Drumglass Parish A special edition of Outlook April 2020 The Curate’s Corner, Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, being told where you are allowed to go and who you are allowed to see, feels unnatural. In these difficult days, many people are feeling lonely and isolated. Loneliness was already an epidemic sweeping our nation, but I am so thankful to live here in this community, where so many people are faithful neighbours and friends and where bonds of family and friendship are solid. The Coronavirus pandemic has caused huge changes in how we live. Who could have ever imagined that we would be suspending our church services, without knowing when they would return? Who could have imagined that we would not be allowed to visit each other in homes, go to a coffee shop with a friend, or even send our children to school? Life has changed, and it changed quickly. More than ever before, we have been reminded that we are not in control. At a time like this, we need an anchor in our lives. For me, that anchor is Jesus Christ. He offers me a sure foundation and a rock on which to build my life. He is the same yesterday, today and forever and he is faithful. He is Lord and has power over every sickness and death itself. That is who Jesus is. In these uncertain days, my earnest prayer is that you will know that same Jesus and, as we approach Holy Week and Easter, that your heart will be filled with his forgiveness and love and be stirred by his life changing hope and purpose. That is who Jesus is – I commend him to you and encourage you to accept him as Lord and Saviour – today! Graham Coronavirus update We find ourselves in difficult and unfamiliar territory as together we navigate our way through the Coronavirus situation. The Church of Ireland had called for the cessation of public worship and all parish activities, and the closure of all church buildings, a situation which will last for the foreseeable future. This decision has been made following prayer, wise counsel and collaboration with other church leaders. This formal guidance is designed to ensure that we, as a church, are doing all that we can to prevent any unavoidable risk of infection. Consequently, in Drumglass Parish, all organisations, meetings and services are cancelled with immediate effect and until further notice. As Christians we deeply value the opportunity to gather in public worship and encourage one another. As disciples of Jesus, the public proclamation of the Gospel and the teaching of the scriptures is very important to us. As a family of faith, pastoring and supporting people through their most difficult days is one of our greatest joys. The current circumstances do not change these truths, but they do create difficulties for us to exercise our usual ministries. We are heart-broken, but will be seeking creative ways to ensure that we all stay connected in these days of isolation, ensuring that the Parish of Drumglass continues to grow together. We encourage all parishioners to follow the up-to-date government guidance and stay at home. Please do not compromise your health or that of others by taking any unnecessary risks. Our earnest prayer is that good will come out of these difficult weeks. Recently we paid tribute to the enormous and very genuine sense of community which unites and sustains our great parish. At this time, those deep bonds of fellowship and care will be exercised and extended as we care for one another and look out for vulnerable, isolated and lonely in our midst. Never again will we take our church services for granted, but will appreciate them and the opportunities which they provide for us to join together in worship. We will develop a new empathy with Christians across the world who cannot meet together, and those closer to home who are no longer able to be part of our regular congregations. At a time when culture is gripped with fear, we will be fearless and we will be faithful. The Parish of Drumglass will not stand back but will instead step forward and embrace the opportunities to love our neighbours in practical and meaningful ways. If you can help with food deliveries, pharmacy collections, telephoning a few isolated people each week then please let us know by contacting [email protected]. We want to respond with wisdom, compassion and integrity. If you require practical or pastoral support in the days ahead then please do not hesitate to contact Graham or Elizabeth by telephone or the above email address. Kerry will be working to ensure that our children, young people and their families have access to discipleship material which can be used at home and to keep us connect with each other using her skill and expertise with technology. We continue to pray for you and will be in touch with devotional material, worship suggestions and prayer requests via email and our parish facebook page. Details are included later in this magazine. Please ensure that you are connected in these ways as we strive to maintain our life and witness amongst one another and beyond to our community who need the presence of a loving church more than ever. Yours in Christ, Graham and Elizabeth Although we cannot offer our usual broad range of opportunities to worship together, a service will be available to watch each Sunday morning, via our own Drumglass Parish Youtube channel and on the parish Facebook page. Please tune in and feel free to share. In addition, a short midweek reflection will be online each Wednesday at 7pm on Dumglass Church of Ireland, Dungannon Facebook page. Tune in to Facebook each evening at 7pm for Word at Home. This is a great way to Word remain connected and see a familiar face as a at member of our church family reads a short passage of scripture and home says the Lord’s Prayer, None of these initiatives can replace the joy of meeting together, but we do hope that they will provide temporary opportunities for connection and encouragement until we can meet again. Pastoral care It is a source of enormous personal disappointment to us that hospital and nursing homes visits have been suspended. Please continue to inform Graham on 07793032766/87380360 or Elizabeth on 38851503 if you or another parishioner is in hospital. Myrtle and Dereck, the Chaplains at Craigavon Area Hospital are, at the moment, still on duty and allowed to visit in exceptional circumstances. Continue to pray for them as they serve many parishes with this valuable ministry. In addition, all regular home visits have ceased and there will be no home communion services for the foreseeable future. Please remember to keep an eye on your neighbours. Why not make a commitment to a phone call each day to someone you know might be struggling with isolation our could be missing the routine of regular visitors. Each of us has the potential and opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of our friends and neighbours. u Jesus said; “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbour as yourself” Matthew 22:37-39 Keeping in touch We are trying to keep in touch with parishioners during this difficult time. In order to do so, we must have accurate and up to date contact details. If you have moved house, changed phone number or adjusted your email address, then please let us know by contacting [email protected] . If you know someone who has email but has not been receiving emails from Drumglass Parish, that means that we don’t have their email address. If they would like to be added to the regular communication list, to keep in touch, then please ask them to forward their email address to the above address. If you know someone who hasn’t access to email, perhaps you could print off this copy of Outlook and pop it through their letter box, but please follow the social distancing guidelines. Social media is no substitute for face to face interaction and conversation, but it remains an important resource for us, in order to remain connected. Keep an eye on our Facebook page, at Drumglass Church of Ireland, Dungannon, for up-to-date information. Thanks to all who supported the recent Coffee Morning held in Bush Orange Hall, hosted by our parishioner Elizabeth Burns. Elizabeth would like to thank all who supported this through their presence and / or by donation. Your efforts raised £1350 for Diabetes UK. A few weeks ago we welcomed Bishop Ken Clarke to Drumglass. As always, we were encouraged by his ministry and many people were comforted by his message from Psalm 23. Fanta has written a special prayer for this unique time in our nation. Why not join with others in using it? Unshakeable God, at this time of national crisis and personal pain, we look to you for help and hope. We don’t understand what’s happening. We are fearful and apprehensive. We grieve to see people dying. We are anxious about the future. We are fearful about surviving financially. We are really just about hanging in. We can’t get a grip on what is going on. It hurts to see people suffer. It hurts to see doctors, nurses and care workers stretched to their limits.