This Sunday is Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent, when the ancient opening to church services began with an encouragement to "rejoice" in the knowledeg of God's steadfast love for the creation. Rejoicing is a deep activity, deeper than some of the things we often associate with celebration with their excess or superficial pleasures, fun though such things are. Rejoicing calls us to a deeper sense of joy and assurance that beyond all that happens in the moment we are held in a secure and eternal love, compassionate through suffering and taking joy in our happiness.
This Advent and Christmas-tide once more, the circumstances around us make life feel uncertain, and there are rebnewed decisions to make about what the meaningful elements of celebration are, and when we can let go of the superficial pleasures that might risk our common wellbeing.
In the midst of this, Bishop Sarah has offered the following message: The Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, who leads the Church of England’s Covid Recovery Group, said: "As we look forward to celebrating again the coming of Jesus into our world, we can do so with hope.
"Few of us imagined when we first heard of the coronavirus at the beginning of last year that we would now be approaching our second Christmas of a global pandemic."The recent emergence of the new Omicron variant and the evidence we’ve seen already of its rapid spread is a cause of real concern.
"And while we are hugely thankful for the rapid development and mass rollout of the vaccines - and the current booster programme - there are important steps we should take now to protect ourselves and each other.
"As Christians we have a duty to care for one another, especially those who are most vulnerable, and the latest measures announced by the Government should offer some extra protection and reassurance for people.
"Caring for one another, sharing, hope, faith and most of all the knowledge that God is with us are at the heart of Christmas.
"This Christmas we will be coming together – whether in person or online – to worship God and celebrate his coming into the world as a human being like us.
"Amid all that we have been through together in the last two years that hope is as strong as ever."
So far, the steps she referrs to, as outlined in Church of England guidance, are the legal requirement to wear a face covering in a place of public worship and awareness of all the basic ways we care for each other when we gather: hand sanitising, good social distancing and good ventilation. The Church of England is also encouraging everyone who can to remain up to date with vaccinations and booster jabs. I would add that I encourage anyone who is using Lateral Flow tests to include one in your preparation for coming to church (obviously staying at home if the test is positive) and that if you think you have any likely symptoms you also choose to stay at home. Just so that you know too, as I have been throughout the last months, I use a Lateral Flow test prior to taking Sunday services and participating in any other events and meetings.
God bless,
Samantha