It has long been the tradition of the Hodnet Deanery, of which St Mary's is part, to hold a Deanery Ascension Day service. As one of 18 churches spread over quite a wide area of north Shropshire,  it's one of the only times when we all worship together and we were really looking forward to being outside, suitably attired with chairs and blankets so that we could sing. However, it wasn't to be.

We gathered in St Mary's (that's Hales not this one :) ) a beautiful, well appointed, small church that was blessed with fabulous heating  (aka hot for those of us who had dressed for outside!). The folding chairs that people had bought came in very handy though as places ran out due to social distancing measures. 

We couldn't sing out loud but we did worship joyfully with recorded music, readings, reflections and prayers from the Revd Chris Thorpe's new book Ploughshares and First Fruits. 

Revd Mark Kinder from HMP Stoke Heath spoke about the relaxing of social distancing and our concerns much like the prisoners in Stoke Heath - some can't wait, others like the structure and routine and are fearful. Might we feel the same way about church and what the affect of the pandemic may have had? He pointed out from the readings that we are told to wait for the Holy Spirit as we need it to empower us; that  Jesus said go and I will be with you always, to the end of time so we're not on our own. This is God's kingdom, His church and we're His people. We should be <span style="font-size: 1rem;">honest with God about our feelings, pray for the holy spirit, and be assured that the Lord is with us.</span>

<span style="font-size: 1rem;">We ended writing our hopes for our, others and the churches future on ribbons - expecting that God will answer our prayers, perhaps not as we might expect and in His perfect timing. The ribbons were then tied to an ancient beech tree in the churchyard for all to see.</span>