One week on.
Have not had nearly as much time as I expected to write on this blog. Perhaps that will change in the next weeks, as so much is changing , so quickly .
Here is what I've just written for our Synod Newsletter:
"“The church is closed”....no - “the building is closed”. We are the church.
The speed with which things have changed in the last week has been dizzying. We are now far more restricted than we ever thought possible and of course our church buildings are closed. We may be feeling isolated, confused, uncertain. But now more than ever we need to dig deep in our faith and ask how, as Christians, we can face the future with hope.
We are still able to follow Jesus
It is hard to come to terms with the loss of the ability to gather together in church, but Jesus said ‘follow me” not “go to church”.
I am trying to use some of this strange time to read, pray and reflect more and be more deeply aware of God’s presence in my home.. since I cannot go to church.
Even from our homes, we can deepen our discipleship by asking how we can follow Jesus more faithfully. For those with access to the Walking the Way pages of the URC website, the ‘Resource map” has lots of ideas and suggestions as to how to walk our personal walk with Jesus. https://urc.org.uk/wtw-resource-map
We can read a book of the Bible chapter by chapter, pray the Lord’s Prayer slowly and thoughtfully, read the words of hymns (or even sing them)…
We are still able to be connected
There are many online opportunities for prayer and worship springing up. Just some of them can be found listed on the URC website https://urc.org.uk/latest-news/3385-coronavirus-worshipping-digitally
Yet the oldest way to be connected to each other and to God is through the Holy Spirit and in our prayer. I am saying a simple evening prayer at 7pm every day – lighting a candle, reading the Bible (I am working my way through St John’s gospel), praying for those whose needs I know, and asking for God’s strength.
Many people are using the URC’s daily devotion https://devotions.urc.org.uk
and there is now a Sunday service, too.
The synod office staff are all now working remotely, but can be contacted by email. If you contact me moderator@urcsouthwest.org.uk I am happy to get back to you to talk on the phone, or arrange a skype call in you would rather me as “face to face” as we can be for the moment.
We are still held in God’s arms.
Yes, these times are unprecedented, unimaginable, and strange. It is understandable that we are all experiencing waves of fear and even dismay in all this uncertainty.
I have continued thinking about the experience of the people of God during the Exodus. Their 40 years in the wilderness began with God leading them out of slavery through the Red Sea. Their wanderings ended when God brought them across the Jordan to the promised Land. Yet as they wandered in uncharted territory the people forgot or even doubted and grumbled about God’s care, and had to be reminded time and again that God had not abandoned or forgotten them, but that God’s love would always remain and would see them through their trials and tribulations in safety.
Deuteronomy 33:27 states “The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms”. May we all know this eternal truth in the weeks to come. God be with you.
Your sister in Christ,
Ruth"
Here is what I've just written for our Synod Newsletter:
"“The church is closed”....no - “the building is closed”. We are the church.
The speed with which things have changed in the last week has been dizzying. We are now far more restricted than we ever thought possible and of course our church buildings are closed. We may be feeling isolated, confused, uncertain. But now more than ever we need to dig deep in our faith and ask how, as Christians, we can face the future with hope.
We are still able to follow Jesus
It is hard to come to terms with the loss of the ability to gather together in church, but Jesus said ‘follow me” not “go to church”.
I am trying to use some of this strange time to read, pray and reflect more and be more deeply aware of God’s presence in my home.. since I cannot go to church.
Even from our homes, we can deepen our discipleship by asking how we can follow Jesus more faithfully. For those with access to the Walking the Way pages of the URC website, the ‘Resource map” has lots of ideas and suggestions as to how to walk our personal walk with Jesus. https://urc.org.uk/wtw-resource-map
We can read a book of the Bible chapter by chapter, pray the Lord’s Prayer slowly and thoughtfully, read the words of hymns (or even sing them)…
We are still able to be connected
There are many online opportunities for prayer and worship springing up. Just some of them can be found listed on the URC website https://urc.org.uk/latest-news/3385-coronavirus-worshipping-digitally
Yet the oldest way to be connected to each other and to God is through the Holy Spirit and in our prayer. I am saying a simple evening prayer at 7pm every day – lighting a candle, reading the Bible (I am working my way through St John’s gospel), praying for those whose needs I know, and asking for God’s strength.
Many people are using the URC’s daily devotion https://devotions.urc.org.uk
and there is now a Sunday service, too.
The synod office staff are all now working remotely, but can be contacted by email. If you contact me moderator@urcsouthwest.org.uk I am happy to get back to you to talk on the phone, or arrange a skype call in you would rather me as “face to face” as we can be for the moment.
We are still held in God’s arms.
Yes, these times are unprecedented, unimaginable, and strange. It is understandable that we are all experiencing waves of fear and even dismay in all this uncertainty.
I have continued thinking about the experience of the people of God during the Exodus. Their 40 years in the wilderness began with God leading them out of slavery through the Red Sea. Their wanderings ended when God brought them across the Jordan to the promised Land. Yet as they wandered in uncharted territory the people forgot or even doubted and grumbled about God’s care, and had to be reminded time and again that God had not abandoned or forgotten them, but that God’s love would always remain and would see them through their trials and tribulations in safety.
Deuteronomy 33:27 states “The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms”. May we all know this eternal truth in the weeks to come. God be with you.
Your sister in Christ,
Ruth"
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