A Message from the Minister God never leaves us The Bible features a fair amount of Lamenting- not only in the book of Lamentations. A formal Lament has a definite structure: • It begins with an address to God • It continues by making detailed complaints – what has happened? Who is hurting and why? Whose fault, if anyone’s, is it? • The Next stage expresses trust in God • Then there’s a direct appeal to God • Finally (if the writer is ready) a vow of praise. Perhaps you might try writing a Lament, it’s a different way of focussing prayer. What have you been missing most during Lock-down? For many of us, living alone, it has been the physical contact with another person we have missed- a hug, a handshake, a pat on the back, Passing the Peace during worship. Jesus was tac-tile during his ministry- he reached out to the sick, he shared hospitality with friends- he gathered with more than 6 people on a hillside… and his ministry was betrayed with a kiss, he was roughly crucified. God came to earth as a flesh and blood human and shared the physicality of being human. Even when we cannot embrace one another we can remem-ber that he has never left us, he embraces us in love and for that we can give thanks.