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 9/4/2020 (Day 21)

Hello friends.

Here we are on day 21. I hope you are all keeping well, staying in and looking forward in faith to Easter.

I’m pleased to report that we have managed to have produced (by Revd Rachel) a Holy Week booklet, printed by Verity and posted out with a Palm Cross to every address on the electoral roll. No mean feat given the time frame that Rachel had to work with. I hope you are able to use the leaflet and take advantage of the guidance and material in it.

I have been “tuning in” to the services on Facebook; Palm Sunday Holy Communion, a very spiritual service, and Morning Prayers. I think the services have been really well done and it is interesting to see how many people are using these. There are many more joining in with Morning Prayer than would ever attend!

We continue to hold in our prayers all those affected by the virus; those with the disease and their families, especially the Prime Minister, those who are caring for the sick and all those whose jobs continue to enable us all to be able to live through these turbulent times. The Bishop talked in his address at Rachel’s licensing, about the world’s “pause button” having been pushed. It does seem a bit like this and it is interesting to note that pollution levels have gone down, and things are cleaner. I noted reports that dolphins have returned to the canals of Venice as a result of the water being cleaner. Let us hope that when all is over, we remember and try to keep this in mind as we try to get back to normal. As the Yorkshire Shepherdess has commented “The countryside isn’t going anywhere”.

Two prayers for today:

For those who are ill
Merciful God,
we entrust to your tender care
those who are ill or in pain,
knowing that whenever danger threatens
your everlasting arms are there to hold them safe.
Comfort and heal them,
and restore them to health and strength;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

For hospital staff and medical researchers
Gracious God,
give skill, sympathy and resilience
to all who are caring for the sick,
and your wisdom to those searching for a cure.
Strengthen them with your Spirit,
that through their work many will be restored to health;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Mike.