Dear Friends
Another week has Flown, and this morning the sun is beaming through my office windows. I’ve had a pleasant early morning walk. Of course, Leicester is largely out of lockdown now, and it was noticeable that, even at 5:00 AM there was a much larger amount of traffic. What I specifically noticed, was that traffic came in bunches, each bunch racing from the last set of traffic lights. At this time of acute ecological concern, one must observe that traffic lights are perhaps, a problem for our emerging world. Maybe their ultimate result, is working against safety and ecology. Stop, start – more fuel, more pollution, both atmospheric, and noise, more frustration, so more accidents. As we come up to 5G, and more driverless vehicle technology becomes available, automatic traffic sequencing could soon be possible without traffic lights, resulting in a massive reduction of pollution and congestion. Add to that, the already envisioned separate, pedestrian and cycle lanes, with the use of gentle road bridging. Combine this with battery driven electric transport, using Denmark’s development of inductive dynamic charging, by cables laid in roads, producing an electro-magnetic flux, and simple, non-plugin inductive home and street charging plates, all supplied from electricity produced by sun, wind, and water, we achieve a dramatic economy. At this time with the massive amount proposed to be spent on roads, these things must be part of a revolution in transport and energy concepts. How I should love to be in the forefront of these developments, every increment of the concept is readily available and fully operational. What’s needed, is a little visionary development to put those increments together, what absolute fun!
As some of our churches, continue to be centres for the community, in the distribution of needful supplies, both to the deprived, and to those isolating, maybe the time has come to consider opening our Church Buildings for worship and weekly activity, but there is need for considerable caution. Many of our congregations are elderly, and some may not be prepared to return to normal church meetings with complete confidence, until vaccination has taken place. In this respect I would refer you to the URC East Midlands Synod Web Site https://www.urc5.org.uk/ , and the ‘Latest URC Covid-19 advice – Emerging into the New Normal’, found at https://www.urc5.org.uk/content/latest-urc-covid19-advice-emerging-new-normal . This document, is prepared by the Synod Moderators.
I would urge us all to consider the Personal Risk Assessment Form which will be found in the documentation mentioned above; please note that for those scoring 6 or above the advice is:- ‘A score of 6 or more suggests a high risk and indicates that you should continue to work or participate in church life from your home’. It is also important to ensure that our Synod Property Officer, Mr Geoff Milnes, is informed prior to Church Building opening. This can be done, either through the Synod office or using [email protected] .Further good advice is available in the latest Synod E-Letter 325 – 23rd July 2020.
With this email I attach the service for next Sunday 9 August, at this early opportunity. As usual the service is in the form of low level technology, believing more people have access to simple emails, and in order that you may forward it on to those of our brothers and sisters whose email addresses I do not have, with minimum effort, should you feel that appropriate. This service would have been shared with our Christ Church URC under normal circumstances. The pdf contains the hymn words, largely from ‘Rejoice & Sing’, so that you may sing along, as I know you do. Some prayers and the readings for the day, from the Revised Common Lectionary, on which the URC Prayer Handbook is based, are included.
May I once again remind you of the very excellent services and devotions which the URC is providing at: https://devotions.urc.org.uk/
Every blessing to you all as you remain in my thoughts and prayers.
Thank you for all you continue to do.
David