Reset and Recall

Thank you very much to all who prayed and sent good wishes as we said goodbye to Paul this morning. It was a very moving service, the more so with only 7 present - his wife, Wendy, and their family. One of his daughters and one of his grand-daughters both spoke tearfully about him. The hardest thing was seeing them depart in single file afterwards, when the most natural thing would have been to hug each other.

Wendy was my predecessor as Team Rector, who had stayed in Cockermouth with Paul when she retired. It has been a most harmonious relationship between me and them, and Wendy has continued active in ministry. So this is very much a death 'close to home.'

Paul was much more than the Rector's husband! He was a most genial and friendly man, with a heart full of faith and love. He loved music: singing, playing the organ (worshipper first, organist second - not always the case!), and he played the Eb bass in the brass band! He was a member of one of our Church Councils, and organised several meetings of our men's group. He will be dearly missed, as was obvious when many people - unable to attend the funeral - stood out on the streets of the town as the hearse went past. He would have been amazed - a modest man. We will have a proper thanksgiving service for him as soon as we are able.

Yesterday our clergy chapter met via Zoom. We shared a lot about how different 'church' is now: what will remain of what we have learned, and what will revert to something like 'normal'? All agreed we really must think again about how we 'church', especially as - even before the Cv emergency - financial issues are troubling us both centrally (in the diocese) and locally. How can we spend less, and more purposefully? And how can we inspire one another to give more sacrificially as a new vision emerges?

I've been writing before about how the lock-down is helping us to realise the damage we have been doing to the planet, and indeed our own health. It is as if we are pressing the 'reset' button. But, from a Christian point of view, this is only half the story. We also need a sense of 'recall': not just caring for the planet,, but returning to our original relationship with our Creator, through Jesus Christ. As someone has just written to me:

Climate Emergency campaigners get the first point – that we must cease to mis-use the planet or we will destroy it.  The second point is even more urgent – all of us need a relationship with the One whose creation it is, and who alone can show us how to live well on earth.

I finish with another piece of artwork, this time by Eleanor. She says it is inspired by the sense of community she felt during our Palm Sunday worship last weekend.