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The eMessenger
Friday 30th  July 2021

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1. Coming up this Sunday (August 1st)

PLEASE LOOK AT THE LATEST NEWS  REGARDING COVID REGULATIONS IN SECTION 2

READINGS:
AM: John:10:10
PM: Acts: 16

Sunday morning 
This morning we are starting a new sermon series called "This Inspires Me...!" Preachers are going to be telling us what bible stories or verses have inspired them. Simon Lakin is starting us off with John 10:10. Rev Louise will be leading the service. 
 (Please bring your face mask if you aren't exempt!)
You can also watch the service on  Facebook Live. 

Sunday evening  on Zoom  .We conclude our evening service sermon theme on friendship by looking at the friendship of Lydia in Acts 16. Dan Sach will be leading the service and Rev Louise will be preaching.  

Please Note:This will be our last evening service until September, when, (God willing),we will be restarting in the building. 

The evening zoom service starts at 6.00pm (zoom code available from here: https://www.wkurc.org.uk/6pm-serv ice.html

 

2. Latest news and advice regarding the pandemic from Peter, one of our Health and Safety Officers

As you all know, as of Monday 19th July nearly all mandatory COVID-19 restrictions were relaxed by the Government. Instead, responsibility for protecting ourselves and others from the virus has been passed on to us as individuals. As a church, we want to find the balance between enjoying these much-missed freedoms and continuing to care for one another in our actions. Last Sunday we took the first steps , including singing again!! 

JUST TO REMIND YOU ALL ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT CAME INTO EFFECT LAST SUNDAY
- We will have some seats closer together, and some seats further apart for those who would prefer to remain socially distanced.
- It will be strongly encouraged that people wear masks, especially during singing when viral transmission is greatest, but it will not be mandatory.
- Social distancing will no longer be required, but we will be trialling a scheme in which you choose a coloured lanyard when you arrive - either green, yellow or red. This lanyard signals your personal choice when it comes to social distancing to others:
    > Green means that you do not want to continue to socially distance, and are comfortable with close physical contact such as hugging.
    > Yellow means that you are happy to not fully socially distance from others, such as when standing and chatting, but you would not like any close physical contact such as to be hugged.
    > Red means that you want to remain socially distanced at 2m / 1m+, and you ask that other people respect this.
This is just a trial this week - if it seems to work and people are happy with it we will continue, and if it seems unnecessary or causes confusion/concern we won't.

Apart from this our stewards will still be in place, you will still be asked to sanitize your hands upon arrival and your contact details will still be taken for NHS Test and Trace. We won't be having refreshments yet but you are more than welcome to hang around after the service and socialise with each other (respecting those who by their choice of lanyard show that they aren't comfortable with that).

God bless,
Peter Hilborne, one of the WKURC Health & Safety Officers
 

4. Eco Church News
 

 

The Church Garden is open for everyone to make use of, on Sundays or during the week.

 Welcome to our garden. Our church garden is open and available for you to make restful and relaxing use of. Watch the birds. Sleep on the grass. Pick the daisies. Smell the flowers. Eat your lunch. Come through the Meols Drive gates and turn right.

We are delighted with 2 new benches, provided by our neighbours, the residential school next door.

The plants that were put in a few months ago have grown and are flowering. The long grassy area still needs a bit more work.

The water butts are providing accessible water so we can keep the plants happy.

There are bird feeders everywhere.

We would love for folk to enjoy the garden .

Jenny.

Part of the team at West Kirby URC

An A Rocha UK Project

5. From the Stewards
( and Temp Editor!)
  • Many thanks for your financial gifts to support the life of the) church, 'Connecting your Community to Christ'. Information about giving to West Kirby URC is available here. Look out for the e-Messenger coming to your inbox towards the end of each week. If you have a notice to include, please send it to keith.blackwell@hotmail.com by 6pm Wednesday.
  • I have discovered that sometimes my e-messenger arrives in Junk or spam. Do check these in-boxes if the messenger hasn't arrived. I try to send it out on Thursday evening or first thing on Friday morning.
6. Finally...

For many years, when we lived in Sevenoaks, last week-end of July,  would traditionally mean a barbecue with Vanessa’s brother and his family as they stopped with us for one night en-route from Chester, where they lived, to their house in Burgundy, some 6 hours drive from Calais. They would be up early on the Saturday morning and after going through the Channel Tunnel, arrive in Burgundy in mid-afternoon, and stay there for the whole of the summer holidays, (being teachers that was a fair few weeks!)

They had bought a broken down house/barn and spent many years renovating it and eventually installing an excellent swimming pool, which was super. Vanessa and I spent a week or so with them over a number of years. Always hot, beautiful fresh air and local “Macon Villages “ wine at ridiculously cheap price to enjoy (and bring home).

We also explored the area and on a number of occasions we visited Taize, perched high up on the top of a hill about a mile from Cormatin a nearby village.

The community of Taize was started by Brother Roger in 1940 and there are now over 100 brothers in this ecumenical order. Their main purpose is to serve young people and promote ecumenism. To that end when we have visited, we have found the place  full of tents from all over Europe and beyond with young folk from many, countries wanting to deepen their faith.

 

During the day, when the bell rings , everyone gathers at the church ( built of concrete and fribreboard mainly,) and sits on the floor. If one area fills up , roller shutters are opened up and the chapel enlarges to accommodate the number of worshippers. The brothers process in and the simple service begins.
Worshippers are given song books, written in 4 or 5 languages and when a number appears on the board, that particular song is sung by all. The song continues until the number flashes which indicates the last time for the song to be sung.
It is so simple but so beautiful, everyone singing the same song in their own language. When the service is over, just songs and prayers and a Bible reading in French, – usually about 20-30 minutes long  . Most of the congregation go outside and line up for their lunch!

So for today’s music I have chosen "Bless the Lord" because you can see the church, the brothers  and the congregation while you listen. Enjoy.

Taize in Burgundy


 

Keith B. Temporary editor
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Minister: Rev. Louise Franklin - minister@wkurc.org.uk
Youth & Children's Work Co-Ordinator: Dan Sach - dansach@hotmail.com
Temporary Website Manager: Simon Lakin-wkurcwebsite@gmail.com
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West Kirby United Reformed Church · Meols Drive · West Kirby · Wirral, Merseyside CH48 5DA · United Kingdom

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