My item for the much anticipated projected return of the print parish magazine in June.
From
The Rectory
It’s
a real pleasure to be able to introduce this first printed edition of the
parish magazine for some time. I know many of you have missed it. Here’s one
small step among many back towards some kind of normality, we hope.
As
ever we remain grateful to Simon, our esteemed editor, and all who work so hard
on advertising, content and distribution. Thank you! It’s great to keep in
touch in this and other ways, and we would love to hear from anyone who would
like to subscribe, advertise or contribute.
We’ve
been busy planning how all sorts of things can resume safely, details of some
of which you’ll find later in the magazine. There’s still some uncertainty as
to what will be allowed when. We’ll give more details on the Warbleton Church
website (where you can find our weekly notice sheet) and on our church Facebook
and Twitter accounts when we can.
The
whole Covid pandemic and the lockdowns have been so grim that they will call
for long and profound reflection. Some of us have had cause to count our
blessings as we’ve observed with sorrow the suffering of others. There is much
over which to grieve and lament, as well as wonderful acts of self-sacrificial
service to celebrate. We have been thinking as churches about how we could help
to mark our losses (for example, with memorial services for families who had to
have very restricted funerals). And we are looking forward to the time when
congregational hymn singing will be allowed indoors again. We have so missed
being able to meet together at times, and we feel for those who have been
particularly isolated or fearful. We want to be cautious and respect the
concerns of others, but I for one will be delighted when we get to a point
where masks are no longer necessary and we don’t have to worry about how far two
metres is!
At
the risk of sounding trite, I want to use the remaining space to offer one or
two reflections as we look back and plan ahead.
Covid
19 has shown us afresh the fragility and uncertainty of life. We ought to have
known these things, but some of us might previously have been tempted to feel
secure and invulnerable. Maybe the stripped down, pared back regime of lockdown
has given us time and space to ask what really matters. It would be a shame to
rush on too hastily from such questions.
Jesus
once told a parable of wise and foolish builders (Matthew 7:24-29). Both face a
storm. The Christian is not immune from the challenges of life. Times of
testing are inevitable. Some of us might be feeling battered. And all of us one
day must face the flood of death. Jesus askes us to examine the foundations of
our lives. What have we been depending on? If we’re wise, Jesus says, we will
hear his words and put them into practice. Real security comes only from
building our lives on the Rock which is Christ. As the hymn puts it, “On Christ
the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand”; “My hope is built
on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”
As we tick off the
roadmap dates of 17th May and look tentatively towards 21st
June, we have all sorts of hopes and plans. You may even have dared to book a
holiday! Virtually nothing in life is certain. Jesus would tell us that our
ultimate hope, our only real security, should be in him alone. Christian hope
can be sure and steadfast because it depends not on our performance, resilience
or strength but on what Jesus has done for us out of sheer grace. We don’t know
what life will bring. And Christian faith is no insurance policy against all
kinds of loss and the most tragic disasters. But Jesus promises to be our
shield and defence in the storms of life. Whatever we face he is with us, even
if we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, as we all must. At last,
he will bring us to God’s house for ever (Psalm 23), to the Eternal City with
lasting foundations, which God has prepared for all who will put their trust in
him. We don’t have all the answers, but we have a solid unshakeable hope. May
God bless and deliver us as we look to the months ahead.
The Revd Marc Lloyd
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