Faith Matters

If you would like prayer support on the 'phone then please call the Village Friends number above and select option 3. When a volunteer answers please say that you would like prayer. If all of our volunteers are busy at the time then please leave a message on the answering machine with your contact details and saying that you would like prayer.

If you would like any other spiritual support then please contact either Rev. Jacob Donkoh or Rev. Peter Hart.

Services are being broadcast nationally by the Church of England via their Facebook page.

Handsacre Methodist Church is carrying out some activities on-line. Please see the church web site for more details.

There are a number of churches locally offering on-line live-streamed services on Sunday. Some examples are:

    10:30am: SwanBank Methodist (Stoke)

    11am:     Wade Street URC/Baptist (Lichfield)

You can also search AChurchNearYou.com and look for those offering a 'LiveStream'.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower - a reflection from Jacob Donkoh

I want to encourage you with a scripture from Proverbs 18:10:
‘The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run into it and are safe.’ (NRSV).

You might be familiar with this scripture already.

On several occasions in the Book of Exodus, God identifies himself to his people with a different name. For example, in the Burning Bush encounter with Moses, God identified himself to Moses as ‘The I AM THAT I AM’ (Exodus 3:14). After the Burning Bush experience, God identified himself again as JEHOVAH (or the LORD). God said to Moses: ‘And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob by the name of God Almighty, but by My name JEHOVAH was I not known to them’ (Exodus 6:3).

In another instance, it was rather Moses who ‘built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi [that is, The Lord my banner]; for he said, “Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation’ (Exodus 17:15-16).

Why does God’s name keep changing? For me, God’s name expresses his nature and qualities.

Not Forgotten - a message from Peter Hart

Dear Friends,

We are still in the midst of the most challenging period that most of us have ever had to go through. It’s a time of worry and anxiety, not least if you or your loved ones are particularly vulnerable or still working on what is now called the front line. More worrying still if you or your loved ones have Coronavirus and waiting for health to return. And particularly heart-breaking if you have lost a loved one. Something that is devastating at any time but particularly so during this time of isolation. As a church we have been praying for you all!

Angels of Hope - a message from Jacob Donkoh

Dear Friends,

As you all know, we are in strange times. Covid-19, commonly known as coronavirus, continues to ravage our country and countries around the world. There seems to be no ending to this. But this, like any pandemic before it, shall also surely come to an end.

A hundred years ago, our world experienced the Spanish Flu pandemic. That pandemic did its worst taking many lives. But our forebears stood firm - amidst losing their families, friends and loved ones – and did their very best, including following the government of the day’s guidelines to fight the pandemic. Eventually they could see the back of that pandemic.

In our time, we are also being called to follow the Government Guidelines, Stay at Home to save ourselves, our neighbours; protect our NHS and Save Lives. Beyond this, we acknowledge our need to be each other’s keeper; watching over one another and being there for one another. We are in this together.

Uncharted Waters - a message from Peter Hart

Dear Friends

We are in unchartered waters and unprecedented times! Never-the-less, it is good to see so many people pulling together and reaching out practically to help those who are particularly challenged by the restrictions placed upon us all. The Church of St John the Baptist and the Methodist church, like all churches across the country are now closed. However, although we cannot meet, we continue to pray and offer worship with the help of technology, and do what we can to serve and help each other know that the Lord is near!