Sunday 22nd March 2020 - the start of a long journey
I am starting this Blog to reflect on life over the next few months as life is affected by the Corona virus. It seems that all our lives are going to change. In some cases this will be short term, in other cases it will be for ever.
Last Sunday (15th March 2020) our Churches were discussing which events we should cancel as a precaution against the spread of the virus in the UK.
We thought we could carry on with Sunday worship at the very least.
As the week went on and the advice became stricter we realised that Sunday worship and even opening the Church for prayer would be too risky. It was challenging and exhausting realising that so much of our Church life would have to be closed down. Finding new ways of keeping in touch and supporting each other will be a learning experience. I hope this blog may be one way for some of you.
After all the emails and phone calls during the week I was blessed to be able to walk by the Leeds & Liverpool canal near Chorley on Friday. Walking the short Walton Summit Branch and up the main canal from Johnson's Hillock to Riley Green I enjoyed the beautiful spring weather. Keeping a safe distance I exchanged greetings with many people who, like me, just seemed to be happy to be well and to be able to enjoy the beauty of creation. Probably in future weeks I will have to be content with the outdoor places nearer to home.
As things stand today (Sunday 22nd March 2020) everyone in the UK is strongly urged to stay at home unless we need to leave the house for essential reasons. Even going out for exercise has to be done with caution.
There have been many ways today in which we have been able to worship God using written resources and Services on the internet, radio and TV. I was privileged to watch a You Tube sermon by my colleague, Michaela, this morning and to listen to a Service on Radio 4.
On the positive side, the NHS is doing an amazing job at treating people. Their sacrifice on behalf of others is inspiring. We are also encouraged by the fact that we are actually saving lives by following the advice to stay at home. It could be the life of someone we have never met that is saved by us making one choice not to take a risk. We could be the link in the chain that could have led to a person's illness and death. How often do we have the opportunity to do something so simple to save another person's life?
Today, on Mothering Sunday, many of us can reflect on all our Mothers have done to safely nurture us and protect us from harm. Now we are called to show those same motherly qualities to each other - watching out for people's safety by keeping our distance. Our natural tendency is to help someone by reaching out towards them and doing something for them, but today this is a danger, not a help.
It feels strange that the best thing we can do at the moment is to keep a physical distance from each other and especially from the most vulnerable. Yet, this is what our Government, and God, are asking us to do. We must care for each other more than ever but mainly do it from a physical distance. I am sure we will all learn ways to do this over the next weeks and months.
Last Sunday (15th March 2020) our Churches were discussing which events we should cancel as a precaution against the spread of the virus in the UK.
We thought we could carry on with Sunday worship at the very least.
As the week went on and the advice became stricter we realised that Sunday worship and even opening the Church for prayer would be too risky. It was challenging and exhausting realising that so much of our Church life would have to be closed down. Finding new ways of keeping in touch and supporting each other will be a learning experience. I hope this blog may be one way for some of you.
After all the emails and phone calls during the week I was blessed to be able to walk by the Leeds & Liverpool canal near Chorley on Friday. Walking the short Walton Summit Branch and up the main canal from Johnson's Hillock to Riley Green I enjoyed the beautiful spring weather. Keeping a safe distance I exchanged greetings with many people who, like me, just seemed to be happy to be well and to be able to enjoy the beauty of creation. Probably in future weeks I will have to be content with the outdoor places nearer to home.
As things stand today (Sunday 22nd March 2020) everyone in the UK is strongly urged to stay at home unless we need to leave the house for essential reasons. Even going out for exercise has to be done with caution.
There have been many ways today in which we have been able to worship God using written resources and Services on the internet, radio and TV. I was privileged to watch a You Tube sermon by my colleague, Michaela, this morning and to listen to a Service on Radio 4.
On the positive side, the NHS is doing an amazing job at treating people. Their sacrifice on behalf of others is inspiring. We are also encouraged by the fact that we are actually saving lives by following the advice to stay at home. It could be the life of someone we have never met that is saved by us making one choice not to take a risk. We could be the link in the chain that could have led to a person's illness and death. How often do we have the opportunity to do something so simple to save another person's life?
Today, on Mothering Sunday, many of us can reflect on all our Mothers have done to safely nurture us and protect us from harm. Now we are called to show those same motherly qualities to each other - watching out for people's safety by keeping our distance. Our natural tendency is to help someone by reaching out towards them and doing something for them, but today this is a danger, not a help.
It feels strange that the best thing we can do at the moment is to keep a physical distance from each other and especially from the most vulnerable. Yet, this is what our Government, and God, are asking us to do. We must care for each other more than ever but mainly do it from a physical distance. I am sure we will all learn ways to do this over the next weeks and months.
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