1% was never going to be enough. It’s been a tough year for everyone, but over the last 12 months most of us have become more aware of the pressures on our health workers than ever before. Night after night, TV gave us access to the wards and we saw nurses and doctors, often young adults themselves, talk about the strain they were under.
Through the year, we were encouraged to support the NHS. So children drew pictures to put in their windows, councils painted slogans on roads, we stood at doorsteps clapping week after week, we stayed away from the surgeries and A&E. And it was genuine – we were and are immensely grateful and proud of those who were in hospitals at a time when no one really knew how things would develop.
That’s why a 1% rise in pay became an issue last Wednesday.
Because it’s not enough to say that you are grateful, if your actions suggest something different.
It’s the old truth: ‘Show don’t Tell’. Though like all cliches, it has its limitations. The ancient joke about the wife who asks her husband whether he loves her, to be met by the answer, ‘I told you I loved you 25 years ago and if anything changes, I’ll let you know’, does contain a truth.
You have to tell people you love them, appreciate them, are grateful for them. But you also have to be able to translate that into actions.
It’s a constant New Testament theme. It’s there when Jesus warns his followers, it’s not enough to keep shouting ‘Lord, Lord’ if you don’t actually do the will of God (Matthew 7:21). It’s there when Paul suggests that you can speak ‘in the tongues of men and of angels’ but if you don’t love those around you, you’ll just be a irritatingly loud cymbal crashing around (1 Corinthians 13). It’s there when James told his church ‘I will show you my faith by what I do’ (James 2:18).
So let’s be clear and specific. It’s not enough to say you love your husband or wife, if your criticism keeps tearing them down all the time. It’s not enough to say you want the best for your children, if you don’t spend time with them. It’s not enough to say you want people to know Jesus if you’re always complaining about life. It’s not enough to say you love the church, but don’t work towards getting to know people.
It’s why you can’t offer 1% and then spend millions on making your office look more ‘presidential’. It’s why you have to show, not tell. And, by the way, this is not just about health workers but the rest of the public service as well, folks that we rely on when society’s roof looks like it’s caving in.
Jesus was right all along!
Three Things To Watch
1. Each week through March we will be releasing a short film which we hope will be helpful to you in at least 2 ways. They are short prayers around common themes and we hope you will find them helpful yourself. But we also hope that you will find them cringe-free so that you will feel able to share them on your social media accounts. We hope it’s a way to help people who might not be so sure about faith to connect with us. Let us know what you think of them to help us decide whether to do them again!
This week’s is here.
2. On Wednesday the Young Adults group met and were thinking about prayer – why it matters and how to deal with all the obstacles that get in our way of actually praying, rather than just talking about it! (If you’d like to be included in this group, they happen every other Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm – please get in touch for the Zoom link. (Alex number: 07746 130249))
As part of that evening, Andrew showed a film he had put together with three stories of answered prayer from Adam, Frank and Hannah. It seemed too good not to be seen by all the church, so here it is.
3. This week Ian shares a new song he’s written called ‘Love You More’.
Coming up
1. Easter Posters
After the success of our Christmas window display trail, the SMT wanted everyone to have the chance to participate in displaying a window display for Easter. Jonny Dolphin has kindly printed off two different Easter designs in a range of colours.
If you would like one, please contact Kate Blundell (07805 069033) to arrange collection or delivery after 15th March. Please also specify if you would prefer the three crosses or egg design. You will also be given a laminated QR code that you can put in your window or front gate, which when scanned will take people to the Easter page on our website.
2. Can you help?
Yvonne and Martin Simms run Salford Food Parcels – a way they help people who are struggling with food shortages.
They need some help, especially for these items:
UHT milk, oil, shampoo, deodorant, shower gel, toiletries, tinned food in particular.
If you can help, you could drop them at their home – 11 Lostock Road, Salford, M5 5LH and Gill Oldham has said that she would be happy to pick stuff up and drop them if you can’t get to them. Her number is 07764 851769.
3. Alpha Online: starts Monday 12th April, 7-8.30pm
Following the success of our previous online Alpha course, we are offering another chance for people to explore the big questions of life and faith in a friendly and non-judgemental atmosphere.
There will be 12 weeks to discuss questions such as ‘Is there more to life than this?’, ‘Who is Jesus?’ and ‘How can I have faith?’. Here’s a teaser:
If you know anyone who might be interested in trying the first session, do invite them along and share salfordelimchurch.org/alpha with them – it will give them a taster of what to expect and how to sign up if they’d like to join us.
It will be facilitated by a team of great people: Andrea Catherwood, Emmanuel Isibor, Yvonne Simms, Dave and Chris Swindells.
4. An Offer of Counselling Support
One of the ministries we have as a church is the Community Counselling Service. During this Covid crisis we have continued to offer Counselling remotely via zoom or telephone. There are however, limitations with remote sessions.
We are now offering Walk And Talk Counselling to anyone from church who would benefit from counselling or those known to church members. We would agree a time to meet at the Tea Kiosk in Lightoaks Park and would walk at a slow pace for the 50 minute session.
If you feel you would benefit from this please don’t hesitate to contact Judith Thompson, Neil, or Ian or fill in the form on the church website.
Our Regular Gatherings
1. Lunchtime in Exile
Each week on Tuesdays from 12.30-1.30, there are lunchtime sessions exploring the Book of Revelation.
The link for the series is here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84319535601?pwd=K2s2WHhKdmJJMjF5ZnU2KzFTVW5GUT09
Meeting ID: 843 1953 5601
Passcode: 757553
We know that not everyone will be able to come along at that time, but we will record all the sessions so you can catch up later so you can watch them at whatever time works well for you. The link to them is here: salfordelimchurch.org/revelation
2. Wellbeing Course: Thursdays, 1-2.30pm
Are you living on empty? Maybe it’s time to refill.
The Wellbeing Journey is a new series exploring holistic wellness: body, mind and spirit. It is based around 6 key areas of wellbeing: physical, emotional, spiritual, relational, financial and vocational, to help you discover how to run on a full tank.
There are eight sessions to explore together, lasting between 60 and 90 minutes, which includes a video and time for discussion.
If you know someone who would benefit from discussing their wellbeing in a friendly and supporting environment, do invite them.
Here’s the link: https://zoom.us/j/92865676423?pwd=TVZSR253YWc1Wm1LQ3l4eTdDY0o3dz09
3. Coffee Morning: Wednesday at 10.30am.
A Wednesday morning is the ideal time to catch up with people, have a brew, even involve yourself with a quiz.
Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/94930624852?pwd=dlI0SnhwY3RaNnUrUGpSMTkrWm5hZz09
4. Home Groups: Thursday at 7.30pm
The home groups meet every other week, and spend time reflecting on the Sunday sermon, in particular thinking about its relevance to our own situations in life. If you are not part of a group, but would like to join in, please contact Neil and he’ll send you the link for the evening.
5. Prayer Meeting: Friday
Contact Corinne Baines or Gill Oldham or Neil and they’ll make sure you are able to connect.
6. Sunday Service at 10.30am
ZoomLink: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/836810848
Meeting ID: 836 810 848
And on Salford Elim Church’s YouTube page.
And at 10am, led by Hannah:
If you would love the privilege of praying for our Sunday morning service, then we need you! Log on to the Sunday morning Zoom using the link above at 10am and we’ll go into a break out room for 15-20mins, to pray together for those involved in the service, as well as for the service itself.
I’d love to see you there xxx
If in doubt
All the links to the meetings are in ChurchSuite and on the ‘Calendar’ section of our church website: https://www.salfordelimchurch.org/events/
You’re not alone
If you need help and don’t know where to turn, you are always welcome to contact Neil on 07771 558058.
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