We're starting the new year with a new series: God's Heart for Mental Health We began last Sunday with Bill reflecting on Valued. If you missed it catch up here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp5htqUAk04 Join us for Sunday Different each Sunday from 10.15 on our YouTube channel to hear more 
We are thrilled to launch our #Christmas QR code trail! There are seven waypoints on the trail located in different parts of Cambourne – one of which will be on the front door of the church building. These waypoints can be approached in any order, and you can engage with just one or with all seven. Each waypoint has a poster displayed with a QR code. Scanning this code with your smart phone leads to a short Christmas message and then to a carol on video. For more information and a map of the trail please visit cambournechurch.org.uk/christmastrail or scan the QR code in the picture with your smartphone. 
Sadly we are unable to have our usual Remembrance activities this year in Cambourne. However we are still keen to honour the lives of those lost in war and therefore we intend to create a display of poppies and words of remembrance in the windows of Cambourne Church this year. There will also be space for wreaths to be attached outside the church building. We would dearly love to have poppies created by those of all ages in our community to display in the windows. If you are able to paint, colour, sew, draw or create a poppy for the display please let us have this by midday on Saturday by putting it through the main church letterbox in an envelope. If you are involved in running a uniformed organisation who would normally be marching, then please do encourage your group to partake in this way. The display will be available for people to visit in their own time from Sunday 8th November for a week. An Act of Remembrance will be live-streamed from the Church on Sunday 8th at 10.50am on YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJHACwrLhGo or available via our website www.cambournechurch.org.uk/remembrance Sadly we must discourage congregating around the church at this time but please do come along anytime during the week to remember those who have been lost. 
October 9th - 15th is Baby Loss Awareness Week. This year the church will be open for people to drop in for a time of private reflection and prayer anytime between 6.30 and 7.30pm on Thursday 15th October. There will be electronic candles available to use, but for safety reasons we cannot use standard candles this year. Candles can be taken home for those that would like to do this. Please wear a mask in the church. 
Such a joy to be back in the church building for a Sunday service for the first time in over 6 months! It’s very different but so good to worship the living Lord here with others. 
Yesterday we began our new sermon series on 'Returning from Exile'. If you want to catch up on Bill Miller reflecting on Zerubbabel rebuilds the temple, you can find the video on YouTube at http://ow.ly/evIn50BCTmm 
As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall not cease. (Genesis 8 v.22) On Sunday we focus on thanking God for the harvest. Even though we will not be gathering together in the building we still want to offer the opportunity for people to bring gifts for the work of Jimmy’s, an organisation which supports people experiencing homelessness in Cambridge. Contributions can be brought to the office in the Blue School any time between now and Monday 21st September. A collection box for this purpose will be placed outside the office. Alternatively, gifts can be brought in person to the church on the afternoon of Monday 21st September when the building should be open for communion services and for private prayer. Please remember to observe social distancing and do not venture out if you are experiencing any of the indicative symptoms of COVID 19. 
There's still time to book onto the Online Alpha course we're running. The course starts tomorrow evening (Tuesday 15th September) on Zoom and runs for 11 weeks. Book online at alpha.org.uk/try or contact the church office office@cambournechurch.org.uk or 01954 710644 Alpha Online is an opportunity to explore the Christian faith, ask questions and to share points of view. Each session looks at a different question around faith and is designed to create conversation. 
We're really disappointed not to be able to offer a holiday club to the primary school aged children in Cambourne this year - we had some fantastic plans for it as well! However there are some great virtual holiday clubs happening over the summer holidays: Monday 27th - Friday 31st July - Tale Spin - three holiday club sessions featuring songs, stories, games, craft, theatre and more - looking at stories Jesus told with the power to change the world. Live on YouTube at 10am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday https://www.youtube.com/zephstoryteller This is coordinated by a charity in Bradford, The Zephaniah Trust, who work with schools, churches and community groups to 'take light into dark corners'. https://zephaniah.org.uk/ They're also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zephaniahmusictrust Monday 3rd - Friday 7th August - Virtual Holiday Club on YouTube. The morning session will be live every day at 9.00am lasting about 35 minutes with wrap-up sessions each day at 5.00pm. The Holiday Club is on the theme of the armour of God (Ephesians 6 v.10-20) and is entirely free. It looks to be fun. Click here for more details https://youtu.be/sMT2XubuOx0 or visit the Virtual Sunday School website: https://www.virtualsundayschooluk.com/pages/virtual-holiday-club . They're also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/VirtualSundaySchoolUK Do keep an eye on the children's resources page of the church website: https://cambournechurch.org.uk/ChildrenCovid where we'll continue to highlight any other resources we think may help us and our young people grow, and remain close to God, in this time. 
I am sending this communication before my main pastoral letter because we have sad news to share. Bishop Desire of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with whom Cambourne Church has partnered for many years, died a few days ago from Covid. I will quote in full a letter sent on Saturday by the bishop of a neighbouring diocese. Dear in Christ, With sorrow and anguish in heart, we announce the death of the Rt Rev Desire Mukanirwa Kadorho, Bishop of the Diocese of Goma. His death happens after two weeks of sickness. He was receiving treatment in Heal Africa hospital of Goma. Bishop Desire leaves a wife, Mme Claudaline and 4 children. Goma Diocese and Bishop Desire's family need prayers for comfort. Rt Rev Bahati Bali-Busane Sylvestre, Bishop of Bukavu Diocese. Please pray for his family, friends and diocese. These are sad times. Shalom, Bill (photo from anglicanaid.org.au) 
Find a comfortable place and join us on Sunday at 10am for praise, prayer and reflections. youtube.com/cambournechurch 
Our awesome team have been busy filming and editing videos for Sunday Different. Join us on Sunday at 10am (youtube.com/cambournechurch) to see the fruits of their labours and join us in worship and prayer.