The spread of Coronavirus has quickly taken its toll on our ability to worship together in Woodend Drive, writes Rev Sydney Maitland.
On Tuesday March 17 our College of Bishops followed Scottish Government advice and declared that ‘church services should cease’. Church buildings could, however, be kept open as a place for people to come and pray. Accordingly, on the morning of Sunday the 22nd I was able to make a private celebration of the Eucharist at All Saints – with no hymns, responses, sermon or administered communion – but with six congregation members in ‘socially-distanced’ attendance.
However, on the following day this option became impossible when the Bishops took the ‘difficult and painful decision’ to order the closure of all church buildings to everyone except individual priests or lay readers offering prayers and worship. Since I live some distance from the church, this option is not available to me.
Accordingly I shall not be doing this, but instead am celebrating the Eucharist on Sunday at home. I hope the Lord will enable everyone in the congregation to feel part of this, and that we can continue in fellowship in this way even though we can’t be together in person. I am also preparing reflections on the lessons for the day, and these will be posted on our website.
As always, the best we can do is to pray for the world and its people and for each other, and I especially ask for your prayers for our pastoral assistants – Jane Hely, Marie-Laure Ross and Eileen Condie – as they work to keep in touch with members of the congregation. Please also pray for all in the congregation who are known to you to be in need of your prayers, and for the healing of the nation as a whole, in all aspects of its life.
I know that others are staying in contact informally, and we will keep you updated with reflections and news through the church’s website at allsaintsjordanhill.org.uk and Facebook page facebook.com/allsaintsjordanhill.
With every blessing, and hoping to see you soon
Sydney Maitland
