Words from Bede Circuit
Dear Friends
This week, I was asked the following question, by one of my congregation, during a phone call. So Matt, in which lecture did they cover the world flu pandemic, whilst you were training at Queens?The honest answer is, there was not a module that covered this. In the history of Methodist training, I do not think there has ever been a module on what to do in a world flu pandemic. As a probationer minister in the circuit, this was something I never thought I would face in my first year of ministry. As my ordained colleagues say to me, you could write a book about your experiences in your first year!This is true of each one of us at the moment, as we collectively as the church, write our part in the churches history, as we face this challenge of what it means to be church and the people of God, in this lockdown.
I did not expect for instance, to have to become someone who needs to have the skills of a tv presenter.I did not expect to have to become a technical whizz, who must operate the production studio of the broadcasts.
I did not expect to have to be sharing the gospel in a socially distanced way. I did not expect to be prevented from being able to visit families who have lost loved ones. I did not expect to be prevented from being able to be by the bedside of those who are dying. I did not expect to be prevented from administering communion to the congregation, and I did not expect that the church would have to stop its week by week activities from taking place in our church buildings.
We were reflecting on all of this as part of staff meeting. Whilst we did not ask the question directly to each other, I am sure, if you were to ask any of my colleagues, despite feeling that we never had training in being a tv presenter, technical editor, or facing any of the many challenges we find ourselves with, in trying to minister to people in our communities safely, we would not want to simply give up on ministry or stop. Why? The simple answer is, it is because this is who God has called us to be, and where God wants us to be right now.
So, I wonder, how are you feeling about your faith, your role within church, what the church will look like when we re-emerge from lock down? Maybe for you its worry, maybe its excitement, maybe it is a feeling of things will never be the same, maybe it is a feeling of I just do not want to do this anymore.In amongst this uncertainty, it is my experience that God will equip us for the task ahead, so that we can do them to the best of our ability.
We may not always get everything right, as we attempt new things, but we will be loved, sustained and guided by God, as we step out in faith, being the people and the church that God wants us to be.
Remember, we do not face these challenges alone, but together, with each other and with God, from whom we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and With God, who knows our inner most thoughts, and every word that we will utter, even before the words are on our tongue. May you take confidence from this, and be blessed as you continue to be Gods faithful people, filled with Gods Holy Spirit, being spirit led, with a passion for mission and a heart for Jesus, because that’s who God calls us to be.
Looking ahead
June is Bible Month based upon the book of RUTH and the circuit staff will be holding a series of Bible Studies by Zoom. Log in details will be made available but studies will take place on: Mondays 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd at 7.00pm AND on Thursday mornings 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th at 10.30am. Ruth has four chapters and each week we will study one of them in turn. The content of each weekly session will be the same.
Sunday worship at 10.30am and Wednesday prayers at 10.00am will continue on Zoom
Every Blessing, Rev Matt Sheard on behalf of the circuit staff team