Page 4 - The Upside - Issue 3
P. 4

Mood Lifters
















































                                   Reverend Linda Tomkinson came to be the
                                   Pioneer  Minister  to  the  Mereside  Estate

                                   and the Priest-In-Charge at Freedom Church
                                   Mereside around five years ago.



                                   It’s an honour and a privilege to do this job,
                                   to carry a church through a pandemic is a

                                   very  precious  thing.  At  times  it’s  been
                                   exhausting, exploring creative ways to keep

                                   things  going, worrying about  people, that
                                   they are  safe,  their mental health  is  okay
                                   and they are getting vaccines, but God has

                                   given me this task and the strength to carry                            Church life had to close; services, Social Seniors, choir, bible studies,
                                   it through.                                                             coffee  morning,  Shed  Men  and  the  cycling  group,  all  had  to  stop

                                                                                                           meeting,  and  that  was  difficult.  We  moved  everything  we  could
                                                                                                           online, which was a steep learning curve with Facebook and all the
                                                                                                           technology and software.

                                                                                                           On the plus  side, it meant that people  who weren’t  part of our
                                                                                                           church family before could see what we do online from their homes,
                                                                                                           and they’ve really liked it. If things had carried on as before, we may
                                                                                                           never have got this interest, so there’s been definite pluses.

                                   PEOPLE POWER                                                            We need our church family to stay connected coming out of lock-

                                                                                                           down. Lots of churches are talking about a hybrid approach in future,
                                                                                                           as people have varied reasons why they may not be able to come and
                                                                                                           join us. For the last few weeks, we’ve streamed our Sunday service,
                                   The  Upside  has  a  town  wide  mission  to  bring  joy  and           and we’ll continue live streaming to people who can’t physically be at
                                   support to Blackpool as we ease out of lockdown. We love                church. Certain things we do within ministry will remain online, such
                                   creating it. It’s a brilliant opportunity to meet and talk to a         as weekly prayer meetings. Prior to COVID, we had very few people
                                   whole range of people across Blackpool who we haven’t                   attend in person, but online, many more attended, and with Face-
                                   met before.                                                             book, people could watch it again, or at a time to suit them.

                                   As we’ve  got to know you, we’ve  been struck by your                   If we carry on doing everything online, it makes it extremely easy for
                                   strength and your stories, which show a deep commitment                 people to stay at home, but people’s mental health suffered through
                                   to your neighbours and the wider community of Blackpool.                the pandemic  and  some are  anxious  about  going  outside  around
                                   Every issue of The Upside is built around these stories, and            other people. We want to encourage people to return and re-engage
                                   each time we deliver an issue it’s a chance for us to gather            and reconnect with us in person when they feel safe to do so.
                                   more of them.
                                                                                                           We’re doing all we can to keep the church a safe place. Our leader-
                                   We’ve  loved  hearing  your  feedback  to  the  first  two               ship  team  does  self-testing  for  COVID  twice  a  week,  we  do  an
                                   editions of The Upside. If you’ve read The Upside, and you              outdoor service on Thursday afternoon for those concerned about
                                   haven’t spoken to us, we’d still love to hear from you.                 being indoors with others, and this will continue as a stepping-stone
                                                                                                           to eventually coming back to church.
                                   If you’d like to, take a moment and share your
                                   If you’d like to, take a moment and share your
                                   thoughts  and  opinions  with  us by  calling                           The  first  Sunday  back  after  lockdown  was  absolutely  joyous,  and
                                   thoughts  and  opinions  with  us by  calling
                                   Catherine on 07747 864870 and leaving                                   Easter Sunday, meeting as a church family again, in person, it was
                                   a message, or by emailing us at                                         absolutely beautiful to be able to do that.
                                   catherine@rmresearch.uk  and
                                   Catherine  will  call  you  back.                                       Personally, I look forward to seeing my parents, mother-in-law, and
                                                                                                           friends. They’re top of the list. Then, getting out in our camper van
                                                                                                           for one or two nights away, just myself, my husband, and
                                                                                                           the dog. We love wild camping, the freedom of having
                                                                                                           your own bed on wheels wherever you go!
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