Tower and Town, June 2020

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Good News From The Churches

Peace in Anxious Times: *
Paul's letter to the Philippians chapter 4, verses 6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Paul says, “Don’t be anxious!”. And we might think, “It’s easy for you to say that, but try being me - try living with the fear of the new coronavirus!”. This virus multiplies our fears in extraordinary ways. We can’t see it, we can’t control it, we can’t understand it. But Paul and his readers faced anxious times too. Paul was locked up in Rome, awaiting trial and execution for his faith. Paul’s readers were also being persecuted for their faith. And yet Paul writes, “Don’t be anxious!” and then gives us a solution to anxiety. He says, “in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”. Focus on our anxieties – and we might drown. But pray to God – and what does Paul say will follow? - peace.

What if we’re still anxious after prayer? Sometimes the reason our prayers don’t shift our anxieties is because we’ve forgotten that Paul says to pray “with thanksgiving”. And there are silver linings to this dark cloud to be thankful for.

The theologian Don Carson writes:

It is precisely in the context of the pressures all must endure that we find our rest in God. This passage does not deny the existence of anxieties. It tells us what to do with them. It tells us where to find strength and grace to help in times of need.

This verse doesn’t promise that God will necessarily give us immediately what we asked for. But it does promise peace. And the reason we can have peace from God, is if we have peace with God. God’s plan, in the Bible, is not only for blessing on this earth. It concludes with God’s plan for a whole new creation where God “will wipe every tear from our eyes”, and where “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain”.

Reuben Mann, Pastor, Emmanuel Church Marlborough

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Whilst there are no services with a congregation present in church, there have been phone calls, letters, emails and Zoom to enable "contact" with one another at this time - everyone vulnerable with the vulnerable. For the Catholic Church in Marlborough with Pewsey, there are Zoom meetings three times a week for opportunities to unite in prayer and social greeting. It can be a time of struggle, loneliness and being overwhelmed by the virus and the daily news.  All this brings a challenge of listening and time - listening to God in prayer and listening to each other - carving out God-centred time in listening, prayer, solitude, contemplation and thought.  It is a "GIFT" of generosity, of stillness and hope, of the presence of God who loves us through these moments, hours, days, weeks, months and all our lifetime.

Father John Blacker

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Over the last few weeks my world has become both smaller and greater at the same time. Time is more fluid and days merge; but as part of this, there’s been more time to listen, to appreciate and to value all that is precious. One of my children works in a London hospital where there are ‘wobble rooms’ on each ward. These are rooms where people go to pray with others and to cry and reflect. It’s brought people together in a depth almost unknown before, recognising that time to be with God and others, even on a busy ward, offers vital comfort and support.

Meanwhile, more locally, through being in contact with parishioners by phone and Skype and Zoom, I’ve been conscious of a deep care for one another. People have sent kind words for me to share within funerals, others have expressed the joy of sharing in our audio services and having time to reflect on their faith. It’s been a time of sharing our concerns and fears, too, and through this many have recognised God working around us, in this community. More personally, I have been particularly grateful to two people who have shown their care by phoning me, regularly. Jesus listened closely to those he spoke to and they listened to him. Even in lockdown, we really can reach out and walk alongside others.

Sarah Musgrave

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Today we held our 8th weekly Zoom Quaker Meeting for Worship with an average of 15 attending each week. It was set up by one of our tech minded younger members and it was a steep learning curve for most. People have looked in amazement to hear that we sit in silence, with the occasional spirit led contribution, for 45 minutes. We are absorbed in our own thoughts but in the Spirit of the Meeting together, and it has been a great source of strength, much looked forward to. After 45 minutes we go round asking each person 'How is it with you?'. It has been very supportive and moving as we share news, personal, family (often from around the world) and of friends.

Rachel Rosedale

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The Anglican churches in Marlborough have responded imaginatively to being locked down. Each Sunday there is a service podcast available online. Various meetings now happen via zoom and a new initiative ‘Love Marlborough’ was born to put volunteers in touch with those in need. It buys and delivers food, picks up prescriptions and so on. Facebook and Instagram were embraced and the team’s website overhauled. Everyone has done wonderfully well getting up to speed with new technology, but we do miss actual church worship.

Many members are very good at ringing round to see how people are. Some of the most touching interactions have been between young and old. Hearing teenagers on the phone patiently walking octogenarians through Instagram’s sign up has warmed the heart; young and old working hard to keep everyone connected. Many have taken the time to beef up their own life of prayer and soon Alpha begins online taking the good news of Jesus out into cyberspace. We are praying that God will bring good from this pandemic.

The Revd Chris Smith

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Easter celebrations in the Upper Kennet Valley Benefice this year were new and unfamiliar, but for me it was one of the most special Easters I can remember. Our Rector encouraged each of the eight church communities to create something for their village to meditate on, be inspired by and enjoy as they walked around. So there was a cairn representing a hill of hope which became an Easter garden, stations of the cross round a churchyard and environs, a lonely walk of witness by the Rector on Good Friday, and in West Overton, in addition to an Easter garden, we made a cross, and then "flowered" it. I have seen this done before, but only inside a church with less hot sun and plenty of water to hand ! So there were challenges, but it was a great experience.

My husband Stuart made the cross from our old kitchen floor, Simon a local builder fixed the post to which it was attached, and then on Holy Saturday Susanne the chief flower lady wired it and started the decoration with greenery and blossoms. We carried on through the day, Becky (young enough to shop!) bought flowers from Waitrose to add a bit of colour, and since we had put notices round to encourage people to contribute a flower or a bouquet on their daily walk, many came through the churchyard to add their offering. For me the most moving moment was going up in the evening and seeing it all covered, and right at the top, someone's gift of a large bunch of deep red roses carefully arranged.

Our cross is another example of the many wonderful instances of communities sharing a new and positive experience because of lockdown. I feel privileged to have been associated with it.