6 mins
The Big Question
The Rev Graham D Astles, minister, Penicuik : North
“Surprisingly, maintaining spiritual health is as much a challenge to ministers as it is to everyone else. There are so many other tasks than preparation for Sunday worship that need to be done. Bigger parishes and Presbytery duties only make these tasks more burdensome. All that coupled with the inevitability of using our devotional time to reflect on the next sermon series means the quality of our regular devotions is often compromised.
“The months of lockdown have been really a nice respite from these pressures. Time has become more abundant, if only a little. Lack of meetings means lack of travel, which really helps. All this means that we can choose to spend more time in devotional reading, prayer, study: things that should be a priority, building our relationship with Jesus so we can give out.
“It is a function of our post-industrial obsession with productivity that we often see this time as luxury, secondary to the many ‘important’ tasks we have to complete. No matter how popular an idea, the ‘purpose driven church’ is folly. We are a ‘call driven church’, and our primary call is to love and worship Jesus. From this all other things flow.
“Lockdown has allowed time for contemplative walks, to read books bought and, to make use of some of the excellent resources produced by various congregations around the world. Time to BE rather than simply DO. May we carry this forward out of lockdown and into renewal and revival.”
The Rev Jean Boyd, minister, Drumoak – Durris
“A few positive developments have really helped to maintain my spiritual health in lockdown.
“The one I would like to share is that during the first week of lockdown, I decided to up my fitness and I now cycle, in our garage on a static bike, five mornings per week.
“I did a bit of this before lockdown, but am now doing it more regularly and at the same time I listen to a daily reflection online or listen to Christian music.
“I have been using the phone app ‘Pray as you go’ to guide my thoughts but have also listened in to the ‘Lectio 365’ app which again give daily worship reflections, music and prayers.
“Some mornings I just cycle and simply listen, in silence, to what I feel the Lord is saying to me.
“In listening, as I cycle, I have found the spiritual and physical discipline of spending time with God first thing in the morning inspiring.
“It is a good start to the day and has helped shape my working time and given routine to what was a very isolating time.
“I have also been struck by how many different Bible passages I have listened to recently, that I might not have listened to if I had not tuned in to the apps.
“As we emerge from lockdown I hope to continue to cycle and worship.”
The Rev Jeremy Eve, minister, Glasgow: Busby
“Yes, definitely. It is something, though, that seems to have happened involuntarily. The first started when I was asked at the beginning of the lockdown to post daily Bible reading suggestions. Since when, using the Revised Common Lectionary, every morning has begun in the manse with me sitting in front of an open Bible. I try to come up with about 400+ words by way of a reflection, and then conclude with a prayer. This is something that for years I’ve struggled to find the time for. It is something, though, that I do really enjoy. I just hope I’ll be able to continue once restrictions are lifted.
“The second routine has been our Friday family film night. Usually, if I try to watch a film, I fall asleep. That’s not been the case these past few months, and during that time we’ve seen some really good films together. Just two examples are ones that have introduced me to heroes of the Christian faith I’d never heard of before: A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood about Fred Rogers and Just Mercy about Bryan Stevenson.
“Thirdly, taking regular walks from home, and exploring the surrounding countryside, I’ve discovered places I never knew existed. These include a little-used bench in a wooded area overlooking some waterfalls with a view of a bridge that’s located at the heart of our community.
“As well as the river, there’s also always the sound of birdsong. It’s just a perfect place to pray.”
The Rev Dr David Bartholomew, minister of Balmaclellan, Kells & Dalry with Carsphairn
“The biggest change to my normal routines that has come with lockdown has been the opportunity to work with my wife Heidi in a far more creative partnership than we ever managed to achieve before.
“We decided to produce a weekly YouTube service not only for my congregations, but for my four parishes also.
“To connect with folk in the parishes and their family and friends living at a distance, we decided to feature photos from all around the area.
“During our daily exercise we would often gather photos together in the parishes, and others contributed photos also.
“It became a weekly pleasure to share with others the beauties of our local area as the seasons changed, and to include close ups of flowers and other local life, all pointing to the greatness of our Creator God.
“Heidi does a wonderful job of zooming in and out of the photos to give a sense of movement, creating a visual and musical experience to accompany the worship songs and my prayers and reflection.
“It has energised and encouraged us to connect in a meaningful way with many who never or rarely came to church, as the videos have been very much appreciated.
“We have found it a blessing trying to think of fresh ways in which we can share the good news.”
The Rev Scott E Burton, minister of Cara & Gigha, l/w Kilcalmonell, l/w Killean and Kilchenzie, Argyll
“I was changing anyway. Covid-19 and lockdown just brought a second wave of ‘new normal’ for me. Having been minister in a busy city centre church for 12.5 years and having taken the congregation through a major near £1m refurbishment of the sanctuary, I was done; burnt out. I had been for a few years but I couldn’t seem to find the new strength I required. And so a new chapter of life and ministry began -in the stunningly beautiful west coast of Kintyre, looking over to the Isles of Cara and Gigha, Islay and Jura.
“Such a move is a culture shock even though I’d walked and wild-camped here in April 2017. Now, in August 2019 a permanent move from city to coast was to prove something quite different. When lockdown hit in March, I’d already begun to get used to online communications, supermarket shelves having fewer options than before and I’d already learned to bake my own tattie scones in a bid to make do with simpler pleasures.
“And, yes, I’d already started out on a journey of deeper spirituality. A more traditional ministerial life of prayer and pastoral care was what I craved. A simpler life of reading, mindful bird-watching, contemplative walking were the very things that had attracted me here to West Kintyre and Gigha. And in lockdown such simpler styles of living were available in abundance. A journey away from the busy modern world to the new normal can be a blessing. It has been for me. I pray it has been for many.”
This article appears in the September 2020 Issue of Life and Work
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