Bishop Hugh was speaking to Readers via Zoom last week and made the following observations about Exile and Exodus which set me thinking.
During the first lockdown the church and its members acted and thought in the way of the exiles, the lockdown was something to be endured but afterwards things would go back to ‘normal’, usual services, normal church life would resume. Of course that didn’t quite happen, there were risk assessments - by Church Wardens and clergy, sanitising stations, social distancing and masks.
Then there was lockdown two and until last week we were unsure of what the future held, we were also as a church becoming aware that ‘going back to normal’ was not going to happen. We were more like the people of Israel who had fled Egypt but had no idea what lay ahead, the Promised Land was a long way off and there was a lot of travel and travail to come.
Many churches have become comfortable with Zoom services and recorded services, they have learnt to do things differently and have found a different congregation are tuning in, a congregation that do not want to venture through the thick oak doors of an ancient building.
People have found new ministries, phoning the lonely and housebound, shopping for neighbours, writing for news sheets etc.
There are challenges too, income has drastically fallen, but during the Exodus God provided, food in the shape of manna and quails become bread and meat, water came from a rock.
Bishop Hugh’s parting challenge to us was what if we really trusted God to provide for His People on this journey - out of a pandemic and into a new future?
Lesley Margetts
