyone else emerge from this into a world of loss, fear, sickness, financial instability, lessons learned can be

carried forward and we can . Life for us all will be different and there will be many challenges to face, but we will also be together and there will be laughter, hugs, family and love.

When all around is shaking, life is chang i ng , a nd uncer ta i n ty abounds,… there is God. Seek Him. Trust Him

Helen BurgessWarden, St Thomas Church

Julian of Norwich

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Viruses: a good part of God’s creationWHY would God create something, or perhaps allow something to evolve, which causes such distress and suffering? I would argue: because viruses have a positive part to play in nature, and their ability to harm humans is a side effect of this.Viruses are non-living entities that depend on their ability to hijack other cells to replicate. On their own, they cannot do the things that living beings do: grow, change, reproduce.There are billions of types of virus out there: most of them are bacteriophages, which infect bacteria. So, why did God make viruses?Bacteria and viruses are essential for life on earth; there are billions of types of bacteria, many of which can take inorganic compounds and turn them into a form that living things can use. But the compounds are trapped inside the bacterial cell. The bacteriophage viruses attack the bacteria, splitting them open and releasing these nutrients.Bacteriophage viruses are also important in controlling the bacteria population. Bacteria divide into two every 20 minutes: unchecked, the earth would be filled with bacteria; so the ’phages are part of God’s balanced ecosystem.Now that we can look at DNA in detail, we can see that many types of plant and animal have viruses in them. Often, the viruses are helping the plant or animal: for example, viral-infected mice are more resistant to some bacteria. All of us have viruses living in us, along with many types of bacteria — in our gut and on our skin — which are important for our continuing health.Many of the viruses that cause human disease originated in another species, and crossed the species barrier: HIV seems to have come from a Simian (monkey) virus, and SARS from bats.

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Some viruses that cause illness in humans were probably in a balanced symbiotic relationship with their intended host.Viruses can be used by scientists in a positive, redemptive way. Our understanding of genetics, of how cells work, and how we can alter DNA and cells’ machinery are possible only because of viruses. Genetic testing and genetic treatments rely on viruses that cut DNA strands in precise places.Viruses are a natural part of God’s good creation, and are important in cycles of death and decay, a tiny percentage of which can cause human disease.

The Revd Dr Alison J. Gray is Priest Associate at the Ascension, Munich, and a formal medical doctor. She chairs the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ spirituality and psychiatry special-interest group.

(This article appeared in The Church Times, March 6 2020)

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Not everybody uses the internet, but there are otherways of staying in touch and joining in worship. Gordon Welch writes about how the congregation of St Lawrence and l v i i ng w i t h Lockdown…

St Lawrence in Lockdown

When the Prime Minister announced lock down for the whole country at the end of March we were entering a whole new world. It was very strange. Suddenly the roads and streets were empty of vehicles. There were no children streaming down our road to Upton High School. We were introduced to social distancing and now deliberately avoiding other people was no longer rude but a courtesy for which you were thanked. Indeed everyone seemed friendlier and more ready to exchange pleasantries. All but food shops were closed but there were queues to get into t h e s u p e r m a r k e t s t h a t stretched round the car parks because everyone was standing the required 6 feet apart.

But what about church? Well of course the churches were

closed too just like pubs and cinemas and concert halls. It was very sudden but then the situation was changing very quickly as the number of cases mounted. One week we had restricted services with social distancing and certainly no sharing of the peace or the chalice at Holy Communion - the n e x t w e e k n o t h i n g a t a l l . Churches were not even allowed to remain open for private prayer.

At St Lawrence our first priority was to keep in touch with one another and to ensure that anyone who needed help got it. We had t h e n a m e s , a d d r e s s e s a n d telephone numbers of the 50 or so people in our morning congregation and the dozen or so families who come to ABC, the afternoon service for children and their parents which happens once a month. Seven of us took a small number each and promised to keep in touch and deal with problems. I've also found that quite a number of people are phoning others anyway and so far there have been no real problems. People have often remarked on the family feel at St Lawrence. Now it has been tested and come up trumps. Of course people are getting fed up with the isolation,

especially those who received the s pec i a l l e t te r s

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especially those who received the special letters intended for the most vulnerable groups, but everyone is so pleased to be ab le to chat w ith other members of the church family and to feel that others care enough to phone.

Not every member of the congregation is able or willing to access Facebook for the service streamed from the Rectory on Sundays. Some are happy with services from other sources and some with what appears on the television. One member of our church family suggested that what might be helpful would be a something on paper which could be said at 11.00 am on a Sunday morning, when we would normally meet. So far every week we have had a short service with the epistle and gospel for the day, suitable intercessions and a short homily. Reactions so far have been quite positive. Most people are on email and those that aren't get their copies in the post. When we use the material, aware that others are doing the same, there is a sense of togetherness but, as a n a c t o f w o r s h i p a n d

fellowship, it's very much second best and everyone is really looking forward to being together again.

ABC families have been offered material for the children but that is probably too much like school. They too are looking forward to the time when we can be be together and singing “Our God is a great big God” .

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The Scout Group is continuing utilising a mix of on-line badges, Zoom, Facebook, Royal Mail and of course leader emails, all where poss ib l e . We have recently put together our own "LockDown" challenge badge(see above) for the Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers - details attached. Beavers and Cubs did a national "Hike to the Moon" on St George's day, which seemed to involve a lot of going up and down the stairs and around gardens at their homes! It raised money for Children in Need and Comic relief, to help those most affected by Covid 19.

In other news…

Gaynor and Steve Lyth have set up a WhatsApp group for their street:75% of Fern Road signed up.

O u r N H S c l a p o n e n i g h t progressed to a little street disco thanks to Carol and Chris Nall-Evans and we made Cheshire Live (see link).

All joking aside it has been very successful, with the children having safe distancing Easter Egg hunts, in designated gardens. They have drawn us Easter and Rainbow posters and shared jigsaws and books.

Plus talented people have crochet baby blankets for new borns.   We now have a community again that knows and values each other.  So Covid-19 is not all bad.https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/ellesmere-port-residents-show-way-18142368?utm_source=whatsapp&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

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FUNERALSWe offer our deepest sympathy to the relatives and friends of those whose funerals have taken place in recent months.

God of mercy, Your migh! power brings joy out of grief, and life out of dea".

Look in mercy on a# who mourn. Give "em pa$ent fai" in $mes of darkness

and s%eng"en "em wi" "e knowledge a# your love.

(From "e Funeral Service)

4 Constance Henshaw5 Anna Kempson

Michael Waterworth27 Denise Williams

MayMarch

5 Connie RoddanDoreen RobertsRonald Sowerbutts

9 Norma Astbury12 Eileen Willis13 Tom Conde16 Paul Lambert21 Janet Sutton26 George McGee

John MountfordWayne Croney

27 Baby Michael Lynn

April

7 Richard Doke

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Crossword(compiled by Graham Barley)

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ACROSS

1. Tunes accompanied by graces? (4)

3. Closing words of Poe drafted with guile (8)

8. Choose ground-breaking tool (4)

9. Tear off, certain to cherish (8)

11. Rarest moon somehow seen by this observer? (10)

14. Pieces of eight for Long John? (6)

15. Troubled lad’s in Anglesey, for example (6)

17. House plant Iris adapts (10)

20. One who works with a will? (8)

21. Cheese eaten by Berliner regularly (4)

22. Pilgrims on the Mayflower convert Rasputin (8)

23. Check rising tide (4)

DOWN

1. Paul’s ape got confused, clapping (8)

2. Articles about musical performances (8)

4. 14’s Captain Flint (6)

5. Badly phrased lies of management (10)

6. Nothing in belly causes painful toe (4)

7. First woman’s northern flat (4)

10. Surprisingly, a loser must go head over heels (10)

 12. Crated up, perhaps, having been caught (8)

13. Positioned next to Jade - can’t move (8)

16. Wash one’s hands of Sid now, sadly (6)

18. Chester’s river, soft but not shallow (4)

19. Support Paddington? (4)

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Psalms and lament in a time of pandemic.

T o l a m e n t , i s t o h a v e a n outpouring of emotion, of grief, regret, or loss. We weep, we wail, and we wonder. We are living in a world where the biggest question may be ‘why?’ Why does this happen, how could this happen, what happens next? How do we process the loss, the loss of loved ones, the loss of family times, of celebrations, the loss of our normality? And can we lament if we have had a restful, peaceful, fruitful isolation, one that seems to have had little affect on our lives. Yes, we can, we should be lamenting for the inequalities and injustices that this pandemic has highlighted. So where do we take this lament? The answer is God. That may seem flippant or simplistic but it’s true! We need to look beyond our own limited u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f w h a t i s happening, and more importantly we need to look beyond ourselves. If you are hoping this article will explain why we are in a pandemic, then don’t waste your next few minutes because I can’t give you an answer. But I can give you a

nudge in the right direction of what to do with the rollercoaster of emotions that this pandemic has brought.We are not the first to lament, in fact we caused the first lament, when God himself was grieved by our sin, a sinful nature that has continued, a nature lacking in obedience or faith. So, don’t be dismayed the fathers of our faith cried out ‘why’ and God listened. When speaking of the psalms the author Clinton McCann tells us that the psalms are ‘not just human words to God. They are also words about God; they reveal who God is. The psalms are possibly the most under-rated and under-read scripture within our Bibles, yet they are evident throughout or liturgy and our sung worship, and at a time when we are faced with a global pandemic and we cry out ‘why’, this is the very place to take our lament. To use the psalms of community lament, as a church body, may seem alien to the contemporary Christian, but the use of psalms to explore and acknowledge our vulnerability and hurt is a must. To live a life fully in worship we must admit to all our innermost feelings, to admit

to the times of lament as readily as we admit to the

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to the times of lament as readily as we admit to the thanksgiving and praise.On the whole we are a stoic nation, a stiff upper lip, make a cup of tea and carry on kind of bunch. But that is superficial and unhealthy, to be whole in worship, whole in Christ and whole as a church it is vital that we speak out our hurts. If Jesus Christ can cry out the words of the psalms (my God, my God, why have you forsaken me) to his F a t h e r i n t h e g a r d e n o f Gethsemane then why don’t we follow his fully human reaction to emotion? We need to take our hurts to God and find out what he’s got to say about them, and if we can’t do it ourselves then we let others do it for us, and the psalms are full of people d o i n g i t f o r u s . D a v i d experiences grief (Psalm 31:9), f e e l i n g o v e r w h e l m e d b y suffering (Psalm 38:8) and he even gets angry at God for the amount of suffering all around him (Psalm 13:1). Yet the Psalms also point us to the one who is our rock (Psalm 28:1), the one who is our refuge (Psalm 31:1) and the one who is our present help in times of trouble (Psalm

46:1).We have taken to meeting daily for morning prayer as a virtual community, and we have been blessed by hearing the psalms and worshipping through them daily. I would urge you to continue this pattern not just at a time of lament and uncertainty but as a daily connecting with God, to learn more of who he is, and his authority over al l s i t u a t i o n s . T o l a m e n t i s necessary but to hope and have confidence in the one who offers that hope is greater. Debbie Wilkinson

For further reading…

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Ellesmere Port Parish

Sunday Worship9.00 am St Thomas- Holy Communion10.45 am St Thomas- Family Communion / All Age Worship11.00 am St Lawrence- Holy Communion/ All Age WorshipWednesday10.00 am St Thomas- Holy Communion (said)Parish Office (0151 355 2516)Monday to Friday, 10.00- 12 noon

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Answers -  ACROSS: 1. Airs  3. Epilogue  8. Pick  9.  Treasure  11. Astronomer  14. Silver  15. Island  17. Aspidistra  20. Executor  21. Brie  22. Puritans  23. Edit       DOWN:  1. Applause  2. Recitals  4. Parrot  5. Leadership  6. Gout  7. Even  10. Somersaults  12. Captured  13. Adjacent  16. Disown  18. Deep  19. Bear

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Our website can be found at:www.ellesmereportparish.co.uk

STAFF TEAM:Revd Canon Gordon McGuinness (Rector) 0772 5053180Revd Gill Foster (Associate Rector) 356 2202Revd Gordon Welch (curate) 01244 382196Parish Office 355 2516

READERS:Frank Mawdsley 01244 381985Julia McGuinness 355 8351Ricky Montgomery 355 0108

CHRIST CHURCH SCHOOL:Helen Friend, Head Teacher 338 2062

CHURCH WARDENS:St Thomas and All SaintsHelen Burgess 339 7352St Lawrence, StoakJan Tomlinson 01244 301622

BAPTISMS: Netty Riley 356 2749WEDDINGS: Gill Foster 0785 0122092FAMILIES& CHILDREN: to be appointed

Cover and back pictures: The buildings of the churches of St Thomas and St Lawrence