Recent weeks have seen something of a turning the corner in the story of the Covid-19 pandemic in Ireland, north and south. A cautious optimism has emerged as the progress of the vaccination programme gathers pace and the number of infections and hospitalisations have continued to fall. There is significant movement towards a resumption of normal life in education, the economy and some aspects of social life.
Activity in church life has been slower to resume, with congregations in Northern Ireland able to return to Sunday worship, while those in the Republic of Ireland still forbidden from doing so. As an all-Ireland church, it is important that we persevere in praying about the situation, recognising that the Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact congregations all across our land in different ways. Nevertheless there is change in the air that also carries something of the wind of God’s Spirit clearing the way to begin to consider the resumption of more regular patterns of church life and activity.
Might the gradual easing of restrictions be our friend?
At first glance, the gradual easing of the restrictions that have been impeding the resumption of more normal rhythms of church life might be frustrating. However, we might do well to look again and see it as our friend in the next few months for at least two reasons.
Firstly, it will be better if our return to church life unfolds giving us time to restore, but also recreate, our pattern of activities. The alternative is that our resumption of church life unravels, running away on us with every organisation doing what is right in their own eyes. That will be a recipe for disaster, causing muddle and misunderstanding among leaders and members and leaving us with a messy situation draining away much of our attention and energy to straighten out. It also runs the risk of unthinkingly taking us back to exactly where we were before the pandemic, meaning that we will have gained nothing by reflecting on our experience of it and what God might be saying to us through it about the future to which he is calling us.
The second reason a gradual return of church life helps us is because we are all tired and weary. The toll of the pandemic on us collectively has been unparalleled by anything any of us have ever faced before. So, easing back to life is probably a healthy thing which will be important for congregational well-being, that won’t be helped if we rush back in the short term only to find that we run out of steam in the months beyond.
Fanning the flame
The month of May will see PCI’s denominational support for congregations change in tone and content to reflect these new conditions, challenges and opportunities. There will be a more focused emphasis on gradually resuming more normal rhythms of congregational life and witness. That will be evident as the Refined theme adopts the subtitle of Fanning the flame.
That phrase will be familiar to many from what Paul writes to Timothy in 2 Timothy chapter 1, verses 6-7.
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
It’s a firm encouragement that we need both individually and as congregations at this time.
In the moment that is coming our way there is something we have do. It’s our individual and collective calling to step up, and into, the moment with the gifts that God has given us offering them in the service of the rebuilding of church life and its witness to the world. That does require us to overcome our fears, move in the power of the Spirit and to exercise loving, self-control. It’s a challenging mix, a delicate balance, only achievable by prayerful dependence on God and careful discerning of his ways for us as his people together.
The tenderness of Jesus for his church
Much as we need to bend our minds and energy to the task of unfolding the return to church life, we do well to remember that we do so in the gentle power of the ministry of Jesus, the Lord of the Church.
In Isaiah 42:3 we read these words about the Servant of the Lord, which are ultimately embodied in the ministry of Jesus.
“A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out.”
We are all more than a bit bruised and battered by the last year and more of the pandemic. Our normal experience of church life has burned low. In many areas it troubles us that it looks like little more than a flickering ember remains. But Jesus’ comes to us understanding all of that and willing us to see our life restored, however slowly, however painstakingly and however patiently.
As we do what we can to fan the flame again, we need to take hold of Jesus and that image of his tenderness and care. His tender ministry towards his beloved church continues from the throne of grace in this moment and beyond into whatever lies ahead.
A spreading flame
In the month of May, each congregation in Northern Ireland will have an opportunity to send four leaders to a digital Fanning the flame event organised through their presbytery to be encouraged, envisioned and equipped for the gradual resumption of church life. Events for congregations in the Republic of Ireland will follow as restrictions ease further in their jurisdiction.
Also, in coming months look out for Fanning the flame encouragement in blogs, podcasts, webinars, the Tides devotional and other stories and ideas on the PCI website here under Refined. Take a look at the Prism PCI Bible studies and Opening up to God: Leading out of lockdown leaders’ resource also downloadable there. A new Friday feature on social media will be a Fanning the flame prompt to something simple we can all do to contribute to the healthy return of their congregation’s life and witness.
Together let’s set ourselves to fan the flame of our congregation’s life and witness and in the gentle power of Jesus watch the spread of the flame of the ministry and mission of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland in the emerging post Covid-19 world.
Rev David Thompson is Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s Council for Congregational Life and Witness.
This blog is part of the digital programme series, Refined, to help move our denominational conversation on from what was needed to initially respond to the Coronavirus pandemic, to seeking God’s leading and guiding for this next season of church life together.
Visit the Refined hub here.