Sunday 15th Nov
INTRODUCTION
How is your second lockdown going? It’s not the same as the first time, is it? I notice the traffic on Bolton Road: first time round it diminished to virtually nothing. It was wonderful to hear all the birds for a change, and they enjoyed the peace and quiet! This time there’s been virtually no slackening off. It’s not quite as heavy as before this all started but you wouldn’t know we’re all supposed to be staying home.
Mentally I think we’re finding it harder too. There was a sense of novelty before and people thought of ways to pass the time. Gardens never looked as spruce and colourful. That doesn’t work in November. I’m still trying to clear the leaves from the three Vicarage lawns. Not a very creative task but it gets me outside, I suppose.
There’s more of a groundswell of opinion against closing churches and other places of worship this time. We have been so careful about distancing and masking in church. I haven’t heard of a single case of anyone being infected through a church contact. But we are closed at the moment so we have to do what we can in our own homes.
If you can find a rhythm for each day that includes prayer you’ll keep that vital lifeline open. I hope this service also gives you time to think and pray, to offer up to God all that is happening – or not happening – to you and asking his blessing.
It’s a time to think about the world and all that’s going on there. And to reflect on God’s creative love. Although we may seem far from it, especially as we look the climate emergency in the eye, the message from scripture is that we are never far from it. We just need to spot it in our own lives and in the lives of others.
As we approach Advent we can use this period of isolation to focus on God’s love, especially in the life and saving work of Jesus.
With every blessing
Revd Jan