2020 has been a strange and difficult year, there have been lots of ups and downs, times that have been so lonely and times where we've felt closer than ever.
It's been something we've all experienced together and yet very differently, so here is 2020 told through some tiny snippets of stories and thoughts from people connected to our churches from over the past year...
Stuck at Home
This year the normality of life was suddenly restricted, we couldn't see our family and friends in the same way if at all and we couldn't do the things we usually did, the phrase 'stuck at home' became common place but we all tried to keep our spirits up...
'I might be stuck at home but at least I am safe, warm and have enough food.' Tiny Stories of 2020 #1
Plans were cancelled...
'I should have been on holiday this week with my friend. All I've got is photographs of last year's.' Tiny Stories of 2020 #2
It wasn't always easy...
'We'll have stories to tell about lockdown after it's ended, but it's not nice living through it.' Tiny Stories of 2020 #5
And maybe we appreciated some things we didn't realise were that special before...
But we did see some brilliant examples of community love and friendship...
'People stuck inside needing shopping will treasure the memories of people they don't even know who have brought supplies for them.' Tiny Stories of 2020 #3
'My neighbour looked through the window to see if I was ok. I mouthed the words - it's alright I'm not dead.' Tiny Stories of 2020 #7
'We can still contact eachother. I rang my friend to see how she was - it took 25 minutes!' Tiny Stories of 2020 #9
And there was hope...
And beauty...
'The picture of the blossom tree on the car park is brilliant, it shows that humans might be locked down but nature isn't.' Tiny Stories of 2020 #6
The New Normal
A phrase that was thrown around a lot this year, but was really about how we needed to adjust to what was a very different way of doing things...
'Bev talked about going to the hairdressers and getting a haircut but everyone was in PPE and we all had to wear masks. I suppose we'll have to get to it. It was worth getting my hair done and have some company at last.' Tiny Stories of 2020 #17
Masks and distancing have become the norm, but not everything was so simple. Worship wise, we had to wade through endless risk assesments and rules to figure out how to keep people safe...
'Revd. David explained things carefully to us, Stewards showed us where to go. Karen played the hymns but we hadn't to sing them but we could hum behind the masks. A bit weird but a bit of normality was back.' Tiny stories of 2020 #25
Imagine how this quote would sound to a past version of yourself? Very strange.
And for special services we had to be even more cautious for fear of too many people turning up...
'A booking system for attending church? I never thought I'd hear that!' Tiny stories of 2020 #24
And covid generally tried to get in the way of the usual celebrations...
'This is Palm Sunday and I read the services I got at half past 10, I got dressed as though I was going to church even though I knew I wasn't. I remembered the songs we used to sing in Sunday School with 'Hosanna in them.' Tiny Stories of 2020 #13
'Harvest Festival won't be the same this year. We can't bring fruit, veg and flowers or take them out to people. But we can still celebrate God's goodness.' Tiny Stories of 2020 #11
'The parade and service at the cenotaph (for Remembrance Sunday) were cancelled but when I went to the Post Office I saw the wreath from Central as usual. Thankyou for that.' Tiny Stories of 2020 #12
But this quote said it best when it talked about adjusting to the new...
God's Comfort
The presence of God has been a comfort for so many this year, we might have often heard the phrase 'Where is God in all this?' but here's a great response...
God has sparked conversation...
'I asked my friend if he could say exactly when he said 'Yes' to God. Like me he went to Sunday School and doesn't remember a time without God in his life but sometimes he felt closer than others.' Tiny Stories of 2020 #21
God challenged us...
'Loving God is obvious - loving our neighbours can be a bit more of a challenge!' Tiny Stories of 2020 #19
God's love has been at work in our communities...
'This week's pack reminded me that the Spirit is with us no matter what. It's been good to watch the news where the current lockdown and social distancing have resulted in love in action in a practical way.' Tiny Stories of 2020 #18
God worked in those who produced resources such as David Hollows, Bev Jones and Revd. David Burrow to give people something to think about and be comforted by over the weeks...
'My granddaughter was humming 'Happy Birthday' when she washed her hands because she'd seen it on TV, I looked at mine and imagined the stories they could tell.' Tiny Stories of 2020 #16
'The sheets this week suggested we looked for things with 3 in them. Interesting! Breakfast: toast, butter, tea! I'm going to keep having a go at that, something to think about whilst we're stuck inside!' Tiny Stories of 2020 #4
And praying to God has been a comfort that many have needed this year particularly...
Thankyou's
So many people have worked hard in the church community this year to make sure that the worship resources, garden bench articles and services were available to everyone whether you used a computer or not, often with poems, funny stories and messages added, thousands of packs have been delivered over this past year so that each week they could be looked forward to.
'I really look forward to the packet coming through the door, the reading material is keeping me going and I give some to my neighbour.' Tiny Stories of 2020 #20
These efforts didn't go unnoticed...
'I thank you both for not forgetting me. I thank you both for the prayer and reading sheets you have sent me.' Tiny Stories of 2020 #27
'I didn't expect to be kept in touch with church. I don't even go on Sundays but belong to the ladies fellowship and go to coffee mornings, thankyou for thinking of us.' Tiny Stories of 2020 #26
And sometimes, even just a phone call can be a much needed listening ear for someone...
'This week's sheets have been about comfort zones. My home is supposed to be a comfort zone but it has felt like a prison at times, sat at home on your own, feeling anxious can get you down but as Revd. David reminded us, Jesus will come and calm the storm if we let him. Thankyou for those people who have listened to me on the phone.' Tiny stories of 2020 #28
And even birthday's weren't forgotten...
'Thank people from the church who rang to say Happy Birthday and for the card from the Ladies Fellowship.' Tiny Stories of 2020 #29
And I want to add a big thankyou to Karen Spencer for gathering these thoughts and stories over the past year and to everyone that's put so much time and energy into keeping people connected with eachother through letters, resources, calls, texts and cards, it's clear they have been so appreciated!
So, 2020 is perhaps a year we'll all be glad is over, it has been so challenging and difficult for so many but it's not been without it's bright moments, acts of kindness and things to learn from. Let's hope and pray 2021 will bring positive change to the world and will be a happy year for us all, Happy New Year!