I would like to be able to say that everyone is settling back into their familial routines following the Feast of Tabernacles. However, many are still sick and new positive test results keep being reported. Some are recovering and others are becoming ill.
As a number of key players for conducting services are isolating we will cancel in-person services again this Sabbath. A full service will be streamed online at the usual time.
Those who have tested negative may want to get together, maybe in each other’s homes. Gillian and I will be isolating again as we have not improved to the point of it being worthwhile to be tested. We plan to do that next week.
God has many reasons for allowing trials to come upon His people. All are positive in His grand scheme of things. “No temptation has overtaken you except as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
By suffering those things that are common to man, we can have greater love and empathy for other sufferers. It also makes us all the more diligent to be looking to a higher power than man. I’m personally hoping some “herd immunity” is developing that will help protect God’s people from other Covid variants. We can be very thankful that we all made it through and home from a very successful Feast before these difficulties impacted so many.
Brian Orchard
