Rev Andy Bryer, Shildon Methodist Church
There will be life before Covid-19 and life after it.
I was recently reading an article in which a professor of political science, with a wealth of experience of crises around the world, commented that after something as globally significant as Covid-19; many things will not be the same again.
This comment felt uncomfortable and yet had about it a profound truth. While we experience the strangeness and frustration of being shut in, unable to meet and relax with family and friends, unable to engage in the social interaction that is a part of life, we look forward to the day when all this will end and we can get back to normal.
Each year during Holy Week, Christians recall that for the first followers of Jesus, this was a period of mounting uncertainty. Jesus’ confrontational relationship with the Temple authorities was increasing.
The conversations between Jesus and his friends were becoming more unsettling. There was a dread feeling that all this was leading to a dangerous climax, and so it did. On the day we call Good Friday, in the early hours, Jesus was arrested by the Temple guards and taken away to be interrogated. In the hours that followed Jesus was tortured and abused, and finally condemned to die and was crucified.
With these biblical events in mind, I wonder about the low points in our lives: when the people we love die, and the experience of bereavement and loss finds no comfort. The times we betray people, and in fear we desert those who need us. When we don’t have the answers, we are looking for. When we find ourselves confined and alone and everything is out of control – No light in our darkness and no hope for the future.
In the Christian calendar, the light of Easter is immensely significant, because it is inextricably linked to the darkness of Good Friday.
To a group of frightened isolated people, who have locked themselves in a room, there comes a transforming revelation; they are not alone. Into their darkness comes the light of forgiveness and compassion, peace and grace, mercy and love.
This Easter, whatever your understanding of the risen Jesus, what we find in him is the offer of something new. Not a return to the way things were, but rather the offer of new life and hope for the future.
Major Adrian Coupe, Shildon Salvation Army
The way we celebrate Easter maybe totally different this year, yet it is not how we celebrate that is important it is WHAT we celebrate that IS.
The message for Easter can be summed up within the most well know verse of scripture in the world which is John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
If we substitute ‘the world’ for our name then the message of Easter becomes very powerful. For God so loved YOU.
You may not feel loved today because of your particular circumstances, yet you can know Love: God’s Love for you. Whatever may be going on in your life right now, whatever challenges you maybe facing, God loves YOU so much that His ONLY Son Jesus gave His life for you.
More than that, however, He rose again so we need not fear what tomorrow brings. He rose again so that we can be assured that whether in Life or Death we can know that if we believe we will be with him for eternity.
During these uncertain days, I would encourage you to think about that amazing Love that God has for you.
God bless and please be assured that if there is any support that we as The Salvation Army can offer you during these days then we will endeavour to do so.
Please simply contact us either by phone or through our Facebook page.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
Never been out and about so much in my entire life…I empathise with the victims, but I’ve really made the most this time. The air is cleaner, crisper, fresher. The roads have been much quieter and care free. The birds have been singing and the natural world has been blossoming like never before (foxes have been out and about decapitating rabbits I’ve noticed). I felt a little condemned myself 2-3 months ago due to some very bad treatment at a charitable voluntary role in Bishop Auckland (plus a female aquaintaince from Newton Aycliffe had unfriended me on facebook the same week, and I felt very bitter and resentful about it). Then this happened and my life changed and I gained perspective, and the empty streets gave me more perspective and empowered me even more.
It has been a dark time for many, but it has given me nothing but light, hours of exercise, and time to indulge my passion for cinema.