Page 88 - br-june-2020

June 2020 June 2020

VILLAGE HALL NEWS OTHER CHURCHES NEWS

Well, with lockdown having firmly shut down all BERE REGIS CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
forms of group socializing what can there possibly
be to say from the village hall perspective.
Sundays 10.30am Morning Service taken each week by visiting
In fact the village hall has been in daily use
providing a sheltered space when its cold to preachers.
queue for the village shop and post office, 2 metres apart obviously. The hall has Mondays at 7pm STS (Search the Scriptures) Youth meeting
been able to provide a haven for those of us staying in the village and buying our Tuesdays at 9.15am (during term time) Chapel Toddlers Group
everyday essentials. Its also been able to very carefully provide a place where
people, whilst queuing can just pass a few moments each day with friends and Tuesdays 6.00pm Youth Club for young people aged 11-17
neighbour’s without breaking the rules and yet helping to retain what sanity we Tuesdays at 7.30pm Bible Study and Prayer
still have. As lockdown is eased and more people can travel outside the village
the real risk of the virus finding its way into the village is ever more real and so the All these meetings are currently suspended due to Covid 19, but hopefully
hall again will play its part in helping everyone keep safe distances whilst carrying
on our everyday lives as best we can. restrictions might be eased before the end of June. Each Sunday morning
at 10.30 there is a sermon available on YouTube, and all the sermons are
In the lead up to VE day we were all encouraged to make our own bunting, on our website www.bereregischapel.org
much of this was sent into Amelia who then put them all together as a display. The

bunting is hanging in the hall and will remain there for the time being and whilst I
don’t want to encourage unnecessary trips to the hall I would say that if you’re in Are you fed up with hearing about Corona Virus? It dominates all the news and
need of something from the post office or shop do take time to enjoy the current affairs programmes on TV, but even more our everyday lives are constantly
handiwork of many people of all ages, a real display of community working affected by the restrictions currently in place. I had intended to keep clear of the
together. topic for this article, but I had to change my original thoughts and so here I am
talking about it again. After all these weeks in lockdown people are finding it hard
The hall also continues to have jams and chutneys along with local honey to keep cheerful. Loneliness has set in for many, and the longing to see family
available for sale and from time to time we have cakes and plants available as members and hug them is overwhelming. What can we do to ease these feelings
well. Book let is up and running with the books out every day, those returned are and stay positive?
quarantined for a suitable length of time before making their way back on the
shelves. I read these thoughts recently, written by George Carey, a former Archbishop of
Canterbury.
By the time you read this we’ll also have had the jubilee room, kitchen and
lobbies redecorated so they’ll be fresh and vibrant ready for when we can all “Why Praise works? Praise lifts our eyes from the battlefields of life to Christ, the
make full use of them again. The hall is still busy and providing for us all, but like reigning Lord, reminding us that there is victory in Him and we can therefore pray
with confidence “knowing that in all things God works for the good of those that
me I’m sure you can’t wait until we can all come together and enjoy being in one
another’s company socially again. Rest assured one day normal, whatever that love Him.” (Romans 8:28) In Acts 16:25 we read that at midnight Paul and Silas, in
becomes, service will be resumed. prison, were praying and singing songs of praise to God, because they knew He
was in charge of life ....
Take care, stay alert and keep safe.
Over the years I have grown in my understanding of praise in prayer, and have
Stuart Chorley, Chairman Briantspuddle Village Hall, Schorley30@gmail.com come to realise its importance. Turn to praise when your heart is sad and your
steps are faltering. Praise God when things are gloomy and the odds against you,
07818078191 because praise removes your gaze from the immediate problems to the horizons
of God’s victory and faithfulness. “
These words are so true, and praise really does lift our spirits and encourage us to

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