AS well as the on-line service each Sunday, at Crediton Methodist Church we have weekly notices distributed via the computer.

One family who worship at Tedburn St Mary Methodist Church shared in the notices previously what they had been doing since lockdown began.

Every "school" day morning they share something they are grateful for that day. Sometimes it can be something quite profound – other times something like "I am grateful for the dishwasher". They write them onto a “leaf” that they stick to their Gratitude Tree.

The girls are enjoying thinking of things too and especially the two older girls are beginning to see how their lives are blessed in ways that others are not. But now we are in lockdown, it serves as a reminder of how far we have come, but also how many things we have to be grateful for.

And that is enough to get us through.

On Sunday, May 24, a family showed a picture of their Gratitude Tree and explained some of the things they were thankful for.

Another person had sent in the following poem which had been found whilst cleaning out a drawer:

Rainbows appear after mighty storms when things look their worst

Just when the skies are darkest grey look for the rainbow first

The rainbow is a sign of God’s promise that He will guide us through any storm

That He will see us through all our troubles no matter what their form

When you feel battered by life’s storms and you are filled with doubt and dismay

Just remember, a rainbow is coming, it is only a prayer away.

I have put on my Gratitude Tree an email I received from another member of the Church who works for the NHS.

After a long and difficult shift at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, she saw a rainbow over the hospital and sent me a photograph of it.

This is God’s promise that He will guide us through these difficult times. This shows God’s love for us.

On Sunday, May 24, the preacher was Lloyd Smale, a Methodist Local Preacher. He spoke on the reading from Luke 8: 40-56 and said, in these unprecedented times, a lot of people are afraid of dying. Lloyd said the answer to fear was faith and believing in Jesus and in the Bible reading two people who were at their wits end found the antidote to fear by believing in Jesus. Lloyd urged us all not to be afraid but believe in Jesus.

If you would like to listen live to Sunday morning services at 10.30am, please contact the Audio Visual team using the email: [email protected] or telephone 01363 777308. Individual help will be given to work out how you can best access the worship.

Bronwyn Nott