I am conscious that there are at least two communities of people who form part of the wonderful Christian family of All Saints Ecclesall that we all need to keep in mind with a spirt of rejoicing and prayer. The autumn term has come but with the freedom to travel and seek days that are holy (Holidays) and many are off and enjoying new views, places and we trust well-earned rest and refreshment. We rejoice with them and we are mindful to keep them up to speed with some of the many changes happening in our Church at this time. Amidst the usual round of competing priorities in a busy church, one is increasingly on my mind and I bring it to your attention for prayer and a bold sense of reaching out with wit and wisdom from our members. Many are still, rightly in my view, cautious about the new normal and the lifting of restrictions. Non-attendance at Church for these reasons is perfectly acceptable and indeed in some cases is self-evidently the right thing to do. How we seek to resource through digital media, notices, letters, visits and simple phone calls is both your task and mine, it seems to me. There is evident excitement about all being together again but let us not forget those of our family who belong to us and need to feel connected. A thought, a prompt of the Spirit, I feel sure will guide you in the right way to reach out. I would value prayer as we develop strategies around this important reality of living in a tough COVID world (please note this is not a post-COVID world but a current one). Hands, face, space is important as an Indian summer might soon give way to some chill winds and realities.
To these two communities of our membership and to all others I wish to announce that at all services next Sunday (3 October) I shall be giving a significant and lengthy public announcement about the way things are at the moment and developments that might be possible under God as we seek to move forward in a united way. I will speak to each congregational setting and more broadly to our whole life in God together. The extended notice will be recorded and be enabled to be watched by those away on holiday or at home through a commitment to semi-isolated living. You might care to pray I get it right and indeed not too long (7 mins) but this is one of the many ways I wish to unite our Parish and hold out the gospel to a needy world at this time. We are indeed His stewards and one day we will give an account of how we have made the most of this wonderful opportunity that lies before us as a Parish. We pray together that each of us will be found faithful in our commitment to Christ and each other.
Yours in His service,
Mark Brown