Same but different!

What a glorious day... sunshine and blue skies! I'm very privileged to wake up each day to this view from my bedroom window. On the surface, it all looks the same as it always does...Pendle hills in the distance, Giggleswick School Chapel on the horizon, cars on the road, people out for a walk and Holy Ascension Church basking in the sunshine (well - maybe not the sunshine!) ...

...but it isn't the same. On a 'normal' Thursday morning - this street would be buzzing! The Co-op car park at the bottom of the street would be filling up, the surgery car park would be full and cars would be constantly searching for somewhere to park on the street. There would be the dog-walkers, the joggers, people chatting and of course, the constant stream of people setting out on the walks that Settle is so famous for.

What you might not notice is 'the safe distances', the 'No Entry' sign at the entrance of the doctor's surgery and of course...the church is all locked up. I'm pleased to say that 'Church' still goes on. Many of our congregations are now living 'in-isolation' and I am constantly amazed at their spirit and resolve to see this thing through as best they can - to keep themselves and others safe from Coronavirus.

My ministry and routine inevitably has been adapted. My physical pastoral visits may be on hold at the moment but I'm talking to a lot more people on the telepone. I introduced a 'Prayer Triplet' where groups of three people commit to make one telephone call a day. That means they have the comfort of two conversations each day. The idea is to be there at the end of a phone...a human voice of Christian love and conversation. And then to remember each other in their daily prayers. The Prayer Triplet booklet and instructions can be found on the 'A Church Near You' website' - https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/6880/page/54162/view/

You may already have a time set aside each day for prayer? I am now saying Daily Prayer in my study each day instead of in our churches and assure you that you are all held in prayer. There are some really good resources out there to help us structure our prayers. You may have been following #LiveLent or one of the many downloadable apps. Perhaps you might like to leave a comment, below to share your favourite online prayer links?

An excerpt from the NT reading in this morning's Daily Prayer:

"Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10: 23-25