Dear Friends,
We have heard much about the ‘victims’ of Covid-19. Every day we have been reminded of the mounting death toll. And rightly so. But only now we are beginning to appreciate the wider and deeper impact of the pandemic. Just as each day we are told how many people have died during the previous 24 hours, not a day passes without us hearing of yet many more job losses; of the many hundreds and thousands and people who will have lost their jobs, & their livelihoods, directly as a consequence of the effect that the virus is having on the economy. The hospitality and retail sectors are being particularly badly affected. Every day, a leading High St Chain is announcing large scale closures. An already overcrowded ‘market place’ is being ruthlessly pruned and ordinary people – good workers, loyal employees – are having to pay the price. It is especially galling for them given that it is no fault of theirs; no fault of the management; no fault of anyone involved in the business. They are all victims of circumstances beyond their control. Often, to lose one’s job is tantamount to losing one’s dignity, one’s raison d’etre. The impact of unemployment on individuals and on families goes much deeper than the loss of a regular income, bad enough though that is. It is grimly ironic that only last week the Govt. announced a massive recruitment initiative aimed at bolstering the workforce in Job Centres up and down the country…
…It is difficult for many of us to empathise with those affected in this way. A large number of us are retired, whilst others of us have jobs well suited to surviving the economic storm – although we may know people who have been affected – and so there is not a lot we can do practically, but what we can do is be aware, be sensitive, be patient. We can, we ought to find a place in our prayers for those for whom redundancy is the devastating blow it is for so many…
…And we should bear in mind that one ‘industry’ that will be affected is that of Institutional Religion. The drastic reduction in income being experienced by all faiths and traditions is bound to impact itself on those ‘employed’ or ‘stipended’ to serve in a whole variety of roles. Churches, Synagogues, Mosques, Temples up and down the country will all have to make painful decisions in the near future in order to ensure that they remain financially viable. I want to place on record my gratitude to all involved in the life of the Free Church, especially those responsible for managing its resources. It has meant that I and my family have been spared any sense of financial uncertainty as far as my continuing as Minister, but I have colleagues who are much less fortunate and who may well find themselves under notice to quit; not because they have ‘failed’ but just because the money isn’t there anymore…Please find a place for them in your prayers too…
Ian Tutton