‘As the deer pants for streams of water so my soul pants for you, O God’. (Psalm 42:1)‘And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.’ (Hebrews 10:24–25 NIVUK)
Since being in lockdown we’ve had to do things differently. Events like One world: Together at home and The Big Night In brought music and comedy direct from the artists’ homes into ours. Keeping in touch with family and friends has meant many of us having crash courses on Skype and Zoom. For faith groups, holding meetings and maintaining contact has also presented a challenge.
Yet with these challenges comes an opportunity to be connected in all sorts of different ways. Last week I attended church services in Luton, Market Harborough and Llanelli and was in touch with friends and family in Northern Ireland, Hampshire and across London via Zoom and all without leaving home. None of which would have happened in this way without this lockdown.
As one member of a recently set up WhatsApp group commented, ‘it’s a pity we didn’t have this earlier; it keeps everyone connected.’ It often takes a crisis to bring forward new ways of doing things and technology has provided an opportunity for us to follow Jesus’ command to love one another (John 13:34-35) in a fresh way.
The challenge will be to keep connected once this crisis is over – I guess that will be down to you and me.
Have a good week staying connected.
Pastor Barry
- P.S. – You can keep connected with us via:
- The Because website
- Daily Biblical devotionals
- Live-streamed sermons and Bible studies
- Recorded messages
