WALKING TO SUPPORT CHRISTIAN AID 2020

 (From Oakhill Road)

   This walk will take you past  five churches.

At each church you are going to answer one or two questions.

Walk down Oakhill Road until you get to Stonelow Road.

When you reach Stonelow Road turn right

Walk along Stonelow Road. When it is safe to do so you need to cross to the left hand side of the road

Eventually you will arrive at the CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Walk up to the front door and have a look at what you can see

At the right hand side there is a wooden stand.

➢   What is on top of it ? 

➢   Why?    What do you think is put in it?

Look at other things you can see. The people in this church like to help other people.

➢  They can't go to church at the moment but if they could what would they  be  collecting to give to others? 

Time to move on now so walk along to the end of Stonelow Road and turn right up Green Lane. You will have to cross the road so please take care.

As you walk up Green Lane you will  arrive at ST.PAUL'S METHODIST CHURCH.

Look at the notice boards.

➢   One of them has a poster on it. What does it say on the poster?  Write this   down.

This year St. Paul's had planned lots of celebrations.

➢    Can you see anything that tells you what they will still be celebrating when    they can go back to church?

Moving on time again so take care as you leave the church and go walking up Green Lane to the top.   At some stage you need to be  on the right hand side . At the very top  turn right on to Cross Lane and arrive at  the WESLEYAN REFORM CHURCH.

➢   Look very carefully and find out when the church was built

     ➢   If the church was having a service on this Sunday what time would people be going to church?

Time to move on again. As you leave the church turn right and then walk down the hill into Coal Aston and keep right along Eckington Road. You will need at some point to cross to the left hand side of the road so that you arrive at COAL ASTON METHODIST CHURCH (you know this one)

Like other churches the people here like to help other people.

➢   What is the special machine on the church wall called?

➢   What is it used for?

Whilst you  have not been able to go to school lots of people have put special things in their windows to encourage people.

➢   Is there a 'special thing' here?

➢   What is it?

➢   Why do you think  it was chosen?

Time to move again. Cross carefully over the road and go up Stone Road and then down Bents Lane until you come to Falcon Road. Turn left on Falcon Road and walk past your school but stop at ST. PHILIP'S CHURCH. 

Look carefully at the noticeboard. 

➢   What does  it say that makes you think that people would feel happy and comfortable there?

      ➢   What can some people do at St Philip's on Mondays (but not every week)?

Online Servces

While the church is closed because of coronavirus, Rev James is leading services online for ourselves, St Paul's, Apperknowle and a wider audience.

You can go to our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz0TXvjWg8sknde5QQwL47Q at our normal service time of 10.30 on Sunday mornings to participate. Services are also available on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/pg/coalastonmethodist

Unfortunately we cannot provide direct links to these sites on this page, but you can copy and paste either of the above addresses into your browser to watch the services. Or go to youtube.com or facebook.com and type coal aston methodist into the search box.

Previous Sunday services, and also some shorter services, are also available.

Coronavirus

Following decisions by the Methodist Church and the Sheffield Circuit, activities on our church premises have ceased for a period of 12 weeks from March 17^th.

Rev James writes:

Dear friends,

In line with Government and national Methodist Church guidance, the Sheffield Circuit which includes Coal Aston, has today advocated that all activity ceases on church premises for 12 weeks.

We are keeping in touch and I am looking at how worship material can be made available so that we can all join together on Sunday morning even if it’s in our homes as well as how we care for each other and the wider community.

Libby writes:

We WILL get through this, it will be hard but we are tough.  We will be filling our lovely little chapel again with music, laughter and best of all love. Not only with the love for each other but for the love of our God who will see us through this terrible time.

I urge you all to read Romans, Chapter 8, Verses 35 to 39.  Read those wonderful words aloud every day,  - no nothing can separate us from the love of God.

As the Boys’ Brigade hymn says “Will your anchor hold”?  Yes, it will, yes it will.

Show and Tell

www.facebook.com/pg/coalastonmethodist

To help us through this period of isolation and concerning news, our Facebook page has launched a Show and Tell series. Here readers can post a reflection, a short story, a poem, a handful of photos or a few minutes of video and add any comments they like – something which will take our minds off the virus and bring us together.

Do have a look, and feel free to contribute something of your own.

How to post

Go to the Home page (click on Home in the left-hand margin if necessary).

Find the Create Post box in the centre of the page, two rows under the Church photo.

Start typing where it says ‘Write a post’. Or click on the Photo/Video icon just below.

To view recent posts

Click on Posts in the left-hand margin.

On Facebook now

       Wander through rural Coal Aston with Tony

      James sings his There Will be a Time

      Richard introduces his bees

      A poem from Rachel        

       Libby reads 'A Place in the Sun' by Pam Ayres

       Two walks on the golf course

       Fran and Coralie - Donkey gets chosen

       Sylvia brngs a cutting of a Christian Aid walk

       Chris reflects on her favourite hymn

      A spring walk

       Three poems

       Easter photos around the village from Richard

       Libby reads a poem for coronavirus by Jan Beaumont

       Patrick compares plague food arrangements in Bristol and Eyam

       Cow and calf Apperknowle way

       Libby reads a poem for VE Day by Patricia Denise Newman

       Sylvia shares some thoughts from the Community Garden

       Looking for nature on our doorstep with Jayne

       Audrey lifts the lid on her bees

Coronavirus prayer for God’s intervention and protection

Dear Creator of the World,

We come before you asking your mercy on us to halt the spread of the coronavirus. 

We pray for those already infected with coronavirus that they may receive prompt, effective and compassionate medical care that will restore them to health.

We pray your protection and grace for all medical professionals who are courageously treating those infected with coronavirus.  May they be shielded, strengthened and guided as they administer healing treatments and care. 

We pray your protection over those most vulnerable to disease, for our babies, our children, our elders, our poor, disabled and those weakened by other health conditions.

We pray for those under quarantine that they might be comforted by your presence and protected from disease, anxiety and fear.   

We pray for our public healthcare leaders and government agencies that they might be informed and well prepared as they deal with the coronavirus.  Grant them the resources and manpower they need to use their wisdom in the best interest of public health.

We pray for the researchers who are tracking the course of the coronavirus.  May they uncover patterns that will help us understand how to stay healthy. 

We pray for those searching for treatments, cures and vaccines.  May you guide them, reveal new ideas and accelerate their discoveries to fight this disease. 

We pray for the communities, areas and countries hardest hit by coronavirus.  Restore their sense of wellbeing and community.  Sustain them, comfort them and give them hope. 

We pray for all whose lives are disrupted by the coronavirus.   We pray for families who have been separated and for those whose livelihoods have been jeopardized.    

We look to you, Oh God, praying that the spread of the coronavirus will be halted and that many lives might be spared.

We pray that through this crisis you may draw us closer to you, grow our compassion and increase our knowledge.

Thank you that you are the Great Physician who not only heals us but who is a a very present help in our time of need as the Bible tells us that you “Took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.”  (Matthew 8 :17 NIV)

Thank you for hearing our prayer.

Amen.

Karen Barber    February 27 2020