Word from Bede Circuit
Dear Friends
I have recently enjoyed annual leave. I had planned to go to the Oberammergau Passion Play and Austria but that has been postponed till 2022 so instead, I spent some time at home in the manse, had a few days away in North Yorkshire with a friend, and spent the last week in the company of my 7-year-old grandson and his parents! I had not seen Aled or his parents since New Year when I visited them at their home in Raynes Park, London. Three other visits were cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions. Although we have regular Facetime calls which enable us to “see” each other, I was amazed how grown up Aled has become; amazed too at his energy and enthusiasm for life which is wonderfully infectious but completely exhausting!
I also took the opportunity on leave, to reflect upon a question I was asked in a recent session of Spiritual Direction: “How has this time of lockdown and living within Covid-19 restrictions changed you?” My immediate answer had been “Not much!” but when I really gave it serious thought, I knew that was not true. As churches closed overnight, like many other people, I was plunged into trying to fulfil my work and ministry in new ways without any preparation. Looking back, it was something of a scramble! But how has it changed me? On a personal level, I managed the isolation quite well but also knew periods of loneliness. On reflection though, that was not necessarily a bad thing as it has enabled me to really come to terms with the death of my husband four years ago. Even in the scramble of everything, GOD is with us and I can honestly say I never felt God’s absence. Being out of our church buildings has reminded me that, although our buildings are an important resource to us, they can also overburden us and keep us from our Gospel task. People are the church and I have been encouraged by the ways in which people have kept in touch with each other. Now, each church is beginning to look at how and when they may reopen buildings. The four churches I look after in South Shields are all doing that differently and I keep saying that that must be okay!
One day last week Aled and I went rock pooling at St Mary’s Lighthouse. More correctly, he did, and I took photos! One of them shows him on the rocks with his net as he looked intently for hermit crabs! At that moment, to him, that was everything that mattered. As I watched him, I reflected how stressed and anxious adults can become as we try to work out what needs doing next, whether that’s the weekly supermarket shop, a myriad of other things, and yes, working out when to reopen our churches. We were not the only ones rock pooling that day but Aled managed to ignore everyone else and fixed his eyes upon finding hermit crabs – he found two which sadly was down on last year’s 19! In the Bible, the author of Hebrews in chapter 12: 1-2, offers this word of encouragement to us:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”.
“How has this time of lockdown and living within Covid-19 restrictions changed you?”
I encourage you to keep up the good work of keeping in touch with and praying for each other but would also encourage you to reflect upon that question. Then why not share your story with someone else as we each seek to “fix our eyes” on those things that really matter and the ONE who really matters the most – Jesus Christ our Lord?
There will be no Zoom Bible studies this week, but we will be studying the book of Philippians during September.
Sunday worship at 10.30am and Wednesday Morning prayer at 10am will continue on Zoom. There are other services on Why Pay Telephone Conference (please ask your minister for details) and please do use the Sunday service sheet as we continue (for now) to worship at home.
Every blessing,
Revd Deborah Wainwright, on behalf of the Bede Circuit staff team.