My Dear Friends,

I hope you are feeling OK, and that staying at home is bringing a range of new Blessings into your life. It is certainly making me evaluate the things that are really important, and I am loving the sense of stability of staying at home. 

Thank you for all the positive feedback we are getting as we try to hold our church family together. Your comments mean a great deal to us, as we are all learning new ways of doing being church.

Isn’t it interesting how we grow in different ways when huge changes come our way.

I would like to share three little thoughts with you.

The first is about contentment. I have been in touch with literally hundreds of people this last week or two, and everyone is going through the same thing. What I love is the fact that no one is moaning, but rather people are doing their best to cope, and make do with the situation, and managing with what they have, and looking out for one another.
Folk are discovering ways of being together at home all the time, and finding that they have space to talk about the things that matter.
Yes we miss being outside, and walking in the mountains, and gathering together for worship, and being with our family, but at least at the moment we are learning the virtue of patience, and that is a good thing.

The second is about how incredibly everyone is working so hard to look out for each other. Checking up on neighbours, family and friends, and doing whatever is possible to help.
And there is such a powerful feeling of support for the Healthcare Professionals, and those who are working to keep us safe.
Every evening people are gathering on their balconies and applauding the Key workers who are putting themselves at risk to keep us safe, and to care for the most vulnerable. 
It is such an expression of love and gratitude, and something we can all get involved with.

Sandra and I have been doing it on our balcony, but there is no one about, and it felt a bit weird. But then last night, someone up the road joined in with the clapping, and then someone else stated to whoop and cheer. 
Isn’t it amazing how important these things have become.

My third is the wonderful sense of humour that is freely flowing across social media, but also in human interaction. People are being very creative and trying to bring a smile to others.
Today I went to the Farmacia for one of our members who needed some medicine. She had given me her medical card, her prescription and a passport picture of herself so that the Chemist would know who she was.
The Chemist took them documents, picked up the picture, looked at it and me, then laughing showed her assistant, and together they said that the medicine was obviously doing me good.
I was much better looking in the photo!

It was such a lovely moment of fun, and I felt so moved that they were finding the energy to bring just a tiny amount of cheer. It brought tears to my eyes.

We still have no idea how things will pan out in the coming weeks, but one thing is for sure. There is a real sense of community and fellowship building in this place.

Blessings Abound,

Until next time. Keep safe, keep in touch, and keep the faith.

As ever,

Fr Marcus.