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So do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
Dear Friends
It is less than a month since my Mum died, although it seems a like a very long month! Even though it was expected it still hit us harder than we thought it would, and through this last month we have been dealing with, what I realise are, fairly standard symptoms of grief and loss: feelings of disorientation, coping well one moment and then not so well the next, difficulty to focus etc. I am aware, however, that as a nation we are currently experiencing some of these same symptoms as we try to live through this pandemic. We might not have lost a loved one, though I realise that many have, but there is still the sense of loss for the normal things of life which we find ourselves missing: the loss of physical contact with family and friends, loss of freedom to move around unhindered, lost jobs and the sense of security, missing out on significant life events that we would normally share with those around us, cancelled holidays and breaks….etc
In the last month, as I have dealt with my own grief and loss I have so appreciated the cards, gifts, letters and messages that have come from others, many of whom are going through their own struggles. I am so grateful for the Liberty family and the love and support we have received, and continue to receive. It made me realise, again, the importance of connection with others; knowing that I am not facing anything alone but that there are those around me who love me and show that love in so many ways. Last week on LOL I spoke about the riches of having a Church family around us to love and support, but, of course, it is not just having each other which is so important, but that individually and together we are inhabited by the Spirit of God himself, our source of strength in these difficult times. It seems that never have we needed this God-centred community so much, and never have we needed to find ways to maintain connection with each other so much. This is truly a time when ‘family’ matters!
Realising the need for connection and support, at the Elders meeting on Thursday we decided that it was time to give the Church the opportunity to gather in worship and so we have set some dates between now and Christmas which I know Fiona has sent out on a separate mail. In addition to this we are also putting in an additional layer of connection and support to help us through these times, and we will send out more details about this. My encouragement, though, to each one of us, after having experienced the powerful impact of being on the receiving end of such great love this past month, is that we all, as we are able, keep connection with each other; a card, a message, a call, a coffee go a huge way to showing God’s love and holding us together so that we can continue to be the people God has called us to be, and to offer hope to each other and to those around us in these difficult times. Whatever we are facing we can say with confidence that our God is with us.
Love and blessing
Jon
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