This week has been busy but productive. The Pioneer Hub met on Sunday afternoon online – this remains open to everyone and continues to serve almost as a ‘think-tank’ for some of our leaders as we question how we support our churches. The Circuit Leadership Team then met via Zoom on Monday night. Among other key themes, both meetings highlighted a sense in which we are all feeling a lament, and a degree of fear despite the lockdown being eased in certain contexts. This has also surfaced in my conversations with pastoral leaders. We all thought it would be helpful for me to share openly about this. As I write, I don’t know whether I am praying or writing.
I want to say, ‘Lord, we Lament’. I feel the sorrow myself. I feel tearful as I put words to paper. We all feel it. Whist we can celebrate the good things that have come out of this pandemic, we lament the fact that we still cannot properly ‘embrace’ each other. When I use the word ‘embrace’, I am not referring to my missing the opportunity to hug another human who may as well be as close to me as a member of my own family (we have all amassed plenty of those). Rather, I am lamenting the fact that, until we don’t have to worry about keeping two (or even one) metres distance from each other, our relationships lack something. What we all miss is the ability to talk to each other and to share in group conversations that feel more natural.
It has even reached the point that I am missing the tea and biscuits after services. It is always easy to overlook the significance of this, believing that biscuits, and chat, are an unholy distraction, an irreverent aside to what should be our principal occupation, namely worship. Yet, whilst worship is important because it keeps us centred on God, I lament equally the loss of fellowship. I lament it because, even though I am still able to keep abreast of how people are doing over e-mail and after morning prayers, it always opens up a ‘space’ where I am able to touch the soul of another and they, in return, can touch me. I have long since realised that I spend more time talking with people in churches than leading worship. Indeed, this is the reason why I am so often among the last who leave our buildings. I feel that it is important for you to know that I lament this loss and long for its return, just as much as you do. Yet my role as a leader is also to help people to stay positive, to highlight the good things that are happening in difficult times, and to encourage us to discern a way forward for the future. But, yes, there are times when it is important that I acknowledge, ‘Yes, this is tough’.
I also want to share personally (but know that I also speak for others), and say that, despite the lockdown easing, I am fearful. I am fearful of catching the Coronavirus myself if I have not had it. I am fearful of passing it on to others, and the effect that this might have. And if I am fearful, how much more fearful will others be who are in that vulnerable category. There is not much to say apart from that it is not a nice feeling to have inside. All we can do is stay alert and save lives as we do the best we can in observing social distancing and isolation.
We will meet again
I think, at the same time, I should offer a word of hope. Rev Sarah Gower shared this as part of our CLT meeting, and I feel that it is important to share it with us all. We will meet again. We will gather as a whole people of God, and worship together, as we did before. Sarah pointed out that this is not the first time that the Church has been unable to gather because of a pandemic. However, even through it has taken time, God’s people have been able to reach the point where they have been able to gather again. The same will be true for us. The overriding question, however, is when and how.
Rest assured – we are living through a cycle
Whilst we may well feel uncomfortable living through the pandemic, Bruggemann’s writings remind us that living through a cycle of orientation (where everything makes sense and in which we feel most secure), to disorientation (where, as now, we feel uncomfortable as we live with a degree of uncertainty and even chaos, through to a place of new orientation, where God’s work of healing and wholeness in us comes to fruition. Life is different. We have adjusted, but we discovered what is truly important and what will not change – and within this we give our thanks to God and are more attuned to his presence and purpose in our lives.
Prayer and Small Groups
The suggestion that churches should follow what the easing of the lockdown permits, with a focus on investing in prayer and small groups has been well received. I think we can all see that this is not only because it may well be the kinds of activities that are possible in some churches, but also because it is at the heart of our own tradition. Yet, I suspect that, whilst some will relish the opportunity to focus their energies on something new, others will struggle. This is partly because we are in a state of lament and fear; celebrating the latest ‘great idea’ is harder. Also, the prospect of embracing something new becomes harder when we have already had to adapt. When I think of where we were, and how so many of us have had to turn more to IT, suddenly start using Zoom, and all kinds of other applications, I am amazed. At the same time, I am aware constantly of those who do not have internet access.
Returning to our tradition as we look to the future
What has been your immediate feeling when you have heard this call to prayer and thinking about how we might gather in small groups? I would encourage you not to see this as something new – or worse still, something that replaces how we used to worship – but as something that will be a healthy addition to what we were doing before. Of course, a good number of folks already experience the benefit of prayer partners or small groups. I would, therefore, encourage our church leaders (and we are all ‘leaders’ by example), to look at how we can develop this. To expand on my message of last week, I do not think it is for anyone to dictate to a church what they should do. That is not Methodist. I doubt it is even Christian. And I am sure it is poor leadership. Rather, it is for the leaders in our local churches to discern the best way forward. By way of assistance through, I know of at least three groups who are already finding the Bible Society’s Lyfe material helpful. If you would appreciate any more information on this, contact Rev Dale at: dale.sherriff@methodist.org.uk
A brief word on Churches opening for individual prayer
Some churches have begun to reflect on how they might open for individual prayer but, on looking at the requirements, they have struggled to see how this can be managed. We are not alone in this by far. We will see how things might become easier – for small groups and individuals as the lockdown eases.
A final invitation to prayer
And, an invitation for you: You are invited by the Pioneer Hub to pray with us via Zoom at 4pm on Sunday, 28th June, at 4pm. If you would like to join us online, please let me know; I will email you the link. Otherwise, Neat has produced a simple prayer sheet and if you are able to join us for half and hour around this time, that would be great. Alternatively, this serves as a resource for people to pray through at any time of the day or week. This prayer guide will be sent out next week.
Finally, every blessing be with you. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Langley