Dave King
Alleluia is the Easter refrain: ‘Alleluia. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia.’
Alleluia means ‘God be praised’ – and it may not seem there is much to praise God for this morning.
But for Christians the Easter story is the ultimate reminder that love conquers all
– that even death cannot defeat love.
‘Alleluia’ can be our song even, especially, in the midst of pain and uncertainty.
For the Easter ‘Alleluia’ is never arrogant or overbearing, it’s not blind to reality but deeply rooted in it.
Easter day is only possible after Good Friday.
The Easter story reminds us that love conquers all
– and nothing, nothing, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus
Early in his ministry Jesus outlined the characteristics of the Kingdom of God, and those who seek that Kingdom, in words that we call ‘the Beatitudes’. In them
Jesus turned the world’s understanding of what matters on its head, affirming the blessedness of those usually overlooked or scorned.
This week the cartoonist Dave Walker has rewritten the Beatitudes.
You might write your own, but here are his:
Blessed are those who stay indoors for they have protected others
Blessed are the unemployed and self-employed for their need of God is great
Blessed are the … shopkeepers for they are the purveyors of scarce things
Blessed are the delivery drivers and the postal workers for they are the bringers of essential things
Blessed are the hospital workers, the ambulance crews, the doctors, the nurses, the care assistants and the cleaners for they stand between us and the rgave, and the Kingdom of heaven is surely theirs
Blessed are the checkout workers and factory workers for they have patience and fortitude in the face of overwork and frustration
Blessed are the refuse collectors for they will see God despite the mountains of waste
Blessed are the teachers for they remain steadfast and constant in disturbing times
Blessed are the church workers (and faith leaders) for they are a comforting presence in a hurting world as they continue to signpost towards God
Blessed are the single parents for they are coping alone with their responsibilities and there is no respite
Blessed are those who are alone, for they are children of God and with Him they will never be lonely
Blessed are the bereaved, for whom the worst has already happened: they shall be comforted
Blessed are those who are isolated with their abusers for one day – we pray – they will know safety
Blessed are all during this time who have pure hearts; all who still hunger and thirst for justice; all who work for peace and model mercy.
Today, I do praise God for the hope that Jesus’ death and resurrection offers us all.
Today, I praise God for the signs of hope overcoming the pressures, limitations, and losses we currently face.
So, today, albeit quietly, I sing ‘Alleluia’
- and pray for you the grace, mercy, and peace of the risen Jesus this Easter.
Podcasts are a great way to engage with communities and congregations.
They are, effectively, short programmes that the listener can access at any time and from most smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers.
During the coronavirus pandemic, Revd Andy Ward decided to use the free podcast service - Anchor - to reach out to local communities - and so the Moss Valley Pod was born!
It's a podcast from Eckington, Derbyshire, from the church to provide information, share ideas and generally keep spirits up.
Because church services are no longer taking place, the church launched the Moss Valley Pod to enable people to hear Bible reflections at home, rather than in church.
The idea then expanded to provide a platform to allow local organisations to keep in touch with people as situations constantly evolve.
Good news stories are always wanted for the Moss Valley Pod.
Revd Andy Walker said: “Times of crisis can bring out the best in people,
“These stories need to be shared to give people hope in the days and months to come.”
The podcast is released every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
>> Listen to the Moss Valley Pod
Features include:
Community information
Bible readings
A thought for the day, based on those readings
Good news stories
Shout outs and thank yous
To get in touch, email mossvalley.pod@eckingtonchurch.org.uk
See also: How to use the Anchor.fm podcast service | Anchor's handy guide to starting your podcast
In these two videos,Ven Carol Coslett, Archdeacon of Chesterfield, talks about the Feast of the Passover and how it became the Last Supper.
Archdeacon Carol also talks about what makes a meal special - and the best meal you've ever had!
Revd Liz England, of Buxton Team Parish, writes on Facebook:
Being Church while the buildings are closed
An idea for gathering together for a new kind of Church service...
We gather together at the same time to worship, in our separate homes, at usual service times, knowing that many of us will be worshipping at the same time; either with others in our household or on our own.
And how about setting an empty plate at the dinner table to remember Christ sits and eats with us, in communion with us, his friends.
As we look at how to continue to be the church during this period of uncertainty, many of us will be missing the opportunity to share the Eucharist, Holy Communion together.
I thought it may help to go back to the very first Last Supper when Jesus shared a simple meal with his friends.
I would suggest putting out an extra empty plate as we sit to eat our meals each Sunday, to simply remind us that our Lord Jesus Christ sits and eats with us, in communion with us, his friends.
A video from Bishop Libby - A Strange Place
Many of us are helping in all sorts of ways to support our communities, but this must be done within the guidelines and the government rules. For churches and individuals, here is some advice for you to follow:
- Guidance on informal good neighbour activity
Download: Being a Good Neighbour [PDF]
- Guidance and check list for groups organising support:
https://voluntarysupport.org.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/support-for-volunteer-groups/
- Coronavirus: How to Help Safely
Government guidance on how to safely provide help to vulnerable individuals in the community. This is aimed at individuals but contains a lot of useful advice.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-how-to-help-safely--2
Similar conclusions have been reached, locally and nationally, about what can be offered safely: shopping, collecting prescriptions, welfare/befriending calls (phone or online). None of these are regulated activities so we recommend this sensible and proportionate process:
- Verifying the ID of volunteers not already known (copy of photo ID or shown via video link)
- DBS: If they have a recent DBS check ask to see certificate or ask their employer to verify – use these volunteers where beneficiaries are particularly vulnerable
- Take references
- Give volunteers clear guidance about roles and boundaries; provide online training materials (safeguarding, etc.)
- Information about beneficiaries should be:
(a) Gathered and stored securely, accessible only to a small number of responsible people
(b) Shared with volunteers using secure methods and only on a need to know basis - Communicate with beneficiaries and be clear about what is being offered
- Be aware of boundaries (e.g. social distancing measures, no cash handling)
- Include messages of caution about accepting help safely, potential scams etc.
- Check in with volunteers and beneficiaries regularly to ensure service operating safely and check welfare of both
Advice for churches serving in their community before Covid-19
There will be churches who already had volunteers (DBS checked and safer recruited) working within communities, in villages, on estates and in local community centres, with vulnerable families as part of a regulated activity. These may include Missional Communities, Fresh Expressions, Outreach Social Projects etc.
There are examples where these groups of church volunteers have simply continued to work within the same estates/communities and simply shifted the focus of their activity to support people as needs arise during the Corvid 19 crisis. This is simply an extension of the regulated activity that they were already engaged in.
COVID-19 Community Response Unit – A Note on the Specific Response in Derby City
Wednesday’s briefing included a description on the work of the Derbyshire Local Resilience Forum (LRF), including the COVID-19 Community Response Unit (CRU) set up to support Derbyshire residents to support those unable to meet their basic needs due to financial, social or health restrictions.
The LRF has set up an equivalent response group in Derby City, recognising that the compact and highly populated nature of the city will mean the scope and nature of the approach will differ within the city Local Authority area.
Derby City Council has joined with Community Action Derby, Derby Homes, the University of Derby, Thrive Derby and linking into Derby Covid-19 Mutual Aid Facebook group to coordinate help and support to help those most vulnerable during the coronavirus pandemic.
The aim of this group is to match up potential volunteers with those people most affected by the current crisis, including help with shopping, prescriptions, accessing food banks and befriending schemes. It is specifically designed to ensure we safeguard the vulnerable and reduce the need for potential volunteers to travel to other areas of the city and so, reduce the possible spread of infection.
Simon Cartwright is the connector for this group for the city deanery and we reiterate the advice that churches should NOT organise new volunteer programmes, but encourage all clergy to direct all potential volunteers, as individuals, to contact the Derby Covid Community Response Hub who can be contacted at covidsupport@communityactionderby.org.uk or 01332 640000
Food Banks have for a long time been at the forefront of supporting the most vulnerable groups in society.
Many of these Food banks are based in local churches.
The Church of England guidance states “Foodbanks should continue where possible under strict guidelines and may have to move to be delivery points, not places where people gather.”
In the case of Derby City, a central food storage unit has been established in conjunction with the government and Derby Covid Community Response Hub which will temporarily house the government’s emergency food supply.
This will be distributed through a limited number of foodbanks that have been designated as local food distribution hubs.
Simon Cartwright is the key connector for this group for the city deanery, but it is being led by Paul Brookhouse: DFFCC2020@gmail.com for more information
Grateful thanks to all treasurers who are working through the completion of your 2019 accounts in the current climate. Hopefully, many of you will already have completed your accounts in anticipation of presenting them to your APCMs. The chair of your PCC should have already received guidance on how to hold these meetings so please liaise with them.
I would urge Treasurers to still complete their Return of Parish Finances on line, even if they have yet to be independently examined or signed off by the PCC. Please do not formally ‘Submit to Diocese’ until you have had the accounts examined/audited. If you require help in completing the forms on-line, please contact Mary Kemp: mary.kemp@derby.anglican.org
If paperwork hasn’t yet gone to your independent examiner, then you will have to delay this step until you can safely do so following government guidelines on social distancing. Now that parishes have until the end of October to hold their APCMs the pressure to complete by the earlier deadline is somewhat relaxed.
Those parishes which have already had their accounts independently examined/audited as necessary are encouraged to ‘Submit their Accounts to the Diocese’ by 15 June 2020 and then ask the Chair of the PCC how to proceed for approval at the earliest opportunity. They can be amended if necessary, post APCMs.
The Archdeacons of Derby and Chesterfield appreciate that many of you – both clergy and dedicated PCC members – may currently be feeling swamped, isolated, vulnerable and in need of support or an answer to a practical question you may have relating to church matters during the current crisis. Whilst you should feel free to contact us at any time on the numbers or emails below, we will be particularly dedicating Thursday mornings between 10.00am – 11.00am to having individual conversations and resolving queries. Should either of us be tied up on the phone when you call, then please contact Cathy, our PA, and she will ensure the message gets back us to contact you back.
Stay safe in these troubled times and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all that you are doing.
Archdeacon of Chesterfield - Ven Carol Coslett - 07736 196 315 - archchesterfield@derby.anglican.org
Archdeacon of Derby - Ven Dr Christopher Cunliffe - 07946 442178 - archderby@derby.anglican.org
PA - Cathy Luffman - 07749 702669 - pa.archdeacon@derby.anglican.org
Working from home may be a new experience to many of us so we have prepared this guide to be an aid to all of us during the coronavirus pandemic.
The current global situation is unprecedented and we appreciate that this, combined with a new way of working, may cause a level of anxiety.
If you need support, please don’t hesitate to outreach to your line manager or Mandy Roberts, HR Manager – mandy.roberts@derby.anglican.org
