Daily Thought: Listening

Daily Thought: Hope

Daily Thought: Do Not Fear

Daily Thought: By The Rivers Of Babylon

Hold On To God

I write this hoping that it finds you in good health. 

When we entered 2020 it was inconceivable that we should find ourselves in a lockdown. Stories of a virus in Wuhan had made the newspapers, but I don't think we imagined it having such an effect on our lives many thousands of miles away. We have now been in lockdown for over two months and coming out of it is likely to take some time. We are, indeed, living through the greatest global public health crisis of our lives.

I am sure that it effects us all in varying ways. On the positive side, it has brought out real moments of togetherness and some wonderful examples of creativity and humour. However, it has also brought us moments of anxiety and a feeling of being cut off from the company of others whom we value and need. This is especially true for those who live on their own.

I really want to say to those of you who are struggling that it is ok to be finding this experience hard. If you feel lonely, angry, anxious or even somewhat depressed, it is no judgement on you. Your feelings are perfectly natural in this once in a lifetime experience. I tell you that my own feelings are increasingly resembling a yo-yo with moments of feeling good interspersed with moments of feeling gloomy. It is absolutely natural that at times we should feel the pain of this situation. Do not beat yourselves up over the moments when you are overcome with negativity. Do not apologise for your humanity. Hold on to it with defiance, even shouting at God, for God has been shouted at by multitudes down through the ages and is perfectly able to take all that we throw in His direction.

Today I want to tell you that when you feel lonely God is your companion. When you feel unloved as a result of not having a warm touch for several weeks, God still loves you and feels your pain. When you feel despair, God gives you reason to hope. When you feel down on the ground, God lifts you up. Truly, the God who is the reason for your very existence and who loves you as if you were the only one to love, is not going turn away from you or withdraw the love that lifts you up. This is a time to hold on to God even if it is by your finger tips. We will come through this time and we will have a song in our hearts once more.

I do not know when we shall return to our churches, but I do know that we will return when we can make it safe. Your wellbeing is at the heart of how the Methodist Church and, more locally, our circuit will make decisions. For a time we are effectively in exile but I promise you that church will go on, albeit in different ways than we are used to. I shall continue to produce (with help- offers of participation are always welcome) a Sunday service as well as daily reflections. I hope to start an online Bible Study soon too. All these things can be developed and refined. We are together finding our way through previously unchartered waters.

I give thanks for the ways in which you are looking after each other. I have heard so much about how people from my local churches have supported each other. You have embodied church in the ways that you have cared for each other. It has been truly inspiring. I have seen what it means to be a community of the people of God.

As the death tolls seem to be coming down, I encourage you to keep your guard up; the danger is by no means gone. There may well be future spikes, so stay safe! Together we can go on to rebuild as we emerge from this experience. Most of all, be kind to each other and to youselves. You deserve that!

Daily Thought: Mental Health Awareness

Daily Thought: Jesus Wept

Daily Thought: White Ribbon

Sunday Service: In My Father's House

Daily Thought: VE Day

Daily Thought: Looking For God

Sunday Service: The Lord Is My Shepherd

Daily Thought: It Is Well With My Soul

Daily Thought: Where Is God's Love?

Daily Thought: Footprints in the Sand

The Importance of Prayer

It has been quite a week with the 3 week extension of the lockdown and once more I encourage people to keep in touch with one another.

I was impressed on Thursday night when so many people across the country went to their doorsteps and applauded our dedicated health service workers; it seems to get bigger each week. These are very special moments in which the country comes together in solidarity. We are truly in this together.

To borrow a phrase from the late Jo Cox MP  we 'have more in common than that which divides us'. We are also coming to appreciate the efforts of so many people whom we have in the past taken for granted. That legacy is one which I hope lives on beyond the virus.

Many of you will be feeling anxiety at this time: I certainly am. Do not feel guilty about this or beat yourself up over it. It is a natural feeling. After all, Jesus went through agony in the garden of Gethsemane at the thought of what was to come. Try to think positive thoughts and do whatever helps you to relax; our mental health is very precious indeed.

Prayer becomes important even if it is not always easy. We need to travel the path ahead in a way in which we are open to God's prodding. Those making important decisions from positions of authority need our prayers; those who work in the health service and other emergency services need our prayers; the shop workers who are constantly interacting with the public need our prayers; the sick and sad need our prayers; those struggling with isolation such as families where family members have the likes of autism or ADHD need our prayers; those for whom domestic abuse issues seem inescapable need our prayers; and of course we need to pray for the scientists working on a vaccine. The list is endless, however, we should not forget that God can bring hope into the most difficult of situations.

In the meantime, seek to bless one another. I commend to you the words of St Paul:

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11

The Lord is my Shepherd

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff- they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

These words are familiar words from the Book of Psalms. Many can recite them and in various forms we often sing them in worship. Are not these words especially relevant for today?

Psalm 23 is a 'Psalm of Trust' and as such it is a Psalm that looks to God in times of trouble. The Psalm contains phrases such as the 'darkest valley' and a table 'in the presence of my enemies'. Clearly the Psalm was either written by or for a person going through times of trouble and yet, in the darkest of times, it points to a God in whom we can put our trust; a God who has been faithful in the past and who is not about to give up on us, even in the most challenging of times.

Today we face real challenge in the form of a deadly virus that is sweeping the globe. There can be no doubt that the next few months are going to be very difficult indeed. During the current lockdown we are having to live with restrictions that we could not have envisaged just a few short months ago. We have to be vigilant for the sake of our own health, as well as for those whom we love and hold dear.

At times we will be tempted to despair. In these moments we need to look to God for help, trusting in God's unwavering love to help and guide us, even through the darkest of paths.

I encourage you to hold fast to the words of Joseph Hart who in a well known hymn wrote these words that still hold meaning for these days:

How good is the God we adore!

Our faithful, unchangeable friend,

His love is as great as His pow'r,

And knows neither measure nor end.

May God's love enfold you at this time.