In this time, it is clearly easy to see the negatives about our current situation. Life is different, this is a new way of living, even if this is only in the short term. The negatives are easy list, I don't know what the top of your negatives list?
For me it’s not being able to embrace and see some of my family. The children in my life especially, nieces and nephews that are growing up so quickly and that we can't see in the way we would usually. Other things include not being able to run my youth groups in the same way I usually would, or not being able to play team sports etc. All negatives. We can look at these negatives often and quickly. What is more difficult to do is look at the positives of what is happening around us.
We are generally pulling together as society, some really lovely things we all see are happening. A great example of this is our Thursday Round of Applause for Our NHS. I had a really special moment this week, in the middle of doing our youth session online we stop to go out. As I did an ambulance showed up outside our house, they stopped so they could take photos of a rainbow you could vividly see on the horizon. So that meant when we went outside and clapped, we went and clapped for those paramedics outside, you could see how they appreciated it and it was nice to have that moment to thank some people that are really making a difference.
There are loads of moments like this. Capt. Tom Moore is another one, raising money for the NHS. The way people have responded... Amazing. People coming together to celebrate birthdays on a street (see video below), or the way our scientists are coming together to create a vaccine. Little things including shopping for the vulnerable or looking out for neighbours. All things which are so positive to see.
Other things include our environment; CO2 levels are down massively. I have seen a picture of people out on their walks, living miles away from London actually being able to see the City Centre. That wouldn’t usually happen. Traffic is down as much as 73% at one point. I know that level isn't sustainable but some of the reduction is!
The creativity people are using at this time, learning skills, doing things that they don't usually have time for. All of it is positive.
Just remember that it’s not all negative, take positives whenever you can! Not just big things but little things too
For me it’s not being able to embrace and see some of my family. The children in my life especially, nieces and nephews that are growing up so quickly and that we can't see in the way we would usually. Other things include not being able to run my youth groups in the same way I usually would, or not being able to play team sports etc. All negatives. We can look at these negatives often and quickly. What is more difficult to do is look at the positives of what is happening around us.
We are generally pulling together as society, some really lovely things we all see are happening. A great example of this is our Thursday Round of Applause for Our NHS. I had a really special moment this week, in the middle of doing our youth session online we stop to go out. As I did an ambulance showed up outside our house, they stopped so they could take photos of a rainbow you could vividly see on the horizon. So that meant when we went outside and clapped, we went and clapped for those paramedics outside, you could see how they appreciated it and it was nice to have that moment to thank some people that are really making a difference.
There are loads of moments like this. Capt. Tom Moore is another one, raising money for the NHS. The way people have responded... Amazing. People coming together to celebrate birthdays on a street (see video below), or the way our scientists are coming together to create a vaccine. Little things including shopping for the vulnerable or looking out for neighbours. All things which are so positive to see.
Other things include our environment; CO2 levels are down massively. I have seen a picture of people out on their walks, living miles away from London actually being able to see the City Centre. That wouldn’t usually happen. Traffic is down as much as 73% at one point. I know that level isn't sustainable but some of the reduction is!
The creativity people are using at this time, learning skills, doing things that they don't usually have time for. All of it is positive.
Just remember that it’s not all negative, take positives whenever you can! Not just big things but little things too
Also in the negatives, this is having a massively positive effect on Church life. Obviously, we would love to be able to have Sunday Worship together or be able to have some of our meetings in person. However the way the church has and continues to responds to this is amazing.
There are so many examples of the church getting involved with work that is going on in the community, whether it be food banks, working together to help vulnerable in society including refugees in some places, linking the isolated to communities, it’s all currently taking place.
There are lots of examples of faith growing during these times, according to Tearfund 1 in 20 adults have started to pray during the lockdown, despite not praying before. We know that lots of people that might be on the fringes of church have now got access to things because they can see it online and they dont have to walk into a building.
What the church becomes during and after lockdown is still being shaped and will be for some time to come. It shouldn't and won’t go back to how it was before the pandemic. How will it change? The thing is that everyone gets to have a say in this, including young people. How do you want church to be different, how can the church serve you even when it can't physically meet? Any ideas then please contact us!
Times of isolation change us, like most things this is shown in the bible. Throughout the old testament you see prophets going through a time of isolation and them coming out different, changed but empowered to take the next phase of their life. The stories of Ezekiel, Noah, Jeremiah to name a few that all incorporate time on their own, not being able to attend gatherings, before continuing and moving onto a new phase of their lives doing amazing work in the process.
We should and will continue to deal with the negative impacts of this time but how can it shape us? or even help us to become something different? something more.
One of the best videos I have seen this last week is "The Blessing UK". This video which shows over 65 churches and movements, representing hundreds of others, who have come together online to sing a blessing over the UK. 'The Blessing', a song that came out of Elevation Worship, provides the background to the message that the church in the UK is very much alive even when our buildings are closed.
There are so many examples of the church getting involved with work that is going on in the community, whether it be food banks, working together to help vulnerable in society including refugees in some places, linking the isolated to communities, it’s all currently taking place.
There are lots of examples of faith growing during these times, according to Tearfund 1 in 20 adults have started to pray during the lockdown, despite not praying before. We know that lots of people that might be on the fringes of church have now got access to things because they can see it online and they dont have to walk into a building.
What the church becomes during and after lockdown is still being shaped and will be for some time to come. It shouldn't and won’t go back to how it was before the pandemic. How will it change? The thing is that everyone gets to have a say in this, including young people. How do you want church to be different, how can the church serve you even when it can't physically meet? Any ideas then please contact us!
Times of isolation change us, like most things this is shown in the bible. Throughout the old testament you see prophets going through a time of isolation and them coming out different, changed but empowered to take the next phase of their life. The stories of Ezekiel, Noah, Jeremiah to name a few that all incorporate time on their own, not being able to attend gatherings, before continuing and moving onto a new phase of their lives doing amazing work in the process.
We should and will continue to deal with the negative impacts of this time but how can it shape us? or even help us to become something different? something more.
One of the best videos I have seen this last week is "The Blessing UK". This video which shows over 65 churches and movements, representing hundreds of others, who have come together online to sing a blessing over the UK. 'The Blessing', a song that came out of Elevation Worship, provides the background to the message that the church in the UK is very much alive even when our buildings are closed.
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