Letter from Jon, August 2020

 Dear Friends
 
Last week I was reviewing the first entry in my current journal, back on 7 December last year (seems like a lifetime ago!). That day I wrote ‘There is something very pleasing about beginning a new journal…where will my journey take me?  What will we see with family?  What will happen with Church?  What joys; what sorrows await?’.  At that time, of course, I had not even heard of Covid-19, and had no idea of the situation we would find ourselves in this year (sometimes it is better not to know what lies ahead!).  It has been a very long last few months and, even now, the journey ahead seems very uncertain.
 
As we enter August, however, and with some of the easing of lockdown, it seems like we are entering a new season again of Church life.  Our hope is that we will start to have more opportunities for physical gatherings, even if we can’t hug or sing at the moment!  I am aware that throughout this year, even though we have been unable to meet physically, we are still Liberty Church, we are still a family of believers, we are still called by God to serve him together in our community and to grow together in Christlikeness.  We have had to adapt over these last months and we will continue to adapt as we enter this new season, but I know that I need, you need and this community needs the Liberty Church family.  We are working out our plans step by step, listening and responding to God’s leading (and Nicola’s briefings), but I do look forward to seeing more of you face to face in the coming weeks and months.
 
Let me encourage you with these wonderful words from 1 Peter 2:9
 
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light
 
This is who we are; nothing has changed.  Let us move forward in these next months with the confidence of knowing that God is with us, his Spirit is in us, and he will guide and provide at every step.
 
Much love and hugs
 
Jon