At the start of the coronavirus pandemic last March in the UK, nobody knew how long it would last. Local community groups, organisations and faith networks were challenged to think of new ways to 'reach out' and support those living in their neighbourhoods.

A group of Anglican Churches in Peasedown St John, Wellow and Shoscombe, known as the St J's Group, launched an innovative online e-magazine called the 'Sunday Supplement'.

And now, forty weeks later, the publication has become a big hit with parishioners locally and viewers around the world.

Church Leader, Revd Matthew Street, said: "The Sunday Supplement was first aired on the 29th March 2020. It was never designed to be a Sunday Service replacement but always wanted to draw church members together every Sunday. Right from the start the Sunday Supplement has tried to involve as many people as possible.

" During the last forty weeks we have had to learn some new words like zoom, social distancing and lockdown. It has therefore been interesting to see on the Sunday Supplement how some activities of the past have had to adapt to our new pandemic circumstances. Take babysitting for example, how does that work in lockdown? How does running a Bible study, prayer group or coffee morning work in lockdown, for instance?"

The 40th edition of the Sunday Supplement was aired last week on the St J's Group YouTube channel. Ironically, the number 40 holds special significance for Christians with it being used 146 times in the Bible and often referring to times of trial, testing and probation.

"The number 40 appears often in both the Jewish and Christian Scriptures," added Matthew, "Moses is believed to have lived forty years in Egypt and forty years in the desert before God selected him to lead his people out of slavery. And in the New Testament we're taught that Jesus spent 40 days in the desert resisting the temptations of the devil."

Despite churches and other places of worship being allowed to remain open during the current lockdown, the St J's Group is continuing to produce its Sunday Supplement every week, catering for those who are self-isolating, shielding or unable to physically attend church.

To watch past editions of the supplement, click HERE : their You Tube channel

For details about the St J's Group, visit the benefice website: www.stjsgroup.church, or contact the Operations Manager Rob Bubyer by emailing [email protected] or calling 07973 972018.