30Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall. 31But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength. (Isaiah 40: 30-31)
I greet you in the Name of the ascended Christ.
Note that in Isaiah 40 it does not say that we will not grow weary and tired, (and frustrated, and have cabin fever, and lockdown blues, and anxiety, and panic, and whatever else you and I are feeling today). I think I have every kind of fatigue that one can have.
28 “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out. 29He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak.” (Isaiah 40 28,29).
We need to hold on and trust God and He will increase our strength. How grateful I am for my relationship with the living God, it must be terrible to go through life without faith. Please join our daily prayer initiative to pray for those in your life who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Some practical matters.
We received a memo from the Diocese this week about the current state of the Diocese and the impacts of the COVID19 pandemic on the institution of Church. While we recognize that the Church’s the “Body of Christ” we also acknowledge that it is organization with staff and building and bills and functions. We are confident in the body, we are confident in Jesus, but we are having to rethink the Organization. I recognize that the Church building and its gatherings and its functions are a critical part of our community life of faith, and I recognize that these are trying times for us all, and ministering in these circumstances and leading the organization is not easy, but we will draw our strength from the Lord and redefine ourselves and reorganize ourselves and from my side we will continue to build this Kingdom Community to the glory of God and for your edification.
The South African Council of Churches has also come up with recommendations to Government. One part of that is to reopen our church for corporate worship, which I need to advise you is extremely complex, but also to enable the Clergy to have more freedom to do ministry, which will be most advantageous.
I will be taking an OFFLINE day tomorrow (Saturday 23rd) and encourage you to do that too, if not tomorrow at least once a week.
Thank you to those who have continued to give faithfully to the life of the church, your financial contributions are essential to keeping the establishment alive.
May I end with this. We are no longer going through a crisis or a pause or a preparation, for the future. We are living through an ‘emerging reality.’ As we reintegrate with our school, our work, our lack of social life, we are going to have to adjust to a new way of living. Scripture implores us to live for today and never has a way of living been more sensible. Do not worry about tomorrow, is not a way of saying be carefree and reckless, it is Jesus’ way of saying, live today, embrace today, do what today demands of you. If you live today well, and tomorrow well and the next day well, you will be building a new life, worthy of your calling. Be of good courage fight the good fight of faith that you may finish your course with joy.
Be assured of my prayers for you.
Rector
Eastertide 2020—Friday 22 May—57th day of lockdown.
Choose faith not fear!
