Bishop Sarah Mullally said: "I am grateful to the Prime Minister for sharing these proposals to ease the current restrictions in a way which gives us all some clarity and enables people to begin to plan."We will study the details and, working with government departments, refine our own advice for local churches in the weeks ahead. We all look forward to being able to meet in larger groups again later this year and today's announcement will be especially encouraging for couples planning weddings, among others.When the first lockdown was introduced last year, we were - as we are now - in the midst of Lent, a time of preparation and reflection for Christians as we look forward with hope to Easter and its promise of new life in Jesus Christ."This has been an incredibly testing time for the whole world - most of all the loved ones of those who have died. The financial cost of the pandemic has been enormous, and we will never truly know the cost of separation and loneliness on individuals and society."But we have also seen remarkable signs of hope. The rapid development and distribution of vaccines has been a phenomenal achievement and I want to thank everyone involved in the process."The way which people have reached out to others has been inspirational. Our churches have loved and served their neighbours perhaps like never before and found ways to meet and worship God together we would not have imagined just a year ago."As we look ahead to the prospect of easing of restrictions we know it is still a long road. Yet Easter reminds us we have hope."The Church of England advice to parishes will be updated in accordance to the guidance at each stage.
Lesson #1: Only Holiness brings Hope"It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name… so that the nations will know that I am the Lord." (Ezekiel 36:22)The prophet Ezekiel sat with God’s people as their most precious city of Jerusalem was destroyed. What?! The city they’d built for God to dwell on earth, from which God’s blessing would flow to the ends of the earth. The one thing they thought secure – eternally – has gone. When Ezekiel describes the glory of God departing the temple, feel the axis of their world collapsing. Their hopes lie in dust and ashes. And amidst the rubble the symbolism is clear: God is on the move, ‘for the sake of my holy name’. That’s a constant refrain in the book of Ezekiel.The prophet doesn’t pull his punches: exile is a sign of God’s judgement because the people have abandoned God’s holiness. Holiness is that utterly unique aspect of God’s character that encompasses beauty and splendour and transcendence rolled into one. It can’t be contained… in a building… it’s uncontainable! Of course God’s power and perfection is on the move, with magnetic irresistibility longing to draw us close, longing to envelope us in full belonging and total acceptance, longing release us from failure, from all that we’ve messed up by our sin. Ultimately it’s God’s holiness that holds us secure.Instinct brings us to fear God’s holiness because we are not holy. Yet the first lesson of exile is that God’s holiness brings hope. Only God’s holiness brings hope.I don’t know the rubble of your life, or what security may be crumbling: but will you allow God’s holiness to draw you close, and free you from sin that clings so tight and hold you secure under the everlasting wingsFor the Old Testament people it took exile: total disruption with every prop gone and no choice but to come empty-handed, on their knees. But among the lessons and surprises was the joy of discovering that God’s holiness brings hope. Indeed, in the end, only God’s holiness brings hope. "A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statues and be careful to observe all my ordinances… you shall be my people and I will be your God" (Ezekiel 36: 26-28)
Please click on the link below to join Reverend Ian at 6pm on Wednesday, February 24th for a meeting that will last around 30 minutes.https://www.google.com/url?q=https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2746581498?pwd%3DWjlIcHBydjdOOEEzZ2tBVDNyMFBaZz09&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw04Dx8RF79rOVPVn4PtJNIV
Britain’s Pilgrim Places is a recently released book written by Nick Mathew-Smith and Guy Hayward (published by The British Pilgrimage Trust, £19.99).St Mary and All Saints, Dunsfold is one of only five Surrey churches included in the splendid tome of some 610 pages. This short piece alerts you to our presence in the book.There is another piece in our main online index headlined “The Pilgrims’ Way to Dunsfold” which gives more details and helps any modern day pilgrims to plan their visit.
