Over the last few weeks I have been using this column to explore some ‘lessons of the lockdown’. I began by reflecting on the painful privilege of prayer. A fortnight ago I shared some thoughts about the importance of places and things in our spiritual lives. Last week, my observations centred on the way in which crisis brings out both the best and the worst in human nature, and on the need for the love of God in Christ to overcome our fear. In this fourth and final reflection, which accompanies the sermon in this weekend’s e-Church my theme is the need to keep Christ at the centre.
All posts by Hugh Jones
e-Church for 9th August
Here is our e-Church video for Sunday 9th August.
e-Church for 2nd August
Here is our e-Church video for Sunday 2nd August
Reflections on the Lockdown – Part 3
This week I offer the third in a series of reflections on the lessons of the lockdown. I began a fortnight ago by writing about the painful privilege of prayer. Last week I explored the role of places and objects in our spiritual lives. And this week I want to share a few observations about the way that being in crisis brings out both the best and worst in human beings.
e-Church for 26th July
Here is our e-Church video for Sunday 26th July.
Reflections on the Lockdown – Part 2
Last week I began a series of reflections on the lockdown by exploring what I feel I have learned about the painful privilege of prayer. This week, I continue the series with some thoughts about the importance of places and objects in our spiritual lives.
Reflections on the Lockdown
This week, and for the next three weeks, I want to use this column to offer some reflections on the lockdown. It seems to be a good moment to take stock. We’re back in the church building for public worship, but also learning fast that things are unlikely to return quickly, if ever, to the way they once were. It’s the holiday season with many, myself included, taking some time away from their normal responsibilities. Time, then, for a pause to ask ourselves what we have learned.
e-Church for 19th July
Here is our e-Church video for Sunday 19th July.
e-Church for Sunday 12th July
Here is our e-Church video for Sunday 12th July.
Prayerful Planning for God’s Future
General Eisenhower, I’m reliably informed, used to say that ‘plans are worthless, but planning is everything’. I’ve learned how true that is in recent days and weeks. In order to re-open the church for public worship I have had to produced countless pages of planning material. Some of you will have read (some of) it! But these ‘plans’ are, if not entirely worthless, not really the point. The point is the process which I and others have been through in working out all the many precautions that need to be taken and details that need to be adjusted in order to make public worship as safe as it possibly can be. It’s the fact that we’ve been through the process that enables us to respond to the inevitable surprises that pop up.