Moving On and Moving In

Hi folks

Once again, our world has changed and the Covid regulations are starting to bite! Whilst none of our parishioners have been diagnosed with the virus, more than a few can now name those who have tested positively, or are currently under investigation! While we have long considered this as a "town" virus, it is starting to make its presence known in our own communities!

We still have a target of being back in church for our Harvest Celebrations on Sunday 4th October at 11am. This might change in the coming week, but we fully intend to be back in if we are allowed!

Each and every day brings new challenges and changes, but this is how life is at the minute! We have two options as far as I see: firstly, we can complain and refuse to cooperate with the changes, or do so only reluctantly; or as a second option, we can accept that life is difficult at the moment, but understand that we are only making these changes in order to keep each other safe and accept them in that spirit.

I sincerely hope that we can all find ourselves in the second group. We have to accept these changes, so why not accept them graciously and move on, determined to make the most of life in the meantime, despite the circumstances! This is how I believe we should be acting as Christians, showing respect to everyone, and demonstrating our love to our neighbour by respecting their health and security.

The pandemic is likely to impact upon many aspects of our Church life in the coming months - but let's accept that as an adventure with God, as we find different ways to worship together. I've never had an Outdoor Harvest Thanksgiving, but there's some sense of appropriateness in doing so! Remembrance, Advent and Christmas are still ahead of us - who knows how they'll be celebrated, but I'm sure we will find an appropriate way to do that too!

In the meantime, please keep safe. Respect each other and live in love for God and for each other.

May God be with us.

Rector

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