Update on our church response to the coronavirus

Here’s an update on what we’re doing as a church in response to the coronavirus. I’ll make sure this email is considerably shorter than the last one I wrote! 

• The Presidents of Churches Together in England (which covers most churches in this country!), have called for a Day of Prayer and Action this Sunday. More on that to follow.  
• The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have also directed that all Church of England services will stop for the foreseeable future. We are making preparations to livestream a service for this and subsequent Sunday mornings, and to provide materials that families can use with children at home. We will contact you later in the week with the appropriate links. 
• We are awaiting advice about whether smaller gatherings (such as cell groups) should stop, but are in any case investigating ways in which small groups can utilise technology to stay connected over the coming weeks. We should all heed the advice from the government, for the sake of everyone else, as well as for our own sake. 
• We are looking carefully at our database of congregation members, and identifying those who aren’t in cell groups. We will be in touch to encourage you to link up with others. 
• We are very mindful of those who don’t have internet access for email communication and streaming services. We will make sure they are included in printed communications, if they would like them. 
• As I said on Sunday, there will be many opportunities that arise out of this crisis situation. I am liaising with other church leaders in Southampton to try to provide a co-ordinated response. Some of you will have seen the #viralkindness postcard idea; the churches may produce a similar card for us to use. More to follow. 
• Southampton House of Prayer has set up a virtual 24/7 prayer room. Do sign up for a slot if you would like to. 

Most of us, who have lived all our lives in the relative comfort of a rich nation, have never experienced a time like this. It is inevitable that anxiety levels are heightened. But we can have hope: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea … The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Psalm 91). 

“One way we can rest in the knowledge and presence of God is to surround ourselves with music that sings it over us. Music that reminds us not to fear. Music that stills our souls and quiets our worried hearts.” So this blog post has compiled 100 ‘songs of comfort for anxious souls’ to sing truth over you in a variety of styles (old and new), with links to spotify playlists etc. 

I would also commend to you some words of advice from Thrive, our mental wellbeing group, which some of you will have already seen.

The Archbishops’ letter was a stirring call to us as part of the Church of England: “This is a defining moment for the Church of England. Are we truly a church for all, or just the church for ourselves? We urge you sisters and brothers to become a different sort of church in these coming months: hopeful and rooted in the offering of prayer and praise and overflowing in service to the world. Please, therefore, join us in this great challenge; and pray for our Government and nation, for each other, and especially for those who work in our health and emergency services.” 

I will be in touch again later in the week. 

With my love and prayers,