“Opening up” is a phrase on everybody’s lips as we continue to progress out of lockdown. Shops, pubs, restaurants, offices and so much more opening up and getting back to normal.
It’s the same for churches, of course. Though we’ve never been closed at any point. The Government’s Coronavirus guidelines put many restrictions on churches but that just meant we went about things in a different way. Churches are always people. The building has been closed at times but the church has always been very much open and alive.
We’re delighted to be back in the building for services though. Humans are designed for community and the church is a beautiful expression of that, so we’re really happy we can worship together freely. It’s an important reminder that many Christians across the world never get these kind of freedoms anyway.
Looking ahead
As opening up continues, we’re looking at the activities we used to do and thinking about what we do and when. Our fabulous Sunday Club for children has already restarted. Our prayer meetings continue on Zoom (which actually works better for many people, so we’re staying on Zoom!). Other things will come in due course.
Opening up as individuals
Opening up is, of course, something we need to do as individuals too. You may have suffered from Covid directly yourself; we’ve all suffered at least indirectly through knowing people who have had it, and through the sacrifices we’ve had to make to protect others.
But who wants to go back to normal? What even is normal? Perhaps it’s time to open up to the questions this pandemic has placed in your mind: Questions of life and death and beyond. You might question whether there is any meaning in anything.
It’s time to open up. Come and talk to us. Let us share the hope that has kept us going.