This week we pause Philippians and turn to Psalm 1 and find out - How to be blessed by the Lord.
We have now been out of the church building for just over a quarter of the year, (14 Sundays) and the Government has announced that worship services can provisionally start to take place again from Monday 29th June 2020. This date will not be confirmed until Thursday Of this week, when guidance will hopefully be given about the restrictions That will be placed on these services. It is safe to say that although Church Buildings will be allowed to reopen, the worship experience will not be like anything we have been used to before lockdown. Kirk Session and Committee are examining the current guidelines and any new ones when they are issued and we will let you know what our plans are as soon as we can. There are also lots of requirements from PCI That must be met to insure that churches are as safe as possible when they reopen. We are also gauging the level of interest in attending church services and at present most people seem to feel that 5th July is too soon. We also recognise that many of you are shielding until at least the end of July, so Burnside At Home will continue over the Summer for those who are not yet ready to meet on a Sunday, and we will keep you up to date as plans are made. We aim to proceed safely and cautiously, and would value your constant prayers. Coming out of Lockdown could well be much more difficult than going in.
The Blog
I’ve been talking to many of you about the Burnside Blog and I am surprised by how much it has become part of our daily routines and I thank you for welcoming me into your lives in this way. From my perspective the blog sort of happened by accident but of course God had a plan in bringing it into existence. The Blog is here to provide some hope in place of the despair that is all around us during Covid-19. I am making a few small changes this week to hopefully increase the usefulness of the Blog. Where possible I am going to give a guide to how long a video or a podcast lasts, and I will try and write descriptions which explain why a particular article may be relevant to our lives. Some of the articles are picked because they have some local point of interest. For example Keswick features because of the Keswick at Portstewart Convention, Evangelical Alliance features because of the local connection with Peter Lynas, New Horizon is also local and of course we are all connected to PCI. |
The Presbyterian Moderator, Dr Bruce @PCIModerator continues his series on Ephesians with ‘A Chosen Church’.
Watch here:
Let’s Pray
The latest prayer guide is now available for the incoming week, download it here.
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You may have heard this song on the Getty family hymn sing this week, written by Keith Getty, Stuart Townend and Matt Papa Forever Jesus.
Stuart Townend, co-author of "Forever Jesus", writes:
"Little did we know, when we were crafting the last verse of this new hymn, how relevant the lyric would be to the times we are living in:
'My final breath shall be forever Jesus
When shadows lengthen before my eyes;
My Lord and Friend, companion through the valley
When dearest ones are left behind,
His hand will lead me to the light.'
Not only are so many of us facing the prospect of battling this awful virus that has claimed so many lives already. But loved ones, relatives and friends are literally having to "be left behind" as the ill are taken into hospital, because of the dangers of passing on the virus. How important, then, to be reminded that Christ is there to 'lead us to the light' - whether that is the light of eventual recovery, or (and this is the reality) the light of His eternal presence.
Perhaps we are not keen to be reminded of the awfulness of the times in which we live in a song! But to know that we are completely held in His loving arms, and guided by His all-powerful hand, is so vital for every single one of us right now."
QUIZ: Fathers in the Bible
Sunday was Father’s Day, Fathers in the Bible are sometimes fantastic role models – but sometimes not so much. Can you identify these biblical fathers and their children? .Quiz biblesociety.org.uk |
The Sea Mist finally lifted and Saturday was a glorious day before the rain and wind returned on Sunday, here are a few photos from Saturday. I know if you live in Portstewart these are familiar but there are lots of our holiday visitors who are missing Portstewart at the moment.
Congratulations to everyone who completed the Jigsaw, it would seem that no one wasted their time with the rotating pieces, so these are all for non-rotating.
Lynne 12:13
Jean 14:24
Janice 14:25
Frances 18:39
Derek 27.36
The puzzle for today then has no rotating pieces and a lovely view from Saturday.
Play the "Portstewart" puzzle!
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=13a6260af8b2
On Friday the Where Is It? was the Lost & Found Cafe, Berne Road, during the installation of its new outdoor canopy, which is now complete.
This place has cropped up a few times in the answers to other Where Is It?
So Where Is It?