Things are going to be different from now on

Bible Reading: John 19:25-27

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

Reflection

Things are going to be different from now on.

This was my first thought when the initial disbelief and shock had subsided from the spread and speed of the coronavirus and the measures to hamper it. Our practice and the way we do things is going to have to change.

For me, the most significant moment was when the Archbishops of Canterbury and York issued their statement suspending public worship, adding that ‘the Church of England is going to look very different in the days ahead. Our life is going to be less characterised by attendance at church on Sunday, and more characterised by the prayer and service we offer each day.’

In the midst of chaos and fear we are being asked to step up and step out in what we do as Christian communities where we live.

In the Gospel reading for Sunday we see Jesus at the most painful time in his life reaching out to his disciples, followers and family, pointing out that while things were going to be different they were to carry on. This was especially true for the new relationship between the disciple and Jesus’ mother, called to care for one another; a new family built not on blood but on the love Jesus taught.

This Sunday, Mothering Sunday, we are especially called to prayer and action for the sick and anxious in our communities, loving them as Jesus has loved us, and demonstrating this in new and inventive ways that respond to the whole of our communities and not just those we know well.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ,

you taught us to love our neighbour, and to care for those in need as if we were caring for you.

In this time of anxiety, give us strength to comfort the fearful, to tend the sick, and to assure the isolated of our love, and your love, for your name’s sake.

Amen.

(From churchofengland.org)

Ways to respond…

Your church

How we respond to the coronavirus outbreak as churches will very much depend on the needs and opportunities of our own situations.

• Buildings: In rural areas the church building can be a significant place of solace, hope and comfort to many. Aim to keep these open and offer resources such as prayers for people to take away with them.
• Mothering Sunday: Why not put flowers out for people to take away and pass on to those who have been mothers to them?
• Facebook: Use Facebook and other social media to let people know what support you’re providing as well as uploading videos of prayers or a celebration of Holy Communion

Your wider community

Your church is unlikely to be only organisation working to support your community. Find out what is being co-ordinated locally beyond your church and join in; we can see much of Christ’s love for us in these spontaneous outpourings of support for the vulnerable and anxious in our communities at this time! In the village where I live the Parish Council is sponsoring a postcard to put through neighbours doors to offer help if they are self-isolating. The idea came from one concerned individual in the parish and is being organised via our village Facebook site with people volunteering from across the community.

Revd Dr Mark Betson, National Rural Officer for the Church of England

Together Apart: A rural response to coronavirus

We have created a new section on our website called ‘Together Apart: A rural church response to coronavirus‘. Here we will be providing resources for rural Christians and churches to use in their own homes and communities, as well as signposting to a whole host of advice and expertise around many of the range of practical issues we will face over the next few weeks and months.

Our resource hub includes:

Government and Denominational Advice and Guidance

Worship resources

Practical action and providing support

Practical resources, guidance and advice

We will be building this hub as we go along; if you have produced something that has worked well locally, we’d love to share it with others; please email your contribution to louise.davis@arthurrankcentre.org.uk.