We need to be honest about the circumstances around us:

Our local hospitals are pretty overwhelmed – and we’re so grateful to individual medics who serve in different ways.

This lockdown for many will feel – and will be – far more unpleasant than last Spring.

• Freedoms remain sacrificed, friendships damaged, education hampered, livelihoods ruined, non-Covid illnesses undetected.

• Many are grieving the loss of loved ones and don’t have the usual support.

• Church worship and Christian fellowship remain seriously affected.

• And all of this in the middle of Winter, and after 9 months of difficulty.

Some are very fearful of Covid, in some cases because of painful personal experience.

Some are exhausted and depressed – maybe because of the demands of homeschool alongside work,, or because you’re starved of people and fellowship and worship and it feels like it’s killing you slowly from the inside.

Some are angry: perhaps at the Lord, or at our government.

What can we do?

1. Do not tire of believing and telling one another that the Lord is in control of everything. We don’t understand all his purposes. But he is in control of everything. Remember too that you can believe in and be filled with hope AND still be in deep pain – just like the Lord Jesus on the Cross..

2. Do not tire of believing and telling one another that we have a heavenly Father who loves us and a Lord Jesus who sympathises with us in our weakness. So, in our praying we can lament – “how long O Lord?” – and tell the Lord honestly about the world and about ourselves and plead with Him for grace and mercy..

3. Let’s help one another to keep on giving thanks. The Christian always has blessings to count.

4. Don’t give up meeting together (online). Please keep joining us for our online services on Facebook or YouTube (it’s a great encouragement to meet together and to let each other know we are there in the comments).

5. Join one of our zoom groups, we have a variety of groups meeting on zoom from teenage to old age, they are a great way to encourage one one another. (contact Nick for more info)

6. Keep phoning one another to see how we’re doing.

Ask for help if you need it:

• Are you deeply low or lonely? Someone else in the church ought to know that – to help, to pray. Please don’t suffer alone.

• If you get Covid make sure that someone knows. It’s not a shame or a crime to be hidden away!

• If you’re struggling at home please reach out and ask for help.

Do you need practical help: e.g. you’re stuck at home for any reason and need shopping or meals delivered.

Can you help with shopping?

Please also let us know if you can help with shopping or anything else and we can then have a list of people to contact if anyone needs help.

Remember we’re in this together, and we are to carry one another’s burdens. This is part of the joy of belonging to a local church, we get to serve one another.

Please don’t hesitate to get in contact whether you are currently a part of our churches or not, you can contact Nick on 049 4338204.

Love and prayers,

Nick