From The Rectory July 2020

As I write this letter I wonder how things are going to be by the time it is in print and you are reading it in. The COVID-19 crisis continues to cause a great deal of uncertainty. At time of writing, we’ve just heard news that churches may open for private and individual prayer so we are thinking about how to implement that. There is no sign that being able to worship together is imminent and so we must maintain social distancing and restrict the amount of contact we have. The prolonged time of not being able to worship with each other is tough for us all
 
I expect that many of our readers will have had plans for the summer which needed to change. This is true for our family. Some of you will know that I was looking forward to a sabbatical for the first time in 20 years (I was ordained deacon in July 2000) but this is now postponed to a later date when I can do all the things I was planning and get the most from the time. In fact, when I put myself on the rota to write this July letter, I was expecting that it would be to wish you all well before I vanished for 3 months!
 
Maybe you were looking forward to a summer holiday in the coming weeks. Perhaps you were looking forward to friends or relatives coming to stay. Possibly you were just looking forward to meeting up with some friends for a summer day out and some nice food too. Whatever your situations, all of us need to be aware of the frustration and disappointment which many experience
 
Summertime is a time when many of us can get out and about or get away and do something different; even if just for a day. It’s good to have a change from the normality of life. It’s good to have a different view of things. All of us need some refreshment and we’re challenged this year about how we can do this
 
God is with us in the times of frustration. It’s important that in our prayers with God we are honest about what we experience and feel. God can help us to think afresh too. These summer weeks may not be what we anticipated but we should search for new ways to stimulate and enrich our lives. We can still be surprised by what we can do, even in our own homes
 
With prayers and blessings to you all
Fr Simon
Rev Canon Simon Ward
Team Rector, Great Yarmouth Parish

also published in Great Yarmouth Parish Life

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