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Keeping the Faith

Connecting with God and others during lockdown

On 23 March 2020, the UK government took the unprecedented step of imposing a lockdown on the country in order to stop the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19). Life as it was previously known came to a grinding halt. Schools were closed, people directed to work from home where possible, and social distancing was enforced.

 

Part of the many measures taken included government direction that faith groups were to close their churches and places of worship in order to protect people, reduce the growing number of lives being lost to the disease and thereby saving the most vulnerable among us.

 

Fear was plentiful and yet our places of comfort and worship were no more. As a people of God, we had to think outside the box, being creative in ministry and acquiring new ways to connect - with each other and with God.

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With this in mind, we invited you to share with us the many ways in which you have been keeping your faith during the period of lockdown. Stories were recorded and made available on the London District of the Methodist Church's YouTube channel. They were also shared via the Weekly Update.

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The series is also available for you to watch below.

Nancy Acquaah on keeping the faith during lockdown
04:15

Nancy Acquaah on keeping the faith during lockdown

In the last of our series on keeping and strengthening our faith during lockdown, we speak to Nancy from Lambeth Mission and St Mary’s (part of Lambeth Circuit). Like most of the other people we’ve featured on the series, Nancy’s faith has been nurtured during the lockdown through a variety of ways including hearing others’ stories, participation in virtual Church meetings and her local church’s WhatsApp group.
Angelina Ansah on keeping the faith during lockdown
04:45

Angelina Ansah on keeping the faith during lockdown

Angelina is a community based physiotherapist and works with patients with a variety of health conditions that limit mobility. The pandemic meant that Angelina was redeployed to support patients at her local hospital, where she witnessed the severity of cases in the wards. It was through music that Angelina found strength, as well as connecting with her church (Shern Hall Methodist Church), and other people, through Zoom.
Katherine Boakye on keeping the faith during lockdown
04:37

Katherine Boakye on keeping the faith during lockdown

Katherine, a member of Kensal Rise Methodist Church, works in the events security industry. With no events happening at the moment, she has been placed on furlough, the government’s Coronavirus Retention Scheme. The lockdown has however given her the opportunity to do a bit more: praying, meditation, studying and speaking to people. #WovenIntoGod #WovenWithOthers #Lockdown What’s your story of faith during the lockdown? Get in touch with Fola, our Project Coordinator at fola@methodistlondon.org.uk to discuss how to share it with the rest of the London District as part of Woven. Visit www.methodistlondon.org.uk/woven for more information on the Woven Project and the many ways in which you can share your story.
Hayley Finucane on keeping the faith during lockdown
04:18

Hayley Finucane on keeping the faith during lockdown

Hayley, a member of Chelsea and Fulham Methodist Church, is an outgoing person with a zest for life and her church community. This lockdown has been a difficult and tearful experience for Hayley. She found comfort in asking God for help and has discovered that her Womens Group set up on WhatsApp group has been a lifeline. #WovenIntoGod #WovenWithOthers #Lockdown What’s your story of faith during the lockdown? Get in touch with Fola, our Project Coordinator at fola@methodistlondon.org.uk to discuss how to share it with the rest of the London District as part of Woven. Visit www.methodistlondon.org.uk/woven for more information on the Woven Project and the many ways in which you can share your story.
Mark Williamson on keeping the faith during lockdown.
03:46

Mark Williamson on keeping the faith during lockdown.

Mark is a member of Methodist Central Hall Westminster. Like most of us, Mark’s work and ministry in the church have all moved online. Mark is keeping his faith alive through a host of different activities... # 1 ‘Me and my wife Joanna, we have started to read a Psalm each morning’ # 2 ‘I am part of a Whatsapp group that discusses Scripture online’ # 3 ‘It is hard to do sung worship online or in broadcast messages … I am discovering so much more new music now because of Youtube’ # 4 ‘Reflecting on three things I am grateful for each day’ #WovenIntoGod #WovenWithOthers #Lockdown What’s your story of faith during the lockdown? Get in touch with Fola, our Project Coordinator at fola@methodistlondon.org.uk to discuss how to share it with the rest of the London District as part of Woven. Visit www.methodistlondon.org.uk/woven for more information on the Woven Project and the many ways in which you can share your story.
Marsha Asenso on keeping the faith during lockdown
05:01

Marsha Asenso on keeping the faith during lockdown

The lockdown has been bittersweet for Marsha, wife and mother of four from St Marks Church in Tottenham. Marsha has not been able to see her loved ones except her immediate family and her daughter, due to finish Year 6, may not be able say goodbye to her friends. However, the upside has been that she now spends more time with her family, in the Scriptures, in prayer and in sung worship. As a family, they are also engaging more in family Bible studies. #WovenIntoGod #WovenWithOthers What’s your story of faith during the lockdown? Get in touch with Fola, our Project Coordinator at fola@methodistlondon.org.uk to discuss how to share it with the rest of the London District as part of Woven. Visit www.methodistlondon.org.uk/woven for more information on the Woven Project and the many ways in which you can share your story.
Lindsey and Daniel Macfarlane on keeping the faith during lockdown.
04:57

Lindsey and Daniel Macfarlane on keeping the faith during lockdown.

Lindsey and Daniel’s family belong to the Croydon Circuit. Two parents working from home and three children not being able to go to school made things initially chaotic. In the midst of the chaos, they’ve found new ways of growing their faith. #WovenIntoGod #WovenWithOthers #Lockdown What’s your story of faith during the lockdown? Get in touch with Fola, our Project Coordinator at fola@methodistlondon.org.uk to discuss how to share it with the rest of the London District as part of Woven. Visit www.methodistlondon.org.uk/woven for more information on the Woven Project and the many ways in which you can share your story.
Brian Smith on keeping the faith during lockdown
03:02

Brian Smith on keeping the faith during lockdown

Meet Brian, the Youth and Children’s Coordinator for the London District of the Methodist Church. In this short video, Brian briefly shares with Fola, the Project Coordinator for Woven, how he has been able to find new meaning from Bible passages during the lockdown. #WovenIntoGod #WovenWithOthers #Lockdown Do you have a story you want to share of how you are keeping your Christian faith during the lockdown? Why not get in touch with Fola, our Project Coordinator at fola@methodistlondon.org.uk. Visit www.methodistlondon.org.uk/woven for more information on the Woven Project and the many ways in which you can share your story.
Theresa Sam on keeping the faith during lockdown (Part 2)
04:25

Theresa Sam on keeping the faith during lockdown (Part 2)

Meet Theresa, a community worker at the Hackney & Stoke Newington Circuit, a local Preacher and trainee minister in her final year of formation (Diaconal Order) at Queen’s Foundation. In Part 1, she shared how the lockdown has impacted here. Here, she shared various ways on how she has kept her faith going including journaling, praying, singing hymns, being still, support of friends and Scripture reading. She also shares a comforting prayer with all of us. #WovenIntoGod #WovenWithOthers #Lockdown Do you have a story you want to share of how you are keeping your Christian faith during the lockdown? Why not get in touch with Fola, our Project Coordinator at fola@methodistlondon.org.uk. Visit www.methodistlondon.org.uk/woven for more information on the Woven Project and the many ways in which you can share your story.
Theresa Sam on keeping the faith during lockdown (Part 1)
02:45

Theresa Sam on keeping the faith during lockdown (Part 1)

Meet Theresa Sam, a community worker at the Hackney & Stoke Newington Circuit, a local Preacher and trainee minister in her final year of formation (Diaconal Order) at Queen’s Foundation. In this video, Theresa shares how the current lock down has impacted her and those she serves through her work. In part 2, she shares how she has kept her Christian faith going. #WovenIntoGod #WovenWithOthers #Lockdown Do you have a story you want to share of how you are keeping your Christian faith during the lockdown? Why not get in touch with Fola, our Project Coordinator at fola@methodistlondon.org.uk. Visit www.methodistlondon.org.uk/woven for more information on the Woven Project and the many ways in which you can share your story.
Jessica Dalton on keeping the faith during lockdown
04:13

Jessica Dalton on keeping the faith during lockdown

Meet Jessica, a Learning & Development Officer for the London Methodist Region and a local preacher in the Richmond and Hounslow Circuit. In this video Jessica shares how the current lockdown has affected her work and her family. She also shares four ways of responding to the lockdown. #WovenIntoGod #WovenWithOthers #Lockdown Do you have a story you want to share of how you are keeping your Christian faith during the lockdown? Why not get in touch with Fola, our Project Coordinator at fola@methodistlondon.org.uk. Visit www.methodistlondon.org.uk/woven for more information on the Woven Project and the many ways in which you can share your story.
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