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Parish Explorations!!

 Hi folks

Bear with me folks, please read carefully.



Most folks who know me by now know that I really enjoy Science Fiction (also known as sci-fi). Many of the things we now take for granted were originally envisioned as futuristic devices in early sci-fi - such as communicators being used by Star Trek to communicate with each other - now known as mobile phones.

They also showed people commanding the “computer” by voice - now commonplace with devices such as Amazon Alexa, Google Hub, and many other smart device.  Digital tablets were first shown on Stanly Kubrick\s fantastic film “2001”, with HAL controlling the main operations of the space craft.

Driverless cars, modern aviation, space race, planetary exploration, even summon devices such as ovens that heat food in seconds (microwave ovens anyone?) all have their roots in someone’s dreams.

Apocalyptic books and films that depict a desperate future where humanity struggles against a common adversity such as aliens, nuclear holocaust, zombies, or even pandemic infections have now been put into a whole new perspective given our world’s current situation!  Whoever guessed at the start of the year how this would progress must have been surprised.  No one could have guessed a worldwide lockdown and a global economic crash by March, and a struggle to rebuild society by the end of the summer!  It was way beyond my imagination, and took us all by surprise!

Some of my greatest daydreams always started with Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s famous words at the start of every episode or film in the Star Trek series - “to boldly go where no one has gone before”.  Those words, despite the split infinitive, sparked adventures that pass imagination!

Anyway - back to today!  It is my intention to have our first Drive-In Holy Communion service on Sunday 30th August.  In a real sense, we will be going where no one has gone before, or at least in our parish! Many of us haven’t actually had Holy Communion since the start of the current pandemic, but we are going to have a go next week.  It will be different - especially as only the bread will be distributed (safely and with careful social distancing rules), and the clergy (myself and David) will receive the wine.  I sincerely wish I could do it differently - but I really can’t!

I will go to each car and give the bread following the Thanksgiving prayer, rather than you coming to me, and as usual, you will not be compelled to receive.  The old phrase, “All may, some should, but none must” is particularly appropriate. As ever, our table is always open to all those who have called Jesus their Saviour

It will feel different - for us all - but given our present circumstances I feel it is the best we can do to explore our future.  “It’s life Jim, but not as we know it” is another famous quotation from my Star Trek Series! Or rather “It’s Holy Communion folks, but not as we’ve had it before”!!

Please consider coming along to Aghavea Parish Church on Sunday 30th August at 11am to join us for a celebration of Holy Communion.

Johnny

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