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Well, that escalated quickly!

We are well used to the news changing daily, and although it was expected at some stage, the Bishop's announcement about the suspension of services in churches throughout the diocese and then throughout the island took us all by surprise.

Suddenly, our whole mission to the world took on a different outlook.  We will be forced to look at our very core as we imagine new ways to connect with our parish over the coming days, weeks and months.  Perhaps this will change how we connect with our faith and practices for a very long time, we will have to wait and see.

While I am well aware that we are facing rapidly changing circumstances - I am relieved and grounded in the knowledge that the God that we serve doesn't change at all!


Hebrews 13: 5-9

Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper;  I will not be afraid.  What can anyone do to me?’
Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food, which have not benefited those who observe them.

Firstly, we are in a new technological world, in which we can connect with each other in so many different ways.  I intend to broadcast a service of Morning Prayer each weekday morning at 1130am (from the church), and an Evening Prayer at 530pm (from home) on my Facebook page.  I hope you will be able to join me - and if you need a Prayer Book, please consider "borrowing" one from the church - just add your name to the list in the porch.  We will be looking you to bring them back when the emergency is over - but you could do that at a service.

I then intend to open the church building for private prayer for anyone, each day from 12pm to 1pm, unless we have any emergency situation such as a funeral or a parishioner in specific need.  Anyone who visits the building for prayer will be expected to adhere to the social/physical distancing guidelines. We will reserve seats so that proper social distancing is respected, and I will be there to offer prayers foe specific needs.

Sunday services have been cancelled - however I will open the church building each Sunday and conduct a spoken service of Morning Prayer which you can follow as I will also broadcast it on Facebook.  I will also include in this service prayers for the names that are on our prayer list - which will be updated on our church website several times each week.  If you have a specific request, email it to Aghavea@gmail.com which is checked regularly.  There won't be a lengthy sermon, but simply a "Thought for the Day" - hopefully we'll get back to sermons eventually!  When you are online, please feel free to comment with your own prayers, thanksgivings and requests.

If you are reading this online, then you're already halfway there to joining us.  If you've picked this up from Facebook, then woohoo! you're there!  You may have family, friends, neighbours that may not have an online presence - and I would ask you to assist them in any way to share the news with them.  Wherever you are, I hope you can join us each day for prayers, whether online or joining us in spirit by reading through Morning Prayer at the same time.

I don't need to remind you that the "church" is the people, not the building - and I ask all of you to help me in our ministry to the community.  Be aware of neighbours in need.  Be conscious of those who are feeling lonely and anxious.  Please reach out to everyone in need, regardless of denomination, race or creed.  When we weather the pandemic and the social changes it forces upon us, I hope that we can say - ‘The Lord is my helper;  I will not be afraid.  What can anyone do to me?’ 

 Johnny McLoughlin
Rector, Aghavea

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