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Wednesday 5 August 2020 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, For many of us, our lives have returned to some level of normality, or at least we are learning to live with the threat of Covid -19. We are still painfully aware, however, that many of our congregation are not yet able to go out and about freely or come along to join us in worship at church. Let us keep them in our prayers. Let us also remember the huge numbers in our world for whom life is a constant struggle and a daily misery. Some countries are overwhelmed by the rapid spread of Covid - 19, and are desperately seeking to respond to the threat without adequate health facilities or infrastructure, and we remember especially those living in overcrowded conditions in Brazil, India and South Africa. Many who are vulnerable to the virus are already living with the cruel reality of violent conflict, injustice or famine; I think of the people of Yemen, Syria and Sudan. Let us not give up praying for them, and also giving and acting with compassion where we can. Booking seats for the service on Sunday closes at midnight this evening, so if you have not already done so, please book your seat through the link: or ring the office or send an email. I want to thank Ruby for all her work in organising this while Maria has been on holiday. Maria will be back in the office from next Tuesday. Tomorrow, the lectio divina will take place as usual at 10:30am via Zoom. This is an opportunity to reflect on a passage of scripture in silence and then share our thoughts together. We will be reflecting tomorrow on the Transfiguration of Jesus. Tomorrow, 6th August, is the feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord: Jesus takes his disciples, Peter, James and John, up the mountain to pray. He is transfigured and appears in glory before them, together with Moses and Elijah. But the transfiguration is not a vision which promises an escape from the pain and suffering of this world. The Lord that the disciples see transfigured before them is the same Jesus who will suffer and die a cruel death; indeed Moses and Elijah talk with Jesus about his approaching death. The Transfiguration reminds us that the light of God's glory embodied in Jesus can be seen even in the midst of darkness, pain and death. There is nothing in our world that cannot be transfigured through him; but, like the three disciples on the mountain, we need to heed the heavenly voice: 'this is my Son, my Chosen, listen to him.' In the midst of all the darkness, suffering and fear of our world, and of our own lives at times, may we look to our Lord Jesus and listen to him. With love in Christ,
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