Many of you enjoy Word For Today. You can read it online.
Have you been having trouble sleeping since the lockdown changed up your routine? Read some wise words from today's Word For Today about what to do when you can't sleep.
https://ucb.co.uk/word-for-today
You may well have seen this already but this is a video of 65 people from churches across the UK, remotely singing the words of the Aaronic Blessing over the nation at this time..
Our buildings may be closed But the church is alive! Well worth a listen.
Robin Fairbairn from the Good Book Company writes the following -
As part of the way we are seeking to support churches during the lockdown, we are offering a free digital copy (PDF) of the May daily readings from Explore. We thought this might be another helpful way of keeping your congregation connected and walking together as believers during this difficult lockdown experience.
Just ask your church members to click the link below and enter their email address, and they will be sent the PDF automatically from our system. The PDF has links to the online Facebook forum where Explore readers can ask questions, share encouragements and requests for prayer.
https://www.thegoodbook.co.uk/explore-may-2020
We hope that you are able to broadcast this offer and the link in your weekly bulletins to church members this weekend, and also perhaps to announce it during any live-streamed worship meetings you may be running.
NI church leaders - too early for collective worship
The leaders of Northern Ireland's four main Christian churches have said now is not the right time for a return to collective worship.
The heads of the Church of Ireland, Methodist Church, Catholic and Presbyterian Churches discussed the issue at a video conference on Friday.
https://bbc.in/2YCeE6u
Isolated World / Connected Church
UCB have produced a new podcast 'Isolated World / Connected Church' yet?! In this episode, we join Nicky Gumbel to ask the question: how has lockdown changed the way we are doing discipleship in church?
https://bit.ly/3fgyqdx
Christian Persecution
This article by the Christian Institute examines how Christians in other countries are being blamed for the Coronavirus.
COVID-19: Countries urged not to target Christians
https://bit.ly/2KQXLgi
Portbraddon “Church”
Many of you will have visited St. Gobbins church in Portbraddon before it was demolished. It was often referred to as the smallest church in Ireland. The man who built the church, The Rev John McConnell Auld from Holywood, known as Conn, passed away peacefully in the Ulster Hospital on Tuesday of last week at the age of 90
You can read more in the Belfast Telegraph article (You may need to register with the website to read all the article)
https://bit.ly/3dhDzk4
It seems that lots of you enjoyed the Jigsaw puzzle. (Some of you seemed to have enjoyed it a bit too much)
Best time submitted for the jigsaw so far is the outstanding 56 seconds (Unbelievable!)
Below are some of the times submitted so that you can see where you fit on the leader board - I’ll not mention all the names. (It is the taking part that counts)
0:56 - Jenna
1:45
1:54
2:15
2:34
2:48
5.28
7:15
9:36
How about another puzzle for today?
Send in your times again.
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=3995f1a6d939
British public turn to prayer as one in four tune in to religious services. A quarter of adults in the UK have watched or listened to a religious service since the coronavirus lockdown began, and one in 20 have started praying during the crisis, according to a new survey. Read the Guardian article.
https://bit.ly/3dnnp8T
DON'T GIVE UP
It is a new month and Christian Audio are offering the free book of the month.
Don’t Give Up - The parent with the wayward child. The couple whose marriage is in jeopardy. The man who is out of work. The woman stuck in crushing debt. The patient with a bad diagnosis. The student who can't get a fair shake. People hanging by a thread, losing faith and short on strength. What do they all need to hear? Don't give up. Our lives are minefields of challenges that take their toll on our courage, our conviction, and even our faith. But God whispers to the weary, Don't give up. Drawing from inspiring biblical stories and first-person testimonies of perseverance, bestselling author and pastor Kyle Idleman encourages readers to cast their concerns on God, trust in his love and timing, pray for patience and strength, and seek out support in the family of God.
https://bit.ly/2Wlgl5B
Well done to everyone who knew that yesterday the photo was St. Patrick’s Well at the head of the Strand.