LOVE IN THE TIME OF CORONA: Day 11

LOVE IN THE TIME OF CORONA is Huddersfield Parish Church’s new blog series that we’ll be keeping updated with posts from various members of our church in the coming days and weeks. We hope it will help you to stay connected to the church and to each other in this time of physical distancing as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Today’s blog post comes from Mike, one of our Churchwardens

Warden’s blog, stardate 29/3/2020 (Day 11)

Hello friends.

Today’s service was to be our last Eucharist of the vacancy. The nine months since Simon’s induction have gone fairly quickly and to say it’s been eventful is a bit of an understatement! Revd. Rachel will be licenced by the Bishop on Friday as planned, but it will all be done over the internet. This will allow her to begin her ministry with us and in due course, when all is calmer, we will celebrate in an appropriate way. Can I also say, to those clergy who have helped us out, a massive “Thank You”. Each has led our worship at St Peter’s in a different style, and as a congregation we have been hugely enriched by all the work they have done. We have been truly blessed. On behalf of the church, can I say that they are all most welcome to join us for worship in the future and see how we are getting on.

In practical terms, Alan and I are working from home, as is the Parish Administrator and the new Treasurer. It is difficult for both Verity and Dereck as they try to get a handle on office and finance matters from the comfort of their own homes, with no-one else around to bounce ideas off. Please pray for all in the church who have jobs which continue despite the building being closed. I saw a lovely cartoon of a church with a sign that said, “The building is closed, the church is open.” This is as it should be, but it is something that we are all having to get used to.

Did you all give the NHS people a “clap” last Thursday? Jane tried to video me clapping to post on Facebook, but the video part was an epic fail. Many of my friends on Facebook are still at work and there were many posts later with thanks for our support, with many saying they were moved to tears by the act. Let us try and keep this up every Thursday.
Thanks for the contributors to the “Songs and Stories” part of the blog. Please send your own contributions in to Graeme and he’ll put them into the blog for all to enjoy.

This is the Psalm for today:

Psalm 130
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.
2 Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my supplications!
3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
Lord, who could stand?
4 But there is forgiveness with you,
so that you may be revered.
5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is great power to redeem.
8 It is he who will redeem Israel
from all its iniquities.