A View From The Vicarage - November
Dear Friends
Worth more than many Sparrows
I wonder how many more surprises this extraordinary year still has in store for us? Who would have imagined when we first heard reports of a new virus in a place in China few of us had heard of, that it would go on to spread it’s insidious and pernicious tentacles across the whole world and have a devastating impact upon the lives and livelihoods of people across the whole globe.
As I write this Governments across the UK and around the world are desperately seeking to do whatever they can to both control the spread of Covid-19 but also protect as much of people’s livelihoods and general well-being as possible.
The Welsh Government has today announced a national lockdown in Wales between 23rd October and 9th November. Part of the restrictions include the closure of places of worship so Old Radnor and Kinnerton Churches will, of course, be closed between those dates. Please do hold in your prayers all of those in our communities and our country who are being most affected by these draconian measures across the UK.
While Covid-19 has decimated the lives, livelihoods and so much more of so many people both in this country and across the world it has presented its own opportunities for innovation and I’m reasonably convinced that, at least, some of those innovative ideas will, in themselves, rapidly become some of the treasured traditions of the future.
As I write this we’ve just completed our rota of Harvest Festivals. The service we used this year was quite distinctive from what we have used in the past and felt entirely appropriate in a fundamentally agrarian community such as these parishes.
Although we were denied the joy of congregational singing we were entertained and entranced by the calibre of our soloists from the new sound system at Huntington showing how brilliant it is, through St. Mary’s Choir, Buttons and Bows and the handbell ringers at Kington.
Nobody who was there will I’m sure forget Malcolm Hughes’ renditions at Kinnerton, Harriet Williams’ at Titley or even Rebecca Afonwy Jones’ at Old Radnor. All of them deserve our most profoud thanks for lifting our spirits so magnificently.
Will we repeat some of these experiments for Harvest 2021: you bet we will !
For the Church as for us all 2020 has been a year of considerable challenge but also unimagined possibilities and opportunities – will Christmas be different, almost certainly – does that mean worse? No way!!
Whatever Covid-19 has or has not taught us; it’s something that we in the Church have always known. We’re better and stronger when we work together, people are precious not because of their material wealth or celebrity status but purely and simply because like us they are a precious child of God and as Christ expressed it so beautifully: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unperceived by your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29)
Each and every life is precious and each and every human life is doubly precious. As we enter the season of Remembrance let’s give thanks as we always do for those who’ve been our guide and inspiration in the past. Let’s honour the memories of those who sacrificed themselves during the conflicts of the past and let’s redouble our resolve to playing our full part in protecting ourselves and especially those most vulnerable today. Let’s also not forget those who’ve worked with such dedication and devotion this year to cure the sick, provide essential services and support those in need, for that is nothing more and nothing less than Christianity in action, remembering as Christ teaches us in St. Matthew’s Gospel that we are all worth more than many sparrows!
With my love and prayers as always.
Ben