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The church – a beacon of light and hope

We are all hoping for a better, brighter future as Britain emerges from the pandemic, and Rev Ron Skivington reminds us that the church must provide the faith and hope that society needs.

Many of the lockdown restrictions we have had for so long have started lifting from our lives and, whether it is as individuals, families, or businesses we want to look forward to a brighter future.
 
However, whilst some people will want to rush headlong into trying to return to “normal”, others will find it hard to even put a foot outside the door. Many will still need time to grieve and mourn the death of loved ones or may still be anxious about their health, loss of income or job. Some will feel cheated about “stolen” opportunities and dreams that they had been looking forward to.
 
It is still expected that, by the autumn, the virus will be well under control in the UK, and financial markets will be on the up, but there is still the possibility of new surges and restrictions as well as declining markets, so uncertainty could remain for some time.
 
We will all need time to reflect on how the world, our relationships, and ways of doing things have changed in this past year, and even, perhaps, how we ourselves may have changed. We have all been heartened by stories of communities working to support one another and saddened by pictures of marches and protests that have led to violence as grievances and anger have overflowed.
 
Are you someone for whom “God is good all the time”?  Or is it that “God is good all the times it’s working out okay for me and mine…” and perhaps you doubt His goodness during those more negative times?
 
And what will the role of the church be in the coming months?
 
Quite simply, we will need to continue being the communities of faith and hope we were always meant to be. Our message has not altered, the power of Jesus’ name has not diminished, the scope of God’s love, mercy and grace has not shrunk, the call to serve Him wholeheartedly has not ended.
 
So, as society rebuilds, the nation needs those who have hope to come to pray, work and serve to see that hope realised in the here and now. By doing that we will model Jesus. When He walked on the earth people found life because He was a beacon of light in a dark world. May we be the same!

This article first appeared in the "Good News for Norwich and Norfolk" paper.


The image is courtesy of pixabay.com


ron skivington

Rev Ron Skivington is Senior Pastor of Stalham Baptist Church.

 
 
 
 

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