At this time of immense uncertainty in our church I have been touched by the waves of compassion, generosity and care demonstrated by members of our community.
There have been so many stories of quiet service taking place over the past few months it seems right to acknowledge and celebrate them here: acts of kindness that make a profound difference, a life or death difference, to people who are hungry on our streets or who require shopping for groceries; words of encouragement on WhatsApp that puncture a long day in isolation sharing prayer requests and joyful images of creation; faithful journeying in prayer through familiar routines of the Daily Office and Eucharist, as well as flourishing lay leadership in compline and agape meals; labours of love and expertise demonstrated by our dedicated business staff who have taken unimaginable and heartbreaking decisions these past few days leaving us feeling bereft, but also immensely proud of all our staff, and their courage and commitment to finding a sustainable path forward.
Through all of these stories and many more we have witnessed afresh the breadth and length and height, and depth of God’s love reflected back at each one of us in our community. Our gospel passage today of the parable of the sower also invites us to allow Jesus to take root in hearts and lives and to trust in the abundant soil, however hidden and uncertain, of God’s new creation.
Revd Catherine Duce
