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Advent Sunday

Lockdown 2.0 - at least that's what some are calling it!  

With many of the small, independent businesses being closed for a two week "circuit breaker", it seems unfair that the many larger businesses are allowed to open - often using loopholes to class themselves as essential businesses.

Similarly, while we could meet inside a supermarket or inside a large shopping centre, it does seem very strange that we have to close our places of worship!  It may be that many will feel that the devil is getting his way in closing churches - be clear, we are not closing CHURCHES, but places of worship.  Jesus clearly identified the Church as the people of God, not a particular building or location!!  Church buildings may close, but the Church is more open than ever!

This year has forced us to look at the way we conduct church.  Personally, I believe that the previous year, that we spent in the Parish Hall while the renovations were being carried out, has helped our parish to cope with the pressures that C19 pandemic brought this year.  It showed us clearly that no matter where we met, the Holy Spirit continued to touch our hearts and souls.

While we have explored Drive-In church, which isn't really practical at this time of year, we discovered that it soon felt just like the old "normal" - we were gathered together in Jesus' name!  We have explored Online Church, and discovered that it provided a means for people all over our parish, our diocese, and indeed our world, to join our praise and worship!  We soon discovered that our Sunday Services worked well when we returned to the building, and included our Online Community in our worship.  I am even aware that some folks that attended the service have even watched it again online later in the day or week!  Now that's dedication!

The next two weeks will see us return to Online Only services - but don't worry one bit about that! At the start of December we celebrate the season of Advent in the approach to Christmas - a penitential period of spiritual darkness before the joy and celebration of Christmas!  This year our Advent period will include a darkness that we have already endured this year, isolation in our homes - and we've already proved that we can endure it, we can use it as a spiritual weapon to beat the devil - not one that he can wield against us!  Let join in prayer and spirit to continue our worship of God, and take the battle to the devil!  Let's take Church into our communities in different ways, and take joy in the new ways God can bless the world!  Covid 19 won't last forever, and we need to be in the best spiritual shape when the "normal" returns!  This lockdown isn't a spiritual holiday, but a chance for us to rest physically, take care for ourselves and others, and get ready to come out fighting!!  This Christmas could be the best ever!

Our service will be online at Online Service.

Please join David and myself as we broadcast from the church building, and we look forward to joining with you again very soon!

Blessings

Johnny

Rector

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