Good Evening Everyone,
As we approach the end of January, I thought it was time to send out my first update of 2021, so included are a few bits of information that hopefully you will find helpful and maybe even encouraging.
Public Worship
On Christmas Eve the Churchwardens announced that we had come to the decision to close St Michaels for Public Worship for the duration of January. This was for multiple reasons, including the high infection rates. The PCC Standing Committee have reviewed this decision this week, as requested by the PCC, and have decided to keep the church closed for Public Worship during February also. This decision was based upon the local infection rates, which despite some decrease remain relatively high.
Ash Wednesday falls on the 17th February and this marks the start of the season of Lent and journey to Easter. With it being such a significant date in the church’s year we will hold 2 gathered services on this day in church. Booking will be required and these will be services of Holy Communion. More information about this will follow next week. Following Ash Wednesday the Standing Committee will meet again to make a decision about March and also Easter. My hope is that the rates will have decreased enough for us to be able to worship together in our church building for Easter.
Candlemas
This Sunday marks the Presentation of Christ in the Temple otherwise known as Candlemas. I filmed our service yesterday, and for those on Facebook, you may have seen the picture of all the candles lit in church. Due to most the usual church furniture not being in church, this year has provided a unique opportunity to fill the church with candles. So make the most of this, St Michaels Church will be open for Individual Prayer between 5.30pm and 6.30pm this Saturday (Saturday 30th January) where you can come and spend time in the space as it has been set up for Candlemas with over 300 candles lit. As David Taylor and I looked out on the church having lit all the candles the words of Jesus ‘I am the Light of the World’ the Gospel of Johns words ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it’ were particularly poignant, powerful and encouraging.
Lent
Lent is fast approaching, and I hope to write again towards the end of next week to share with you various resources we will be making available to encourage you in your faith during this season. There will be Lent Groups on Zoom and 2 different series of Lenten Reflections. We hope to offer further resources too – but that’s for another update.
Grief
Despite 2021 being less than a month old, it has been a difficult month for our nation but also for our church community. The Covid-19 death toll in our country passed a very sad milestone this week, and we have received news of the deaths of a number of our church family. The loss of one person is always hard, I am struggling to find words to communicate the loss St Michaels is currently experiencing. Death is never easy for those who are left behind, and yet we have a hope, and whilst this hope might not always numb the pain we feel, it offers strength to walk in each and every new day. Death is not the end. Jesus has overcome death, and welcomes home those who love him. Its ok to be sad, its ok to be angry, its ok to question but know that God is with you, God is with us. In the coming weeks, we will have an opportunity to publicly remember some close friends and to say goodbye, and whilst this will be hard we will be able to do so trusting in the promise of Jesus – that he has welcomed our Brothers and Sisters home.
Prayer for the Nation
In response to the national sense of grief many feel, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York are calling Christians to pray every evening, for our nation and world but particularly for all those who have been hit hardest by this crisis. They have put together a range of resources to support this time of prayer – all of which you can find on the national Church of England website - https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/prayer-nation#na
A year ago we were preparing for the challenge of Wonderland, the joys, the laughter, the confusion and the exhaustion. They were good days – the days of fellowship, of joy, of laughter with friends will return again. Don’t lose hope. God is faithful!
With my prayers,
Calum