Dear friends,
I hope this finds you all well.
As you are aware ‘in-person’ church services resumed again on Easter Sunday. Over the past 12 weeks it has been lovely to see folks out and about again at our 10.30am service.
For those of you who have not yet ventured out to the church building, can we please assure you that we are keeping in line with all government and wider church advice and are doing everything we possibly can to make you feel as safe as possible on your return. Your presence at church will encourage others!
In September we hope to resume our usual pattern of worship services and activities, but are aware that certain measures and mitigations will be with us for a while yet. Please do continue to check our website and Facebook pages for any further updates & start dates.
Our Summer edition of Contact magazine has been printed and should be popping through your door in the next week or so. This is the first full print run of this year, as we did not feel it was right to put anyone at risk going ‘door to door’ for a while. We are very grateful to our magazine distributors for collecting their bundles!
Meantime, if you’d like a sneak peak – you can check out the magazine online here – https://stmoluasonline.com/parish-magazine/
and do feel free to share the link with others who may be interested.
‘Contact’ takes a considerable amount of effort to put together, and it is always lovely if we can incorporate articles, recipes and news from our parishioners and friends. Please do remember to get in touch if there’s something you would like to share with your St Molua’s family.
We are currently experiencing a pleasant spell of good weather, I hope you have been managing to take advantage of it in these ’staycation’ days!
The front of our new magazine says ‘Oh happy day!’ – it’s a happy sunny picture – with the words: ‘This is the day that the Lord has made.’ [Psalm 118:24]
I wonder if the words of a well known chorus come to mind? I can’t help but respond with the words – ‘we will rejoice and be glad in it.’
We hope and pray for many enjoyable days with family and friends this summer when we can rejoice as we now start to get back together.
We pray that all those who have been working will get some well-deserved time off and time out. We give thanks for all essential workers keeping our towns and cities ticking over.
We give thanks for the work of the NHS and for the rollout of the vaccination programme.
This has been a difficult year for everyone, and as school term comes to an end we pray for all children and young people as they prepare for a new season in their lives. As they start nursery or school for the first time, or move to new classes, or on to new schools/colleges we hope and pray for joy in new experiences.
We give thanks for all teachers, classroom assistants, and volunteers who teach and nurture our children and young people, and we ask for God’s blessing upon them as they re-charge their batteries over the summer break, ready for the new term.
For all our parishioners and friends – we pray that you will rejoice and have fun this summer, and may you walk with God in whatever you do and wherever you go.
Be intentional about spending time with God, even on holiday. It’s in his presence that we find refreshment for our souls, renewing of our spirits and peace in our hearts.
Keep close to the Lord, our relationship with him should never take a break!
Stay safe, and please be assured of my prayers.
Yours in Christ,
Emma