From Pip

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

These were the words I read in MP (from Hebrews 10) I have read them, used them & preached on them so many times over the years.

I don’t know about you, but I find so much I hear at the moment difficult to process. It is glib, or rings hollow or is plain wrong. I feel overwhelmed with the speculation.

Maybe hope is all we have left; our reading reminded us of the faithfulness of God, some struggle with that at the moment, I’m clinging to Hope, I don’t know what else to do or how else to live.

Do not give up meeting together – that felt like a cruel joke! But I’ve finally embraced video calling. We did Home Group like that this week, I’m catching up with colleagues in the deanery in an hour or so and we had a family quiz stretching between Canada, Sheffield and London at the weekend.

Seeing a face you know and love makes all the difference when you have been shut away. Try it. That’s why we will do our services on Zoom for the time being. It’s not the same as being in the room but I am surprised at how well it works.

So let’s spur each other on, thanks for your Foodbank gifts, and ways you are keeping up with each other. The gift of encouragement is a truly valuable gift – use it & not sparingly but liberally.

Pip