Dear friends,
It is with continuing sadness that i am writing with an update on the current situation. All public services are suspended in our 3 churches until further notice. However, I am now allowed to enter the churches and stream services from there on my own. I am following advice from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and I hope it won’t be too long before we can open our beautiful buildings for private prayer. We are living in difficult and troubling times. Many will be feeling isolated, uncertain and even scared. I hope this prayer will help you in these stormy days:
Calm me, Lord, as you calmed the storm; still me, Lord, keep me from harm. Let all the tumult within me cease, enfold me, Lord, in your peace. Calm me, Lord, as you calmed the storm; still me, Lord, keep me from harm. Let all the tumult within me cease, Lord, enfold me in your peace. Amen.30 Oct 201
I recently led a confirmation Group for a class full young people. We talked about the church not being just a building but the people. We even built a church out of 8 bodies. We are the body of Christ and though we can’t be physically be together we are finding creative ways of being church from Facebook Live to Zoom.
Here is a list of our services which are live streamed and can be found on the Facebook Pages of Harthill Woodall Parish News. Our services and events are streamed live on the times listed below on Wales Parish Church News Facebook page and can also be found on www.walesparishchurch.com
Recordings of the services are posted on the Churches What’s App Group and are also emailed. If you would like a link sending please let me know.
Services & Events on FB live:
Sunday Services
10.30am Morning Service
7.00pm Candle Lighting
Daily Prayer
4.00pm daily
Morning Service
10.30am Tuesday
Evening Service
7.00pm Thursday
Compline
10.00pm Saturday
More Tea Vicar?
11am Most days apart from Sunday’s
Wine @ 9
9.00pm Wednesday & Friday
Tea @ 10
10pm Monday & Thursday
Bhangra Dance Workshop
4pm Alternate Saturday’s
Dance Party Workshop
4pm Alternate Saturday’s
The other good news is that the BBC will be broadcasting a church service on local radio on Sundays 8am and are looking into doing the same on BBC One.
Regular members of our churches not online have received the Morning Worship booklet. If you know of someone who would like a copy please let me know. Hopefully people can use it daily and especially on Sunday’s. Obviously when this blows over we would like the booklets returning.
The Archbishops are encouraging us to light a candle of hope every Sunday at 7pm as a sign of prayer for those affected by our current situation. Please join with me in lighting a candle each week as you day the words of psalm 23 and the Lords Prayer.
Our 3 churches are ancient, historic and sacred. They have proclaimed the glory of God and the new life of Jesus Christ for centuries. Down the years they have withstood HIV, Aids, WW 2 & 1, Spanish flu, small pox, Cholera, and Black Death. Worship will continue even in these times of Covid-19. We stand firm in the Christian faith trusting in a God who is our rock and defender. We continue to proclaim that the light of the risen Christ will overcome the darkness of fear and death.
DON’T BE ALONE – talk to someone!!!
If anyone is self isolating currently or needs to in the future please feel free to contact me on 01909 771111 or on gary.schofield@sheffield.anglican.org you can also message me on FB messenger or the 3 Church Friends What’s App Group. Members of the church and I are available to listen to your concerns and point you in the right direction if help is required.
Finally, please keep buying locally and buy just what you need. Please keep supporting the New Hope foodbank (use the baskets provided at the local supermarket and churches).
Here is another prayer which I hope you will find helpful:.
We are not people of fear:
we are people of courage.
We are not people who protect our own safety:
we are people who protect our neighbours’ safety.
We are not people of greed:
we are people of generosity.
We are your people God,
giving and loving,
wherever we are,
whatever it costs
For as long as it takes
wherever you call us. Amen.
Be blessed with hope
Reverend Gary
Vicar of Wales
Priest in Charge of Harthill with Woodall and Thorpe Salvin
Welcome to Wales Parish Church 