Old Lodge Lane Baptist Church

19 March 2020
Due to the coronavirus epidemic we have decided to follow government and denominational advice and close all church meetings, services and group activities with immediate effect.

This closure will last for the foreseeable future, but once we have been advised that it is safe to do so, we will re-open and continue our regular activities as before.

However, this does not mean that the church is closing down completely. Sunday services will be replaced by a video podcast which you can watch on the church’s YouTube channel each Sunday morning. If you know someone without internet access, we can provide them with a DVD. Just get in touch.

Prayer meetings, Bible studies and other church meetings will continue to happen over the internet, but our coffee mornings and regular hirer activities are all suspended, and we are not accepting any new hall hire bookings at the moment. However, emails and telephone calls will continue to be answered as normal, and I and the pastoral team will continue to stay in contact with people in the community by telephone or online.

This is a worrying and uncertain time for everyone and it is easy to find ourselves swept along by the mood of panic. I am reminded of the story about Jesus, fast asleep out at sea in a boat with his friends. An enormous storm suddenly appeared, threatening to sink the boat and drown them all. Jesus’ terrified friends wake him up, crying “We’re going to die, please do something!” The story ends with Jesus calmly standing up and commanding the wind and the waves: “Be still.”

I can’t help thinking that right now people all over the world are feeling the same as the disciples in the boat. Though it feels scary and uncertain, we can take comfort from this story because just as Jesus calmed the storm when his friends called out to him, Jesus also wants to calm the fear that many of us are feeling right now. All he is waiting for is for us to call on him just like his friends did. They didn’t offer a well rehearsed, beautifully crafted prayer. Their cry was simple, raw and straight from the heart. Our prayers need only be the same!

My prayer is that you all stay safe and well during this challenging time. Please call or message me if you become unwell so we can pray for you and help in any way we can. If you can’t get out to the shops, or are struggling to get by in other ways, please get in touch. I know lots of great and caring people in our community who are ready and willing to help anyone in need.