Hope for the future

 

The text for the sermon is Jeremiah 29: 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

 

We are well into the second month of lockdown and there is talk about when the lockdown will end. Nobody knows for certain as it depends on how well the virus transmission is suppressed in the country and we are dealing with a moving target all the time. The authorities will I expect gradually relax the restrictions bit by bit and we will return to a new normal.

 

Life will not be the same as before the coronavirus outbreak, as there will have to be social distancing until such time as the population is mass vaccinated. We can say that we cannot guarantee that anywhere will be 100% safe until this happens.

 

So what about the future ? There has been some talk about a second wave of infection. If things are not properly managed there certainly will be so we need to pray that the government will be given wisdom in the decisions they have to take.

 

Another question we can ask is a second wave inevitable particularly in the winter ? I would say thankfully that the answer is no, it is not inevitable, all we need to do is to follow the example of South Korea which is the gold standard for the world. They have had no second wave and the virus is well on the way to totally dying out in that country.

 

How have they achieved that ? What lessons can we learn from them?  The tools they used was to have mass testing of the population and here in the U.K. we are following that path. Also they have smart lockdown where most of the population have a mobile phone app that tracks the coronavirus. Anyone who has crossed paths with an infected person is automatically notified via their mobile. 

 

There is a pilot trial of a mobile phone app for the U.K. taking place in the Isle of Weight. This is a good place as it is easier to wipe out a pandemic on an island which is isolated. See the link  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKOB3YfmzVI  

 

South Korea has made the wearing face masks compulsory, this doesn’t stop a person getting infected but it is a good help in preventing people from giving the virus to others. When a person sneezes or coughs the droplets cannot spread as far with a mask covering the face. Statically this has been proved to reduce the rate of infection. Face mask production here needs to be ramped up so there is enough for everyone and the NHS.

 

There is a very true saying that God helps those who help themselves so we need to pray that we will follow best practise as a country and if we do so there is hope for the future and there will be no second wave if we get things right.

 

Also let us remember all those who have been bereaved at this present time as at time of writing the death toll has reached 31,500. Let us continue to pray for the work of the NHS, for scientists engaged in vaccine research and antiviral medication that they will be guided in their endeavours.

 

Finally I finish with the UK blessing which is sung by different churches throughout the UK see the link https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PUtll3mNj5U