Well, this is a Spring and Summer with a difference and is not something that any of us could ever have imagined.

The churches and chapels are locked, our public buildings are closed and we are restricted in all that we do for our own good, for the good of others, and to help our NHS and other key workers.

My churches, like many others, have been marking special events and important Sundays in different ways. Easter was on the radio, online, sent in the post and with some visual symbolism outside of our church buildings. As we remembered the 75th anniversary of VE-Day with silence, celebrations at our doorways and communal singing from a safe distance we were reminded of the many acts of love and heroism locally, nationally and internationally, taking place in this time of international challenge. People are doing great things and we applaud each and every one of them.

As part of the local pastoral care team I am aware that there can be a great deal of tension and fear too. We are all tense, short-tempered and we get frustrated that we cannot hold conversations face to face as we would normally do.

So I suggest, at this time, and at all times of prayer and thanksgiving ….we might endeavour to take time to BE STILL, allow ourselves time to BE CALM, try to BE PATIENT; both in the queuing two metres apart and in our communications.

Remember to BE KIND, there has been much evidence of that kindness, and also BE GENEROUS, plenty of that in evidence too, BE THANKFUL for other people and for simply being alive and, of course, BE SAFE.

There are no Bible references for this specific situation, coronavirus is a new and unknown challenge of our time, but the whole of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and ongoing presence is based on these principles of Christian love for each other;

So I pray that at this time we can

BE STILL

BE CALM

BE PATIENT

BE KIND

BE GENEROUS

?BE THANKFUL

?BE SAFE

HELENE STAINER