BH Bulletin - Wednesday 15 April 2020

Thought for the Day by Alex Forrest
​(Voluntary Staff Worker)

Proverbs 3
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side
    and will keep your foot from being snared
While reading scripture over the last few weeks I have been struck by how many verses of scripture feel like they speak directly into our world right now. So much of scripture was written in times of disaster, struggle, and uncertainty for the writer or the world they were living in. It’s comforting to know that the Bible really can identify will all the emotions we might be feeling in this mad world and provide wise instruction for how to live in 2020.
 
I’ve been meditating on these two verses of Proverbs over the last few weeks. At the moments we’re getting lots of advice thrown at us; “Wash Your Hands”. “Stay At Home”. “Protect the NHS”. Those are all good and wise things to do, but Proverbs 3:25-26 is the best advice we can follow in the face of coronavirus.
 
Covid-19 is a sudden disaster, it is a ruin that has overtaken the wicked (all of humanity), and it is a snare for our feet. In 4 months it has turned our world upside down, snared our feet by thwarting our plans and ambitions, and ruined so much of human life.
 
But Proverbs encourages us to not fear. WHAT!? Don’t fear!? How can we not fear? This is the scariest time of my life. Every time I turn on the news or scroll down Twitter or even stop to listen to my own thought process for too long, I’m constantly being told to fear Covid-19, to fear the lasting effects of the virus, to even fear leaving the house!
 
Why shouldn’t we fear right now? Because the LORD is at our side. God who planned everything out before the creation of the world, God who is ruler over the entire universe, God who cares for us so much he would send his own son to die for us is by our side. We shouldn’t be asking, “why shouldn’t I fear” but “How can we fear”?
 
The Lord will always be at our side, sustaining, protecting, and loving us like a father throughout all that’s going on. Have no fear, the LORD is near.
​Alex

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​The Gages are going.
​Word has it that the Gages are leaving and soon. If you hadn't heard you have now!!! Tim's last service at BH will be this Sunday 19 April where he will speak at the morning service.
If you'd like to contribute to their leaving gift, do drop a cheque into the office, payable to Bishop Hannington Church and labeled for Tim & Clare, or make an online payment, saying who it's for, to Bishop Hannington Church,  Sort Code 40-52-40  Account Number 00016162.
In case you thought the office is closed and your cheques might go astray fear not, Wendy and I are here to receive them.
Clive

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​Easter goes on and we're still praying Easter prayers
​by Phil Moon (Vicar)

A Prayer for Easter
Heavenly Father
We thank you for Easter. We thank you that although we are all missing “normal” right now that Easter is not “normal”.
A “normal” Easter would be us using the weekend to catch up on things we had no time to achieve during the week, a bit of housework, a bit of sorting out, Maybe going away for a break or just relaxing.
Easter 2020 and most of us have more time on our hands than we know what to do with.
What a wonderful opportunity to slowly meditate and absorb in a grateful way the story of Easter and what that means to each one of us.
We pray that this Easter many people who sat through Easter school assemblies maybe wondering. Many people who have not given prayer a thought for many years maybe praying
And many people who turned away from you to find their own way, might start turning back.
Amen
King of Kings/Majesty
Majestic and wonderful King,
We thank you that Easter reminds us of the huge sacrifice you made when you allowed your son to die on the cross for our sins.
A reminder that you can relate to all those grieving in the world right now who have lost family and loved ones in such an unfair way.
You see the tears they shed.  You feel their loss.  Heal broken hearts Lord and bring peace to those who mourn.
A Majestic and wonderful King who is in control.  You were in control of what happened at calvary and you are in control now.
As your children we try to be brave, but it is hard.  Help us remember that you are bigger than this awful virus.  You see what is happening and one word from you can just banish this virus forever.  We trust that this is all part of your plan and await your intervention.
Until then please fill us with a peace that the world cannot give.
Amen
Phil

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A reminder about BH Youth Live

​Stephen and Lizzi Demetriou will be hosting BH Youth LIVE on the Lockdown PraiseUp Youtube page from 7:15-8:15pm tonight. They’ll be teaching from the Bible, playing crazy games, and getting the youth involved in mad fun challenges. If you’re 11-18, come join in the fun! Message Stephen to get involved!