Wednesday 20th May 2020

Tides
It would appear that Rev Gareth Maclean was inspired by Wilma’s Thoughts On Tuesday and today in Tides he too is thinking about the birds.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
MATTHEW 6:25-34
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Gareth writes -

I can hear the birds. The soundtrack of my day is normally traffic, Spotify, notifications, voices and the constant din of thoughts racing around my head of doubts, fears and to-do lists. However, in the midst of a pandemic, when fears, needs and economic uncertainty have intensified, the noise and busyness around me and within me has reduced. So as I walk through the park, I hear the birds singing. They aren’t worrying about their wellbeing or fearful about finances. Simply being. Simply trusting.

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Beard Watch
On Tuesday I had asked for a picture of Eric’s hedgehogs and his beard. Eric says that it will be difficult to get a photo of the hedgehogs but he sent me this photo of his beard.
​Lockdown suits you Eric.

Wednesday Prayer Time
Each Wednesday the prayer meeting took place in Burnside at 9:30am, I encourage you to take some time today to pray, most of the articles on the blog today are themed around prayer and do remember that you can go to the Virtual Prayer Room to find inspiration for your prayers.
https://bit.ly/BurnsidePrayerRoom

Alexa - Can I have my Prayer List?
YouVersion Prayer is helping people all over the world make prayer a part of their everyday lives (with more than two million Prayers so far). Now, whatever you’re praying for, try it on your Amazon and Google voice devices.
YouVersion Prayer reads the first Prayer on your Prayer List, then plays soft, soothing background music as you pray.1 After a minute, YouVersion Prayer reads your next Prayer, followed again by quiet music. One Prayer at a time, YouVersion Prayer helps you pray through each item on your list.​

Read more here
https://bit.ly/2Lrpvsf

PCI Global Mission Prayer
Global Mission Worker updates for May are now available over on the PCI website. Read how Coronavirus has been affecting their life and witness in the countries they are serving in. Each bulletin also includes prayer points
https://bit.ly/3buTgTI

PCI Global Mission
Remember Terry McMullan shared some great insights in Burnside At Home this week, about Global Mission Workers and the challenges they face with Coronavirus.

Walk & Pray
A new resource produced by Evangelical Alliance to help us pray on our daily walks around the community. 
Daily walks around local community have become a feature of life, and drawn us into a deeper awareness of who, where and what surrounds our daily existence. The Evangelical Alliance have created Walk & Pray – a series of short, simple prayers to use as you walk around your local community – helping you to – Walk & Pray…
As we pray the same prayers – across the UK – God’s people are united in spirit, united in purpose and united in vision. We are united with each other – but as we become present to God, present to people in our place – we participate, join in with the renewing work of Jesus Christ in these streets, towns, cities and nation.
More information here. https://bit.ly/3cFnt3B​

Download the guide here -

walk-and-pray-resource.pdf
File Size:	189 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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Prayer For Moldova
You may remember Robin Peake from Innovista coming to Burnside a few years ago with Slavic from Russia.
Innovista have now realised a podcast and the first episode focuses on Christian Leadership in Moldova.
In this episode we hear from Maricela, Innovista's national director in Moldova, one of the poorest countries in Europe and formerly part of the Soviet Union. In her conversation with Jon she reflects on 2019, and the impact of training church leaders last year. Then she tells us about the effects Covid-19 is having on the leaders she’s worked with, and on Moldova as a whole.
Join Maricela and Jon to be encouraged, as together we hear about Leadership in Difficult Times and Places.
https://innovista.podbean.com/e/the-one-about-moldova

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Church Of England Daily Prayers
You can listen to the daily prayers of the Church of England here.
https://soundcloud.com/the-church-of-england/sets/time-to-pray

Daily Hope
This also appeared in the weekend email. (If you don’t receive that email please send me your email address) To be VERY clear this is nothing to do with Burnside but I draw it to your attention because so many people have benefitted from our own Phone Burnside. Daily Hope has been set up by the Church Of England and is a phone line of hymns, reflections and prayers. It is a Freephone number (But please be aware that calls from a mobile may incur a charge - check with your mobile provider) The Telephone Number is 0800 804 8044

Prayer For Muslims During Ramadan
There was a special call to prayer last night for Muslims during the “Night of Power” which is part of Ramadan. Attached is a PDF document which will guide you if you would like to pray
More details on the website https://www.awm-pioneers.org/night-of-power/​

Download the prayer guide here.

night-of-prayer-virtual.pdf
File Size:	117 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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Learning
I have found during Lockdown that it is good to learn some new skills and keep broadening horizons at a time when it is possible to become more insular. This blog has been a real challenge each day but it seems to be a great way for us all to connect and a great way to fill our minds with positive things. The following verses from Philippians explains what the blog is about.

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. 9 Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.
​Philippians 4:8-9 (MSG)

I try to do something new each week and yesterday I took part in an online Preaching Seminar organised by Keswick Ministries (Part of the Convention in Keswick) I joined with 97 other ministers who wanted to learn more about preaching online. It was a fascinating education with lots of ideas on how to “talk to the Dot”. The Dot is the tiny little lens on the phone which captures the video for our services. Below is a screen shot of about a quarter of those who were taking part.

Keswick Ministries tweeted Great to have nearly 100 people join an online preaching workshop today! 
It was led by communications consultant Richard Garnett & Ministry Director James Robson. The workshop helped people, who are now preaching regularly online, on some key questions around communication.

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Home Deliveries
Kraken Fish from Portrush are now delivering to Portstewart. You can order online.
https://www.krakenfish.co.uk

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Jigsaw
Jean 3:11 (You don’t need to verify I believe you! Sometimes if someone sends it in I like to include a photo, they have all been photos that have been emailed to me)
Derek 4:58
Frances 5:01 for the jigsaw.... 0:00 for the Housework!

​A Puzzle that will take you a little longer today. 
Sunrise in Portstewart. That sky is beyond someone who is colour blind - Enjoy.
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=35f1ccbed030

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Where Is It?
Edgar and several of you guessed Where Is It? 
Edgar said - “Photo is taken at the viewing point on the cliff walk not far from the path leading to the golf club.“

Where Is It?
So today, Where Is It? Another Banksy?

Beard Watch
Eric also sent this picture “Does anyone remember Grizzly Adams?”. (Eric’s own words not mine)