My dear friends,

I hope and pray that you are keeping well at this time and listening to each other, as you care for each other.

I have been delighted to hear of the many ways in which you are keeping in touch with those we are called to serve, I have heard of telephone calls, Charges being divided up into contact groups, video conferencing and letter writing. These things are really important and I know from the feed back given to me that it is deeply appreciated. If for whatever reason you are still attempting to organise how you will remain in contact with your people please look at the website, you will discover many ways. Can I also simply remind you (as I have to remind myself) that often the most in need of a call can also the most difficult ones to make, but they still need to hear from us.

I am also aware of the ongoing concerns of the diocese regarding the point at which +Kevin becomes your Bishop, please be assured that I am working on that during these unprecedented times, I seem to spend much of my life studying the Canons. As soon as something is sorted you will all hear.

We are now in Passiontide and it is almost instinctive for us to slow down and become more aware of the desolation of Good Friday. It almost seems as if the churches calendar has fitted itself into the present isolation, yet I also beg that the church doesn’t become cut off from the communities we are part of. Please let me know of the ways that members of your congregations are helping to provide for those who are most vulnerable at this time, lets know who we need to pray for to help them as they go about helping others.

Dear Friends, stay safe, keep well and keep praying.

Blessings

+Mark