Long Distance Runner

First: Some Business

Following the Government announcement on Monday evening and the delay in lifting all Covid-19 restrictions, two important changes have been made which will change some plans of both our churches.

Firstly, Abbey URC’s AGM and Church Meeting will now take place at church on 21 July, so we can meet face-to-face for these important meetings. There will be no facility to take part on Zoom this time. The date for nominations for elders is now extended to 11 July.

Secondly, and following contact with many of Braishfield URC’s members and friends, most of whom did not want to return to Sunday services there until all restrictions have been lifted, we decided to wait just a little while longer and delay our first service until 25 July. Everyone continues to be welcome to attend Abbey URC’s services on Sunday morning, available also on Zoom.

And then: A few thoughts

So, we all wait with great anticipation to when we will be able to attend our churches with no restrictions in place, when we will be free of face-masks, be able to socialise and to sing again! Considering how long it has been since we were able to do these things, the next few weeks of waiting will not seem too long I’m sure.

If we have learnt anything from our experience of the past almost year and a half of restrictions and several lock-downs, it must be resilience! It has meant our adapting to changes; it has meant our need to ‘plough on ahead’ regardless of the obstacles we have met with.

I am reminded of an article in a recent edition of The Romsey Advertiser, and an Awbridge man who has endured the extraordinary challenge of running multiple marathons. It was Simon Williamson’s aim to run 100 of them in ten years, but he adjusted his ambition to run all 100 in eight years and will complete the final one on 4 September alongside the Awbridge Fun Run. What an incredible achievement, and all the while raising much-needed funds for Parkinson’s UK.

There’s a good example of the need of resilience and endurance, just as we have needed these qualities in our ‘marathon’ through restrictions and lock-downs, as we now emerge now not far from the ‘finishing-line’! As people of faith, we have needed that too. St Paul wrote about living our life as Christian people as being like a race, running, as he put it, with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith (See Hebrews 12:1-2).

Yes, we are eagerly anticipating the ending of restrictions but, like a marathon runner, we must continue to the finishing line with a steady pace, rather than being tempted to sprint the last mile and run the risk of causing cramp and pain that will delay our finishing the race in the end.

One other thing about marathons – usually there are many people participating. Runners often encourage and support one another through the challenges of the race, mile after mile. I expect we have all seen the concluding stage of Fun Runs when a runner is metres away from the finish line but collapses with exhaustion, and he is picked up by fellow runners and helped to the finish. So it is that we have not endured these recent times alone, but have had the friendship and support of one another, and most importantly the encouragement of God by faith, urging us onwards and forwards.

So let us continue on, in faith and hope, to the future resumption of all that we hold dear and important in our individual and community Christian lives.

Please book your place in church for the Sunday service with Revd Mike by Saturday lunchtime and remember to bring some bread and wine for Communion.

At 6.30pm on Sunday we share in our monthly Bible study on Zoom, Meeting ID: 864 1780 6994, Passcode: learning.

Let Mike know if you have particular prayer requests (for yourself or others) in these challenging and uncertain times and  If you would like to contribute a prayer, poem or reflection for the weekly Sunday service outline.