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Good morning, I鈥檓 Canon Grace Thomas. This Sunday we are remembering the 5th anniversary since the COVID pandemic, when the nation went into lockdown for the first time. It was a time of uncertainty, as many of us had to adjust to radical changes in our everyday lives almost overnight.鈥�听

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I鈥檓 the Canon Missioner at Manchester Cathedral, and earlier this month, we held a service of remembrance and reflection for this significant date.听

The service brought together people who had been affected by the pandemic in many different ways. It was led by the Caribbean and African Health Network, here in Greater Manchester and was a time of worship, of sharing diverse experiences and, also, remembering those who died.听

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Today, of course, is also Mothering Sunday, a time traditionally when families would worship together in their mother church and where, today, we give thanks for those with mothering roles in our lives. Gathering in love and faith is a theme we will see throughout this service. The words in this opening hymn, Amazing Grace, sung by the Kingdom Choir, remind us of God鈥檚 unconditional love for us听

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Amazing Grace - The Kingdom Choir听

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This morning will feature voices from members of African and Caribbean communities who shared their stories and reflections at our service of Remembrance. The Dean of Manchester opened our service and you鈥檒l hear a鈥� prayer, from Bishop Len Rowe, from the Church of God of Prophecy, in South London.鈥�听

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Dean Rogers welcomes us to the COVID service听

It's so good to see you tonight as we reflect on five years since covid.us meeting hear tonight. It makes a big difference to find solidarity with each other. We need to cry with those and weep with those who are weeping still and find hope in God.听

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Bishop Len Rowe 鈥�听

Father, thank you, for the comfort and reassurance given in your words. The peace received through Jesus Christ, the source of life.鈥� Lord, thank you for this service of remembrance, in which we meet to remember our loved ones. Thank you for the precious memories we hold of them, the values and legacies and the hope we have in seeing them again. We pray for those sick at this time, in hospitals and care homes at this time.鈥�听

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For all of us here and for those who have lost loved ones, may you give us the strength to meet our challenges and faith to deepen our trust in you. In Jesus name amen.鈥�听

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In March 2020, as the pandemic took hold in the UK, all of us had to make some significant adjustments. Many of us had to learn to communicate through Zoom for the first time, and some of us had to start homeschooling our children. Some didn鈥檛 see close family for months on end. At the time I was ministering in a very diverse part of Manchester and, in those early months, I conducted many funerals of people from African and Caribbean communities- these communities being disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Although the spring air was warm, it often felt like a bleak time, with families distanced and often unable to attend funeral services of people they knew and loved. Anniversaries such as this one for the covid-19 pandemic, falling, as it does, close to Mothering Sunday, can be a painful reminder of those we have loved and lost.鈥�听

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Precious Lord, Take my hand - London Community Gospel Choir听

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Precious Lord, Sung by the London Community Gospel Choir.鈥�听

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Even in the most challenging of times during the pandemic, I witnessed people showing love in ways that have stayed with me.鈥�鈥�听

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Neighbours set up whatsapp groups to look out for one another, for example. We all recognised how important our relationships were. Mothering Sunday is a time when we give thanks for the relationships that have been precious to us, but it can also be a time of pain for the relationships we lost - or maybe never had.听

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In the service at Manchester Cathedral, we heard testimonies from people who struggled with being socially distanced from those they loved. And we also heard stories of courage and care鈥�听

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Dr Chinyre Okerenta was working as a nurse when she contracted Covid. Her husband Pastor Samuel Okerenta cared for her while she was sick and they share their experiences with us now听

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Chinyere Okerenta:听

in march 2020, I was on the ward, Entering the house I told my family that I have been in direct contact with a covid patient.鈥�鈥�听

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I didn鈥檛 know it was covid.听

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I could not remember the prayer because I was going in and out of unconsciousness but with God. All Things are possible.鈥�听

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The Holy Spirit helped me.鈥�鈥�听

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Samuel Okerenta:听

We lost so many people. But my wife survived and it's not because of anything. God had mercy on her. And we ask that people who are suffering from long. covid syndrome - that the Lord would touch them one more time听

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Della Reeves鈥�听

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never end. They are new every morning. Great. Is Thy Faithfulness, O God.鈥�听

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We may feel uneasy, not knowing what tomorrow may bring, yet, we still have hope and we can call on. Jesus for he will be our strength. We can trust in him.鈥�听

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One day. There will be no more dying. There will be no crying. There will be no pandemic. There will be no more injustice. There will be no more pain. There would be no more threat of war. But for right now, we grieve with hope, trising that Jesus who is our Hope, will see us through.鈥�听

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听That was鈥� Della Reeves from the Church of God of prophecy sharing with us her reflections of hope in times of鈥� crisis听

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Great is thy faithfulness鈥� - Carrie Underwood and CeCe Winans听

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Angela Clarke is the Chief Executive Officer at RAFFA International Development Agency听

They support the delivery of social action projects led by individuals or groups. Working in adult social care during the time of the pandemic, Angela also suffered personal losses that many of us can relate to.鈥�听

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Angela Clarke听

The pandemic shattered my world.鈥�听

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鈥疧n March, 19, 2020 It was my mother's birthday. We celebrated her birthday. And at midnight. We were told that was the night of lockdown.鈥�听

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The next time I saw my mother was on 26th of April, the day that she died. Three months after that my brother鈥� contracted covid. He died on the steps of A&E, simply because the hospitals just could not cope with the amount of patients there were at the time.鈥�听

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Each loss鈥� felt like an indelible mark on my heart, deepening my sense of grief and vulnerability during an already difficult time. I work in adult health and social care so I was already carrying the burden of responsibility. It was a heavy weight to carry.鈥�听

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I was also managing a covid unit for people who could not return home after they were discharged from hospital.鈥�听

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And what did I do with that emotion? I don't even think that even to this day that I myself have grieved.鈥�听

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Every day felt like a battle between my professional duties and the waves of sorrow that threatened to overwhelm me. I am now on my journey of healing recognising that my grief is a part of me.鈥�听

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In October 2020 I contracted Covid 19 myself, and I honestly believed at that time that I was going to die.鈥�听

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I clung to the promises found in scripture, particularly Psalm 121 which assured me that my help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.鈥�听

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I found solace in my relationship with God. Holding onto the belief that he had a purpose for my life beyond the pain.鈥�听

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Reflecting on my journey. I understand that my experience, both painful鈥� and uplifting, serves a greater purpose.鈥�听

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My faith continues to be my guiding light, encouraging me to extend hope to others and to be a vessel of love in my community.鈥�听

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As we navigate life's unpredictable path. I am reminded that even in the moments of despair. God's grace is sufficient and there is always a reason to hope for brighter days ahead.听

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Richard Reddie is the Director of Inclusion for Churches together in Britain. He鈥檒l be reflecting on this Bible Reading from Mark Chapter 4 v 35 - 41 read to us by Anglea Clarke.听

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Mark Chapter 4鈥�听

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, 鈥淟et us go over to the other side.鈥� 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, 鈥淭eacher, don鈥檛 you care if we drown?鈥澨�

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39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 鈥淨uiet! Be still!鈥� Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.听

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40 He said to his disciples, 鈥淲hy are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?鈥澨�

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41 They were terrified and asked each other, 鈥淲ho is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!鈥澨�

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Richard Reddie SERMON听

When the pandemic began, we would often hear the phrase, 鈥榃e are all in the same boat鈥�. For me, that was never the situation. A more accurate statement was: 鈥榃e are all in the same storm, but in different boats鈥�. We were not in the same vessels because some boats were akin to luxury yachts, while others were barely seaworthy. Those with larger families in small homes struggled to self-isolate on catching the virus. Others did not have sufficient internal space to move back furniture to exercise to Joe Wicks,鈥�听

In the story, Jesus, after teaching the crowds, encouraged his disciples to take a nighttime boat trip across the Sea of Galilee. The Gospel writer mentions that other boats were also present as Jesus and his disciples navigated that expanse, which suddenly became life-threatening. It is important to recognise that a good number of the disciples were fishermen, so no doubt used to rough seas, but these conditions must have been particularly treacherous for them to be so fearful.. Jesus, meanwhile, is fast asleep at the back of the boat, totally oblivious to what is taking place.听

the disciples turned to Jesus, and he miraculously calmed the storm. In the NIV translation it says, 鈥楬e rebuked the winds and waves.鈥欌��听

However, one of the points to note from this Bible passage is that the tempest occurred while Jesus was present with his disciples, which means that just because someone is a believer in God, they are not immune from life鈥檚 storms.鈥�听

The question that I, and many others, were constantly hearing during the pandemic was, 鈥淲here is God in all of this?鈥濃��听

Without wanting to appear glib or trite, I believe that God was to be found in the way people began to treat one another more compassionately and thoughtfully.. Some were quite involved, while others appeared trivial, however all these acts of kindness made a massive difference to those who needed them. Equally, many ministers, pastors and people of faith offered words of comfort and support to those who were ill, or had lost loved ones, and in doing so, also showed the love of God in practical ways.听

鈥疘 would also like to believe that one of the pandemic鈥檚 legacies is that we continue to value those who carry out vital frontline work, which is often unheralded and poorly paid. Finally, I would hope that we persist in showing compassion and practical assistance to those who are adversely impacted by life鈥檚 never-ending storms.听

Amen.鈥�听