The Rector Writes... 

A few years ago I wrote a book about my Church “up North”… St Elizabeth’s in Horwich. Part of the research I did was to trawl back through old church magazines, and the surprising thing was for the years 1939-1945 the second world war hardly got a mention; almost as though it never happened!
 
I’m sure that won’t be true in the future, when historians and others look back over church magazines and digital storage facilities for 2020! The Coronavirus will live long in our memories and in the memories of those who come after us. Families will be affected by it, not only financially and practically, but also emotionally as well, for years to come. Some folk have likened it to living during WWII only without the bombs… which is true. However, at least in the 1940’s people could gather as families and friends to support and comfort one another in a way that is forbidden now because of self-isolation. 
 
And the question is being asked… “Where is God in all this?”
 
Well, I believe he’s right at the heart of the present situation and sharing it with us. As his people, we are being challenged not just to look at our own well-being (as important as that is… Jesus said “Love your neighbour AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF”), but also for us to look outwards both as individuals and as God’s Church and ask what help and support we can give to those self-isolating, the housebound, the elderly and those at risk, and Key-Workers, especially those working in the Health Service.
 
As I write this, it’s less than a week since our society has been turned upside down by attempts to halt the spread of Covid-19 and ease pressure on the Health Service, and every day there seem to be more guidelines by the government on what we should/shouldn’t do. It’s true with the Church too… so, rather than going into detail about what’s true as I write this for Baptisms (suspended), Weddings (only five folk can be present) and Funerals (restrictions on numbers and no hymns) and when/if our Churches will be open for personal prayer and reflection… the best thing you can do is keep an eye on the church website or contact Alison in the Church Office.
 
You’re probably wondering what the picture at the top of this article is… it’s a French chocolatier who has designed Coronavirus-themed Easter eggs! As well as making us smile, I think it reminds us that this year will be a very strange Holy Week and Easter without our Palm Sunday procession, Maundy Thursday vigil, Good Friday Walk of Witness and Devotions at the Cross, Easter services and Easter egg hunts… but we have a God who has equipped with very special gifts those working on a vaccine for the virus and the thousands of Key-Workers continuing to care for us. Let’s pray for them and, as God the Father raised his Son from the dead on that first Easter Day, let’s pray that we might do our bit to make other’s lives a little bit better at this challenging time... even if it’s only phoning them and seeing how they are.
 
   The Revd Kevin Ashby
 
PS: If you just want to chat, Alyson Ashby has set up a WhatsApp group “Melton Team Chat”. Just text or email her your mobile number (07843802355/alysona.ashby@hotmail.co.uk) and she’ll add you to the group. Of course, you’ll need to download WhatsApp onto your phone.
 
 
  Click Here to see the latest video from Kevin.