Thought For The Week 27 March 2022

The news this week of the relaxing the rules around Covid prevention has been warmly received. It feels like we may be finally on our way out of this Covid nightmare. And yet, Covid (and specifically the omicron variant) has never been closer to us. There are more cases than ever around us including some from our church who have caught it.

Do you remember those conversations wondering why we needed all these restrictions when there were no cases in the South Island? It seems a little ironic that the restrictions are lifting just as we experience the full force of the pandemic! Thankfully, with high vaccination rates and the other measures we have taken, the effects of this disease have been mitigated and so far, our health system seems to be holding up. I would urge you to pray for those who work so hard on the front line of our health system; they face huge workloads and pressure and need our support at this time.

The parish council signalled that we would review how we hold services if our  attendance dropped to 50 or less across both sites. We have seen a significant reduction in attendance lately but more significantly we have had 3 cases of covid reported from people who attended church last week. It seems prudent that we now move to one service from next week, 3 April until 24 April, with normal services resuming on the 1 May. These will be held at St Stephens so that the usual live stream can happen.

Thank you for your patience as we navigate our way through these challenging times. Remember to watch out for any symptoms and stay home if you are unwell. By doing so we will help keep everyone safe and well.

Blessings,

Brent