#40daysgiveandpray
Fri., March 27: If the weather is sunny today, donate 25¢. Is there snow or rain? Donate 25¢. Remember both sun and rain are needed for growth and give thanks for the wonders of Earth.
Thurs., March 26: Do you have a calendar in your kitchen? If not, pay 30¢. If yes, pay only 15¢. If it’s an Anglican Church calendar, pay nothing at all. Pray for other parishes that you know and love. #40daysgiveandpray
Thought and Prayer for The Day Thursday March 26, 2020
From now on I will be sending out a Thought and Prayer for The Day on Tuesdays and Thursdays and an Order of Service for Sundays until we can worship together again in church. I am hoping that the Sunday Services can be in person on the All Saints’ website and Facebook page. We await the technical feasibility for doing that – don’t ask me I’m an IT dinosaur and proud member of the group I formed on Facebook with a friend of mine called The ANTOF Club (Anti New Technology Old Fools Club)!
So, here goes for today:
Since the COVID19 crisis started so many Facebook posts have been asking the good old chestnut questions “Why does a loving God allow suffering?” or “Where is God during all the suffering and hardship in the world?” Even our Primate, Archbishop Linda Nicholls, has tried to deal with this question in the most recent Anglican Journal. She does her best and I recommend the article to you. But, as she says at the beginning of her piece, ‘I can come up with no answers’. Neither can we. We can look at Bible passages in Job and The Psalms in the Old Testament and the letters of Paul in the New Testament but none of them really answers the question “Why?”. From the cross Jesus cried out these words, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”. Even the Son of God at the height of his suffering asks the same question.
For me all this means that suffering is a part of life. We must acknowledge that, cope the best we can, get alongside others who are suffering too and show the compassion that we have received from God with them. “Compassion” means “suffering with” – that’s what God is doing now and, as His followers, and that’s what we should be doing with others. Let us pray:
“God our Father, we are struggling with the situation we are facing today. We are unable to worship with our friends in Christ from whom we gain so much love and support. We pray that you will show your compassion to all of us and, when we come to you in prayer, you will give us a real sense of your presence with us and shower us with your love. We pray this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, through whose sufferings we have gained eternal life. Amen.”
UPDATE MARCH 26th
The wardens along with Fr. Geoff and the Pastoral Care team continue to meet weekly via video and phone to see how we can best serve the needs of our parish community in these difficult times. We will continue to send updates via email and post information on the All Saints’ Facebook page and website. www.allsaintswhitby.org
Many thanks to Arleane Ralph for creating a new page on our website labelled Together Apart. Here you will find a weekly Sunday service prepared by Fr. Geoff for you to follow at home, on-line prayer and worship resources etc.
If you would like to be added to our email list there is now a link to the sign up form on the Together Apart page on the website. Thanks to the magic of our web designer, if you complete it you will automatically be added to the mailing list.
If you are interested in signing up for Autodebit, (even temporarily in these troubled times) that form is also now on the Together Apart page on the website. Despite the many closures the bills still find their way into our mailbox. Thank you to the many folks who have donated via the website or mailed a cheque.
We are working hard to keep our parish family connected and exploring ways to see if we can live stream services on Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday…….watch this space for more information. We are also reviewing the parish lists to see who among our parish family may be isolated and in need of a friendly phone call or someone to shop for them.
There is always good news and kindness amongst all the negatives. Our Deacon’s Cupboard food bank is continuing to operate thanks to a group of dedicated volunteers (with new procedures in place to keep both volunteers and clients safe.) And just the other day the Salvation Army told us they had “a few things for your foodbank”. Well the “few things” completely filled Roy Allam’s truck! Don’t forget, if you want to donate to the food bank, we are having a “drive though” donation day on April 8th between 10 and noon. Come to the parking lot, pop your trunk and a volunteer will take your donation.
Blessings to all. Keep the Faith. Wash your Hands. Pray for each other.
#40daysgiveandpray
Wed., March 25: Show your great joy by donating 20¢ for each child and grandchild that you have. If you have great-grandchildren, pay 30¢ for each. Pray for the children and youth of our community, and for grandmas and grandpas who are missing the company of their families.
