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The news today is of changing travel advice about travelling to Spain. It’s advice that seems to have changed about three times in three days, as new information comes to light about infection rates. Potential holidaymakers now seem to be altering their plans accordingly. British campsites now fully booked. In Leicester, earlier this month, plans for easing the lockdown were thwarted by a rising local infection rate, and other towns and cities are now featuring on so called ‘watch lists’. The language we hear from Government is about handbrake turns. The story of the virus has no doubt got many, many twists and turns ahead. Sharp deviations and hairpin bends, or gentle curves, we will all have to be prepared again and again for rapid adjustment. Just when we felt it was a bit safer to get back into the water. Our church plans are developing and you will know what is in line locally. We go forward in good faith, but remaining prepared to make the necessary and in some cases immediate changes to what we are planning. This is about being socially responsible and compliant, putting the health and safety of our community at the heart of our ambition to witness and worship as we have done for millennia. However, coping with sudden change is difficult for many people. We know that people with autism, in particular, find change to routine or their environment a real challenge. Uncertainty can also breed a real sense of feeling unsafe, which can be a concept that is difficult to define, but is a sensation that can be keenly felt. This is not simply about being fearful of catching the virus and the attendant medical consequences. It’s also about inhabiting a world where the comfort of past arrangements or supportive relationships can no longer be relied upon. In this climate, those who are vulnerable or have been abused, can be frightened that their support systems or first aid posts are no longer there when they are needed. If we need to change course on our voyage of fresh post lockdown discovery, we may avoid the iceberg, but let’s leave room for catching those who may tumble overboard.

Ever-living God, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end of the story. Ever-present God, you hear each story being told in this great city now. Grant us grace to listen to the stories which surround us day by day; in our communities, in our workplaces, among our friends and family. Grant us compassion to respond to what we hear; to share in the joys and pleasures of life, to share in carrying the burdens, of sorrow, of isolation, of need and vulnerability. May we offer hope, as responding to the gospel, we draw together the threads of the stories we hear and the gospel story, in word and action, in prayer and worship, in relationship with you, with our neighbour and with those as yet the stranger to us. Help us, we pray to write our story with love and grace. Amen. PLEASE PRAY FOR: 1. For the churches in the Clapham Circuit; Stockwell, Springfield and Clapham as we pray for God’s guidance for our continuing work and witness. 2. For the blessing of the children and young people in the circuit, for our developing work with them and with elders. 3. For the Night Hub at Clapham Methodist Church, providing a safe space for those who become vulnerable while enjoying the nightlife in Clapham; for those working in the night-time economy including the Police, Ambulance Service, Licensing Officers and Street Wardens; for the Hub Co-ordinator and Hub Hosts (volunteers), the members of the medical team and security provided via the Business Improvement District (BID), the Lambeth Street Pastors – for safety, strength and grace in the work they do.

Readers of this column may recall my disappointment a couple of months back about not being able to visit an art exhibition at the Turner Contemporary Gallery in Margate. Well the good news is that it’s opening again this week, and we have timed tickets to visit one day next week. Hooray! It’s an exhibition about art, music and culture in the deep south of the USA and its relationship with the Civil Rights Movement. You may recollect the title – ‘We will walk’. The café will be shut, but seaside fish and chips is a good substitute. This first venture into a space that has been closed for some while is an exciting opportunity to reconnect with a wider world. Paying such a visit will have always been stimulating, but it was also a thing you could decide to do on the spur of the moment, at the drop of a hat. For the moment you’re not able just to pitch up. The tickets come with precise instructions and the booking system requires you to accept the conditions at several points. No doubt many of us are experiencing something similar if we are planning trips out over the summer. So what of our churches as some go for ‘soft’ relaunches in August? How will things be arranged? Will we have to book our pew and sign in? Will we have to sign a form that says we accept the conditions of our being there? Masks? The wealth of guidance from Districts and TMCP will certainly help with these questions, and so I’m not going to offer more than a reminder to study these guides with care, making choices that work for your own setting. This is, however, again a plea to think beyond the practical measures to the relational issues that may be affecting people coming out of lockdown, uncertain about what the new climate means for shielding or affected by the consequences of isolation or forced and, at times, unwelcome close proximity to others. If face to face church is going to be a place of fresh excitement and real opportunity for collective worship, then meeting the needs of body and soul, physically, emotionally and spiritually in an integrated way is critical. In London, we have already published some guidance about how to spot and address safeguarding concerns that have become evident. As local statistics about adult safeguarding referrals suggest, this is a further reminder to keep an eye open for signs of self-neglect and domestic abuse. Likewise for children, listen to their stories with great care and attention. This is an important message and merits re-stating. Opening doors is a great next move. It promises so much. I’ll let you know if ‘We will walk’ measures up to expectations. And I still won’t mention anything about football (it’s a difficult topic in SE25 just now) and stadia doors possibly opening in October!

PLEASE PRAY FOR: 1. For the work of the foodbanks and winter night shelters and the MHA live at home scheme 2. For our work with Secondary Schools including the Muslim girls school in Southall supporting RE and supporting students becoming faith ambassadors 3. For the congregations of the Kings Hall Southall and the Circuit as we continue to work on redevelopment

Are teenage dreams so hard to beat? The first line of the Undertones’ 1978 anthemic hit ‘Teenage Kicks’ conjures up a sense of living for the excitement of now and believing in what can really happen. It’s mainly about a teenage relationship, but that first line and the driving beat are a real hook. For many teenagers the summer is a time of change – from school, to college, to work, to university. The time when another world opens up with all the possibilities of new friendships, doing different things, and yes, taking a few risks. But this summer is rather different. The beach trips, first holidays abroad without mum and dad, the Leeds and Reading Festivals, the fun choosing the items for university and the nervous anxiety about whether it will all be OK when you get there. The start of college, the first job, moving to live in a flat share. The essential rites of passage that come with later adolescence. Although some of these will still happen, the current mood is one of uncertainty. It may be sunny outside, but there is a dark cloud over the lives of many young people, if we look at recently published research evidence that points to significant concern about the mental health of young people as a result of lockdown. A time of eagerly anticipated independence, and realising those teenage dreams, has been replaced for some by staying at home, not going out and seeing plans and opportunities put on hold or even drift away. Much of our safeguarding guidance in recent weeks has rightly been focused on spotting concerns about our older, or more vulnerable church members. This column has also focused on the increased prevalence of domestic abuse. So this is a reminder that our young people may have been impacted in ways that we can’t easily see or appreciate. Our adult life experiences often prepare us for the bumps and knocks of things not quite working out as planned, but for young people whose dreams of who and what they want to be are so powerful, a firm push back can have a dramatic effect. A life’s ambition thwarted, a goal that can’t be achieved, that potential draining away. In this period of annual change, which is wired into our DNA through school, and church, let’s try to recognise when our young people are hurting. Bounce back is of course possible – we know about changing course, seeing a different angle, and of course in church life, having faith. But the amazing and creative turbulence of being young and in the moment, takes some beating as the Undertones sang. If you want a blast you can access it on Spotify or Youtube.

A prayer for chaplains Lord Jesus, often the guest and not the host, walking among the crowds and teaching in the marketplaces, we pray for chaplains, who are guests in the workplaces and who are called to walk among the people, inviting them to respond to the gospel of your love and grace. Strengthen chaplains in their work and encourage them in their witness, and may you be discovered in each of their loving encounters. Amen.

We won’t talk about the football so move on. The news this week is about re-opening churches and the guidance that sometimes runs to catch up with announcements. Are we all ready and comfortable with the prospect? I’m not even going to try to summarise the current (well, today’s) church guidance, nor make any comment about the practical details, but it’s still important to hear some important safeguarding messages that are emerging in our communities. I continue to sit on a local Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB), and in this privileged position I receive reports about patterns of safeguarding referrals. Current headlines point to a 300% increase in referrals to the local authority between March and May that have a domestic violence aspect. There is also concern about a growth in reported cases of self-neglect. I singled out these areas when I wrote in this column in April and sadly the figures have confirmed that these are indeed the critical ones. As our local churches re-open our ministers, pastoral teams and safeguarders would do well to keep a close eye on vulnerable individuals now starting to venture out. The SAB I sit on has also asked me to lead on an initiative to better engage faith groups in the general field of Adult Safeguarding, recognising the significant contribution such groups can make. I’ve written on this theme before, but the present crisis has shown that mobilising community activism is critically important, and that safeguarding concerns may well be identified through churches, mosques, synagogues and temples participating in these activities. If you’d like to think more about how your church can become involved get in contact with your local SAB. Each borough or county council will have one and each will have a website to ‘google’. The other area that I’ve been briefed on is the situation in care homes. The Prime Minister’s remarks yesterday have not been received well in a sector that has worked incredibly hard to keep people safe, with staff often making immense personal sacrifices to prevent the risk of infection. There is a complex story to tell in this sector and again, given our church demographic, it is likely that some of our members already live in care homes or other forms of supported living. If you have an interest in this area, for either personal or church pastoral interest, it is likely that your local Healthwatch can give you an update and explain some of the responses that local authorities are making. Again ‘google’ Healthwatch and the name of your local authority to see what’s going on.

Let us give thanks to God, the Creator. Whose image in Harlesden, London and elsewhere is seen on the face of such diverse population. Immigrants, sojourners, pilgrims seeking life and life in its fullness. Let us give thanks to God, the Redeemer. Whose sacrifice in Harlesden, London and elsewhere is seen on the face of those who use the food-bank. Christ's continuous intercessions answered in bread and vegetables. Let us give thanks to God, the Sustainer. Whose inspiration in Harlesden, London and elsewhere engenders understanding and confronts street violence sings a new humanity happy with the different other and learning of love. To Father, Son and Holy Ghost To Mother, Daughter and Dove To the Rock of our salvation to the Water of Life To the Wind of change Be celestial Glory Be the honour of service and the power of love. Amen. PLEASE PRAY FOR: 1. Pray for the movement towards Brent becoming a Borough of Sanctuary for those who seek refugee. Pray for immigrants, sojourners so that their pilgrimage towards a better life may become a reality. 2. Pray for the Fresh Food Food Bank - attending between 80-100 families every week - giving thanks for all the support and love expressed in it. 3. Pray for peace in dense urban settings, for understanding and holding differences in honour and love.

The Methodist Conference is meeting this week – in its strangely virtual way this time. Each year there is a report presented by the Safeguarding Committee, and in 2015 this was the means of sharing the outcome of the Past Cases Review. This was the three year project to review all that the Church knew about safeguarding concerns since 1950 and identify the actions that needed to be taken along the journey. You can access this year’s report here: https://www.methodist.org.uk/media/17299/conf-2020-16-safeguarding-committee.pdf The Church has made significant strides over the last few years with real progress achieved in respect of trying to embed a fresh culture of safeguarding that permeates all that we do. This has included launching ministerial supervision, refreshing all our training programmes, a targeted focus on survivor concerns and enhancing our professional safeguarding practice. There are many other examples. But of course it is what happens locally that really matters; that all should feel safe entering our buildings or taking part in church-organised activities and that anyone who has a concern should be listened to with care, promptly and effectively. This means paying attention to organising training for those who require it and ensuring the safe recruitment of new church officers, leaders and volunteers. It also involves reviewing local church policies to check if they remain fit for purpose and as our church environments change and adapt to our Covid-19 world, this will assume a higher profile than usual. Through the posting of publicity material that has been prepared for each local church to display we can also signal to all those who attend our churches that we take safeguarding seriously. This probably reads like a back to basics reminder, and in one sense it is. Our Church policies require us to do all these things and as Conference signals the approaching end of our church year and the imminent start of the next it’s a good time to plan how churches will deliver this agenda locally in 2020/21. The key thing is that this is not just a tick box exercise. Doing safeguarding well is testimony to our faith and commitment. It’s a key part of ‘doing church’. It’s about caring for and protecting all God’s children, everywhere and all the time.

Creative Creator We pray as we walk, as we sit, as we kneel and as we dream; for your creation and the realities we face due to our selfishness and lack of forethought; for your peoples around the world, those who are discriminated against, those who call the cold streets their home and those who flee from terror. Help us to let go of our own agendas and look for yours in all of this world we share. Amen. PLEASE PRAY FOR: 1. For creative solutions to financial challenges 2. For the flourishing of existing ecumenical relationships 3. For Revd’s Paul and Emma, Deacon Dawn and the Circuit team

Mining my knowledge of 1960s beat music, I recalled this song by Hedgehoppers Anonymous released in 1966 and thought it would be a good title for this week’s piece. But then I hit a snag as I ‘googled’ it to check I had the details right. To my disappointment I discovered that it had been written and produced by Jonathan King who was convicted of child sexual abuse in September 2001. He was sentenced to 7 years in jail. In 2018 he was again in court charged with 22 similar offences but the trial collapsed as a result of evidence disclosure mistakes. The Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner acknowledged that police failures had badly let down numerous victims. So why good news week? The irony of this title, and now knowing its provenance, is that last week the C of E announced that they had awarded Victim Support the ‘Safe Spaces’ contract which has been in various stages of development for over five years. Safe Spaces was first planned in 2014/15 and consists of a series of care and support options to better meet the needs of survivors of church context abuse. These options include the development of local support groups and a national telephone helpline. Quick off the mark the jobs were advertised almost the next day after the announcement. This is the first time that a national church has invested a considerable sum of money to develop a dedicated service of this kind. The C of E have been working closely with the Catholic Church who had similar ideas and hopefully survivors whose experience was in the Methodist Church can benefit from it as well in due course. It’s difficult to spot genuinely good news stories just now although the incremental loosening of the lockdown is also welcome. But this is a good one for survivors, even if it was released shortly after the less good news about the former Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, and the Bishop of Lincoln who are both now facing disciplinary measures as a result of reported concerns about their handling of safeguarding cases. The good news also extends to the Methodist Church as it is working hard to produce a suite of new resources that will aim to deliver an improved response to survivors of abuse who look to our churches, too, as safe spaces. More on this a little later in the year, but a good news story now. So on balance a good news week. Oh and did I mention the BBC1 live football on Saturday night and the two nil win for the Palace? Yes a good week. Stay well and socially distanced.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for all that you have entrusted us with. Guide us in the year ahead to be wise with what we possess, so that we can be likened to the servant in the account of Jesus’ parable in Matthew, who upon the master’s return had shown to be a good steward of the investment left to him. Help us with all property concerns within our Circuits that we can work towards our District vision of having: A healthy number of fully functional property, being put to use in a variety of ways, meeting a variety of needs of relevance to the property’s location and form; as it fulfils its Methodist mission to respond to your love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission. In Jesus name. Amen.