Pray without ceasing...

A little while ago, to mark my arrival as Priest-in-Charge, a Millennium Yew was donated to Holy Ascension Church at Settle by the ROOTS group (Respect Our Old Trees, Settle). Since that time, advice was sought to find just the right place for the sapling to go and the right permissions were acquired for the planting to take place. All that needed to happen was the tree planting it self. We thought about when it should happen but didn't get round to arranging a date and time - and then coronavirus happened! The sapling knew nothing about this and with Spring in the air, it did what trees do and it began to grow. So...yesterday, Chris and I, out for our daily walk and equipped with a spade, made our way to the churchyard and the tree finally made it into the ground. A faculty for a plaque to mark this momentous occasion will be arranged in due course.

The recent change to my daily routines has meant that quite a few things that had been 'put off' are now getting some attention. The vicarage garden is one such beneficiary. I had forgotten just how much I like gardening. I'm reading more too. Reading has always been my passion but it tends to get pushed lower down on my regular list of priorities! Another thing that I've been meaning to do for ages is to get to grips with developing the website for St Alkelda's Church. I'm pleased to say that I now have admin rights and I'm enjoying the challenges!

Talking of challenges, technology is one of the things that many of us are grappling with at this difficult time as we make extra efforts to keep in touch. Facetime and Zoom have become household names. Last Sunday, when our churches were still open, we had a go at live streaming Morning Prayer via Facebook. It wasn't the best quality and the signal kept dropping but we did our best. The video had quite a lot of views which suggests that it is something that we should do more of. I was thinking how good it would be to have a dramatised reading for Palm Sunday via Zoom so that members of the congregation could contribute. So tomorrow, live from my study, we are going to have a go to Zoom a Service of the Word. We may even have live music involved. I haven't figured out the logistics yet but I will arrange to put a link on our 'A Church Near You' websites so that people can join in. It may work well - it may not!  

Online social media is a wonderful medium, especially at these difficult times, however, I am conscious about all those who don't have access to computers and tablets etc. The good, 'old-fashioned' telephone continues to be a life-line to so many and I am so encouraged when I hear about the love and kindness shared between our congregations and the amount of telephone conversations that goes on. 

There's another conversation that doesn't need any technology...and that is prayer.  It is just between you and God...no-one else! There are no set rules. We don't need fancy words or correct grammar. It can be out loud or in silence. We don't need a set time or a sacred place, it can be done anywhere...anytime by anyone...

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, 

give thanks in all circumstances; 

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18