Hi everyone!
I hope you are doing well and coping with these strange days and altered circumstances. One thing is for certain; these days have been hard for everyone. People may have family worries or financial worries, or both. Or health concerns. A filling had fallen out of my tooth and I managed to get an emergency appointment at the dentist’s today, but they could only pack the hole as they are not allowed to use the drills etc, for which I was cowardly enough to be thankful. Every cloud, as they say. For others, the overwhelming concern is loneliness. I have had a busy summer with church work and family visits, but I’ve very conscious that Autumn is looming and Winter will be at its back. That may sound depressing, but one of the ways of counteracting depression is to be prepared before things happen. Forewarned is forearmed as they say and that applies to every situation. So we need to think and plan ahead wherever possible. One of my hobbies is going to the theatre, but as my son Gordon said, ‘Maybe you’ll have to think of different hobby.’ He’s right, but it’s easier said than done. I cannot imagine a world without live theatre. It’s unthinkable. But the unthinkable is here. I still haven’t thought of a new hobby though.
I suspect God is asking us to rethink every aspect of our lives. Are there things we need to stop, start, or change? Very often it’s difficult to get off the treadmill, but maybe God is providing the chance to re-evaluate our lives and our lifestyles. We need to reconsider our place in life and our pace of life.
Meanwhile, the Kirk Session has decided not to return to church just yet. Our congregation is predominantly elderly, most of whom have underlying health issues and are therefore in a vulnerable category. We appreciate that everyone loves their church and longs to return, but we will not do so until we deem it safe enough.
Your Elder will keep in touch with you and keep you up to date as circumstances change. There will be a day when we can return. We will await that day, patiently or otherwise, and rejoice when it happens.
God bless
Ann