SURREY HILLS WATTLE PARK PARISH

Dear friends,
 
As always, I trust that this finds you well.  In addition to COVID it would seem that we are now having to start to deal with winter!  Not my favourite time of the year as you may know.
 
This weekend we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension and we need to ask ourselves….where am I looking….up or around?  Looking up can be an escape and looking around a challenge, but be that as it may, that is where we need to be looking.
 
I think it’s fair to suggest that a post- COVID 19 Church won’t be the same as the pre-COVID 19 Church.  Now we can react to that in a couple of ways. We can say ‘oh no, how terrible’ or we could ask ‘what opportunities does this new setting provide us so that we may be better follower disciples of Jesus?’
 
I came across some good questions the other day that are worthy of our reflection.
* Before the crisis, what would we have considered essential?
* During the crisis, what have we done without?
* After the crisis, what do we need to leave behind?
* After the crisis, what will be essential for mission in our parish?
 
Good questions I suggest.
 
At this stage I am not able to advise ‘who is coming or what’s next’ for our parish, but hopefully I will be able to do so by next weekend.  I’m still here, sort of, and will move to Scoresby on June 2^nd.  Sometime after then in the new normal, hopefully we could gather in some way so I can say thanks for what have been only 1224 days!  But wonderful days for me.
 
Take care, stay well and warm,
 
(Rev) Mark Reynolds PP

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MY JESUS, I believe that You are in the Blessed Sacrament.
I love You above all things, and I long for YOU in my soul. 
Since I cannot now receive You Sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though You Have already come,
I embrace You and unite myself entirely to You:
never permit me to be separated from You.