Mr Spock’s phrase “It’s life Jim, but not as we know it.” never appeared in the Original Series, instead, it was popularised by the 1987 parody song “Star Trekkin’” by the firm, which had many of the generation repeating “It’s life Jim, but not as we know it.”, “Klingons on the starboard bow” and "We come in peace, shoot to kill, shoot to kill, shoot to kill”. At this point, I feel I should apologise to anyone I have ‘ear wormed’ and say to anyone who has never heard the song, “relax it is probably better that way”.
The phrase though does seem to sum up life as we are currently experiencing it. I am writing this article 24 hours into the further relaxation of lockdown, where pubs and restaurants and, most importantly, hairdressers and barbers have been allowed to open. “It’s life Jim, but not as we know it.”, sums up where we find ourselves. We are able to return somewhat to the activities that we used to be able to do freely but this is no return to normal. The necessary restrictions and changes to be ‘Covid Secure’ mean that things are not the same. It’s life but not as we knew it.
In terms of Church, we have moved to online services and meetings only. We are looking at the guidance as to how we may be able to meet physically once more including opening the building for the library. In some ways it is church Jim, but not as we know it. In other ways, it is ‘church’ just as it always has been. It has met to praise and worship God, it has met to support and encourage each other , and it has stepped up to provide help and aid to the village and surrounding area.
In short, the church (the church being the people within) has tried its best to respond to Jesus’ words …“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.” Luke 10:27. In many ways this is life, just as we have always known it.
The world may be different today compared to this time last year but I pray: That for each of us we are able to adapt to the restrictions on our activities. That we find ways to see the good in this world, ways to see God in this world and for each of us to find ways to be the good in this world. – Amen.”
