Corona Virus – Message from Our Minister Revd Liz Shaw
Dear Friends
I am conscious that by asking you how you are, the answer might be different from one day to the next. I know that there are days when I feel more hopeful and energised about the future, and others when it is difficult to see a comfortable way out of this. However, I have grown more accepting of this because I know the leap from what we all knew and experienced about life in February is so much different from what we know in the present moment. In addition we are gradually coming to terms with the knowledge that we cannot expect a return to our February life anytime soon. Therefore, I think a recent discussion paper published by the United Reformed Church has the very apt title “Ready for the new ‘normal’”.
It is far too early to think of ‘when’ we might return to church, but it is important we begin to reflect about the ‘how’. In reaction to the Prime Minister’s rather confused message delivered to the nation on 10th May, the URC response came the next day from our General Secretary Revd John Proctor, who wrote:
In light of recent statements from the Prime Minister, and from the devolved governments in Wales and Scotland, the United Reformed Church holds to the position that all church buildings should remain closed except for the provision of essential services (foodbanks, addiction recovery groups, etc) or for one person to attend in order to record or livestream worship. It will be many weeks before it will be possible to resume meeting safely for public worship. Further statements will be made when government advice changes.
He then went on to urge: “all churches to use the discussion document “Ready for the new ‘normal’” in this intervening period, to help them in continuing their work during lockdown and in planning for a safe resumption of activities.”
I have read the document and I think it is an excellent foundation on which to build our initial discussions. The elders have all got a copy and I have asked them for their thoughts on it. I am also currently preparing my own response for the elders, which I will be happy to share with you in due course. However, I want to make a few observations at this stage.
I led us in to our church closure and until September and in full consultation with the you and the elders I will lead us out of it. I closed the church because I could not be assured of your safety and that same criteria will be the same driver to lead us to reopen.
But, is safety our only criteria? Pictures of church services where we see people socially distanced, wearing masks, unable to sing and with no interaction between each other, left me cold. That feels a bit like my grandchildren running up to me for a hug and having to turn my back (that won’t be happening either!).
I am also mindful that for a huge part of the population (many of who make up the body of the church) that a return to normal life is not going to be possible. The Government Paper outlining their Recovery Strategy (and I have read all 60 pages of it!) reiterates that whilst it will be kept under review, there can be no immediate change of guidance for either the two and half million people who are shielded or the clinically vulnerable groups. Just a reminder, if one were needed that:
“Clinically vulnerable people include those aged 70 or over and those with some underlying health conditions, all members of this group are listed in the ‘clinically vulnerable’ section here.
As the weeks progress this advice might change but at this present time none of these people will be able to attend church and that bothers me. We are a community who make up the Body of Christ and the fracturing of that body causes me pain and much thought will need to go into this. We are not church for the strongest and fittest, but a church for all. I am not suggesting a return in some form is not possible, I am just saying that a return without all of these people feeling included and supported would not sit comfortably with me. So, one of the challenges in the coming months is to work out how this can be made possible.
I suspect we will see some denominations, including the URC, taking a far more cautious approach than others. For example, the Catholic Church are working for an earlier return than we are. Faith groups are currently meeting with the government but it is possible you will see different denominations and even faiths moving at different paces. You might also see churches within our own denomination returning at different stages depending on their age profile and geography. At this moment in time we just don’t know.
I urge you to read the Discussion Document and then, if you have any comments or thoughts, please let me know. Your thoughts are important to me and they will be listened to. I can also assure you that any steps we make will be guided by our denomination and by our own circumstances. In the meantime, be assured that my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Much love
Liz xx
19th May 2020
Prayer: After the palms and the parade
After the palms and the parade,
after the shouting and the shoving,
after the Hosannas and the hopefulness,
we find ourselves following you through inequality and unrest,
a world full of violence and brokenness,
and we worry about what we can do.
At least we can pray for this world and the people in it …
and we can pray for all those who have put themselves on the front line to mend, heal and keep others well.
We pray for nurses, doctors, paramedics all who are working in our hospitals, care homes and in the community.
We are here to follow you.
Give us strength for the next step.
After the palms and the parade,
after the shouting and the shoving,
after the Hosannas and the hopefulness,
we find ourselves following you through uncertainty, fear and worry
At least we can pray for those living alone and separated from loved ones
and we can pray for those who are ill or infirm ..
those whose treatment has been put on hold
those in hospital isolated from those who would comfort them
and we can pray for those who mourn …
We are here to follow you.
Give us strength for the next step.
After the palms and the parade,
after the shouting and the shoving,
after the Hosannas and the hopefulness,
we find ourselves discovering the world is a much smaller place than we pretended,
that all people are interconnected
that what we thought was important isn’t as important after all.
And we know we need to pray for ourselves,
called to be your holy Church in these altered times …
We pray for our community and for our family and friends.
We are still here to follow you.
Calm us and strengthen us Lord and…
Give us strength for the next step.
Give us the strength to follow even when we are overwhelmed by the uncertainty of these present days.
Give us comfort and calm our hearts.
Give us hope and hear our prayers
Amen.
Prayer was taken from this week's service sheet ©James Hart Brumm (altered for today’s situation by Revd Liz Shaw)
Quarantine is a challenge previously unthought of by our Sages. It is lonely and depressing. Those feelings are natural and valid. All of us in quarantine are feeling them. But taken in the right way, it can provide time and opportunity to connect with God, rethink values and recommit to the priorities that are important to us.
— Rabbi Uri Pilichowski March 12 2020
Contact (also see our contact us page):
Church Secretary: email: shree.nhurc@ntlworld.com
Office Manager: email: office.urcenwh@gmail.com or phone: 07935 094 104
Dear Friends
I am conscious that by asking you how you are, the answer might be different from one day to the next. I know that there are days when I feel more hopeful and energised about the future, and others when it is difficult to see a comfortable way out of this. However, I have grown more accepting of this because I know the leap from what we all knew and experienced about life in February is so much different from what we know in the present moment. In addition we are gradually coming to terms with the knowledge that we cannot expect a return to our February life anytime soon. Therefore, I think a recent discussion paper published by the United Reformed Church has the very apt title “Ready for the new ‘normal’”.
It is far too early to think of ‘when’ we might return to church, but it is important we begin to reflect about the ‘how’. In reaction to the Prime Minister’s rather confused message delivered to the nation on 10th May, the URC response came the next day from our General Secretary Revd John Proctor, who wrote:
In light of recent statements from the Prime Minister, and from the devolved governments in Wales and Scotland, the United Reformed Church holds to the position that all church buildings should remain closed except for the provision of essential services (foodbanks, addiction recovery groups, etc) or for one person to attend in order to record or livestream worship. It will be many weeks before it will be possible to resume meeting safely for public worship. Further statements will be made when government advice changes.
He then went on to urge: “all churches to use the discussion document “Ready for the new ‘normal’” in this intervening period, to help them in continuing their work during lockdown and in planning for a safe resumption of activities.”
I have read the document and I think it is an excellent foundation on which to build our initial discussions. The elders have all got a copy and I have asked them for their thoughts on it. I am also currently preparing my own response for the elders, which I will be happy to share with you in due course. However, I want to make a few observations at this stage.
I led us in to our church closure and until September and in full consultation with the you and the elders I will lead us out of it. I closed the church because I could not be assured of your safety and that same criteria will be the same driver to lead us to reopen.
But, is safety our only criteria? Pictures of church services where we see people socially distanced, wearing masks, unable to sing and with no interaction between each other, left me cold. That feels a bit like my grandchildren running up to me for a hug and having to turn my back (that won’t be happening either!).
I am also mindful that for a huge part of the population (many of who make up the body of the church) that a return to normal life is not going to be possible. The Government Paper outlining their Recovery Strategy (and I have read all 60 pages of it!) reiterates that whilst it will be kept under review, there can be no immediate change of guidance for either the two and half million people who are shielded or the clinically vulnerable groups. Just a reminder, if one were needed that:
“Clinically vulnerable people include those aged 70 or over and those with some underlying health conditions, all members of this group are listed in the ‘clinically vulnerable’ section here.
As the weeks progress this advice might change but at this present time none of these people will be able to attend church and that bothers me. We are a community who make up the Body of Christ and the fracturing of that body causes me pain and much thought will need to go into this. We are not church for the strongest and fittest, but a church for all. I am not suggesting a return in some form is not possible, I am just saying that a return without all of these people feeling included and supported would not sit comfortably with me. So, one of the challenges in the coming months is to work out how this can be made possible.
I suspect we will see some denominations, including the URC, taking a far more cautious approach than others. For example, the Catholic Church are working for an earlier return than we are. Faith groups are currently meeting with the government but it is possible you will see different denominations and even faiths moving at different paces. You might also see churches within our own denomination returning at different stages depending on their age profile and geography. At this moment in time we just don’t know.
I urge you to read the Discussion Document and then, if you have any comments or thoughts, please let me know. Your thoughts are important to me and they will be listened to. I can also assure you that any steps we make will be guided by our denomination and by our own circumstances. In the meantime, be assured that my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Much love
Liz xx
19th May 2020
Prayer: After the palms and the parade
After the palms and the parade,
after the shouting and the shoving,
after the Hosannas and the hopefulness,
we find ourselves following you through inequality and unrest,
a world full of violence and brokenness,
and we worry about what we can do.
At least we can pray for this world and the people in it …
and we can pray for all those who have put themselves on the front line to mend, heal and keep others well.
We pray for nurses, doctors, paramedics all who are working in our hospitals, care homes and in the community.
We are here to follow you.
Give us strength for the next step.
After the palms and the parade,
after the shouting and the shoving,
after the Hosannas and the hopefulness,
we find ourselves following you through uncertainty, fear and worry
At least we can pray for those living alone and separated from loved ones
and we can pray for those who are ill or infirm ..
those whose treatment has been put on hold
those in hospital isolated from those who would comfort them
and we can pray for those who mourn …
We are here to follow you.
Give us strength for the next step.
After the palms and the parade,
after the shouting and the shoving,
after the Hosannas and the hopefulness,
we find ourselves discovering the world is a much smaller place than we pretended,
that all people are interconnected
that what we thought was important isn’t as important after all.
And we know we need to pray for ourselves,
called to be your holy Church in these altered times …
We pray for our community and for our family and friends.
We are still here to follow you.
Calm us and strengthen us Lord and…
Give us strength for the next step.
Give us the strength to follow even when we are overwhelmed by the uncertainty of these present days.
Give us comfort and calm our hearts.
Give us hope and hear our prayers
Amen.
Prayer was taken from this week's service sheet ©James Hart Brumm (altered for today’s situation by Revd Liz Shaw)
Quarantine is a challenge previously unthought of by our Sages. It is lonely and depressing. Those feelings are natural and valid. All of us in quarantine are feeling them. But taken in the right way, it can provide time and opportunity to connect with God, rethink values and recommit to the priorities that are important to us.
— Rabbi Uri Pilichowski March 12 2020
Contact (also see our contact us page):
Church Secretary: email: shree.nhurc@ntlworld.com
Office Manager: email: office.urcenwh@gmail.com or phone: 07935 094 104