SHARING CHRIST
  Welcome to Framlingham Churches Together Thoughts and Prayers      20.03.20   

Be Strong and of Good Courage was the message God gave to Joshua after the death of Moses. Joshua’s task is happily very different to ours and the task he had causes us all sorts of questions.
But the message is a good one as individuals, as a nation and as part of the world community, we face the worst medical nightmare for many decades and it naturally worries and concerns us. The advice we are receiving will affect how we live, how we shop, what we do and even how we pray together. We have just heard that the Church of England will be suspending all public worship and other denominations may do similarly. The one certain thing is that the national advice will change and so will life and none of us find that easy or comfortable. We all hope this will not last for too long.
We face the challenges better if we do it together and reassure each other, talk with each other and whenever the opportunity comes, laugh together
Churches Together members are feeling that and want to share the hope that sharing Jesus’ love gives and to share in the commitment in the town to try and help people who may be ill or self-isolating for safety or just wondering what all this is about.
Some of us are working with the Town Council and the Hour Community to bring practical relief through collecting food and medicines – and the good news is the method for that is being worked on now and there will be more on the Council and Church websites soon.
As the Churches we are providing opportunities for a chat or a prayer. For obvious reasons this may have to be by phone rather than by visits but none of us as yet knows what being inside for so long may mean. However quiet or shy we are we may need to talk to someone! So there are some contacts below.
St Michael’s will be open 9-5 – please do go in and take some space for prayer. If you have a topic you wish to pray for please put it on one of the slips on the far side of the back of Church where there is a space for prayer. Any written prayer will be prayed again by the Prayer and Healing Group and by me. St Clare’s is open 10-12
Laughing probably can’t be on demand, but supporting each other is a Godly task and the Churches are willing to offer that and to share prayer. Be Strong and of Good Courage and together with help from God we will get through this strange and unnerving period.

Mark Sanders,  St Michael’s

Visit this page for up to date prayers  https://stmichaelsframlingham.org.uk/prayers-framlingham-churches/

Prayers
 
Keep us, good Lord,
under the shadow of your mercy
in this time of uncertainty and distress.
Sustain and support the anxious and fearful,
and lift up all who are brought low;
that we may rejoice in your comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us from your love
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ,
you taught us to love our neighbour,
and to care for those in need
as if we were caring for you.
In this time of anxiety, give us strength
to comfort the fearful, to tend the sick,
and to assure the isolated
of our love, and your love,
for your name’s sake.
Amen.
 
Prayer challenge from the leaders of Churches Together in England
This Mothering Sunday, 22nd March, we are calling all churches to a National Day of Prayer and Action. At such a time as this, when so many are fearful and there is great uncertainty, we are reminded of our dependence on our loving Heavenly Father and the future that he holds.

At 7pm this Sunday, light a candle in the windows of your homes as a visible symbol of the light of life, Jesus Christ, our source and hope in prayer.

Contacts in the Different Churches … feel free to contact

Framlingham Community Baptist Church
Prue Gibbons        pruegibbons1@gmail.com                  01728  723599


St Clare’s    Roman Catholic
Mike Vipond        avfram8@gmail.com                            01728 724646

St Michael’s         Church of England
Mark Sanders         revmarksanders@tiscali.co.uk         01728 768875
Terry Gilder            gilderfram@aol.com                         01728 723176

United Free Church – Methodist and United Reform
Peter Webb            webbs12@btinternet.com                01728 724551


College Chaplain
Brynn Bayman        bbayman@framcollege.co.uk          01728 727259