Not long now!

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After what, it has to be said, hasn’t been the best few months, the day is looming when we can get Goshawk back in the water! To celebrate, I’ve dusted down Goshawk’s website with a shiny new look. 

This will, of course, be the first time that we have had Goshawk in the water as her new owners. We’re excited-but also a little bit nervous!

The plan at present is to have her engine de-winterised, her bottom anti-fouled, and then dropped in on April 12th. We will spend the afternoon aboard and acquaint ourselves with Goshawk’s kit and controls. 

April 13th is all set to be The Big Day. We plan to arrive at Titchmarsh Marina first thing in the morning, prepare Goshawk for departure, and then leave Titchmarsh around 1pm to sail to her summer mooring at Wrabness on the River Stour. 

Speaking of Wrabness, I feel very fortunate to have secured a mooring in a prime location in the Stour. It was a slightly convoluted affair! A friend happened to be selling his boat, and whilst the buyer is Wrabness based, he ideally wanted a mooring further to the east. Meanwhile, my uncle was selling a mooring slightly further to the east which he offered to me. Some negotiations later and I had managed to acquire my friend’s mooring from the person who bought his boat. Confused? I am. I told you it was a convoluted affair!

The boat which previously occupied my mooring was slightly smaller than Goshawk so I have contacted the Wrabness ‘harbour master’ to ask him to move the mooring a little, and to check that the tackle is fit for purpose. 

Meanwhile, I’m frantically working my way through the RYA Short Range Radio course material in the hope that I’ll be able to book myself in for a radio exam before the 12th April. I’m not sure, under current circumstances, if that’s a realistic possibility, but that’s my hope. 

It’s fair to say that I’m rather excited-but at the same time, a little nervous…

Roll on April 12th!

Be strong and courageous

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Be strong and courageous

[1] After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: [2] “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. [3] I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. [4] Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. [5] No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. [6] Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. [7] “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. [8] Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. [9] Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go .” …

Joshua 1:1-9

When I was eight years old I started at a new school. I don’t remember that auspicious day very well, but I do remember visiting the school for the first time. When we pulled up we met someone who I thought was the school gardener, but who actually turned out to be the headmaster! He was always known as Mr Peter, and he really was quite a character. On my tour of the school grounds with him we found an egg shell which he asked me to hold on to, very carefully. I remember clutching that shell for ages and ages. I think he must have forgotten about it! It wasn’t until the end of the tour that the shy, timid seven year old me had the courage to speak up and remind him of what I had been holding. He then explained to me all about the shell-the type of bird that had laid it, how long it would have sat on it, and why we had found a bit of it where we had.

There have been many times in my life that I’ve felt like a broken piece of eggshell, which without care would just crumble apart, or be broken into pieces.

Yet I’ve also felt that I’ve been able to draw comfort from being in the hand of God, a God who will protect me and look after me all the days of my life. A God who cherishes me and cares for me.
I only spent two years at this particular school, but I have incredibly strong and, for the most part, happy memories of my time there. One of the many things that I have been unable to forget is the school motto – Be Strong and of Good Courage – partly because it is so different from the motto of my senior school, which was “we ne’er wonne nor ne’er shall!” Be Strong and of Good Courage has almost become a life verse for me.

It is taken of course from the beginning of the book of Joshua, when Joshua is commissioned by God to succeed Moses as the leader of his people as they head for the promised land. We have just heard this text read to us.

I think one of the reasons that these verses have resonated with me down through the years is precisely because I am neither particularly strong nor courageous! There have certainly been many occasions when I have been frightened and dismayed, and perhaps not drawn on the courage that I should have had because the LORD my God is with me wherever I go.

One of the times when I felt most frightened and dismayed came in late September of 1997. Having gained good A Level results I found myself moving into a room in a Hall of Residence at Newcastle University, where I was to begin studying for a degree in Ancient History with Greek and Latin. As my parents drove me up to Newcastle, I got a strong sense of forboding. As we unloaded my possessions, something did not feel right. As I queued up to register in the main university building, I felt that I was making a wrong decision. When we returned to my room, I knew that I didn’t belong at Newcastle University. I explained this to my parents who suggested that I should sleep on it. I didn’t want to stay in my room, so stayed with them in a hotel near the university. That night I knew something was wrong. I knew that part of it was simply nerves at starting the next chapter in my life, but at the same time it felt much more than that. I prayed and prayed, I wept and wept. It felt like I was walking into a wall, a wall without a door, a wall that was impossible to pass through. I’m sure that God was telling me not to stay. I couldn’t explain why, and I can’t really explain how I got that sense that I was taking a wrong turning, but it ultimately felt that I was not supposed to be staying in Newcastle. Thankfully my parents were very understanding and we drove back home together the next day! They did explain that since I was not going to go to university, I needed to find a job, which I promptly did, and a few weeks later I found myself working at Marks and Spencer in Crawley.

It’s funny how when you look back on your life it is much easier to see the path that God has marked out for you than when you’re actually in the moment, trying to live your life. Not going to university seemed like such a strange thing to be doing. My friends and family had all expected me to go. My school expected me to go. I expected to go. But with hindsight I can look back on that decision as one of the most inspired I have ever taken. I spent two years in the real world, gaining valuable life experience. I was then made redundant and found myself wondering what to do with my life. At that point I opted to study History and Politics at the University of Essex, which was one of the most profoundly formative experiences both of my life and faith. It was there that I felt I came closer to God than at any previous time. It was there that I learnt what it really means to be a Christian. It was there that I learnt to more fully place my confidence in God’s Word. It was there that I decided I wanted to be a teacher. And it was there that I met the person who would introduce me to my wife. Had I stayed at Newcastle, my life would be very, very different to the life I now lead – very happily.

Of course, it would be easy to say – but Si, all this may well have happened if you had stayed at Newcastle, but I really do not think that that is true. I was a profoundly different man when I started at Essex in 1999 compared to the nervous and naïve boy I had been in 1997.
I wonder how different our lives would be if we all lived by Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” How different would life be if we defeated any sense of discouragement in our lives by trusting that God is with us?
Be strong and courageous, for whichever direction our lives take, whether it is the one that we anticipated, the one that others expected we would take, or a completely different path, the LORD will be with us always.

Perhaps if we trusted in that verse more, sought to eradicate discouragement from our lives, and trusted that God will be with us wherever we go, we might all live a little more adventurously, and not merely follow the obvious pathway.

Of course, God makes it clear to Joshua here that he must have God’s Word always on his lips. God’s Word here is referred to as the Book of the Law, but we might take this to mean the whole Bible. God stresses to Joshua the importance of knowing God’s word “so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.” Knowing God’s word, trusting God’s word, and striving to live by God’s word is part of being strong and courageous. Living by God’s word means turning our backs on earthly wisdom, and striving to live by Godly wisdom. This can often be difficult because it means standing out from the crowd, not following the crowd, but being willing to be different, and being seen to be different.

I’d love to tell you that I have always succeeded in this respect. I have tried, and continue to live my life according to God’s wisdom, but he knows that too often I have failed in this respect.

I remember vividly a conversation I had with a very close friend and colleague in the pub whilst I was in my first teaching role. We were talking about relationships of all things, and my colleague was urging me to pursue a lady we had previously discussed. I explained that I could not do this because she wasn’t a Christian and therefore it wouldn’t be appropriate for me. My colleague asked what on earth I was talking about, since surely I couldn’t be a Christian, because I was an intelligent person. I remember that conversation so vividly because I was concerned that my Christian witness was failing, and that I wasn’t being salt and light in the world. The way I was living my life seemed, to those close to me, to be no different to the way that anyone else following worldly wisdom lived their lives. I also remember it vividly because my colleague evidently did not think that any intelligent person could be a Christian!

What I have found time and time again is that I am happiest, I feel more focused, and I feel less directionless at those times in my life when I have immersed myself in God’s word on a daily basis, striving to listen to him speaking to me through the pages of the Bible. Conversely, at those times in my life when I’ve felt myself lacking direction, when I’ve felt unhappy and most stressed, it is surely no coincidence that I haven’t been reading the Bible as much as I should have been.

I wonder how different my life would be if I truly lived by the standards of Joshua 1:8, meditating on God’s word “day and night”! If I feel happiest, most focused, and least directionless when I have studied God’s word every day, how much happier, how much more focused, how much more direction would I know if actually God’s word was always on my lips, in my head and in my heart?

This passage from Joshua speaks a great deal to me. I wonder if it does to you too?

We can all be greatly comforted by God’s statement to Joshua, “be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

At the same time, we must remember the other instructions in this passage. “Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you, do not turn from it to the right or the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” And also, “keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. They you will be prosperous and successful.”

Be strong and courageous because God is with us.

Be careful to obey God’s law.

Meditate on God’s word day and night.

A challenge to us all, but one which will enable us to live Godly lives, to know God, and ultimately to enjoy eternal life with him through Jesus Christ.

Simon's Sermons
Simon’s Sermons
Be strong and courageous
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Superhuman-ly Good? Probably!

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Try Superhuman with one month free!

Superhuman is, apparently, the email service that every VC in Silicon Valley is talking about. Fair play to them, but I live in leafy Sussex and I’m not a VC. I’m not even sure I know what a VC is. At first glance, Superhuman is not for the likes of me.

But I love it.

What do I love most about it? That it costs me $10 a month. That’s £7.41.

But wait! Isn’t GMail free? Isn’t Outlook.com free? Why am I happy that Superhuman is charging me money for a service I can get for free? Well, partly because the headline price is $30 a month. Yes, $30 A MONTH! FOR EMAIL?! ARE THEY INSANE?!

Maybe. But probably not.

Joining Superhuman – not as easy as just clicking!

I first heard about Superhuman in the summer of 2019. Remember those heady days? Those days when we could go out for a meal, or to the cinema, or to the swimming pool? When we could meet up freely with friends and family, and hug, and shake hands?

Anyway, I digress.

I read about Superhuman and I was intrigued. Could an email service really be that good? I figured I’d sign up, try it for a month or two, and find out.

It transpires that it’s not that easy to sign up for Superhuman!

I first had to join a waiting list, which supposedly had 200,000 or something. Fine. I signed up and settled in for a wait.

Surprisingly quickly, I received an email inviting me to complete a survey. I filled in the survey and waited. Again, the wait was short. I soon received a message from Sahar at Superhuman inviting me to a 30 minute consultation “as the final step” to joining Superhuman.

Wait, what?! This is absurd! I ignored the email. I didn’t want to join a cult, I just wanted to try out an email service!

Sahar was nothing but persistent. Five days later I received another email from her saying “I noticed your consultation isn’t yet reserved” and urging me to reserve my time.

Nah, not joining. $30 a month is an absurd amount of money to spend on email.

Four days later I got another email from Sahar, telling me “we just have a few slots left for the week and I know you’ve been waiting :)”

Fine, you win. I filled out the form, booked my slot and handed over my credit card details.

Zoom (what on earth is Zoom?)

Next I received an invitation to a consultation with Siyarin on something called Zoom. (How strange to think of a time when not only was I not spending hours of every day on Zoom, but actually had never heard of it before!)

So on 8th August I loaded up Zoom and had a 30 minute consultation with Siyarin. I attempted to be cold, unimpressed and indifferent, but WOW! Siyarin was so warm and friendly. She was so helpful. She was so full of wisdom about better email management. And Superhuman was just so darn impressive!

I was an instant convert.

My plan to stay for just a month or two was thwarted by the sheer brilliance of Superhuman. As it was I stayed until January 2020 when I decided that yes, $30 a month really was too much to justify spending on email.

I actually email Rahul Vohra, the founder and CEO of Superhuman, and told him that I loved his service, and if he ever introduced an education plan with a reduced price, I was sure he would get loads of teachers signing up. Much to my surprise I had a response saying that he would give it some thought.

Jump forward to January of this year (2021) and I happened to notice on Twitter that Superhuman had indeed introduced an education plan at $10 a month! Count me in! I emailed the team who quickly reactivated my old account, at the reduced price.

As soon as I opened the app, it felt like coming home. I just love Superhuman. But why? Here are my thoughts:

Philosophy

I get the philosophy of Superhuman. This really came across in my onboarding with Siyarin, as well as the weekly emails I received from Rahul Vohra during my first month or so with Superhuman. They have a specific view on how to manage email, which, whilst it may not appeal to everyone, really appealed to me.

Check your email, triage, star, action, or mark done. Get through everything as quickly as possible. Get to ‘Inbox Zero’ i.e. an empty inbox. As someone who previously had a decent number of emails in my Gmail inbox, all waiting for me to do something with them. It’s really true; keeping my inbox empty really does reduce my cognitive load.

Actually, when I left Superhuman, it became just how much I had been inculcated by their philosophy; this really helped me manage my inbox, even without access to the app.

Splits

I LOVE the splits. The idea here is that rather than having a single inbox, it is possible to create several ‘split inboxes’ which funnel defined messages into a specific place. Whilst my personal account only has the default Important, Starred, and Other, plus another for News, my work email account also has splits for emails from our school information management system notifying me that my pupils have gained a merit, another for demerits, one for pupil communications, and another for (highly filtered on Gmail) notifications from Google Classroom. This makes my life so much easier, and it’s so much easier to keep on top of my messages.

Indeed, when I left Superhuman it was the splits that I missed the most. I tried to replicate this set up in Gmail, but it just didn’t work as well. Indeed, it produced a complete mess which proved almost impossible to pick my way through.

Keyboard shortcuts

I believe that programmers use keyboard shortcuts a lot. It’s not something I’ve ever really used before (other than the standard control-c control-v type shortcuts that we all know and love). Superhuman changed my attitude here. It is built on keyboard shortcuts; there’s one for pretty much everything, beginning with command-k to bring up the command centre.

I’m now a real convert to keyboard shortcuts and really appreciate how they have sped up my work flow (especially working through all those wretched Google Classroom notifications!).

Speed

This seems to be the major selling point for Superhuman. The headline on their website is “The fastest email experience ever made.”

Initially my reaction to this was – meh. I don’t need my email to be fast. Email generally seems fast; does it need to be any faster?

I think I had probably misunderstood what they were getting at here. What with the splits and the keyboard shortcuts, it turns out that it’s ME that’s faster, not my email. And this really does make a difference! I really can get through my email so much faster – noticeably so. I hadn’t really appreciated just how much of my day is spent processing email. With Superhuman, it is considerably less.

Graphics

Seems a bit daft, but for me, this is a significant part of the experience.

But what do I mean, graphics?

Whenever inbox zero is reached, Superhuman throws up a stunningly beautiful image, a new one each day. These really are lovely to look at, and a real motivation to clear my email. It pains me to see a large white expanse broken up with text when my inbox is full. It calms my soul when I clear my email and get to see the gorgeous daily photo.

The app

Superhuman’s app is just the best I’ve used, whether on desktop or on my phone. I’ve tried a significant number, but definitely place Superhuman at the top of the pile. It looks good, it works well, and is just a pleasure to use.

As someone who uses both iPhone (my primary device) and Android (my secondary device), it pains me that Superhuman is not currently available on the latter. I believe that they’re working on this; I hope they launch soon!

Price!

Again I come back to this. Seems daft when I could use any number of free apps, but I am really thrilled to pay $10 a month for my email – a significant discount on the regular $30.

Conclusion

It’s probably clear that I am a massive fan of Superhuman. I couldn’t recommend it more highly – especially if you are able to take advantage of the education pricing. Indeed, if you are a busy teacher like me, I would urge you to check out Superhuman.

If you’re keen to give Superhuman a go, you grab grab yourself a one month free with my affiliate link below:

Try Superhuman with one month free!

Parental seal of approval

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My parents visited the marina on my behalf today to pick up Goshawk’s keys and paperwork. Whilst they were there they hunted Goshawk down in the yard. They initially thought that they were mistaken because she is much bigger than they had anticipated. 

I’m pleased to say that Goshawk received the all-important parental seal of approval:

I can’t wait to get up to Essex again to see her myself!

Today I bought a boat

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Yes indeed I did. And not just any boat, but a boat described by both the broker and the surveyor as “truly a lovely boat.”

That’s right, right on schedule, today my purchase of Goshawk of Møn, a beautiful Westerly Centaur, completed. I’m very proud to be her owner!

Unfortunately because of a very hectic schedule in the coming weeks we are unlikely to be able to visit her anytime soon. As a consequence, I reluctantly asked the marina to haul her out today. It seemed silly forking out a small fortune to keep her on a visitors’ pontoon just on the off chance that we might be able to visit. At least she will be all ready for next season!

We will, of course, have to head up at some point soon to ready her for the cold weather. Our annual October getaway to Nerja (Spain) is looking increasingly unlikely to perhaps we will get to visit then. 

As for now, I will have to content myself that I own a beautiful yacht eagerly awaiting her launch and subsequent adventures at Easter!

Goshawk’s engine: my biggest concern

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Goshawk’s Volvo Penta MD11C engine.

When reading up about Westerly Centaurs, it quickly became apparent that for many, the weak point in an otherwise outstanding boat is often the engine. That’s not to say that Centaurs’ engines are inferior; from from it. They’re just very old, and so liable to have issues. Replacement parts are also, apparently, difficult and expensive to source.

Many Centaurs have had their original engines replaced with modern engines. Quite a number on the market when I was looking at Goshawk had recently received new Beta or Yanmar engines. 

I was therefore a little concerned that Goshawk, although having been re-engined in 2017, had been given a replacement Volvo Penta MD11C. When I queried this, the broker told me that the vendor was a big fan of classic 1970s engines, and had been excited to source a really good example of an original engine. 

When Goshawk was surveyed, therefore, I was particularly keen to read what the surveyor thought of the engine. I was pleased to see that he had positive things to say:

The engine has been well and neatly installed. Visually the engine appears in excellent and well looked after condition. There is no evidence of any water or oil leaks. The engine started well and was run for approximately an hour, run in and out of gear and stayed at normal running temperature, clean engine exhaust. Engine controls were smooth and operated well.

So, apparently, all good! Now I just need to keep it like that…

I asked on the Westerly Owners’ Association Facebook group for guidance about having the engine winterised and received lots of useful responses. The consensus seemed to be that it’s easy enough to do, and there was no need to pay someone to do it. I was directed to a book by Dennison Berwick (which I have subsequently ordered) which was suggested would be an invaluable resource. Whilst trying to track down the book I discovered that Berwick has a tremendous website packed full of useful information.

According to Martin on the WOA’s Facebook page:

Basically, winterising consists of an oil and filter change, topping the fuel tank right up, (to prevent condensation forming on the insides of the tank) and giving the fuel a shot of anti diesel bug treatment (to prevent the old cladisporium resinae); and finally, flushing the cooling system and filling it with a suitable antifreeze/coolant. I remove the thermostat to assist the flushing process as my old MD7 is raw water cooled and has no heat exchanger. You just need a pipe and a bucket!

Which all sounds relatively straightforward!

I’ve also discovered that oil filters for the MD11C can be purchased here for a very reasonable £14.26 (at the time of writing).

It may well be that I try to winterise the engine myself – but I will need to check the book first. At present I know next to nothing about engines, but I do think I’m quick to learn, especially if I have a good book to hand with illustrations. So we will see!

Insuring Goshawk (plus a warning…)

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Over the last few days I’ve been trying to secure insurance for Goshawk. There was one obvious choice – Navigators and General. They have a close relationship with the Westerly Owners’ Association, of which I am a member, and offer various incentives to members of the association, including a ten per cent discount. They are not easy to get hold of though! I have had to sit in a queue on the phone on several occasions, and indeed have given up a couple of times. I was also promised an email from them, but this didn’t appear.

There were three reasons that I didn’t sign up to N&G straight away:

  1. My perception that their communication is poor;
  2. Their premium was towards the upper end of the range of quotes I secured;
  3. They stipulated that Goshawk couldn’t be launched until 1st May, and when this was queried stressed that this date could not be changed.

Once I had received several quotes in writing, however, I decided that Navigators and General just seemed to be the most trustworthy, and their added benefits seemed good. I emailed them therefore to ask if the price they had quoted was the best price, and if I could launch Goshawk earlier.

As yet, they have not replied…

I rang them this afternoon, therefore, and put my points to them. The agent took me through the quotation process again, and managed to knock £40 off the premium. Excellent.

When I challenged him on the date that I could launch Goshawk, he agreed, without question, to move this to the beginning of April. Result. This didn’t have any impact on the premium.

I therefore opted to give them my business.

But what’s the warning, I hear you ask?

I used a couple of yacht insurance comparison sites (I thought this market would be too niche for such a thing, but evidently not!). I punched in my details, sat back, and waited for the results.

One of the quotes that I received back came from a company called Edward William. It was significantly lower than any other quote. There was no need to show them a survey. It was fully comprehensive. There was no restriction on launch dates etc. It seemed almost too good to be true.

Not having heard of Edward William I googled them and found mixed reviews. Some of their clients are clearly very happy, others were not. Probably par for the course for any business, I thought.

I then looked them up on the FCA website and found the following warning:

I decided not to give them my business, therefore!

Of course, they may have many happy customers in the U.K. (you may be one), but if the FCA suggest not to deal with them, I would concur!

Marina Shock!

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‘Marina Shock’ must be a thing, isn’t it?

I think I’ve just had my first dose!

Goshawk is currently on a pontoon in a marina. This will be unusual for her – usually she will be kept on a swinging mooring (hopefully…).

In preparation for the completion of the sale I asked the marina for a quote to keep her on the pontoon until October, haul her out, lay her up ashore until April, then launch her.

This little lot came out at over £1000! Somewhat more than I was anticipating.

Of course, the cost to keep her on a visitors’ pontoon is outrageous. I will have to review if I keep her in the water, or haul her out straight away. The chances are that we won’t have much, if any opportunity, to visit her whilst she is in the water, so it might simply be a waste of money. Probably cheaper to haul her out straight away.

At the moment, when we haven’t been able to use the boat, and are unlikely to have any opportunity to do so before April at the earliest, I am definitely being exposed to the negative sides of yacht ownership before I experience the positives.

Hopefully Goshawk will be used lots and lots next year, and these rapidly escalating costs will seem like very good value!

All to come!

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As I write this I am in the process of purchasing Goshawk. That’s right, at present, she isn’t even mine!

I have, however, agreed to purchase her, paid a deposit, and commissioned a survey. The vendor is currently undertaking a few very minor jobs highlighted by the survey, and once he has done so we will complete the sale.

The current target date for completion is the 9th September.

My priorities at the moment are to secure insurance, and agree with the marina where she is currently based that she can stay there for a little bit longer.

I will write much more detail about all of this once Goshawk is mine!

Church, Differently

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What follows is a short video reflection produced during the 2020 Coronavirus Lockdown for St Andrew’s Methodist Church and Southwater Community Church, both in Horsham, West Sussex.

Scroll to the bottom for an audio recording.

How are you coping?

These are very strange times we’re living in.

I’m sure that we all have our own particular reasons for finding life difficult at the moment.

Maybe we’re finding it tough not being able to meet up with friends, family, loved ones.

Maybe we’re finding life dull and monotonous.

Perhaps we have very real health worries and concerns.

Perhaps we’re worried about our finances, or our jobs.

Maybe we’re missing church – the fellowship of our fellow believers, the experience of worshipping together, of celebrating the Lord’s Supper together. Perhaps we’re missing the teaching.

I thought today we could think a little about what precisely church is, and how we might strive to continue being church in these difficult times.

I’d like to take a look at the early church.

The reading is from Acts 2:42-47, which says:

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to everyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

What picture do we get of the early church from this passage, and how might we emulate this, even in lockdown?

It’s clear that the early church was a learning church. We read that they “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching.” They listened intently to all that the apostles had to say about Jesus. They hung on their every word.

We might not be able to physically go to church, but we can still devote ourselves to the teaching of the apostles. We have this readily available to us in the New Testament. Perhaps we can spend some of the time available to us now reading our Bibles, and learning all that we can about Jesus?

It’s clear that the early church was a loving church. Not only were the early believers devoted to the teaching, they were also devoted to the fellowship – to the community of believers. They shared their lives together. They ate together. They worshipped together. They supported those in need. They were generous to each other.

We might be physically separated from our fellow believers, but this doesn’t stop us loving each other. We can meet together using modern technologies like Zoom, Skype and Facebook. We can phone each other. We can reach out to those who need help, support those in need. Our buildings may be closed but our fellowship doesn’t have to stop. Indeed, it’s possible it might grow even stronger!

It’s clear that the early church was a worshipping church. They met regularly to share the Lord’s Supper together and to pray together. They met at the temple and they met in each other’s homes. They praised God together.

We might not be able to worship together at church, we might not be able to invite people to our homes to worship, but be can still worship together through Zoom meetings or Skype calls. I attended our church prayer meeting this week over Zoom, and there were over 120 people in attendance, far more than would usually attend our monthly prayer meetings.

We can still worship God together, and by thinking creatively and embracing modern technologies, we can potentially worship with our brothers and sisters more regularly. Perhaps we could even aspire to meet together to worship every day, just as the early Christians did.

It’s clear that the early church was an evangelistic church. Jesus added to their number every day. Jesus saved people every day.

Just because we’re trapped in our own homes does not mean that we cannot embrace this aspect of church life. Many of our friends have time on their hands. Many are looking for meaning. Many, precisely because they can’t lead their normal lives, are seeking to understand what life is really all about.

There are so many brilliant resources available online. Spring Harvest have offered up some brilliant resources. The Alpha Course is available online. So is Christianity Explored. So is the Marriage Course. Just this week I’ve seen a brilliant resource called The Word One to One to help us introduce our friends to Jesus by working through John’s Gospel together.

We might be in lock down. We might be stuck at home. But we can still be church together.

We can still learn.

We can still love.

We can still worship.

We can still evangelise.

So let’s rise to the challenge and be church, but differently.

Church, Differently
Church, Differently
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