14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; mercy and truth shall go before your face.
15 Blessed are the people, O Lord, who rejoice in you; they shall walk in the light of your countenance. Psalm 89:14-15 (BCP2019)
Hello dear friends! How are you today?
I’m writing this on Thursday morning and it is a truly perfect day. The right combination of sun and shade with a light breeze just to keep things pleasant. I've had a good breakfast, and I’m drinking a nice cup of tea. Simon and I, our kids and granddaughter, are all healthy. I know what’s for dinner. I am isolating myself from the pandemic. My only significant weekly outing is to do grocery shopping at a convenient time. When I check on my pension fund it’s solid enough, and I am pretty confident that I’m not going to lose my job.
Now how do I feel about all that? Grateful? Guilty? Delighted? Ashamed? Anxious? Joyful?
How should I feel? Hmmm, well to be honest, that word ‘should’ is a bit of a red flag for me…so....
Well, firstly, I am very, very grateful. And also perplexed. And challenged. Blessing brings responsibility. And so I am pondering how I could be responding to the world around me today. This Sunday, we will think about our pride, and the steps we can take as we consider who we are as Christ-followers in our physical, social and cultural setting. We will examine ourselves … and then respond to the world around us out of confidence in our belovedness. I do hope you’ll join us - and maybe invite a friend? We promise to be welcoming :)
So - meanwhile - what’s new?
Zooming @5pm this week will feel ‘the same but different’ as we are going to record some of the content in the Chapel in the morning. So come to zoom ready to engage and listen and pray and worship …. And later, let us know what you think of the small changes!
Also some of us will worship at 5pm in small gatherings this Sunday - in a “Garden Church” our new name for the "zoom@5pm-in-a-bubble-from-someone's-backyard-or-deck-groups”. These are open and flexible and you are so welcome to join one (even if you can only go once!). Many of us are still safest at home - and that is so appropriate. So grateful we can have options, and yet still worship 'together'.
Finally, did you know you can now sign up to get notifications of new blogs on our website? AND that you can now add your comments? Join in the conversation!
Want to help? There are a couple of opportunities for YOU if you have a little spare time and want to engage in some Incarnation planning:
Would you like to join a ‘back to the chapel team’? To help organise cleaning rotas and think through details?
Would you like to help with “Garden Church” admin?
Anything else you’d like to help with? Let me know - there’s always space for a little more assistance!
Email/WhatsApp me and let me know how you are doing!
So grateful to be your pastor,
~ Liz